Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, and to carry out other specified duties.
Directs the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities to award grants for appropriate activities relating to the Civil War sesquicentennial and to consider and give priority to programs carried out by institutions of higher education, museums, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and state sesquicentennial commissions that support the duties of the Commission, including those that concentrate on the role of African Americans in the Civil War.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1420 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1420
To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the
American Civil War.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2011
Mr. Jackson of Illinois (for himself and Ms. Moore) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the
American Civil War.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Civil War Sesquicentennial
Commission Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The American Civil War was a defining experience in the
development of the United States.
(2) The people of the United States continue to struggle
with issues of race, civil rights, heritage, and the politics
of federalism, which are legacies of the Civil War and
Reconstruction.
(3) There is a resurgence of interest in the Civil War that
is evidenced by the multitude of publications, exhibits,
reenactments, research organizations, Internet and multimedia
resources, historic parks, and preservation associations
focused on the Civil War.
(4) The years 2010 through 2015 mark the sesquicentennial
of the period beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln
and concluding with the end of the Civil War. Notable
milestones during this period include the following:
(A) On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was
elected President of the United States.
(B) On December 20, 1860, in a special convention,
the South Carolina Legislature voted to secede from the
Union following the election of Lincoln. In the early
months of the following year, Mississippi, Florida,
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded and
formed the Confederate States of America.
(C) In April 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort
Sumter, the first shots fired in the Civil War. In
response, President Lincoln ordered the blockade of all
Confederate ports and called for 75,000 volunteers to
enlist in the Union Army. Four more Southern States--
Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina--
seceded in the months following the attack on Fort
Sumter.
(D) The Civil War spawned numerous campaigns,
battles, and engagements, including Bull Run, the
Monitor versus the Merrimac, the Peninsula Campaign,
Shiloh, the Capture of New Orleans, the Shenandoah
Valley Campaign, Seven Pines, Seven Days, Antietam,
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Siege
of Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Wilderness, the
Siege at Petersburg, the Capture of Atlanta, the March
to the Sea, Nashville, and Appomattox.
(E) In January 1863, President Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in States
considered to be in rebellion against the Federal
Government.
(F) On June 28, 1864, President Lincoln repealed
all fugitive slave laws.
(G) On January 31, 1865, the United States Congress
passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution,
abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude.
(H) On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E.
Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse.
(I) On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was shot
by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth while
attending a play at Ford's Theater, and died the next
day.
(J) In April and May 1865, Confederate Generals
Joseph Johnson and E. Kirby Smith, leaders of the
remaining organized Confederate Forces, surrendered,
formally ending the Southern Resistance.
(K) By the end of the Civil War, an estimated
600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers had been killed
and over 471,000 wounded, making the Civil War the
bloodiest war in the history of our Nation.
(5) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War presents a
significant opportunity for Americans to recall and reflect
upon all aspects of that conflict and its legacy in a spirit of
reconciliation and honest reflection, through exploration,
interpretation, and discussion.
(6) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War presents a
significant opportunity to preserve and promote the remaining
battlefields and historic sites relating to the Civil War
before the battlefields and sites are lost to future
generations.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a Civil War
Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to--
(1) ensure a suitable national observance of the
sesquicentennial of the Civil War that includes recognition of
the historic, social, legal, cultural, and political forces
that caused the American Civil War and influenced its course
and outcomes;
(2) explore the causes of the Civil War to gain a better
understanding of the reasons that the democratic framework of
the United States failed to resolve the sectional issues
without resorting to war;
(3) fully examine and reflect upon the consequences of the
Civil War, subjects which Congress directed the National Park
Service to address in National Park Service programs and
materials beginning in 1999, including the Reconstruction era
and the aftermath, the subsequent constriction of equal rights
for African-American citizens, and the ultimate achievement of
civil rights for the descendants of enslaved peoples almost a
century later;
(4) collaborate with and assist States and national
organizations with programs and activities for the observance
of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
(5) assist in ensuring that any observance of the
sesquicentennial of the Civil War is inclusive and
appropriately recognizes the experiences and points of view of
all people affected by the Civil War; and
(6) provide assistance for the development of programs,
projects, and activities on the Civil War that have lasting
educational value.
SEC. 3. CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.
The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a commission to be
known as the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The Commission shall be composed of 25 members as
follows:
(1) Government members.--The Commission shall include--
(A) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate, in consultation
with the majority leader and the minority leader of the
Senate;
(B) 2 Members of the House of Representatives
appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, in consultation with the minority
leader of the House;
(C) the Secretary of the Interior or the designee
of the Secretary;
(D) the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution,
or the designee of the Secretary;
(E) the Secretary of Education, or the designee of
the Secretary;
(F) the Secretary of Defense, or the designee of
the Secretary;
(G) the Chairman of the National Endowment for the
Humanities, or the designee of the Chairman;
(H) the Chairman of the National Endowment of the
Arts, or the designee of the Chairman;
(I) the Archivist of the United States, or the
designee of the Archivist;
(J) the Librarian of Congress, or the designee of
the Librarian; and
(K) the Director of the National Park Service, or
the designee of the Director.
(2) Private members.--The Commission shall include--
(A) 5 members appointed by the President from among
individuals who are representative of the corporate and
nonprofit communities; and
(B) 7 individuals appointed by the President from
among persons who by reason of education, training, and
experience, are experts on the Antebellum, Civil War,
and Reconstruction eras and the preservation,
interpretation, and presentation of those eras to the
public, including--
(i) 5 individuals with expertise in history
or related academic disciplines germane to the
Civil War, including--
(I) individuals representing the
museum community, in particular history
museums and historical societies, such
as the National Civil War Museum;
(II) individuals with expertise in
art history, historic preservation, or
a related field;
(III) individuals with expertise in
anthropology, cultural geography,
sociology, or a related field; and
(IV) individuals with expertise in
political science, law, economics, or a
related field;
(ii) 1 individual with expertise in the
preservation of Civil War historic sites and
battlefields; and
(iii) 1 individual representing State Civil
War sesquicentennial efforts.
(b) Terms.--
(1) Government members.--If any member of the Commission
who was appointed as an officer designated under subsection
(a)(1) leaves such office, the member may continue as a member
of the Commission for not longer than the 30-day period
beginning on the date the member leaves such office.
(2) Private members.--Private members under subsection
(a)(2) shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
(c) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its
powers, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
(d) Initial Appointments.--The appointment of the members of the
Commission shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date
on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the
members appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section
4(a)(2) shall call the first meeting of the Commission.
(2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall hold
subsequent meetings at the call of the Chairperson.
(b) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--At the initial meeting, the
Commission shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among
its voting members.
(c) Quorum.--A majority of voting members shall constitute a
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
(d) Voting.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall act only on an
affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of the
Commission.
(2) Nonvoting members.--The individuals appointed under
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 4(a)(1) shall be nonvoting
members, and shall serve only in an advisory capacity.
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Activities Related to the Sesquicentennial.--The Commission
shall--
(1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities
appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil
War, including activities in recognition of the historic,
social, legal, cultural, and political forces that--
(A) caused the Civil War; and
(B) influenced the course and outcomes of the Civil
War;
(2) encourage interdisciplinary examination of the Civil
War;
(3) facilitate Civil War-related activities throughout the
United States;
(4) encourage civic, historical, educational, economic,
preservation, and other organizations throughout the United
States to organize and participate in activities to expand the
understanding and appreciation of the significance of the Civil
War;
(5) coordinate and facilitate the public distribution of
scholarly research, publications, and interpretations of the
Civil War;
(6) coordinate with and provide technical assistance to
States, units of local government, and nonprofit organizations
(including State and local sesquicentennial commemoration
entities) to further the commemoration of the sesquicentennial
of the Civil War;
(7) coordinate and facilitate commemoration activities of
Federal agencies relating to the sesquicentennial of the Civil
War;
(8) develop programs and facilities to ensure that the
sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War results in a
positive legacy and long-term public benefit;
(9) encourage and facilitate the preservation of Civil War
historic sites and battlefields as a lasting legacy of the
sesquicentennial commemoration;
(10) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities
to use funds raised from individuals, foundations, and
corporations for sesquicentennial activities at the national
level;
(11) at its discretion, provide funds to State and local
programs to carry out activities that advance the goals of the
Commission; and
(12) encourage the development and conduct of programs
designed to involve the international community in activities
that commemorate the Civil War.
(b) Plans and Report.--
(1) Strategic plan and annual performance plans.--The
Commission shall prepare a strategic plan in accordance with
section 306 of title 5, United States Code, and annual
performance plans in accordance with section 1115 of title 31,
United States Code, for the activities of the Commission
carried out under this Act.
(2) Reports.--
(A) Annual report.--The Commission shall submit to
Congress an annual report that contains a list of each
gift, bequest, or devise with a value of more than
$250, together with the identity of the donor of each
such gift, bequest, or devise.
(B) Final report.--Not later than September 30,
2016, the Commission shall submit to Congress a final
report that contains--
(i) a summary of activities of the
Commission;
(ii) a final accounting of funds received
and expended by the Commission; and
(iii) the findings and recommendations of
the Commission.
SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Grants Authorized.--The Chairman of the National Endowment for
the Humanities shall award grants under this section for the uses
described in subsection (b).
(b) Use of Grants.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used
for appropriate activities relating to the sesquicentennial of the
Civil War.
(c) Consideration.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Chairman of the National Endowment of the Humanities shall consider and
give priority to programs carried out by institutions of higher
education, museums, nonprofit organizations, professional associations,
and State sesquicentennial commissions with a national scope, that
support the duties of the Commission described in section 6, including
programs that concentrate on the role of African-Americans in the Civil
War.
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act--
(1) solicit, accept, use and dispose of gifts, bequests, or
devises of money or property, both real and personal, for the
purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission;
(2) authorize any voting member or employee of the
Commission to take any action that the Commission is authorized
to take under this Act;
(3) procure supplies, services, and property, and make or
enter into contracts, leases, or other legal agreements to
carry out this Act (except that any contracts, leases, or other
legal agreements entered into by the Commission shall not
extend beyond the date of the termination of the Commission);
and
(4) use the United States mails in the same manner and
under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.
SEC. 9. PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Commission shall serve
without compensation.
(b) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission shall be allowed,
as the Secretary of the Interior determines appropriate to carry out
this Act, travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or
regular place of business of the member in the performance of the
duties of the Commission.
(c) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Chairperson may appoint a Director and
such additional staff as are necessary to enable the Commission
to perform its duties.
(2) Confirmation of director.--The appointment of the
Director shall be subject to the approval of the Commission.
(3) Compensation.--
(A) Nonapplicability of civil service laws.--Except
as provided in subparagraph (B), the Director and staff
may be appointed without regard to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in
the competitive service, and may be paid without regard
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of
chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and
General Schedule pay rates.
(B) Maximum rate of pay.--The rate of pay for the
Director and other staff shall not exceed the rate
payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under
section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--At the request of the
Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a
reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the
agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out the
duties of the Commission under this Act.
(e) Support Services.--Upon the request of the Commission, the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National
Park Service, shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis,
the administrative support services necessary for the Commission to
carry out its responsibilities under this Act.
(f) Volunteer and Uncompensated Services.--Notwithstanding section
1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and use
voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission determines
necessary.
(g) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The
Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at daily
rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
(h) Nonapplicability of Charter Requirement.--Section 14(b) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the
Commission.
(i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the date that
is 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits its final
report under section 6(b)(2).
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act (other than section 7) $500,000 for each of fiscal years
2012 through 2016.
(b) Grants.--There is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000 to
the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide grants under
section 7, to remain available until expended.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy .
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