[Pages S15132-S15133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

ABRAHAM LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT

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HATCH (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 2795

Ms. COLLINS (for Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Fitzgerald,
and Mr. Durbin)) proposed an amendment to the bill (H.R. 1451) to
establish the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission; as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, was one of the
Nation's most prominent leaders, demonstrating true courage
during the Civil War, one of the greatest crises in the
Nation's history.
(2) Born of humble roots in Hardin County, Kentucky, on
February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln rose to the Presidency
through a legacy of honesty, integrity, intelligence, and
commitment to the United States.
(3) With the belief that all men were created equal,
Abraham Lincoln led the effort to free all slaves in the
United States.
(4) Abraham Lincoln had a generous heart, with malice
toward none and with charity for all.
(5) Abraham Lincoln gave the ultimate sacrifice for the
country Lincoln loved, dying from an assassin's bullet on
April 15, 1865.
(6) All Americans could benefit from studying the life of
Abraham Lincoln, for Lincoln's life is a model for
accomplishing the ``American Dream'' through honesty,
integrity, loyalty, and a lifetime of education.
(7) The year 2009 will be the bicentennial anniversary of
the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and a commission should be
established to study and recommend to Congress activities
that are fitting and proper to celebrate that anniversary in
a manner that appropriately honors Abraham Lincoln.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is established a commission to be known as the
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (referred to in this
Act as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES.

The Commission shall have the following duties:
(1) To study activities that may be carried out by the
Federal Government to determine whether the activities are
fitting and proper to honor Abraham Lincoln on the occasion
of the bicentennial anniversary of Lincoln's birth,
including--
(A) the minting of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial penny;
(B) the issuance of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial postage
stamp;
(C) the convening of a joint meeting or joint session of
Congress for ceremonies and activities relating to Abraham
Lincoln;
(D) a redesignation of the Lincoln Memorial, or other
activity with respect to the Memorial; and
(E) the acquisition and preservation of artifacts
associated with Abraham Lincoln.
(2) To recommend to Congress the activities that the
Commission considers most fitting and proper to honor Abraham
Lincoln on such occasion, and the entity or entities in the
Federal Government that the Commission considers most
appropriate to carry out such activities.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be
composed of 15 members appointed as follows:
(1) Two members, each of whom shall be a qualified citizen
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President.
(2) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Governor of Illinois.
(3) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Governor of Indiana.
(4) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Governor of Kentucky.
(5) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Member
of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
(6) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator,
appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
(7) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Member of
the House of Representatives, appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(8) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator,
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
(b) Qualified Citizen.--A qualified citizen described in
this subsection is a private citizen of the United States
with--
(1) a demonstrated dedication to educating others about the
importance of historical figures and events; and
(2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of Abraham
Lincoln.
(c) Time of Appointment.--Each initial appointment of a
member of the Commission shall be made before the expiration
of the 120-day period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act.
(d) Continuation of Membership.--If a member of the
Commission was appointed to the Commission as a Member of
Congress, and ceases to be a Member of Congress, that member
may continue to serve on the Commission for not longer than
the 30-day period beginning on the date that member ceases to
be a Member of Congress.
(e) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of
the Commission.
(f) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect the powers of the Commission but shall be filled in
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(g) Basic Pay.--Members shall serve on the Commission
without pay.
(h) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United
States Code.
(i) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(j) Chair.--The Commission shall select a Chair from among
the members of the Commission.
(k) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chair. Periodically, the Commission shall hold a meeting in
Springfield, Illinois.

SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.

(a) Director.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay
of a Director and such additional personnel as the Commission
considers to be appropriate.
(b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--
(1) Director.--The Director of the Commission 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.
(2) Staff.--The staff of the Commission shall be appointed
subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall
be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to
classification and General Schedule pay rates.

SEC. 7. POWERS.

(a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and
act at such times and places, take such testimony, and
receive such evidence as the Commission considers to be
appropriate.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of
the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any
action that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act.
(c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure
directly from any department or agency of the United States
information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out
this Act. Upon request of

[[Page S15133]]

the Chair of the Commission, the head of that department or
agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
(d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the United States.
(e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of
the Commission, the Administrator of General Services 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.

SEC. 8. REPORTS.

(a) Interim Reports.--The Commission may submit to Congress
such interim reports as the Commission considers to be
appropriate.
(b) Final Report.--The Commission shall submit a final
report to Congress not later than the expiration of the 4-
year period beginning on the date of the formation of the
Commission. The final report shall contain--
(1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of
the Commission;
(2) the recommendations of the Commission; and
(3) any other information that the Commission considers to
be appropriate.

SEC. 9. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

Any spending authority provided under this Act shall be
effective only to such extent and in such amounts as are
provided in appropriation Acts.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

The Commission shall terminate 120 days after submitting
the final report of the Commission pursuant to section 8.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.

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