[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3073 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3073
To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the
centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment
to the United States Constitution providing for women's suffrage, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 16, 2016
Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Gillibrand,
Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Boxer, Ms.
Heitkamp, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Warren, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the
centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment
to the United States Constitution providing for women's suffrage, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Suffrage
Centennial Commission Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Establishment of Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission.
Sec. 4. Duties of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 5. Powers of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 6. Centennial Commission personnel matters.
Sec. 7. Termination of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) From 1919 to 1920, the Sixty-Sixth United States
Congress debated, and State legislatures considered, an
amendment to the United States Constitution to provide suffrage
for women.
(2) A proposed women's suffrage amendment was first
introduced in the United States Senate in 1878 and was brought
to a vote, unsuccessfully, in 1887, 1914, 1918, and 1919.
Finally, on May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives approved
a proposed amendment, followed by the Senate a few weeks later
on June 4. Within days, the legislatures of Wisconsin,
Illinois, and Michigan had voted to ratify the Amendment.
(3) On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th State to
ratify the Amendment, providing the support of three-fourths of
States necessary under article V of the United States
Constitution.
(4) The introduction, passage, and ultimate ratification of
the Nineteenth Amendment were the culmination of decades of
work and struggle by advocates for the rights of women across
the United States and worldwide.
(5) Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment ensured women
could more fully participate in their democracy and
fundamentally changed the role of women in the civic life of
our Nation.
(6) The centennial offers an opportunity for people in the
United States to learn about and commemorate the efforts of the
women's suffrage movement and the role of women in our
democracy.
(7) Commemorative programs, activities, and sites allow
people in the United States to learn about the women's suffrage
movement and to commemorate and honor the role of the
ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in further fulfilling
the promise of the United States Constitution and promoting the
core values of our democracy.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known
as the ``Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission'' (referred to in this
Act as the ``Centennial Commission'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) The Centennial Commission shall be composed of 14
members, of whom--
(A) 2 shall be appointed by the President;
(B) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
(C) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the House of Representatives;
(D) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of
the Senate;
(E) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the Senate;
(F) 1 shall be the Librarian of Congress, or the
designee of the Librarian;
(G) 1 shall be the Archivist of the United States,
or the designee of the Archivist;
(H) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution, or the designee of the Secretary; and
(I) 1 shall be the Director of the National Park
Service, or the designee of the Director.
(2) Persons eligible.--
(A) In general.--The members of the Commission
shall be individuals who have knowledge or expertise,
whether by experience or training, in matters to be
studied by the Commission. The members may be from the
public or private sector, and may include Federal,
State, or local employees, former Members of Congress,
members of academia, nonprofit organizations, or
industry, or other interested individuals.
(B) Diversity.--It is the intent of Congress that
persons appointed to the Commission under paragraph (1)
be persons who represent diverse economic,
professional, and cultural backgrounds.
(3) Consultation and appointment.--
(A) In general.--The President, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, minority leader of the House
of Representatives, majority leader of the Senate, and
minority leader of the Senate shall consult among
themselves before appointing the members of the
Commission in order to achieve, to the maximum extent
practicable, fair and equitable representation of
various points of view with respect to the matters to
be studied by the Commission.
(B) Completion of appointments; vacancies.--The
President, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
minority leader of the House of Representatives,
majority leader of the Senate, and minority leader of
the Senate shall conduct the consultation under
subparagraph (A) and make their respective appointments
not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the membership of the
Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission and
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment
not later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
(c) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date
on which all members of the Centennial Commission have been
appointed, the Centennial Commission shall hold its first
meeting.
(2) Subsequent meetings.--
(A) In general.--The Centennial Commission shall
meet at the call of the Chair.
(B) Frequency.--The Chair shall call a meeting of
the members of the Centennial Commission not less
frequently than once every 6 months.
(3) Quorum.--Seven members of the Centennial Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(4) Chair and vice chair.--The Centennial Commission shall
select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The duties of the Centennial Commission are as
follows:
(1) To encourage, plan, develop, and execute programs,
projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of the
passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
(2) To encourage private organizations and State and local
governments to organize and participate in activities
commemorating the centennial of the passage and ratification of
the Nineteenth Amendment.
(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities throughout the
United States relating to the centennial of the passage and
ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and
dissemination of information about events and plans for the
centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth
Amendment.
(5) To develop recommendations for Congress and the
President for commemorating the centennial of the passage and
ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
(b) Consultation.--In conducting its work, the Centennial
Commission shall consult the Historian of the Senate and the Historian
of the House of Representatives when appropriate.
(c) Reports.--
(1) Periodic report.--Not later than the last day of the 6-
month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act, and not later than the last day of each 3-month period
thereafter, the Centennial Commission shall submit to Congress
and the President a report on the activities and plans of the
Centennial Commission.
(2) Recommendations.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Centennial Commission shall
submit to Congress and the President a report containing
specific recommendations for commemorating the centennial of
the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and
coordinating related activities.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings.--The Centennial Commission may hold such hearings,
sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive
such evidence as the Centennial Commission considers appropriate to
carry out its duties under this Act.
(b) Powers of Member and Agents.--If authorized by the Centennial
Commission, any member or agent of the Centennial Commission may take
any action which the Centennial Commission is authorized to take under
this Act.
(c) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Centennial Commission
shall secure directly from any Federal department or agency such
information as the Centennial Commission considers necessary to carry
out the provisions of this Act. Upon the request of the Chair of the
Centennial Commission, the head of such department or agency shall
furnish such information to the Centennial Commission.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
Centennial Commission, the Administrator of the General Services
Administration shall provide to the Centennial Commission, on a
reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for
the Centennial Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this
Act.
(e) Contract Authority.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Centennial Commission is authorized--
(A) to procure supplies, services, and property;
and
(B) to make or enter into contracts, leases, or
other legal agreements.
(2) Limitation.--The Centennial Commission may not enter
into any contract, lease, or other legal agreement that extends
beyond the date of the termination of the Centennial Commission
under section 7(a).
(f) Postal Services.--The Centennial Commission may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
(g) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Centennial Commission is
authorized to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or
devises of money, services, or property, both real and personal, for
the purpose of covering the costs incurred by the Centennial Commission
to carry out its duties under this Act.
(h) Grants.--The Centennial Commission is authorized to award
grants to States and the District of Columbia to support programs and
activities related to commemorating the centennial of the passage and
ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
SEC. 6. CENTENNIAL COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Centennial Commission
shall serve without compensation for such service.
(b) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Centennial Commission
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions of title 5,
United States Code.
(c) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Chair of the Centennial Commission
shall, in consultation with the members of the Centennial
Commission, appoint an executive director and such other
additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the
Centennial Commission to perform its duties.
(2) Compensation.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Chair of the Centennial Commission may fix the
compensation of the executive director and any other
personnel appointed under paragraph (1).
(B) Limitation.--The Chair of the Centennial
Commission may not fix the compensation of the
executive director or other personnel appointed under
paragraph (1) at a rate that exceeds the rate payable
for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section
5315 of title 5, United States Code.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the Centennial
Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on
a reimbursable basis, any employee of that department or agency to the
Centennial Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under
this Act.
(e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The Chair
of the Centennial Commission may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Acceptance of Voluntary Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342
of title 31, United States Code, the Centennial Commission may accept
and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Centennial
Commission deems necessary.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The Centennial Commission shall terminate on the
earlier of--
(1) the date that is 30 days after the date the completion
of the activities under this Act honoring the centennial
observation of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth
Amendment; or
(2) April 15, 2021.
(b) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply to
the activities of the Centennial Commission under this Act.
(2) Exception.--Section 14(a)(2) of such Act shall not
apply to the Centennial Commission.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021.
(b) Amounts Available.--Amounts appropriated in accordance with
this section for any fiscal year shall remain available until the
termination of the Centennial Commission.
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