[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 624 Introduced in House (IH)]
103d CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 624
To establish a commission to advise the President on proposals for
national commemorative events.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 26, 1993
Mr. McCurdy introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to advise the President on proposals for
national commemorative events.
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 ``National Commemorative Events
Advisory Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) the preparation and consideration of the multitude of
bills proposing particular days, weeks, months, or years for
recognition through Presidential proclamation unduly burdens
the Congress and consumes an inordinate amount of time;
(2) such proposals could be more efficiently considered by
a commission whose sole function would be to review proposals
for national commemorative events and to make positive or
negative recommendations thereon to the President;
(3) such a commission would streamline the process by which
such proposals are currently considered and save the Congress
considerable time and resources which could be devoted to
matters of more pressing national concern; and
(4) such a commission would better ensure the impartial
review of proposals for national commemorative events generated
by a wide variety of constituent groups.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.
(a) In General.--There shall be established a commission to be
known as the ``President's Advisory Commission on National
Commemorative Events'' (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').
(b) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 members, as
follows:
(1) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(2) 2 members shall be appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate.
(3) 7 members shall be appointed by the President. Members
under this paragraph shall represent, insofar as possible, a
wide range of educational, geographical, and professional
backgrounds. A Member of Congress may not be appointed under
this paragraph.
All members must be citizens of the United States.
(c) Terms.--(1) Each member shall be appointed for a term of 2
years, except as provided in paragraph (2).
(2) Of the members first appointed under subsection (b)(3)--
(A) 3 shall be appointed for 1 year, and
(B) 4 shall be appointed for 2 years,
as designated by the President.
(3) If a member was appointed to the Commission as a Member of
Congress and the member ceases to be a Member of Congress, that member
may continue as a member for not longer than the 30-day period
beginning on the date that member ceases to be a Member of Congress.
(d) Vacancies.--A vacancy shall be filled in the manner in which
the original appointment was made. A vacancy in the Commission shall
not affect its powers. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring
before the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor
was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term.
(e) Chairman.--The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated
by the President from among the members under subsection (b)(3). The
term of office of the Chairman shall be 2 years.
(f) Quorum.--6 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
Action by a quorum shall be necessary for the Commission to issue a
recommendation under section 6(d).
(g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet on at least a quarterly
basis. Meetings shall be held in the District of Columbia.
(h) Pay.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each member of
the Commission shall be paid the daily equivalent of the maximum rate
of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule for each
day, including traveltime, during which such member is performing
duties of the Commission.
(2) Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or
employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not receive
additional pay by reason of their service on the Commission.
(i) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or regular places
of business in the performance of services for the Commission, members
of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including a per
diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons
employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed travel
expenses under section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code.
SEC. 4. DIRECTOR; STAFF.
(a) Authority.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of a
Director and such staff as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Inapplicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The Director
and staff 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, except that
an individual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of the maximum
rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule.
(c) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Chairman, the
head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable
basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the
Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out
this Act, hold such hearings, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence, as it considers appropriate.
(b) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or
donations of services or property, but not from a source having a
direct interest in any matter before the Commission.
(c) 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.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--The Administrator of General
Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, such
administrative support services as the Commission may request.
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Criteria.--The Commission shall establish criteria for
recommending to the President that a proposed commemorative event be
approved or disapproved.
(b) Submission of Proposals.--The Commission shall establish and
publish in the Federal Register procedures for submitting proposals for
national commemorative events to the Commission.
(c) Review of Proposals.--The Commission shall review all proposals
submitted to it in accordance with subsection (b).
(d) Recommendation to the President.--The Commission shall issue a
recommendation to the President for approval or disapproval of each
proposal submitted to it in accordance with subsection (b). Each
recommendation shall be accompanied by a brief explanation of the
reasons why such recommendation was made.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE; COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION PROVISIONS.
(a) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect at the beginning of
the One Hundred Third Congress.
(b) Commencement; Termination.--(1) Members of the Commission shall
be appointed, and the Commission shall first meet, within 90 days after
the effective date of this Act.
(2) The Commission shall terminate 5 years after the date on which
it first meets.
<all>