[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1451 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.1451
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To establish the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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

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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.

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

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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.

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(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 the 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.

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(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.

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(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 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.

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(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.

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

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

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There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.

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Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Act — HR. 1451

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