101st CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 555
AMENDMENT
S 555 EAH
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
October 22, 1990.
Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 555) entitled `An Act to
establish in the Department of the Interior the De Soto Expedition Trail
Commission, and for other purposes', do pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

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This Act may be cited as the `De Soto Expedition Trail Commission Act
of 1990'.

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(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds that--
(1) the 450th anniversary of the De Soto expedition and the 500th anniversary
of Columbus' landing provide appropriate times for the commemoration of
this aspect of American history;
(2) the expedition of Hernando de Soto was the first major European
exploration of the interior of the southeastern United States;
(3) the chronicles of the expedition provide a rare description of the
native societies encountered by the expedition;
(4) knowledge gained as a result of the expedition contributed significantly
to the subsequent exploration and colonization of the region;
(5) discovery of the first winter encampment in Tallahassee, Florida,
is the most recent archeological evidence of the De Soto expedition in
the United States;
(6) official commemoration of the De Soto expedition will encourage further
archeological and historical research, and increase public awareness of
the early historic period of the southeastern United States, including
the Native American societies the expedition encountered.
(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this Act is to establish a Commission to
encourage and direct research, and to coordinate the distribution of
interpretive materials to the public, regarding the De Soto expedition, the
native societies the expedition encountered, and the effects of that contact.

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(a) IN GENERAL- To carry out the purposes of this Act, there is hereby
established in the Department of the Interior the De Soto Expedition Trail
Commission (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the `Commission'). The
Commission shall exercise its responsibilities and authorities as provided
in this Act with respect to that region of the southeastern United
States comprising the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and
Texas (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the `involved States'). The
Commission shall consist of 19 members, appointed by the Secretary of the
Interior (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the `Secretary') as follows:
(1) 10 members knowledgable in the history of Spanish-Native American
contact, including the history of the De Soto expedition, appointed from
recommendations submitted by the Governors of the involved States, of
which one shall represent each State;
(2) 4 members with expertise in the history of the De Soto expedition;
(3) 2 members with knowledge of the Native American societies encountered
by the De Soto expedition;
(4) 2 members, one of which shall hold the position of Superintendent,
De Soto National Memorial, the other of which shall have knowledge of the
history of Spanish colonization of the southeastern United States; and
(5) 1 member appointed from recommendations submitted by the Smithsonian
Institution.
(b) APPOINTMENT- All members of the Commission shall be appointed for
terms of 4 years.
(c) CHAIRPERSON- The Commission shall elect a chairperson from among its
members. The term of the chairperson shall be 2 years.
(d) TERMS- Any member of the Commission appointed for a definite term may
serve after the expiration of such term until a successor is appointed. Any
vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the
original appointment was made. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy shall
serve for the remainder of the term for which such member's predecessor
was appointed.
(e) QUORUM- A simple majority of Commission members shall constitute
a quorum.
(f) MEETINGS- The Commission shall meet at least biannually or at the call
of the chairperson or a majority of its members.
(g) COMPENSATION- Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation
as such. 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 per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
the same manner as persons employed intermittently in Government service
are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code.

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(a) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall--
(1) assist in the coordination of activities of Federal, State, and local
governments and private businesses and organizations in order to further
the commemoration of the De Soto expedition;
(2) expeditiously provide the involved States the research performed
under section 7 and assist those States in utilizing such research for
the public's education;
(3) coordinate the preparation and distribution of interpretive materials
relating to the De Soto expedition, including maps and brochures, for
the public;
(4) provide advice and assistance to the Secretary with respect to the
preparation of contracts and cooperative agreements under section 7; and
(5) consider and provide advice on appropriate means to link together
authenticated De Soto expedition and other Spanish Colonial sites.
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS- The Commission shall submit an annual report to the
Secretary, and to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the
United States House of Representatives and to Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the United States Senate, describing the activities
of the Commission and the status of public interpretive activities and
research undertaken pursuant to this Act.
(c) EXPIRATION- The Commission established pursuant to this Act shall
cease to exist 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

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(a) STAFF- (1) The Commission shall have the power to appoint and fix the
compensation of such staff as may be necessary to carry out its duties.
(2) Staff appointed by the Commission--
(A) shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service; and
(B) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, be paid in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(b) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS- Subject to such rules as may be adopted by the
Commission, the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services
to the same extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code, but at rates determined by the Commission to be reasonable.
(c) STAFF OF OTHER AGENCIES- (1) Upon request of the Commission, the head
of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the
personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in
carrying out the Commission's duties.
(2) The Commission may accept the services of personnel detailed from one
or more of the involved States (and any political subdivision thereof) and
may reimburse the State(s) or political subdivision(s) for those services.

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(a) IN GENERAL- The Commission may for the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of this Act hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Commission
may deem advisable.
(b) BYLAWS- The Commission may make such bylaws, rules and regulations,
consistent with this Act, as it considers necessary to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
(c) DELEGATION- When so authorized by the Commission, any member or agent
of the Commission may take any action which the Commission is authorized
to take by this section.
(d) TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUPS- The Commission may establish and appoint such
technical advisory groups as may be necessary to provide technical advice.
(e) DONATIONS- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission
may seek and accept donations of funds or services from individuals,
foundations, corporations, and other private entities, and from public
entities, for the purpose of carrying out its duties.
(f) 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.

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The Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, is authorized to enter
into contracts or cooperative agreements with qualified researchers for
archeological and historical research and field investigations regarding
the De Soto expedition. The research and investigation may include research
and investigation regarding the location of the expedition route, recovery
and preservation of archeological or historical materials, identification
of encampment sites, and advancement of knowledge regarding Hernando de
Soto, his expedition through the southeastern United States, the native
societies inhabiting the region during the period of the expedition and
the cross-cultural impact of the expedition on the European and Native
Americans societies. Such research shall fully utilize archival resources
and be published as promptly as possible.

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The Secretary is authorized to enter into a cooperative agreement with the
State of Florida to provide technical assistance for the preservation and
interpretation of the De Soto expedition site in Tallahassee, Florida.

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The Secretary may, in consultation with the Commission, provide technical
assistance to States for the development of interpretive materials to enhance
public appreciation of the archeological, historical, and cultural values
associated with the De Soto expedition, the Native American societies it
encountered, and the impacts of the European-Native American contact.

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(a) COMMISSION- For the purposes of carrying out the functions of the
Commission, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary not to exceed $250,000.
(b) RESEARCH- For the purposes of section 7, there are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary not to exceed $750,000.
Attest:
Clerk.

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De Soto Trail Commission Act of 1989 — S. 555

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