Volume 71 · 626
Public Law 85–305
To establish a commission to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Civil War, and for other purposes.
Approved September 7, 1957
Statutory text
JOINT RESOLUTION
To establish a commission to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Civil War, and for other purposes.
Whereas the years 1961–1965 will mark the centennial of the American Civil War, the supreme experience in our history as a nation; and
Whereas the sacrifice of our people in that great ordeal was severe in all sect ions of the land; and
Whereas the far-reaching events of the Civil War established that the United States would remain permanently one nation; and
Whereas the Civil War, the greatest internal crisis through which this Nation passed, forged the unity of this country and the sons of both North and South have subsequently fought side by side for human freedom, justice, and the dignity of the individual among people everywhere; and
Whereas the development and preservation of the national military and battlefield parks contemplates acquisition of the necessary lands to assure perpetual preservation of these great battlefields and the furnishing or improvements to assure proper and adequate visitor understanding and use of these American fields of valor and sacrifice; and
Whereas it is incumbent upon us as a nation to provide for the proper observances of the centennial years of this great and continuing force in our history: Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Civil War Centennial Commission.
That
in order to provide for appropriate and nationwide observances and the coordination of ceremonies, there is hereby established a commission to be known as the Civil War Centennial Commission, hereafter in this Act referred to as the “Commission”, which shall be composed of twenty-five members, as follows:
The President of the United States, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be ex officio members of the Commission;
Four Members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate;
Four Members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
Twelve members to be appointed by the President of the United States, two of whom shall be from the Department of Defense; and
One member from the Department of the Interior who shall be the Director of the National Park Service or his representative.
One member from the Library of Congress who shall be the Librarian or his representative.
The Director of the National Park Service shall call the first meeting for the purpose of electing a Chairman. The Commission, at its discretion, may appoint honorary members, and may establish an Advisory Council to assist it in its work.
Appointments provided for in this section, with the exception of honorary members, shall be made within ninety days from the date of enactment of this resolution. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.
Sec. 2.
It shall be the duty of the Commission to prepare an overall
Program.
program to include specific plans for commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the Civil War. In preparing its plans and programs, the Commission shall give due consideration to any similar and related plans advanced by State, civic, patriotic, hereditary, and historical bodies, and may designate special committees with representation from the abovementioned bodies to plan and conduct specific ceremonies. The Commission may give suitable recognition such as
Awards.
the award of medals and certificates or by other appropriate means to persons and organizations for outstanding accomplishments in preserving and writing the history of the Civil War.
Sec. 3.
In order to conduct effectively centennial observances on
Preservation of historic sites.
the Civil War battlefields and related historic sites included within the National Park System, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, is authorized to undertake as a part of the Mission 66 program, the further preservation and development of such battlefields and sites, at such time and in such manner as will insure that a fitting observance may be held at each such battlefield or site as its centennial occurs during the period 1961–1965.
Sec. 4.
The President of the United States is authorized and requested
Proclamations.
to issue proclamations inviting the people of the United States to participate in and observe the centennial anniversaries of the nationally significant historic events, the commemorations of which are provided for herein.
Sec. 5.
The Commission is authorized to accept donations of
Donations.
money, property, or personal services; to cooperate with State, civic, patriotic, hereditary, and historical groups and with institutions or learning; and to call upon other Federal departments or agencies for their advice and assistance in carrying out the purposes of this resolution.
All books. manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials relating to the Civil War and donated to the Commission may be deposited for permanent preservation in a national, State, or local library or museum or be otherwise disposed of by the Commission in consultation with the Librarian of Congress or the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Commission, to such extent as it finds to be necessary, may, without regard to the laws and procedures applicable to Federal agencies, procure supplies, services, and property and make contracts, expend in furtherance of this resolution funds donated or funds received in pursuance of contracts hereunder, and may exercise those (towers that are necessary to enable it to carry out efficiently and in the public interest the purposes of this resolution.
The National Park Service is designated to provide all general
Administrative services.
administrative services.
Sec. 6.
The Commission may employ, without regard to civil
Employees.
service laws or the Classification Act of 1949, an executive director and such employees as may be necessary to carry out its functions.
Expenditures of the Commission shall be paid by the National Park Service as general administrative agent, which shall keep complete records of such expenditures and shall account also for all funds received by the Commission. (2) The Commission shall call, at a place of meeting generally convenient, and not later than January 15, 1958, a national assembly of representatives of civic, patriotic. and historical groups whose duty it shall be to consider and make recommendations to the Commission for the most fitting and appropriate way to commemorate the observances of the centennial of the Civil War. The Governors of each of the several States and noncontiguous Territories of the United States shall be invited to appoint representatives to the assembly. When this assembly shall have made its recommendations, it shall be adjourned subject to the call of the Commission.
A report shall be submitted to the Congress, presenting the
Report to Congress.
preliminary plans of the Commission not later than March 1, 1958. Thereafter, an annual report of the activities of the Commission, including an accounting of funds received and expended, shall be furnished by the Commission to the Congress. A final report shall be made to the Congress no later than May 1, 1966, upon which date the Commission shall terminate.
Any property acquired by the Commission remaining upon its termination may be used by the Secretary of the Interior for purposes of the National Park System or may be disposed of as surplus property. The net revenues, after payment of Commission expenses, derived from Commission activities, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States.
Sec. 7.
The members of the Commission shall serve without
Compensation; transportation.
compensation, but shall be furnished transportation and be reimbursed at not to exceed $20 per diem, in lieu of subsistence, while engaged in the discharge of their duties provided for in this resolution.
Service of an individual as a member of the Commission shall not be considered as service or employment bringing such individual
within the provisions of sections 216, 281, 283, 284, 434, or 1914 of title 18 of the United States Code, or section 190 of the Revised Statutes (5 U. S. C. 99); nor shall any member of the Commission by reason of his status as such be deemed to be an “officer of the
Government” within the meaning of the Act of April 27, 1916 (5 U. S. C. 101).
Sec. 8.
Notwithstanding section 2, of the Act of July 31, 1894
Employment of retired officers.
(28 Stat. 205), as amended (5 U. S. C. 62), or section 6 of the Act of May 10, 1916 (39 Stat. 120), as amended (5 U. S. C. 58, 59), the Chairman of the Commission may appoint to, and employ in, any civilian office or position in the Commission, and pay, any retired commissioned officer, or retired warrant officer, of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Coast and Geodetic Survey, or Public Health Service. The retired status, office, rank, and grade of retired commissioned officers or retired warrant officers, so appointed or employed and, except as provided in section 212 of the Act of June 30, 1932 (47 Stat. 406), as amended (5 U. S. C. 59a), any emolument, perquisite, right, privilege, or benefit incident to or arising out of any such status, office, rank, or grade, shall be in no way affected by reason of such appointment to or employment in, or by reason of service in, or acceptance or holding of, any civilian office or position in the Commission or the receipt of the pay thereof.
Sec. 9.
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such funds
Appropriation.
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution, not to exceed $100,000.
Approved September 7, 1957.