United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020
Floor Speech
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Mr. KHANNA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3989) to amend the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 to modify certain membership and other requirements of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 3989
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 ``United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020''. SEC. 2. UNITED STATES SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment of Commission.--Section 4 of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-196; 130 Stat. 685) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(4), by striking subparagraph (I) and inserting the following:
``(I) The Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts.
``(J) The Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
``(K) The Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
``(L)(i) The Chief Justice of the United States; or
``(ii) an Associate Justice or former Associate Justice appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States.'';
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Removal of members who are private citizens.-- Following notice and approval of the relevant appointing authority, on an affirmative vote of not less than \2/3\ of the members of the Commission, the Commission may remove a member of the Commission appointed under subsection (b)(3).''; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``All meetings'' and inserting the following:
``(1) Location of first meeting.--The first meeting''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Location of subsequent meetings.--At least 1 meeting of the Commission each year shall be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.''.
(b) Duties.--Section 5(c)(1) of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (Public Law 114- 196; 130 Stat. 687) is amended by striking ``2 years after the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``March 31, 2020''.
(c) Coordination.--Section 6(b) of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (Public Law 114- 196; 130 Stat. 689) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``presiding officer of the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities'' and inserting ``Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services''; and
(2) in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and other'' after ``founding''.
(d) Expenditures of Commission.--Section 9 of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-196; 130 Stat. 691) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--All expenditures of the Commission shall be made from donations, earned income, and any funds made available to carry out this Act under subsection (f).'';
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ``Once each year during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``Annually during the period beginning 1 year after the Commission submits the report to the President under section 5(c)(1)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Intellectual Property Protections.--The Commission shall have the exclusive right to use, and to allow others to use, the official marks, imprimaturs, and logos of the Commission.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.''.
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Mr. KHANNA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, nearly 250 years ago, a group of visionaries met in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. Out of this unusual meeting of daring patriots, a declaration was produced stating to the world that, for the first time in the modern world, 13 Colonies would join together to become one independent nation--the United States of America, the greatest experiment in democracy that the world has ever seen.
Madam Speaker, these leaders boldly declared that no more would Americans live under the tyranny of a nation 3,000 miles away. They acted with unity and decided that our Nation will not be built upon privilege inherited by birth, but natural rights that belonged to each and every person.
In 2026, the United States will celebrate 250 years of independence. While we have not always lived up to these lofty ideals, we have continued to work to make progress and right the wrongs.
To commemorate and celebrate the founding of our Republic in 2016, Congress established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. The Commission's goal is to encourage Americans to remember our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to a promising future. The Commission works with public and private entities across the country to make celebrations of our 250th year of independence a time to remember for years to come.
Madam Speaker, while the Commission has done incredible work thus far, the Commission Amendments Act will make needed updates to ensure that the Commission has the resources and talent it needs to fulfill its mission of national importance.
This bill will expand the membership to include cultural and historical perspectives from individuals such as the chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In addition, the bill will provide necessary intellectual property protections for the materials created by the Commission.
This commonsense legislation will serve to further enable the Commission to carry on its important work. It has never been more important for us to come together or remember our past, acknowledge our present, and look forward to our future as one nation devoted to the ideals of liberty and justice for all.
As someone who was born in 1976, in Philadelphia, the year of our bicentenary, this has a particular meaning to me.
Madam Speaker, I thank Senator Toomey and others on the committee for advancing this. Our Nation will be the first multiracial, multiethnic democracy in the history of the world, and it is a credit to our founding vision.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. KHANNA. Madam Speaker, I reiterate my support for this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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