
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC469j]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
     CHAPTER 1A--HISTORIC SITES, BUILDINGS, OBJECTS, AND ANTIQUITIES
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 469j. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage 
        Abroad
        

(a) Purpose

    Because the fabric of a society is strengthened by visible reminders 
of the historical roots of the society, it is in the national interest 
of the United States to encourage the preservation and protection of the 
cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings associated with the 
foreign heritage of United States citizens.

(b) Establishment

    There is established a commission to be known as the Commission for 
the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad (hereafter in this section 
referred to as the ``Commission'').

(c) Duties

    The Commission shall--
        (1) identify and publish a list of those cemeteries, monuments, 
    and historic buildings located abroad which are associated with the 
    foreign heritage of United States citizens from eastern and central 
    Europe, particularly those cemeteries, monuments, and buildings 
    which are in danger of deterioration or destruction;
        (2) encourage the preservation and protection of such 
    cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings by obtaining, in 
    cooperation with the Department of State, assurances from foreign 
    governments that the cemeteries, monuments, and buildings will be 
    preserved and protected; and
        (3) prepare and disseminate reports on the condition of and the 
    progress toward preserving and protecting such cemeteries, 
    monuments, and historic buildings.

(d) Membership

    (1) The Commission shall consist of 21 members appointed by the 
President, 7 of whom shall be appointed after consultation with the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and 7 of whom shall be appointed 
after consultation with the President pro tempore of the Senate.
    (2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), members of 
the Commission shall be appointed for terms of 3 years.
    (B) Of the members first appointed after consultation with the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, 5 shall be appointed for a term 
of 2 years. Of the members first appointed after consultation with the 
President pro tempore of the Senate, 5 shall be appointed for 2 years.
    (C) A member appointed to fill a vacancy on the Commission shall 
serve for the remainder of the term for which the member's predecessor 
was appointed.
    (D) A member may retain membership on the Commission until the 
member's successor has been appointed.
    (3) The President shall designate the Chairman of the Commission 
from among its members.

(e) Meetings

    The Commission shall meet at least once every six months.

(f) Compensation and per diem

    (1) Members of the Commission shall receive no pay on account of 
their service on the Commission.
    (2) 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 
the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 
5.

(g) Authorities

    (1) The Commission or any member it authorizes may, for the purposes 
of carrying out this section, hold such hearings, sit and act at such 
times and places, request such attendance, take such testimony, and 
receive such evidence, as the Commission considers appropriate.
    (2) The Commission may appoint such personnel (subject to the 
provisions of title 5 which govern appointments in the competitive 
service) and may fix the pay of such personnel (subject to the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates) as the 
Commission deems desirable.
    (3) The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services 
to the same extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5, but 
at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the 
maximum annual rate of basic pay then in effect for grade GS-18 of the 
General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)).
    (4) Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
department or agency, including the Secretary of State, may detail, on a 
reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such department or agency to 
the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this 
section.
    (5) The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency 
of the United States, including the Department of State, any information 
necessary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon the request of 
the Chairman of the Commission, the head of such department or agency 
shall furnish such information to the Commission.
    (6) The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of money or property.
    (7) The Commission may use the United States mails in the same 
manner and upon the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 
the United States.
    (8) The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services 
as the Commission may request.

(h) Reports

    The Commission shall transmit an annual report to the President and 
to each House of Congress as soon as practicable after the end of each 
fiscal year. Each report shall include a detailed statement of the 
activities and accomplishments of the Commission during the preceding 
fiscal year and any recommendations by the Commission for legislation 
and administrative actions.

(Pub. L. 99-83, title XIII, Sec. 1303, Aug. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 280; Pub. 
L. 105-277, div. A, Sec. 101(b) [title VI, Sec. 620], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 
Stat. 2681-50, 2681-115.)

                       References in Text

    The provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive 
service, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), are classified generally to 
section 3301 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
    The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), is set out 
under section 5332 of Title 5.


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105-277 substituted ``six'' for 
``three''.


                             Effective Date

    Section effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 99-83, 
set out as an Effective Date of 1985 Amendment note under section 2151-1 
of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.


                  Termination of Reporting Requirements

    For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. 
(h) of this section relating to transmittal of annual report to 
Congress, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104-66, as amended, set out as a 
note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 157 of 
House Document No. 103-7.


         References in Other Laws to GS-16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

    References in laws to the rates of pay for GS-16, 17, or 18, or to 
maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered 
references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, 
Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, 
Sec. 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101-509, set out in a note under section 5376 
of Title 5.
