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Managing America: Commemoration

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Week Ending September 28, 2007

H.R.1520 To establish the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission, the Hudson-Fulton 400th Commemoration Commission, and for other purposes.

Samuel de Champlain was the first European explorer to discover and explore Lake Champlain, Henry Hudson was the first European explorer to sail up the Hudson River and Robert Fulton was the first person to use steam power for commercial vessels on the Hudson River. The three have been joined together under a 400 year commemoration commission, established by the Secretary of Interior to plan and execute programs and activities commemorating their explorations and innovations.

Hudson, on behalf of the Dutch East India Company, sailed the HALF MOON up the Hudson in 1609 while Champlain was sailing the inland lake that would then be named after him. About 200 years later, Fulton navigated the Hudson from New York City to Albany in his steamboat, CLERMONT, ringing in the age of commercial navigation under steam power.

The Commission will have 11 members including members from the National Park Service and local residents. The Commission can make grants for historical research not to exceed $20,000. The executive director of the Commission will be on salary. The Commission will receive $500,000 yearly from 2007 through 2011. 45% will be spent related to Champlain in New York and 45% in Vermont. Ten percent appears to be for administrative activities.

Sponsor:  Rep Maurice Hinchey (D-NY-22^nd)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote September 24, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: $2.5 million

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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MORE INFORMATION

(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall--

(A) plan, develop, and execute programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson, the first European to sail up the Hudson River, and the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Robert Fulton, the first person to use steam navigation on a commercial basis;

(B) facilitate Hudson-Fulton-related activities throughout the United States;

(C) coordinate its activities with the State commemoration commission and appropriate Federal Government agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, State, and Transportation, the National Park Service with respect to the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, and the American Heritage Rivers Initiative Interagency Committee established by Executive Order 13061, dated September 11, 1997, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Smithsonian Institution;

(D) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, economic, and other organizations throughout the United States to organize and participate in anniversary activities to expand the understanding and appreciation of the significance of the voyages of Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton;

(E) provide technical assistance to States, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration;

(F) coordinate and facilitate for the public scholarly research on, publication about, and interpretation of, the voyages of Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton;

(G) ensure that the Hudson-Fulton 2009 commemorations provide a lasting legacy and long-term public benefit by assisting in the development of appropriate programs and facilities; and

(H) assist in ensuring that the observances of the voyage of Henry Hudson are inclusive and appropriately recognize the experiences and heritage of all people present when Henry Hudson sailed the Hudson River.

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