H.R. 8741

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8741 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8741

To establish the Philadelphia Campaign Two Hundred and Fiftieth 
Commemoration Commission.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 12, 2026

Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish the Philadelphia Campaign Two Hundred and Fiftieth 
Commemoration Commission.

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 ``Philadelphia Campaign Two Hundred 
and Fiftieth Commemoration Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

(a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
(1) The Philadelphia Campaign of 1777-1778, involving 
events in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, was 
among the most significant set of events in the American 
Revolution. It convinced France to ally with the American cause 
and resulted in the development of the continental army into a 
professionally disciplined force.
(2) Along with the American victory at the nearby battle of 
Saratoga, which occurred concurrently, the continental army's 
ability to fight throughout the Philadelphia campaign, helped 
convince France that the American side could win the war. The 
French officially entered the war as American allies in 
February 1778.
(3) Following the French entry into the war, the British 
retreated from Philadelphia in June 1778 to avoid a potential 
confrontation with the French navy. The continental army was 
then able to follow and engaged British forces at the Battle of 
Monmouth.
(4) The Philadelphia campaign included tactical losses for 
the American side, most notably America's first September 11th 
at the Battle of Brandywine, but the survival of the American 
force was a testament to General Washington's strategy and the 
subsequent winter encampment at Valley Forge allowed the army 
to be trained by Barron Von Steuben, transforming it into a 
more professional and disciplined fighting force. 
Simultaneously the Philadelphia campaign highlighted weaknesses 
and missteps by British commanders, particularly General 
William Howe, and contributed to the understanding that the 
British military could be defeated.
(5) The people of the United States can benefit from 
gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of the 
Philadelphia Campaign and the entire early period of the 
American war for independence.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 250th 
anniversary of the Philadelphia Campaign should be officially 
recognized.

SEC. 3. PHILADELPHIA CAMPAIGN TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH COMMEMORATION 
COMMISSION.

(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the Philadelphia Campaign Two Hundred and Fiftieth Commemoration 
Commission (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').
(b) Duties.--
(1) Report.--The Commission shall submit to Congress a 
report on activities that the Commission recommends be carried 
out by the Federal Government to observe the 250th anniversary 
of the Philadelphia Campaign that--
(A) identifies any such activities that the 
Commission considers most fitting and proper to 
commemorate such anniversary; and
(B) includes any legislative proposals, including 
any proposals for appropriations, related to such 
activities.
(2) Recommendations.--In recommending activities under the 
report required by paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider 
whether to recommend that the Federal Government--
(A) acquire and preserve artifacts associated with 
the Philadelphia Campaign; or
(B) sponsor--
(i) a publicly available interactive 
digital resource the Philadelphia Campaign that 
including scholarly work concerning the 
Philadelphia Campaign;
(ii) conferences, exhibitions, or other 
public meetings concerning the Philadelphia 
Campaign; or
(iii) nationally accessible educational 
resources concerning the Philadelphia Campaign.
(3) Advisory committee.--In preparing the report under 
subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with 
representatives of historical and cultural institutions able to 
contribute the mission of the Commission, including the 
following:
(A) Maryland Center for History and Culture.
(B) Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
(C) Salem County Historical Society.
(D) Chester County Historical Society.
(E) Brandywine Conservancy.
(F) Delaware Historical Society.
(4) Coordination.--The Commission--
(A) shall seek to encourage coordination among 
State, local, international and private sector entities 
with initiatives to commemorate the 250th anniversary 
of the Philadelphia Campaign; and
(B) acting through the Chief Executive Officer of 
the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, establish a voluntary registry of such 
initiatives.
(c) Membership.--
(1) Appointment.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall be composed 
of 14 voting members as follows:
(i) The Librarian of Congress.
(ii) The Chief Operating Officer of the 
Museum of the American Revolution in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(iii) Twelve qualified citizens, appointed 
as follows:
(I) Two members appointed by the 
President.
(II) Two members, at least one of 
whom shall be a Senator, appointed by 
the majority leader of the Senate.
(III) Two members appointed by the 
President on the recommendation of the 
Governor of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania.
(IV) Two members, at least one of 
whom shall be a Senator, appointed by 
the minority leader of the Senate.
(V) Two members, at least one of 
whom shall be a Member of the House of 
Representatives, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of 
Representatives.
(VI) Two members, at least one of 
whom shall be a Member of the House of 
Representatives, appointed by the 
minority leader of the House of 
Representatives.
(B) Time of appointment.--Each initial appointment 
of a member of the Commission shall be made before the 
expiration of the 60-day period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
(C) Continuation of membership.--If a member of the 
Commission was appointed to the Commission as a Member 
of the Congress, and ceases to be a Member of the 
Congress, that member may continue to serve on the 
Commission for not longer than the 30-day period 
beginning on the date on which that member ceases to be 
a Member of the Congress.
(D) Qualified citizen.--In this subsection, the 
term ``qualified citizen'' means a citizen of the 
United States with--
(i) a substantial knowledge and 
appreciation of the history of the American war 
for independence; and
(ii) a commitment to educating people of 
the United States about the historical 
importance of the Philadelphia Campaign and the 
early years of the American Revolution.
(2) Organization.--
(A) Honorary members.--The President--
(i) shall serve as an honorary, nonvoting 
member of the Commission; and
(ii) may invite the President of France and 
the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to 
serve as honorary, nonvoting members of the 
Commission.
(B) Administrative support.--The Commission shall 
seek to enter into an arrangement with the Museum of 
the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
for the Museum to provide to the Commission any 
administrative support as may be determined necessary, 
including by providing administrative offices for the 
Commission at the Museum.
(3) Chair.--The Commission shall select a voting member of 
the Commission to serve as the Chair the Commission.
(4) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of 
the Commission, except that a member shall be removed from the 
Commission for malfeasance or dereliction of duty, as 
determined by a majority vote of the other members of the 
Commission.
(5) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not 
affect the powers of the Commission and shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(6) Basic pay.--Members shall serve on the Commission 
without pay.
(7) Travel expenses.--Each voting member shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(8) Quorum.--Five voting members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(9) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chair.

SEC. 4. POWERS.

(a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times 
and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 
Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any voting member or agent of 
the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action 
that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act.
(c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, any administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.
(e) Procurement.--The Commission may enter into contracts for 
supplies, services, and facilities to carry out the duties of the 
Commission under this Act.
(f) Donations.--The Commission may accept and use donations of--
(1) money; and
(2) personal services.

SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.

(a) Appointment.--The Commission may appoint a Director and such 
additional personnel as the Commission considers to be appropriate.
(b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The Director and 
staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 
the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

SEC. 6. REPORTS.

(a) Interim Reports.--The Commission shall submit to Congress 
interim reports on the activities of the Commission on the dates that 
are 6 months and 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Final Report.--Not later than September 30, 2028, the 
Commission shall submit a final report to Congress that contains--
(1) a detailed statement of all activities carried out by 
the Commission preceding the submission of the report; and
(2) any other information that the Commission considers to 
be appropriate.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

The Commission shall terminate 120 days after the final report is 
submitted to Congress pursuant to section 6(b).

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission, 
$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2028 to 
carry out this Act, to remain available until expended.
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