United States Semiquincentennial Commission

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the now-dissolved advisory committee established in September 2020 by then–U.S. President Donald Trump to support what he called "patriotic education", see 1776 Commission.

Cathy Gillespie, Vice President Mike Pence; James L. Swanson, Dan DiLella, Rosie Gumataotao Rios, and Frank Giordano, executive director of the commission.[1]

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission is the Congressionally-appointed body in charge of promoting and coordinating the United States Semiquincentennial. The commission has been chaired by Rosie Rios since July 2022.

Formation

Established under then-

Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 116–282 (text) (PDF), 130 Stat. 685, enacted December 31, 2020, to allow the commission to accept Congressional funding, alter the non voting ex-officio membership, and to make additional technical changes, such as not requiring all meetings to be held in Philadelphia, and instead requiring only one be held each year in the City of Brotherly Love.[3]

The Commissioners, whom are designated by the party leaders of the United States Senate and the House, count a total of eight from Congress, of which, two from each chamber will be designated by their party leader, respectively. In addition, the law provides for the appointment of private citizens, defined as those who are neither employees nor offices of any federal or state or local government. These are appointed by the aforementioned party leadership, with each leader naming four, for a total of sixteen. Among these sixteen, the President of the United States designates a chairperson.

On November 16, 2018,[4] the then-33 members,[5] of the Commission, who are referred to as Commissioners,[6] were sworn in at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which was chosen by Congress "to honor the historical significance of the building as the site of deliberations and adoption of both the United States Declaration of Independence and Constitution,"[7] and convened their first organizing meeting to begin eight years of planning and organizing for the 250th national birthday celebration.[8] Chairman DiLella, designated as such by then-President Donald Trump,[9] estimated that the group would meet three or four times a year.[8] The new commission originally consisted of 16 private citizens, including chairman DiLella, eight members of Congress and nine federal officials.[10] However, in 2020, the organic law was amended to increase the number of non voting ex officio federal officials to a total of 12, including a member designated by the Chief Justice of the United States,[3] increasing the overall body's membership to 36.[11]

All Commission work, which consists of "inclusion — geographic, demographic — [as] a core theme,"[12] shall cease by its termination, on December 31, 2027.[13]

As determined by its organic law, the United States Secretary of the Interior held a competitive application process to select "the nonprofit partner that [would] serve as Administrative Secretariat for the...Commission." On May 4, 2018, the then-

Civil War Trust, now known as the American Battlefield Trust, was chosen. The Administrative Secretariat's responsibilities include housing the Commission, raising funds for it and preparing reports to Congress on behalf of the Commission.[14] Additionally, the Commission works in tandem with the America250 Foundation, "its private, nonprofit partner,"[15] which was founded in 2019 by the Commission and Trust themselves,[11] and is "the primary service provider to the [Commission]," under a Master Service Agreement enacted in May 2020.[16] The Commission and Foundation both "share a website" and work and identify themselves under America250 banner, in addition to having the DiLella as chairman in both organizations.[17] In addition, the Commission helped create a Congressional caucus, the Congressional America250 Caucus to act as a liaison between Commission and Congress.[18]

On November 2, 2020, Donald Trump, through Executive Order 13958, determined that the now-dissolved 1776 Commission shall "advise and offer recommendations to the President and the United States Semiquincentennial Commission regarding the Federal Government's plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence and coordinate with relevant external stakeholders on their plans."[19] Nevertheless, on the following January 20, the aforesaid Executive Order was rescinded by Joe Biden, through Executive Order 13985, on his first day in office.[20]

Funding

Under its 2016, original enabling legislation, "[a]ll expenditures of the Commission shall be made solely from donated funds," however, the 2020 amendments permitted that "[a]ll expenditures of the Commission shall be made from donations, earned income, and any funds made available."

The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) PAYGO 2020 annual report details a net PAYGO impact of $0 even after its planned life course up until 2030.[21] The OMB did not originally score the $8 million contribution under Public Law 116–260, labeling it "as a non-expenditure development transfer," regardless, they corrected the error afterwards.[22]

For its work in the immediate four-year run-up to the Semiquincentennial, the Commission requested that their appropriations be almost doubled, from $8 million to $15 million. Per the proposed budget for fiscal year 2023:

As the Commission approaches 2026, increased activities will require escalating funding levels from the public and private sector to fulfill its mission. The Commission will be reviewing, approving and adopting a number of Commemorative National Signature Programs and National Partner Programs during calendar year 2022. The ability to execute these programs during the primary years from July 4, 2024, through July 4, 2026, will require initial operational funding. This early operational program funding will be used to mobilize 10–15 national programs. This funding will be critical to begin the implementation and execution phases of these America250 signature programs. The Commission envisions needing a minimum of one year or longer to build out the initial infrastructure and operational plan for each program to include but not be limited to; staffing, contracting, operational, and fundraising support. For FY 2023, the Commission requests $15,000,000 to continue necessary expenses and to initiate the execution of national programs and operational plans.

— The Budget for Fiscal Year 2023[23]

In February 2022, it was reported that "[t]he commission [had] received some $12 million in

federal appropriations so far, most of which it has turned over to the America250 Foundation,"[11] however, the following month, per Commissioner James L. Swanson, the amount ascended to "$20 million so far," probably due to the approval of an additional $8 million in the days following his statement.[17]

According to an internal finance report, the Foundation was primarily funded by the Commission, which transferred $11.8 million of congressional appropriations, as of December 2021.[17] The second-highest donor was catalogued as an unnamed "national sponsor" that contributed $2 million, which was later revealed to be Facebook, under a June 2021 agreement that provides for a total of $10 million to be paid in instalments.[17]

Congress has designated the following amounts:[24]

Federal appropriations
FY Amount Enabling legislation Ref.
2019 $500,000[a]
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 116–6 (text) (PDF), 133 Stat. 212
, enacted February 15, 2019 		[25]
2020 $3,300,000[a]
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 116–94 (text) (PDF), 133 Stat. 2692
, enacted December 20, 2019 		[26]
2021 $8,000,000[a]
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 116–260 (text) (PDF), 134 Stat. 1483
, enacted December 27, 2020 		[27]
2022 $8,000,000 Public Law No: 117–103 [28]
2023 $15,000,000 Projected[b] [29][30]
2024 $15,000,000
2025 $16,000,000
2026 $16,000,000
2027 $16,000,000

Controversies

During the months of February and March 2022, through a series of

exposés, the Commission, along with the America250 Foundation, were "accused...of a variety of misdeeds (including discrimination, which the foundation denies),"[15] even though the Foundation had stated that in its presidential and CEO job opening that it was "committed to an inclusive environment where diverse thinking and opinions are shared in a supportive, team-oriented environment."[16]

  • The federal commission charged with
  • commemorating America's
  • semiquincentennial is at war with
  • itself over allegations of
  • featherbedding, favoritism and
  • misappropriation of taxpayer funds.

— Jess Bravin, The Wall Street Journal

Sexism allegations

In September 2021, both Anna Laymon, who had served as vice president of programs and planning, as well as Keri Potts, then-vice president of communications and publications, resigned. The former stated that, among "bouts of organizational instability and mismanagement," there was also a lack of "women in any of the most important positions of power and influence at America250," with her appointment being "used as window dressing with each layer of higher level leadership positions being filled with men."[31]

The following December, both Renee Burchard, then-chief administration officer and chief of staff, and Garlock, who had served as the foundation's chief legal officer, resigned on the same day.[31]

A letter that was sent to Burchard the following month was cause for an inquiry by the office of Commissioner Bonnie Watson Coleman, one of two Democrat Representatives in the Commission. The day after being contacted by Rep. Watson Coleman's office, "Chairman...DiLella, who serves as chairman of both the commission and the foundation, emailed other leaders saying that "four former senior members raised certain concerns." He promised "a thorough, impartial investigation into the issues raised, to be conducted by a third-party." However, as of March 2022, chief communications officer Michael Frazier stated "that no one had yet been selected to conduct such an investigation."[31]

Burchard's eleven-page resignation letter alleged that the Foundation's legal counsel had determined that Jesse Askew, vice president of branding and marketing, should have been terminated for submitting "fraudulent expense report and unauthorized invoices" totaling $30,000 of federally-appropriated money, which, nevertheless, had been subsequently approved. Since Askew is Black, then-interim Foundation president, Scott Hommel, determined that September to not fire him. Burchard reported that Hommel's decision boiled down to the public relations implications, and, that a soon-to-be employee who happened to be Black should fire Askew, as Hommel declared "when a black guy fires a black guy, then it's not that bad and would be viewed differently."[31]

Askew alleged that Garlock had approved said invoices, however, she stated that "[a]s chief legal officer, I never had the authority to approve, ratify or sign contracts on behalf of the foundation. These agreements, if executed, were entered into over strong and continuous objections."[31]

After the initial news report, three Commissioners, Senator

Robert Casey, as well as Representatives Dwight Evans and Watson Coleman, wrote to DiLella, citing the article, as well as their concerns relating that the misuse of funds "or any discriminations in any way involved in their expenditure in unacceptable." In response, DiLella stated that they allegations were taken "seriously," they had knowledge of the complaints," there would be "plans to hire n outside firm to investigate the allegations," and that he believed that the ensuing results of the investing would entirely vindicate the Commission.[11]

On February 25, the four former executives filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the Commission, the Foundation, and the America Battlefield Trust, "alleging mismanagement and discrimination drove them from their jobs." The suit also alleges that both the Commission and the Trust failed in their oversight roles of the Foundation,[11] with accusing leadership of "cronyism, self-dealing, mismanagement of funds, potentially unlawful contracting practices and wasteful spending."[32] In addition, it states that DiLella had repeatedly named associates of him to positions of importance, some of the appointments starting off on a voluntary basis and then being transferred to being compensated, a practice, which, in turn created "a 'boys club,' freezing out the women who were given titles and large responsibilities, but no authority or input into key decisions of the foundation," since, "[f]rom the creation of the Foundation until December 2021, only four women served in executive leadership roles," who, coincidentally, were the four plaintiffs.[11]

The requested redress are lost wages, as well as "a Court-mandated full forensic investigation of the Foundation and Commission with respect to pay practices, employment policies and financial transactions and contracts."[11] By March 7, Frazier publicly expressed his and DiLella's hopes of commencing a review in the following 30 days.[17]

Facebook

In March 2022, the Foundation entered into an agreement with Meta Platforms, "giving Facebook's parent an inside role in producing and promoting the Semiquincentennial commemoration in exchange for $10 million." The agreement, which was approved by Chairman DiLella, was criticized for providing Facebook with "too much influence," as well as privileges that might discourage other potential sponsors. Per Commissioner Andrew Hohns, the Commission's rules require that all "contracts that include the use of the commission's...identity" need prior approval by the Commission, nonetheless, none had been, nor had the details of the Facebook contract been made known to the whole of the Commission.[17]

Meta had been "reviewing its association" after the resignation and discrimination reports were made public, nonetheless, they went ahead, becoming America250's exclusive "social connectivity partner, helping "to plan and present the commemorations," as well as appointing Meta CEO

National Parks and Landmarks," requesting the organization to coordinate meetings between the company and Department Interior staff, as well as "outsourcing some Semiquincentennial observances to Meta."[17]

The deal, which was brokered by 21 Sports and Entertainment Marketing Group Inc. and entitled to a 17% commission, was considered by Anna Laymon, then-vice president of programs and planning, in a recording as "seems...to give Facebook special access to a federal agency," while Rob Prazmark, an officer of the aforementioned broker, revealed that it "had been approved by

Thomas McGarrigle, a friend of Mr. DiLella who is serving as the foundation's counsel."[17]

At a September 2021 executive meeting, Renee Burchard, a former-employee like Laymon, "warned that Facebook's involvement could be a deal breaker for other companies," when discussing strategies to lure in other potential corporate sponsors such as Walmart, which has allegedly declined sponsorship invitations.[17]

Centralization

As was expected, on Wednesday, March 9, 2022,[17] in a closed-door meeting,[32] the Commission voted to increase DiLella's power, in response to a meeting the previous September where "three members challenged [his] leadership," which was catalogued as "a lack of decorum and respect for fellow Commissioners."[17] These "dissenting commissioners" charged DiLella with "improperly transferring the body's functions and federal appropriations to the private America250 Foundation, which he and his allies control."[32]

Commissioner Frazier had stated that "[t]he Governance Committee spent more than 100 hours, including 14 hours in meetings deliberating on comments and suggestions." Some of the changes, which were approved by a 12-10 margin in a Zoom meeting where it was "proceeded to a vote without debate,"

operate more like a business."[32]

In addition, the Commission endorsed DiLella's actions during the previous years that hadn't received Commission authorization by giving blanket approval. For his part,

Joseph Crowley, who had served as a Representative in the Commission, and afterwards as a private citizen, had previously declared that he was "not comfortable with rubber stamping everything that has been done over the past three years."[17] On the March 9 meeting, Crowley, who decried it as "very authoritarian and not at all in the Spirit of '76," and Representatives Robert Aderholt and Bonnie Watson Coleman, the lattermost of whom held up a sign that read "I Demand to Be Heard," all requested to speak and were ignored by DiLella.[32]

List of Commissioners of the United States Semiquincentennial

Year Members of Congress Private citizens Non voting ex officio
Senate House Senate House
Democrat Republican Democrat Republican Democrat Republican Democrat Republican
* indicates Chairperson, as designated by the President.
2016 Bob Casey Jr.[33] Jeanne Shaheeen[33] Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant David L. Cohen[33] Andrew Hohns[33]
Heather Murren[c][33]
 James L. Swanson[33] Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Continuous Secretary of the Interior
2017 Tom Cotton[34] Pat Toomey[34] Daniel DiLella[34]
Cathy Gillespie[34]
 Lucas Morel[34] Thomas Walker, Jr.[34]
Robert Aderholt[35][36][37] Pat Meehan[35] Val Crofts[38][35] Jim Koch[35] Wilfred M. McClay[35] Lynn Forney Young[35]
Bob Brady[39] Joe Crowley[39] Richard Trumka[39]
Resigned Grant Hill[40] Noah Griffin[40] Amy Gutmann[40]
2018 Vacant
* Rosa Gumataotao Rios[41]
Resigned Resigned Resigned
Vacant Vacant Vacant
2019 George Holding[42][36] Secretary of State
Finished term Finished term Bob Brady[43]
Vacant Vacant Attorney General
Dwight Evans[44]
Bonnie Watson Coleman[45] Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Librarian of Congress
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Archivist of the United States
2020 Removed

in 2020

Presiding officer of the
Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities
Added

in 2020

Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts
2021 Died
Finished term Vacant
Vacant
Maria Elvira Salazar[37]
Joe Crowley[46]
2022
Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Anthony Kennedy (as designated by the Chief Justice of the United States)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c As the 2020 Amendments had not been enacted yet, which provided for federal appropriations for the Commission, the funds were destined "notwithstanding section 9(a)" of the 2016 Act and were specifically destined for use of the Administrative Secretariat, as stated that it "shall be provided to the organization selected under section 9(b) of [the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016],"
  2. ^ The FY2022 Budget Policy forecasted the following appropriations
    • 2023 $8,000,000
    • 2024 $8,000,000
    • 2025 $9,000,000
    • 2026 $9,000,000
    • 2027 $9,000,000

    with funding past the Commission's termination, with $9 million for FYs 2028 and 2029 and $10 million for FYs 2030 and 2031.[29] In a similar manner the FY2023 Budget Policy estimates subsidies amounting to $17 million for FYs 2028 and 2029, with an increase to $18 million for FYs 2030 through 2032.[30]

  3. ^ Resigned before being sworn in.

References

  1. ISSN 0885-6613. Archived from the original
    on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  2. ^ Lawrence, Kerri (10 May 2018). "Ferriero to Serve on Semiquincentennial Commission". archives.gov. National Archives and Records Administration. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b Trump, Donald J. (31 December 2020). "Statement on Signing the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020". The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  4. ^ Landon, Bren (14 November 2018). "Inaugural Meeting of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission". Daughters of the American Revolution. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  5. ^ Parry, Bill (27 November 2018). "Crowley joins national commission planning America's 250th anniversary celebration". QNS. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. ISSN 1042-9840. Archived from the original
    on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  7. ^ Lawrence, Kerri (10 May 2018). "Ferriero to Serve on Semiquincentennial Commission". National Archives and Records Administration. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b American Battlefield Trust (19 November 2018). "Inaugural Meeting of U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission Held in Philadelphia". PR Newswire. Cision. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  9. ^ Trump, Donald J. (26 February 2018). "Press Release - President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  10. ISSN 0885-6613. Archived from the original
    on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  11. ^
    ISSN 1042-9840. Archived from the original
    on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  12. ISSN 1553-8095. Archived from the original
    on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Nonprofit Sought to Coordinate U.S.A.'s 250th Anniversary Commemoration". United States Department of the Interior. 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Civil War Trust Selected as Nonprofit Partner for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States". United States Department of the Interior. 4 May 2018. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  15. ^
    ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original
    on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  16. ^ a b "President and CEO, America 250 Foundation". American Association for State and Local History. May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  17. ^
    ISSN 1042-9840. Archived from the original
     on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  18. ^ Otte, Emilia (31 July 2021). "States Lay Groundwork for 250-year Anniversary of 1776". The Connecticut Examiner. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  19. ^ Trump, Donald J. (2 November 2020). "Executive Order 13958—Establishing the President's Advisory 1776 Commission". The Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  20. ^ Biden Jr., Joseph R. (20 January 2021). "Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government". whitehouse.gov. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  21. ^ Kinneen, Kelly A. (January 2021). "2020 Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act Annual Report" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  22. ^ Vought, Russell T. (15 January 2021). "Seven-Day-After report for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260)" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  23. ^ "The budget for Fiscal Year 2023" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. March 2022. p. 42. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  24. ^ "A Five Year Update: 2016-2021 Report to the President" (PDF). America250. 31 January 2022. p. 13. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Public Law 116-6" (PDF). United States Congress. 15 February 2019. p. 200. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Public Law 116-04 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020" (PDF). United States Congress. 20 December 2019. p. 160. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Public Law 116-260 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021" (PDF). United States Congress. 27 December 2020. p. 303. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  28. ^ "H.R.2471 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022" (PDF). United States Congress. 15 March 2022. p. 360. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  29. ^ a b "table 12-1. Federal Budget by Agency and Account, FY2022 President's Budget Policy" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. May 2021. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  30. ^ a b "table 26-1. Federal Budget by agency and Account, FY2023 President's Budget Policy" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. 28 March 2022. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  31. ^
    ISSN 1042-9840. Archived from the original
    on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  32. ^
    ISSN 1042-9840. Archived from the original
    on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  33. ^
    Government Publishing Office: S6317–S6318. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  34. ^
    Government Publishing Office: S943. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  35. ^
    Government Publishing Office: H1319. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  36. ^
    Government Publishing Office: H3090. 4 April 2019. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  37. ^
    Government Publishing Office
    : H1771.
  38. ISSN 2169-0979. Archived from the original
    on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  39. ^
    Government Publishing Office: H4374. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  40. ^
    Government Publishing Office: H5381. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  41. Government Publishing Office: S170. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  42. Government Publishing Office: H4246. 21 May 2018. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  43. Government Publishing Office: H7533. 6 September 2019. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  44. Government Publishing Office: H234. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  45. Government Publishing Office: H2045. 22 February 2019. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.
  46. Government Publishing Office: H5604. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original
    on 13 April 2022.

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Semiquincentennial_Commission&oldid=1185109426"