[Senate Report 115-361]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 648
115th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 115-361
======================================================================
THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT
EXTENSION
_______
November 14, 2018.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4446]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (H.R. 4446) to amend the Virgin Islands of
the United States Centennial Commission Act to extend the
expiration date of the Commission, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
Purpose
The purpose of H.R. 4446 is to amend the Virgin Islands of
the United States Centennial Commission Act to extend the
expiration date of the Commission.
Background and Need
The transfer of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the
United States in 1917 was a significant historic and culture
event. Public Law 114-224 established a bipartisan Federal
commission, known as the Virgin Islands of the United States
Centennial Commission (Commission), to develop, plan, and
execute formal commemorative activities to honor the rich
heritage of the U.S. Virgin Islands and celebrate the 100th
anniversary of its status as a U.S. territory.
While the Commission was established on September 29, 2016,
with the enactment of Public Law 114-224, the appointment of
two of the Commission's members was delayed by over one year.
Additionally, the impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
made any Commission activities extremely difficult. The
Commission did not hold its first official meeting until June
13, 2018. Because there has only been one meeting, at which the
Executive Director was selected, the Commission has not
submitted a report to the President and Congress on its
activities. H.R. 4446 provides the Commission with an
additional year to fulfill its responsibilities and further
extends the timeline for submission of its final report.
Legislative History
H.R. 4446 was introduced by Representative Plaskett (D-VI)
in the House of Representatives on November 16, 2017, and
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
On March 15, 2018, the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform ordered H.R. 4446 favorably reported, as amended, by
voice vote. On July 16, 2018, the House of Representatives
passed H.R. 4446 by voice vote.
On July 17, 2018, H.R. 4446 was received in the Senate and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in open
business session on October 2, 2018, and ordered H.R. 4446
favorably reported.
Committee Recommendation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on October 2, 2018, by a majority voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R.
4446.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Amendment
Section 1 amends the Virgin Islands of the United States
Centennial Commission Act (Public Law 114-224) to extend the
deadline for the submission of the Commission's final report by
one-year to January 31, 2019. This section also extends the
Commission's termination date by one-year to September 30,
2019.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The following estimate of the costs of this measure has
been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: H.R. 4446
would extend the authority for the Virgin Islands of the United
States Centennial Commission, to act for one additional year
(through September 30, 2019). The Commission, whose members
have been selected but have not met, is prohibited from using
appropriated funds.
Enacting the legislation would affect direct spending
because it would allow the commission to continue to accept and
spend monetary gifts for an additional year. Therefore, pay-as-
you-go procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that the net
effect on direct spending would be negligible. Enacting H.R.
4446 would not affect revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4446 would not increase
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 4446 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
On March, 20, 2018, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for
H.R. 4446 as ordered reported by the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform on March 15, 2018. On February
20, 2018, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 4446, an
amendment in the Nature of a Substitute as posted on the House
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's website on
February 6, 2018. The three pieces of legislation are identical
and CBO's estimates of their budgetary effects are the same.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew
Pickford. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out H.R. 4446. The Act is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of H.R. 4446, as ordered reported.
Congressionally Directed Spending
H.R. 4446, as ordered reported, does not contain any
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Executive Communications
The Committee did not request Executive Communications for
H.R. 4446.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the Act, H.R. 4446, as ordered reported, are shown as follows
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman):
VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT
Public Law 114-224
* * * * * * *
SEC. 7. REPORTS
(a) Annual Reports.--Not later than January 31 of each
year, and annually thereafter until the final report is
submitted pursuant to subsection (b), the Commission shall
submit to the President and the Congress a report on--
(1) The activities of the Commission; and
(2) The revenue and expenditures of the Commission,
including a list of each gift, bequest, or devise to
the Commission with a value of more than $250,
including the identity of the donor of each gift,
bequest, or devise.
(b) Final Report.--Not later than [January 31, 2018]
January 31, 2019, the Commission shall submit a final report to
the President and the Congress containing--
(1) A summary of the activities of the Commission;
and
(2) A final accounting of funds received and expended
by the Commission
* * * * * * *
SEC. 10. TERMINATION
The Commission shall terminate on [September 30, 2018]
September 30, 2019, or may terminate at an earlier date
determined by the Commission after the final report is
submitted pursuant to section 7(b).
* * * * * * *
[all]