2 1 with any recommendations for the management of the nation2 al park system or any proposed additions to such system, as 3 it considers appropriate. Concurrently with the submission of 4 the annual budget of the United States by the President, the 5 Board shall submit to the President and to the Congress 6 budget recommendations for the National Park Service and 7 for the Board. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or 8 any rule, regulation, or policy directive, the Board shall 9 transmit such annual report and budget recommendations, 10 and provide any other information on the request of any 11 committee or subcommittee of Congress, by report, testimo12 ny, or otherwise, without review, clearance, or approval by 13 any other administrative authority except to the extent that 14 the Board may deem such review, clearance, or approval 15 appropriate. 16 (b) MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF OFFICE.-The Presi17 dent shall appoint members of the Board from among persons 18 who, because of education or experience, are considered 19 knowledgeable regarding policy issues affecting the natural 20 or cultural resources of the Nation. The Board shall consist 21 of 3 members serving for terms of 4 years, except that the 22 terms of the members first taking office shall expire (as desig23 nated by the President at the time of appointment) as follows: 24 one member after 3 years, one member after 5 years, and one 25 member after 7 years. Members of the Board may be re HR 3964 IH 3 1 moved by the President only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, 2 or malfeasance in office. Any member appointed to fill a va3 cancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which 4 his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the 5 remainder of such term. 6 (c) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.-The Board shall 7 elect a Chairman from among its members. A majority of the 8 Board serving at any one time shall constitute a quorum for 9 the transaction of business. The Board shall have an official 10 seal, which shall be judicially noticed. The Board shall meet 11 at the call of the Chairman. Any member of the Board may, 12 with the authorization of the Chairman, conduct public meet13 ings. There shall be at least 6 meetings of the Board each 14 year. In carrying out its functions, the Board may adopt 15 bylaws, rules, and regulations necessary for the administra16 tion of its functions and may contract for any necessary 17 services. 18 (d) PUBLIC MEETINGS; PUBLIC COMMENT.-All meet19 ings of the Board shall be open to the public and the Board 20 shall solicit, and review, public comments on all recommen21 dations to be made by the Board. 22 (e) COMPENSATION.-Members of the Board shall each 23 be paid annual compensation at a rate equal to the highest 24 rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Sched25 ule. While away from their homes or regular places of busi HR 3964 IH 4 1 ness in the performance of services for the Commission, 2 members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 3 including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner 4 as persons employed intermittently in Government service 5 are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5 of the 6 United States Code. 7 (f) STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.-The Board 8 may appoint and fix the pay of such personnel as it considers 9 appropriate, including at least a chief of staff, a secretary to 10 the Board, a legal counsel, 5 investigators, and 10 support 11 staff. The staff shall be appointed subject to the provisions of 12 title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 13 competitive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the 14 provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 15 such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay 16 rates. The Board may procure temporary and intermittent 17 services under section 3109(b) of title 5 of the United States 18 Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed basic pay 19 payable for GS-13 of the General Schedule. Upon request of 20 the Board, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to 21 detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such 22 agency to the Board to assist the Board in carrying out its 23 duties under this Act. 24 (g) OBTAINING DATA.-Notwithstanding section 552 25 through 552b of title 5 of the United States Code, the Board HR 3964 IH 5 1 may secure directly from the National Park Service informa2 tion necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon re3 quest of the Chairman of the Board, the Director of the Na4 tional Park Service shall furnish such information to the 5 Board. 6 (h) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.-The Ad7 ministrator of General Services shall provide to the Board on 8 a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as 9 the Board may request. The Board may use the United 10 States mails in the same manner and under the same condi11 tions as other departments and agencies of the United States. 12 SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. 13 (a) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.-There 14 shall be within the Department of the Interior, a National 15 Park Service headed by a Director, who shall be appointed 16 by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 17 Senate, from among persons qualified, by training and experi18 ence and by demonstrated ability, to administer, protect, and 19 preserve the natural and cultural resources of the United 20 States. The Director shall be paid at the rate of basic pay 21 payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 22 5316 of title 5 of the United States Code. The Director shall 23 hold office for a term of 5 years and may be removed by the 24 President only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. 25 HR 3964 IH 6 1 (b) FUNCTIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 2 delegate to the Director of the National Park Service ap3 pointed under this Act all functions and authorities of the 4 Secretary regarding the administration of the National Park 5 System and all other functions and authorities exercised by 6 the Director of the National Park Service as of the enact7 ment of this Act. The Secretary shall retain all authorities 8 not so delegated and shall have the authority and responsibil9 ity to convey information regarding the national park system 10 to the cabinet. In the performance of his functions, the Direc11 tor and the officers and employees of the National Park Serv12 ice shall not be responsible to, or subject to the supervision or 13 direction of, any officer or employee, or agent of any other 14 part of the Department of the Interior. 15 (c) EMPLOYEES.-The Director shall appoint and fix 16 the compensation of all officers and employees of the Nation17 al Park Service. Upon appointment of the Director of the 18 National Park Service under this Act, the Director of the 19 Office of Management and Budget shall provide for the trans20 fer to the administrative jurisdiction of such Director such of 21 the personnel, property, funds, and records of the service cre22 ated by the first section of the Act approved August 25, 1916 23 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1), as are under the administrative 24 jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior. Salaries, 25 grades, and benefits of employees so transferred shall not be HR 3964 IH |