Organization and status

The provisions of this chapter and the name “Virgin Islands” as used in this chapter, shall apply to and include the territorial domain, islands, cays, and waters acquired by the United States through cession of the Danish West Indian Islands by the convention between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Denmark entered into August 4, 1916, and ratified by the Senate on September 7, 1916 (39 Stat. 1706). The Virgin Islands as above described are declared an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. The government of the Virgin Islands shall have the powers set forth in this chapter and shall have the right to sue by such name and in cases arising out of contract, to be sued: Provided, That no tort action shall be brought against the government of the Virgin Islands or against any officer or employee thereof in his official capacity without the consent of the legislature constituted by this chapter. The capital and seat of government of the Virgin Islands shall be located at the city of Charlotte Amalie, in the island of Saint Thomas. The relations between such government and the Federal Government in all matters not the program responsibility of another Federal department or agency shall be under the general administrative supervision of the Secretary of the Interior. “This Act may be cited as the ‘Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act’. “There is established a commission to be known as the ‘Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission’ (in this Act referred to as the ‘Commission’). plan, develop, and carry out such activities as the Commission determines to be appropriate to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States; provide advice and assistance to Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, as well as civic groups to carry out activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States; and submit to the President and Congress the reports required pursuant to section 7. The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs or a designee of the Assistant Secretary. One member appointed by the Governor of the Virgin Islands of the United States or a designee of the Governor. Two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. One Member of the House of Representatives appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. Two Members of the Senate appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. One Member of the Senate appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. All members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 29, 2016]. not affect the powers of the Commission; and be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. Members shall not receive compensation for the performance of duties on behalf of the Commission. Each member of the Commission shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses during the performance of duties of the Commission while away from home or regular place of business of the member, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but two or more members may hold hearings. The chairperson of the Commission shall be selected by a majority vote of the members of the Commission. The Commission shall appoint an executive director and such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. The executive 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, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other staff may not exceed the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of such title. Upon request of the Commission, the Secretary of the Interior or the Archivist of the United States may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the Department of the Interior or the National Archives and Records Administration, respectively[,] to the Commission to assist the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. The Commission may procure such temporary and intermittent services from experts and consultants as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission determines necessary. The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies. The Commission may secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of that Federal agency shall furnish that information to the Commission. The Commission may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money, services, or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission. Upon the request of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall make available to the Commission, at a normal rental rate for Federal agencies, such assistance and facilities as may be necessary for the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. The Commission may enter into contracts with and compensate the Federal Government, State and local governments, private entities, or individuals to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. the activities of the Commission; and 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. a summary of the activities of the Commission; and a final accounting of funds received and expended by the Commission. may perform an audit of the Commission; shall make the results of any such audit available to the public; and shall transmit such results to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. The term ‘Federal agency’ has the meaning given the term ‘agency’ in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. The term ‘State’ means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian tribe. “The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 2018, or may terminate at an earlier date determined by the Commission after the final report is submitted pursuant to section 7(b). “No Federal funds are authorized or may be obligated to carry out this Act.” “The Commission shall— The Commission shall be composed of 8 members as follows: A vacancy on the Commission shall— 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— Not later than January 31, 2018, the Commission shall submit a final report to the President and the Congress containing— “The Inspector General of the Department of the Interior— “In this Act: (Source: (July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 2, 68 Stat. 497; Pub. L. 90–496, § 13, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 842.))