Pub. L. 108-199, div. H, sec. 104

Sec. 104. (a) Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program.—There are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $500,000 to establish and fund a bipartisan Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program (in this section referred to as the “Commission”).(b) Recommendations and Development of Program.—(1) Recommendations.—The Commission shall recommend a program to greatly expand the opportunity for students at institutions of higher education in the United States to study abroad, with special emphasis on studying in developing nations.(2) Development of program.—The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Commission, shall develop a program, described in paragraph (1), that assists a diverse group of students and meets the growing need of the United States to become more sensitive to the cultures of other countries.(c) Composition.—(1) In general.—The Commission shall consist of 17 members to be appointed as follows:(A) Three members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.118 STAT. 436(B) Three members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.(C) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(D) Three members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.(E) One member shall be appointed by the President from a list of candidates submitted by the Secretary of State.(F) One member shall be appointed by the President from a list of candidates submitted by the Secretary of Defense.(G) One member shall be appointed by the President from a list of candidates submitted by the Secretary of Education.(H) One member shall be appointed by the President from a list of candidates submitted by the Secretary of Commerce.(I) One member shall be appointed jointly by the individuals described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), and such member shall serve as Chair of the Commission.(2) Types of individuals.—The Commission may consist of members who are leaders in university exchange programs, leaders in foreign policy, and business leaders with experience in international trade.(d) Executive Director and Staff.—(1) Appointment of executive director.—The Chair of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director of the Commission. The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission. The Chair of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.(2) Staff.—The executive director may appoint not more than 3 individuals to assist the executive director in carrying out the duties of the executive director. The Chair of the Commission may fix the compensation of the individuals appointed by the executive director without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for such individuals may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.(e) Compensation.—Members of the Commission shall not receive compensation for the performance of services for the Commission, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.(f) Report.—Not later than December 1, 2004, the Commission shall submit a report to the appropriate committee of Congress118 STAT. 437 and the President on recommendations for a program to greatly expand the opportunity for students at institutions of higher education in the United States to study abroad.(g) Termination.—The Commission shall terminate not later than December 31, 2004.