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A bill to amend the Act establishing a Commission on the Bicentennial of the Constitution of the United States to clarify the status of employees of the Commission, to raise the limits on private contributions, and for other purposes.

Public Law 99-549 · H.R. 3559 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 27, 1986 · Economics and Public Finance

Sponsor: Rep. Lindy Boggs (D-LA-2)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Phil Crane

Passage votes

  • HouseMethod not stated
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Removes the limitation on the number of persons the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution may hire without regard to certain Federal hiring procedures. Increases the number of detailees that may be assigned to the Commission. Increases the number of private donations that the Commission may accept.

Authorizes the Commission to transfer funds to any Federal agency for the purpose of promoting the commemoration of the bicentennial.

Declares that it is not the purpose of this Act or the law which established the Commission to preempt any other government entity from celebrating the bicentennial under its own authority.

Authorizes the Commission to authorize the use of the bicentennial logo for noncommercial, educational purposes without charge when such use is essentially a public service.

Sets forth terms and conditions for the Commission to grant commercial licenses for the use of such logo and penalties for violations of such terms.

Authorizes appropriations.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Civil and Constitutional Rights Subcommittee
  • Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Census and Population Subcommittee; Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.

  1. Oct 27, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-549.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 16, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 10, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments.
  5. Oct 6, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Senate vitiated previous passage.
  7. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  8. Oct 3, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1779 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  9. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  10. Jun 24, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 409 - 7 (Record Vote No: 192).House roll call 192
  11. Apr 28, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Judiciary Committee
  12. Apr 16, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Civil and Constitutional Rights Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  13. Apr 14, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  15. Mar 12, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  16. Feb 20, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  18. Dec 5, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Census and Population Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  20. Oct 24, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Census and Population Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  21. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  22. Oct 11, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  23. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.