(1) increase understanding of East Asian research, and innovation for the creative application of science and technology to the problems of society;

(2) provide scientists, engineers, technology managers, and students with training in East Asian languages, and with an understanding of research, technology, and management of innovation, in East Asian countries;

(3) provide program participants with opportunities to be directly involved in scientific and engineering research, and activities related to the management of scientific and technological innovation, in East Asia; and

(4) create mechanisms for cooperation and partnerships among United States industry, universities, colleges, not-forprofit institutions, Federal laboratories (within the meaning of section 4(6) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703(6))), and government, to disseminate the results of the program assisted under this section for the benefit of United States research and innovation.

(c) PARTICIPATION BY FEDERAL SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND MANAGERS. Scientists, engineers, and managers of science and engineering programs in Federal agencies and the Federal laboratories shall be eligible to participate in the program assisted under this section on a reimbursable basis.

(d) REQUIREMENT FOR MERIT REVIEW.-Awards made under the program established under this section shall only be made using a competitive, merit-based review process.

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.

PART G-OLYMPIC SCHOLARSHIPS

SEC. 836. [20 U.S.C. 1070 note] EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION. Section 1543(d) of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 is amended by striking "1993" and inserting "1999".

PART H-UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

SEC. 841. [20 U.S.C. 1153] UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAM.

(a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.-The Secretary of Education, in consultation and cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, is authorized to make grants to 1 or more nonprofit educational organizations that are established to research, display, interpret, and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.

(b) GRANT AGREEMENT.-Each nonprofit educational organization awarded a grant under this section shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Education. Each such agreement shall require the organization

(1) to establish a facility to house, display, and interpret the artifacts related to the history of the Underground Railroad, and to make the interpretive efforts available to institu

tions of higher education that award a baccalaureate or graduate degree;

(2) to demonstrate substantial private support for the facility through the implementation of a public-private partnership between a State or local public entity and a private entity for the support of the facility, which private entity shall provide matching funds for the support of the facility in an amount equal to 4 times the amount of the contribution of the State or local public entity, except that not more than 20 percent of the matching funds may be provided by the Federal Government;

(3) to create an endowment to fund any and all shortfalls in the costs of the on-going operations of the facility;

(4) to establish a network of satellite centers throughout the United States to help disseminate information regarding the Underground Railroad throughout the United States, if such satellite centers raise 80 percent of the funds required to establish the satellite centers from non-Federal public and private sources;

(5) to establish the capability to electronically link the facility with other local and regional facilities that have collections and programs which interpret the history of the Underground Railroad; and

(6) to submit, for each fiscal year for which the organization receives funding under this section, a report to the Secretary of Education that contains

(A) a description of the programs and activities supported by the funding;

(B) the audited financial statement of the organization for the preceding fiscal year;

(C) a plan for the programs and activities to be supported by the funding as the Secretary may require; and

(D) an evaluation of the programs and activities supported by the funding as the Secretary may require.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.

PART I-SUMMER TRAVEL AND WORK

PROGRAMS

SEC. 846. [20 U.S.C. 1474 note] AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER SUMMER TRAVEL AND WORK PROGRAMS.

The Director of the United States Information Agency is authorized to administer summer travel and work programs without regard to preplacement requirements.

PART J-WEB-BASED EDUCATION

SEC. 851. DEFINITIONS.

COMMISSION

(a) IN GENERAL.-This part may be cited as the "Web-Based Education Commission Act”.

(b) DEFINITIONS.-In this part:

(1) COMMISSION.-The term "Commission" means the WebBased Education Commission established under section 852.

(2) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.-The term "information technology" has the meaning given that term in section 5002 of the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 679).

(3) STATE.-The term "State" means each of the several States of the United States and the District of Columbia.

SEC. 852. ESTABLISHMENT OF WEB-BASED EDUCATION COMMISSION. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.-There is established a commission to be known as the Web-Based Education Commission.

(b) MEMBERSHIP.

(1) COMPOSITION.-The Commission shall be composed of 14 members, of which—

(A) three members shall be appointed by the President, from among individuals representing the Internet technology industry;

(B) three members shall be appointed by the Secretary, from among individuals with expertise in accreditation, establishing statewide curricula, and establishing information technology networks pertaining to education curricula;

(C) two members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate;

(D) two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(E) two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(F) two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(2) DATE.-The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.-Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(d) INITIAL MEETING.-Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the Commission's first meeting.

(e) MEETINGS.-The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.

(f) QUORUM.-A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.

(g) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.-The Commission shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission.

SEC. 853. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) STUDY.

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Commission shall conduct a thorough study to assess the educational software available in retail markets for secondary and postsecondary students who choose to use such software.

(2) PUBLIC HEARINGS.-As part of the study conducted under this subsection, the Commission shall hold public hearings in each region of the United States concerning the assessment referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) EXISTING INFORMATION.-To the extent practicable, in carrying out the study under this subsection, the Commission shall identify and use existing information related to the assessment referred to in paragraph (1).

(b) REPORT.-Not later than 6 months after the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit a report to the President and Congress that shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission resulting from the study, together with the Commission's recommendations

(1) for such legislation and administrative actions as the Commission considers to be appropriate; and

(2) regarding the appropriate Federal role in determining

quality educational software products.

(c) FACILITATION OF EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION.-In carrying out the study under subsection (a), the Commission shall, to the extent practicable, facilitate the exchange of information concerning the issues that are the subject of the study among

(1) officials of the Federal Government, and State governments and political subdivisions of States; and

(2) educators from Federal, State, and local institutions of higher education and secondary schools.

SEC. 854. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) HEARINGS.-The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the duties of the Commission.

(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.-The Commission may request from the head of any Federal agency or instrumentality such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this part. Each such agency or instrumentality shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the exceptions set forth in section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), furnish such information to the Commission upon request.

(c) POSTAL SERVICES.-The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

(d) GIFTS.-The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

SEC. 855. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.-Except as provided in subsection (b), each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation. All members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States.

(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.-The members of the Commission 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.

(c) STAFF.

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform the Commission's duties. The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.

(2) COMPENSATION.-The Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel 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 and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

(d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.-Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.

(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERVICES.-The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

SEC. 856. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the Commission's report under section 853(b).

SEC. 857. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL.-There are authorized to be appropriated $450,000 for fiscal year 1999 to the Commission to carry out this part.

(b) AVAILABILITY.-Any sums appropriated under the authorization contained in this section shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.