Executive Order

 EXECUTIVE ORDER
Office of Governor Edward G. Rendell
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

June 30, 2006

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States of America    led    the nation with both courage and compassion during one of the most turbulent periods of American history; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln delivered his transformational speech in Gettysburg on    November 19, 1863, invoking the basic principles of human equality espoused in the Declaration of Independence, thereby redefining the objective of the American Civil War from saving the union to fostering "a new birth of freedom" and refocusing the underlying purpose of government to be an institution "of the people, by the people and for the people"; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln took inspiration from the phrase in the Declaration of    Independence signed at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, in 1776, that "all men are created equal" by leading the effort to fulfill the promise of this great Nation in order to bring an end to slavery; and

WHEREAS,  Lincoln's Gettysburg Address joins the Declaration of Independence and the     United States Constitution, each crafted in Pennsylvania, as one of the most significant articulations of the purpose and promise of the American people; and

WHEREAS,  Abraham Lincoln traveled widely throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,     including when he traveled to Erie, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg on his way to his inauguration; and

WHEREAS, events in Pennsylvania before and during Lincoln's Administration profoundly affected Lincoln's presidency; and

WHEREAS,  the year 2009 will mark the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln on February 12, 1809; and

WHEREAS,  there is a national effort underway to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth and to honor the legacy of his service and sacrifice to his country; and

WHEREAS,  in recognition of the prominent role that Pennsylvania and Pennsylvanians played in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, Pennsylvania historical, tourist, and civic groups are preparing events and activities to commemorate the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other laws, do formally establish the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and do order and direct as follows:

1.  Establishment. 

 a.  There is hereby established the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, herein after referred to as, the "Commission".  The purpose of the Commission is to organize, arrange, and coordinate bicentennial tributes to Abraham Lincoln in Pennsylvania and to coordinate those activities with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (National Com-mission) of the federal government as well as other interested parties.

b.  The Commission shall be based at Gettysburg College.  The Commission shall receive support from the College, which shall be assisted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including, as necessary, the Office of the Governor, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and other agencies of state government as the Governor deems appropriate to be involved in planning and organizing bicentennial celebrations.

2.  Membership. The Commission shall include the following individuals or their respective designees:  

a.   Governor;

b.   President of Gettysburg College;

c.   Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College;

d.   Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives;

e.   Minority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives;

f.    President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate;

g.   Minority Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate;

h.   Secretary of Community and Economic Development;

 i.    Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources;

j.   Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission;

k.   Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts;

l.    Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network;

m.  Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council; 

n.   Superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park;

o.   President of the Board of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries;

p.   President of the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center;

q.   Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Foundation of the Union League of Philadelphia

r.    President of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust; and

s.   six members from the general public representing  areas of Academia, Business, Arts, Community Development, Historic Preservation, and Civil Rights.  The Governor shall appoint the Chair of the Commission.  Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses.

3.  Purpose and Responsibility.  The purpose and responsibilities of the Commission shall include, but are not limited to the following:

a.   lead Pennsylvania's planning efforts to commemorate the significance of Abraham Lincoln to our state and national history;

b.   make recommendations outlining the most effective and appropriate means for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to commemorate the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration;

 c.   identify and pursue resources necessary to effectively communicate and implement commemorative activities;

d.   implement recommendations by working with the Office of the Governor, appropriate state and local government agencies, members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and organizations that are interested in commemorating the life of Abraham Lincoln;

e.   coordinate communications with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Congressional Caucus to ensure that Pennsylvania will be a significant state for events recognizing the contributions of Abraham Lincoln;

f.    coordinate scheduling of Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln bicentennial activities and coordinate activities with the National Commission;

g.   submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly summarizing its activities and findings and making recommendations for Abraham Lincoln commemorative activities; and

h.    shall consider sponsoring an event on November 19, 2006, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to commemorate the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birthday of February 12, 1809.

4.  Termination.  This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2009.