Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces Act

Summary: Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces Act - Establishes the Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces to study and report to the Congress on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the science and engineering work forces. Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on the Advancement of 
Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) despite a consistently high presence of women in the 
        professional and total work forces of the United States, women 
        continue to be underrepresented in the science and engineering 
        work forces;
            (2) women scientists and engineers have higher rates of 
        unemployment and underemployment than their male counterparts, 
        although the number of women receiving degrees in scientific 
        and engineering disciplines has increased since 1981;
            (3) artificial barriers exist in the recruitment, 
        retention, and advancement of women in the science and 
        engineering work forces;
            (4) academia, industry, and government are increasingly 
        aware of the necessity of and the advantages derived from 
        diverse science and engineering work forces;
            (5) initiatives of the White House Task Force on Women, 
        Minorities, and the Handicapped in Science and Technology and 
        of the Federal Coordinating Council on Science, Engineering, 
        and Technology have been instrumental in raising public 
        awareness of--
                    (A) the underrepresentation of women in the science 
                and engineering work forces; and
                    (B) the desirability of eliminating artificial 
                barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement 
                of women in such work forces; and
            (6) the establishment of a commission to examine issues 
        raised by these initiatives would help to--
                    (A) focus greater attention on the importance of 
                eliminating artificial barriers to the recruitment, 
                retention, and advancement of women in the science and 
                engineering work forces and in all employment sectors 
                of the United States;
                    (B) promote work force diversity; and
                    (C) encourage the replication of successful 
                recruitment and retention programs by universities, 
                corporations, and Federal agencies having difficulties 
                in employing women scientists and engineers.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Commission 
on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work 
Forces'' (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTY OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall conduct a study to--
            (1) identify the number of women in the United States in 
        the science and engineering work forces, and the specific types 
        of occupations in such workforces in which women scientists and 
        engineers are underrepresented;
            (2) examine the preparedness of women to--
                    (A) pursue careers in the science and engineering 
                work forces; and
                    (B) advance to positions of greater responsibility 
                within academia, industry, and government;
            (3) describe the practices and policies of employers and 
        labor unions relating to the recruitment, retention, and 
        advancement of women scientists and engineers;
            (4) identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers 
        to, the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women 
        scientists and engineers in academia, industry, and government;
            (5) describe the employment situations in which the 
        recruitment, retention, and advancement of women scientists and 
        engineers are comparable to their male counterparts, and 
        identify those situations in which such comparability does not 
        exist;
            (6) compile a synthesis of available research on practices, 
        policies, and programs that have successfully led to the 
        recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the science 
        and engineering work forces, including training programs, 
        rotational assignments, developmental programs, reward 
        programs, employee benefit structures, and family leave 
        policies;
            (7) examine such other issues and information relating to 
        the advancement of women in the science and engineering work 
        forces as determined by the Commission to be appropriate; and
            (8) issue recommendations that government (including 
        Congress and appropriate Federal agencies), academia, and 
        private industry can follow to assist in the recruitment, 
        retention, and advancement of women in science and engineering.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 18 
members as follows:
            (1) 5 members appointed by the President.
            (2) 3 members appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House 
        of Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate.
            (3) 1 member appointed by the majority leader of the House 
        of Representatives.
            (4) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives.
            (5) 1 member appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (6) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (7) 2 Members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
        jointly by the majority leader and the minority leader of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (8) 2 Senators appointed jointly by the majority leader and 
        the minority leader of the Senate.
            (9) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
        Policy.
    (b) Additional Qualifications.--Initial appointments shall be made 
under subsection (a) not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. In making each appointment under subsection (a), 
the appointing authority shall consider (among other factors) whether 
the individual--
            (1) is a member of an organization representing women and 
        minorities;
            (2) holds executive management or senior decision-making 
        positions in any business entity; and
            (3) possesses academic expertise or other recognized 
        abilities relating to employment and employment discrimination 
        issues.
    (c) Political Affiliation.--Not more than \1/2\ of the members may 
be of the same political party.
    (d) Continuation of Membership.--If a member was appointed to the 
Commission because the member was an officer or employee of any 
government and later ceases to be such an officer or employee, that 
member may continue as a member of the Commission for not longer than 
the 60-day period beginning on the date the member ceases to be such an 
officer or employee.
    (e) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Each Member shall be appointed for the 
        life of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (f) Basic Pay.--
            (1) Rates of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        each member of the Commission shall receive compensation at the 
        daily equivalent of the maximum rate of pay payable under 
        section 5376 of title 5, United States Code, for each day the 
        member is engaged in the performance of duties for the 
        Commission, including attendance at meetings and conferences of 
        the Commission, and travel to conduct the duties of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
        Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or 
        employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not 
        receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of 
        their service on the Commission.
    (g) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (h) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
    (i) Chairperson.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall serve as the Chairperson of the Commission.
    (j) Meetings.--
            (1) Meetings prior to completion of report.--The Commission 
        shall meet not fewer than 5 times in connection with and 
        pending the completion of the reports described in subsections 
        (a) and (b) of section 8. The Commission shall hold additional 
        meetings for such purpose if the Chairperson or a majority of 
        the members of the Commission requests the additional meetings 
        in writing.
            (2) Meetings after completion of report.--The Commission 
        shall meet at least once, but not more than twice after the 
        completion of the report described in section 8(b), in 
        connection with and pending completion of the report required 
        by section 8(c).
    (k) Employment Status.--A member of the Commission, who is not 
otherwise an officer or employee of the Federal Government, shall not 
be deemed to be an employee of the Federal Government except for the 
purposes of--
            (1) the tort claims provisions of chapter 171 of title 28, 
        United States Code; and
            (2) subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States 
        Code, relating to compensation for work injuries.

SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

    (a) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director who shall be 
appointed by the Chairperson. The Director shall be paid at a rate not 
to exceed the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable under section 
5376 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Staff.--Subject to rules prescribed by the Commission, the 
Chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel as the 
Chairperson considers appropriate.
    (c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The 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 that title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that 
an individual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of the maximum 
annual rate of basic pay payable under section 5376 of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (d) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary 
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code, at rates for individuals not to exceed the maximum annual 
rate of basic pay payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States 
Code.
    (e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the 
Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--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 administer oaths or affirmations to 
witnesses appearing before it.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which 
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the United States information 
necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the 
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency 
shall furnish that information to the Commission.
    (d) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Commission may accept, use, 
and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, 
both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the 
work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and 
proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or 
devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for 
disbursement upon order of the Commission.
    (e) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (f) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.
    (g) Contract Authority.--To the extent provided in advance in 
appropriations Acts, the Commission may contract with and compensate 
government and private agencies or persons for the purpose of 
conducting research or surveys necessary to enable the Commission to 
carry out its duties under this Act.

SEC. 8. REPORTS.

    (a) Status Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
the initial appointments under section 5(a) are completed, the 
Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a written 
report describing the current activities and findings of the Commission 
and the direction of the Commission.
    (b) Recommendation Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
on which the initial appointments under section 5(a) are completed, the 
Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a written 
report containing--
            (1) the findings and conclusions of the Commission 
        resulting from the study conducted under section 4; and
            (2) recommendations, including specific proposed 
        legislation and administrative action, based on the findings 
        and conclusions referred to in paragraph (1).
    (c) Follow-Up Report.--After submission of the report required by 
subsection (b) and before the termination of the Commission, the 
Commission shall submit to the President and to the Congress a written 
report--
            (1) identifying which of the recommendations included in 
        such report have been implemented; and
            (2) containing any additional information the Commission 
        considers to be appropriate.

SEC. 9. CONSTRUCTION; USE OF INFORMATION OBTAINED.

    (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require 
any non-Federal entity (such as a business, college, or university, 
foundation, or research organization) to provide information to the 
Commission concerning such entity's personnel policies, including, but 
not limited to, salaries and benefits, promotion criteria, and 
affirmative action plans.
    (b) Use of Information Obtained.--No information obtained from any 
entity by the Commission may be used in connection with any employment 
related litigation.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 1 year after submitting the report 
required by section 8(b).

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1997, 
1998, and 1999 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.