A bill to establish a task force to assess activities in previous base closure rounds and to recommend improvements and alternatives to additional base closure rounds.

Summary: Establishes the Task Force on Base Closure Reform to review the military base closure process under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 in order to recommend improvements and potential alternatives to such process. 
Requires the Task Force to report to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on National Security on its activities.  Terminates the Task Force 30 days after such report. 
Provides Task Force funding from funds appropriated to the Department of Defense.

SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON BASE CLOSURE REFORM.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a commission to be 
known as the ``Task Force on Base Closure Reform'' (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Task Force'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Task Force is to review the base 
closure process (including the recommendation and approval of 
installations for closure and the closure of installations) under the 
1990 base closure law in order to recommend improvements, and potential 
alternatives, to the base closure process under that law.

SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Membership.--(1) The Task Force shall be composed of 10 
members, appointed from among individuals described in paragraph (2) as 
follows:
            (A) Three members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader 
        of the Senate.
            (B) Two 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) Two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
        of the House of Representatives.
    (2) Members of the Task Force shall be appointed from among retired 
members of the Armed Forces, or other private United States citizens, 
who have one or more of the following qualifications:
            (A) Past membership on a commission established under the 
        1990 base closure law or under title II of the Defense 
        Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act 
        (Public Law 100-526; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).
            (B) Past service on the staff of a commission referred to 
        in subparagraph (A).
            (C) Experience with military force structure planning and 
        strategic planning.
            (D) Financial management experience.
            (E) Past membership in the legislative branch or service on 
        the staff of the legislative branch.
    (b) Appointment.--(1) All members of the Task Force shall be 
appointed not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
    (2)(A) Members of the Task Force shall be appointed for the life of 
the Task Force.
    (B) A vacancy in the membership of the Task Force shall not affect 
the powers of the Task Force, but shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment.
    (c) Chairman.--The members of the Task Force shall choose one of 
the members to serve as chairman of the Task Force.

SEC. 3. DUTIES.

    (a) In General.--The Task Force shall--
            (1) carry out a review of the base closure process under 
        the 1990 base closure law in accordance with subsection (b);
            (2) carry out an assessment of the impact of the number of 
        base closure rounds on the base closure process under that law 
        in accordance with subsection (c);
            (3) carry out a comparative analysis of various means of 
        disposing of excess or surplus property in accordance with 
        subsection (d); and
            (4) make recommendations in accordance with subsection (e).
    (b) Review.--In carrying out a review of the base closure process 
under subsection (a)(1), the Task Force shall--
            (1) review the activities, after action reports, and 
        recommendations of each commission established under the 1990 
        base closure law in the 1991, 1993, and 1995 base closure 
        rounds under that law;
            (2) review the activities and after action reports of the 
        Department of Defense and the military departments with respect 
        to each such base closure round under that law, which shall 
        include an assessment of the compliance of the military 
        departments with the provisions of that law in each such round; 
        and
            (3) assess the effectiveness of the provisions of that law 
        in providing guidance to each such commission, the Department 
        of Defense, and the military departments with respect to 
subsequent closures of military installations.
    (c) Assessment.--In carrying out an assessment of the impact of the 
number of base closure rounds on the base closure process under 
subsection (a)(2), the Task Force shall--
            (1) review the activities of the Department of Defense and 
        the military departments in preparing for and carrying out the 
        closure of installations approved for closure in each base 
        closure round under the 1990 base closure law, including--
                    (A) the capacity of the Department of Defense and 
                the military departments to process the data required 
                to make recommendations with respect to the closure of 
                installations in each such round; and
                    (B) the effectiveness of the activities undertaken 
                by the Department of Defense and the military 
                departments to dispose of property and equipment at 
                such installations upon approval of closure; and
            (2) assess the impact of the number of installations 
        recommended for closure in each such round on--
                    (A) the accuracy of data provided by the Secretary 
                of Defense to the commission established under that law 
                in such round;
                    (B) the capacity of such commission to process such 
                data; and
                    (C) the ability of such commission to consider 
                fully the concerns of the communities likely to be 
                effected by the closure of the installations 
                recommended for closure.
    (d) Comparative Analysis.--In carrying out a comparative analysis 
under subsection (a)(3), the Task Force shall--
            (1) compare the law and experience of the United States in 
        disposing of surplus and excess property with the law and 
        experience of similar nations in disposing of such property; 
        and
            (2) compare the law (including any regulations, policies, 
        and directives) of the United States relating to the closure of 
        military installations with the law of similar nations relating 
        to the closure of such installations.
    (e) Recommendations.--In making recommendations under subsection 
(a)(4), the Task Force shall--
            (1) recommend such modifications to the 1990 base closure 
        law as the Task Force considers appropriate in light of its 
        activities under this section;
            (2) compare the merits of requiring one additional round of 
        base closures under that law with the merits of requiring more 
        than one additional round of base closures under that law; and
            (3) recommend any alternative methods of eliminating excess 
        capacity in the military installations inside the United States 
        that the Task Force considers appropriate in light of its 
        activities under this section.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    (a) Report.--Not later than March 15, 1999, the Task Force shall 
submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives a report 
on its activities under this Act.
    (b) Elements.--The report shall include the results of the 
activities of the Task Force under section 3, including the 
recommendations required by subsection (e) of that section.

SEC. 5. TASK FORCE MATTERS.

    (a) Meetings.--(1) The Task Force shall hold its first meeting not 
later than 30 days after the date on which all members have been 
appointed.
    (2) The Task Force shall meet upon the call of the chairman.
    (3) A majority of the members of the Task Force shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
    (b) Authority of Individuals To Act for Task Force.--Any member or 
agent of the Task Force may, if authorized by the Task Force, take any 
action which the Task Force is authorized to take under this section.
    (c) Hearings.--The Task Force may hold such hearings, sit and act 
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Task Force considers advisable to carry out its duties.
    (d) Availability of Government Information.--The Task Force may 
secure directly from the Department of Defense and any other department 
or agency of the Federal Government such information as the Task Force 
considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of the 
chairman of the Task Force, the head of a department or agency shall 
furnish the requested information expeditiously to the Task Force.
    (e) Postal Services.--The Task Force may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

SEC. 6. TASK FORCE PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Pay and Expenses of Members.--(1) Each member of the Task Force 
who is not an employee of the Government shall be paid at a rate equal 
to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which 
such member is engaged in performing the duties of the Task Force.
    (2) Members and personnel of the Task Force may travel on aircraft, 
vehicles, or other conveyances of the Armed Forces when travel is 
necessary in the performance of a duty of the Task Force except when 
the cost of commercial transportation is less expensive.
    (3) The members of the Task Force may 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 Task Force.
    (4)(A) A member of the Task Force who is an annuitant otherwise 
covered by section 8344 or 8468 of title 5, United States Code, shall 
not by reason of membership on the Task Force be subject to the 
provisions of such section with respect to such Task Force.
    (B) A member of the Task Force who is a member or former member of 
a uniformed service shall not be subject to the provisions of 
subsections (b) and (c) of section 5532 of such title with respect to 
membership on the Task Force.
    (b) Staff and Administrative Support.--(1) The chairman of the Task 
Force may, without regard to civil service laws and regulations, 
appoint and terminate an executive director and up to three additional 
staff members as necessary to enable the Task Force to perform its 
duties. The chairman of the Task Force 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 may not exceed the 
maximum rate of pay for grade GS-15 under the General Schedule.
    (2) Upon the request of the chairman of the Task Force, the head of 
any department or agency of the Federal Government may detail, without 
reimbursement, any personnel of the department or agency to the Task 
Force to assist in carrying out its duties. A detail of an employee 
shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege.

SEC. 7. SUPPORT OF TASK FORCE.

    (a) Temporary Services.--The chairman of the Task Force 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 
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such title.
    (b) Department of Defense Support.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
furnish to the Task Force such administrative and support services as 
may be requested by the chairman of the Task Force.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Task Force shall terminate 30 days after the date on which it 
submits the report required by section 4.

SEC. 9. FUNDING.

    Upon the request of the chairman of the Task Force, the Secretary 
of Defense shall make available to the Task Force, out of funds 
appropriated for the Department of Defense, such amounts as the Task 
Force may require to carry out its duties.

SEC. 10. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``1990 base closure law'' means the Defense 
Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX of 
Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).