To amend the Competitiveness Policy Council Act to provide for reauthorization, to rename the Council, and for other purposes.

Summary: Amends the Competitiveness Policy Council Act to rename it and to: (1) change the name of the Competitiveness Policy Council to the National Competitiveness Commission (Commission); and (2) reauthorize and extend the Commission. 
Amends the National Competitiveness Commission Act (as renamed) to make technical changes with respect to Commission duties, powers, staff, and reporting requirements.

SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION.

    Section 5209 of the Competitiveness Policy Council Act (15 U.S.C. 
4808) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``1991 and 1992'' and inserting ``1993, 
        1994, 1995, and 1996''; and
            (2) by striking ``$5,000,000'' and inserting 
        ``$2,500,000''.

SEC. 2. RENAMING OF COUNCIL.

    The Competitiveness Policy Council Act (15 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.) is 
amended as follows:
            (1) In the subtitle heading--
                    (A) insert ``National'' before ``Competitiveness''; 
                and
                    (B) strike ``Policy Council'' and insert 
                ``Commission''.
            (2) In section 5201--
                    (A) insert ``National'' before ``Competitiveness''; 
                and
                    (B) strike ``Policy Council'' and insert 
                ``Commission''.
            (3) In section 5202(b)(2)--
                    (A) insert ``National'' before ``Competitiveness''; 
                and
                    (B) strike ``Policy Council'' and insert 
                ``Commission''.
            (4) In section 5203--
                    (A) in the section caption, strike ``council'' and 
                insert ``commission'';
                    (B) insert ``National'' before ``Competitiveness'';
                    (C) strike ``Policy''; and
                    (D) strike ``Council'' each place it appears and 
                insert ``Commission''.
            (5) In section 5204--
                    (A) in the section caption, strike ``council'' and 
                insert ``commission''; and
                    (B) strike ``Council'' and insert ``Commission''.
            (6) In sections 5205 through 5208, strike ``Council'' each 
        place such term appears and insert ``Commission''.
            (7) In section 5207, in the section caption, strike 
        ``council'' and insert ``commission''.
            (8) In section 5210--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) insert ``National'' before 
                        ``Competitiveness'';
                            (ii) strike ``Policy''; and
                            (iii) strike ``Council'' each place it 
                        appears and insert ``Commission''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) insert ``National'' before 
                        ``Competitiveness''; and
                            (ii) strike ``Policy Council'' and insert 
                        ``Commission''.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    Section 5204 of the National Competitiveness Commission Act (15 
U.S.C. 4803) is amended by striking paragraphs (11) and (12) and 
inserting the following:
            ``(11) prepare, publish, and distribute reports that--
                    ``(A) contain the analysis and recommendations of 
                the Commission; and
                    ``(B) comment on the overall competitiveness of the 
                United States economy, including the report described 
                in section 5208; and
            ``(12) submit an annual report to the President and to the 
        Congress on the activities of the Commission.''.

SEC. 4. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    Section 5206 of the National Competitiveness Commission Act (15 
U.S.C. 4805) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``GS-18 of the 
        General Schedule'' and inserting ``the maximum rate payable 
        under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
                (3); and
                    (C) by inserting before paragraph (3), as 
                redesignated, the following:
            ``(1) Full-time staff.--The Executive Director may appoint 
        such officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out 
        the functions of the Commission in accordance with the Federal 
        civil service and classification laws, and fix compensation in 
        accordance with the provisions of title 5, United States Code.
            ``(2) Temporary staff.--The Executive Director may appoint 
        such employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions 
        of the Commission for a period of not more than 1 year, without 
        regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the competitive service, and without 
        regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
        chapter 53 of such title, at rates not to exceed the maximum 
        rate payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States 
        Code.''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``GS-16 of the General 
        Schedule'' and inserting ``the maximum rate payable under 
        section 5376 of title 5, United States Code.''.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    Section 5207 of the National Competitiveness Commission Act (15 
U.S.C. 4806) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections 
        (h) and (i), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Contracting Authority.--Within the limitation of 
appropriations to the Commission, the Commission may enter into 
contracts with State agencies, private firms, institutions, and 
individuals for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this 
subtitle.''.

SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 5208 of the National Competitiveness Commission Act (15 
U.S.C. 4807) is amended--
            (1) by striking the caption and inserting the following:

``SEC. 5208. ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.'';

            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking the subsection heading and 
                inserting ``(a) Publication of Analysis and 
                Recommendations.--''; and
                    (B) by striking ``on'' and inserting ``not later 
                than''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Other Reports.--The Commission may submit to the President 
and the Congress such other reports containing analyses and 
recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.''.

SEC. 7. REFERENCES IN FEDERAL LAW.

    (a) Competitiveness Policy Council.--Any reference in Federal law 
to the Competitiveness Policy Council shall be construed to be a 
reference to the National Competitiveness Commission.
    (b) Competitiveness Policy Council Act.--Any reference in Federal 
law to the Competitiveness Policy Council Act shall be construed to be 
a reference to the National Competitiveness Commission Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 21, 1993.

            Attest:

                                           DONNALD K. ANDERSON,

                                                                 Clerk.