Labor Statistics Improvement Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Labor Statistics Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established an independent commission to be known as the 
``Commission to Improve Labor Statistics''.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) examine and make an assessment of the process by which 
        the Bureau of Labor Statistics collects, processes, analyzes, 
        and disseminates statistical data relating to unemployment 
        rates, including--
                    (A) the methods used for determining that an 
                individual is or is not considered to be looking for 
                work, including what constitutes actively looking 
                versus passively looking or ``discouraged'' and how to 
                take into account the intensity with which individuals 
                are searching for a job; and
                    (B) the utility of the six measures used by the 
                Bureau for reporting labor underutilization;
            (2) formulate recommendations for any improvement to such 
        process and methods, including proposals for any alternative 
        measures of labor force participation, taking into account 
        evidence that--
                    (A) the official unemployment rate doesn't always 
                accurately reflect labor market strength; and
                    (B) unemployment rates may vary over a business 
                cycle due to changes in labor force participation 
                rather than from factors affecting labor market 
                strength, including--
                            (i) the employment-to-population (EPOP) 
                        ratio for prime-age individuals and the 
                        existence of ``missing workers'' or potential 
                        workers who, because of weak job opportunities, 
                        are neither employed nor actively seeking a 
                        job;
                            (ii) the voluntary quits rate; and
                            (iii) the rates of wage growth and 
                        reservation wage of potential workers; and
            (3) develop a new method or methods for determining and 
        reporting underemployment that takes into consideration 
        workers--
                    (A) who are not in jobs that match their skill set 
                or education; and
                    (B) who are earning less than other workers in 
                similar occupations or with similar skill sets and 
                education.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of four members 
appointed from among individuals with experience in the private sector, 
academia, or the Federal civil service, each having expertise in 
economic analysis, understanding labor markets, or statistical 
analysis. Members shall be appointed as follows:
            (1) Four members appointed by the President.
            (2) Two members appointed by the President pro tempore of 
        the Senate.
            (3) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (b) Deadline for Appointment.--Each member shall be appointed to 
the Commission not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
    (c) Terms and Vacancies.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Basic Pay and Travel Expenses.--Members shall serve without 
pay. 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.
    (e) Quorum.--Six members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (f) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be 
elected by the members.
    (g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson.

SEC. 5. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Staff.--The Chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of the 
personnel of the Commission as the Chairperson considers appropriate.
    (b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The staff of the 
Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and 
subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates.
    (c) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Chairperson, 
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. 6. REPORT OF COMMISSION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date on which all original 
members have been appointed to the Commission, the Commission shall 
transmit to the President and Congress a report that contains a 
detailed statement of the findings and recommendations of the 
Commission developed pursuant to section 3.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the 
date of submission of the report pursuant to section 7.
    (b) Administrative Activities Before Termination.--The Commission 
may use the 90-day period referred to in subsection (a) for the purpose 
of concluding its activities, including providing testimony to 
committees of Congress concerning its reports and disseminating the 
second report.

Summary: Labor Statistics Improvement Act Establishes an independent Commission to Improve Labor Statistics. Directs the Commission to: examine and assess the process by which the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates statistical data relating to unemployment rates, including the methods used for determining that an individual is considered to be looking for work. Recommend any improvement to the process and methods, including proposals for any alternative measures of labor force participation, taking into account evidence that the official unemployment rate doesn't always accurately reflect labor market strength. And develop a new method for determining and reporting underemployment that takes into consideration workers who are not in jobs that match their skill sets or education and who are earning less than other workers in similar occupations or with similar skill sets and education.