I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2024 

To establish the Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 24, 2007 

Mr. TANNER (for himself and Mr. CASTLE) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish the Comprehensive Entitlement Reform 

Commission. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Comprehensive Entitle5 ment Reform Commission Act of 2007’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

2 means the Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Com3 mission established under section 3. 

4 (2) MEDICAID.—The term ‘‘Medicaid’’ means 

5 the program established under title XIX of the So6 cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). 

7 (3) MEDICARE.—The term ‘‘Medicare’’ means 

8 the program established under title XVIII of the So9 cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). 

10 (4) SOCIAL SECURITY.—The term ‘‘Social Secu11 rity’’ means the program of old-age, survivors, and 

12 disability insurance benefits established under title 

13 II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 

14 seq.). 

15 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

16 There is established a commission to be known as the 

17 ‘‘Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission’’. 

18 SEC. 4. PURPOSE. 

19 The Commission shall review Social Security, Medi20 care, and Medicaid and make comprehensive recommenda21 tions to sustain the solvency and stability of these three 

22 programs for future generations. 

23 SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall conduct a 

25 comprehensive review of Social Security, Medicare, and 


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1 Medicaid consistent with the purpose specified in section 

2 4 and shall submit the report required under subsection 

3 (b). 

4 (b) REPORT.— 

5 (1) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

6 selection of the 2 Co-Chairpersons and the Executive 

7 Director of the Commission, the Commission shall 

8 prepare and submit a final report that contains a 

9 detailed statement of the recommendations, findings, 

10 and conclusions of the Commission to the appro11 priate Committees of Congress and the President. 

12 The appropriate Committees of Congress shall hold 

13 hearings on such report. 

14 (2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The report sub15 mitted under this subsection shall be made available 

16 to the public. 

17 SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP. 

18 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

19 shall be composed of 8 members, to be appointed as fol20 lows: 

21 (1) The majority leader of the Senate shall ap22 point 2 members. 

23 (2) The minority leader of the Senate shall ap24 point 2 members. 


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1 (3) The Speaker of the House of Representa2 tives shall appoint 2 members. 

3 (4) The minority leader of the House of Rep4 resentatives shall appoint 2 members. 

5 (b) PROHIBITED APPOINTMENTS.—Members of the 

6 Commission shall not include Members of Congress or 

7 other elected Federal, State, or local government officials. 

8 (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Each member shall 

9 be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancies 

10 shall not affect the power and duties of the Commission 

11 but shall be filled in the same manner as the original ap12 pointment. 

13 (d) DATE.—Members of the Commission shall be ap14 pointed by not later than 30 days after the date of enact15 ment of this Act. 

16 (e) INITIAL ORGANIZATION PERIOD.—Not later than 

17 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com18 mission shall develop and implement a schedule for com19 pletion of the review and report required under section 5. 

20 (f) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The Commission shall select 

21 2 Co-Chairpersons from among its members. 

22 (g) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

23 on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the 

24 Commission submits the report required under section 

25 5(b)(1). 


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1 SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION. 

2 (a) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission 

3 shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, but a 

4 quorum is not required for members to meet and hold 

5 hearings. 

6 (b) MEETINGS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet 

8 at the call of the Co-Chairpersons or a majority of 

9 its members. 

10 (2) OPEN MEETINGS.—Each meeting of the 

11 Commission, other than meetings in which classified 

12 information is to be discussed, shall be open to the 

13 public. 

14 (c) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 

15 hearings and undertake such other activities as the Com16 mission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties. 

17 (d) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members shall receive trav18 el expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 

19 accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United 

20 States Code, while away from their homes or regular 

21 places of business in performance of services for the Com22 mission. 

23 (e) STAFF.— 

24 (1) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Commission 

25 shall have a staff headed by an Executive Director. 

26 The Executive Director shall be paid at a rate equivVerDate Aug 31 2005 07:48 Apr 25, 2007 Jkt 059196 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2024.IH H2024

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1 alent to a rate established for the Senior Executive 

2 Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States 

3 Code. 

4 (2) STAFF APPOINTMENT.—With the approval 

5 of the Commission, the Executive Director may ap6 point such personnel as the Executive Director de7 termines to be appropriate. 

8 (3) ACTUARIAL EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 

9 With the approval of the Commission, the Executive 

10 Director may procure temporary and intermittent 

11 services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 

12 States Code. 

13 (4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 

14 Upon the request of the Commission, the head of 

15 any Federal agency may detail, without reimburse16 ment, any of the personnel of such agency to the 

17 Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of 

18 the Commission. Any such detail shall not interrupt 

19 or otherwise affect the civil service status or privi20 leges of the Federal employee. 

21 (5) OTHER RESOURCES.—The Commission 

22 shall have reasonable access to materials, resources, 

23 statistical data, and other information such Commis24 sion determines to be necessary to carry out its du25 ties from the Library of Congress, the Chief Actuary 


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1 of Social Security, the Congressional Budget Office, 

2 and other agencies and elected representatives of the 

3 executive and legislative branches of the Federal 

4 Government. The Co-Chairpersons of the Commis5 sion shall make requests for such access in writing 

6 when necessary. 

7 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro9 priated for fiscal year 2008, $1,500,000 to carry out this 

10 Act. 

11 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated under 

12 the subsection (a) shall remain available, without fiscal 

13 year limitation, until expended. 

Æ 


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