I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7929 

To establish a commission to review certain regulatory obstacles to preparedness for, response to, and recovery from the Coronavirus SARS–CoV– 

2 pandemic and other pandemics, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 4, 2020 

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina (for herself and Mr. COMER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, and Rules, 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 a commission to review certain regulatory obstacles to preparedness for, response to, and recovery from 

the Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 pandemic and other 

pandemics, and for other purposes. 

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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Act of 

6 2020’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

Sec. 3. Establishment of Commission. 

Sec. 4. Duties of the Commission. 

Sec. 5. Powers of the Commission. 

Sec. 6. Commission personnel matters. 

Sec. 7. Termination of the Commission. 

Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations. 

3 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

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

6 means the Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and 

7 Recovery Commission established under section 3. 

8 (2) COMMISSION BILL.—The term ‘‘Commission 

9 bill’’ means a bill consisting of the proposed legisla10 tive language of the Commission recommended 

11 under section 4(h)(2)(C) and introduced under sec12 tion 4(i)(1). 

13 (3) COVERED REGULATION.—The term ‘‘cov14 ered regulation’’ means a regulation that has been 

15 finalized not later than the date on which the Com16 mission is established. 

17 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

18 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

19 legislative branch a commission to be known as the ‘‘Pan20 demic Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Commis21 sion’’. 


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1 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

2 (1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 

3 composed of 9 members, of whom— 

4 (A) 1 member shall be appointed by the 

5 President, and shall serve as the Chair of the 

6 Commission; 

7 (B) 2 members shall be appointed by the 

8 majority leader of the Senate; 

9 (C) 2 members shall be appointed by the 

10 minority leader of the Senate; 

11 (D) 2 members shall be appointed by the 

12 Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 

13 (E) 2 members shall be appointed by the 

14 minority leader of the House of Representa15 tives. 

16 (2) DATE.—The appointment of the members 

17 of the Commission shall be made not later than 30 

18 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

19 (3) QUALIFICATIONS.— 

20 (A) CHAIR.—The Chair of the Commission 

21 shall be an individual with expertise and experi22 ence in rulemaking, such as past Administra23 tors of the Office of Information and Regu24 latory Affairs, past chairmen of the Administra25 tive Conference of the United States, and other 


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1 individuals with similar expertise and experi2 ence in rulemaking affairs and the administra3 tion of regulatory reviews. 

4 (B) MEMBERS.—Members appointed to the 

5 Commission shall be prominent citizens of the 

6 United States with national recognition and a 

7 significant depth of experience and responsibil8 ities in matters relating to government service, 

9 regulatory policy, public health, economics, Fed10 eral agency management, public administration, 

11 and law. 

12 (4) LIMITATION.—Not more than 5 members 

13 appointed to the Commission may be from the same 

14 political party. 

15 (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem16 bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 

17 vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but 

18 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint19 ment. 

20 (d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 15 days after 

21 the date on which all members of the Commission have 

22 been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet23 ing. 

24 (e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 

25 call of the Chairman. 


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1 (f) OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.—Each meeting of the 

2 Commission shall be open to the public. 

3 (g) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission 

4 shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members 

5 may hold hearings. 

6 (h) NONAPPLICABILITY OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY

7 COMMITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act 

8 (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission. 

9 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

10 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission is to 

11 evaluate and provide recommendations for modification, 

12 consolidation, harmonization, or repeal of covered regula13 tions with the primary aim of eliminating regulatory ob14 stacles to the United States, the several States’, and the 

15 people’s preparedness for, response to, and recovery from 

16 the health and economic effects of the Coronavirus SARS– 

17 CoV–2 pandemic of 2019–2020 and future pandemics, 

18 while reducing compliance costs, encouraging growth and 

19 innovation, improving competitiveness, and protecting 

20 public health, safety, and welfare. 

21 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), 

22 the Commission shall— 

23 (1) give priority in its analysis of covered regu24 lations to those that— 


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1 (A) impeded preparedness for or response 

2 to the Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 pandemic, in3 cluding those that were suspended or for which 

4 enforcement was waived after the outbreak of 

5 the pandemic under the authority of Executive 

6 Order 13924 (85 Fed. Reg. 31353; relating to 

7 regulatory relief to support economic recovery) 

8 or any other authority; 

9 (B) could impede preparedness for or re10 sponse to a future pandemic; 

11 (C) otherwise impeded or could impede 

12 health, economic performance, or the stability 

13 of wages or employment during the Coronavirus 

14 SARS–CoV–2 pandemic or a future pandemic, 

15 including those that were suspended or for 

16 which enforcement was waived after the out17 break of the pandemic under the authority of 

18 Executive Order 13924 or any other authority; 

19 and 

20 (D) impede or could impede the recovery of 

21 health, economic performance, or wages or em22 ployment following the Coronavirus SARS– 

23 CoV–2 pandemic or a future pandemic, with a 

24 particular emphasis on impediments to recovery 

25 by persons infected by Coronavirus SARS– 


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1 CoV–2 or a future pandemic disease, individ2 uals or entities that supported or support those 

3 persons, and entities that qualify as small enti4 ties within the meaning of section 601(6) of 

5 title 5, United States Code, and those entities’ 

6 employees, contractors, or investors, including 

7 by impeding— 

8 (i) access to health care or health care 

9 equipment or supplies; 

10 (ii) access to employment; 

11 (iii) access to public or private assist12 ance; 

13 (iv) consumer or business spending, 

14 investment, or access to capital or credit; 

15 or 

16 (v) other consumer or business activ17 ity, including hiring and education or re18 training; 

19 (2) consider in its analysis of covered regula20 tions the regulatory principles articulated in section 

21 1 of Executive Order 12866 (58 Fed. Reg. 51735; 

22 relating to regulatory planning and review); 

23 (3) solicit and review comments from the public 

24 on the covered regulations described in this section; 

25 and 


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1 (4) develop a set of covered regulations to mod2 ify, consolidate, or repeal, with input from each ap3 propriate issuing agency involved, to be submitted to 

4 Congress for an up-or-down vote, with the goal of 

5 eliminating as many of the impediments described in 

6 this section as is reasonably possible. 

7 (c) PUBLIC COMMENTS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

9 the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, 

10 the Commission shall initiate a process to solicit and 

11 collect written recommendations from the general 

12 public, interested parties, Federal agencies, and 

13 other relevant entities regarding which covered regu14 lations should be examined. 

15 (2) SUBMISSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.—The 

16 Commission shall ensure that the process initiated 

17 under paragraph (1) allows for recommendations to 

18 be submitted to the Commission through the website 

19 of the Commission, through regulations.gov, by mail, 

20 or through any other means determined to be appro21 priate by the Commission. 

22 (3) LENGTH OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.— 

23 The period for the submission of recommendations 

24 under this subsection shall end 60 days after the 


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1 date on which the process is initiated under para2 graph (1). 

3 (4) PUBLICATION.—At the end of the period for 

4 the submission of recommendations under this sub5 section, all submitted recommendations shall be pub6 lished in the Federal Register and on— 

7 (A) the website of the Commission; or 

8 (B) regulations.gov. 

9 (d) COMMISSION OUTREACH.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—During the public comment 

11 period described in subsection (c), the Commission 

12 shall conduct public outreach and convene focus 

13 groups to better inform the commissioners of the 

14 public’s interest and possible contributions to the 

15 work of the Commission. 

16 (2) FOCUS GROUPS.—The focus groups re17 quired under paragraph (1) shall include individuals 

18 affiliated with the Office of Information and Regu19 latory Affairs, the Administrative Conference of the 

20 United States, the offices within Federal agencies 

21 responsible for small business affairs and regulatory 

22 compliance, experts in pandemic preparedness and 

23 response, experts in public health, and, at the discre24 tion of the Commission, relevant stakeholders from 

25 within or outside the regulatory entities. 


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1 (e) COMMISSION REVIEW OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.— 

2 Not later than 15 days after the date on which the period 

3 for the submission of recommendations ends under sub4 section (c), the Commission shall convene to review sub5 mitted recommendations, prepare a work plan for comple6 tion of the Commission’s further work, and to identify cov7 ered regulations to modify, consolidate, or eliminate. 

8 (f) EXAMINATION OF REGULATIONS.— 

9 (1) PROCESS FOR EXAMINATION.—In exam10 ining covered regulations under this section, the 

11 Commission shall determine the effectiveness of indi12 vidual covered regulations, by using multiple re13 sources, including the following: 

14 (A) Quantitative metrics. 

15 (B) Testimony from industry and agency 

16 experts, experts in pandemic preparedness and 

17 response, and experts in public health. 

18 (C) Research from the staff of the Com19 mission. 

20 (2) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after 

21 the date on which the Commission convenes under 

22 subsection (e), the Commission shall complete a sub23 stantial examination of covered regulations. 

24 (g) INITIAL REPORT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

2 the date on which the Commission convenes under 

3 subsection (e), the Commission shall publish, and 

4 make available to the public for comment, a report, 

5 which shall include— 

6 (A) the findings and conclusions of the 

7 Commission for the improvement of covered 

8 regulations examined by the Commission; and 

9 (B) a list of recommendations for changes 

10 to the covered regulations examined by the 

11 Commission, which may include recommenda12 tions for modification, consolidation, harmoni13 zation, or repeal of such covered regulations. 

14 (2) REQUIREMENT.—The report required under 

15 paragraph (1) shall be approved by not fewer than 

16 5 members of the Commission. 

17 (3) AVAILABILITY OF REPORT.—The Commis18 sion shall make the report required under paragraph 

19 (1) available through the website of the Commission 

20 and in printed form. 

21 (4) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.—During the 

22 60-day period beginning on the date on which the 

23 report required under paragraph (1) is published, 

24 the Commission shall— 


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1 (A) solicit comments from the public on 

2 such report, using the same process established 

3 under subsection (c); and 

4 (B) publish any comments received under 

5 subparagraph (A)— 

6 (i) in the Federal Register; and 

7 (ii) on— 

8 (I) the website of the Commis9 sion; or 

10 (II) regulations.gov. 

11 (5) CONSULTATION.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 

13 after the date on which the report required 

14 under paragraph (1) is published, the Commis15 sion shall complete a consultation with the chair 

16 and ranking minority member of the commit17 tees of jurisdiction in the House of Representa18 tives and Senate, and with the head of each 

19 agency that has enforcement jurisdiction with 

20 respect to rules recommended for modification, 

21 consolidation, harmonization, or repeal, regard22 ing the contents of the report. 

23 (B) REQUIREMENTS.—The consultation re24 quired under subparagraph (A) shall provide— 


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1 (i) the opportunity for the chair and 

2 ranking minority member of the commit3 tees of jurisdiction to provide substantive 

4 feedback or recommendations related to 

5 the regulatory changes contained in the re6 port required under paragraph (1); 

7 (ii) the opportunity for the chair and 

8 ranking minority member of the commit9 tees of jurisdiction to provide recommenda10 tions for alternative means of achieving a 

11 reduction in regulatory costs while main12 taining the same level of benefits to soci13 ety; and 

14 (iii) the opportunity for the head of 

15 each agency potentially affected by the 

16 Commission’s recommendations to provide 

17 substantive input into the reform process. 

18 (h) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

20 the date on which the 60-day period described in 

21 subsection (g)(4) ends, the Commission shall— 

22 (A) review any comments received under 

23 subsection (g)(4); 


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1 (B) incorporate any relevant comments re2 ceived under subsection (g)(4) into the report 

3 required under subsection (g)(1); and 

4 (C) submit the revised report to Congress. 

5 (2) CONTENTS.—The revised report required to 

6 be submitted to Congress under paragraph (1) shall 

7 include— 

8 (A) the findings and conclusions of the 

9 Commission for the improvement of covered 

10 regulations examined by the Commission; 

11 (B) a list of recommendations for changes 

12 to the covered regulations examined by the 

13 Commission, which may include recommenda14 tions for modification, consolidation, harmoni15 zation, or repeal of such covered regulations; 

16 and 

17 (C) recommended legislative language to 

18 implement the recommendations in subpara19 graph (B). 

20 (i) CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLA21 TIVE LANGUAGE TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.— 

22 (1) COMMISSION BILL DESCRIBED.—In this 

23 subsection, the term ‘‘Commission bill’’ means, with 

24 respect to the Senate or the House of Representa25 tives, a bill described as follows: 


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1 (A) The title of the bill is as follows: ‘‘A 

2 Bill to implement the recommendations of the 

3 Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and Rapid 

4 Recovery Commission.’’. 

5 (B) The bill is introduced in the House of 

6 Representatives or the Senate (as the case may 

7 be)— 

8 (i) not later than 3 days (excluding 

9 Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any 

10 day on which the House or the Senate, as 

11 the case may be, is not in session because 

12 of an adjournment sine die, a recess of 

13 more than three days, or an adjournment 

14 of more than three days) after the date on 

15 which the Commission submits the revised 

16 report to Congress under subsection 

17 (h)(1); or 

18 (ii) if the Congress during which the 

19 Commission submits such report adjourns 

20 sine die prior to the expiration of the 60- 

21 day period which begins on the date the 

22 Commission submits the report (excluding 

23 Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any 

24 day on which neither House is in session 

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1 cess of more than three days, or an ad2 journment of more than three days), on 

3 the first day of the next Congress. 

4 (C) The text of the bill consists exclusively 

5 of the recommended legislative language to im6 plement the recommendations of the Commis7 sion which is included in the revised report sub8 mitted to Congress under subsection (h)(1), as 

9 certified by the Chair of the Commission to the 

10 Speaker of the House of Representatives or the 

11 President pro tempore of the Senate (as the 

12 case may be). 

13 (2) CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REP14 RESENTATIVES.— 

15 (A) REFERRAL AND REPORTING.—Any 

16 committee of the House of Representatives to 

17 which the Commission bill is referred shall re18 port it to the House without amendment not 

19 later than 30 days after the date on which the 

20 Commission bill is introduced under paragraph 

21 (1). If a committee fails to report the Commis22 sion bill within that period, it shall be in order 

23 to move that the House discharge the com24 mittee from further consideration of the Com25 mission bill. Such a motion shall not be in order 


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1 after the last committee authorized to consider 

2 the Commission bill reports it to the House or 

3 after the House has disposed of a motion to 

4 discharge the Commission bill. The previous 

5 question shall be considered as ordered on the 

6 motion to its adoption without intervening mo7 tion except 3 hours of debate equally divided 

8 and controlled by the proponent and an oppo9 nent. If such a motion is adopted, the House 

10 shall proceed immediately to consider the Com11 mission bill in accordance with subparagraphs 

12 (B) and (C). A motion to reconsider the vote by 

13 which the motion is disposed of shall not be in 

14 order. 

15 (B) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 

16 After the last committee authorized to consider 

17 the Commission bill reports it to the House or 

18 has been discharged (other than by motion) 

19 from its consideration, it shall be in order to 

20 move to proceed to consider the Commission bill 

21 in the House. Such a motion shall not be in 

22 order after the House has disposed of a motion 

23 to proceed with respect to the Commission bill. 

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1 tervening motion. A motion to reconsider the 

2 vote by which the motion is disposed of shall 

3 not be in order. 

4 (C) CONSIDERATION.—The Commission 

5 bill shall be considered as read. All points of 

6 order against the Commission bill and against 

7 its consideration are waived. The previous ques8 tion shall be considered as ordered on the Com9 mission bill to its passage without intervening 

10 motion except 10 hours of debate equally di11 vided and controlled by the proponent and an 

12 opponent and one motion to limit debate on the 

13 Commission bill. A motion to reconsider the 

14 vote on passage of the Commission bill shall not 

15 be in order. 

16 (D) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—The vote on pas17 sage of the Commission bill shall occur not later 

18 than 60 days after the date on which the Com19 mission bill is discharged from the last com20 mittee authorized to consider the Commission 

21 bill. 

22 (3) CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 

23 (A) COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.—A 

24 Commission bill introduced in the Senate under 

25 paragraph (1) shall be jointly referred to the 


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1 committee or committees of jurisdiction, which 

2 committees shall report the bill without any re3 vision and with a favorable recommendation, an 

4 unfavorable recommendation, or without rec5 ommendation, not later than 30 days after the 

6 date on which the Commission bill is intro7 duced. If any committee fails to report the bill 

8 within that period, that committee shall be 

9 automatically discharged from consideration of 

10 the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the ap11 propriate calendar. 

12 (B) MOTION TO PROCEED.—Notwith13 standing Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 

14 the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2 days 

15 of session after the date on which a Commis16 sion bill is reported or discharged from all com17 mittees to which it was referred, for the major18 ity leader of the Senate or the majority leader’s 

19 designee to move to proceed to the consider20 ation of the Commission bill. It shall also be in 

21 order for any Member of the Senate to move to 

22 proceed to the consideration of the Commission 

23 bill at any time after the conclusion of such 2- 

24 day period. A motion to proceed is in order 

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1 fect has been disagreed to. All points of order 

2 against the motion to proceed to the Commis3 sion bill are waived. The motion to proceed is 

4 not debatable. The motion is not subject to a 

5 motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the 

6 vote by which the motion is agreed to or dis7 agreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to 

8 proceed to the consideration of the Commission 

9 bill is agreed to, the Commission bill shall re10 main the unfinished business until disposed of. 

11 (C) CONSIDERATION.—All points of order 

12 against the Commission bill and against consid13 eration of the Commission bill are waived. Con14 sideration of the Commission bill and of all de15 batable motions and appeals in connection 

16 therewith shall not exceed a total of 10 hours 

17 which shall be divided equally between the ma18 jority and minority leaders or their designees. A 

19 motion further to limit debate on the Commis20 sion bill is in order, shall require an affirmative 

21 vote of a majority of the Members duly chosen 

22 and sworn, and is not debatable. Any debatable 

23 motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed 

24 1 hour, to be divided equally between those fa25 voring and those opposing the motion or appeal. 


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1 All time used for consideration of the Commis2 sion bill, including time used for quorum calls 

3 and voting, shall be counted against the total 

4 10 hours of consideration. 

5 (D) NO AMENDMENTS.—An amendment to 

6 the Commission bill, or a motion to postpone, 

7 or a motion to proceed to the consideration of 

8 other business, or a motion to recommit the 

9 Commission bill, is not in order. 

10 (E) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—If the Senate has 

11 voted to proceed to the Commission bill, the 

12 vote on passage of the Commission bill shall 

13 occur immediately following the conclusion of 

14 the debate on a Commission bill, and a single 

15 quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if 

16 requested. The vote on passage of the Commis17 sion bill shall occur not later than 60 days after 

18 the date on which the Commission bill is dis19 charged from all committees to which the Com20 mission bill was referred. 

21 (F) RULINGS OF THE CHAIR ON PROCE22 DURE.—Appeals from the decisions of the Chair 

23 relating to the application of the rules of the 

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1 lating to a Commission bill shall be decided 

2 without debate. 

3 (4) AMENDMENT.—The Commission bill shall 

4 not be subject to amendment in either the House of 

5 Representatives or the Senate. 

6 (5) CONSIDERATION BY THE OTHER HOUSE.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—If, before passing the 

8 Commission bill, one House receives from the 

9 other a Commission bill— 

10 (i) the Commission bill of the other 

11 House shall not be referred to a com12 mittee; and 

13 (ii) the procedure in the receiving 

14 House shall be the same as if no Commis15 sion bill had been received from the other 

16 House until the vote on passage, when the 

17 Commission bill received from the other 

18 House shall supplant the Commission bill 

19 of the receiving House. 

20 (B) REVENUE MEASURE.—This subsection 

21 shall not apply to the House of Representatives 

22 if the Commission bill received from the Senate 

23 is a revenue measure. 

24 (6) RULES TO COORDINATE ACTION WITH

25 OTHER HOUSE.— 


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1 (A) TREATMENT OF COMMISSION BILL OF

2 OTHER HOUSE.—If the Senate fails to introduce 

3 or consider a Commission bill under this sec4 tion, the Commission bill of the House shall be 

5 entitled to expedited floor procedures under this 

6 section. 

7 (B) TREATMENT OF COMPANION MEAS8 URES IN THE SENATE.—If following passage of 

9 the Commission bill in the Senate, the Senate 

10 then receives the Commission bill from the 

11 House of Representatives, the House-passed 

12 Commission bill shall not be debatable. The 

13 vote on passage of the Commission bill in the 

14 Senate shall be considered to be the vote on 

15 passage of the Commission bill received from 

16 the House of Representatives. 

17 (C) VETOES.—If the President vetoes the 

18 Commission bill, debate on a veto message in 

19 the Senate under this section shall be 1 hour 

20 equally divided between the majority and minor21 ity leaders or their designees. 

22 (j) NOTICE TO REGULATORY AGENCIES.— 

23 (1) ENACTMENT OF COMMISSION BILL.—If the 

24 Commission bill is enacted into law, the President 

25 shall— 


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1 (A) not later than 7 days after the date on 

2 which the Commission bill is enacted into law— 

3 (i) provide notice to the affected regu4 latory agencies; and 

5 (ii) publish notice of enactment in the 

6 Federal Register and online; and 

7 (B) require affected regulatory agencies to 

8 implement the Commission bill not later than 

9 60 days after the date on which the Commis10 sion bill is enacted into law. 

11 (2) FAILURE TO ENACT COMMISSION BILL.—If 

12 the Commission bill is not enacted into law, the 

13 President shall provide notice of such failure to 

14 enact the Commission bill in the Federal Register. 

15 SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 

16 (a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 

17 hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 

18 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 

19 considers advisable to carry out this Act. 

20 (b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is author22 ized to secure directly from any executive depart23 ment, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 

24 independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 

25 Government, information, suggestions, estimates, 


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1 and statistics for the purpose of this Act. Each de2 partment, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 

3 independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, 

4 to the extent authorized by law, furnish such infor5 mation, suggestions, estimates, and statistics di6 rectly to the Commission, upon request made by the 

7 chair, the chair of any subcommittee created by the 

8 Commission, or any member designated by a major9 ity of the Commission. 

10 (2) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DIS11 SEMINATION.—Information shall only be received, 

12 handled, stored, and disseminated by members of 

13 the Commission and its staff consistent with all ap14 plicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders. 

15 (c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 

16 the United States mails in the same manner and under 

17 the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 

18 the Federal Government. 

19 (d) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 

20 dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 

21 (e) SPACE FOR USE OF COMMISSION.—Not later 

22 than the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on 

23 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Architect of 

24 the Capitol and the Administrator of General Services 

25 shall support on a reimbursable basis the operations of 


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1 the Commission, including the identification of suitable 

2 space to house the Commission. If the Architect and the 

3 Administrator are not able to make such suitable space 

4 available prior to the expiration of such 30-day period, the 

5 Commission shall lease space to the extent that funds are 

6 available. 

7 SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

8 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of 

9 the Commission shall be compensated at a rate equal to 

10 the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre11 scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec12 tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in13 cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged 

14 in the performance of the duties of the Commission. 

15 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com16 mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 

17 diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ18 ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 

19 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 

20 regular places of business in the performance of services 

21 for the Commission. 

22 (c) STAFF.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman of the Com24 mission may, without regard to the civil service laws 

25 and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive 


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1 director and such other additional personnel as may 

2 be necessary to enable the Commission to perform 

3 its duties. The employment of an executive director 

4 shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 

5 (2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairman of the 

6 Commission may fix the compensation of the execu7 tive director and other personnel without regard to 

8 chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 

9 5, United States Code, relating to classification of 

10 positions and General Schedule pay rates, except 

11 that the rate of pay for the executive director and 

12 other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for 

13 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 

14 of such title. 

15 (3) AGENCY ASSISTANCE.—Following consulta16 tion with and upon the request of the Chairman of 

17 the Commission, the head of any agency may detail 

18 an employee of the agency to the Commission with19 out reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 

20 interruption or loss of civil service status or privi21 lege. 

22 (4) GAO AND OIRA ASSISTANCE.—The Comp23 troller General of the United States and the Admin24 istrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 

25 Affairs may, upon request, provide assistance, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Aug 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7929.IH H7929

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1 cluding the detailing of employees, to the Commis2 sion in accordance with an agreement entered into 

3 with the Commission. 

4 (d) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT5 TENT SERVICES.—The Chairman of the Commission may 

6 procure temporary and intermittent services under section 

7 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individ8 uals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 

9 rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive 

10 Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 

11 (e) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—The Commission 

12 may acquire administrative supplies and equipment for 

13 Commission use to the extent funds are available. 

14 (f) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 

15 of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on 

16 a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services 

17 necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibil18 ities under this Act. 

19 (g) APPLICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNT20 ABILITY ACT OF 1995.—For purposes of the Congres21 sional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et 

22 seq.)— 

23 (1) the Commission shall be considered an em24 ploying office; and 


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1 (2) the employees of the Commission shall be 

2 considered covered employees. 

3 SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION. 

4 The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the 

5 date on which the Commission submits the report pursu6 ant to section 4(h). 

7 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro9 priated such sums as may be necessary to the Commission 

10 to carry out this Act. 

11 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated under 

12 the authorization contained in this section shall remain 

13 available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS