II

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 3237

To provide for an international scientific commission to assess changes in

global climate patterns, to conduct scientific studies and analyses on

behalf of nations, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

OCTOBER 25 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2000

Mr. MCCAIN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To provide for an international scientific commission to assess changes in global climate patterns, to conduct scientific studies and analyses on behalf of nations, 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.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘International Climate

5 Change Science Commission Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President is requested and

8 authorized to negotiate an international agreement to es-
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1 tablish an international commission comprised of sci2 entists whose qualifications and experience qualifies them

3 to conduct scientific, unbiased, politically and economically

4 neutral assessments of global climate change, the factors

5 involved in such change, the consequences of such change,

6 and the potential effect of measures undertaken for the

7 purpose of affecting global climate change.

8 (b) SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS.—In negotiating the

9 agreement under subsection (a), the President shall en10 deavor to obtain—

11 (1) commitments for financial and other sup12 port of the international commission;

13 (2) commitments for the appointment of mem14 bers on the same basis as United States members of

15 the commission are to be appointed under subsection

16 3(a); and

17 (3) assurances that the independence and sci18 entific integrity of the commission will be respected.

19 SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION.

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—United States members of the

21 commission established pursuant to the international

22 agreement negotiated under section 2 shall be appointed

23 by the President, by and with the advice and consent of

24 the Senate, from a list of individuals nominated by the

25 National Science Board who are selected solely on the
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1 basis of their scientific qualifications and without regard

2 to political affiliation, and shall serve at the pleasure of

3 the President. The President shall designate one member

4 as the lead member of the United States membership for

5 administrative purposes.

6 (b) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.—United States

7 members of the commission appointed under subsection

8 (a) shall not be entitled to receive compensation for service

9 relating to the performance of the duties of the commis10 sion, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel ex11 penses incurred while in the actual performance of the du12 ties of the commission.

13 (c) STAFF.—After consultation with other members

14 appointed under subsection (a), the lead member shall ap15 point and fix the compensation of such personnel as the

16 United States membership deems advisable. The lead

17 member shall be responsible for—

18 (1) the assignment of duties and responsibilities

19 among such personnel and their continuing super20 vision; and

21 (2) the use and expenditures of funds available

22 to United States members of the commission.

23 (d) AGENCY ASSISTANCE.—To the extent permitted

24 by law, the United States membership may secure directly

25 from any executive department, agency, or independent in-
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1 strumentality of the Federal Government any information

2 it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this

3 Act. Each such department, agency, and instrumentality

4 shall cooperate with the United States membership, and,

5 to the extent permitted by law and upon request of the

6 lead member, furnish such information to the commission.

7 (e) DETAILED EMPLOYEES.—

8 (1) AUTHORITY TO DETAIL.—Upon request of

9 the lead member, the head of any Federal depart10 ment or agency may detail any of the personnel of

11 the department or agency to the commission to as12 sist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

13 (2) REIMBURSEMENT.—Any Federal Govern14 ment employee may be detailed to the commission

15 with or without reimbursement, and any such detail

16 shall be without interruption or loss of civil service

17 status or privilege.

18 (f) SUPPORT.—The National Science Foundation

19 shall provide support services to the commission.

20 (g) OTHER AUTHORITY.—The United States mem21 bership of the commission may procure by contract, to the

22 extent funds are available, the temporary or intermittent

23 services of experts or consultants pursuant to section 3109

24 of title 5, United States Code.
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1 (h) FACA NOT TO APPLY.—The Federal Advisory

2 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to the

3 United States membership of the commission.

4 SEC. 4. FUNCTIONS.

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The United States members of

6 the commission shall work with members of the commis7 sion from other countries in carrying out research, anal8 ysis, and assessments of global climate change.

9 (b) REQUESTED STUDIES.—The commission shall

10 carry out studies at the request of any country concerning

11 the impact of global climate change, and of proposed strat12 egies or tactics for dealing with that impact, on the popu13 lation, agriculture, industry, or economy of any country

14 that is or is not represented on the membership of the

15 commission or that is incapable of conducting such studies

16 within its own scientific, economic, and governmental re17 sources.

18 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

19 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums

20 as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this

21 Act for fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

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