I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1469 

To establish the Benefit Reform and Alignment Commission to consolidate 

and realign means-tested direct spending program outlays. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 9, 2017 

Mr. DAVIDSON (for himself, Mr. POLIQUIN, and Mr. JORDAN) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 

and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, 

Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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 Benefit Reform and Alignment Commission 

to consolidate and realign means-tested direct spending 

program outlays. 

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 ‘‘Welfare Benefit Re5 form and Alignment Commission (BRAC) Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

2 The purpose of this Act is to structure means-tested 

3 welfare programs such that— 

4 (1) the receipt of means-tested welfare program 

5 aid by a beneficiary is temporary, that over time 

6 there is a reduction in the number of such programs 

7 in which an individual beneficiary or household is 

8 participating, and that over time the total number of 

9 recipients receiving such aid is reduced; and 

10 (2) means-tested welfare programs increase em11 ployment, encourage healthy marriages and further 

12 educational attainment so that households maintain 

13 an income above the poverty level without services 

14 and benefits from the Federal Government. 

15 SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF MEANS-TESTED WELFARE PRO16 GRAM. 

17 (a) MEANS-TESTED WELFARE PROGRAM.—In this 

18 Act, the term ‘‘means-tested welfare program’’— 

19 (1) means any Federal program that is de20 signed to specifically provide assistance or benefits 

21 exclusively to low-income Americans; 

22 (2) does not include such a program if the pro23 gram— 

24 (A) is based on earned eligibility; 

25 (B) is not need-based; 


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1 (C) provides to an individual benefits 

2 under title 38, United States Code, or other 

3 provisions of law administered by the Secretary 

4 of Veterans Affairs; or 

5 (D) offers universal or near universal eligi6 bility to the working population and their de7 pendents; and 

8 (3) includes community and economic develop9 ment programs targeted to low-income communities 

10 or populations. 

11 (b) PROGRAMS INCLUDED.—For purposes of sub12 section (a), the following Federal programs shall be con13 sidered means-tested welfare programs: 

14 (1) CASH AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE.— 

15 (A) The Supplemental Security Income 

16 program under title XVI of the Social Security 

17 Act. 

18 (B) The earned income tax credit deter19 mined under section 32 of the Internal Revenue 

20 Code of 1986. 

21 (C) The refundable portion of the child tax 

22 credit determined under section 24 of the Inter23 nal Revenue Code of 1986. 

24 (D) The program of block grants to States 

25 for temporary assistance for needy families 


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1 under part A of title IV of the Social Security 

2 Act. 

3 (E) The foster care and adoption assist4 ance program under part E of title IV of the 

5 Social Security Act. 

6 (F) General Assistance to Indians. 

7 (G) The programs operated under the As8 sets for Independence Act. 

9 (2) MEDICAL.— 

10 (A) The Medicaid program under title XIX 

11 of the Social Security Act. 

12 (B) The State Children’s Health Insurance 

13 Program under title XXI of the Social Security 

14 Act. 

15 (C) Health programs operated by the In16 dian Health Service, Indian tribes, tribal orga17 nizations, and Urban Indian organizations (as 

18 those terms are defined in section 4 of the In19 dian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 

20 1603)). 

21 (D) The health center programs under sec22 tion 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 

23 U.S.C. 254b). 


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1 (E) The Maternal and Child Health Serv2 ices Block Grant program under title V of the 

3 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.). 

4 (F) The Healthy Start Initiative under 

5 section 330H of the Public Health Service Act 

6 (42 U.S.C. 254c–8). 

7 (G) Premium tax credits and cost sharing 

8 reductions available pursuant to the Patient 

9 Protection and Affordable Health Care Act 

10 (PPACA) and the amendments made by such 

11 Act. 

12 (3) FOOD.— 

13 (A) The supplemental nutrition assistance 

14 program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 

15 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). 

16 (B) The school lunch program under the 

17 Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 

18 (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). 

19 (C) The special supplemental nutrition 

20 program for women, infants, and children under 

21 section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act (42 

22 U.S.C. 1786). 

23 (D) The school breakfast program under 

24 section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 

25 (42 U.S.C. 1773). 


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1 (E) The child and adult care food program 

2 under section 17 of the Richard B. Russell Na3 tional School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766). 

4 (F) The nutrition services programs under 

5 the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 

6 3001 et seq.). 

7 (G) The summer food service program for 

8 children under section 13 of the Richard B. 

9 Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 

10 1761). 

11 (H) The commodity supplemental food 

12 program under section 4 of the Agriculture and 

13 Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 

14 612c note). 

15 (I) Commodity distribution programs 

16 under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 

17 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.). 

18 (J) The seniors farmers’ market nutrition 

19 program under section 3007 of Public Law 

20 107–171 (7 U.S.C. 3007). 

21 (K) The special milk program established 

22 under section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act of 

23 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772). 

24 (4) HOUSING.— 


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1 (A) The rental assistance program under 

2 section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 

3 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f). 

4 (B) The public housing program under 

5 title I of the United States Housing Act of 

6 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.). 

7 (C) The Home Investment Partnerships 

8 Program under title II of the Cranston-Gon9 zalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 

10 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.). 

11 (D) The programs for homeless assistance 

12 under title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 

13 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.). 

14 (E) The rural housing programs under 

15 title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 

16 1471 et seq.). 

17 (F) The program for supportive housing 

18 for elderly persons under section 202 of the 

19 Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q). 

20 (G) The program for Native American 

21 housing block grants under the Native Amer22 ican Housing Assistance and Self-Determina23 tion Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.). 

24 (H) The program for supportive housing 

25 for persons with disabilities under section 811 


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1 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 

2 Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013). 

3 (5) ENERGY AND UTILITIES.— 

4 (A) Low-income home energy assistance 

5 under the Low-Income Home Energy Assist6 ance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.). 

7 (B) The Lifeline Assistance Program of 

8 the Federal Communications Commission and 

9 the Tribal Link Up assistance program defined 

10 in section 54.413 of title 47, Code of Federal 

11 Regulations. 

12 (C) Weatherization assistance for low-in13 come persons under part A of title IV of the 

14 Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 

15 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.). 

16 (6) EDUCATION.— 

17 (A) Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 

18 of part IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

19 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.). 

20 (B) Grants for improving basic programs 

21 operated by local educational agencies under 

22 part A of title I of the Elementary and Sec23 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 

24 et seq.). 


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1 (C) Federal TRIO programs under chapter 

2 1 of subpart 2 of title IV of the Higher Edu3 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et 

4 seq.). 

5 (D) Federal supplemental educational op6 portunity grants under subpart 3 of part A of 

7 title IV the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

8 U.S.C. 1070b et seq.). 

9 (E) Programs for the education of migra10 tory children under part C of title 1 of the Ele11 mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 

12 (20 U.S.C. 6391 et seq.). 

13 (F) Gaining early awareness and readiness 

14 for undergraduate programs under chapter 2 of 

15 subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher 

16 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–21 et 

17 seq.). 

18 (G) The education for homeless children 

19 and youth program under subtitle B of title VII 

20 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 

21 Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.). 

22 (H) The leveraging educational assistance 

23 partnership program of subpart 4 of part A of 

24 title IV the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

25 U.S.C. 1070c et seq.). 


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1 (7) TRAINING.— 

2 (A) Job Corps under subtitle C of title I 

3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 

4 Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.). 

5 (B) Adult employment and training activi6 ties under title I of the Workforce Innovation 

7 and Opportunity Act (20 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.). 

8 (C) Senior community service employment 

9 programs under title V of the Older Americans 

10 Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.). 

11 (D) Employment and training programs 

12 under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 

13 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). 

14 (E) Migrant and seasonal farmworker pro15 grams under section 167 of the Workforce In16 novation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 

17 3222). 

18 (F) The YouthBuild Program under sec19 tion 171 of the Workforce Innovation and Op20 portunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3226). 

21 (G) Native American Programs under sec22 tion 166 of the Workforce Innovation and Op23 portunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221). 

24 (8) SERVICES.— 


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1 (A) The Social Services Block Grant pro2 gram under title XX of the Social Security Act. 

3 (B) Programs under the Community Serv4 ices Block Grant Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 9901 

5 et seq.). 

6 (C) Services for aliens admitted to the 

7 United States as refugees or granted asylum in 

8 the United States, and other special populations 

9 of aliens. 

10 (D) State and community programs on 

11 aging that receive Federal funds. 

12 (E) Legal Services Corporation. 

13 (F) Family planning services under title X 

14 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 

15 300 et seq.). 

16 (G) The Emergency Food and Shelter Pro17 gram for homeless persons under title III of the 

18 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 

19 U.S.C. 11331 et seq.). 

20 (H) The AmeriCorps VISTA program 

21 under subtitle C of title I of the National and 

22 Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 

23 12571 et seq.). 

24 (9) CHILD CARE AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT.— 


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1 (A) Head Start programs and Early Head 

2 Start programs under the Head Start Act (42 

3 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.). 

4 (B) Programs under the Child Care and 

5 Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 

6 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.). 

7 (10) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.— 

8 (A) The Community Development Block 

9 Grant Program under title I of the Housing 

10 and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 

11 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). 

12 (B) Programs administered by the Eco13 nomic Development Administration under the 

14 Public Works and Economic Development Act 

15 of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.). 

16 (C) Programs administered by the Appa17 lachian Regional Commission under subtitle IV 

18 of title 40, United States Code. 

19 (D) Empowerment zones and enterprise 

20 communities under subchapter U, and renewal 

21 communities under subchapter X, of the Inter22 nal Revenue Code of 1986. 

23 (c) PROGRAMS EXCLUDED.—For purposes of sub24 section (a), the following Federal programs shall not be 

25 considered means-tested welfare programs: 


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1 (1) The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability In2 surance Benefit program under title II of the Social 

3 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). 

4 (2) The Medicare program under title XVIII of 

5 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). 

6 (3) A program designed exclusively or primarily 

7 to provide to an individual benefits under title 38, 

8 United States Code, or other provisions of law ad9 ministered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

10 (4) A program that provides for the receipt of 

11 ‘‘regular compensation’’, ‘‘extended compensation’’, 

12 or ‘‘additional compensation’’ (as such terms are de13 fined by section 205 of the Federal-State Extended 

14 Unemployment Compensation Act (26 U.S.C. 3304 

15 note)). 

16 (5) The program that provides for trade adjust17 ment assistance under title II of the Trade Act of 

18 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.). 

19 (6) Programs designed specifically to provide 

20 benefits to workers to compensate for job-related in21 juries or illnesses. 

22 (d) SPECIAL RULES.— 

23 (1)(A) For purposes of subsection (a), only the 

24 refundable portion of the following tax credits shall 

25 be considered means-tested welfare programs: 


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1 (i) The earned income tax credit under sec2 tion 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

3 (ii) The child tax credit under section 

4 24(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

5 (B) For purposes of subsection (a), only the re6 fundable portion of the premium and out-of-pocket 

7 health care subsidies to be paid under the Patient 

8 Protection and Affordable Health Care Act shall be 

9 considered a means-tested welfare program. 

10 (C) For purposes of this subparagraph, the 

11 term ‘‘refundable portion’’ means the portion of the 

12 credit which is paid to an individual in excess of the 

13 amount of Federal income tax owed by the indi14 vidual. 

15 (2) For purposes of subsection (a), only the 

16 costs of the free and reduced price segments of the 

17 school lunch and school breakfast programs shall be 

18 considered means-tested welfare programs. 

19 (e) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN STATE AND LOCAL EX20 PENDITURES.—For purposes of subsection (a), expendi21 tures by State and local governments of funds that are— 

22 (1) obtained by the State and local government 

23 from taxes, fees, or other sources of revenue estab24 lished by the State or local government; and 


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1 (2) not received as any form of grant from the 

2 Federal Government, 

3 shall not be considered means-tested welfare programs, 

4 without regard to whether the State and local expenditures 

5 take the form of contributions to a Federal program de6 scribed in subsection (a) or listed in subsection (b). 

7 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF BENEFIT REFORM AND ALIGN8 MENT COMMISSION. 

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

10 legislative branch a commission to be known as the ‘‘Ben11 efit Reform and Alignment Commission’’ (hereafter re12 ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

13 (b) DUTIES.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission— 

15 (A) shall review all means-tested welfare 

16 programs within the Federal Government to— 

17 (i) identify changes in law (which may 

18 include ways to streamline functions and 

19 increase efficiency within agencies or pro20 grams) that will achieve the purposes set 

21 forth in section 2; 

22 (ii) evaluate whether each means-test23 ed welfare program could be consolidated 

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1 ability of discretionary appropriations with 

2 similar goals, and make recommendations 

3 for consolidating the programs that are 

4 identified; 

5 (iii) evaluate the potential benefits of 

6 eliminating any means-tested welfare pro7 gram that does not have proven beneficial 

8 outcomes that assist in achieving purposes 

9 set forth in section 2 and make rec10 ommendations regarding eliminating 

11 means-tested welfare programs that are 

12 identified; 

13 (iv) identify opportunities and make 

14 recommendations regarding ways for the 

15 Federal Government to reduce the cost or 

16 increase the efficiency of means-tested wel17 fare program by contracting with private 

18 entities, or delegating authority to States, 

19 to perform activities relating to the pro20 gram; 

21 (v) identify means-tested welfare pro22 grams and entitlement authorities that 

23 should be modified to be carried out sub24 ject to the availability of discretionary ap25 propriations; and 


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1 (vi) identify other ways to achieve the 

2 purposes set forth in section 2 as deter3 mined by the Commission; 

4 (B) may review the offsetting receipts and 

5 discretionary appropriations of the Federal 

6 Government, as determined appropriate by the 

7 Commission; and 

8 (C) may develop the criteria for achieving 

9 the purposes set forth in section 2. 

10 (2) CONSULTATION AND WORKING GROUPS.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the re12 view under paragraph (1)(A), the Commission 

13 shall— 

14 (i) consult with experts in company 

15 restructuring, reorganizing, and cost cut16 ting; and 

17 (ii) establish working groups for 

18 means-tested welfare programs, as deter19 mined appropriate by the Commission, to 

20 provide recommendations to the Commis21 sion. 

22 (B) MEMBERS OF WORKING GROUPS.—The 

23 individuals serving on a working group estab24 lished under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be em25 ployees or contractors of the Commission with 


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1 expertise in a program reviewed by the working 

2 group. 

3 (3) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 

4 the date on which all members of the Commission 

5 are appointed, and upon an affirmative vote of a 

6 majority of the members of the Commission, the 

7 Commission shall submit to Congress and make pub8 licly available a report containing— 

9 (A) a detailed statement of the findings, 

10 conclusions, and recommendations of the Com11 mission; and 

12 (B) the assumptions, scenarios, and alter13 natives considered in reaching such findings, 

14 conclusions, and recommendations. 

15 (4) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT CHANGES IN

16 LAW TO ACHIEVE PURPOSES.—The Commission 

17 shall— 

18 (A) identify changes in law that will result 

19 in the consolidation and realignment in pro20 grams and outlays that will achieve the pur21 poses set forth in section 2; 

22 (B) include in the report submitted under 

23 paragraph (3) a bill consisting of proposed leg24 islative language to carry out the changes in 

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1 after in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission 

2 bill’’), except that the bill may not include pro3 visions creating a new program or agency, un4 less such program or agency is the result of a 

5 consolidation or realignment of existing pro6 grams and agencies which will have the pre7 dicted outcome of achieving the purposes of sec8 tion 2; and 

9 (C) include in such report an estimate of 

10 the savings in outlays that will be achieved by 

11 the enactment of the Commission bill, as devel12 oped in conjunction with the Director of the 

13 Congressional Budget Office and the Director 

14 of the Office of Management and Budget. 

15 (5) INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF CON16 GRESS.—After submission of the Commission bill 

17 under paragraph (4), the Commission shall promptly 

18 provide, upon request, to any Member of Congress 

19 information used by the Commission in making its 

20 recommendations. 

21 (c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 

23 composed of 8 members, appointed as follows: 

24 (A) The majority leader of the Senate shall 

25 appoint 2 members. 


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1 (B) The minority leader of the Senate shall 

2 appoint 2 members. 

3 (C) The Speaker of the House of Rep4 resentatives shall appoint 2 members. 

5 (D) The minority leader of the House of 

6 Representatives shall appoint 2 members. 

7 (2) DISQUALIFICATIONS.—An individual may 

8 not be appointed as a member of the Commission if 

9 the individual— 

10 (A) was an officer or employee of any es11 tablishment in the Federal Government at any 

12 time during the 5-year period ending on the 

13 date of the appointment; or 

14 (B) was registered as a lobbyist under the 

15 Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 

16 1601 et seq.) at any time during the 5-year pe17 riod ending on the date of the appointment. 

18 (3) CHAIRPERSON.—The members of the Com19 mission shall select a Chairperson from among the 

20 members of the Commission. 

21 (4) DATE.—Not later than 1 month after the 

22 date of enactment of this Act, all members of the 

23 Commission shall be appointed. 

24 (5) PERIOD OF DESIGNATION.—Members shall 

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1 cancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, 

2 but shall be filled not later than 14 days after the 

3 date on which the vacancy occurs in the same man4 ner as the original appointment. 

5 (6) COMPENSATION.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the 

7 Commission shall be compensated at a rate 

8 equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate 

9 of basic pay prescribed for a position at level IV 

10 of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 

11 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in12 cluding travel time) during which such member 

13 is engaged in the performance of the duties of 

14 the Commission. 

15 (B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members may be 

16 allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 

17 lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 

18 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code, 

19 while away from their homes or regular places 

20 of business in performance of services for the 

21 Commission. 

22 (d) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 

23 (1) HEARINGS.—The Commission may, for the 

24 purpose of carrying out this Act— 


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1 (A) hold such hearings, sit and act at such 

2 times and places, take such testimony, receive 

3 such evidence, and administer such oaths as the 

4 Commission considers advisable to carry out its 

5 duties; and 

6 (B) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 

7 attendance and testimony of such witnesses and 

8 the production of such books, records, cor9 respondence, memoranda, papers, documents, 

10 tapes, and materials as the Commission con11 siders advisable to carry out its duties. 

12 (2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

13 The Commission may request directly, or require, by 

14 subpoena or otherwise, from any Federal agency 

15 such information as the Commission considers nec16 essary to carry out its duties. Upon a request of the 

17 Chairperson of the Commission, the head of a Fed18 eral agency shall furnish such information to the 

19 Commission. 

20 (3) ISSUANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF SUB21 POENAS.— 

22 (A) ISSUANCE.—Subpoenas issued under 

23 paragraph (1) or (2) shall bear the signature of 

24 the Chairperson of the Commission and shall be 


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1 served by any person or class of persons des2 ignated by the Chairperson for that purpose. 

3 (B) ENFORCEMENT.—In the case of contu4 macy or failure to obey a subpoena issued 

5 under paragraph (1) or (2), the United States 

6 district court for the judicial district in which 

7 the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or 

8 may be found may issue an order requiring 

9 such person to appear at any designated place 

10 to testify or to produce documentary or other 

11 evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the 

12 court may be punished by the court as a con13 tempt of that court. 

14 (4) WITNESS ALLOWANCES AND FEES.—Section 

15 1821 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to 

16 witnesses requested or subpoenaed to appear at any 

17 hearing of the Commission. The per diem and mile18 age allowances for witnesses shall be paid from 

19 funds available to pay the expenses of the Commis20 sion. 

21 (5) INFORMATION FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL

22 BUDGET OFFICE AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND

23 BUDGET.—The Commission may secure directly 

24 from the Congressional Budget Office and Office of 

25 Management and Budget such information, includVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:42 Mar 16, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1469.IH H1469

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1 ing estimates and analysis, as the Commission con2 siders advisable to carry out its duties. Upon request 

3 of the Chairperson of the Commission, the Director 

4 of the Congressional Budget Office or Office of 

5 Management and Budget shall furnish such informa6 tion, including estimates and analysis, to the Com7 mission. 

8 (6) INFORMATION FROM THE LIBRARY OF CON9 GRESS.—Upon the request of the Commission, the 

10 Librarian of Congress shall provide to the Commis11 sion, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support 

12 services, research services, and research staff nec13 essary for the Commission to carry out its respon14 sibilities under this Act. 

15 (e) STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.— 

16 (1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION OF

17 STAFF.—The Chairperson may appoint and fix the 

18 compensation of a staff director and such other em19 ployees as may be necessary to enable the Commis20 sion to carry out its functions, without regard to the 

21 provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 

22 appointments in the competitive service, but at rates 

23 not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay prescribed 

24 for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule 


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1 under section 5316 of title 5 of the United States 

2 Code. 

3 (2) AGENCY ASSISTANCE.—Upon the request of 

4 the Chairperson, the head of any agency may detail 

5 an employee of the agency to the Commission with6 out reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 

7 interruption or loss of civil service status or privi8 lege. 

9 (f) CONSULTANT, TEMPORARY, AND INTERMITTENT

10 SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission is au11 thorized to procure the services of experts and consultants 

12 and temporary and intermittent services in accordance 

13 with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at 

14 rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying 

15 a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under sec16 tion 5316 of title 5, United States Code, for each day dur17 ing which such consultant or expert is engaged in the per18 formance of the duties of the Commission. 

19 (g) CONSIDERATION OF SUGGESTIONS FROM THE

20 PUBLIC THROUGH WEB SITE.—In carrying out its duties 

21 under this Act, the Commission shall— 

22 (1) establish a Web site for the purpose of al23 lowing any member of the public to submit sugges24 tions to the Commission for its consideration; and 


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1 (2) consider each such suggestion submitted 

2 through the Web site. 

3 (h) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The 

4 Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 

5 apply to the Commission. 

6 (i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

7 on the day after the earlier of— 

8 (1) the date on which the Commission bill is en9 acted into law; or 

10 (2) the last day of the Congress during which 

11 the Commission bill is introduced in the Senate or 

12 the House under section 5(a). 

13 SEC. 5. EXPEDITED PROCEDURES. 

14 (a) INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSION BILL.—The 

15 Commission bill— 

16 (1) shall be introduced in the Senate (by re17 quest), with any technical changes necessary to 

18 carry out the intent of the bill, by the majority lead19 er of the Senate or by a Member of the Senate des20 ignated by the majority leader of the Senate not 

21 later than 5 legislative days after the date on which 

22 the bill is submitted to Congress under section 

23 4(b)(4); and 

24 (2) shall be introduced in the House of Rep25 resentatives (by request), with any technical changes 


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1 necessary to carry out the intent of the bill, by the 

2 Speaker of the House of Representatives or by a 

3 Member of the House of Representatives designated 

4 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives not 

5 later than 5 legislative days after the date on which 

6 the bill is submitted to Congress under section 

7 4(b)(4). 

8 (b) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION IN HOUSE OF REP9 RESENTATIVES.— 

10 (1) PLACEMENT ON CALENDAR.—Upon intro11 duction in the House of Representatives, the Com12 mission bill shall be placed immediately on the ap13 propriate calendar. 

14 (2) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—It shall be in order, not 

16 later than 30 legislative days after the date the 

17 Commission bill is introduced in the House of 

18 Representatives, to move to proceed to consider 

19 the Commission bill in the House of Represent20 atives. 

21 (B) PROCEDURE.—For a motion to pro22 ceed to consider the Commission bill— 

23 (i) all points of order against the mo24 tion are waived; 


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1 (ii) such a motion shall not be in 

2 order after the House of Representatives 

3 has disposed of a motion to proceed on the 

4 Commission bill; 

5 (iii) the previous question shall be 

6 considered as ordered on the motion to its 

7 adoption without intervening motion; 

8 (iv) the motion shall not be debatable; 

9 and 

10 (v) a motion to reconsider the vote by 

11 which the motion is disposed of shall not 

12 be in order. 

13 (3) CONSIDERATION.—When the House of Rep14 resentatives proceeds to consideration of the Com15 mission bill— 

16 (A) the Commission bill shall be considered 

17 as read; 

18 (B) all points of order against the Com19 mission bill and against its consideration are 

20 waived; 

21 (C) the previous question shall be consid22 ered as ordered on the Commission bill to its 

23 passage without intervening motion except 10 

24 hours of debate equally divided and controlled 

25 by the proponent and an opponent; 


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1 (D) an amendment to the Commission bill 

2 shall not be in order; and 

3 (E) a motion to reconsider the vote on pas4 sage of the Commission bill shall not be in 

5 order. 

6 (4) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—In the House of Rep7 resentatives, the Commission bill shall be agreed to 

8 upon a vote of a majority of the Members present 

9 and voting, a quorum being present. 

10 (c) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION IN SENATE.— 

11 (1) PLACEMENT ON CALENDAR.—Upon intro12 duction in the Senate, the Commission bill shall be 

13 placed immediately on the calendar. 

14 (2) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding rule 

16 XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is 

17 in order, not later than 30 legislative days after 

18 the date the Commission bill is introduced in 

19 the Senate (even though a previous motion to 

20 the same effect has been disagreed to) to move 

21 to proceed to the consideration of the Commis22 sion bill. 

23 (B) PROCEDURE.—For a motion to pro24 ceed to the consideration of the Commission 

25 bill— 


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1 (i) all points of order against the mo2 tion are waived; 

3 (ii) the motion is not debatable; 

4 (iii) the motion is not subject to a mo5 tion to postpone; 

6 (iv) a motion to reconsider the vote by 

7 which the motion is agreed to or disagreed 

8 to shall not be in order; and 

9 (v) if the motion is agreed to, the 

10 Commission bill shall remain the unfin11 ished business until disposed of. 

12 (3) FLOOR CONSIDERATION.— 

13 (A) IN GENERAL.—If the Senate proceeds 

14 to consideration of the Commission bill— 

15 (i) all points of order against the 

16 Commission bill (and against consideration 

17 of the Commission bill) are waived; 

18 (ii) consideration of the Commission 

19 bill, and all debatable motions and appeals 

20 in connection therewith, shall be limited to 

21 not more than 30 hours, which shall be di22 vided equally between the majority and mi23 nority leaders or their designees; 

24 (iii) a motion further to limit debate 

25 is in order and not debatable; 


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1 (iv) an amendment to, a motion to 

2 postpone, or a motion to commit the Com3 mission bill is not in order; and 

4 (v) a motion to proceed to the consid5 eration of other business is not in order. 

6 (B) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—In the Senate— 

7 (i) the vote on passage shall occur im8 mediately following the conclusion of the 

9 consideration of the Commission bill, and a 

10 single quorum call at the conclusion of the 

11 debate if requested in accordance with the 

12 rules of the Senate; and 

13 (ii) the Commission bill shall be 

14 agreed to upon a vote of a majority of the 

15 Members present and voting, a quorum 

16 being present. 

17 (C) RULINGS OF THE CHAIR ON PROCE18 DURE.—Appeals from the decisions of the Chair 

19 relating to the application of this subsection or 

20 the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to 

21 the procedure relating to the Commission bill 

22 shall be decided without debate. 

23 (d) RULES RELATING TO SENATE AND HOUSE OF

24 REPRESENTATIVES.— 


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1 (1) COORDINATION WITH ACTION BY OTHER

2 HOUSE.—If, before the passage by one House of the 

3 Commission bill of that House, that House receives 

4 from the other House the Commission bill— 

5 (A) the Commission bill of the other House 

6 shall not be referred to a committee; and 

7 (B) with respect to the Commission bill of 

8 the House receiving the resolution— 

9 (i) the procedure in that House shall 

10 be the same as if no Commission bill had 

11 been received from the other House; and 

12 (ii) the vote on passage shall be on 

13 the Commission bill of the other House. 

14 (2) TREATMENT OF COMMISSION BILL OF

15 OTHER HOUSE.—If one House fails to introduce or 

16 consider the Commission bill under this section, the 

17 Commission bill of the other House shall be entitled 

18 to expedited floor procedures under this section. 

19 (3) TREATMENT OF COMPANION MEASURES.— 

20 If, following passage of the Commission bill in the 

21 Senate, the Senate receives the companion measure 

22 from the House of Representatives, the companion 

23 measure shall not be debatable. 

24 (4) VETOES.—If the President vetoes the Com25 mission bill, consideration of a veto message in the 


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1 Senate under this section shall be not more than 10 

2 hours equally divided between the majority and mi3 nority leaders or their designees. 

4 (e) RULES OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND

5 SENATE.—This section is enacted by Congress— 

6 (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 

7 the Senate and House of Representatives, respec8 tively, and as such is deemed a part of the rules of 

9 each House, respectively, but applicable only with re10 spect to the procedure to be followed in that House 

11 in the case of the Commission bill, and supersede 

12 other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent 

13 with such rules; and 

14 (2) with full recognition of the constitutional 

15 right of either House to change the rules (so far as 

16 relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, 

17 in the same manner, and to the same extent as in 

18 the case of any other rule of that House. 

Æ 


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