II 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3486 

To establish the Commission on Measures of Household Economic Security 

to conduct a study and submit a report containing recommendations 

to establish and report economic statistics that reflect the economic 

status and well-being of American households. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 

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

referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish the Commission on Measures of Household Economic Security to conduct a study and submit a report 

containing recommendations to establish and report economic statistics that reflect the economic status and wellbeing of American households. 

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 ‘‘Commission on Meas5 ures of Household Economic Security Act of 2008’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that— 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
2 

•S 3486 IS

1 (1) Federal and State governments, policy2 makers, legislators, and private sector entities de3 pend on the economic statistics that are published 

4 by the Federal Government; 

5 (2) Federal economic statistics are used, among 

6 other things— 

7 (A) to judge our Nation’s economic per8 formance over time; and 

9 (B) to provide policymakers and legislators 

10 with the information necessary to design appro11 priate economic policies and other programs to 

12 address the well-being of American individuals 

13 and households; 

14 (3) questions have been raised about the suffi15 ciency of existing reported economic measures and 

16 statistics to provide a meaningful and accurate re17 flection and assessment of the economic well-being of 

18 American individuals and households; 

19 (4) the most commonly reported economic sta20 tistics, such as gross domestic product, unemploy21 ment rate, and consumer price indices, do not ade22 quately or accurately reflect the economic status of 

23 average American individuals and households; and 

24 (5) a more accurate, transparent, coherent, and 

25 comprehensive assessment of the economic well-being 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
3 

•S 3486 IS

1 of American households and regular reporting of 

2 such information would allow Federal and State gov3 ernments— 

4 (A) to better track and judge the economic 

5 status of average Americans; and 

6 (B) to develop better, more accurate, and 

7 more responsive policies to address concerns 

8 that are more directly relevant to American 

9 households. 

10 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION ON MEASURES 

11 OF HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC SECURITY. 

12 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Com13 mission on Measures of Household Economic Security (re14 ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

15 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

16 (1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 

17 composed of 8 members of whom— 

18 (A) 2 shall be appointed by the majority 

19 leader of the Senate, in consultation with the 

20 chairmen and ranking members of the Com21 mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen22 sions of the Senate, the Committee on Com23 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen24 ate, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

25 Urban Affairs of the Senate, and the Joint 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
4 

•S 3486 IS

1 Economic Committee, of whom 1 shall be an 

2 employee of the Bureau of Economic Analysis; 

3 (B) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 

4 leader of the Senate, in consultation with the 

5 chairmen and ranking members of the commit6 tees referred to in subparagraph (A), of whom 

7 1 shall be an employee of the Census Bureau; 

8 (C) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of 

9 the House of Representatives, in consultation 

10 with the chairmen and ranking members of the 

11 Committee on Financial Services of the House 

12 of Representatives; the Committee on Ways and 

13 Means of the House of Representatives; and the 

14 Joint Economic Committee, of whom 1 shall be 

15 an employee of the Bureau of Labor Statistics; 

16 and 

17 (D) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 

18 leader of the House of Representatives, in con19 sultation with the chairmen and ranking mem20 bers of the committees referred to in subpara21 graph (C), of whom 1 shall be an employee of 

22 the Federal Reserve. 

23 (2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Com24 mission shall be— 

25 (A) appointed on a nonpartisan basis; and 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
5 

•S 3486 IS

1 (B) academic or government policy experts 

2 in the field of economics, statistics, or other 

3 specialty field that is directly related to the du4 ties of the Commission described in section 

5 4(a). 

6 (3) DATE.—The members of the Commission 

7 shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act. 

9 (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem10 bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 

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

12 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint13 ment. 

14 (d) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Commis15 sion shall select a Chairman and Vice Chairman from 

16 among its members. 

17 (e) MEETINGS.— 

18 (1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 60 days 

19 after the date on which all members of the Commis20 sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold 

21 its first meeting. 

22 (2) REGULAR MEETINGS.—During the life of 

23 the Commission, the Commission shall meet— 

24 (A) at the call of the Chairman; and 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
6 

•S 3486 IS

1 (B) not less frequently than once every 3 

2 months. 

3 (f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 

4 Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 

5 transacting the business of the Commission, but a lesser 

6 number of members may hold hearings. 

7 (g) RULES.—The Commission may establish by ma8 jority vote any other rules for the conduct of the Commis9 sion’s business, in accordance with the provisions of this 

10 Act and other applicable law. 

11 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

12 (a) STUDY.—The Commission shall identify, study, 

13 and evaluate— 

14 (1) existing economic statistics and data col15 lected and reported by agencies of the Federal Gov16 ernment that describe the economic well-being of 

17 American households; 

18 (2) ways to synthesize, expand, augment, im19 prove, and modernize the statistical measures de20 scribed in paragraph (1) to provide a more accurate, 

21 transparent, coherent, and comprehensive assess22 ment of the economic well-being of American house23 holds by— 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
7 

•S 3486 IS

1 (A) determining the cost, logistics, imple2 mentation time, and reliability of producing new 

3 statistics; 

4 (B) recommending improved standards and 

5 methodologies for measuring and reflecting the 

6 economic well-being of American individuals 

7 and households; and 

8 (C) considering the development of statis9 tical measures to describe— 

10 (i) the current debt situation of Amer11 ican individuals and households, including 

12 a description of the categories of debt, 

13 such as credit card debt, education related 

14 loans, and mortgage payments; 

15 (ii) the movement of Americans be16 tween salaried jobs with benefits to single 

17 or multiple wage jobs with limited or no 

18 benefits, including a comparison of income 

19 that includes the value of benefits pro20 grams, such as health insurance and re21 tirement plans; 

22 (iii) the percentage of Americans who 

23 are covered by both employer-provided and 

24 individual health care plans and the extent 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
8 

•S 3486 IS

1 of health care coverage per dollar paid by 

2 both employers and employees; 

3 (iv) the savings rate, including both 

4 standard savings plans and pension plans; 

5 (v) the disparity in income distribu6 tion over time and between different demo7 graphic and geographic groups; 

8 (vi) the number of Americans receiv9 ing cash or near cash transfer payments 

10 from the Federal Government and a State 

11 government and the percentage of house12 hold income represented by such benefits; 

13 and 

14 (vii) the breakdown of household ex15 penditures between categories such as 

16 food, shelter, medical expenses, debt serv17 icing, and energy; 

18 (D) the relevance, development, and imple19 mentation of nonmarket satellite accounts, in20 cluding accounts related to— 

21 (i) household production; 

22 (ii) investments in formal education 

23 and the resulting stock of skill capital; 

24 (iii) investments in health and the re25 sulting stock of health capital; 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
9 

•S 3486 IS

1 (iv) activities of the non-profit and 

2 volunteer sectors; and 

3 (v) environmental assets and services. 

4 (b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study under 

5 this section, the Commission shall consult with relevant 

6 government leaders, representative citizen groups, and ex7 perts, including— 

8 (1) the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board 

9 of Governors; 

10 (2) the Secretary of Commerce; 

11 (3) the Secretary of Labor; 

12 (4) the Secretary of the Treasury; 

13 (5) the Chairman of the Council of Economic 

14 Advisers; 

15 (6) the Comptroller General of the United 

16 States; 

17 (7) the Administrator of the Environmental 

18 Protection Agency; 

19 (8) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv20 ices; 

21 (9) the Director of the Bureau of Economic 

22 Analysis; 

23 (10) the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor 

24 Statistics; 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
10 

•S 3486 IS

1 (11) the Committee on National Statistics, Na2 tional Research Council at the National Academies; 

3 and 

4 (12) representative groups of citizens, from 

5 sample populations selected through methodologies 

6 and procedures recommended by appropriate ex7 perts, that represent national geographic, economic, 

8 and employment diversity. 

9 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 

10 date of the first meeting of the Commission, the Commis11 sion shall submit a report to Congress that contains— 

12 (1) a detailed statement of the findings and 

13 conclusions of the Commission; and 

14 (2) recommendations for such legislation and 

15 administrative actions as the Commission considers 

16 appropriate, including— 

17 (A) a list of economic statistics that should 

18 be reported regularly to more accurately reflect 

19 the economic status and well-being of American 

20 households, and the uses and benefits of such 

21 statistics; 

22 (B) the costs, logistics, estimated imple23 mentation time, and reliability of producing the 

24 statistics referred to in subparagraph (A); and 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
11 

•S 3486 IS

1 (C) the need for, and benefits of, estab2 lishing a standing commission after the termi3 nation of the Commission to address or rec4 ommend actions with respect to— 

5 (i) household economic information; 

6 (ii) non-market satellite accounts; and 

7 (iii) other economic indicators and 

8 measurements that are the subject of study 

9 and evaluation by the Commission. 

10 SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 

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

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

13 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 

14 considers advisable to carry out this Act. 

15 (b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure 

17 such information directly from any Federal depart18 ment or agency as the Commission determines to be 

19 necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of the 

20 Chairman of the Commission, the head of such de21 partment or agency shall furnish such information to 

22 the Commission. 

23 (2) CONFIDENTIALITY.—The Commission shall 

24 maintain the same level of confidentiality for such 

25 information made available under this subsection as 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
12 

•S 3486 IS

1 is required of the head of the department or agency 

2 from which the information was obtained. 

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

4 the United States mails in the same manner and under 

5 the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 

6 the Federal Government. 

7 (d) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the Federal Prop9 erty and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 

10 U.S.C. 251 et seq.), the Commission may enter into 

11 contracts with Federal and State agencies, private 

12 firms, institutions, and individuals for the conduct of 

13 activities necessary to the discharge of its duties and 

14 responsibilities. 

15 (2) DURATION.—A contract, lease, or other 

16 legal agreement entered into by the Commission may 

17 not extend beyond the date of the termination of the 

18 Commission. 

19 SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

20 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under 

22 paragraph (2), each member of the Commission who 

23 is not an officer or employee of the Federal Govern24 ment may be compensated at a rate equal to the 

25 daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
13 

•S 3486 IS

1 basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule 

2 under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, 

3 for each day (including travel time) during which 

4 such member is engaged in the performance of the 

5 duties of the Commission. 

6 (2) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—All members of the 

7 Commission who are officers or employees of the 

8 United States shall serve without compensation in 

9 addition to that received for their services as officers 

10 or employees of the United States. 

11 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com12 mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 

13 diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ14 ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 

15 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 

16 regular places of business in the performance of services 

17 for the Commission. 

18 (c) STAFF.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman of the Com20 mission may, without regard to the civil service laws 

21 and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive 

22 director and such other additional personnel as may 

23 be necessary to enable the Commission to perform 

24 its duties. The employment of an executive director 

25 shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
14 

•S 3486 IS

1 (2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairman of the 

2 Commission may fix the compensation of the execu3 tive director and other personnel without regard to 

4 chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 

5 5, United States Code, relating to classification of 

6 positions and General Schedule pay rates, except 

7 that the rate of pay for the executive director and 

8 other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for 

9 level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 

10 5316 of such title. 

11 (3) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—The executive director 

13 and any personnel of the Commission who are 

14 employees shall be employees under section 

15 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for pur16 poses of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 

17 89A, 89B, and 90 of such title. 

18 (B) MEMBERS OF BOARD.—Subparagraph 

19 (A) may not be construed to apply to members 

20 of the Commission. 

21 (d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any 

22 Federal Government employee may be detailed to the 

23 Commission without reimbursement. Such detail shall be 

24 without interruption or loss of civil service status or privi25 lege. 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
15 

•S 3486 IS

1 (e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT2 TENT SERVICES.—The Chairman of the Commission may 

3 procure temporary and intermittent services under section 

4 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individ5 uals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 

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

7 Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 

8 (f) VOLUNTEER SERVICES.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 

10 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commis11 sion may— 

12 (A) accept and utilize the services of volun13 teers serving without compensation; and 

14 (B) reimburse such volunteers for local 

15 travel and office supplies, and for other travel 

16 expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist17 ence, in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, 

18 United States Code. 

19 (2) STATUS.—A person providing volunteer 

20 services to the Commission shall be considered an 

21 employee of the Federal Government in the perform22 ance of those services for the purposes of— 

23 (A) chapter 81 of title 5, United States 

24 Code (relating to compensation for work related 

25 injuries); 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
16 

•S 3486 IS

1 (B) chapter 11 of title 18, United States 

2 Code (relating to conflicts of interest); and 

3 (C) chapter 171 of title 28, United States 

4 Code (relating to tort claims). 

5 (g) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—Upon the request 

6 of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services 

7 shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 

8 the administrative support services necessary for the Com9 mission to carry out its responsibilities. 

10 SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION. 

11 The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the 

12 date on which the Commission submits the report under 

13 section 4(c). 

14 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available 

16 for the Bureau of Labor Statistics for fiscal year 2009, 

17 not less than $2,500,000 shall be made available for the 

18 activities of the Commission under this Act. 

19 (b) AVAILABILITY.—The amounts made available for 

20 the activities of the Commission under subsection (a) shall 

21 remain available until the date on which the Commission 

22 is terminated pursuant to section 7. 

Æ 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS