I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3600

To establish a commission to be known as the Harold Hughes Commission

on Alcoholism.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 6, 1996

Mr. RAMSTAD (for himself, Mr. WOLF, Mr. EMERSON, Mr. KLECZKA, and Mr.

MCNULTY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

A BILL

To establish a commission to be known as the Harold

Hughes Commission on Alcoholism.

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 ‘‘Harold Hughes Com5 mission on Alcoholism Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

7 There is established a commission to be known as the

8 Harold Hughes Commission on Alcoholism (in this Act re9 ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
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1 SEC. 3. DUTIES.

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall carry out

3 the following studies of alcoholism:

4 (1) A study of existing Federal governmental

5 agencies and programs related to alcoholism to de6 termine how such programs and agencies could be

7 better designed or coordinated in order to increase

8 the effectiveness of the funds allocated to them.

9 (2) A study of how existing government agen10 cies could be more effectively utilized to educate the

11 American public about the known social and finan12 cial costs of alcoholism; and how such agencies could

13 work more effectively with private sector groups to

14 better educate the American people about alcoholism

15 its prevention, and treatment.

16 (3) A study of the nature and extent of instruc17 tion on alcoholism provided to physicians in Amer18 ican medical schools and through the certification

19 and re-certification process in the various States, in20 cluding an examination of the requirements for ac21 creditation of medical schools as they relate to alco22 holism.

23 (4) A study of unmet research needs in the area

24 of alcoholism, and how research money can be

25 prioritized for best results and appropriate research
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1 funding levels in view of the size and scope of the

2 alcoholism problem.

3 (5) A study of the effectiveness of the various

4 forms of alcoholism treatment and the cost-effective5 ness of increasing access to public and private treat6 ment for those with alcoholism including the role of

7 managed care.

8 (6) Such other studies as the Commission de9 termines to be appropriate.

10 (b) REPORTS.—Not later than two years after the

11 date on which amounts under section 8 are first made

12 available for carrying out this Act, the Commission shall

13 submit to the President and the Congress a report describ14 ing the findings made in studies under subsection (a). The

15 Commission may submit to the President and the Con16 gress such interim reports regarding the duties of the

17 Commission under such subsection as the Commission de18 termines to be appropriate.

19 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

20 (a) COMPOSITION.—

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

22 composed of 12 voting members appointed in accord23 ance with paragraph (2) and one ex officio voting

24 member designated in paragraph (3).
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1 (2) APPOINTED MEMBERS.—Members of the

2 Commission shall be appointed in accordance with

3 the following:

4 (A) The President shall appoint four indi5 viduals from among individuals who are not of6 ficers or employees of the Federal Government.

7 Of such individuals—

8 (i) one shall represent the medical

9 profession and teaching hospitals;

10 (ii) one shall represent employee as11 sistance programs;

12 (iii) one shall represent entities that

13 provide health insurance or operate health

14 plans; and

15 (iv) one shall represent entities that

16 provide treatment for alcoholism.

17 (B) The President Pro Tempore of the

18 Senate shall, after consultation with the major19 ity and minority leaders of the Senate, appoint

20 four individuals. Of such individuals—

21 (i) two shall be Senators; and

22 (ii) two shall be appointed from

23 among individuals who are not officers or

24 employees of the Federal Government.
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1 (C) The Speaker of the House of Rep2 resentatives shall, after consultation with the

3 majority and minority leaders of the House, ap4 point four individuals. Of such individuals—

5 (i) two shall be Members of the

6 House; and

7 (ii) two shall be appointed from

8 among individuals who are not officers or

9 employees of the Federal Government.

10 (3) EX OFFICIO MEMBER.—The Director of the

11 National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

12 shall serve as an ex officio member of the Commis13 sion.

14 (b) CHAIR.—The President shall designate a member

15 of the Commission to serve as the chair of the Commis16 sion. The Chair shall be a member who was appointed to

17 the Commission from among individuals who were not offi18 cers or employees of the Federal Government.

19 (c) TERMS.—The term of a member of the Commis20 sion is the duration of the Commission.

21 (d) VACANCIES.—

22 (1) AUTHORITY OF COMMISSION.—A vacancy in

23 the membership of the Commission does not affect

24 the power of the remaining members to carry out

25 the duties under section 3.
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1 (2) APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSORS.—A vacancy

2 in the membership of the Commission shall be filled

3 in the manner in which the original appointment was

4 made.

5 (3) INCOMPLETE TERM.—If a member of the

6 Commission does not serve the full term applicable

7 to the member, the individual appointed to fill the

8 resulting vacancy shall be appointed for the remain9 der of the term of the predecessor of the individual.

10 (d) MEETINGS.—

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

12 at the call of the Chair or a majority of the mem13 bers, except that not less than two meetings shall be

14 held each year for the duration of the Commission.

15 (2) QUORUM.—A quorum for meetings of the

16 Commission is constituted by the presence of 7

17 members, except that a lesser number may conduct

18 hearings under section 6(a).

19 (e) COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT OF EX20 PENSES.—

21 (1) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commis22 sion may not receive compensation for service on the

23 Commission, subject to paragraph (2).

24 (2) REIMBURSEMENT.—Members of the Com25 mission may, in accordance with chapter 57 of title
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1 5, United States Code, be reimbursed for travel,

2 subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred

3 in carrying out the duties of the Commission.

4 SEC. 5. STAFF AND CONSULTANTS.

5 (a) STAFF.—

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may ap7 point and determine the compensation of such staff

8 as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the

9 Commission, including an executive director. Such

10 appointments and compensation may be made with11 out regard to the provisions of title 5, United States

12 Code, that govern appointments in the competitive

13 services, and the provisions of chapter 51 and sub14 chapter III of chapter 53 of such title that relate to

15 classifications and the General Schedule pay rates.

16 (2) LIMITATION.—Staff members appointed

17 under paragraph (1) may not be compensated in ex18 cess of the maximum rate of basic pay payable for

19 GS–15, except that the executive director may not

20 be compensated in an amount exceeding the maxi21 mum rate of basic pay payable under the General

22 Schedule for positions above GS–15.

23 (b) CONSULTANTS.—The Commission may procure

24 such temporary and intermittent services of consultants

25 under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, as
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1 the Commission may determine to be useful in carrying

2 out the duties under section 3. The Commission may not

3 procure services under this subsection at any rate in ex4 cess of the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate

5 of basic pay payable under the General Schedule for posi6 tions above GS–15. Consultants under this subsection

7 may, in accordance with chapter 57 of title 5, United

8 States Code, be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and

9 other necessary expenses incurred for activities carried out

10 on behalf of the Commission pursuant to section 3.

11 SEC. 6. POWERS.

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of carrying out

13 the duties of the Commission under section 3, the Com14 mission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times

15 and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence

16 as the Commission considers appropriate.

17 (b) OBTAINING OFFICIAL INFORMATION.—Upon the

18 request of the Commission, the heads of Federal agencies

19 shall furnish directly to the Commission information nec20 essary for the Commission to carry out the duties under

21 section 3.

22 (c) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the

23 United States mails in the same manner and under the

24 same conditions as Federal agencies.
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1 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon

2 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen3 eral Services shall provide to the Commission on a reim4 bursable basis such administrative support, including

5 quarters for the Commission, as may be necessary for the

6 Commission to carry out the duties under section 3.

7 (e) ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.—The Commission may

8 accept cash and in-kind contributions to the Commission

9 for the purpose of carrying out the activities of the Com10 mission.

11 SEC. 7. DURATION OF COMMISSION.

12 The Commission terminates upon the expiration of

13 the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the final

14 report is submitted under section 3(b).

15 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.

16 For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there is au17 thorized to be appropriated $3,000,000. Amounts appro18 priated under the preceding sentence are available until

19 the termination of the Commission under section 7.

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