I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1618 

To establish the Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 17, 2023 

Mr. BILIRAKIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 

and Commerce, 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 Commission on Sustaining Medicare and 

Social Security, 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 ‘‘Commission on Sus5 taining Medicare and Social Security Act of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 

7 There is established in the legislative branch a com8 mission to be known as the ‘‘Commission on Sustaining 


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1 Medicare and Social Security’’ (in this Act referred to as 

2 the ‘‘Commission’’). 

3 SEC. 3. DUTY OF THE COMMISSION. 

4 Not later than 1 year after the initial meeting of the 

5 Commission, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 

6 report on the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance 

7 program under title II of the Social Security Act and the 

8 Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security 

9 Act, including— 

10 (1) the impact of using alternative indexes on 

11 beneficiaries and the Trust Funds, including the 

12 Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI–E); 

13 (2) the impact of using alternative premium 

14 formulas for the Medicare program under title 

15 XVIII of the Social Security Act on beneficiaries 

16 and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance 

17 Trust Fund, including premium formulas that con18 sider financial hardships and socioeconomic status; 

19 (3) program reforms to increase the sustain20 ability of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability In21 surance program under title II of the Social Security 

22 Act and the Medicare program under title XVIII of 

23 the Social Security Act; and 

24 (4) program reforms to prevent fraud, increase 

25 integrity, and reduce improper payments. 


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1 SEC. 4. MEMBERS. 

2 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

3 shall be composed of 11 members. Of the members of the 

4 Commission— 

5 (1) 3 shall be appointed by the President, in6 cluding— 

7 (A) the Commissioner of the Social Secu8 rity Administration or a designee of the Com9 missioner; and 

10 (B) the Administrator of the Centers for 

11 Medicare and Medicaid Services or a designee 

12 of the Administrator; 

13 (2) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 

14 House of Representatives, consisting of— 

15 (A) 1 nongovernmental expert in the Old16 Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance pro17 gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 

18 and 

19 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi20 care program under title XVIII of the Social 

21 Security Act; 

22 (3) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader 

23 of the House of Representatives; consisting of— 

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1 gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 

2 and 

3 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi4 care program under title XVIII of the Social 

5 Security Act; 

6 (4) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader 

7 of the Senate, consisting of— 

8 (A) 1 nongovernmental expert in the Old9 Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance pro10 gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 

11 and 

12 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi13 care program under title XVIII of the Social 

14 Security Act; and 

15 (5) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader 

16 of the Senate, consisting of— 

17 (A) 1 nongovernmental expert in the Old18 Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance pro19 gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 

20 and 

21 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi22 care program under title XVIII of the Social 

23 Security Act. 


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1 (b) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Each of the ap2 pointments under subsection (a) shall be made not later 

3 than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

4 (c) TERMS; VACANCIES.—Each member shall be ap5 pointed for the life of the Commission, and a vacancy in 

6 the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 

7 original appointment was made. 

8 (d) COMPENSATION.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission 

10 shall serve without pay. 

11 (2) PROHIBITION ON COMPENSATION OF FED12 ERAL EMPLOYEES.—Members of the Commission 

13 who are full-time officers or employees of the United 

14 States may not receive additional pay, allowances, or 

15 benefits by reason of their service on the Commis16 sion. 

17 (3) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 

18 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

19 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 

20 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 

21 States Code. 

22 SEC. 5. OPERATION AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 

23 (a) CO-CHAIRS.—The Commission shall have two co24 chairs who shall be elected from the members of the Com25 mission during the first meeting of the Commission. 


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1 (b) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not 

2 later than 30 days after the members of the Commission 

3 have been appointed, and at such times thereafter as the 

4 co-chairs shall determine. 

5 (c) RULES OF PROCEDURE.—The co-chairs shall, 

6 with the approval of a majority of the members of the 

7 Commission, establish written rules of procedure for the 

8 Commission, which shall include a quorum requirement to 

9 conduct the business of the Commission. 

10 (d) HEARINGS.—The Commission may, for the pur11 pose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act 

12 at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 

13 as the Commission considers appropriate. 

14 (e) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 

15 may secure directly from any department or agency of the 

16 United States, including the Congressional Budget Office 

17 and the Government Accountability Office, any informa18 tion or technical assistance necessary to enable the Com19 mission to carry out this Act. Upon request of the co20 chairs of the Commission, the head of that department 

21 or agency shall furnish that information or technical as22 sistance to the Commission. 

23 (f) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent or in the 

24 amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the 

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1 ment and private agencies or persons for any purpose nec2 essary to enable the Commission to carry out this Act. 

3 (g) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 

4 States mails in the same manner and under the same con5 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 

6 States. 

7 SEC. 6. PERSONNEL. 

8 (a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc9 tor who shall be appointed by the Commission. The Direc10 tor shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level V of 

11 the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 

12 United States Code. 

13 (b) STAFF.—The Director may appoint and fix the 

14 pay of additional staff as the Director considers appro15 priate. 

16 (c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission 

17 may procure temporary and intermittent services under 

18 section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates 

19 for individuals not to exceed the maximum rate of basic 

20 pay for GS–15 of the General Schedule. 

21 (d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 

22 of the Commission, the head of any Federal department 

23 or agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the 

24 personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 


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1 to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under 

2 this Act. 

3 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 

4 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen5 eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim6 bursable basis, the administrative support services nec7 essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 

8 under this Act. 

9 SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 

10 The Commission shall terminate not later than 60 

11 days after the submission of the report required by section 

12 3. 

13 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

14 There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 to 

15 carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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