I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4223
To establish a commission to examine the costs and benefits, and the impact
on voter turnout, of changing the deadline for filing Federal income
tax returns to the date on which Federal elections are held.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 14, 1994
Mr. KYL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means
A BILL
To establish a commission to examine the costs and benefits,
and the impact on voter turnout, of changing the dead-
line for filing Federal income tax returns to the date
on which Federal elections are held.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Voter Turnout En-
hancement Study Commission Act’’.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the right of citizens of the United States to
vote is a fundamental right;
(2) Federal, State, and local governments have
a duty to promote the exercise of the right to vote
to the greatest extent possible;
(3) the power to tax is only guardedly granted
to Federal, State, and local governments by the citi-
zens of the United States;
(4) the only regular contact that most Ameri-
cans have with their government consists of filing
personal income tax returns and voting in Federal,
State, and local elections;
(5) in 1992, almost 115,000,000 Federal in-
come tax returns were filed by individuals and cou-
ples, but only approximately 104,000,000 votes were
cast in the year’s presidential election; and
(6) more closely tying the rights of individuals
as voters to their obligations as taxpayers will pro-
vide additional incentives for individuals to both par-
ticipate in the electoral process and scrutinize the
costs and benefits of government policies.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Voter Turnout Enhancement Study Commission (in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 9 members appointed as follows:
(1) 3 members appointed by the President.
(2) 3 members appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate, upon the joint recommenda-
tion of the majority leader and the minority leader
of the Senate.
(3) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, upon the joint rec-
ommendation of the Speaker and the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(b) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more than 2 of
the 3 members of the Commission appointed under any
1 paragraph of subsection (a) may be of the same political
party.
(c) TIME OF APPOINTMENT.—Members of the Com-
mission shall be appointed not later than 30 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall be
appointed to serve for the life of the Commission.
(e) VACANCIES.— Any vacancy in the Commission
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment.
(f) COMPENSATION.—
(1) RATE OF PAY.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), members of the Commission shall serve
without pay.
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the
Commission shall be entitled to receive travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States
Code, for persons employed intermittently in the
Government service.
(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold a hearing.
(h) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among its members.
(i) MEETINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet
at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its
members.
(2) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall
hold its initial meeting not later than 30 days after
the date on which all members of the Commission
have been appointed.
SEC. 5. DUTIES.
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a com-
prehensive study of all matters relating to the possibility
of changing the filing date for Federal income tax returns
to the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.
The study shall include an analysis of—
(1) the costs and benefits of the change in filing
date; and
(2) the likelihood that establishment of a single
date on which individuals can fulfill obligations of
citizenship as both electors and taxpayers will in-
crease participation in Federal, State, and local elec-
tions.
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Commission shall consult
with Governors, Federal and State election officials, the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and any other person,
agency, or entity that the Commission determines to be
appropriate.
SEC. 6. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold the hear-
ings, sit and act at the times and places, take the testi-
mony, and receive the information that the Commission
considers advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(b) MAILS.—the Commission may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as any other Federal department or agency.
(c) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the
Commission, take any action that the Commission is au-
thorized to take under this section.
(d) REQUESTS FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION.—The
Commission may request from a Federal department or
agency information necessary to enable the Commission
to carry out this Act. The head of the department or agen-
cy shall provide the information to the Commission unless
release of the information to the public by the agency is
prohibited by law.
SEC. 7. STAFF ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.
Upon the request of the Commission or the Chair-
person of the Commission, the head of any Federal depart-
ment or agency may detail any of the personnel of the
department or agency to the Commission to assist the
Commission to carry out this Act.
SEC. 8. REPORT.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President
and the Congress a report that contains—
(1) a detailed statement of the findings and
conclusions of the study required by section 5; and
(2) recommendations of the Commission re-
garding any legislation or administrative action the
Commission considers appropriate.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate upon the submission
of the report required by section 8.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
Æ