IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 112 
Establishing the Commission on Addressing Racism and Ensuring Diversity 
in the United States Government to study and make recommendations 
on the elimination of systemic racism and the promotion of diversity 
in the Federal Government, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 21, 2020 
Mr. RUSH submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Establishing the Commission on Addressing Racism and En-
suring Diversity in the United States Government to 
study and make recommendations on the elimination of 
systemic racism and the promotion of diversity in the 
Federal Government, and for other purposes. 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Abol-
ish the Last Great Plantation in America Resolution’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established in the legislative branch the 
Commission on Addressing Racism and Ensuring Diver-
sity in the United States Government (hereafter referred 
to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 20 members appointed as follows not 
later than 90 days after the date of the adoption of this 
resolution: 
(1) Five members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) Five members appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(3) Five members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate. 
(4) FIve members appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each member of the Commis-
sion shall have expertise in the areas of racial justice, 
equal opportunity, and diversity and employment law. 
(c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
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(d) CHAIR; VICE CHAIR.—The members of the Com-
mission shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from the mem-
bership. 
(e) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(1) RATE OF PAY.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall be compensated at a rate equal to the 
daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre-
scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each 
day (including travel time) during which the member 
is engaged in the performance of the duties of the 
Commission. 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the 
Commission shall be allowed reasonable travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates for employees of agencies under subchapter I 
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from the member’s home or regular place of 
business in the performance of services for the Com-
mission. 
SEC. 4. PERSONNEL. 
(a) CHIEF OF STAFF.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 45 days 
after the initial meeting of the Commission, the 
Commission shall appoint one individual, without re-
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gard to political affiliation, as Chief of Staff of the 
Commission. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The individual appointed 
as Chief of Staff— 
(A) shall be a private citizen of the United 
States of integrity and impartiality who is a 
distinguished professional; and 
(B) may not be a present employee of the 
Federal Government. 
(3) CANDIDATE
TO
HAVE
CLEARANCES.—A 
candidate for Chief of Staff shall be granted the nec-
essary security clearances in an accelerated manner 
subject to the standard procedures for granting such 
clearances. 
(4) APPROVAL CONTINGENT ON PRIOR CLEAR-
ANCE.—A candidate for Chief of Staff shall qualify 
for the necessary security clearance prior to appoint-
ment by the Commission. 
(5) DUTIES.—The Chief of Staff shall— 
(A) serve as principal liaison to Govern-
ment offices; and 
(B) be responsible for the administration 
of all official activities conducted by the Com-
mission. 
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(6) REMOVAL.—The Chief of Staff shall not be 
removed for reasons other than by a majority vote 
of the Commission for cause on the grounds of inef-
ficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, phys-
ical disability, mental incapacity, or any other condi-
tion that substantially impairs the performance of 
the responsibilities of the Chief of Staff or the staff 
of the Commission. 
(b) STAFF.— 
(1) ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.—In consultation 
with the members of the Commission, the Chief of 
Staff may appoint and fix the pay of such additional 
personnel as are necessary to enable the Commission 
to perform its duties. Such personnel may be ap-
pointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the 
competitive service, and (subject to subsection (c) 
may be paid without regard to the provisions of 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that 
title relating to classification and General Schedule 
pay rates. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A person appointed to 
the staff of the Commission— 
(A) shall be a private citizen of integrity 
and impartiality; and 
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(B) may not be an employee of the Federal 
Government. 
(3) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—A candidate for a 
position on the staff of the Commission shall qualify 
for the necessary security clearance prior to appoint-
ment. 
(c) COMPENSATION.—The Commission shall fix the 
compensation of the Chief of Staff and other personnel 
in accordance with title 5, United States Code, except that 
the rate of pay for the Chief of Staff and other personnel 
may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Execu-
tive Schedule under section 5316 of that title. 
(d) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The Commission shall 
have the authority to create advisory committees to assist 
in fulfilling the responsibilities of the Commission under 
this Act. 
(e) APPLICATION
OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNT-
ABILITY ACT OF 1995.—For purposes of the Congres-
sional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et 
seq.)— 
(1) the Commission shall be considered an em-
ploying office; and 
(2) the employees of the Commission shall be 
considered covered employees. 
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SEC. 5. DUTIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a study 
on the presence of system racism and the lack of diversity 
in the Federal Government, and on steps the Federal Gov-
ernment may take to eliminate racism and promote diver-
sity in the government. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the appointment of all of its members, the 
Commission shall submit to Congress a final report 
on the study conducted under subsection (a), and 
shall include in the report such recommendations as 
the Commission considers appropriate. 
(2) INTERIM REPORTS.—In addition to the final 
report under paragraph (1), the Commission may 
submit to Congress such interim reports as it con-
siders appropriate. 
(3) MINORITY REPORTS.—The Commission may 
include in any report submitted under this sub-
section a report containing minority views. 
SEC. 6. POWERS. 
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear-
ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and 
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. 
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The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 
witnesses appearing before it. 
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 
Commission, take any action which the Commission is au-
thorized to take by this section. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency of the 
United States information necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Com-
mission, the head of that department or agency shall fur-
nish that information to the Commission. 
(d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 
States. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 
the request of the Commission, the Architect of the Cap-
itol shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable 
basis, the administrative support services necessary for the 
Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 
(f) SUBPOENA POWER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may issue 
subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of 
witnesses and the production of any evidence relat-
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•HCON 112 IH 
ing to any matter under investigation by the Com-
mission. The attendance of witnesses and the pro-
duction of evidence may be required from any place 
within the United States at any designated place of 
hearing within the United States. 
(2) FAILURE TO OBEY A SUBPOENA.—If a per-
son refuses to obey a subpoena issued under para-
graph (1), the Commission may apply to a United 
States district court for an order requiring that per-
son to appear before the Commission to give testi-
mony, produce evidence, or both, relating to the 
matter under investigation. The application may be 
made within the judicial district where the hearing 
is conducted or where that person is found, resides, 
or transacts business. Any failure to obey the order 
of the court may be punished by the court as civil 
contempt. 
(3) SERVICE OF SUBPOENAS.—The subpoenas 
of the Commission shall be served in the manner 
provided for subpoenas issued by a United States 
district court under the Federal Rules of Civil Pro-
cedure for the United States district courts. 
(4) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—All process of any 
court to which application is made under paragraph 
(2) may be served in the judicial district in which 
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the person required to be served resides or may be 
found. 
SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after sub-
mitting its final report under section 5(b)(1). 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2021, 
of which— 
(1) 50 percent shall be derived from the appli-
cable accounts of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) 50 percent shall be derived from the contin-
gent fund of the Senate. 
Æ 
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