equal to the number of appointments so not 
made. 
(3) TERM OF SERVICE.—Each member shall be 
appointed for the life of the Commission. 
(4) VACANCY.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(5) NO COMPENSATION.—Members shall serve 
without pay, but shall receive travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accord-
ance with applicable provisions under subchapter I 
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(6) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Chair and 
Vice Chair of the Commission shall be elected by the 
members of the Commission— 
(A) with respect to the Chair, from among 
the members described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (E) of paragraph (1); and 
(B) with respect to the Vice Chair, from 
among the members described in subparagraphs 
(F) and (G) of paragraph (1). 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a 
Director, who shall be appointed by the Chair.
(2) OTHER STAFF.—The Director may appoint 
and fix the pay of such additional personnel as the 
Director considers appropriate. 
(3) NON-APPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
CIVIL 
SERVICE LAWS.—The Director and staff of the Com-
mission may be appointed without regard to the pro-
visions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap-
pointments in the competitive service, and may be 
paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relat-
ing to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 
except that an individual so appointed may not re-
ceive pay in excess of the rate payable for level V 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
such title. 
(4) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Com-
mission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code, at rates for individuals not to exceed 
the daily equivalent of the rate payable for level V 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
such title. 
(d) DUTIES.—The Commission shall advise the Presi-
dent, Congress, the Mayor (or, upon the admission of the 
State into the Union, the chief executive officer of the
State), and the Council (or, upon the admission of the 
State into the Union, the legislature of the State) con-
cerning an orderly transition to statehood for the District 
of Columbia or the State (as the case may be) and to a 
reduced geographical size of the seat of the Government 
of the United States, including with respect to property, 
funding, programs, projects, and activities. 
(e) POWERS.— 
(1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commis-
sion may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, 
hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 
considers appropriate. 
(2) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis-
sion 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 Chair of the Commission, the head of that de-
partment or agency shall furnish that information to 
the Commission. 
(3) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agen-
cies of the United States.
(4) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.— 
Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission the administrative support services nec-
essary for the Commission to carry out its respon-
sibilities under this Act. 
(f) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet 
at the call of the Chair. 
(2) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall 
hold its first meeting not later than the earlier of— 
(A) 30 days after the date on which all 
members of the Commission have been ap-
pointed; or 
(B) if the number of members of the Com-
mission is reduced under subsection (b)(2)(B), 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(3) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a 
lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
(g) REPORTS.—The Commission shall submit such 
reports as the Commission considers appropriate or as 
may be requested by the President, Congress, or the Dis-
trict of Columbia (or, upon the admission of the State into 
the Union, the State). 
(h) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall cease to 
exist 2 years after the date of the admission of the State 
into the Union. 
SEC. 403. CERTIFICATION OF ENACTMENT BY PRESIDENT. 
Not more than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the President shall provide written cer-
tification of such enactment to the Mayor. 
SEC. 404. SEVERABILITY. 
Except as provided in section 101(c), if any provision 
of this Act or amendment made by this Act, or the applica-
tion thereof to any person or circumstance, is held to be 
invalid, the remaining provisions of this Act and any 
amendments made by this Act shall not be affected by the 
holding. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 22, 2021. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 51 
AN ACT 
To provide for the admission of the State of 
Washington, D.C. into the Union.