IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 14 
Establishing the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities to develop 
a plan under which the functions and responsibilities of the Office of 
the United States Trade Representative shall be moved to the legislative 
branch in accordance with article I, section 8 of the Constitution of 
the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 24, 2017 
Mr. GRIFFITH submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, 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 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Establishing the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Respon-
sibilities to develop a plan under which the functions 
and responsibilities of the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative shall be moved to the legislative 
branch in accordance with article I, section 8 of the 
Constitution of the United States, and for other pur-
poses. 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Reclaiming 
Congress’s Constitutional Mandate in Trade Resolution’’. 
SEC. 2. JOINT AD HOC COMMITTEE ON TRADE RESPON-
SIBILITIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Joint 
Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities (referred to 
as the ‘‘Joint Ad Hoc Committee’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Joint Ad Hoc Committee 
shall consist of 14 members, who shall be appointed not 
later than 60 days after the date of the adoption of this 
resolution, as follows: 
(1) Nine Members of the House of Representa-
tives who shall be members of the Committee on 
Ways and Means or the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, of whom— 
(A) six shall be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, one of whom 
(as designated by the Speaker at the time of 
appointment) shall serve as the Chair of the 
Joint Ad Hoc Committee; and 
(B) three shall be appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the House of Representatives. 
(2) Five Senators who shall be members of the 
Committee on Finance, of whom— 
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(A) three shall be appointed by the major-
ity leader of the Senate, one of whom (as des-
ignated by the majority leader at the time of 
appointment) shall serve as the Vice Chair of 
the Joint Ad Hoc Committee; and 
(B) two shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(c) DUTIES.— 
(1) PLAN FOR TRANSFER OF USTR FUNCTIONS 
TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.—The Joint Ad Hoc Com-
mittee shall develop a plan under which the func-
tions and responsibilities of the Office of the United 
States Trade Representative shall be moved to the 
legislative branch in accordance with article I, sec-
tion 8 of the Constitution of the United States. 
(2) CONSULTATION WITH ADVISORY BOARD.— 
In developing the plan under paragraph (1), the 
Joint Ad Hoc Committee shall consult regularly with 
the Congressional Advisory Board on Trade Respon-
sibilities established under section 3. 
(3) DEADLINE FOR TRANSFER UNDER PLAN.— 
Under the plan developed by the Joint Ad Hoc Com-
mittee under paragraph (1), the functions and re-
sponsibilities of the Office of the United States 
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Trade Representative shall be moved to the legisla-
tive branch— 
(A) upon the expiration of the 4-year pe-
riod which begins on the date the Joint Ad Hoc 
Committee submits the report described in sub-
section (e); or 
(B) on July 1, 2021, 
whichever is later. 
(d) AUTHORITIES; EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSA-
TION OF STAFF.— 
(1) AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Joint Ad Hoc 
Committee may— 
(i) subject to subparagraph (B), sit 
and act at such places and times as the 
Joint Ad Hoc Committee determines are 
appropriate during the sessions, recesses, 
and adjourned periods of Congress; and 
(ii) require the attendance of wit-
nesses and the production of books, pa-
pers, and documents, administer oaths, 
take testimony, and procure printing and 
binding. 
(B) MEETINGS.—Beginning on the date 
that is 90 days after the date of the adoption 
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•HCON 14 IH 
of this resolution, the Joint Ad Hoc Committee 
may meet at the call of the Chair or a majority 
of its members that are appointed as of such 
date. 
(2) APPOINTMENT
AND
COMPENSATION
OF 
STAFF.—(A) The Joint Ad Hoc Committee may ap-
point and fix the compensation of such experts, con-
sultants, technicians, and clerical personnel as it 
deems necessary, but shall utilize existing staff to 
the extent possible. Staff shall be compensated and 
reimbursed in accordance with current rules, stat-
utes, practices, and procedures under which congres-
sional staff are currently compensated and reim-
bursed for their official expenses. 
(B) The Joint Ad Hoc Committee may utilize 
such voluntary and uncompensated services as it 
deems necessary and may utilize the services, infor-
mation, facilities, and personnel of other agencies of 
the legislative branch. 
(3) WITNESSES.—Witnesses requested to ap-
pear before the Joint Ad Hoc Committee shall be re-
imbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
expenses incurred in traveling to and from Joint Ad 
Hoc Committee proceedings. 
(4) EXPENSES.— 
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•HCON 14 IH 
(A) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—There 
shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of 
the House of Representatives such sums as may 
be necessary for the portion of the expenses of 
the Joint Ad Hoc Committee which are allo-
cable to the House. Such payments shall be 
made on vouchers signed by the Chair of the 
Joint Ad Hoc Committee and approved in the 
manner directed by the Committee on House 
Administration of the House of Representatives. 
Amounts made available under this paragraph 
shall be expended in accordance with regula-
tions prescribed by the Committee on House 
Administration of the House of Representatives. 
(B) SENATE.—There shall be paid out of 
the contingent fund of the Senate such sums as 
may be necessary for the portion of the ex-
penses of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee which 
are allocable to the Senate. Such payments 
shall be made on vouchers signed by the Vice 
Chair of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 16 months after the 
date on which all members of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee 
are appointed under subsection (b), the Committee shall 
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submit to Congress a report that contains the plan de-
scribed in subsection (c). 
(f) TERMINATION.—The Joint Ad Hoc Committee 
shall terminate upon the expiration of the 1-year period 
which begins on the date the Joint Ad Hoc Committee 
submits the report required under subsection (e). 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Con-
gressional Advisory Board on Trade Responsibilities (re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Advisory Board’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Board shall consist 
of 21 members, who shall be appointed not later than 60 
days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, as 
follows: 
(1) Four members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, of whom— 
(A) one member shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(1); and 
(B) three members shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(2). 
(2) Four members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate, of whom— 
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(A) one member shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(1); and 
(B) three members shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(2). 
(3) Three members appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives, of whom— 
(A) one member shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(1); and 
(B) two members shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(2). 
(4) Three members appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate, of whom— 
(A) one member shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(1); and 
(B) two members shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(2). 
(5) Six members appointed by the United 
States Trade Representative, of whom— 
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(A) three members shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(1); and 
(B) three members shall be appointed from 
among the individuals described in subsection 
(c)(2). 
(6) The United States Trade Representative (or 
the Trade Representative’s designee). 
(c) INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT.— 
The individuals eligible for appointment to the Advisory 
Board under subsection (b) are the following: 
(1) Individuals with expertise on the constitu-
tional roles of the President and Congress regarding 
United States trade policy and the development, ne-
gotiation, implementation, and administration of bi-
lateral and multilateral trade agreements. 
(2) Individuals who are representatives of non- 
Federal governments, labor, industry, agriculture, 
small business, service industries, retailers, non-
governmental environmental and conservation orga-
nization, and consumer interests. 
(d) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board shall advise the 
Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities estab-
lished under section 2 in its development of the plan de-
scribed in section 2(c). 
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(e) EXPENSES.—Members of the Advisory Board 
shall serve without pay, but each member who does not 
reside in the Washington Metropolitan Area shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. In this sub-
section, the term ‘‘Washington Metropolitan Area’’ means 
the District of Columbia, the counties of Montgomery and 
Prince Georges in Maryland, and the counties of Arling-
ton, Fairfax, Loudon, and Prince William and the cities 
of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia. 
(f) AVAILABILITY OF STAFF OF JOINT AD HOC COM-
MITTEE.—The Advisory Board may not appoint staff, but 
upon request of the Advisory Board, the Joint Ad Hoc 
Committee on Trade Responsibilities may detail any of its 
personnel to assist the Advisory Board in carrying out the 
Advisory Board’s duties under this Act. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Board shall termi-
nate upon the expiration of the 1-year period which begins 
on the date the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Re-
sponsibilities submits the report required under section 
2(e). 
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SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE OF UNITED STATES TRADE REP-
RESENTATIVE. 
The United States Trade Representative and other 
heads of offices in the executive branch, shall make avail-
able to the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibil-
ities established under section 2 and the Congressional 
Advisory Board on Trade Responsibilities established 
under section 3 such information and assistance the Joint 
Ad Hoc Committee and the Advisory Board may reason-
ably require to carry out their activities. 
Æ 
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