I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8038 
To establish a commission to review certain regulatory obstacles to prepared-
ness for, response to, and recovery from the Coronavirus SARS–CoV– 
2 pandemic and other pandemics, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 14, 2020 
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina (for herself and Mr. COMER) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Re-
form, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be sub-
sequently 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 a commission to review certain regulatory obsta-
cles to preparedness for, response to, and recovery from 
the Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 pandemic and other 
pandemics, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Act of 
2020’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Establishment of Commission. 
Sec. 5. Duties of the Commission. 
Sec. 6. Powers of the Commission. 
Sec. 7. Commission personnel matters. 
Sec. 8. Termination of the Commission. 
Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that: 
(1) Federal regulation serves important goals 
and has achieved important objectives. The accumu-
lation of Federal regulations over the decades, how-
ever, is of concern. The Code of Federal Regulations 
currently contains over 180,000 pages of regula-
tions, many of which may be outdated, no longer 
needed, or duplicative. 
(2) Unneeded or inefficient regulation reduces 
the ability of United States employers and workers 
to generate and obtain more jobs and higher wages. 
It also increases the expenses of United States 
households and hinders the overall performance and 
competitiveness of the United States economy in the 
global marketplace. 
(3) Unneeded or inefficient regulation is par-
ticularly problematic as United States employers, 
workers, and households continue to respond to and 
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seek to recover from the Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 
pandemic of 2019–2020. 
(4) A timely and prioritized review of existing 
regulations to identify those that can and should be 
modified, consolidated, harmonized, or repealed to 
promote higher jobs and wages, reduce household ex-
penses, and improve economic performance and com-
petitiveness in and by the United States is needed. 
(5) Such a review, moreover, is needed to accel-
erate and strengthen the recovery of United States 
employers, workers, and households from the 
Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 pandemic and ensure 
that Federal regulations do not inhibit or impede 
preparedness for and effective responses to future 
pandemics. 
(6) The establishment of an expert commission, 
charged to conduct such a review and recommend to 
Congress legislation to effectuate a prioritized set of 
regulatory modifications, consolidations, harmoni-
zations, and repeals, can ensure that such a review 
will be completed in the timeliest possible way. 
(7) In light of the adverse impacts of and cir-
cumstances caused by the Coronavirus SARS–CoV– 
2 pandemic, it is particularly important that such a 
commission prioritize in its review the elimination of 
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regulatory obstacles to the United States, the several 
States’, and the people’s preparedness for, response 
to, and recovery from the health and economic ef-
fects of the Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 pandemic of 
2019–2020 and possible future pandemics, for ex-
ample, regulations that— 
(A) impeded preparedness for or response 
to the Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 pandemic, in-
cluding those that were suspended or for which 
enforcement was waived after the outbreak of 
the pandemic under the authority of Executive 
Order 13924 (85 Fed. Reg. 31353; relating to 
regulatory relief to support economic recovery) 
or any other authority; 
(B) could impede preparedness for or re-
sponse to a future pandemic; 
(C) otherwise impeded or could impede 
health, economic performance, or the stability 
of wages or employment during the Coronavirus 
SARS–CoV–2 pandemic or a future pandemic, 
including those that were suspended or for 
which enforcement was waived after the out-
break of the pandemic under the authority of 
Executive Order 13924 or any other authority; 
and 
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(D) impede or could impede the recovery of 
health, economic performance, or wages or em-
ployment following the Coronavirus SARS– 
CoV–2 pandemic or a future pandemic, with a 
particular emphasis on impediments to recovery 
by persons infected by Coronavirus SARS– 
CoV–2 or a future pandemic disease, individ-
uals or entities that supported or support those 
persons, and entities that qualify as small enti-
ties within the meaning of section 601(6) of 
title 5, United States Code, and those entities’ 
employees, contractors, or investors, including 
by impeding— 
(i) access to health care or health care 
equipment or supplies; 
(ii) access to employment; 
(iii) access to public or private assist-
ance; 
(iv) consumer or business spending, 
investment, or access to capital or credit; 
or 
(v) other consumer or business activ-
ity, including hiring and education or re-
training. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and 
Recovery Commission established under section 4. 
(2) COMMISSION BILL.—The term ‘‘Commission 
bill’’ means a bill consisting of the proposed legisla-
tive language of the Commission recommended 
under section 5(h)(2)(C) and introduced under sec-
tion 5(i)(1). 
(3) COVERED
REGULATION.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered regulation’’ means a regulation that has been 
finalized not later than the date on which the Com-
mission is established. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
legislative branch a commission to be known as the ‘‘Pan-
demic Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Commis-
sion’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 9 members, of whom— 
(A) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
President, and shall serve as the Chair of the 
Commission; 
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(B) 2 members shall be appointed by the 
majority leader of the Senate; 
(C) 2 members shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the Senate; 
(D) 2 members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 
(E) 2 members shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(2) DATE.—The appointment of the members 
of the Commission shall be made not later than 30 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(A) CHAIR.—The Chair of the Commission 
shall be an individual with expertise and experi-
ence in rulemaking, such as past Administra-
tors of the Office of Information and Regu-
latory Affairs, past chairmen of the Administra-
tive Conference of the United States, and other 
individuals with similar expertise and experi-
ence in rulemaking affairs and the administra-
tion of regulatory reviews. 
(B) MEMBERS.—Members appointed to the 
Commission shall be prominent citizens of the 
United States with national recognition and a 
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significant depth of experience and responsibil-
ities in matters relating to, generally and with 
respect to the matters identified in section 2— 
(i) government service; 
(ii) regulatory policy; 
(iii) public health; 
(iv) economics; 
(v) Federal agency management, 
(vi) public administration; and 
(vii) law. 
(4) LIMITATION.—Not more than 5 members 
appointed to the Commission may be from the same 
political party. 
(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem-
bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 
vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but 
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment. 
(d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 15 days after 
the date on which all members of the Commission have 
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairman. 
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(f) OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.—Each meeting of the 
Commission shall be open to the public. 
(g) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members 
may hold hearings. 
(h) NONAPPLICABILITY OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission. 
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission is to 
evaluate and provide recommendations for modification, 
consolidation, harmonization, or repeal of covered regula-
tions, while reducing compliance costs, encouraging 
growth and innovation, improving competitiveness, and 
protecting public health, safety, and welfare. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Commission shall— 
(1) prioritize in its analysis of covered regula-
tions, those covered regulations— 
(A) for which modification, consolidation, 
harmonization, or repeal could assist in the 
United States— 
(i) recovery from or continued re-
sponse to the adverse health and economic 
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impacts of the Coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 
pandemic; or 
(ii) preparedness for, response to, or 
recovery from a future pandemic; 
(B) that impose disproportionately high 
costs on a small entity (as defined in section 
601 of title 5, United States Code); 
(C) that impose substantial paperwork 
burdens; or 
(D) that could be strengthened in their ef-
fectiveness while reducing regulatory costs; 
(2) consider in its analysis of covered regula-
tions the regulatory principles articulated in section 
1 of Executive Order 12866 (58 Fed. Reg. 51735; 
relating to regulatory planning and review); 
(3) solicit and review comments from the public 
on the covered regulations described in this section; 
and 
(4) develop a set of covered regulations to mod-
ify, consolidate, harmonize, or repeal, with input 
from each appropriate issuing agency involved, to be 
submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote, with 
the goal of eliminating as many of the impediments 
described in this section as is reasonably possible. 
(c) PUBLIC COMMENTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 
the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, 
the Commission shall initiate a process to solicit and 
collect written recommendations from the general 
public, interested parties, Federal agencies, and 
other relevant entities regarding which covered regu-
lations should be examined. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.—The 
Commission shall ensure that the process initiated 
under paragraph (1) allows for recommendations to 
be submitted to the Commission through the website 
of the Commission, through regulations.gov, by mail, 
or through any other means determined to be appro-
priate by the Commission. 
(3) LENGTH OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.— 
The period for the submission of recommendations 
under this subsection shall end 60 days after the 
date on which the process is initiated under para-
graph (1). 
(4) PUBLICATION.—At the end of the period for 
the submission of recommendations under this sub-
section, all submitted recommendations shall be pub-
lished in the Federal Register and on— 
(A) the website of the Commission; or 
(B) regulations.gov. 
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(d) COMMISSION OUTREACH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—During the public comment 
period described in subsection (c), the Commission 
shall conduct public outreach and convene focus 
groups to better inform the commissioners of the 
public’s interest and possible contributions to the 
work of the Commission. 
(2) FOCUS
GROUPS.—The focus groups re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall include individuals 
affiliated with the Office of Information and Regu-
latory Affairs, the Administrative Conference of the 
United States, the offices within Federal agencies 
responsible for small business affairs and regulatory 
compliance, experts in pandemic preparedness and 
response, experts in public health, and, at the discre-
tion of the Commission, relevant stakeholders from 
within or outside the regulatory entities. 
(e) COMMISSION REVIEW OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.— 
Not later than 15 days after the date on which the period 
for the submission of recommendations ends under sub-
section (c), the Commission shall convene to review sub-
mitted recommendations, prepare a work plan for comple-
tion of the Commission’s further work, and to identify cov-
ered regulations to modify, consolidate, harmonize, or re-
peal. 
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(f) EXAMINATION OF REGULATIONS.— 
(1) PROCESS
FOR
EXAMINATION.—In exam-
ining covered regulations under this section, the 
Commission shall determine the effectiveness of indi-
vidual covered regulations, by using multiple re-
sources, including the following: 
(A) Quantitative metrics. 
(B) Testimony from industry and agency 
experts, experts in pandemic preparedness and 
response, and experts in public health. 
(C) Research from the staff of the Com-
mission. 
(2) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which the Commission convenes under 
subsection (e), the Commission shall complete a sub-
stantial examination of covered regulations. 
(g) INITIAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date on which the Commission convenes under 
subsection (e), the Commission shall publish, and 
make available to the public for comment, a report, 
which shall include— 
(A) the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission for the improvement of covered 
regulations examined by the Commission; and 
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(B) a list of recommendations for changes 
to the covered regulations examined by the 
Commission, which may include recommenda-
tions for modification, consolidation, harmoni-
zation, or repeal of such covered regulations. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall be approved by not fewer than 
5 members of the Commission. 
(3) AVAILABILITY OF REPORT.—The Commis-
sion shall make the report required under paragraph 
(1) available through the website of the Commission 
and in printed form. 
(4) PUBLIC
COMMENT
PERIOD.—During the 
60-day period beginning on the date on which the 
report required under paragraph (1) is published, 
the Commission shall— 
(A) solicit comments from the public on 
such report, using the same process established 
under subsection (c); and 
(B) publish any comments received under 
subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in the Federal Register; and 
(ii) on— 
(I) the website of the Commis-
sion; or 
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(II) regulations.gov. 
(5) CONSULTATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the report required 
under paragraph (1) is published, the Commis-
sion shall complete a consultation with the chair 
and ranking minority member of the commit-
tees of jurisdiction in the House of Representa-
tives and Senate, and with the head of each 
agency that has enforcement jurisdiction with 
respect to rules recommended for modification, 
consolidation, harmonization, or repeal, regard-
ing the contents of the report. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The consultation re-
quired under subparagraph (A) shall provide— 
(i) the opportunity for the chair and 
ranking minority member of the commit-
tees of jurisdiction to provide substantive 
feedback or recommendations related to 
the regulatory changes contained in the re-
port required under paragraph (1); 
(ii) the opportunity for the chair and 
ranking minority member of the commit-
tees of jurisdiction to provide recommenda-
tions for alternative means of achieving a 
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reduction in regulatory costs while main-
taining the same level of benefits to soci-
ety; and 
(iii) the opportunity for the head of 
each agency potentially affected by the 
Commission’s recommendations to provide 
substantive input into the reform process. 
(h) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date on which the 60-day period described in 
subsection (g)(4) ends, the Commission shall— 
(A) review any comments received under 
subsection (g)(4); 
(B) incorporate any relevant comments re-
ceived under subsection (g)(4) into the report 
required under subsection (g)(1); and 
(C) submit the revised report to Congress. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The revised report required to 
be submitted to Congress under paragraph (1) shall 
include— 
(A) the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission for the improvement of covered 
regulations examined by the Commission; 
(B) a list of recommendations for changes 
to the covered regulations examined by the 
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Commission, which may include recommenda-
tions for modification, consolidation, harmoni-
zation, or repeal of such covered regulations; 
and 
(C) recommended legislative language to 
implement the recommendations in subpara-
graph (B). 
(i) CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLA-
TIVE LANGUAGE TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) COMMISSION
BILL
DESCRIBED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘‘Commission bill’’ means, with 
respect to the Senate or the House of Representa-
tives, a bill described as follows: 
(A) The title of the bill is as follows: ‘‘A 
Bill to implement the recommendations of the 
Pandemic Preparedness, Response, and Rapid 
Recovery Commission.’’. 
(B) The bill is introduced in the House of 
Representatives or the Senate (as the case may 
be)— 
(i) not later than 3 days (excluding 
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any 
day on which the House or the Senate, as 
the case may be, is not in session because 
of an adjournment sine die, a recess of 
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more than three days, or an adjournment 
of more than three days) after the date on 
which the Commission submits the revised 
report 
to 
Congress 
under 
subsection 
(h)(1); or 
(ii) if the Congress during which the 
Commission submits such report adjourns 
sine die prior to the expiration of the 60- 
day period which begins on the date the 
Commission submits the report (excluding 
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any 
day on which neither House is in session 
because of an adjournment sine die, a re-
cess of more than three days, or an ad-
journment of more than three days), on 
the first day of the next Congress. 
(C) The text of the bill consists exclusively 
of the recommended legislative language to im-
plement the recommendations of the Commis-
sion which is included in the revised report sub-
mitted to Congress under subsection (h)(1), as 
certified by the Chair of the Commission to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives or the 
President pro tempore of the Senate (as the 
case may be). 
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(2) CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REP-
RESENTATIVES.— 
(A) REFERRAL
AND
REPORTING.—Any 
committee of the House of Representatives to 
which the Commission bill is referred shall re-
port it to the House without amendment not 
later than 30 days after the date on which the 
Commission bill is introduced under paragraph 
(1). If a committee fails to report the Commis-
sion bill within that period, it shall be in order 
to move that the House discharge the com-
mittee from further consideration of the Com-
mission bill. Such a motion shall not be in order 
after the last committee authorized to consider 
the Commission bill reports it to the House or 
after the House has disposed of a motion to 
discharge the Commission bill. The previous 
question shall be considered as ordered on the 
motion to its adoption without intervening mo-
tion except 3 hours of debate equally divided 
and controlled by the proponent and an oppo-
nent. If such a motion is adopted, the House 
shall proceed immediately to consider the Com-
mission bill in accordance with subparagraphs 
(B) and (C). A motion to reconsider the vote by 
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which the motion is disposed of shall not be in 
order. 
(B) PROCEEDING
TO
CONSIDERATION.— 
After the last committee authorized to consider 
the Commission bill reports it to the House or 
has been discharged (other than by motion) 
from its consideration, it shall be in order to 
move to proceed to consider the Commission bill 
in the House. Such a motion shall not be in 
order after the House has disposed of a motion 
to proceed with respect to the Commission bill. 
The previous question shall be considered as or-
dered on the motion to its adoption without in-
tervening motion. A motion to reconsider the 
vote by which the motion is disposed of shall 
not be in order. 
(C) CONSIDERATION.—The Commission 
bill shall be considered as read. All points of 
order against the Commission bill and against 
its consideration are waived. The previous ques-
tion shall be considered as ordered on the Com-
mission bill to its passage without intervening 
motion except 10 hours of debate equally di-
vided and controlled by the proponent and an 
opponent and one motion to limit debate on the 
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Commission bill. A motion to reconsider the 
vote on passage of the Commission bill shall not 
be in order. 
(D) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—The vote on pas-
sage of the Commission bill shall occur not later 
than 60 days after the date on which the Com-
mission bill is discharged from the last com-
mittee authorized to consider the Commission 
bill. 
(3) CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 
(A) 
COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION.—A 
Commission bill introduced in the Senate under 
paragraph (1) shall be jointly referred to the 
committee or committees of jurisdiction, which 
committees shall report the bill without any re-
vision and with a favorable recommendation, an 
unfavorable recommendation, or without rec-
ommendation, not later than 30 days after the 
date on which the Commission bill is intro-
duced. If any committee fails to report the bill 
within that period, that committee shall be 
automatically discharged from consideration of 
the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the ap-
propriate calendar. 
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(B) 
MOTION
TO
PROCEED.—Notwith-
standing Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2 days 
of session after the date on which a Commis-
sion bill is reported or discharged from all com-
mittees to which it was referred, for the major-
ity leader of the Senate or the majority leader’s 
designee to move to proceed to the consider-
ation of the Commission bill. It shall also be in 
order for any Member of the Senate to move to 
proceed to the consideration of the Commission 
bill at any time after the conclusion of such 2- 
day period. A motion to proceed is in order 
even though a previous motion to the same ef-
fect has been disagreed to. All points of order 
against the motion to proceed to the Commis-
sion bill are waived. The motion to proceed is 
not debatable. The motion is not subject to a 
motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the 
vote by which the motion is agreed to or dis-
agreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to 
proceed to the consideration of the Commission 
bill is agreed to, the Commission bill shall re-
main the unfinished business until disposed of. 
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(C) CONSIDERATION.—All points of order 
against the Commission bill and against consid-
eration of the Commission bill are waived. Con-
sideration of the Commission bill and of all de-
batable motions and appeals in connection 
therewith shall not exceed a total of 10 hours 
which shall be divided equally between the ma-
jority and minority leaders or their designees. A 
motion further to limit debate on the Commis-
sion bill is in order, shall require an affirmative 
vote of a majority of the Members duly chosen 
and sworn, and is not debatable. Any debatable 
motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed 
1 hour, to be divided equally between those fa-
voring and those opposing the motion or appeal. 
All time used for consideration of the Commis-
sion bill, including time used for quorum calls 
and voting, shall be counted against the total 
10 hours of consideration. 
(D) NO AMENDMENTS.—An amendment to 
the Commission bill, or a motion to postpone, 
or a motion to proceed to the consideration of 
other business, or a motion to recommit the 
Commission bill, is not in order. 
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(i) the Commission bill of the other 
House shall not be referred to a com-
mittee; and 
(ii) the procedure in the receiving 
House shall be the same as if no Commis-
sion bill had been received from the other 
House until the vote on passage, when the 
Commission bill received from the other 
House shall supplant the Commission bill 
of the receiving House. 
(B) REVENUE MEASURE.—This subsection 
shall not apply to the House of Representatives 
if the Commission bill received from the Senate 
is a revenue measure. 
(6) RULES
TO
COORDINATE
ACTION
WITH 
OTHER HOUSE.— 
(A) TREATMENT OF COMMISSION BILL OF 
OTHER HOUSE.—If the Senate fails to introduce 
or consider a Commission bill under this sec-
tion, the Commission bill of the House shall be 
entitled to expedited floor procedures under this 
section. 
(B) TREATMENT
OF
COMPANION
MEAS-
URES IN THE SENATE.—If following passage of 
the Commission bill in the Senate, the Senate 
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then receives the Commission bill from the 
House of Representatives, the House-passed 
Commission bill shall not be debatable. The 
vote on passage of the Commission bill in the 
Senate shall be considered to be the vote on 
passage of the Commission bill received from 
the House of Representatives. 
(C) VETOES.—If the President vetoes the 
Commission bill, debate on a veto message in 
the Senate under this section shall be 1 hour 
equally divided between the majority and minor-
ity leaders or their designees. 
(j) NOTICE TO REGULATORY AGENCIES.— 
(1) ENACTMENT OF COMMISSION BILL.—If the 
Commission bill is enacted into law, the President 
shall— 
(A) not later than 7 days after the date on 
which the Commission bill is enacted into law— 
(i) provide notice to the affected regu-
latory agencies; and 
(ii) publish notice of enactment in the 
Federal Register and online; and 
(B) require affected regulatory agencies to 
implement the Commission bill not later than 
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60 days after the date on which the Commis-
sion bill is enacted into law. 
(2) FAILURE TO ENACT COMMISSION BILL.—If 
the Commission bill is not enacted into law, the 
President shall provide notice of such failure to 
enact the Commission bill in the Federal Register. 
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
considers advisable to carry out this Act. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is author-
ized to secure directly from any executive depart-
ment, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 
independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 
Government, information, suggestions, estimates, 
and statistics for the purpose of this Act. Each de-
partment, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 
independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, 
to the extent authorized by law, furnish such infor-
mation, suggestions, estimates, and statistics di-
rectly to the Commission, upon request made by the 
chair, the chair of any subcommittee created by the 
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Commission, or any member designated by a major-
ity of the Commission. 
(2) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DIS-
SEMINATION.—Information shall only be received, 
handled, stored, and disseminated by members of 
the Commission and its staff consistent with all ap-
plicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders. 
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government. 
(d) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
(e) SPACE
FOR USE
OF COMMISSION.—Not later 
than the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Architect of 
the Capitol and the Administrator of General Services 
shall support on a reimbursable basis the operations of 
the Commission, including the identification of suitable 
space to house the Commission. If the Architect and the 
Administrator are not able to make such suitable space 
available prior to the expiration of such 30-day period, the 
Commission shall lease space to the extent that funds are 
available. 
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SEC. 7. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of 
the Commission 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 sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in-
cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged 
in the performance of the duties of the Commission. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services 
for the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman of the Com-
mission may, without regard to the civil service laws 
and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive 
director and such other additional personnel as may 
be necessary to enable the Commission to perform 
its duties. The employment of an executive director 
shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairman of the 
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to 
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chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 
5, United States Code, relating to classification of 
positions and General Schedule pay rates, except 
that the rate of pay for the executive director and 
other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 
of such title. 
(3) AGENCY ASSISTANCE.—Following consulta-
tion with and upon the request of the Chairman of 
the Commission, the head of any agency may detail 
an employee of the agency to the Commission with-
out reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 
interruption or loss of civil service status or privi-
lege. 
(4) GAO AND OIRA ASSISTANCE.—The Comp-
troller General of the United States and the Admin-
istrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs may, upon request, provide assistance, in-
cluding the detailing of employees, to the Commis-
sion in accordance with an agreement entered into 
with the Commission. 
(d) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairman of the Commission may 
procure temporary and intermittent services under section 
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individ-
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uals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
(e) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—The Commission 
may acquire administrative supplies and equipment for 
Commission use to the extent funds are available. 
(f) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on 
a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services 
necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibil-
ities under this Act. 
(g) 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. 
SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the 
date on which the Commission submits the report pursu-
ant to section 5(h). 
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SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to the Commission 
to carry out this Act. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated under 
the authorization contained in this section shall remain 
available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended. 
Æ 
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