I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 14
To establish a Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 3, 2001
Mr. PORTMAN (for himself and Mr. CONDIT) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To establish a Bipartisan Commission on Social Security
Reform.
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 ‘‘Bipartisan Commission
on Social Security Reform Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The 2000 Report of the Social Security
Board of Trustees projects that the receipts financ-
ing the Social Security trust funds will fall below its
outgo in 2015 and the trust funds will be depleted
in 2037. At that time only 72 percent of Social Se-
curity benefits would be payable then with incoming
receipts.
(2) The primary reason is demographic: the
post-World War II baby boomers will begin retiring
in less than a decade and life expectancy is rising.
By 2025 the number of people age 65 and older is
predicted to grow by 75 percent. In contrast, the
number of workers supporting the system would
grow by 13 percent.
(3) If there are no other surplus governmental
receipts, policymakers would have 3 choices: raise
taxes or other income, cut spending, or borrow the
money. Mirroring this adverse outlook are public
opinion polls showing that fewer than 50 percent of
respondents are confident that Social Security can
meet its long-term commitments. There also is a
widespread perception that Social Security may not
be as good a value in the future as it is today.
(4) While it is accepted that Social Security re-
form is needed without undue delay, there clearly is
no consensus on how this should be accomplished.
This was evident by the Report of the 1994–1996
Social Security Advisory Council, which provided 3
very different plans but none of which received a
majority’s endorsement. It also is reflected by the
many bills introduced in the 105th Congress and the
106th Congress and proposals by the administration
that represent a diversity of approaches to Social Se-
curity reform. As a result of differences within Con-
gress and with the administration, there has been no
movement on Social Security reform.
(5) This state of affairs shows the need to de-
velop consensus legislation between Congress and
the administration that can be enacted into law
without undue delay. To accomplish this there is to
be established a Bipartisan Commission on Social
Security Reform charged with developing a unified
proposal to ensure the long-term retirement security
of Americans.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established in the legislative branch a Bipar-
tisan Commission on Social Security Reform (in this Act
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall design a single set of legisla-
tive and administrative recommendations for long-range
reforms for restoring the solvency of the Social Security
system, and maintaining retirement income security in the
United States.
SEC. 5. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 17 members, of whom—
(1) 3 members shall be selected by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, 1 from among
Members of the House, and 2 from among private
citizens;
(2) 3 members shall be selected by the majority
leader of the Senate, 1 from among Members of the
Senate, and 2 from among private citizens;
(3) 3 members shall be selected by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives, 1 from
among Members of the House, and 2 from among
private citizens;
(4) 3 members shall be selected by the minority
leader of the Senate, 1 from among Members of the
Senate, and 2 from among private citizens; and
(5) 5 members shall be selected by the Presi-
dent, 2 from among officers of the executive branch
of the United States Government, and 3 from
among private citizens.
The Commissioner of Social Security shall be an ex officio,
nonvoting member of the Commission.
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members of the Commis-
sion shall consist of individuals who are of recognized
standing and distinction who can represent the multiple
generations who have a stake in the viability of the Social
Security system, and who possess a demonstrated capacity
to discharge the duties imposed on the Commission. At
least 1 of the members shall be appointed from individuals
representing the interests of employees, and at least 1 of
the members shall be appointed from individuals rep-
resenting the interests of employers.
(c) CHAIR.—The officials referred to in paragraphs
(1) through (5) of subsection (a) shall designate a member
of the Commission to serve as Chair of the Commission
(or 2 of the members of the Commission to serve as Co-
Chairs of the Commission) who shall chair (or jointly
chair) the Commission, determine its duties, and supervise
its staff.
(d) TERMS OF APPOINTMENT.—The members of the
Commission shall be appointed not more than 30 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act. The members
of the Commission shall serve for the life of the Commis-
sion.
(e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
not affect the power of the remaining members to execute
the duties of the Commission but any such vacancy shall
be filled in the same manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made.
SEC. 6. PROCEDURES.
(a) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of its Chair (or Co-Chairs) or a majority of its mem-
bers. If after 30 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, 9 or more members of the Commission have been
appointed, members who have been appointed may meet
and select the Chair (or Co-Chairs) who thereafter shall
have the authority to begin the operations of the Commis-
sion, including the hiring of staff.
(b) QUORUM.—A quorum shall consist of nine mem-
bers of the Commission, except that a lesser number may
conduct a hearing under subsection (c).
(c) HEARINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.—For the
purpose of carrying out its duties, the Commission may
hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as
the Commission determines necessary to carry out its du-
ties.
(d) OBTAINING INFORMATION.—Upon request of the
Commission, the Commissioner of Social Security and the
head of any other agency or instrumentality of the Federal
Government shall furnish information deemed necessary
by the panel to enable it to carry out its duties.
SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) COMPENSATION.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), members of the Commission shall receive no
additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their
service on the Commission.
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES AND PER DIEM.—Each mem-
ber of the Commission who is not a present Member of
the Congress and who is not otherwise an officer or em-
ployee of the Federal Government shall receive travel ex-
penses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance
with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States
Code.
(c) STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.—
(1) STAFF DIRECTOR.—
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The Chair (or Co-
Chairs) in accordance with the rules agreed
upon by the Commission shall appoint a staff
director for the Commission.
(B) COMPENSATION.—The staff director
shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate
established for level V of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code.
(2) STAFF.—The Chair (or Co-Chairs) in ac-
cordance with the rules agreed upon by the Commis-
sion shall appoint such additional personnel as the
Commission determines to be necessary.
(3) APPLICABILITY OF CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—
The staff director and other members of the staff of
the Commission shall be appointed without regard to
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning appointments in the competitive service, and
shall be paid without regard to the provisions of
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such
title relating to classification and General Schedule
pay rates.
(4) EXPERTS
AND
CONSULTANTS.—With the
approval of the Commission, the staff director may
procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(d) PHYSICAL FACILITIES.—The Architect of the
Capitol, in consultation with the appropriate entities in the
legislative branch, shall locate and provide suitable office
space for the operation of the Commission on a non-
reimbursable basis. The facilities shall serve as the head-
quarters of the Commission and shall include all necessary
equipment and incidentals required for the proper func-
tioning of the Commission.
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES
AND
OTHER ASSISTANCE.—
(1) Upon the request of the Commission, the
Architect of the Capitol, the Commissioner of Social
Security, and the Administrator of General Services
shall provide to the Commission on a nonreimburs-
able basis such administrative support services as
the Commission may request.
(2) In addition to the assistance set forth in
paragraphs (1) and (2), departments and agencies of
the United States may provide the Commission such
services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support
services as the Commission may deem advisable and
as may be authorized by law.
(g) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the
United States mails in the same manner and under the
same conditions as Federal agencies and shall, for pur-
poses of the frank, be considered a commission of Con-
gress as described in section 3215 of title 39, United
States Code.
(h) PRINTING.—For purposes of costs relating to
printing and binding, including the cost of personnel de-
tailed from the Government Printing Office, the Commis-
sion shall be deemed to be a committee of the Congress.
SEC. 8. REPORT.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the first
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit
to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the
Senate a report which shall contain a detailed statement
of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, includ-
ing the set of recommendations required under section 4.
The report shall be approved by at least nine members
of the Commission.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after sub-
mitting its final report.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary for the activities of the Commission.
Until such time as funds are otherwise specifically appro-
priated for such activities, $2,000,000 shall be available
for the activities of the Commission from funds otherwise
currently appropriated for administrative expenses of the
Social Security Administration pursuant to section
201(g)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act.
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