disability insurance benefits established under title 
II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
seq.). 
(10) SOLVENCY OF MEDICARE PROGRAM.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the term ‘‘solvency’’, in relation to 
the Medicare program, means any year in which 
there is not excess general revenue Medicare 
funding (as defined in section 801(c)(1) of the 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108– 
173; 117 Stat. 2358)). 
(B) TREATMENT OF NEW REVENUE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of the 
requirement that the Commission evaluate 
the solvency of the Medicare program and 
recommend legislation to restore such sol-
vency as needed, the Commission shall 
treat any new revenue that is a result of 
any action taken or any legislation enacted 
by Congress pursuant to the recommenda-
tions of the Commission, as being a dedi-
cated medicare financing source (as de-
fined in section 801(c)(3) of the Medicare 
Prescription 
Drug, 
Improvement, 
and 
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Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 
108–173; 117 Stat. 2358)). 
(ii) DEFINITION OF NEW REVENUE.— 
For purposes of this subparagraph, the 
term ‘‘new revenue’’ means only those rev-
enues collected as a result of legislation en-
acted by Congress pursuant to section 7 of 
this Act. The term ‘‘new revenue’’ shall 
not include any revenue otherwise collected 
under law, including any such revenue that 
is dedicated to the Federal Hospital Insur-
ance Trust Fund under section 1817 of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) 
or the Federal Supplementary Medical In-
surance Trust Fund under section 1841 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t). 
(11) SOLVENCY
OF
SOCIAL
SECURITY
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘solvency’’, in relation to Social 
Security, means any year in which the balance ratio 
(as defined under section 709(b) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 910(b)) of the Federal Old-Age 
and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Fed-
eral Disability Insurance Trust Fund established 
under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 401) is greater than zero; and 
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SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is permanently estab-
lished an independent and bipartisan commission to be 
known as the ‘‘National Commission on Entitlement Sol-
vency’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The Commission shall conduct a 
comprehensive review of the Social Security and Medicare 
programs for the following purposes: 
(1) REVIEW.—Reviewing relevant analyses of 
the current and long-term actuarial financial condi-
tion of the Social Security and Medicare programs. 
(2) 
IDENTIFYING
PROBLEMS.—Identifying 
problems that may threaten the long-term solvency 
of the Social Security and Medicare programs. 
(3) ANALYZING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.—Ana-
lyzing potential solutions to problems that threaten 
the long-term solvency of the Social Security and 
Medicare programs. 
(4) PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRO-
POSED
LEGISLATIVE
LANGUAGE.—Providing rec-
ommendations and proposed legislative language 
that will ensure the long-term solvency of the Social 
Security and Medicare programs and the provision 
of appropriate benefits. 
(c) DUTIES.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall con-
duct a comprehensive review of the Social Security 
and Medicare programs consistent with the purposes 
described in subsection (b) and shall submit the re-
port required under paragraph (2). 
(2) REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND
PRO-
POSED LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE.— 
(A) REPORT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
Commission shall submit a report on the 
long-term solvency of the Social Security 
and Medicare programs that contains a de-
tailed statement of the findings, conclu-
sions, recommendations, and the proposed 
legislative language (as required under 
subparagraph (C)) of the Commission to 
the President, Congress, the Commis-
sioner, and the Administrator. 
(ii) PROPOSED
LEGISLATIVE
LAN-
GUAGE.—The Commission shall submit the 
proposed legislative language (as required 
under clause (i)) in the form of a proposed 
bill for introduction in Congress. 
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(B) FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—A finding, conclusion, or rec-
ommendation of the Commission shall be in-
cluded in the report under subparagraph (A) 
only if not less than 10 members of the Com-
mission voted for such finding, conclusion, or 
recommendation. 
(C) LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—If a recommenda-
tion submitted with respect to the Social 
Security or Medicare programs under sub-
paragraph (A) involves legislative action, 
the report shall include proposed legislative 
language to carry out such action. Such 
legislative language shall only be included 
in the report under subparagraph (A) if 
the Commission has considered the impact 
the recommendation would have on the 
Medicaid program. 
(ii) EXCLUSION
OF
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS WITH RESPECT TO MEDICAID.—Pro-
posed legislative language to carry out any 
recommendation submitted by the Commis-
sion with respect to the Medicaid program 
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shall not be included in the legislative lan-
guage submitted under clause (i). 
SEC. 4. STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMIS-
SION. 
(a) APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 15 members, of whom— 
(A) 7 members shall be appointed by the 
President— 
(i) 3 of whom shall be Democrats, ap-
pointed in consultation with the majority 
leader of the Senate and the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives; 
(ii) 3 of whom shall be Republicans; 
and 
(iii) 1 of whom shall not be affiliated 
with any political party; 
(B) 2 members shall be appointed by the 
majority leader of the Senate, 1 of whom is 
from the Committee on Finance of the Senate; 
(C) 2 members shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the Senate, 1 of whom is 
from the Committee on Finance of the Senate; 
(D) 2 members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1 of 
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(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission 
shall hold at least 1 town-hall style public 
hearing within each Federal reserve dis-
trict not later than the date on which the 
Commission submits the report required 
under section 3(c)(2)(A), and shall, to the 
extent feasible, ensure that there is broad 
public participation in the hearings. 
(ii) HEARING FORMAT.—During each 
hearing, the Commission shall present to 
the public, and generate comments and 
suggestions regarding, the issues reviewed 
under section 3(b), policies designed to ad-
dress those issues, and tradeoffs between 
such policies. 
(B) ADDITIONAL HEARINGS.—In addition 
to the hearings required under subparagraph 
(A), the Commission shall hold such other hear-
ings as the Commission determines appropriate 
to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(3) QUORUM.—Ten members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum for purposes of vot-
ing, but a quorum is not required for members to 
meet and hold hearings. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.— 
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(1) COMPENSATION.—Each member, other than 
the Co-Chairpersons, shall be paid at a rate equal to 
the daily equivalent of the minimum annual rate of 
basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code, for each day (including travel time) 
during which such member is engaged in the per-
formance of the duties of the Commission. The Co- 
Chairpersons shall be paid at a rate equal to the 
daily equivalent of the minimum annual rate of basic 
pay prescribed for level III of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5314 of title 5, United States 
Code, for each day (including travel time) during 
which such member is engaged in the performance 
of the duties of the Commission. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of 
title 5, United States Code, while away from their 
homes or regular places of business in performance 
of services for the Commission. 
(c) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The 
Commission shall be exempt from the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
(d) PERSONNEL.— 
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(1) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a 
staff headed by an Executive Director. The Execu-
tive Director shall be paid at a rate equivalent to a 
rate established for the Senior Executive Service 
under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) STAFF APPOINTMENT.—With the approval 
of the Co-Chairpersons, the Executive Director may 
appoint such personnel as the Executive Director 
and the Commission determines to be appropriate. 
(3) ACTUARIAL EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 
With the approval of the Co-Chairpersons, the Exec-
utive Director may procure temporary and intermit-
tent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(4) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Upon the request of the Co-Chairpersons, the head 
of any Federal agency may detail, without reim-
bursement, any of the personnel of such agency to 
the Commission to assist in carrying out the duties 
of the Commission. Any such detail shall not inter-
rupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or 
privileges of the Federal employee. 
(5) 
OTHER
RESOURCES.—The 
Commission 
shall have reasonable access to materials, resources, 
statistical data, and other information from the Li-
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brary of Congress, the Chief Actuary of Social Secu-
rity, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the 
Congressional Budget Office, and other agencies and 
elected representatives of the executive and legisla-
tive branches of the Federal Government. The Co- 
Chairpersons of the Commission shall make requests 
for such access in writing when necessary. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 7. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION REC-
OMMENDATIONS. 
(a) INTRODUCTION
AND COMMITTEE CONSIDER-
ATION.— 
(1) INTRODUCTION.—A Commission bill shall 
be introduced in the Senate by the majority leader, 
or the majority leader’s designee, and in the House 
of Representatives, by the majority leader, or the 
majority leader’s designee. Upon such introduction, 
the Commission bill shall be referred to the appro-
priate committees of Congress under paragraph (2). 
If the Commission bill is not introduced in accord-
ance with the preceding sentence, then any member 
of Congress may introduce the Commission bill in 
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their respective House of Congress beginning on the 
date that is the 5th calendar day that such House 
is in session following the date of the submission of 
the Commission report under section 3(c)(2)(A). 
(2) COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.— 
(A) REFERRAL.—A Commission bill intro-
duced in the Senate shall be referred to the 
Committee on Finance of the Senate. A Com-
mission bill introduced in the House of Rep-
resentatives shall be referred jointly to the 
Committee on Ways and Means and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives. 
(B) REPORTING.—Not later than 60 cal-
endar days after the introduction of the Com-
mission bill, each Committee of Congress to 
which the Commission bill was referred shall re-
port the bill. Each such reported bill shall meet 
the requirement of ensuring the long-term sol-
vency of the Social Security and Medicare pro-
grams, and the provision of appropriate bene-
fits, that the proposed legislative language pro-
vided by the Commission is subject to under 
section 3(b)(4). 
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(C) DISCHARGE
OF
COMMITTEE.—If a 
committee to which is referred a Commission 
bill has not reported such Commission bill at 
the end of 60 calendar days after its introduc-
tion, such committee shall be automatically dis-
charged from further consideration of the Com-
mission bill and it shall be placed on the appro-
priate calendar. 
(b) EXPEDITED PROCEDURE.— 
(1) AMENDMENTS.—No amendment that is not 
relevant to the provisions of the Commission bill 
shall be in order in either the Senate or the House 
of Representatives. In either House, an amendment, 
any amendment to an amendment, or any debatable 
motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed 5 
hours to be divided equally between those favoring 
and those opposing the amendment, motion, or ap-
peal. 
(2) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 cal-
endar days after the date on which a committee 
has reported or has been discharged from con-
sideration of a Commission bill, the majority 
leader of the Senate, or the majority leader’s 
designee shall move to proceed to the consider-
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than 40 hours, which shall be equally di-
vided between, and controlled by, the ma-
jority leader and the minority leader of the 
Senate or their designees. A motion fur-
ther to limit debate on the Commission bill 
is in order and is not debatable. All time 
used for consideration of the Commission 
bill, including time used for quorum calls 
(except quorum calls immediately pre-
ceding a vote), shall come from the 40 
hours of consideration. 
(ii) RECOMMITAL
TO
COMMITTEE.— 
Upon expiration of the 40-hour period pro-
vided under clause (i), the Commission bill 
shall be recommitted to committee for fur-
ther consideration unless 3⁄5 of the Mem-
bers, duly chosen and sworn, of the Senate 
agree to proceed to passage. Any bill re-
ported by a committee as a result of such 
further consideration shall— 
(I) meet the requirement of en-
suring the long-term solvency of the 
Social Security and Medicare pro-
grams and the provision of appro-
priate benefits that the proposed legis-
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lative language provided by the Com-
mission is subject to under section 
3(b)(4); and 
(II) be considered under the ex-
pedited procedures under this sub-
section. 
(D) VOTE ON PASSAGE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The vote on pas-
sage in the Senate of the Commission bill 
shall occur immediately following the con-
clusion of the 40-hour period for consider-
ation of the Commission bill under sub-
paragraph (C) and a request to establish 
the presence of a quorum. 
(ii) 
OTHER
MOTIONS
NOT
IN 
ORDER.—A motion in the Senate to post-
pone consideration of the Commission bill, 
a motion to proceed to the consideration of 
other business, or a motion to recommit 
the Commission bill is not in order. A mo-
tion in the Senate to reconsider the vote by 
which the Commission bill is agreed to or 
not agreed to is not in order. 
(3) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 cal-
endar days after the date on which a committee 
has reported or has been discharged from con-
sideration of a Commission bill, the majority 
leader of the House of Representatives, or the 
majority leader’s designee shall move to proceed 
to the consideration of the Commission bill. It 
shall also be in order for any member of the 
House of Representatives to move to proceed to 
the consideration of the bill at any time after 
the conclusion of such 30-day period. 
(B) MOTION TO PROCEED.—A motion to 
proceed to the consideration of a Commission 
bill is privileged in the House of Representa-
tives. The motion is not debatable and is not 
subject to a motion to postpone consideration of 
the Commission bill or to proceed to the consid-
eration of other business. A motion to recon-
sider the vote by which the motion to proceed 
is agreed to or not agreed to shall not be in 
order. If the motion to proceed is agreed to, the 
House of Representatives shall immediately pro-
ceed to consideration of the Commission bill 
without intervening motion, order, action, or 
other business, and the Commission bill shall 
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remain the unfinished business of the House of 
Representatives until disposed of. 
(C) LIMITED DEBATE.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Consideration in 
the House of Representatives of the Com-
mission bill and all amendments to such 
bill, and on all debatable motions and ap-
peals in connection therewith, shall be lim-
ited to not more than 40 hours, which 
shall be equally divided between, and con-
trolled by, the majority leader and the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representa-
tives or their designees. A motion further 
to limit debate on the Commission bill is in 
order and is not debatable. All time used 
for consideration of the Commission bill, 
including time used for quorum calls (ex-
cept quorum calls immediately preceding a 
vote), shall come from the 40 hours of con-
sideration. 
(ii) RECOMMITAL
TO
COMMITTEE.— 
Upon expiration of the 40-hour period pro-
vided under clause (i), the Commission bill 
shall be recommitted to committee for fur-
ther consideration unless 3⁄5 of the Mem-
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bers, duly chosen and sworn, of the House 
of Representatives agree to proceed to final 
passage. Any bill reported by a committee 
as a result of such further consideration 
shall— 
(I) meet the requirement of en-
suring the long-term solvency of the 
Social Security and Medicare pro-
grams and the provision of appro-
priate benefits that the proposed legis-
lative language provided by the Com-
mission is subject to under section 
3(b)(4); and 
(II) be considered under the ex-
pedited procedures under this sub-
section. 
(D) VOTE ON PASSAGE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The vote on pas-
sage in the House of Representatives of 
the Commission bill shall occur imme-
diately following the conclusion of the 40- 
hour period for consideration of the Com-
mission bill under subparagraph (C) and a 
request to establish the presence of a 
quorum. 
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(ii) 
OTHER
MOTIONS
NOT
IN 
ORDER.—A motion in the House of Rep-
resentatives to postpone consideration of 
the Commission bill, a motion to proceed 
to the consideration of other business, or a 
motion to recommit the Commission bill is 
not in order. A motion in the House of 
Representatives to reconsider the vote by 
which the Commission bill is agreed to or 
not agreed to is not in order. 
(4) CONSIDERATION BY OTHER HOUSE.—If, be-
fore the passage by one House of the Commission 
bill that was introduced in such House, such House 
receives from the other House a Commission bill as 
passed by such other House— 
(A) the Commission bill of the other House 
shall not be referred to a committee and may 
only be considered for passage in the House 
that receives it under subparagraph (C); 
(B) the procedure in the House in receipt 
of the Commission bill of the other House, with 
respect to the Commission bill that was intro-
duced in the receiving House, shall be the same 
as if no Commission bill had been received from 
the other House; and 
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(C) notwithstanding subparagraph (B), the 
vote on final passage shall be on the Commis-
sion bill of the other House. 
Upon disposition of a Commission bill that is re-
ceived by one House from the other House, it shall 
no longer be in order to consider the Commission bill 
that was introduced in the receiving House. 
(5) CONSIDERATION IN CONFERENCE.— 
(A) CONVENING OF CONFERENCE.—In the 
case of any disagreement between the two 
Houses of Congress with respect to a Commis-
sion bill passed by both Houses, conferees shall 
be promptly appointed and a conference con-
vened. All motions to proceed to conference are 
nondebatable. The committee of conference 
shall make and file a report with respect to 
such Commission bill within 30 calendar days 
after the day on which managers on the part of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives 
have been appointed. Notwithstanding any rule 
in either House concerning the printing of con-
ference reports or concerning any delay in the 
consideration of such reports, such report shall 
be acted on by both Houses not later than 5 
calendar days after the conference report is 
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