I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4171 
To establish a commission to examine the processes used by the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics to provide unemployment rates and to make rec-
ommendations to Congress for any changes in methodology or improve-
ments to such processes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 6, 2014 
Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. 
YOUNG of Indiana, Mr. MCINTYRE, and Mr. MATHESON) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to examine the processes used 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide unemploy-
ment rates and to make recommendations to Congress 
for any changes in methodology or improvements to such 
processes. 
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 ‘‘Labor Statistics Im-
provement Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established an independent commission to be 
known as the ‘‘Commission to Improve Labor Statistics’’. 
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) examine and make an assessment of the 
process by which the Bureau of Labor Statistics col-
lects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates statis-
tical data relating to unemployment rates, includ-
ing— 
(A) the methods used for determining that 
an individual is or is not considered to be look-
ing for work, including what constitutes actively 
looking versus passively looking or ‘‘discour-
aged’’; and 
(B) the utility of the six measures used by 
the Bureau for reporting labor underutilization; 
(2) formulate recommendations for any im-
provement to such process and methods, including 
proposals for any alternative measures of labor force 
participation, taking into account— 
(A) evidence that the official unemploy-
ment rate doesn’t always accurately reflect 
labor market strength; and 
(B) that unemployment rates may vary 
over a business cycle due to changes in labor 
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force participation rather than from factors af-
fecting labor market strength; and 
(3) develop a new method or methods for deter-
mining and reporting underemployment that takes 
into consideration workers— 
(A) who are not in jobs that match their 
skill set or education; and 
(B) who are earning less than other work-
ers in similar occupations or with similar skill 
sets and education. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION. 
(a) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of four members appointed from among individuals 
with experience in the private sector, academia, or the 
Federal civil service, each having expertise in economic 
analysis, understanding labor markets, or statistical anal-
ysis. Members shall be appointed as follows: 
(1) Two members appointed by the President. 
(2) One member appointed by the President pro 
tempore of the Senate. 
(3) One member appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Each member 
shall be appointed to the Commission not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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(c) TERMS AND VACANCIES.—Each member shall be 
appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in 
the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(d) BASIC PAY AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members 
shall serve without pay. Each member shall receive travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in ac-
cordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(e) QUORUM.—Three members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold 
hearings. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Commis-
sion shall be elected by the members. 
(g) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
SEC. 5. STAFF OF COMMISSION. 
(a) STAFF.—The Chairperson may appoint and fix 
the pay of the personnel of the Commission as the Chair-
person considers appropriate. 
(b) APPLICABILITY
OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE 
LAWS.—The staff of the Commission shall be appointed 
subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
governing appointments in the competitive service, and 
shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 
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51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating 
to classification and General Schedule pay rates. 
(c) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 
of the Chairperson, the head of any Federal department 
or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the 
personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 
to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act. 
SEC. 6. REPORT OF COMMISSION. 
Not later than 180 days after the date on which all 
original members have been appointed to the Commission, 
the Commission shall transmit to the President and Con-
gress a report that contains a detailed statement of the 
findings and recommendations of the Commission devel-
oped pursuant to section 3. 
SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
60 days after the date of submission of the report pursu-
ant to section 7. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES BEFORE TERMI-
NATION.—The Commission may use the 60-day period re-
ferred to in subsection (a) for the purpose of concluding 
its activities, including providing testimony to committees 
of Congress concerning its reports and disseminating the 
second report. 
Æ 
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