I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4219 
To establish a National Commission on American Recovery and Reinvestment. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2009 
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. INGLIS, Mr. 
BROUN of Georgia, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mrs. 
BACHMANN, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. FORBES, and 
Mr. AKIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To establish a National Commission on American Recovery 
and Reinvestment. 
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 ‘‘National Commission 
on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established in the legislative branch the Na-
tional Commission on American Recovery and Reinvest-
ment (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
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SEC. 3. COMPOSITION AND PROCEEDINGS. 
(a) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall be composed 
of 10 members, of whom— 
(1) 1 member shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent; 
(2) 1 member shall be appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the Senate in consultation with the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives; 
(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the major-
ity leader of the Senate; 
(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the Senate; 
(5) 2 members shall be appointed by the major-
ity leader of the House of Representatives; and 
(6) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the House of Representatives. 
(b) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more than 5 
members of the Commission may be of the same political 
party. 
(c) NON-GOVERNMENTAL APPOINTEES.—An indi-
vidual is not eligible for appointment as a member of the 
Commission if the individual is an officer or employee of 
the Federal Government or any State or local government. 
(d) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENTS.—The members 
of the Commission shall be appointed before the end of 
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the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which 
this Act is enacted. 
(e) VACANCIES.—If a vacancy occurs in the member-
ship of the Commission it shall be filled in the manner 
in which the original appointment was made. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON.—The member appointed 
under subsection (a)(1) shall be the chairperson of 
the Commission (referred to in this Act as the 
‘‘chairperson’’). 
(2) VICE
CHAIRPERSON.—The member ap-
pointed under subsection (a)(2) shall be the vice 
chairperson of the Commission (referred to in this 
Act as the ‘‘vice chairperson’’). 
(g) PROCEEDINGS.— 
(1) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
the call of the chairperson or a majority of its mem-
bers. The Commission shall hold its meetings in 
public to the extent that the Commission considers 
it appropriate to do so. 
(2) QUORUM.—Six members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum. 
(3) VACANCIES
NOT
TO
AFFECT
DUTIES
OR 
POWERS.—A vacancy in the membership of the 
Commission does not affect its duties or powers. 
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SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 
(1) investigate and make findings on the— 
(A) the number of jobs saved or created as 
a result of the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–5; 123 
Stat. 125); 
(B) the circumstances in which such jobs 
have been saved or created; and 
(C) the effectiveness of measures taken to 
prevent the improper payment of funds allo-
cated under the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act of 2009; and 
(2) make recommendations on— 
(A) changes that could be made to the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
2009 to save or create more jobs; and 
(B) steps that could be taken to prevent 
the improper payment of funds allocated under 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009. 
(b) RELATIONSHIP TO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT-
ABILITY OFFICE.—When the Commission is investigating 
matters and making findings under subsection (a)(1), and 
when it is making recommendations under subsection 
(a)(2), the following requirements shall apply: 
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(1) The Commission shall begin by considering 
any relevant material published by the Government 
Accountability Office. 
(2) If the Commission finds that the material 
published by the Government Accountability Office 
is incomplete, out-of-date or otherwise inadequate 
the Commission may carry out further investigations 
or make further findings or recommendations. 
SEC. 5. HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, for the 
purposes of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit 
and act at such times and places, take such testimony and 
receive such evidence as the Commission considers appro-
priate. The Commission shall hold its hearings in public 
to the extent that the Commission considers it appropriate 
to do so. 
(b) SUBPOENAS.— 
(1) ISSUANCE.—The Commission may issue 
subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of 
witnesses and the production of evidence relating to 
any matter that the Commission is required to inves-
tigate by section 4. 
(2) LOCATION.—The attendance of witnesses 
and the production of evidence may be required from 
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any place within the United States at any des-
ignated place of hearing within the United States. 
(c) DELEGATION.—The powers conferred on the 
Commission by subsections (a) and (b) may be exercised 
by— 
(1) any member of the Commission who is au-
thorized by the Commission for that purpose; or 
(2) any committee of the Commission which is 
authorized by the Commission for that purpose. 
(d) SUBPOENAS: PROCEDURE AND ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) APPROVAL.—A subpoena may be issued 
under this section only if approved by— 
(A) the chairperson and the vice chair-
person; or 
(B) a majority of the members of the Com-
mission. 
(2) SIGNATURE.—A subpoena issued under this 
section shall be issued under the signature of— 
(A) the chairperson or the vice chair-
person; or 
(B) a member of the Commission author-
ized for that purpose by a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission. 
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(3) SERVICE.—A subpoena issued under this 
section shall be served by a person authorized for 
that purpose by— 
(A) the chairperson or the vice chair-
person; or 
(B) a member of the Commission author-
ized for that purpose by a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission. 
(4) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(A) COURT ORDER.—If a person refuses to 
obey a subpoena issued under this section, the 
Commission may apply to a United States dis-
trict court for an order requiring that person to 
appear before the Commission to give testi-
mony, produce evidence, or both, relating to the 
matter under investigation. 
(B) APPLICATION.—The application for 
the court order may be made within the judicial 
district where the hearing is conducted or where 
the person is found or resides. 
(C) FAILURE
TO
OBEY.—Any failure to 
obey the order of a court under this paragraph 
may be punished by the court as civil contempt. 
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SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES, CON-
TRACTS, GIFTS AND POSTAL SERVICES. 
(a) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, for 
the purpose of carrying out this Act, request infor-
mation directly from any Federal department or 
agency. 
(2) DUTY TO COMPLY.—The head of a Federal 
department or agency who receives such a request 
shall provide the information requested. 
(b) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.—If re-
quested to do so by the Commission, the Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on 
a reimbursable basis, administrative support or other serv-
ices necessary for the Commission to carry out this Act. 
(c) OTHER DEPARTMENTS
AND AGENCIES.—The 
head of a Federal department or agency may provide to 
the Commission such financial or other assistance (includ-
ing services, facilities or staff) as the head may consider 
appropriate. 
(d) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may, to the ex-
tent and in the amounts provided in advance in the appro-
priation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commis-
sion to carry out this Act. 
(e) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
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