I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2078 
To establish a commission to study employment and economic insecurity 
in the United States workforce. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 23, 2009 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to study employment and 
economic insecurity in the United States workforce. 
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 Employment and Economic Security Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Americans’ commitment to economic par-
ticipation has been a defining feature of the cultural 
fabric of the United States, helping individuals feel 
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positive about themselves, develop independence, and 
maintain hope for the future. 
(2) As Americans lose their jobs and their in-
comes shrink, too often, they also face the loss of 
their family’s health insurance and, subsequent to 
the loss of income, even their housing. 
(3) Since the recession began in December 
2007, more than 5.1 million jobs have been lost. Ac-
cording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by March 
2009, the unemployment rate had climbed to 8.5 
percent. The scope of the economic downturn is so 
large that its impact is felt almost everywhere along 
the economic spectrum. 
(4) Over the past 12 months, the number of 
unemployed persons has grown by about 5.3 million, 
and the unemployment rate has risen by 3.4 per-
centage points, according to the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics. 
(5) The number of long-term unemployed (i.e., 
those jobless for 27 weeks or more) rose to 3.2 mil-
lion over the month of March 2009 and has in-
creased by about 1.9 million since the start of the 
recession in December 2007. 
(6) Eighty percent of Americans say the econ-
omy is a significant cause of stress, an increase from 
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66 percent since April 2008, according to a Sep-
tember 2008 survey by the American Psychology As-
sociation. 
(7) Calls to the national suicide prevention life-
line increased more than 20 percent from January 
2008 to January 2009. 
(8) One-third of people going through fore-
closure are clinically depressed. 
(9) The loss of a job and the subsequent loss 
of income, insurance, and other benefits from that 
job have been proven to be substantial triggers for 
depression, anxiety, and stress. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘National Commission on Employment and Economic Se-
curity’’. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) examine the issues of economic and psycho-
logical insecurity of members of the United States 
workforce caused by employment displacement; 
(2) gather data on the relationship between (A) 
psychological stress caused by employment insecurity 
and economic insecurity, (B) the increase in clinical 
depression and anxiety in the United States, and (C) 
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increased violence by employees and former employ-
ees in the workplace and in their private lives; 
(3) examine the economic and psychological ef-
fects of the decreasing number of well-paid jobs on 
members of the United States workforce and their 
families; 
(4) analyze whether measures may be taken to 
reduce said economic and psychological effects; and 
(5) recommend potential solutions, including 
recommendations for legislative and administrative 
action, to alleviate the problems of economic and 
psychological insecurity of members of the United 
States workforce. 
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 15 members, with expertise in re-
search methods or statistics, who shall be appointed as 
follows: 
(1) 7 individuals appointed by the President, of 
which— 
(A) 2 members shall be individuals who 
represent labor organizations as defined by sec-
tion 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act 
(29 U.S.C. 152(5)); 
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(B) 2 members shall be individuals who 
represent business interests; and 
(C) 2 members shall be individuals who 
represent mental health interests. 
(2) 2 individuals appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives. 
(3) 2 individuals appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(4) 2 individuals appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate. 
(5) 2 individuals appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members shall be experts in 
the fields of labor, employment, the economy, and 
psychology. 
(2) POLITICAL
AFFILIATION.—Political affili-
ation shall not be a factor in the appointment of 
members. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Each member 
shall be appointed to the Commission not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission. 
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(e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
(f) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve without pay. 
(g) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(h) QUORUM.—8 members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings. 
(i) CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission shall be elected by the members not 
later than 30 days after the date on which all of the 
original members of the Commission have been ap-
pointed. 
(2) 
PRESIDENTIAL
APPOINTMENT.—If 
the 
members of the Commission are unable to elect the 
Chairperson in accordance with paragraph (1), the 
President shall appoint a member of the Commission 
to be the Chairperson. 
(j) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
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SEC. 6. 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 
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. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear-
ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and 
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. 
The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 
witnesses appearing before it. 
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 
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Commission, take any action which the Commission is au-
thorized to take by this section. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any Federal department or agen-
cy information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. 
Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the 
head of that department or agency shall provide that in-
formation to the Commission. 
(d) MAIL.—The Commission may use the United 
States mail in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other Federal departments and agencies. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 
the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen-
eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim-
bursable basis, the administrative support services nec-
essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act. 
(f) IMMUNITY.—The Commission is an agency of the 
United States for purpose of part V of title 18, United 
States Code (relating to immunity of witnesses). 
(g) SUBPOENA POWER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may issue 
a subpoena to require the attendance and testimony 
of witnesses and the production of evidence relating 
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to any matter described in paragraphs (1) through 
(3) of section 4. 
(2) FAILURE
TO
OBEY
AN
ORDER
OR
SUB-
POENA.—If a person refuses to obey a subpoena 
issued under paragraph (1), the Commission may 
apply to a United States district court for an order 
requiring that person to appear before the Commis-
sion to give testimony, produce evidence, or both, re-
lating to the matter under investigation. The appli-
cation may be made within the judicial district 
where the hearing is conducted or where that person 
is found, resides, or transacts business. Any failure 
to obey the order of the court may be punished by 
the court as civil contempt. 
(3) SERVICE OF SUBPOENAS.—The subpoenas 
of the Commission shall be served in the manner 
provided for subpoenas issued by a United States 
district court under the Federal Rules of Civil Pro-
cedure for the United States district courts. 
(h) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may 
contract with and compensate government and private 
agencies or persons for supplies or services, without regard 
to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5). 
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SEC. 8. REPORT OF COMMISSION. 
Not later than 1 year 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 made 
pursuant to section 4. 
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
60 days after the date of submission of the report pursu-
ant to section 8. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES BEFORE TERMI-
NATION.—The Commission may use the 60-day period re-
ferred to in paragraph (a) for the purpose of concluding 
its activities, including providing testimony to committees 
of Congress concerning its reports and disseminating the 
second report. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act $2,000,000 for fiscal year 
2010 for use in the development and implementation of 
plans under this Act. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts authorized to be appro-
priated by subsection (a) are authorized to remain avail-
able until expended. 
Æ 
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