I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6263 
To establish a commission to study how Federal laws and policies affect 
United States citizens living in foreign countries. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 1, 2012 
Mrs. MALONEY (for herself, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. RANGEL) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Gov-
ernment Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Serv-
ices, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, House Administration, Energy and 
Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to study how Federal laws and 
policies affect United States citizens living in foreign 
countries. 
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 ‘‘Commission on Ameri-
cans Living Abroad Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Commission on Americans Living Abroad’’ (in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Presi-
dent, of whom— 
(1) two members shall be appointed from 
among individuals recommended by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives; 
(2) two members shall be appointed from 
among individuals recommended by the majority 
leader of the House of Representatives; 
(3) two members shall be appointed from 
among individuals recommended by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives; 
(4) two members shall be appointed from 
among individuals recommended by the majority 
leader of the Senate; 
(5) two members shall be appointed from 
among individuals recommended by the minority 
leader of the Senate; and 
(6) two members shall be appointed from 
among individuals recommended by the President 
pro tempore of the Senate. 
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(b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) LIMIT
ON
OFFICERS
OR
EMPLOYEES
OF 
THE UNITED STATES.—Not more than 10 members 
shall be officers or employees of the United States. 
(2) POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION.—Not more 
than 8 members of the Commission may be of the 
same political party. 
(3) EXPERTISE.— 
(A) OFFICERS
OR
EMPLOYEES
OF
THE 
UNITED STATES.—Members of the Commission 
who are officers or employees of the United 
States shall be appointed from among individ-
uals whose employment is directly related to the 
matters to be studied by the Commission under 
section 4(a)(2). 
(B) OTHER
MEMBERS.—Members of the 
Commission who are not officers or employees 
of the United States shall be appointed from 
among individuals who— 
(i) have lived in a foreign country for 
not less than one year; 
(ii) are members of organizations that 
represent United States citizens living in 
foreign countries; or 
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(iii) have other experience that is rel-
evant to the matters to be studied by the 
Commission under section 4(a)(2). 
(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem-
bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 
vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same man-
ner in which the original appointment was made. Any va-
cancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers. 
(d) FIRST MEETING.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date on which all members of the Commission have 
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
(f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings. 
(g) CHAIRPERSON.—The President shall select a 
Chairperson for the Commission from among its members. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall con-
duct a study on how Federal laws and policies affect 
United States citizens living in foreign countries, in-
cluding civilians and members of the Armed Forces. 
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(2) MATTERS STUDIES.—The matters studied 
shall include the following: 
(A) Federal financial reporting require-
ments for a United States citizen living in a 
foreign country, including the requirements 
under section 5314 of title 31, United States 
Code. 
(B) Federal policies and requirements that 
affect the ability of a United States citizen liv-
ing in a foreign country to access foreign and 
domestic financial institutions, including re-
quirements under chapter 4 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (commonly known as the 
‘‘Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act’’) and 
requirements affecting financial institutions im-
posed by the Uniting and Strengthening Amer-
ica by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to 
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 
(USA Patriot Act) (Public Law 107–56). 
(C) Federal requirements for a spouse, 
child, or another family member of a United 
States citizen living in a foreign country who is 
not a United States citizen to become a United 
States citizen. 
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(D) The ability of a United States citizen 
living in a foreign country to vote in Federal, 
State, and local elections in the United States, 
and the process for such a citizen to vote in 
such elections. 
(E) The processes by which a United 
States citizen living in a foreign country inter-
acts with Federal programs such as Social Se-
curity and Medicare. 
(F) The process for a United States citizen 
living in a foreign country to get a Federal edu-
cation loan for such citizen or for such citizen’s 
child who is a United States citizen. 
(G) Which Federal agencies have jurisdic-
tion over each Federal program that serves 
United States citizens who live in foreign coun-
tries and possible methods to improve the col-
laboration of and coordination between such 
Federal agencies. 
(b) CONSULTATION
WITH
OUTSIDE
ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Commission shall consult organizations that represent 
United States citizens living in foreign countries. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
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(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion shall submit a report to the President, Con-
gress, and the head of any Federal agency identified 
in subsection (a)(2)(G), which shall contain a de-
tailed statement of the findings and conclusions of 
the Commission, together with its recommendations 
for such legislative and administrative actions as it 
considers appropriate. 
(2) UPDATE.—Not later than one year after the 
date on which the Commission submits the report 
under paragraph (1), the Commission shall submit 
an update to the President, Congress, and the head 
of any Federal agency identified in subsection 
(a)(2)(G), which shall describe any administrative 
actions taken by the head of any Federal agency 
pursuant to the recommendations in such report. 
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE 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. 
(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.—Subject to section 
6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Commis-
sion may secure directly from any Federal department or 
agency such information as the Commission considers nec-
essary to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chair-
person of the Commission, the head of such department 
or agency shall furnish such information to the Commis-
sion. 
(d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 
States. 
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of 
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the 
United States shall be compensated at a rate equal to the 
daily equivalent of the 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 
performance of the duties of the Commission. All members 
of the Commission who are officers or employees of the 
United States shall serve without compensation in addi-
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tion to that received for their services as officers or em-
ployees of the United States. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services 
for the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may, without regard to the civil service 
laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an exec-
utive director and such other additional personnel as 
may be necessary to enable the Commission to per-
form its duties. The employment of an executive di-
rector shall be subject to confirmation by the Com-
mission. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 
5, United States Code, relating to classification of 
positions and General Schedule pay rates, except 
that the rate of pay for the executive director and 
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other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 
of such title. 
(d) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any 
United States employee may be detailed to the Commis-
sion without reimbursement, and such detail shall be with-
out interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. 
(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission 
may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of 
the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
SEC. 7. FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the 
Commission submits the report under section 4(c)(1), the 
head of any Federal agency that is affected by a rec-
ommendation in such report shall submit to the President, 
Congress, and the Commission a response to such rec-
ommendation, including any plans to take administrative 
action pursuant to such recommendation. 
SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate on the date on which 
it submits its update under section 4(c)(2). 
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SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2013 and 2014 to the Commission 
to carry out this Act to remain available until the termi-
nation of the Commission. 
Æ 
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