I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3696
To establish the President’s Commission on Veterans and Smoking.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 16, 2000
Mr. TRAFICANT (for himself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To establish the President’s Commission on Veterans and
Smoking.
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 ‘‘President’s Commis-
sion on Veterans and Smoking Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the
‘‘President’s Commission on Veterans and Smoking’’ (in
this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a study
of issues related to veterans and smoking, including the
following:
(1) The extent to which the past policy of the
Armed Forces of providing members of the Armed
Forces with free cigarettes contributed to these
members becoming smokers.
(2) The percentage of veterans who are smokers
compared to the percentage of smokers in the gen-
eral population of the United States.
(3) The incidence and severity of smoking-re-
lated illnesses among veterans compared to the inci-
dence and severity of these illnesses in the general
population of the United States.
(b) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion shall transmit to the Congress and the Presi-
dent a report.
(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall contain a de-
tailed statement of the findings and conclusions of
the Commission, and its recommendations on wheth-
er present policies should be changed to better treat
smoking-related illnesses of veterans.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 11 members appointed as follows:
(1) 1 member appointed by the President, who
shall serve as Chairman.
(2) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(3) 3 members appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate.
(4) 2 members appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(5) 2 members appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate.
(b) TERMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Commission.
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission
shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(c) PAY; TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Com-
mission shall serve without pay, but 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.
(d) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber may hold hearings.
(e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the Chairman or a majority of its members.
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS.
(a) DIRECTOR.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall ap-
point a Director on or after October 1, 2000.
(2) PAY.—The Director shall be paid at the
rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive
Schedule.
(b) STAFF.—The Chairman may appoint additional
personnel as the Chairman considers appropriate.
(c) 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, but at
rates not in excess of the maximum rate for grade GS–
15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of that
title.
(d) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Chairman
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(e) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request
of the Chairman, 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. 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
Commission, take any action which the Commission is au-
thorized to take by this section.
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—Subject to sections
552, 552a, and 552b of title 5, United States Code, the
Commission may secure directly from any department or
agency of the United States information necessary to en-
able it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chair-
man of the Commission, the head of that department or
agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
(d) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—The Commission may
accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services
or property to carry out this Act, but only to the extent
or in amounts provided in appropriation Acts.
(e) 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.
(f) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon the
request of the Commission, the Administrator of General
Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimburs-
able basis, the administrative support services necessary
for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under
this Act.
(g) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may con-
tract with and compensate government and private
agencies or persons for supplies and other services.
(2) BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.—Any new con-
tract authority authorized by this Act shall be effec-
tive only to the extent or in the amounts provided
in advance in appropriation Acts.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 180 days after sub-
mitting its report under section 3(b).
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Commission $2,000,000 for fiscal year
2001 and $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2002.
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