I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4122 
To establish the Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 20, 2005 
Mr. TANNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Comprehensive Entitlement Reform 
Commission. 
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 ‘‘Comprehensive Entitle-
ment Reform Commission Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act:
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Com-
mission established under section 3. 
(2) MEDICAID.—The term ‘‘Medicaid’’ means 
the program established under title XIX of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). 
(3) MEDICARE.—The term ‘‘Medicare’’ means 
the program established under title XVIII of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). 
(4) SOCIAL SECURITY.—The term ‘‘Social Secu-
rity’’ means the program of old-age, survivors, and 
disability insurance benefits established under title 
II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
seq.). 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission’’. 
SEC. 4. PURPOSE. 
The Commission will review Social Security, Medi-
care, and Medicaid and make comprehensive recommenda-
tions to sustain the solvency and stability of these three 
programs for future generations. 
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall conduct a 
comprehensive review of Social Security, Medicare, and
Medicaid consistent with the purpose specified in section 
4 and shall submit the report required under subsection 
(b). 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
selection of the 2 Co-Chairpersons and the Executive 
Director of the Commission, the Commission shall 
prepare and submit a final report that contains a 
detailed statement of the recommendations, findings, 
and conclusions of the Commission to the appro-
priate Committees of Congress and the President. 
(2) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The report sub-
mitted under this subsection shall be made available 
to the public. 
SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 8 members, to be appointed as fol-
lows: 
(1) The majority leader of the Senate shall ap-
point 2 members. 
(2) The minority leader of the Senate shall ap-
point 2 members. 
(3) The Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives shall appoint 2 members.
(4) The minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives shall appoint 2 members. 
(b) PROHIBITED APPOINTMENTS.—Members of the 
Commission shall not include Members of Congress or 
other elected Federal, State, or local government officials. 
(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Each member shall 
be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancies 
shall not affect the power and duties of the Commission 
but shall be filled in the same manner as the original ap-
pointment. 
(d) DATE.—Members of the Commission shall be ap-
pointed by not later than 30 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(e) INITIAL ORGANIZATION PERIOD.—Not later than 
60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Com-
mission shall develop and implement a schedule for com-
pletion of the review and report required under section 5. 
(f) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The Commission shall select 
2 Co-Chairpersons from among its members. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the 
Commission submits the report required under section 
5(b)(1).
SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, but a 
quorum is not required for members to meet and hold 
hearings. 
(b) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet 
at the call of the Co-Chairpersons or a majority of 
its members. 
(2) OPEN
MEETINGS.—Each meeting of the 
Commission, other than meetings in which classified 
information is to be discussed, shall be open to the 
public. 
(c) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings and undertake such other activities as the Com-
mission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties. 
(d) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members shall receive trav-
el expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United 
States Code, while away from their homes or regular 
places of business in performance of services for the Com-
mission. 
(e) STAFF.— 
(1) EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.—The Commission 
shall have a staff headed by an Executive Director. 
The Executive Director shall be paid at a rate equiv-
alent to a rate established for the Senior Executive 
Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(2) STAFF APPOINTMENT.—With the approval 
of the Commission, the Executive Director may ap-
point such personnel as the Executive Director de-
termines to be appropriate. 
(3) ACTUARIAL EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 
With the approval of the Commission, the Executive 
Director may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(4) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Upon the request of the Commission, the head of 
any Federal agency may detail, without reimburse-
ment, any of the personnel of such agency to the 
Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of 
the Commission. Any such detail shall not interrupt 
or otherwise affect the civil service status or privi-
leges of the Federal employee. 
(5) 
OTHER
RESOURCES.—The 
Commission 
shall have reasonable access to materials, resources, 
statistical data, and other information such Commis-
sion determines to be necessary to carry out its du-
ties from the Library of Congress, the Chief Actuary
of Social Security, the Congressional Budget Office, 
and other agencies and elected representatives of the 
executive and legislative branches of the Federal 
Government. The Co-Chairpersons of the Commis-
sion shall make requests for such access in writing 
when necessary. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated for fiscal year 2006, $1,500,000 to carry out the 
purposes of this Act. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated under 
the subsection (a) shall remain available, without fiscal 
year limitation, until expended. 
Æ