I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1670
To establish a commission to study the culture and glorification of violence
in America.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 4, 1999
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To establish a commission to study the culture and
glorification of violence in America.
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 ‘‘Presidential Commis-
sion to Study the Culture and Glorification of Violence in
America Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Presidential Commission to Study the Culture and Glorifi-
cation of Violence in America (hereinafter the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall—
(1) examine the glorification of violence in the
United States;
(2) examine the relationship between psycho-
logical stress and increased violence;
(3) examine the role of the media in the violent
atmosphere prevalent today;
(4) examine the correlation, if any, between
ease of access to firearms and increased violence;
(5) examine the role of the school system in
identifying potential perpetrators of violence; and
(6) make findings and conclusions, and rec-
ommend potential solutions (including recommenda-
tions for legislation and administrative action) to al-
leviate the problems of glorification of violence in the
United States.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 22 members (hereinafter the ‘‘mem-
bers’’) who shall be appointed as follows:
(1) 10 members appointed by the President.
(2) 3 members appointed by the majority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(3) 3 members appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(4) 3 members appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate.
(5) 3 members appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate.
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members shall have special
knowledge of or experience in the issue of violence
in America, and may include sociologists, psycholo-
gists, clergy, school counselors, law enforcement offi-
cials, victims of violence, and representatives from
the media and the entertainment and gun industries.
(2) POLITICAL
AFFILIATION.—Political affili-
ation shall not be a determining factor in the ap-
pointment of members.
(c) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Every original
member shall be appointed to the Commission not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) TERMS AND VACANCIES.—Each member shall be
appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in
the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the
original appointment was made.
(e) BASIC PAY.—Members shall not be paid by rea-
son of their service as members.
(f) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, United States
Code.
(g) QUORUM.—Nine members shall constitute a
quorum for conducting the business of the Commission,
but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(h) CHAIRPERSON.—The members shall elect one
member to act as the Chairperson of the Commission
(hereinafter the ‘‘Chairperson’’).
(i) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson.
SEC. 5. STAFF OF COMMISSION.
(a) STAFF.—The Chairperson may appoint and fix
the pay of the Commission personnel as the Chairperson
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 such 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 the department or agency to assist the Com-
mission in carrying out the duties of the Commission.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission
may hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission con-
siders appropriate to carry out this Act.
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—The Com-
mission may delegate to a member or agency any authority
of the Commission under subsection (c) or (e).
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission
may secure directly from any department or agency of the
United States information necessary to enable the Com-
mission to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chair-
person, the head of the department or agency shall furnish
the information to the Commission.
(d) 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 duties.
(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may
contract with and compensate Government or private
agencies or persons for supplies or services, without regard
to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
SEC. 7. REPORT OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall transmit a report to the Presi-
dent and the Congress not later than one year after the
date that all original members have been appointed to the
Commission. The report shall contain a detailed statement
of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
Commission.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after sub-
mitting the report required by section 7.
SEC. 9. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.
Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs
(A) and (C) of section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974) authorized by this Act shall be effec-
tive only to such extent and in such amounts as are pro-
vided in appropriations Acts.
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