I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4035
To establish a commission to review and explore ways for the United States
to become energy self-sufficient by 2010.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 20, 2000
Mr. GEKAS (for himself, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To establish a commission to review and explore ways for
the United States to become energy self-sufficient by 2010.
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 Resource
Governance Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) energy prices have risen dramatically, lead-
ing to significant harm to particular sectors of the
economy;
States self-sufficient in the production of energy by
the year 2010;
(3) to explore whether alternate sources of en-
ergy such as ethanol, solar power, electricity, natural
gas, coal, hydrogen, wind energy, and any other
forms of alternative power sources should be consid-
ered, including other potential and actual sources;
(4) to investigate the affordability of oil explo-
ration and drilling in areas which currently are not
being used for drilling, whether because of the cost
of doing so, because of current law, or because of
environmental regulation that may prohibit such
drilling;
(5) to appear at any congressional oversight
hearing before the proper congressional oversight
committee to testify as to the progress and operation
of the Commission and its findings;
(6) to consider tax credits and other financial
incentives, along with expanded drilling in areas
such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off-
shore, to help promote and establish the viability
and research of alternative forms of energy and do-
mestic oil exploration;
(7) to prepare and submit to the Congress and
the President a report in accordance with section 9;
and
(8) to take into account the adverse environ-
mental impact of its proposals.
(b) LIMITATION.—This Act shall not permit the Com-
mission to recommend an increase in taxes or other reve-
nues or import restrictions on oil or other commodities.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 9 members as follows:
(1) 3 members appointed by the President, 1 of
whom shall be designated as chairman by the Presi-
dent.
(2) 2 members appointed by the Majority Lead-
er of the Senate.
(3) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Senate.
(4) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(5) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives.
(b) TERM.—Members of the Commission shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Commission.
(c) QUORUM.—5 members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may conduct
meetings.
(d) APPOINTMENT DEADLINE.—The first appoint-
ments made under subsection (a) shall be made within 60
days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(e) FIRST MEETING.—The first meeting of the Com-
mission shall be called by the chairman and shall be held
within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(f) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Commission result-
ing from the death or resignation of a member shall not
affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner
in which the original appointment was made.
(g) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If any mem-
ber of the Commission who was appointed to the Commis-
sion as a Member of Congress or as an officer or employee
of a government leaves that office, or if any member of
the Commission who was not appointed in such a capacity
becomes an officer or employee of a government, the mem-
ber may continue as a member of the Commission for not
longer than the 90-day period beginning on the date the
member leaves that office or becomes such an officer or
employee, as the case may be.
SEC. 6. COMPENSATION.
(a) PAY.—
(1) 
NONGOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.—Each
member of the Commission who is not otherwise em-
ployed by the United States Government shall be en-
title to receive the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Execu-
tive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United
States Code, for each day (including travel time)
during which he or she is engaged in the actual per-
formance of duties as a member of the Commission.
(2) GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—A member of
the Commission who is an officer or employee of the
United States Government shall serve without addi-
tional compensation.
(b) TRAVEL.—Members of the Commission shall be
reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary ex-
penses incurred by them in the performance of their du-
ties.
SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULT-
ANTS.
(a) STAFF.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The chairman of the Com-
mission may, without regard to the civil service laws
and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive
director and such other personnel as are necessary
to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The
employment of an executive director shall be subject
to confirmation by the Commission.
(2) COMPENSATION.—The chairman of the
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to
the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter II 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 execu-
tive director and other personnel may not exceed the
rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of that title.
(b) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services of ex-
perts and consultants under section 3109(b) of title 5,
United States Code.
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS AND MEETINGS.—The Commission or,
on authorization of the Commission, a member of the
Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such
time and places, take such testimony, and receive such evi-
dence as the Commission considers appropriate. The Com-
mission or a member of the Commission may administer
oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.
(b) OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission may secure
directly from any Federal department, agency, or court
information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act.
Upon request of the chairman of the Commission, the
head of a Federal department or agency or chief judge
of a Federal court shall furnish such information to the
Commission.
(c) FACILITIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Ad-
ministrator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission on a reimbursable basis such facilities and support
services as the Commission may request. Upon request of
the Commission, the head of a Federal department or
agency may make any of the facilities or services of the
agency available to the Commission to assist the Commis-
sion in carrying out its duties under this Act.
(d) EXPENDITURES AND CONTRACTS.—The Commis-
sion or, on authorization of the Commission, a member
of the Commission may make expenditures and enter into
contracts for the procurement of such supplies, services,
and property as the Commission or member considers ap-
propriate for the purposes of carrying out the duties of
the Commission. Such expenditures and contracts may be
made only to such extent or in such amounts as are pro-
vided 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 Federal departments and agencies of the
United States.
(f) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
SEC. 9. REPORT.
The Commission shall submit to the Congress and
the President a report not later than 2 years after the
date of its first meeting. The report shall contain a de-
tailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the
Commission, together with its recommendations for such
legislative or administrative action as it considers appro-
priate.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that
is 30 days after the date on which it submits its report
under section 9.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000 to
carry out this Act for each fiscal year for the duration
of the Commission.
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