IIB
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4899
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
SEPTEMBER 26 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2000
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
AN ACT
To establish a commission to promote a consistent and co-
ordinated foreign policy of the United States to ensure
economic and military security in the Asia-Pacific region
through the promotion of democracy, human rights, the
rule of law, and for other purposes.
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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 ‘‘Pacific Charter Com-
mission Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to promote a consistent and coordinated
foreign policy of the United States to ensure eco-
nomic and military security in the Asia-Pacific re-
gion;
(2) to support democratization, the rule of law,
and human rights in the Asia-Pacific region;
(3) to promote United States exports to the
Asia-Pacific region by advancing economic coopera-
tion;
(4) to combat terrorism and the spread of illicit
narcotics in the Asia-Pacific region; and
(5) to advocate an active role for the United
States Government in diplomacy, security, and the
furtherance of good governance and the rule of law
in the Asia-Pacific region.
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SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Pacific Charter Commission (hereafter in this Act referred
to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
(a) DUTIES.—The Commission shall establish and
carry out, either directly or through nongovernmental or-
ganizations, programs, projects, and activities to achieve
the purposes described in section 2, including research and
educational or legislative exchanges between the United
States and countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
(b) MONITORING OF DEVELOPMENTS.—The Com-
mission shall monitor developments in countries of the
Asia-Pacific region with respect to United States foreign
policy toward such countries, the status of democratiza-
tion, the rule of law and human rights in the region, eco-
nomic relations among the United States and such coun-
tries, and activities related to terrorism and the illicit nar-
cotics trade.
(c) POLICY REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—In
carrying out this section, the Commission shall evaluate
United States Government policies toward countries of the
Asia-Pacific region and recommend options for policies of
the United States Government with respect to such coun-
tries, with a particular emphasis on countries that are of
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importance to the foreign policy, economic, and military
interests of the United States.
(d) CONTACTS WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—In per-
forming the functions described in subsections (a) through
(c), the Commission shall, as appropriate, seek out and
maintain contacts with nongovernmental organizations,
international organizations, and representatives of indus-
try, including receiving reports and updates from such or-
ganizations and evaluating such reports.
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later
than the end of each 12-month period thereafter, the Com-
mission shall prepare and submit to the President and the
Congress a report that contains the findings of the Com-
mission during the preceding 12-month period. Each such
report shall contain—
(1) recommendations for legislative, executive,
or other actions resulting from the evaluation of
policies described in subsection (c);
(2) a description of programs, projects, and ac-
tivities of the Commission for the prior year; and
(3) a complete accounting of the expenditures
made by the Commission during the prior year.
(f) CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS
ON ANNUAL RE-
PORT.—The Committee on International Relations of the
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House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate, shall, not later than 45 days after
the receipt by the Congress of the report referred to in
subsection (c), hold hearings on the report, including any
recommendations contained therein.
(g) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The Commission may
establish such advisory committees as the Commission de-
termines to be necessary to advise the Commission on pol-
icy matters relating to the Asia-Pacific region and to oth-
erwise carry out this Act.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.
(a) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of seven members all of whom—
(1) shall be citizens of the United States who
are not officers or employees of any government, ex-
cept to the extent they are considered such officers
or employees by virtue of their membership on the
Commission; and
(2) shall have interest and expertise in issues
relating to the Asia-Pacific region.
(b) APPOINTMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The individuals referred to
in subsection (a) shall be appointed—
(A) by the President, after consultation
with the Speaker and Minority Leader of the
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House of Representatives, the Chairman and
ranking member of the Committee on Inter-
national Relations of the House of Representa-
tives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader
of the Senate, and the Chairman and ranking
member of the Committee on Foreign Relations
of the Senate; and
(B) by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate.
(2) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more than
four of the individuals appointed under paragraph
(1) may be affiliated with the same political party.
(c) TERM.—Each member of the Commission shall
be appointed for a term of 6 years.
(d) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
be filled in the same manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made.
(e) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Presi-
dent shall designate a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson
of the Commission from among the members of the Com-
mission.
(f) COMPENSATION.—
(1) RATES
OF
PAY.—Except as provided in
paragraph (2), members of the Commission shall
serve without pay.
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(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the
Commission may receive travel expenses, including
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States
Code.
(g) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson.
(h) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings.
(i) AFFIRMATIVE DETERMINATIONS.—An affirmative
vote by a majority of the members of the Commission shall
be required for any affirmative determination by the Com-
mission under section 4.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS.—The Commis-
sion may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times
and places, take such testimony and receive such evidence,
and conduct such investigations as the Commission con-
siders advisable to carry out this Act.
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of
the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of any such
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department agency shall furnish such information to the
Commission as expeditiously as possible.
(c) CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Commission may accept,
use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services
or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of
assisting or facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts,
bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of
other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall
be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for
disbursement upon order of the Commission.
(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. 7. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES OF COMMISSION.
(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall
have an executive director appointed by the Commission
after consultation with the Speaker and Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader
and Minority Leader of the Senate. The executive director
shall serve the Commission under such terms and condi-
tions as the Commission determines to be appropriate.
(b) STAFF.—The Commission may appoint and fix
the pay of such additional personnel, not to exceed 10 indi-
viduals, as it considers appropriate.