I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8604 
To establish the Free City Commission to examine the effects of liberal 
Government policy on American cities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 29, 2022 
Mr. CAWTHORN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform 
A BILL 
To establish the Free City Commission to examine the effects 
of liberal Government policy on American cities, and 
for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Free City Commission 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
legislative branch a commission to be known as the ‘‘Free 
City Commission’’ (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Com-
mission’’). 
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(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission is to 
study the effects of progressive governance on cities within 
the United States over the last 75 years. 
SEC. 3. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) MEMBERS.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 20 members, to be appointed not later 
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, of whom— 
(A) 5 members shall be appointed by the 
majority leader of the Senate; 
(B) 5 members shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the Senate; 
(C) 5 members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 
(D) 5 members shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(2) 
QUALIFICATIONS.—Members 
appointed 
under subsection (a) shall consist of individuals with 
expertise in any of the issues described in para-
graphs (1) through (10) of section 6. 
(3) LIMITATION.—An individual appointed to 
the Commission may not be an officer or employee 
of the Federal Government. 
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(4) CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, AND MEETINGS.—Not 
later than 30 days after the date on which a simple 
majority of the members of the Commission are ap-
pointed under paragraph (1), such members shall 
meet to elect a chair and vice chair from among 
such members and shall determine a schedule of 
Commission meetings. 
(b) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall meet 
and begin the operations of the Commission not later than 
30 days after the appointment of a simple majority of 
members of the Commission. 
(c) QUORUM AND VACANCY.— 
(1) QUORUM.—A simple majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, 
but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
(2) VACANCY.—Any vacancy in the Commission 
shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the 
same manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall, with respect to cities in the 
United States during the 75-year period preceding the 
date of enactment of this Act— 
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(1) examine the causal link between permissive 
drug policies and the increase in drug violence and 
drug usage; 
(2) examine the effects of a lack of educational 
opportunities; 
(3) evaluate the success of law enforcement tac-
tics in preventing violence and protecting civilians; 
(4) examine the prevalence of abortion in mi-
nority communities; 
(5) examine the failures of public schools in 
urban environments; 
(6) evaluate the success of opportunity zones; 
(7) the link between home ownership and com-
munity stability; 
(8) investigate mental health; 
(9) study signs of civic engagement like voting 
and parental involvement in schools; 
(10) investigate public health markers like 
chronic disease and sexual health; 
(11) rates of religious affiliation, participation, 
and belief in these communities; and 
(12) not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, submit a report on the find-
ings under paragraphs (1) through (11) to the indi-
viduals described in section 6(b)(2). 
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SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, meet and act at such times and places, and re-
ceive such evidence as may be necessary to carry out the 
functions of the Commission. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission may ac-
cess, to the extent authorized by law, from any exec-
utive department, bureau, agency, board, commis-
sion, office, independent establishment, or instru-
mentality of the Federal Government such informa-
tion, suggestions, estimates, and statistics as the 
Commission considers necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
(2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On written 
request of the chair of the Commission, each depart-
ment, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 
independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, 
to the extent authorized by law, provide the re-
quested information to the Commission. 
(3) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DIS-
SEMINATION.—Information shall only be received, 
handled, stored, and disseminated by members of 
the Commission and its staff consistent with all ap-
plicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders. 
(c) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
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(1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.—On 
request of the chair of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative sup-
port and other assistance necessary for the Commis-
sion to carry out its duties. 
(2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—In 
addition to the assistance provided for under para-
graph (1), departments and agencies of the United 
States may provide to the Commission such assist-
ance as they may determine advisable and as author-
ized by law. 
(d) CONTRACTING.—The Commission may enter into 
contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties 
under this Act. 
(e) DONATIONS.—The Commission may accept, use, 
and dispose of donations of services or property. 
(f) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as a department or agency of the 
United States. 
SEC. 6. STAFF OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The chair of the Commission, in 
consultation with the vice chair, in accordance with rules 
agreed upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the 
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compensation of a staff director and such other personnel 
as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry 
out its functions, in accordance with the provisions of title 
5, United States Code, except that no rate of pay fixed 
under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that 
payable for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 
of the chair of the Commission, the head of any executive 
department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 
independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Fed-
eral Government may detail, without reimbursement, any 
of its personnel to the Commission to assist it in carrying 
out its duties under this Act. Any detail of an employee 
shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status 
or privilege. 
(c) CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The Commission is au-
thorized to procure the services of experts and consultants 
in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a per-
son occupying a position at level IV of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
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SEC. 7. TRAVEL EXPENSES. 
Each member of the Commission shall serve without 
compensation, but shall receive travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applica-
ble provisions in the same manner as persons employed 
intermittently in the Government service are allowed ex-
penses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 8. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICA-
BILITY. 
The provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act shall apply to the Commission, including the staff of 
the Commission. 
SEC. 9. REPORTS OF COMMISSION; TERMINATION. 
(a) OTHER REPORTS AND INFORMATION.— 
(1) REPORTS.—The Commission may issue ad-
ditional reports as the Commission determines nec-
essary. 
(2) INFORMATION.—The Commission may hold 
public hearings to collect information and shall make 
such information available for use by the public. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall, not 
later than 18 months after the date of its first meet-
ing, submit to the individuals described in paragraph 
(2) a final report containing specific findings, con-
clusions, and recommendations required under this 
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Act as have been agreed to by a majority of Com-
mission members. 
(2) INDIVIDUALS.—The individuals described in 
this paragraph are the President, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, the Attorney General, 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives, the 
majority leader of the Senate, and the minority lead-
er of the Senate. 
(c) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, and all the 
authorities of this Act, shall terminate on the date 
that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(2) RECORDS.—Not later than the date of ter-
mination of the Commission under paragraph (1), 
all records and papers of the Commission shall be 
delivered to the Archivist of the United States for 
deposit in the National Archives. 
Æ 
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