I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2924 
To establish a commission to study the culture and glorification of violence 
in America. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 17, 2009 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. KUCINICH) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary 
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. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Violence in the United States may be fueled 
by interrelated factors such as the media, psycho-
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logical stress, the role of the school system, gun reg-
ulations, and economic characteristics. 
(2) According to the Department of Justice, 
there were 1,408,337 serious violent crimes in 2007. 
(3) Teens and young adults experience the 
highest rates of violent crime. 
(4) In 2005, approximately 28 percent of public 
and private school students ages 12–18 reported 
that they had been bullied at school within the pre-
vious 6 months. 
(5) According to the Department of Justice, the 
incarceration rate has continuously increased since 
the 1980s, and prisoners convicted of a violent of-
fense make up over half of the national prison popu-
lation. 
(6) According to the Department of Justice, the 
Federal Government spent $36,248,000,000 on 
criminal justice in 2006, while local governments 
spent $109,205,351,000. 
(7) According to several studies from the Amer-
ican Journal of Economics and Sociology, economic 
frustration motivates criminal behaviors and inhibits 
communal deterrence capacities. 
(8) According to the Department of Labor, the 
number of unemployed persons has increased from 
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7,675,000 in April 2008 to 13,724,000 in April 
2009. Unemployed workers are more likely to be 
teenagers, young adults, and African-Americans. 
(9) According to a study from the American 
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), prolonged exposure to 
violence in the media can increase acceptance of vio-
lence as an appropriate means of solving problems, 
can glamorize weapons as sources of personal power, 
and can contribute to aggressive behavior. 
SEC. 3. 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. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) examine the glorification of violence in the 
United States; 
(2) examine the relationship between psycho-
logical factors and increased violence; 
(3) examine the role of the media in the violent 
atmosphere prevalent today; 
(4) examine the correlation, if any, between eco-
nomic frustration and increased violence; 
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(5) examine the correlation, if any, between 
ease of access to firearms and increased violence; 
(6) examine the role of the school system in 
preventing violent behaviors and identifying potential 
perpetrators of violence; and 
(7) make findings and conclusions and rec-
ommend potential solutions (including recommenda-
tions for legislation and administrative action) to al-
leviate the problems related to the glorification of vi-
olence in the United States. 
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 16 members (hereinafter the ‘‘mem-
bers’’) who shall be appointed as follows: 
(1) 8 members appointed by the President. 
(2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. 
(3) 2 members appointed by the minority leader 
of the House of Representatives. 
(4) 2 members appointed by the majority leader 
of the Senate. 
(5) 2 members appointed by the minority leader 
of the Senate. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
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(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 factor in the appointment 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 sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(g) QUORUM.—Eight members shall constitute a 
quorum for conducting the business of the Commission, 
but a lesser number may hold hearings. 
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(h) CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission (hereinafter the ‘‘Chairperson’’) shall be 
elected by the members not later than 30 days after 
the date on which all of the original members of the 
Commission have been appointed. 
(2) 
PRESIDENTIAL
APPOINTMENT.—If 
the 
members of the Commission are unable to elect the 
Chairperson in accordance with paragraph (1), the 
President shall appoint a member of the Commission 
to be the Chairperson. 
(i) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
SEC. 6. 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. 
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(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. 7. 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. 
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(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. 8. 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. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after sub-
mitting the report required by section 8. 
SEC. 10. 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. 
Æ 
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