(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission shall be composed of 9 members, of whom— 
(A) one shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent; 
(B) one shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate; 
(C) one shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate; 
(D) one shall be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives; 
(E) one shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives; and 
(F) four shall be appointed by the Comp-
troller General of the United States, of whom 
one shall be designated by the Comptroller Gen-
eral as the Chair and another as the Vice Chair 
of the Commission. 
(2) TERMS
OF
APPOINTMENT.—The term of 
any appointment under paragraph (1) to the Com-
mission shall be for 3 years. 
(3) TERMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The terms of members 
of the Commission shall be for 3 years, except 
that the Comptroller General shall designate 
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staggered terms for the members first ap-
pointed. 
(B) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed 
to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration 
of the term for which the member’s predecessor 
was appointed shall be appointed only for the 
remainder of that term. A member may serve 
after the expiration of that member’s term until 
a successor has taken office. A vacancy in the 
Commission shall be filled in the manner in 
which the original appointment was made. 
(4) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
the call of its Chair or a majority of its members. 
(5) QUORUM.—A quorum shall consist of 5 
members of the Commission, except that 3 members 
may conduct a hearing under subsection (e). 
(6) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission 
shall be filled in the same manner in which the origi-
nal appointment was made not later than 30 days 
after the Commission is given notice of the vacancy 
and shall not affect the power of the remaining 
members to execute the duties of the Commission. 
(7) COMPENSATION.—While serving on the 
business of the Commission (including traveltime), a 
member of the Commission shall be entitled to com-
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pensation at the per diem equivalent of the rate pro-
vided for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code; and 
while so serving away from home and the member’s 
regular place of business, a member may be allowed 
travel expenses, as authorized by the Chairman of 
the Commission. 
(8) CHAIR; VICE CHAIR.—The Comptroller Gen-
eral shall designate a member of the Commission ap-
pointed under paragraph (1)(F), at the time of ap-
pointment of the member as Chair and a member as 
Vice Chair for that term of appointment, except that 
in the case of vacancy of the Chair or Vice Chair, 
the Comptroller General may designate another 
member for the remainder of that member’s term. 
(9) EXPENSES.—Each member of the Commis-
sion shall receive travel expenses and per diem in 
lieu of subsistence in accordance with sections 5702 
and 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
(10) CONTINUATION OF OPERATION.—Section 
14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) shall not apply to the Commission. 
(d) DIRECTOR AND STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULT-
ANTS.—Subject to such review as the Comptroller General 
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deems necessary to assure the efficient administration of 
the Commission, the Commission may— 
(1) employ and fix the compensation of an Ex-
ecutive Director (subject to the approval of the 
Comptroller General) and such other personnel (not 
to exceed 11) as may be necessary to carry out its 
duties (without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the 
competitive service); 
(2) seek such assistance and support as may be 
required in the performance of its duties from ap-
propriate Federal departments and agencies; 
(3) enter into contracts or make other arrange-
ments, as may be necessary for the conduct of the 
work of the Commission (without regard to section 
3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5)); 
(4) make advance, progress, and other pay-
ments which relate to the work of the Commission; 
(5) provide transportation and subsistence for 
persons serving without compensation; and 
(6) prescribe such rules and regulations as it 
deems necessary with respect to the internal organi-
zation and operation of the Commission. 
Physicians serving as personnel of the Commission may 
be provided a physician comparability allowance by the 
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Commission in the same manner as Government physi-
cians may be provided such an allowance by an agency 
under section 5948 of title 5, United States Code, and 
for such purpose subsection (i) of such section shall apply 
to the Commission in the same manner as it applies to 
the Tennessee Valley Authority. For purposes of pay 
(other than pay of members of the Commission) and em-
ployment benefits, rights, and privileges, all personnel of 
the Commission shall be treated as if they were employees 
of the United States Senate. 
(e) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) HEARINGS
AND
OTHER
ACTIVITIES.—For 
the purpose of carrying out its duties, the Commis-
sion may hold such hearings and undertake such 
other activities as the Commission determines to be 
necessary to carry out its duties. 
(2) STUDIES BY GAO.—Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct such studies or investigations as 
the Commission determines to be necessary to carry 
out its duties. 
(3) COST
ESTIMATES
BY
CONGRESSIONAL 
BUDGET OFFICE.— 
(A) The Director of the Congressional 
Budget Office shall provide to the Commission, 
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under the same conditions as Federal agencies and 
shall, for purposes of the frank, be considered a 
commission of Congress as described in section 3215 
of title 39, United States Code. 
(7) OBTAINING
INFORMATION.—The Commis-
sion may secure directly from any Federal agency 
information necessary to enable it to carry out its 
duties, if the information may be disclosed under 
section 552 of title 5, United States Code. Upon re-
quest of the Chairman of the Commission, the head 
of such agency shall furnish such information to the 
Commission. 
(8) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.— 
Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission on a reimbursable basis such administrative 
support services as the Commission may request. 
(9) PRINTING.—For purposes of costs relating 
to printing and binding, including the cost of per-
sonnel detailed from the Government Printing Of-
fice, the Commission shall be deemed to be a com-
mittee of the Congress. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL
FINDINGS.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
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the Commission shall submit to the Commissioner of 
Health Benefits and to appropriate committees of 
Congress a report which contains a statement of the 
initial findings of the Commission. 
(2) INITIAL
REPORT.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Commission shall submit to such Commissioner 
and committees an initial report which contains a 
detailed statement of its recommendations, findings, 
and conclusions of the Commission. 
(3) ANNUAL REPORT.—Subsequently, the Com-
mission shall annually submit to such Commissioner 
and such committees a report containing such a 
statement. 
(4) OTHER
REPORTS.—The Commission may 
issue such other reports at such times as the Com-
mission determines appropriate. 
(5) 
SUPERMAJORITY
REQUIREMENT.—The 
Commission shall not include in any report sub-
mitted under this subsection a recommendation, 
finding, or conclusion unless it has received the ap-
proval of at least 6 members of the Commission. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year be-
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ginning with fiscal year 2009 such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this section. 
Æ 
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