I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 289 
To establish the Commission on Long Term Social Security Solvency, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 8, 2019 
Mr. COLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Commission on Long Term Social Security 
Solvency, 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 ‘‘Bipartisan Social Secu-
rity Commission Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established in the legislative branch a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Commission on Long Term 
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Social Security Solvency’’ (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. DUTY OF THE COMMISSION. 
Not later than 1 year after the initial meeting of the 
Commission, the Commission shall transmit to Congress 
a special message that includes recommendations and pro-
posed legislation for achieving solvency in each of the Fed-
eral Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the 
Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund for a period of 
at least 75 years beginning on the date that is 1 year after 
the initial meeting of the Commission. Such message shall 
be approved by at least 9 members of the Commission. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERS. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 13 members. Of the members of the 
Commission— 
(1) 1 shall be appointed by the President; 
(2) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives; 
(3) 3 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
of the House of Representatives; 
(4) 3 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader 
of the Senate; and 
(5) 3 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
of the Senate. 
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(b) QUALIFICATIONS
FOR
CONGRESSIONAL
AP-
POINTEES.—Of the members of the Commission appointed 
by the Congress, at least 1 appointed by each political 
party shall be an expert who is not an elected official or 
an officer or employee of the Federal Government or of 
any State. 
(c) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Each of the ap-
pointments made under subsection (a) shall be made not 
later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(d) TERMS; VACANCIES.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Commission, and a vacancy in 
the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(e) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission 
shall serve without pay. 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Each member shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 5. OPERATION AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) CHAIR
AND CO-CHAIR.—The member of the 
Commission appointed by the President under section 4(a) 
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shall serve as the chair of the Commission. A co-chair of 
the Commission shall be designated by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives at the time of the appointment. 
(b) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not 
later than 30 days after the members of the Commission 
have been appointed, and at such times thereafter as the 
chair or co-chair shall determine. 
(c) RULES OF PROCEDURE.—The chair and co-chair 
shall, with the approval of a majority of the members of 
the Commission, establish written rules of procedure for 
the Commission, which shall include a quorum require-
ment to conduct the business of the Commission. 
(d) HEARINGS.—The Commission shall, for the pur-
pose of carrying out this Act, hold at least one hearing 
that is open to the public and allows for public comment 
and participation, and may hold such other hearings, sit 
and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive 
evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. 
(e) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency of the 
United States, including the Congressional Budget Office 
and the Government Accountability Office, any informa-
tion or technical assistance necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon request of the chair or co-chair of the 
Commission, the head of that department or agency shall 
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furnish that information or technical assistance to the 
Commission. 
(f) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may 
contract with and compensate government and private 
agencies or persons for any purpose necessary to enable 
it to carry out this Act. 
(g) 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. 6. PERSONNEL. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc-
tor who shall be appointed by the Commission. The Direc-
tor shall be paid at a rate of pay equivalent to the annual 
rate of basic pay for a comparable position paid under the 
Executive Schedule, subject to the approval of the chair 
and the co-chair. 
(b) STAFF.—The Director may appoint and fix the 
pay of additional staff as the Director considers appro-
priate. 
(c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission 
may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates 
for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the 
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annual rate of basic pay for a comparable position paid 
under the Executive Schedule. 
(d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 
of the Commission, the head of any Federal department 
or agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the 
personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 
to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act. 
(e) 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 responsibilities 
under this Act. 
(f) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—The Commis-
sion may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 
devises of services or property, both real and personal, for 
the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Com-
mission. 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. 
SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate not later than 60 
days after the submission of the report described in sec-
tion 3. 
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SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated not more than 
$2,000,000 to carry out this Act. 
SEC. 9. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION REC-
OMMENDATIONS. 
(a) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION.— 
(1) INTRODUCTION OF APPROVAL BILL.—The 
majority leader of each House or a designee shall 
(by request) introduce an approval bill as described 
in subsection (c) not later than the third day of ses-
sion of that House after the date of receipt of a spe-
cial message transmitted to the Congress under sec-
tion 3. 
(2) CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REP-
RESENTATIVES.— 
(A) REFERRAL
AND
REPORTING.—Any 
committee of the House of Representatives to 
which an approval bill is referred shall report it 
to the House without amendment not later than 
the third legislative day after the date of its in-
troduction. If a committee fails to report the 
bill within that period or the House has adopt-
ed a concurrent resolution providing for ad-
journment sine die at the end of a Congress, 
such committee shall be automatically dis-
charged from further consideration of the bill 
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and it shall be placed on the appropriate cal-
endar. 
(B) PROCEEDING
TO
CONSIDERATION.— 
Not later than 3 legislative days after the ap-
proval bill is reported or a committee has been 
discharged from further consideration thereof, 
it shall be in order to move to proceed to con-
sider the approval bill in the House. Such a mo-
tion shall be in order only at a time designated 
by the Speaker in the legislative schedule within 
two legislative days after the day on which the 
proponent announces an intention to the House 
to offer the motion provided that such notice 
may not be given until the approval bill is re-
ported or a committee has been discharged 
from further consideration thereof. Such a mo-
tion shall not be in order after the House has 
disposed of a motion to proceed with respect to 
that special message. The previous question 
shall be considered as ordered on the motion to 
its adoption without intervening motion. A mo-
tion to reconsider the vote by which the motion 
is disposed of shall not be in order. 
(C) CONSIDERATION.—If the motion to 
proceed is agreed to, the House shall imme-
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diately proceed to consider the approval bill in 
the House without intervening motion. The ap-
proval bill shall be considered as read. All 
points of order against the approval bill and 
against its consideration are waived. The pre-
vious question shall be considered as ordered on 
the approval bill to its passage without inter-
vening motion except 4 hours of debate equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
opponent and one motion to limit debate on the 
bill. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage 
of the approval bill shall not be in order. 
(3) CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 
(A) COMMITTEE ACTION.—The appropriate 
committee of the Senate shall report without 
amendment the approval bill not later than the 
third session day after introduction. If a com-
mittee fails to report the approval bill within 
that period or the Senate has adopted a concur-
rent resolution providing for adjournment sine 
die at the end of a Congress, the committee 
shall be automatically discharged from further 
consideration of the approval bill and it shall be 
placed on the appropriate calendar. 
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(B) MOTION TO PROCEED.—Not later than 
3 session days after the approval bill is reported 
in the Senate or the committee has been dis-
charged thereof, it shall be in order for any 
Senator to move to proceed to consider the ap-
proval bill in the Senate. The motion shall be 
decided without debate and the motion to re-
consider shall be deemed to have been laid on 
the table. Such a motion shall not be in order 
after the Senate has disposed of a prior motion 
to proceed with respect to the approval bill. 
(C) CONSIDERATION.—If a motion to pro-
ceed to the consideration of the approval bill is 
agreed to, the Senate shall immediately proceed 
to consideration of the approval bill without in-
tervening motion, order, or other business, and 
the approval bill shall remain the unfinished 
business of the Senate until disposed of. Con-
sideration on the bill in the Senate under this 
subsection, and all debatable motions and ap-
peals in connection therewith, shall not exceed 
30 hours equally divided in the usual form. All 
points of order against the approval bill or its 
consideration are waived. Consideration in the 
Senate on any debatable motion or appeal in 
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supplant the approval bill of the receiving 
House. 
(B) EXCEPTION.—This paragraph shall 
not apply to the House of Representatives. 
(b) LIMITATION.—Subsection (a) shall apply only to 
an approval bill described in subsection (c) and introduced 
pursuant to subsection (a)(1). 
(c) APPROVAL BILL DESCRIBED.—For purposes of 
subsection (a), a bill described in this paragraph is a bill— 
(1) which consists of the proposed legislation 
which is included in such report to carry out the rec-
ommendations made by the Commission in the re-
port; and 
(2) the title of which is as follows: ‘‘A bill to 
carry out the recommendations of the Commission 
on Long Term Social Security Solvency.’’. 
(d) EXTENDED TIME PERIOD.—If Congress adjourns 
at the end of a Congress and an approval bill was then 
pending in either House of Congress or a committee there-
of, or an approval bill had not yet been introduced with 
respect to a special message, then within the first 3 days 
of session of the next Congress, the Commission shall 
transmit to Congress an additional special message con-
taining all of the information in the previous, pending spe-
cial message. An approval bill may be introduced within 
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the first five days of session of such next Congress and 
shall be treated as an approval bill under this section, and 
the time periods described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of 
subsection (a) shall commence on the day of introduction 
of that approval bill. 
Æ 
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