I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1625
To establish the Samuel Kelner Commission on Youth.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 26, 2001
Mr. RAMSTAD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To establish the Samuel Kelner Commission on Youth.
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 ‘‘Samuel Kelner Com-
mission on Youth Authorization Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the
‘‘Samuel Kelner Commission on Youth’’ (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall seek to reduce apathy among
American youth regarding the Nation’s system of govern-
ment by discussing and making policy recommendations
on issues affecting American youth, including issues in the
following subject areas:
(1) Public education.
(2) Youth employment and wages.
(3) Higher education financing.
(4) Youth drug abuse and violence.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 8 members, appointed as follows:
(1) 4 members appointed by the President.
(2) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(3) 1 member appointed by the minority leader
of the House or Representatives.
(4) 1 member appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate.
(5) 1 member appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate.
(b) AGE LIMIT.—An individual may not be appointed
under subsection (a) if that individual will attain 18 years
of age by the date of the Commission’s first meeting or
conference that occurs after that individual’s appointment
in the term for which the individual is appointed.
(c) TERMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 1 year beginning on August 1
and may be reappointed.
(2) INITIAL TERM.—The first 8 members shall
be appointed for the 1-year period that begins on
August 1 of the calendar year that follows the cal-
endar year of the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to fill a va-
cancy before the expiration of the term for which the mem-
ber’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only
for the remainder of that term. A vacancy in the Commis-
sion shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(e) PAY.—Members shall serve without pay.
(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.—A majority of the members shall con-
stitute a quorum, except that a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(h) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Com-
mission shall be elected by the members.
(i) MEETINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In each 1 year period begin-
ning August 1 the Commission—
(A) shall conduct 4 meetings each span-
ning a period of not more than 3 days; and
(B) shall conduct 1 conference spanning a
period of not more than 1 week.
(2) SCHEDULING.—
(A) INITIAL MEETING.—The initial meet-
ing of the Commission each year under para-
graph (1)(A) shall begin on the first Thursday
in August.
(B) REMAINING MEETINGS.—The Commis-
sion, by majority vote at the initial meeting
each year, shall determine the dates of the re-
maining meetings and the conference under
paragraph (1) for that year.
(3) EMERGENCY MEETING.—In addition to the
meetings required under paragraph (1), the Com-
mission shall, at the call of the President, conduct
1 emergency meeting spanning a period of not more
than 3 days.
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR; STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.
(a) DIRECTOR.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall
have a Director who shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent.
(2) PAY.—The Director shall be paid at the
rate of basic pay for GS-12 of the General Schedule.
(b) STAFF.—The Commission may appoint additional
personnel as it considers appropriate.
(c) APPLICABILITY
OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE
LAWS.—The Director and staff of the Commission shall
be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service.
(d) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(e) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request
of the Commission, the head of any Federal department
or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the
personnel of that department or agency to the Commission
to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear-
ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the
Commission, take any action that the Commission is au-
thorized to take by this section.
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission
may secure directly from any department or agency of the
United States information necessary to enable it to carry
out this Act. The Chairperson may request such informa-
tion if such request is authorized by a majority vote of
the Commission. Upon request of the Chairperson, the
head of that department or agency shall furnish that infor-
mation to 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.
(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) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent and in
the amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts,
the Director may contract with and compensate govern-
ment and private agencies or person for supplies and other
services.
SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall submit to
the President and the Congress a report not later than
July 1 each year.
(b) CONTENTS.—Each report shall include policy rec-
ommendations on issues affecting youth, including issues
in the following subject areas:
(1) Public education.
(2) Youth employment and wages.
(3) Higher education financing.
(4) Youth drug abuse and violence.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 5 years after the be-
ginning of the terms of its first members.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Com-
mission to carry out this Act $100,000 for each of fiscal
years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Such sums may
remain available until expended.
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