I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1887 
To establish a Presidential Commission on Women, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2009 
Ms. SPEIER (for herself, Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. CLARKE, Mrs. DAHLKEMPER, Ms. 
DEGETTE, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Ms. TSONGAS, Ms. 
EDWARDS of Maryland, Mrs. HALVORSON, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. KILROY, 
Ms. LEE of California, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mrs. LOWEY, 
Ms. MARKEY of Colorado, Ms. WATERS, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. PINGREE 
of Maine, Ms. RICHARDSON, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Ms. 
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. SCHWARTZ, Ms. TITUS, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, 
Ms. WOOLSEY, and Ms. ESHOO) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To establish a Presidential Commission on Women, 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 ‘‘Presidential Commis-
sion on Women Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Presidential Commission on Women’’ (hereinafter in this 
Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND POLICY. 
Congress makes the following findings and statement 
of policy: 
(1) It is the role of Government to examine the 
circumstances that contribute to discrimination, in-
equality, and economic hardship faced by women 
throughout the country. 
(2) It is the role of Government to establish ini-
tiatives and programs that promote equality for 
women, and protect against discrimination of 
women, in all areas of public and private life. 
(3) Women in our country continue to face in-
equalities and discrimination in many areas of public 
and private life, including but not limited to these 
examples: 
(A) The United States ranks 71st in the 
world in the number of women in elected office. 
In 2009, women make up 17 percent of Con-
gress and 24 percent of State legislative office- 
holders. Women of color make up 4 percent of 
Congress and 2 percent of State legislative of-
fice-holders. 
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(B) Women earn 77 cents on the dollar 
compared to men. African-American women 
earn 69 cents on the dollar compared to men. 
Latinas earn 59 cents compared to men. 
(C) Of workers earning minimum wage, 68 
percent are women. Of workers earning less 
than the minimum wage, 69 percent are 
women. Nineteen percent of women, as com-
pared to 10 percent of men, have annual family 
incomes of less than $19,000. Of Fortune 500 
CEOs, 2 percent are women. 
(D) With only 76 percent of women in the 
labor force, the United States ranks sixth from 
the 
bottom 
among 
industrialized 
nations. 
Among college-educated women, the United 
States ranks last among industrialized nations. 
(E) While 57 percent of men are employed 
full-time, only 38 percent of women are em-
ployed full-time. Eight out of ten single-parent 
families are headed by women; 28 percent of 
people living in female-headed households are 
living below the poverty line. 
(F) There is a continuing decline in moth-
ers’ employment largely due to a lack of sup-
port for working parents, such as sufficient 
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paid time off, subsidized child care, or flexible 
working arrangements. There is also discrimi-
nation in the labor market specifically against 
mothers as well as weakness on the demand 
side of the labor market in areas that have tra-
ditionally employed large numbers of women. 
(G) One in every four women will experi-
ence domestic violence in her lifetime. Eighty- 
five percent of domestic violence victims are 
women. The cost of intimate partner violence 
exceeds $5.8 billion each year, $4.1 billion of 
which is for direct medical and mental health 
services. 
(H) Eighteen percent of women in the 
United States do not have health insurance; 36 
percent of American Indian/Native Alaskan 
women are uninsured; 38 percent of Hispanic 
women do not have health insurance. 
(I) Women of color are disproportionately 
affected by the inequalities women face. 
(J) Gender bias and discrimination remain 
pervasive in almost all aspects of our culture, 
including but not limited to the media, family 
life, the workplace, sports, education, health 
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care, the military, entertainment, and financial 
matters. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—The Commission shall hold 
meetings and hearings to— 
(1) review the status of women nationwide, and 
the progress made since the establishment of the 
President’s Commission on the Status of Women in 
1961; 
(2) review the role of the Federal Government 
in aid to, and the promotion of women; and 
(3) review data collection procedures with re-
gard to women Federal initiatives and procurement, 
with a view toward recommending improvements. 
(b) CONFERENCE.—The Commission shall, in coordi-
nation with the White House Council on Women and 
Girls, hold a conference (hereinafter in this Act referred 
to as the Conference) to assist in the review required by 
subsection (a). 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRED.—Based on the 
review required by subsection (a), the Commission shall 
make recommendations to the President and Congress and 
conduct oversight of implementation. 
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SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 15 members appointed as follows: 
(1) Four members appointed by the President. 
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives and two members ap-
pointed by the minority leader. 
(3) Three members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate and two members appointed by 
the minority leader. 
(4) The director of the White House Council on 
Women and Girls, who shall serve ex officio. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—Appointments under sub-
section paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) shall 
be made from individuals who are specially qualified to 
serve on the Commission by virtue of their education, 
training, or experience, and who are not officers or em-
ployees of the Government or Members of Congress. 
(c) REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT OF YOUNG 
WOMEN.—Of the individuals appointed by President 
under paragraph (1), the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives under paragraph (2), and the majority leader 
of the Senate under paragraph (3) of subsection (a), at 
least one member appointed under each paragraph shall 
be a young woman between the ages of 18–24. 
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(d) GEOGRAPHICAL BALANCE.—In making the ap-
pointments under subsection (a), the appointing authori-
ties should give consideration to achieving a geographical 
balance. 
(e) TERM.—Members shall be appointed for 5 years 
of the Commission, except that, if any member of the 
Commission becomes an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government or a Member of Congress, such individual 
may continue as a member of the Commission for not 
longer than the 30-day period beginning on the date such 
individual becomes such an officer or employee or Member 
of Congress. 
(f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
(g) PAY.—Members of the Commission shall serve 
without pay, except members of the Commission shall be 
entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and 
other necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out 
the functions of the Commission, in the same manner as 
persons employed intermittently in the Federal Govern-
ment are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
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(h) QUORUM.—Eight members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold 
hearings. 
(i) CHAIRPERSON
AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission 
shall be designated by the President. The term of office 
of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be 5 years 
of the Commission. 
(j) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not less 
than 4 times nor more than 6 times each year. Meetings 
shall be at the call of a majority of its members. 
SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.—(1) The Commission 
shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the Com-
mission. The Commission, with the recommendation of the 
Director, may appoint and fix the pay of 4 additional per-
sonnel. 
(2) The Director and staff of the Commission may 
be appointed without regard to section 5311(b) of title 5, 
United States Code, and without regard to the provisions 
of such title governing appointments in the competitive 
service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions 
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such 
title relating to classification and General Schedule pay 
rates, except that no individual so appointed may receive 
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pay in excess of the annual rate of basic pay payable for 
GS–18 of the General Schedule. 
(b) SERVICES.—The Commission may procure tem-
porary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 
title 5 of the Unites States Code, but at rates for individ-
uals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum 
annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–18 of the General 
Schedule. 
(c) DETAILS.—Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any department or agency may detail, on a reim-
bursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the 
Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its 
duties under this Act. 
SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, for the 
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit 
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, 
and receive such evidence, as the Commission considers 
appropriate. 
(b) DELEGATION.—Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if so authorized by the Commission, 
take any action which the Commission is authorized to 
take by this section. 
(c) ACCESS
TO INFORMATION.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency of the 
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United States information necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Com-
mission, the head of such department or agency shall fur-
nish such information to the Commission. 
(d) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the 
United States. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission on 
a reimbursable basis such administrative support services 
as the Commission may request. 
SEC. 8. CONFERENCE AND CONFERENCE DELEGATES. 
The Commission in coordination with the White 
House Council on Women and Girls shall convene a con-
ference of delegates invited by the Commission, who shall 
be fairly balanced and diverse in terms of geography and 
ethnicity without regard to political affiliation or past par-
tisan activity, who shall include— 
(1) the directors of commissions for women of 
the States and local levels of government; 
(2) elected officials of State and local govern-
ments; 
(3) advocates for women at colleges and univer-
sities; and 
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(4) representatives of nonprofit organizations 
and community-based organizations. 
SEC. 9. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.—In conducting and planning 
the Conference, the Commission and the White House 
Council on Women and Girls shall— 
(1) request the cooperation and assistance of 
the heads of such other Federal entities as may be 
appropriate, including the detailing of personnel; 
(2) prepare and make available appropriate 
background materials for the use of delegates to the 
Conference; 
(3) employ such personnel, in addition to those 
appointed under section 6 and without regard to 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
appointments in the competitive service, and without 
regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 
53 of such title, relating to classification and Gen-
eral Schedule pay rates; 
(4) ensure that the proposed agenda for the 
Conference is— 
(A) published in the Federal Register not 
less than 180 days before the Conference is 
convened; and 
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(B) made available for public comment for 
a period of not less than 60 days; 
(5) ensure that the final agenda for the Con-
ference, prepared after the Commission and the 
White House Council on Women and Girls takes 
into consideration comments received under para-
graph (4), is published in the Federal Register, and 
transmitted to the chief executive officers of the 
States, not later than 30 days after the close of the 
public comment period required by that paragraph; 
(6) ensure that the personnel employed are fair-
ly balanced in terms of their points of view with re-
spect to women and are appointed without regard to 
political affiliation or past partisan activity; 
(7) the recommendations of the Conference are 
not inappropriately influenced by any public official 
or special interest, but instead are the result of the 
independent and collective judgment of the delegates 
of the Conference; and 
(8) ensure that before the Conference is con-
vened— 
(A) current and adequate statistical data 
(including decennial census data) and other in-
formation on the well-being of Women in the 
United States; and 
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