I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4950 
To establish the Commission on Economic Indicators to conduct a study 
and submit a report containing recommendations concerning the appro-
priateness and accuracy of the methodology, calculations, and reporting 
used by the Government relating to certain economic indicators. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 14, 2006 
Mr. EMANUEL (for himself, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. 
EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. OWENS, Ms. 
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. COSTA, and Mr. CONYERS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Re-
form 
A BILL 
To establish the Commission on Economic Indicators to con-
duct a study and submit a report containing rec-
ommendations concerning the appropriateness and accu-
racy of the methodology, calculations, and reporting used 
by the Government relating to certain economic indica-
tors. 
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 ‘‘Commission on Eco-
nomic Indicators Act of 2006’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the Federal and State governments and pri-
vate sector entities depend on the economic statistics 
published by the Federal Government; 
(2) questions have been raised about the accu-
racy of various measures including productivity, pov-
erty, inflation, employment and unemployment, and 
wages and income; and 
(3) it is essential that these indicators accu-
rately reflect underlying economic activity and condi-
tions. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Com-
mission on Economic Indicators (in this Act referred to 
as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 8 members of whom— 
(A) 2 shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate, in consultation with the 
chairmen and ranking members of the Com-
mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
of the Senate, the Committee on Finance of the 
Senate, and the Joint Economic Committee; 
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(B) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate, in consultation with the 
chairmen and ranking members of the Com-
mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
of the Senate, the Committee on Finance of the 
Senate, and the Joint Economic Committee; 
(C) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, in consultation 
with the chairmen and ranking members of the 
Committee on Financial Services of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee on Ways and 
Means of the House of Representatives, and the 
Joint Economic Committee; and 
(D) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives, in con-
sultation with the chairmen and ranking mem-
bers of the Committee on Financial Services of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee 
on Ways and Means of the House of Represent-
atives, and the Joint Economic Committee. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Com-
mission shall be— 
(A) appointed on a nonpartisan basis; and 
(B) experts in the fields of economics, sta-
tistics, or other related professions. 
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(3) DATE.—The appointments of the members 
of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem-
bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 
vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but 
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment. 
(d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which all members of the Commission have 
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairman. 
(f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings. 
(g) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Commis-
sion shall select a Chairman and Vice Chairman from 
among its members. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a study 
of— 
(1) economic statistics collected and reported by 
United States Government agencies, including na-
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tional income, employment and unemployment, 
wages, personal income, wealth, savings, debt, pro-
ductivity, inflation, and international trade and cap-
ital flows; and 
(2) ways to improve the related statistical 
measurements. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study under 
this section, the Commission shall consult with— 
(1) the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board 
of Governors; 
(2) the Secretary of Commerce; 
(3) the Secretary of Labor; 
(4) the Secretary of the Treasury; 
(5) the Chairman of the Council of Economic 
Advisers; and 
(6) the Comptroller General of the United 
States. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission 
shall submit a report to Congress which shall contain a 
detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission, together with recommendations for such leg-
islation and administrative actions as the Commission con-
siders appropriate, including a recommendation of the ap-
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propriateness of establishing a similar commission after 
the termination of the Commission. 
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
considers advisable to carry out this Act. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the Chairman of the Commission, the head of such depart-
ment or agency shall furnish such information to the Com-
mission. The Commission shall maintain the same level of 
confidentiality for such information made available under 
this subsection as is required of the head of the depart-
ment or agency from which the information was obtained. 
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government. 
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of 
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the 
Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal 
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to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre-
scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in-
cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged 
in the performance of the duties of the Commission. All 
members of the Commission who are officers or employees 
of the United States shall serve without compensation in 
addition to that received for their services as officers or 
employees of the United States. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services 
for the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman of the Com-
mission may, without regard to the civil service laws 
and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive 
director and such other additional personnel as may 
be necessary to enable the Commission to perform 
its duties. The employment of an executive director 
shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 
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(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairman of the 
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 
5, United States Code, relating to classification of 
positions and General Schedule pay rates, except 
that the rate of pay for the executive director and 
other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 
of such title. 
(3) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The executive director 
and any personnel of the Commission who are 
employees shall be employees under section 
2105 of title 5, United States Code, for pur-
poses of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 
89A, 89B, and 90 of that title. 
(B) MEMBERS OF BOARD.—Subparagraph 
(A) shall not be construed to apply to members 
of the Commission. 
(d) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any 
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the 
Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall 
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege. 
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(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairman of the Commission may 
procure temporary and intermittent services under section 
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individ-
uals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the 
date on which the Commission submits its report under 
section 4. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as necessary to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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