I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6478 
To amend the Denali Commission Act of 1998 to reauthorize and modify 
the membership of the Denali Commission, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend the Denali Commission Act of 1998 to reauthorize 
and modify the membership of the Denali Commission, 
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 ‘‘Denali Commission 
Reauthorization Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
Section 303 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 
(42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amend-
ed— 
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(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 7 members with a statewide perspective 
and knowledge regarding rural Alaska matters (in-
cluding transportation, health, education and train-
ing, energy, economic development, community and 
regional planning, design, construction, and mainte-
nance of rural infrastructure, workforce develop-
ment, and communication infrastructure and sys-
tems), of whom— 
‘‘(A) 5 shall be appointed by the Secretary 
of Commerce (referred to in this title as the 
‘Secretary’), of whom— 
‘‘(i) 1 shall represent the views and 
perspectives of an organized labor or voca-
tional training group within the State of 
Alaska; 
‘‘(ii) 1 shall represent the views and 
perspectives of Native Corporations (as de-
fined in section 3 of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)); 
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‘‘(iii) 1 shall have experience relating 
to project management and construction in 
rural Alaska; 
‘‘(iv) 1 shall represent the views and 
perspectives of rural local government in-
terests in the State of Alaska; and 
‘‘(v) 1 shall represent the views and 
perspectives of rural tribal interests in the 
State of Alaska; 
‘‘(B) 1 shall be the Governor of the State 
of Alaska or an individual selected by the Sec-
retary from nominations submitted by the Gov-
ernor; and 
‘‘(C) 1 shall be the Federal Cochairperson 
of the Commission, to be appointed by the Sec-
retary in accordance with paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) DATE OF APPOINTMENTS.—The appoint-
ments of the members of the Commission under sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be 
made by not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of the Denali Commission Reauthorization 
Act of 2012. 
‘‘(3) FEDERAL COCHAIRPERSON.— 
‘‘(A) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 
30 days after the date of appointment of the 
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members of the Commission described in para-
graph (2), those members shall submit to the 
Secretary recommendations for an individual to 
serve as Federal Cochairperson of the Commis-
sion under paragraph (1)(C). 
‘‘(B) SELECTION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of receipt of the rec-
ommendations under subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary shall appoint an individual to 
serve as Federal Cochairperson of the 
Commission. 
‘‘(ii) CONSIDERATION.—In appointing 
the Federal Cochairperson under clause 
(i), the Secretary may take into consider-
ation, but shall not be required to select, 
any individual recommended under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(C) TREATMENT.—The Federal Cochair-
person shall be a nonvoting member of the 
Commission. 
‘‘(D) VACANCY.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Any vacancy in 
the position of Federal Cochairperson shall 
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be filled in the same manner as the origi-
nal appointment. 
‘‘(ii) INTERIM
FEDERAL
COCHAIR-
PERSON.—Before vacating the position of 
Federal Cochairperson, the Federal Co-
chairperson shall appoint to serve as In-
terim Federal Cochairperson, for the pe-
riod beginning on the date on which the 
vacancy in the position of Federal Cochair-
person occurs and ending on the date on 
which a new Federal Cochairperson is ap-
pointed under clause (i), the staff member 
of the Commission with the most seniority. 
‘‘(4) STATUS.—No member of the Commission 
(other than the Federal Cochairperson) shall be con-
sidered to be an employee of the Federal Govern-
ment for any purpose.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The 
Federal Cochairperson’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) FEDERAL COCHAIRPERSON.—The Federal 
Cochairperson’’; and 
(B) by striking the second and third sen-
tences and inserting the following: 
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‘‘(2) MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) TERMS.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, 
except that, of the members first appointed— 
‘‘(i) the members appointed under 
clauses (ii) and (iv) of subsection (b)(1)(A) 
shall be appointed for terms of 3 years; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the members appointed under 
clauses (i) and (iii) of subsection (b)(1)(A) 
shall be appointed for terms of 2 years. 
‘‘(B) VACANCIES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 
Commission— 
‘‘(I) shall not affect the powers of 
the Commission; 
‘‘(II) shall be filled in the manner 
in which the original appointment was 
made; and 
‘‘(III) shall be subject to any 
conditions that applied with respect to 
the original appointment. 
‘‘(ii) FILLING UNEXPIRED TERM.—An 
individual selected to fill a vacancy shall be 
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appointed for the unexpired term of the 
member replaced. 
‘‘(C) EXPIRATION.—The term of any mem-
ber shall not expire before the date on which 
the successor of the member takes office.’’. 
SEC. 3. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS; DUTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 304 of the Denali Com-
mission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 
105–277) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 304. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS; DUTIES. 
‘‘(a) COST SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out any con-
struction project or activity under this title, the 
Commission shall require a cost share of— 
‘‘(A) up to 50 percent of the total cost of 
the construction project or activity; or 
‘‘(B) for a construction project or activity 
carried out in a distressed community (as deter-
mined by the department of labor and work-
force development of the State of Alaska or by 
the Commission), up to 20 percent of the total 
cost of the construction project or activity. 
‘‘(2) PRECONSTRUCTION
PROCEDURES.—The 
cost-share requirements under paragraph (1) shall 
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not apply with respect to preconstruction proce-
dures. 
‘‘(b) PUBLIC COMMENTS.—The Commission mem-
bers and the Federal Cochairperson shall seek comments 
from rural Alaska communities and other stakeholder 
groups regarding rural development needs. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The members of the Commission 
shall— 
‘‘(1) advise the Commission regarding coordi-
nated infrastructure planning (including annual and 
multiyear strategies) among and for— 
‘‘(A) rural Alaska communities; 
‘‘(B) the State of Alaska; 
‘‘(C) Federal agencies; and 
‘‘(D) other governmental and nongovern-
mental entities; 
‘‘(2) establish a list of priorities of the Commis-
sion for rural Alaska communities on an annual 
basis, including funding recommendations and the 
means by which the recommendations— 
‘‘(A) address multiyear strategies; and 
‘‘(B) are coordinated with— 
‘‘(i) rural Alaska communities; 
‘‘(ii) the State of Alaska; 
‘‘(iii) Federal agencies; and 
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‘‘(iv) other government and non-
governmental entities; 
‘‘(3) review ongoing and completed Commis-
sion-funded projects and programs for compliance 
with stated objectives and outcomes; and 
‘‘(4) examine Commission-funded projects and 
programs— 
‘‘(A) for consistency and standardization; 
and 
‘‘(B) to determine a means of improving 
the management and success of future Commis-
sion-funded projects and programs. 
‘‘(d) OPERATIONAL MATTERS.—The Federal Co-
chairperson (and not the members of the Commission) 
shall be responsible for Commission operational matters, 
including budgetary matters.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 307 of the 
Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; 
Public Law 105–277) is amended by striking subsection 
(c) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) DEMONSTRATION HEALTH PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To demonstrate the value 
of adequate health facilities and services to the eco-
nomic development of the region, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services may make interagency 
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transfers to the Commission to plan, construct, and 
equip demonstration health, nutrition, and child care 
projects, including hospitals, health care clinics, and 
mental health facilities (including drug and alcohol 
treatment centers). 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
Section 305 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 
(42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amended 
by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) DETAIL
OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES; AGREE-
MENTS, GRANTS, AND PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—Any 
employee of the Federal Government may be de-
tailed to the Commission— 
‘‘(A) without reimbursement; and 
‘‘(B) without interruption or loss of civil 
service status or privilege. 
‘‘(2) AGREEMENTS, GRANTS, AND PAYMENTS.— 
The Commission, acting through the Federal Co-
chairperson, may enter into contracts and coopera-
tive agreements, award grants, and make payments 
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necessary to carry out the purposes of the Commis-
sion.’’. 
SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Section 306 of 
the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; 
Public Law 105–277) is amended by striking subsection 
(a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the members of the Commission shall serve without 
compensation. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL COCHAIRPERSON.—The Federal 
Cochairperson shall be compensated at the annual 
rate prescribed for level IV of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code.’’. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Section 306(b) of the 
Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; 
Public Law 105–277) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The members’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the members’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(2) WAIVER.—A member of the Commission 
may waive all or any portion of the travel expenses 
provided to the member under paragraph (1).’’. 
(c) INSPECTOR GENERAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 306 of the Denali 
Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; 
Public Law 105–277) is amended by striking sub-
section (h) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(h) INSPECTOR GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
use the services of the Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Commerce.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking ‘‘the Denali 
Commission,’’. 
SEC. 6. REAUTHORIZATION. 
The first section 310 of the Denali Commission Act 
of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) (re-
lating to authorization of appropriations) is amended by 
striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Commission such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this title, in accordance with the purposes 
of this title, for fiscal year 2013 and each fiscal year there-
after.’’. 
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SEC. 7. REPEALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) EXEMPTION
FROM
FEDERAL
ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ACT.—Section 308 of the Denali Com-
mission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public 
Law 105–277) is repealed. 
(2) ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.— 
The second section 310 of the Denali Commission 
Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105– 
277) (relating to the Economic Development Com-
mittee) is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Sections 309 and 
310 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 
3121 note; Public Law 105–277) are redesignated as sec-
tions 308 and 309, respectively. 
SEC. 8. BUDGET COMMITTEE. 
The Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 
note; Public Law 105–277) (as amended by section 7(b)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 310. BUDGET COMMITTEE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of the Denali Commission Re-
authorization Act of 2012, the Federal Cochairperson 
shall establish a Budget Committee to serve the Commis-
sion. 
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‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Budget Committee shall be 
composed of 3 members, of whom— 
‘‘(1) 1 shall be the Governor of the State of 
Alaska or a member of the Commission selected in 
accordance with section 303(b)(1)(B); 
‘‘(2) 1 shall be a Federal employee or detailee 
with expertise in the Federal budget process, to be 
selected by the Federal Cochairperson; and 
‘‘(3) 1 shall be a member of the Commission, 
to be selected by the members of the Commission. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Budget Committee shall carry 
out the following activities for the Commission: 
‘‘(1) Review the operating budget of the Com-
mission. 
‘‘(2) Make appropriate recommendations to the 
Federal Cochairperson. 
‘‘(d) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Budg-
et Committee shall serve without compensation. 
‘‘(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 
Budget Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for employees of agencies under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from their homes or regular places 
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of business in the performance of services for the 
Budget Committee.’’. 
Æ 
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