I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4714
To establish the Social Security Protection, Preservation, and Reform
Commission.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 21, 2000
Mr. SAXTON (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, and Mr. SANFORD) 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 committee con-
cerned
A BILL
To establish the Social Security Protection, Preservation,
and Reform Commission.
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 ‘‘Social Security Protec-
tion, Preservation, and Reform Commission Act of 2000’’.
TITLE I—FINDINGS AND
OBJECTIVES OF REFORM
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Two-thirds of Americans depend on social
security for half or more of their income and 47 per-
cent of beneficiaries would be in poverty without
their social security benefits.
(2) Social security is an unbreakable compact
between workers and retirees across generations that
must be honored and needs to be sustained.
(3) The social security trust funds will begin to
run a cash-flow deficit in 2015 and trust fund assets
are expected to be exhausted by 2037.
(4) Americans covered by the social security
program are required to pay into a system from
which they can expect lower rates of return than
earlier generations.
(5) Each year that comprehensive reform of the
social security system is postponed, restoring actu-
arial solvency to the trust funds becomes more ex-
pensive and places a greater financial burden on cur-
rent and future workers.
SEC. 102. OBJECTIVES OF REFORM.
Congress must act to reform the social security sys-
tem so that—
(1) beneficiaries receive the benefits to which
they are entitled based on a fair and equitable re-
form of that system;
(2) the long-term solvency of the social security
system is guaranteed for at least 75 years without
any foreseeable funding shortfall immediately fol-
lowing that period and cash-flow deficits and pres-
sure on future general revenues to pay benefits is
significantly reduced;
(3) every generation of workers is guaranteed a
reasonable comparable rate of return on all tax con-
tributions;
(4) all Americans, particularly low-income work-
ers, are provided the opportunity to share in our Na-
tion’s economic prosperity and create wealth for
themselves and future generations through a private
investment account under that system;
(5) revenues flowing into the Federal Old-Age,
Survivors, and Disability Trust Funds are protected
from congressional or other efforts to spend on non-
social security related purposes; and
(6) resources are made available from surplus
non-social security revenues to preserve and protect
the social security system while implementing re-
form.
TITLE II—SOCIAL SECURITY
REFORM COMMISSION
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Social Security Protection, Preservation, and Reform
Commission (in this title referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’).
SEC. 202. DUTIES.
(a) RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR REFORM.—Not later
than September 1, 2001, the Commission shall make spe-
cific recommendations to Congress for reform of the social
security system established under title II of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) in a manner that incor-
porates the objectives of reform set forth in section 102.
(b) LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE.—The recommenda-
tions required under subsection (a) shall include legislative
language necessary for carrying out such recommenda-
tions. The Commission shall develop such legislative lan-
guage after conducting such public hearings and con-
sulting with such public or private entities as the Commis-
sion considers necessary and appropriate to make the rec-
ommendations required under subsection (a).
SEC. 203. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 13 members as follows:
(1) Two congressional Members shall be ap-
pointed by the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives.
(2) Two congressional Members shall be ap-
pointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives.
(3) Two congressional Members shall be ap-
pointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.
(4) Two congressional Members shall be ap-
pointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(5) The Chairman of the Committee on Finance
of the Senate.
(6) The Ranking Member of the Committee on
Finance of the Senate.
(7) The Chairman of the Committee on Ways
and Means of the House of Representatives.
(8) The Ranking Member of the Committee on
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.
(10) The Commissioner of Social Security, who
shall be an ex officio member of the Commission.
(b) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENTS.—The members
of the Commission shall be appointed not later than Feb-
ruary 1, 2001.
(c) CO-CHAIRMEN.—The Commission shall designate
2 members of the Commission to serve as Co-chairmen
of the Commission.
(d) TERMS.—Each member of the Commission shall
serve on the Commission and, with respect to the Co-
chairmen, in such capacity, until the earlier of the date
the Commission terminates or September 16, 2001.
(e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the membership of
the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the
original appointment was made and shall not affect the
power of the remaining members to execute the duties of
the Commission.
SEC. 204. QUORUM.
A quorum shall consist of 7 voting members of the
Commission.
SEC. 205. MEETINGS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the Co-chairmen or a majority of its members.
(b) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall con-
duct its first meeting not later than March 1, 2001.
(c) OPEN MEETINGS.—Each meeting of the Commis-
sion, other than meetings in which classified information
is to be discussed, shall be open to the public.
SEC. 206. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
The Commission shall establish policies and proce-
dures for carrying out the functions of the Commission
under this Act.
SEC. 207. STAFF DIRECTOR AND STAFF.
(a) STAFF DIRECTOR.—The Co-chairmen, with the
advice and consent of the members of the Commission,
shall appoint a Staff Director who is not otherwise, and
has not during the 1-year period preceding the date of
such appointment served as, an officer or employee in the
executive branch and who is not and has not been a Mem-
ber of Congress. The Staff Director shall be paid at a rate
not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level IV
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5,
United States Code.
(b) STAFF.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Staff Director, with the
approval of the Commission, may appoint and fix
pay of additional personnel. The Staff Director may
take such appointments without regard to the provi-
sions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap-
pointment in the competitive service, and any per-
sonnel so appointed 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 an indi-
vidual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of
the annual rate of basic pay payable for level V of
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such
title.
(2) DETAILEES.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Upon request of the
Staff Director, the head of any Federal depart-
ment or agency may detail any of the personnel
of that department or agency to the Commis-
sion to assist the Commission in carrying out
its duties under this Act. Not more than 1⁄3 of
the personnel employed by or detailed to the
Commission may be on detail from any Federal
agency.
(B) ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS.—
(i) PERSONNEL.—Not more than 1⁄3
of the personnel detailed to the Commis-
sion may be on detail from any Federal
agency that deals directly or indirectly with
the administration of the social security
system.
(ii) ANALYSTS.—Not more than 1⁄5 of
the professional analysts of the Commis-
sion may be individuals detailed from a
Federal agency that deals directly or indi-
rectly with the administration of the social
security system.
(3) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Com-
mission may procure by contract, to the extent funds
are available, the temporary or intermittent services
of experts or consultants pursuant to section 3109
of title 5, United States Code.
(4) FEDERAL
OFFICER
OR
EMPLOYEE.—No
member of a Federal agency, and no officer or em-
ployee of a Federal agency may—
(A) prepare any report concerning the ef-
fectiveness, fitness, or efficiency of the perform-
ance on the staff of the Commission of any in-
dividual detailed from a Federal agency to that
staff;
(B) review the preparation of such report;
or
(C) approve or disapprove such a report.
(5) LIMITATION
ON
STAFF
SIZE.—Not more
than 25 individuals (including any detailees) may
serve on the staff of the Commission at any time.
SEC. 208. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.—For the
purpose of carrying out its duties, the Commission may
hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as
necessary to enable it to carry out its duties, if the infor-
mation may be disclosed under section 552 of title 5,
United States Code. Upon request of the Co-chairmen of
the Commission, the head of such agency shall furnish
such information to the Commission.
(g) 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 such administrative support services as the
Commission may request.
(h) ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS.—The Commission
may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of serv-
ices or property.
(i) PRINTING.—For purposes of costs relating to
printing and binding, including the costs of personnel de-
tailed from the Government Printing Office, the Commis-
sion shall be deemed to be a committee of the Congress.
SEC. 209. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 15 days after the
date of submission of the recommendations for reform re-
quired under section 202.
SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this title, such sums as may be necessary for the Commis-
sion to carry out its duties under this title.
TITLE 
III—CONGRESSIONAL
CONSIDERATION 
OF 
REC-
OMMENDATIONS
SEC. 
301. 
CONGRESSIONAL 
CONSIDERATION 
OF 
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.
(a) INTRODUCTION
OF
RECOMMENDATIONS
AND
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.—
(1) INTRODUCTION.—The legislative language
transmitted pursuant to section 202(b) with the rec-
ommendations for reform of the Commission shall be
in the form of a bill (in this title referred to as the
‘‘reform bill’’). Such reform bill shall be introduced
in the House of Representatives by the Speaker, and
in the Senate, by the Majority Leader, immediately
upon receipt of the language and such reform bill
shall be referred to the appropriate committee of
Congress under paragraph (2). If the reform bill is
not introduced in accordance with the preceding sen-
tence, the reform bill may be introduced in either
House of Congress by any member thereof.
(2) COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.—
(A) REFERRAL.—A reform bill introduced
in the House of Representatives shall be re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means of
the House of Representatives. A reform bill in-
troduced in the Senate shall be referred to the
Committee on Finance of the Senate.
(B) REPORTING.—Not later than 30 days
after the introduction of the reform bill, the
committee of Congress to which the reform bill
was referred shall report the bill or a committee
amendment thereto.
(C) DISCHARGE
OF
COMMITTEE.—If the
committee to which is referred a reform bill has
not reported such reform bill (or an identical
reform bill) at the end of 30 calendar days after
its introduction or at the end of the first day
after there has been reported to the House in-
volved a reform bill, whichever is earlier, such
committee shall be deemed to be discharged
from further consideration of such reform bill
and such reform bill shall be placed on the ap-
propriate calendar of the House involved.
(b) EXPEDITED PROCEDURE.—
(1) CONSIDERATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 days
after the date on which a committee has been
discharged from consideration of a reform bill,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or
the Speaker’s designee, or the Majority Leader
of the Senate, or the Leader’s designee, shall
move to proceed to the consideration of the
committee amendment to the reform bill, and if
there is no such amendment, to the reform bill.
It shall also be in order for any member of the
House of Representatives or the Senate, respec-
tively, to move to proceed to the consideration
of the reform bill at any time after the conclu-
sion of such 2-day period.
(B) POINTS
OF
ORDER
WAIVED.—All
points of order against the reform bill (and
against consideration of the reform bill) are
waived.
(C) MOTION TO PROCEED.—A motion to
proceed to the consideration of the reform bill
is highly privileged in the House of Representa-
tives and is privileged in the Senate and is not
debatable. The motion is not subject to amend-
ment, to a motion to postpone consideration of
the reform bill, or to a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business. A motion to re-
consider the vote by which the motion to pro-
ceed is agreed to or not agreed to shall not be
in order. If the motion to proceed is agreed to,
the House of Representatives or the Senate, as