I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3332 
To establish the National Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to 
facilitate the fullest cooperation and coordination between all levels of 
government. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 24, 2009 
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia (for himself and Mr. LANCE) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Gov-
ernment Reform 
A BILL 
To establish the National Commission on Intergovernmental 
Relations to facilitate the fullest cooperation and coordi-
nation between all levels of government. 
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 ‘‘Restore the Partner-
ship Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a permanent bipartisan commis-
sion to be known as the ‘‘National Commission on Inter-
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governmental Relations’’ (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE. 
In order to facilitate the fullest cooperation and co-
ordination between all levels of government in an increas-
ingly complex society, it is essential that a commission be 
established to give continuing attention to intergovern-
mental issues. It is intended that the Commission, in the 
performance of its duties, will— 
(1) bring together representatives of Federal, 
State, and local governments for the consideration of 
common problems; 
(2) provide a forum for discussing the adminis-
tration and coordination of Federal aid and other 
programs requiring intergovernmental cooperation; 
(3) give critical attention to the conditions, con-
trols, and oversight involved in the administration of 
such Federal programs; and 
(4) encourage discussion and study during the 
early stages of emerging public challenges that are 
likely to require intergovernmental cooperation. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 30 members, as follows: 
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(1) 6 appointed by the President of the United 
States, 3 of whom shall be officers of the executive 
branch of the government, and 3 private citizens, 
each of whom shall have experience or familiarity 
with relations between the levels of government. 
(2) 3 appointed by the President of the Senate, 
who shall be Members of the Senate. 
(3) 3 appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, who shall be Members of the 
House. 
(4) 4 appointed by the President from a panel 
of at least 8 Governors submitted by the National 
Governors’ Association. 
(5) 4 appointed by the President from a panel 
of at least 8 members of State legislative bodies sub-
mitted by the National Conference of State Legisla-
tures. 
(6) 4 appointed by the President from a panel 
of at least 8 mayors submitted jointly by the Na-
tional League of Cities and the United States Con-
ference of Mayors. 
(7) 4 appointed by the President from a panel 
of at least 8 elected county officers submitted by the 
National Association of Counties. 
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(c) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The term of office of each 
member of the Commission shall be 2 years. Mem-
bers shall be eligible for reappointment. Except as 
provided in paragraph (2), members shall serve until 
their successors are appointed. 
(2) TERMINATION OF SERVICE IN OFFICIAL PO-
SITION
FROM
WHICH
ORIGINALLY
APPOINTED.— 
Where any member ceases to serve in the official po-
sition from which originally appointed under section 
3(a), his or her place on the Commission shall be 
deemed to be vacant. 
(3) VACANCIES IN MEMBERSHIP.—Any vacancy 
in the membership of the Commission shall be filled 
in the same manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made; except that where the number of 
vacancies is fewer than the number of members 
specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of sec-
tion 3(a), each panel of names submitted in accord-
ance with the aforementioned paragraphs shall con-
tain at least 2 names for each vacancy. 
SEC. 5. ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) INITIAL MEETING.—The President shall convene 
the Commission not later than 90 days after the date of 
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enactment of this Act at such time and place as the Presi-
dent may designate. 
(b) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Commis-
sion shall designate a Chairman and a Vice Chairman 
from among members of the Commission. 
(c) QUORUM.—13 members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but 2 or more members, representing 
more than 1 of the class of members enumerated in sec-
tion 4(a), shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of 
conducting hearings. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) engage in such activities and make such 
studies and investigations as are necessary or desir-
able in the accomplishment of the purposes set forth 
in section 2; 
(2) consider, on its own initiative, mechanisms 
for fostering better relations between the levels of 
government; 
(3) make available technical assistance to the 
executive and legislative branches of the Federal 
Government in the review of proposed legislation to 
determine its overall effect on all levels of govern-
ment; 
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(4) recommend, within the framework of the 
Constitution, the most desirable allocation of govern-
mental functions, responsibilities, and revenues 
among the levels of government; 
(5) recommend methods of coordinating and 
simplifying tax laws and administrative policies and 
practices to achieve a more orderly and less competi-
tive fiscal relationship between the levels of govern-
ment and to reduce the burden of compliance for 
taxpayers; and 
(6) submit an annual report to the President and the 
Congress on or before January 31 of each year. 
The Commission may also submit such additional reports 
to the President, to Congress or any committee of Con-
gress, and to any unit of government or organization as 
the Commission may deem appropriate. 
SEC. 7. POWERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission or, 
on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee 
or members thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out 
the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings, take such 
testimony, and sit and act at such times and places as 
the Commission deems advisable. Any member authorized 
by the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations 
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to witnesses appearing before the Commission or any sub-
committee or members thereof. 
(b) COOPERATION BY FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Each 
department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive 
branch of the government, including independent agencies, 
is authorized and directed to furnish to the Commission, 
upon request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman, 
such information as the Commission deems necessary to 
carry out its functions under this Act. 
(c) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall 
have power to appoint and remove an Executive Director. 
The Executive Director shall be paid at the rate of basic 
pay for level III of the Executive Schedule. Such appoint-
ment shall be made solely on the basis of fitness to per-
form the duties of the position and without regard to polit-
ical affiliation. 
(d) STAFF.—Subject to such rules and regulations as 
may be adopted by the Commission, the Executive Direc-
tor shall have the power— 
(1) to appoint, fix the compensation of, and re-
move such other personnel as he deems necessary; 
and 
(2) to procure temporary and intermittent serv-
ices to the same extent as is authorized by law. 
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(e) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS TO EMPLOY-
EES.—Except as otherwise provided in this Act, persons 
in the employ of the Commission under subsections (c) 
and (d)(1) shall be considered Federal employees for all 
purposes. 
(f) MAXIMUM COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES.—No 
individual in the employ of the Commission under sub-
section (d)(1) shall be paid compensation for such employ-
ment at a rate in excess of the highest rate provided for 
under the General Schedule. 
SEC. 8. REIMBURSEMENT. 
Members of the Commission shall be entitled to reim-
bursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary ex-
penses incurred by them in the performance of their duties 
as members of the Commission. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act. 
SEC. 10. RECEIPT OF FUNDS; CONSIDERATION BY CON-
GRESS. 
The Commission is authorized to receive funds 
through grants, contracts, and contributions from State 
and local governments and organizations thereof, and 
from nonprofit organizations. Such funds may be received 
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