I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6539 
To establish United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 
Mr. NUNES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To establish United States-Brazil Joint Commission on 
Commerce and Trade, 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 ‘‘United States-Brazil 
Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to establish the United 
States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade 
to address bilateral trade matters, seek removal of trade 
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barriers, and promote commercial opportunities, between 
the United States and Brazil. 
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-BRAZIL JOINT COMMISSION ON 
COMMERCE AND TRADE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF UNITED STATES-BRAZIL 
JOINT COMMISSION ON COMMERCE AND TRADE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the United States-Brazil 
Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission 
is to improve the bilateral trade and economic rela-
tionship between the United States and Brazil by es-
tablishing high level reviews of barriers to trade be-
tween the two countries, to promote commercial op-
portunities between the United States and Brazil, 
and to facilitate the dialogue necessary to examine 
the mutual benefits of free trade. 
(3) MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.— 
(A) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall 
be composed of 16 members. The composition 
of the Commission shall be divided equally be-
tween the United States Government and the 
Republic of Brazil. United States Commis-
sioners shall be appointed as follows: 
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(i) Two persons shall be appointed by 
the President pro tempore of the Senate 
upon the recommendation of the majority 
leader of the Senate, after consultation 
with the Chairman of the Committee on 
Finance and the Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. 
(ii) Two persons shall be appointed by 
the President pro tempore of the Senate 
upon the recommendation of the minority 
leader of the Senate, after consultation 
with the ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Finance and the ranking mi-
nority member of the Committee on For-
eign Relations of the Senate. 
(iii) Two persons shall be appointed 
by the Speaker of the House of Represent-
atives, after consultation with the Chair-
man of the Committee on Ways and Means 
and the Chairman of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Represent-
atives. 
(iv) Two persons shall be appointed 
by the minority leader of the House of 
Representatives, after consultation with 
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the ranking minority member of the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means and the rank-
ing minority member of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Represent-
atives. 
(B) 
QUALIFICATIONS.—Individuals 
ap-
pointed to the Commission shall be individuals 
who have expertise in international trade mat-
ters and United States-Brazil relations. 
(4) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Com-
mission shall be appointed to 2-year terms. 
(B) STAGGERING
OF
TERMS.—Each ap-
pointing authority referred to under clauses (i) 
through (iv) of paragraph (3)(A) shall— 
(i) make the appointments on a stag-
gered term basis, so that of the members 
initially appointed— 
(I) 1 of the 2 appointments shall 
be for a term expiring on December 
31, 2014; and 
(II) the other appointment shall 
be for a term expiring on December 
31, 2015; and 
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(ii) make the appointments not later 
than 30 days after the date on which each 
new Congress convenes. 
(C) REAPPOINTMENT.—Members of the 
Commission may be reappointed for additional 
terms of service as members of the Commission. 
(D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the 
Commission shall not affect its powers, but 
shall be filled in the same manner as the origi-
nal appointment. 
(5) CHAIRMEN.—The members of the Commis-
sion shall select co-Chairmen, one from the United 
States and one from Brazil. 
(6) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
the call of the Chairmen. 
(A) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 
days after the date on which all members of the 
Commission have been appointed, the Commis-
sion shall hold its first meeting. 
(B) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—The Com-
mission shall meet at the call of the Chairmen 
of the Commission, with the responsibility of 
chairing proceedings alternating between the 
United States and Brazil. 
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(C) QUORUM.—A majority of the members 
of the Commission shall constitute a quorum 
for the transaction of business of the Commis-
sion. 
(7) VOTING.—Each member of the Commission 
shall be entitled to one vote, which shall be equal to 
the vote of every other member of the Commission. 
(b) DUTIES.—Not later than December 1 of each 
year (beginning in 2014), the Commission shall submit to 
the United States Congress and the National Congress of 
Brazil a report regarding the status and economic impact 
of trade relations between the United States and Brazil. 
The report shall include a full analysis, along with conclu-
sions and recommendations for legislative and administra-
tive actions, if any, concerning barriers to trade and the 
enhancement of economic ties. 
(c) HEARINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission or, at its 
direction, any panel or member of the Commission, 
may for the purpose of carrying out the provisions 
of this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times 
and places, take testimony, receive evidence, and ad-
minister oaths to the extent that the Commission or 
such panel or member considers advisable. 
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(2) INFORMATION.—The Commission may se-
cure directly from any Federal department or agency 
information that the Commission considers nec-
essary to enable the Commission to carry out its du-
ties under this section, unless that information is 
deemed to contain sensitive national intelligence in-
formation or is otherwise subject to rules concerning 
state secrets. 
(d) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION
OF
MEMBERS.—United 
States Members of the Commission shall be com-
pensated in the same manner provided for the com-
pensation of members of the Trade Deficit Review 
Commission under subsections (g)(1) and (g)(6) of 
section 127 of the Trade Deficit Review Commission 
Act (19 U.S.C. 2213 note). 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Travel expenses of 
the United States Commissioners shall be allowed in 
the same manner provided for the allowance of the 
travel expenses of the Trade Deficit Review Commis-
sion under section 127(g)(2) of the Trade Deficit 
Review Commission Act. 
(3) STAFF.—An executive director and other 
additional personnel for the Commission shall be ap-
pointed, compensated, and terminated in the same 
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manner provided for the appointment, compensation, 
and termination of the executive director and other 
personnel of the Trade Deficit Review Commission 
under section 127(g)(3) and section 127(g)(6) of the 
Trade Deficit Review Commission Act. The executive 
director and any personnel who are employees of the 
United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Com-
merce and Trade shall be employees under section 
2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of 
chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that 
title. 
(4) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Federal Government employees may be detailed to 
the Commission in the same manner provided for 
the detail of Federal Government employees to the 
Trade Deficit Review Commission under section 
127(g)(4) of the Trade Deficit Review Commission 
Act. 
(5) ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL BY THE GOV-
ERNMENT OF BRAZIL.—The Commission shall work 
with the Government of Brazil to secure the appro-
priate expertise to carry out its work, including 
through the assignment to the Commission of staff 
officials selected by the Government of Brazil and 
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the temporary or ongoing employment of Brazilian 
nationals. 
(6) FOREIGN
TRAVEL
FOR
OFFICIAL
PUR-
POSES.—Foreign travel for official purposes by Com-
missioners to and from official proceedings may be 
authorized by the Chairmen of the Commission. 
Travel by the staff of the Commission for official 
purposes may be authorized by the Chairmen of the 
Commission only when necessary to carry out essen-
tial activities that could not otherwise be conducted 
using alternative means. 
(7) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTER-
MITTENT SERVICES.—The Chairmen of the Commis-
sion may procure temporary and intermittent serv-
ices for the Commission in the same manner pro-
vided for the procurement of temporary and inter-
mittent services for the Trade Deficit Review Com-
mission under section 127(g)(5) of the Trade Deficit 
Review Commission Act. 
(8) PRIVATELY FUNDED TRAVEL.—The Chair-
men of the Commission may authorize privately 
funded travel by members and staff of the Commis-
sion for activities related to the duties of the Com-
mission. The Commission shall disclose to the public, 
not later than 60 days after the privately funded 
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travel occurs, the source of the funding, together 
with the itinerary of the activities of members and 
staff of the Commission participating in the pri-
vately funded travel. 
(e) ASSISTANCE
IN
PERFORMING
DUTIES.—The 
President of the United States shall provide for the trans-
fer to the Commission of such staff, materials, and infra-
structure (including leased premises) of Federal depart-
ments and agencies as the President considers necessary 
to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2013, 
and for each fiscal year thereafter, such sums as 
may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry 
out its duties under this section. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated to 
the Commission pursuant to this subsection shall re-
main available until expended. 
Æ 
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