(c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this Act, a busi-
ness is owned by a woman if the sole owner is a woman, 
or if one-half or more of the partners are women, or if 
it is a corporation, where 50 percent or more of the stock 
is owned by women. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of nine members appointed as follows: 
(1) Three members appointed by the President. 
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives from a list of fifteen 
individuals nominated for such appointment by the 
chairman of the Committee on Small Business of the 
House of Representatives. 
(3) Three members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate from a list of fifteen individuals 
nominated for such appointment by the chairman of 
the Committee on Small Business and Entrepre-
neurship of the Senate. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—(1) Appointments under sub-
section (a) shall be made from individuals whip are spe-
cially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of 
their education, training, or experience, and who are not 
officers or employees of the Federal Government or Mem-
bers of Congress. 
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(2) Of the three individuals appointed under each of 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a)— 
(A) no more than two members appointed 
under each paragraph shall be of the same political 
party; 
(B) at least one member appointed under each 
paragraph shall be a woman; and 
(C) at least one member appointed under each 
paragraph shall be an individual who is a small busi-
ness owner. 
(3) In making the appointments under subsection (a), 
the appointing authorities should give consideration to 
achieving a geographical balance. 
(c) TERM.—Members shall be appointed for the life 
of the Commission, except that, if any member of the 
Commission becomes an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government or a Member of Congress, such individual 
may continue as a member of the Commission for not 
longer than the thirty-day period beginning on the date 
such individual becomes such an officer or employee or 
Member of Congress. 
(d) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
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(e) PAY.—Members of the Commission shall serve 
without pay, except members of the Commission shall be 
entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and 
other necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out 
the functions of the Commission, in the same manner as 
persons employed intermittently in the Federal Govern-
ment are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(f) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings. 
(g) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission 
shall be designated by the President. The term of office 
of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be the life 
of the Commission. 
(h) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not less 
than four times nor more than six times each year. Meet-
ings shall be at the call of a majority of its members. 
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.—(1) The Commission 
shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the Com-
mission. The Commission, with the recommendation of the 
Director, may appoint and fix the pay of four additional 
personnel. 
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(2) The Director and staff of the Commission may 
be appointed without regard to section 5311(b) of title 5, 
United States Code, and without regard to the provisions 
of such title governing appointments in the competitive 
service, and 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 no individual so appointed may receive 
pay in excess of the annual rate of basic pay payable for 
GS–18 of the General Schedule. 
(b) SERVICES.—The Commission may procure tem-
porary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 
title 5 of the Unites States Code, but at rates for individ-
uals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum 
annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–18 of the General 
Schedule. 
(c) DETAILS.—Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any department or agency may detail, on a reim-
bursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the 
Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its 
duties under this Act. 
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, for the 
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit 
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, 
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and receive such evidence, as the Commission considers 
appropriate. 
(b) DELEGATION.—Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if so authorized by the Commission, 
take any action which the Commission is authorized to 
take by this section. 
(c) ACCESS
TO INFORMATION.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency of the 
United States information necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Com-
mission, the head of such department or agency shall fur-
nish such information to the Commission. 
(d) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the 
United States. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission on 
a reimbursable basis such administrative support services 
as the Commission may request. 
SEC. 7. REPORTS. 
The Commission shall transmit to the President and 
to each House of the Congress such interim reports as 
it considers appropriate and shall transmit a final report 
to the President no later than twenty-six months after the 
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