Commission on Probabilistic Methods Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on Probabilistic Methods 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) probabilistic methods have wide applicability in 
        improving process efficiency and eliminating overdesign in 
        government programs and purchases;
            (2) the integration of probabilistic methods into business 
        practices has contributed significantly to the success of 
        industry quality programs and has saved billions of dollars for 
        companies;
            (3) Federal use of probabilistic methods is less advanced 
        than it is in industry;
            (4) probabilistic methods hold out the promise of better 
        understanding of safety and environmental risks, and if 
        properly applied can lead to more business-friendly 
        regulations;
            (5) if made an integral part of federally funded design 
        efforts, probabilistic methods could lead to a better 
        understanding of the specifications a product must meet and 
        reduce overdesign and associated costs; and
            (6) appropriate use of probabilistic methods within the 
        programs of the Department of Transportation could lead through 
        quantification of uncertainties to more reliable, less costly 
        components of our transportation system, including roads, 
        bridges, and automotive, aerospace, and mass transit systems, 
        and could also benefit the programs of other Federal agencies 
        such as the Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, 
        and the National Institutes of Health.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    The Administrator of the Research and Special Programs 
Administration of the Department of Transportation (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Administrator'') shall establish a commission to 
be known as the ``Commission on Probabilistic Methods'' (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) identify where and how probabilistic methods can help 
        the Department of Transportation;
            (2) assess the extent to which probabilistic methods can 
        help the Department of Transportation maximize return on 
        investment and increase public safety;
            (3) evaluate the state of probabilistic methods technology;
            (4) identify the probabilistic techniques that are ready 
        for practical use and recommend guidelines that can help a user 
        decide what technique to use;
            (5) establish models for quantifying uncertainties in major 
        Department of Transportation programs that affect cost, 
        operation, and performance;
            (6) identify key technology areas that must be further 
        developed;
            (7) recommend guidelines for implementation of 
        probabilistic technology;
            (8) recommend how to set reliability levels that can ensure 
        public safety and be achievable by industry;
            (9) recommend probabilistic-based guidelines for safety 
        tests;
            (10) recommend guidelines for creating required database;
            (11) determine appropriate means of expediting technology 
        transfer and ensuring that the principles of probabilistic 
        methods are used appropriately in decisions involving funds 
        under the control of the Department of Transportation;
            (12) identify legal and cultural barriers to the effective 
        use of probabilistic methods at the Department of 
        Transportation;
            (13) make recommendations for the use of probabilistic 
        methods in Department of Transportation programs;
            (14) make recommendations for institutionalizing 
        probabilistic methods values at the Department of 
        Transportation after the termination of the Commission; and
            (15) recommend pilot projects for evaluation of 
        probabilistic methods technology.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 19 
members as follows:
            (1) A chairperson, who shall be a representative of an 
        engineering society with experience in probabilistic methods, 
        such as the Society of Automotive Engineers.
            (2) Four members from the higher education community.
            (3) Four members from various levels of government.
            (4) Four members from industry.
            (5) One member representing labor.
            (6) One member representing the environmental community.
            (7) One member representing the public interest.
            (8) A representative of the Department of Defense, 
        appointed by the Secretary of Defense.
            (9) A representative of the Department of Commerce, 
        appointed by the Secretary of Commerce.
            (10) A representative of the National Institutes of Health, 
        appointed by the Director of the National Institutes of Health.
The members described in paragraphs (1) through (7) shall be appointed 
by the Administrator.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
        life of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (c) Basic Pay.--Members shall serve without pay.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Quorum.--10 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum 
but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (f) Initial Meeting.--The initial meeting of the Commission shall 
occur within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (g) Agenda.--Within 6 months after its initial meeting under 
subsection (f), the Commission shall transmit to the Administrator a 
written agenda for its activities.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.

    (a) In General.--The Department of Transportation shall provide the 
Commission with such administrative support as it shall require to 
carry out its duties.
    (b) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary 
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--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 Commission, the head of that department or agency 
shall furnish that information to the Commission.
    (d) 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.

SEC. 7. REPORTS.

    (a) Interim Report.--The Commission shall transmit to the 
Administrator an interim report not later than 2 years after its 
initial meeting under section 5(f).
    (b) Final Report.--The Commission shall transmit a final report to 
the Administrator not later than 36 months after its initial meeting 
under section 5(f). The final report shall contain a detailed statement 
of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 10 days after submitting its final 
report pursuant to section 7(b). Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to the termination of 
advisory committees) shall not apply to the Commission.

SEC. 9. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

    Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of 
section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 
651(c)(2)(A) and (C))) authorized by this Act shall be effective only 
to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation 
Acts.

Summary: Commission on Probabilistic Methods Act - Directs the Administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the Commission on Probabilistic Methods.  Requires the Commission to identify and assess the extent to which the use of probabilistic methods (techniques used to help reduce costs) can help DOT in administering its transportation programs.