Title: People CARE Act
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Act or the People CARE Act
This bill establishes the People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission within the legislative branch to review federal means-tested welfare programs.
Means-tested welfare programs are those designed to specifically provide assistance exclusively to low-income Americans. The commission shall review all federal means-tested programs, excluding various specified programs such as the Social Security benefits program, Medicare, and Department of Veterans Affairs-administered programs.
The commission's review shall cover topics including (1) ways to make the benefits programs more efficient and streamlined, (2) opportunities to reduce costs by contracting with private entities or delegating to states, (3) any programs that should be subject to discretionary appropriations, and (4) changes to allow caseworkers to have a holistic view of the beneficiary.
The commission shall report its findings to Congress, and the report shall include proposed legislation to carry out the commission's recommendations.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate majority leader shall introduce the proposed legislation in their respective chambers. The proposed legislation shall be considered under certain expedited procedures, such as limitations on debate.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5688 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5688

 To establish the People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission, 
   to improve the social safety net and increase social mobility by 
 increasing access to resources which address the underlying causes of 
                                poverty.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 22, 2021

 Mr. Davidson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on 
   Education and Labor, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Financial 
Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, the Judiciary, and 
 Natural Resources, 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 concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission, 
   to improve the social safety net and increase social mobility by 
 increasing access to resources which address the underlying causes of 
                                poverty.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``People-Centered Assistance Reform 
Effort Act'' or the ``People CARE Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to structure means-tested welfare 
programs so that--
            (1) welfare programs work in an integrated manner and 
        provide social workers with the tools to assist people 
        holistically;
            (2) welfare programs work together in a streamlined and 
        comprehensible manner, and, over time, individuals on such 
        programs will earn enough income on their own to transition off 
        of means-tested welfare programs; and
            (3) means-tested welfare programs increase employment, 
        encourage healthy families and further educational attainment 
        so that households maintain an income above the poverty level 
        without services and benefits from the Federal Government.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF MEANS-TESTED WELFARE PROGRAM.

    (a) Means-Tested Welfare Program.--In this Act, the term ``means-
tested welfare program''--
            (1) means any Federal program that is designed to 
        specifically provide assistance or benefits exclusively to low-
        income Americans;
            (2) does not include such a program if the program--
                    (A) is based on earned eligibility;
                    (B) is not need-based;
                    (C) provides to an individual benefits under title 
                38, United States Code, or other provisions of law 
                administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
                    (D) offers universal or near universal eligibility 
                to the working population and their dependents; and
            (3) includes community and economic development programs 
        targeted to low-income communities or populations.
    (b) Programs Included.--For purposes of subsection (a), the 
following Federal programs shall be considered means-tested welfare 
programs:
            (1) Cash and general assistance.--
                    (A) The Supplemental Security Income program under 
                title XVI of the Social Security Act.
                    (B) The earned income tax credit determined under 
                section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                    (C) The refundable portion of the child tax credit 
                determined under section 24 of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986.
                    (D) The program of block grants to States for 
                temporary assistance for needy families under part A of 
                title IV of the Social Security Act.
                    (E) The foster care and adoption assistance program 
                under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act.
                    (F) General Assistance to Indians.
                    (G) The programs operated under the Assets for 
                Independence Act.
            (2) Medical.--
                    (A) The Medicaid program under title XIX of the 
                Social Security Act.
                    (B) The State Children's Health Insurance Program 
                under title XXI of the Social Security Act.
                    (C) Health programs operated by the Indian Health 
                Service, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban 
                Indian organizations (as those terms are defined in 
                section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 
                U.S.C. 1603)).
                    (D) The health center programs under section 330 of 
                the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b).
                    (E) The Maternal and Child Health Services Block 
                Grant program under title V of the Social Security Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.).
                    (F) The Healthy Start Initiative under section 330H 
                of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-8).
                    (G) Premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions 
                available pursuant to the Patient Protection and 
                Affordable Health Care Act (PPACA) and the amendments 
                made by such Act.
            (3) Food.--
                    (A) The supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                et seq.).
                    (B) The school lunch program under the Richard B. 
                Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et 
                seq.).
                    (C) The special supplemental nutrition program for 
                women, infants, and children under section 17 of the 
                Child Nutrition Act (42 U.S.C. 1786).
                    (D) The school breakfast program under section 4 of 
                the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
                    (E) The child and adult care food program under 
                section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
                Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766).
                    (F) The nutrition services programs under the Older 
                Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.).
                    (G) The summer food service program for children 
                under section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National 
                School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761).
                    (H) The commodity supplemental food program under 
                section 4 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection 
                Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note).
                    (I) Commodity distribution programs under the 
                Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et 
                seq.).
                    (J) The seniors farmers' market nutrition program 
                under section 3007 of Public Law 107-171 (7 U.S.C. 
                3007).
                    (K) The special milk program established under 
                section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1772).
            (4) Housing.--
                    (A) The rental assistance program under section 8 
                of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                1437f).
                    (B) The public housing program under title I of the 
                United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et 
                seq.).
                    (C) The Home Investment Partnerships Program under 
                title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 
                Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.).
                    (D) The programs for homeless assistance under 
                title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.).
                    (E) The rural housing programs under title V of the 
                Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.).
                    (F) The program for supportive housing for elderly 
                persons under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 
                (12 U.S.C. 1701q).
                    (G) The program for Native American housing block 
                grants under the Native American Housing Assistance and 
                Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et 
                seq.).
                    (H) The program for supportive housing for persons 
                with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-
                Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 
                8013).
            (5) Energy and utilities.--
                    (A) Low-income home energy assistance under the 
                Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 
                U.S.C. 8621 et seq.).
                    (B) The Lifeline Assistance Program of the Federal 
                Communications Commission and the Tribal Link Up 
                assistance program defined in section 54.413 of title 
                47, Code of Federal Regulations.
                    (C) Weatherization assistance for low-income 
                persons under part A of title IV of the Energy 
                Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et 
                seq.).
            (6) Education.--
                    (A) Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 of part IV 
                of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et 
                seq.).
                    (B) Grants for improving basic programs operated by 
                local educational agencies under part A of title I of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311 et seq.).
                    (C) Federal TRIO programs under chapter 1 of 
                subpart 2 of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.).
                    (D) Federal supplemental educational opportunity 
                grants under subpart 3 of part A of title IV the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070b et seq.).
                    (E) Programs for the education of migratory 
                children under part C of title 1 of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6391 et 
                seq.).
                    (F) Gaining early awareness and readiness for 
                undergraduate programs under chapter 2 of subpart 2 of 
                part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1070a-21 et seq.).
                    (G) The education for homeless children and youth 
                program under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-
                Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et 
                seq.).
                    (H) The leveraging educational assistance 
                partnership program of subpart 4 of part A of title IV 
                the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070c et 
                seq.).
            (7) Training.--
                    (A) Job Corps under subtitle C of title I of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3191 et seq.).
                    (B) Adult employment and training activities under 
                title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                (20 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).
                    (C) Senior community service employment programs 
                under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
                U.S.C. 3056 et seq.).
                    (D) Employment and training programs under the Food 
                and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
                    (E) Migrant and seasonal farmworker programs under 
                section 167 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                Act (29 U.S.C. 3222).
                    (F) The YouthBuild Program under section 171 of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3226).
                    (G) Native American Programs under section 166 of 
                the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3221).
            (8) Services.--
                    (A) The Social Services Block Grant program under 
                title XX of the Social Security Act.
                    (B) Programs under the Community Services Block 
                Grant Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.).
                    (C) Services for aliens admitted to the United 
                States as refugees or granted asylum in the United 
                States, and other special populations of aliens.
                    (D) State and community programs on aging that 
                receive Federal funds.
                    (E) Legal Services Corporation.
                    (F) Family planning services under title X of the 
                Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300 et seq.).
                    (G) The Emergency Food and Shelter Program for 
                homeless persons under title III of the McKinney-Vento 
                Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11331 et seq.).
                    (H) The AmeriCorps VISTA program under subtitle C 
                of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 
                1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
            (9) Child care and child development.--
                    (A) Head Start programs and Early Head Start 
                programs under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et 
                seq.).
                    (B) Programs under the Child Care and Development 
                Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.).
            (10) Community development.--
                    (A) The Community Development Block Grant Program 
                under title I of the Housing and Community Development 
                Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
                    (B) Programs administered by the Economic 
                Development Administration under the Public Works and 
                Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et 
                seq.).
                    (C) Programs administered by the Appalachian 
                Regional Commission under subtitle IV of title 40, 
                United States Code.
                    (D) Empowerment zones and enterprise communities 
                under subchapter U, and renewal communities under 
                subchapter X, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    (c) Programs Excluded.--For purposes of subsection (a), the 
following Federal programs shall not be considered means-tested welfare 
programs:
            (1) The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance 
        Benefit program under title II of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 401 et seq.).
            (2) The Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
            (3) A program designed exclusively or primarily to provide 
        to an individual benefits under title 38, United States Code, 
        or other provisions of law administered by the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs.
            (4) A program that provides for the receipt of ``regular 
        compensation'', ``extended compensation'', or ``additional 
        compensation'' (as such terms are defined by section 205 of the 
        Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act (26 U.S.C. 
        3304 note)).
            (5) The program that provides for trade adjustment 
        assistance under title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
        2251 et seq.).
            (6) Programs designed specifically to provide benefits to 
        workers to compensate for job-related injuries or illnesses.
    (d) Special Rules.--
            (1)(A) For purposes of subsection (a), only the refundable 
        portion of the following tax credits shall be considered means-
        tested welfare programs:
                    (i) The earned income tax credit under section 32 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                    (ii) The child tax credit under section 24(d) of 
                the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (B) For purposes of subsection (a), only the refundable 
        portion of the premium and out-of-pocket health care subsidies 
        to be paid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Health 
        Care Act shall be considered a means-tested welfare program.
            (C) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term 
        ``refundable portion'' means the portion of the credit which is 
        paid to an individual in excess of the amount of Federal income 
        tax owed by the individual.
            (2) For purposes of subsection (a), only the costs of the 
        free and reduced price segments of the school lunch and school 
        breakfast programs shall be considered means-tested welfare 
        programs.
    (e) Exclusion of Certain State and Local Expenditures.--For 
purposes of subsection (a), expenditures by State and local governments 
of funds that are--
            (1) obtained by the State and local government from taxes, 
        fees, or other sources of revenue established by the State or 
        local government; and
            (2) not received as any form of grant from the Federal 
        Government,
shall not be considered means-tested welfare programs, without regard 
to whether the State and local expenditures take the form of 
contributions to a Federal program described in subsection (a) or 
listed in subsection (b).

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PEOPLE-CENTERED ASSISTANCE REFORM EFFORT 
              COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the legislative branch 
a commission to be known as the ``People-Centered Assistance Reform 
Effort Commission'' or the ``CARE Commission'' (in this Act referred to 
as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission--
                    (A) shall review all means-tested welfare programs 
                within the Federal Government to--
                            (i) identify changes in law (which may 
                        include ways to streamline functions and 
                        increase efficiency within agencies or 
                        programs) that will achieve the purposes set 
                        forth in section 2;
                            (ii) evaluate whether each means-tested 
                        welfare program could be consolidated with 
                        another means-tested welfare program, or a 
                        program subject to the availability of 
                        discretionary appropriations with similar 
                        goals, and make recommendations for 
                        consolidating the programs that are identified;
                            (iii) evaluate the potential benefits of 
                        consolidating or repurposing any means-tested 
                        welfare program that does not have proven 
                        beneficial outcomes that assist in achieving 
                        purposes set forth in section 2 and make 
                        recommendations regarding consolidating or 
                        repurposing means-tested welfare programs that 
                        are identified;
                            (iv) identify opportunities and make 
                        recommendations regarding ways for the Federal 
                        Government to reduce the cost or increase the 
                        efficiency of means-tested welfare program by 
                        contracting with private entities, or 
                        delegating authority to States, to perform 
                        activities relating to the program;
                            (v) identify means-tested welfare programs 
                        and entitlement authorities that should be 
                        modified to be carried out subject to the 
                        availability of discretionary appropriations;
                            (vi) identify changes to the law that would 
                        allow caseworkers to have a wholistic view of 
                        the person and all programs for which the 
                        individual or family would be eligible, and 
                        identify other tools that caseworkers should 
                        have access to in order to achieve the goals 
                        set forth in section 2;
                            (vii) identify and eliminate benefit cliffs 
                        by designing on/off ramps such as gradual 
                        benefit reductions as individuals' wages 
                        increase, such that the gradual reduction in 
                        government benefits does not exceed the 
                        increase in wages; and
                            (viii) identify other ways to achieve the 
                        purposes set forth in section 2 as determined 
                        by the Commission;
                    (B) in carrying out subparagraph (A), establish a 
                system for evaluating the effectiveness of welfare 
                programs, which includes income and employment outcomes 
                for individuals and families in their respective 
                programs, and engage in such other activities as the 
                Committee deems appropriate to evaluate the 
                effectiveness of the programs;
                    (C) may review the offsetting receipts and 
                discretionary appropriations of the Federal Government, 
                as determined appropriate by the Commission; and
                    (D) may develop the criteria for achieving the 
                purposes set forth in section 2.
            (2) Consultation and working groups.--
                    (A) In general.--In carrying out the review under 
                paragraph (1)(A), the Commission shall--
                            (i) consult with experts in company 
                        restructuring, reorganizing, and cost cutting; 
                        and
                            (ii) establish working groups for means-
                        tested welfare programs, as determined 
                        appropriate by the Commission, to provide 
                        recommendations to the Commission.
                    (B) Members of working groups.--The individuals 
                serving on a working group established under 
                subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be employees or contractors 
                of the Commission with expertise in a program reviewed 
                by the working group.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date on 
        which all members of the Commission are appointed, and upon an 
        affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the 
        Commission, the Commission shall submit to Congress and make 
        publicly available a report containing--
                    (A) a detailed statement of the findings, 
                conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission; and
                    (B) the assumptions, scenarios, and alternatives 
                considered in reaching such findings, conclusions, and 
                recommendations.
            (4) Legislation to carry out changes in law to achieve 
        purposes.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) identify changes in law that will result in the 
                consolidation and realignment in programs and outlays 
                that will achieve the purposes set forth in section 2;
                    (B) include in the report submitted under paragraph 
                (3) a bill consisting of proposed legislative language 
                to carry out the changes in law identified under 
                subparagraph (A) (in this Act referred to as the 
                ``Commission bill''), except that the bill may not 
                include provisions creating a new program or agency, 
                unless such program or agency is the result of a 
                consolidation or realignment of existing programs and 
                agencies which will have the predicted outcome of 
                achieving the purposes of section 2; and
                    (C) include in such report an estimate of the 
                savings in outlays that will be achieved by the 
                enactment of the Commission bill, as developed in 
                conjunction with the Director of the Congressional 
                Budget Office and the Director of the Office of 
                Management and Budget.
            (5) Information to members of congress.--After submission 
        of the Commission bill under paragraph (4), the Commission 
        shall promptly provide, upon request, to any Member of Congress 
        information used by the Commission in making its 
        recommendations.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 
        members, appointed as follows:
                    (A) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                2 members.
                    (B) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                2 members.
                    (C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
                shall appoint 2 members.
                    (D) The minority leader of the House of 
                Representatives shall appoint 2 members.
            (2) Disqualifications.--An individual may not be appointed 
        as a member of the Commission if the individual was registered 
        as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 
        U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) at any time during the 5-year period 
        ending on the date of the appointment.
            (3) Chairperson.--The members of the Commission shall 
        select a Chairperson from among the members of the Commission.
            (4) Date.--Not later than 1 month after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, all members of the Commission shall be 
        appointed.
            (5) Period of designation.--Members shall be appointed for 
        the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall 
        not affect its powers, but shall be filled not later than 14 
        days after the date on which the vacancy occurs in the same 
        manner as the original appointment.
            (6) Compensation.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member of the Commission 
                shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily 
                equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed 
                for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule 
                under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, for 
                each day (including travel time) during which such 
                member is engaged in the performance of the duties of 
                the Commission.
                    (B) Travel expenses.--Members may be allowed travel 
                expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
                accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, 
                United States Code, while away from their homes or 
                regular places of business in performance of services 
                for the Commission.
    (d) Powers of the Commission.--
            (1) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
        carrying out this Act--
                    (A) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times 
                and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, 
                and administer such oaths as the Commission considers 
                advisable to carry out its duties; and
                    (B) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 
                attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the 
                production of such books, records, correspondence, 
                memoranda, papers, documents, tapes, and materials as 
                the Commission considers advisable to carry out its 
                duties.
            (2) Information from federal agencies.--The Commission may 
        request directly, or require, by subpoena or otherwise, from 
        any Federal agency such information as the Commission considers 
        necessary to carry out its duties. Upon a request of the 
        Chairperson of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency 
        shall furnish such information to the Commission.
            (3) Issuance and enforcement of subpoenas.--
                    (A) Issuance.--Subpoenas issued under paragraph (1) 
                or (2) shall bear the signature of the Chairperson of 
                the Commission and shall be served by any person or 
                class of persons designated by the Chairperson for that 
                purpose.
                    (B) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or 
                failure to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph (1) 
                or (2), the United States district court for the 
                judicial district in which the subpoenaed person 
                resides, is served, or may be found may issue an order 
                requiring such person to appear at any designated place 
                to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. 
                Any failure to obey the order of the court may be 
                punished by the court as a contempt of that court.
            (4) Witness allowances and fees.--Section 1821 of title 28, 
        United States Code, shall apply to witnesses requested or 
        subpoenaed to appear at any hearing of the Commission. The per 
        diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from 
        funds available to pay the expenses of the Commission.
            (5) Information from the congressional budget office and 
        office of management and budget.--The Commission may secure 
        directly from the Congressional Budget Office and Office of 
        Management and Budget such information, including estimates and 
        analysis, as the Commission considers advisable to carry out 
        its duties. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, 
        the Director of the Congressional Budget Office or Office of 
        Management and Budget shall furnish such information, including 
        estimates and analysis, to the Commission.
            (6) Information from the library of congress.--Upon the 
        request of the Commission, the Librarian of Congress shall 
        provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 
        administrative support services, research services, and 
        research staff necessary for the Commission to carry out its 
        responsibilities under this Act.
    (e) Staff of the Commission.--
            (1) Appointment and compensation of staff.--The Chairperson 
        may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and 
        such other employees as may be necessary to enable the 
        Commission to carry out its functions, without regard to the 
        provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
        appointments in the competitive service, but at rates not to 
        exceed the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a position 
        at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
        title 5 of the United States Code.
            (2) Agency assistance.--Upon the request of the 
        Chairperson, the head of any agency may detail an employee of 
        the agency to the Commission without reimbursement, and such 
        detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service 
        status or privilege.
    (f) Consultant, Temporary, and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairperson of the Commission is authorized to procure the services of 
experts and consultants and temporary and intermittent services in 
accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at 
rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position 
at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 
United States Code, for each day during which such consultant or expert 
is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
    (g) Consideration of Suggestions From the Public Through Website.--
In carrying out its duties under this Act, the Commission shall--
            (1) establish a website for the purpose of allowing any 
        member of the public to submit suggestions to the Commission 
        for its consideration; and
            (2) consider each such suggestion submitted through the 
        website.
    (h) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.
    (i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the day after 
the earlier of--
            (1) the date on which the Commission bill is enacted into 
        law; or
            (2) the last day of the Congress during which the 
        Commission bill is introduced in the Senate or the House under 
        section 5(a).

SEC. 5. EXPEDITED PROCEDURES.

    (a) Introduction of Commission Bill.--The Commission bill--
            (1) shall be introduced in the Senate (by request), with 
        any technical changes necessary to carry out the intent of the 
        bill, by the majority leader of the Senate or by a Member of 
        the Senate designated by the majority leader of the Senate not 
        later than 5 legislative days after the date on which the bill 
        is submitted to Congress under section 4(b)(4); and
            (2) shall be introduced in the House of Representatives (by 
        request), with any technical changes necessary to carry out the 
        intent of the bill, by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives or by a Member of the House of Representatives 
        designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives not 
        later than 5 legislative days after the date on which the bill 
        is submitted to Congress under section 4(b)(4).
    (b) Expedited Consideration in House of Representatives.--
            (1) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in the House 
        of Representatives, the Commission bill shall be placed 
        immediately on the appropriate calendar.
            (2) Proceeding to consideration.--
                    (A) In general.--It shall be in order, not later 
                than 90 legislative days after the date the Commission 
                bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, to 
                move to proceed to consider the Commission bill in the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (B) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed to consider 
                the Commission bill--
                            (i) all points of order against the motion 
                        are waived;
                            (ii) such a motion shall not be in order 
                        after the House of Representatives has disposed 
                        of a motion to proceed on the Commission bill;
                            (iii) the previous question shall be 
                        considered as ordered on the motion to its 
                        adoption without intervening motion;
                            (iv) the motion shall not be debatable; and
                            (v) a motion to reconsider the vote by 
                        which the motion is disposed of shall not be in 
                        order.
            (3) Consideration.--When the House of Representatives 
        proceeds to consideration of the Commission bill--
                    (A) the Commission bill shall be considered as 
                read;
                    (B) all points of order against the Commission bill 
                and against its consideration are waived;
                    (C) the previous question shall be considered as 
                ordered on the Commission bill to its passage without 
                intervening motion except 10 hours of debate equally 
                divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
                opponent;
                    (D) an amendment to the Commission bill shall not 
                be in order; and
                    (E) a motion to reconsider the vote on passage of 
                the Commission bill shall not be in order.
            (4) Vote on passage.--In the House of Representatives, the 
        Commission bill shall be agreed to upon a vote of a majority of 
        the Members present and voting, a quorum being present.
    (c) Expedited Consideration in Senate.--
            (1) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in the 
        Senate, the Commission bill shall be placed immediately on the 
        calendar.
            (2) Proceeding to consideration.--
                    (A) In general.--Notwithstanding rule XXII of the 
                Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later 
                than 90 legislative days after the date the Commission 
                bill is introduced in the Senate (even though a 
                previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed 
                to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the 
                Commission bill.
                    (B) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed to the 
                consideration of the Commission bill--
                            (i) all points of order against the motion 
                        are waived;
                            (ii) the motion is not debatable;
                            (iii) the motion is not subject to a motion 
                        to postpone;
                            (iv) a motion to reconsider the vote by 
                        which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to 
                        shall not be in order; and
                            (v) if the motion is agreed to, the 
                        Commission bill shall remain the unfinished 
                        business until disposed of.
            (3) Floor consideration.--
                    (A) In general.--If the Senate proceeds to 
                consideration of the Commission bill--
                            (i) all points of order against the 
                        Commission bill (and against consideration of 
                        the Commission bill) are waived;
                            (ii) consideration of the Commission bill, 
                        and all debatable motions and appeals in 
                        connection therewith, shall be limited to not 
                        more than 30 hours, which shall be divided 
                        equally between the majority and minority 
                        leaders or their designees;
                            (iii) a motion further to limit debate is 
                        in order and not debatable;
                            (iv) an amendment to, a motion to postpone, 
                        or a motion to commit the Commission bill is 
                        not in order; and
                            (v) a motion to proceed to the 
                        consideration of other business is not in 
                        order.
                    (B) Vote on passage.--In the Senate--
                            (i) the vote on passage shall occur 
                        immediately following the conclusion of the 
                        consideration of the Commission bill, and a 
                        single quorum call at the conclusion of the 
                        debate if requested in accordance with the 
                        rules of the Senate; and
                            (ii) the Commission bill shall be agreed to 
                        upon a vote of a majority of the Members 
                        present and voting, a quorum being present.
                    (C) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals 
                from the decisions of the Chair relating to the 
                application of this subsection or the rules of the 
                Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating 
                to the Commission bill shall be decided without debate.
    (d) Rules Relating to Senate and House of Representatives.--
            (1) Coordination with action by other house.--If, before 
        the passage by one House of the Commission bill of that House, 
        that House receives from the other House the Commission bill--
                    (A) the Commission bill of the other House shall 
                not be referred to a committee; and
                    (B) with respect to the Commission bill of the 
                House receiving the resolution--
                            (i) the procedure in that House shall be 
                        the same as if no Commission bill had been 
                        received from the other House; and
                            (ii) the vote on passage shall be on the 
                        Commission bill of the other House.
            (2) Treatment of commission bill of other house.--If one 
        House fails to introduce or consider the Commission bill under 
        this section, the Commission bill of the other House shall be 
        entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section.
            (3) Treatment of companion measures.--If, following passage 
        of the Commission bill in the Senate, the Senate receives the 
        companion measure from the House of Representatives, the 
        companion measure shall not be debatable.
            (4) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the Commission bill, 
        consideration of a veto message in the Senate under this 
        section shall be not more than 10 hours equally divided between 
        the majority and minority leaders or their designees.
    (e) Rules of House of Representatives and Senate.--This section is 
enacted by Congress--
            (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
        and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such is 
        deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but 
        applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in 
        that House in the case of the Commission bill, and supersede 
        other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with 
        such rules; and
            (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
        either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the 
        procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and 
        to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that 
        House.
                                 <all>