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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Stop Government Shutdowns Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

(a) In General.--If, as a result of a failure to enact a regular or
continuing appropriation Act or joint resolution, there is a lapse in
appropriations for any projects or activities of the Federal Government
that were conducted in the previous fiscal year, and for which
appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in such
fiscal year, there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other
revenues, receipts, and funds, such amounts as may be necessary for
continuing such projects or activities (including the costs of direct
loans and loan guarantees), at the current rate for operations and
under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable
appropriation Act or Acts that provided funds for the project or
activity for the previous fiscal year.
(b) Continuation Period.--Appropriations and funds made available
and authority granted for a project or activity pursuant to this Act
shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs:
(1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for such
project or activity;
(2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriation
Act for such fiscal year without any provision for such project
or activity; or
(3) the last day of the fiscal year for which such
appropriations and funds are made available or such authority
is granted for such project or activity pursuant to subsection
(a).

SEC. 3. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

(a) Extent and Manner.--Appropriations made by section 2(a) shall
be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided by
the applicable appropriation Act.
(b) Coverage.--Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant
to this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred for
any project or activity during the period for which funds or authority
for such project or activity are available under this Act.

SEC. 4. USE OF FUNDS.

(a) No New Starts.--No appropriation or funds made available or
authority granted pursuant to section 2(a) shall be used to initiate or
resume any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or
other authority were not available during the previous fiscal year.
(b) Apportionment Timing.--Appropriations made and funds made
available by or authority granted pursuant to this Act may be used
without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval of
apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United States
Code, but nothing in this Act may be construed to waive any other
provision of law governing the apportionment of funds.
(c) High Rates for Operation.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Act, except section 2(b), for those programs that would
otherwise have high rates for operation or complete distribution of
appropriations in the period for which appropriations for such programs
are made available under this Act because of distributions of funding
to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such high initial
rates for operation or complete distribution shall not be made, and no
grants shall be awarded for such programs funded by this Act that would
impinge on final funding prerogatives.
(d) Limited Funding Actions.--This Act shall be implemented so that
only the most limited funding action of that permitted in the Act shall
be taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and
activities.
(e) Prevention of Furloughs.--Amounts made available under section
2(a) for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each
department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations
necessary to avoid furloughs within such department or agency,
consistent with the applicable appropriation Act for the previous
fiscal year, except that such authority provided under this section
shall not be used until after the department or agency has taken all
necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related
administrative expenses.
(f) Pay for Members of the Armed Forces.--During a period in which
appropriations are made available under this Act for the pay of members
of the Armed Forces, the rate of pay for such members shall not be
decreased by reason of this Act.
(g) Application of Certain Authorization Requirements.--Funds
appropriated by this Act may be obligated and expended notwithstanding
section 10 of Public Law 91-672 (22 U.S.C. 2412), section 15 of the
State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2680),
section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years
1994 and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 6212), and section 504(a)(1) of the National
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414(a)(1)).

SEC. 5. ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Expenditures made pursuant to this Act shall be charged to the
applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in
which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is
contained is enacted into law.

SEC. 6. ENTITLEMENTS AND OTHER MANDATORY PROGRAMS.

(a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget
authority was provided in previous appropriation Acts, and for
activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, activities shall
be continued at the rate to maintain program levels under current law,
under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable
appropriation Act for the previous fiscal year, to be continued through
the date on which appropriations for such programs under this Act
expire (as specified in section 2(b)).
(b) Notwithstanding section 2(b)(3), obligations for mandatory
payments due on or about the first day of any month that begins after
the first month in which appropriations for such programs are made
under this Act but not later than 30 days after the date on which
appropriations for such programs under this Act expire (as specified in
section 2(b)(3)) may continue to be made, and funds shall be available
for such payments.
Stop Government Shutdowns Act - Appropriates amounts for continuing federal projects and activities at the current rate for operations and under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriation Act or Acts that provided funds for them for the previous fiscal year if, as a result of a failure to enact a regular or continuing appropriation Act or joint resolution, there is a lapse in appropriations for such projects or activities.

Makes appropriations, funds, and authority granted in this Act available until the earliest of: (1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for the project or activity concerned, (2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriation Act for such fiscal year without any provision for such project or activity, or (3) the last day of the fiscal year for which such appropriations and funds are made available or such authority is granted for such project or activity.

Prohibits appropriations or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to this Act from being used to initiate or resume any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during the previous fiscal year.

Authorizes the use of appropriations or funds made available or authority granted without regard to specified time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments requirements; but declares that nothing in this Act may be construed to waive any other provision of law governing the apportionment of funds.

Prescribes requirements for: (1) denial of high rates for operation or complete distribution of appropriations in the lapsed-appropriations period, (2) the most limited funding action for continuation of projects and activities, and (3) apportionment of funds for civilian personnel compensation and benefits as necessary to avoid furloughs. Prohibits any decrease in the pay for members of the Armed Forces during a lapsed-appropriations period.

Requires expenditures made pursuant to this Act to be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever an appropriations bill is subsequently enacted into law.

Continues at a specified maintenance rate, through the date on which appropriations for such programs under this Act expires, certain activities with respect to entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget authority was provided in previous appropriations Acts, as well as for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Space Leadership Preservation Act of
2012''.

SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATOR AND DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR.

Section 20111 of title 51, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ''Administrator.--There is
established'' and inserting ''Administrator.--
''(1) In general.--There is established'';
(B) in paragraph (1), as so designated by
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph--
(i) by inserting '', pursuant to paragraph
(2),'' after ''who shall be appointed''; and
(ii) by inserting ''The Administrator shall
serve for a term of 10 years.'' after ''and
activities thereof.''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(2) Board of directors nominations.--The President shall
appoint the Administrator under paragraph (1) from among the
list of nominees provided by the Board of Directors pursuant to
section 20118(l)(2)(A). The President shall appoint a new
Administrator not later than 3 months after the first set of
nominees is so provided by the Board of Directors. The sitting
Administrator may serve in the position until a new
Administrator appointed pursuant to this paragraph is confirmed
by the Senate.''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ''Administrator.--There shall be''
and inserting ''Administrator.--
''(1) In general.--There shall be'';
(B) in paragraph (1), as so designated by
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, by inserting '',
pursuant to paragraph (2),'' after ''who shall be
appointed''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(2) Board of directors nominations.--The President shall
appoint the Deputy Administrator under paragraph (1) from among
the list of nominees provided by the Board of Directors
pursuant to section 20118(j)(2)(B).''.

SEC. 3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

(a) Establishment.--Subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 51,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
''Sec. 20118. Board of Directors
''(a) Establishment.--There shall be established a Board of
Directors for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in
accordance with this section, not later than 9 months after the date of
enactment of the 'Space Leadership Preservation Act of 2012'.
''(b) Membership and Appointment.--The Board shall consist of 11
members to be appointed as follows:
''(1) Three members shall be appointed by the President.
''(2) Three members shall be appointed by the president pro
tempore of the Senate.
''(3) One member shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate.
''(4) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
''(5) One member shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
In addition to the members appointed under paragraphs (1) through (5),
the Administrator shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the
Board.
''(c) Qualifications.--The persons appointed as members of the
Board shall be--
''(1) former astronauts or scientists or engineers eminent
in the fields of human spaceflight, planetary science, space
science, Earth science, and aeronautics, or other scientific,
engineering, business, and social science disciplines related
to space and aeronautics;
''(2) selected on the basis of established records of
distinguished service; and
''(3) so selected as to provide representation of the views
of engineering, science, and aerospace leaders in all areas of
the Nation.
''(d) Limitation on Members.--An individual employed by or
representing an organization with which the Administration has a
contract is not eligible to serve on the Board, except for scientists
employed by or representing colleges, universities, and other not-for-
profit organizations. Additionally, a former Board member may not take
employment with or represent an organization with which the
Administration has a contract, or which is seeking such a contract, for
a period of 2 years following completion of service on the Board.
''(e) Terms.--The term of office of each member of the Board shall
be 3 years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor
was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. Any
person who has been a member of the Board for 12 consecutive years
shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment during the 2-year period
following the expiration of such 12th year.
''(f) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Board shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code.
''(g) Meetings.--The Board shall meet quarterly and at such other
times as the Chairman may determine, but the Chairman shall also call a
meeting whenever one-third of the members so request in writing. The
Board shall adopt procedures governing the conduct of its meetings,
including delivery of notice and a definition of a quorum, which in no
case shall be less than one-half plus one of the members of the Board.
''(h) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The election of the Chairman and
Vice Chairman of the Board shall take place at each first quarter
meeting occurring in an even-numbered year. The Vice Chairman shall
perform the duties of the Chairman in his absence. In case a vacancy
occurs in the chairmanship or vice chairmanship, the Board shall elect
a member to fill such vacancy.
''(i) Staff.--The Board may, with the concurrence of a majority of
its members, permit the appointment of a staff consisting of
professional staff members, technical and professional personnel on
leave of absence from academic, industrial, or research institutions
for a limited term, and such operations and support staff members as
may be necessary. Such staff shall be appointed by the Chairman and
assigned at the direction of the Board. The professional members and
limited term technical and professional personnel of such staff may be
appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the
provisions of chapter 51 of such title relating to classification, and
shall be compensated at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate payable
under section 5376 of such title, as may be necessary to provide for
the performance of such duties as may be prescribed by the Board in
connection with the exercise of its powers and functions under this
section.
''(j) Special Commissions.--The Board is authorized to establish
such special commissions as it may from time to time deem necessary for
the purposes of this section.
''(k) Committees.--The Board is also authorized to appoint from
among its members such committees as it deems necessary, and to assign
to committees so appointed such survey and advisory functions as the
Board deems appropriate to assist it in exercising its powers and
functions under this section.
''(l) Functions.--
''(1) Budget proposal.--Not later than November 15 of each
year, the Board shall provide to the President, and to the
Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a proposed budget
for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the
next fiscal year. Such budget shall--
''(A) carry out the purpose described in section
20102(h);
''(B) be based on--
''(i) the best professional judgement of
the Board;
''(ii) recommendations from the scientific,
engineering, and other technical experts
communities; and
''(iii) the recommendations of the most
recent National Research Council decadal
surveys; and
''(C) follow such decadal survey's recommended
decision rules regarding program implementation,
including a strict adherence to the recommendation that
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
include in a balanced program a flagship class mission,
which may be executed in cooperation with one or more
international partners.
''(2) Nominees for administrator, deputy administrator, and
chief financial officer.--The Board shall provide to the
President--
''(A) a list of 3 nominees from which the President
shall appoint an Administrator pursuant to section
20111(a);
''(B) a list of 3 nominees from which the President
shall appoint a Deputy Administrator pursuant to
section 20111(b); and
''(C) a list of 3 nominees from which the President
shall appoint a Chief Financial Officer pursuant to
section 205(a) of the Chief Financial Officers Act (31
U.S.C. 901(a)).
The Board shall provide the first set of nominees under this
paragraph not later than 15 months after the date of enactment
of the 'Space Leadership Preservation Act of 2012'.
''(3) Reports.--
''(A) Annual infrastructure, capabilities, and
workforce assessment.--The Board shall provide to the
President and the Congress annually a report assessing
the status of United States spaceflight infrastructure,
unique space capabilities, and the health of the United
States workforce necessary to maintain such
infrastructure and capabilities. The assessment shall
also identify areas of concern, gaps in capability
compared to foreign spaceflight capabilities, and
recommendations on how to strengthen or improve United
States capabilities and workforce.
''(B) Specific policy matter reports.--The Board
shall provide to the President and the Congress reports
on specific, individual policy matters within the
authority of the Administration (or otherwise as
requested by the Congress or the President) related to
human space flight, planetary science, earth science,
aeronautics, and science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics education, as the Board, the President, or
the Congress determines the need for such reports.
''(4) Quadrennial review.--The Board shall provide to the
President and the Congress, not later than the later of 180
days after the establishment of the Board or the third
quarterly meeting of the Board, and once every 4 years
thereafter, a quadrennial review of current space programs and
a vision for future space exploration.
''(5) Removal of administrator for cause.--The Board may
provide to the President and the Congress a report recommending
the removal of the Administrator for cause. Any such report
shall include the reasons for such recommendation.
''(m) Budget Meetings.--Portions of Board meetings in which the
Board considers the budget proposal required under subsection (l)(1)
for a particular fiscal year may be closed to the public until the
Board submits the proposal to the President and the Congress.
''(n) Financial Disclosure.--Members of the Board shall be required
to file a financial disclosure report under title II of the Ethics in
Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 92 Stat. 1836), except that such
reports shall be held confidential and exempt from any law otherwise
requiring their public disclosure.''.
(b) Table of Sections.--The table of sections for chapter 201 of
title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the
items for subchapter II the following new item:

''20118. Board of Directors.''.

SEC. 4. BUDGET PROPOSAL.

Section 30103 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
''(e) Board of Directors Proposal.--
''(1) Inclusion in president's proposed budget.--The
proposed budget for the Administration submitted to the
Congress by the President for each fiscal year shall include a
description of, and a detailed justification for, any
differences between the President's proposed budget and the
budget provided by the Board of Directors under section
20118(l)(1).
''(2) Elements of budget proposal.--Subsections (a) through
(d) of this section shall apply to the proposed budget provided
by the Board of Directors under section 20118(l)(1).''.

SEC. 5. LONG TERM CONTRACTING.

(a) Amendments.--Section 20142 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ''Contracts
regarding expendable launch vehicles'' and inserting ''Long
term contracting'';
(2) in subsection (a), by--
(A) striking ''expendable launch vehicle services''
and inserting ''rocket propulsion systems and manned
and unmanned space transportation vehicles and
payloads, including expendable launch vehicles, and any
other infrastructure intended for placement or
operation in space or on celestial bodies, and services
related thereto,''; and
(B) striking ''related to launch'' and inserting
''related to''; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ''launch services'' and
inserting ''the goods and services to have been provided under
the contract''.
(b) Table of Sections Amendment.--The item relating to section
20142 in the table of sections for chapter 201 of title 51, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:

''20142. Long term contracting.''.
Space Leadership Preservation Act of 2012 - Establishes a Board of Directors for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Sets forth Board membership and appointment criteria. Directs the President to appoint the NASA Administrator and Deputy Administrator from among a list of nominees provided by the Board.

Requires the Board to provide: (1) NASA's proposed annual budget; (2) annual reports on spaceflight infrastructure, unique space capabilities, and the workforce necessary to maintain such infrastructure and capabilities; (3) reports on specific policy matters; and (4) quadrennial reviews of current space programs and a vision for future space exploration.

Authorizes the Administrator to enter into contracts for rocket propulsion systems and manned and unmanned space transportation vehicles and payloads.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''United States Commission on
Rebuilding America for the 21st Century Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) In 1808, Albert Gallatin, while serving as President
Thomas Jefferson's Secretary of the Treasury, reported to
Congress on the infrastructure investments needed by the young
Nation.
(2) Gallatin's plan built on President George Washington's
vision of connecting the interior settlements of the Nation
with the markets and ports of the East Coast through a network
of roads and canals, and provided a roadmap for infrastructure
development in the 19th century.
(3) In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt convened a
conference of State and territorial governors, members of his
Cabinet and Congress, professional organizations, private
citizens, and government agencies to plan for the United States
conservation and infrastructure needs in the 20th century.
(4) The resulting plan laid the groundwork for many of the
critical investments initiated by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt to jumpstart the Nation's recovery from the Great
Depression.
(5) Today, as in 1808 and 1908, the United States is faced
with significant economic, environmental, and demographic
challenges.
(6) To stave off the worst effects of global warming, the
United States will need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
significantly.
(7) The Nation's population is projected to increase to 420
million by 2050, which is nearly a 50 percent increase from the
Nation's population size in 2000.
(8) By 2050, more than 70 percent of the Nation's
population growth and economic growth is expected to take place
in extended networks of metropolitan regions linked by
environmental systems, transportation networks, economies, and
culture.
(9) The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue
Study Commission recently calculated that maintaining the
Nation's existing transportation system over the next 50 years
will require $225 billion annually. The latest transportation
authorization, SAFETEA-LU, provided only $244 billion total for
the 5 years ending with fiscal year 2009.
(10) The American Society of Civil Engineers has given the
Nation's public infrastructure, consisting of water, sewer, and
transportation systems, a grade of D-minus, estimating that it
will cost $1.6 trillion over the next 5 years merely to repair
the Nation's existing infrastructure.
(11) The Nation's decaying water infrastructure and a lack
of available funding to maintain and upgrade the Nation's
wastewater infrastructure pose a serious threat to water
quality. More than 72,000 miles of municipal water and sewer
pipe are more than 80 years old, threatening the health,
environment, and economy of communities large and small.
(12) Population growth and associated development will
place the Nation's water resources under increasing stress,
including increased pollutant loads, increased potential for
flooding, diminished drinking water supplies, loss of aquatic
habitat, and stream scouring and erosion. Global warming will
exacerbate existing water challenges and make other changes to
the natural hydrology, including more extreme storm events,
more frequent droughts, higher air and water temperatures,
changes in timing of stream flows, and sea level rise. New
technologies and a comprehensive strategy will be needed to
overcome these challenges and ensure a safe, adequate,
reliable, and sustainable water supply.
(13) The Environmental Protection Agency, the Congressional
Budget Office, and other stakeholders have identified a funding
gap of between $300 billion and $400 billion over the next 20
years for the restoration and replacement of wastewater
infrastructure, and an additional $250 billion over the next 30
years will be needed to replace worn-out drinking water pipes
and associated structures.
(14) From 1999 to 2009, the Nation's electricity demand
rose by nearly 20 percent while transmission capacity grew by
only 3.5 percent. To accommodate increased demand, and to
accommodate increased electrical supply from renewable sources
by 2050, electrical transmission infrastructure requires
significant investment.
(15) The Nation's rural economy is dependant on
transportation and communications networks to grow and compete
in an increasingly globalized market.
(16) Significant under-investment in public lands
infrastructure jeopardizes the tremendous conservation,
environmental, and mixed use benefits that these lands provide
the public.
(17) Much of the Nation's infrastructure was built in the
last half of the 20th century and will reach its capacity
limits early in the 21st century. Unless new capacity is
created in roads, rails, airports, seaports, and other systems,
the Nation's economic potential will be artificially limited.
(18) Since 1980, the number of miles people in the United
States drive has grown 3 times faster than the Nation's
population. Residents of walkable cities, however, drive 26
percent fewer miles per day than those living in the most
sprawling areas.
(19) By 2050, 89 million new or replaced homes as well as
190 billion square feet of new offices, stores, and other
nonresidential buildings will be constructed.
(20) By 2050, smart growth building policies could reduce
total transportation-related CO<INF>2</INF> emissions by 7 to
10 percent.
(21) Development of a bold national plan to overcome these
challenges by 2050 will allow the United States to respond in
the most economically and environmentally sustainable way.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is established a commission to be known as the ''United
States Commission on Rebuilding America for the 21st Century'' (in this
Act referred to as the ''Commission'').

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Appointment of Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 17
members as follows:
(1) Two members, including the chairman of the Commission,
to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2) Two members to be appointed by the majority leader of
the Senate.
(3) Three members to be appointed jointly by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader
of the Senate.
(4) One member to be appointed by the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
(5) One member to be appointed by the Secretary of
Transportation.
(6) One member to be appointed by the Secretary of Housing
and Urban Development.
(7) One member to be appointed by the Secretary of the
Interior.
(8) One member to be appointed by the Secretary of Energy.
(9) One member to be appointed by the President of the
Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the National
Association of Counties, in consultation with the other members
of the Board.
(10) One member to be appointed by the Chair of the
National Governors Association.
(11) One member to be appointed by the Executive Director
of the National Conference of State Legislatures, in
consultation with the members of the Conference's executive
committee.
(12) One member to be appointed by the President of the
Board of Directors of the National Association of Regional
Councils, in consultation with the other members of the Board.
(13) One member to be appointed by the President of the
United States Conference of Mayors, in consultation with the
members of the Conference's executive board.
(b) Dates of Appointments.--The initial member appointed to the
Commission shall be the Chairman, as designated by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives under subsection (a)(1). The remainder of the
members of the Commission shall be appointed in the 30-day period
beginning on the 30th day following the date of the appointment of the
Chairman.
(c) Qualifications.--
(1) In general.--Each member of the Commission shall be
knowledgeable in--
(A) the fields of transportation finance, highway
and transit programs, and transportation policy;
(B) the fields of land use and housing policy,
including community planning and design;
(C) the fields of water supply, water
infrastructure, and water conservation policy; or
(D) the fields of energy supply, energy
infrastructure, and energy conservation policy.
(2) Eligibility of certain representatives.--The members of
the Commission--
(A) may include representatives of State and local
governments, public transportation authorities, and
other appropriate governmental units; but
(B) may not include any member of the House of
Representatives, the Senate, or the President's
Cabinet.
(d) Terms.--The members of the Commission shall be appointed for
the life of the Commission.
(e) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled
promptly and in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(f) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the last
day of the appointment period described in section 4(b), the
Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission.
(2) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
chairman of the Commission or a majority of its members.
(3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may
hold hearings.
(g) Pay.--Members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
(h) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 5. DUTIES.

(a) Review of Published Materials.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall review published
materials on the Nation's transportation, water, energy, public
lands, and housing infrastructure and, based on the review,
assess the challenges of meeting the Nation's infrastructure
needs in the 21st century.
(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 120 days after the
last day of the appointment period described in section 4(b),
the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the review
and assessment conducted under paragraph (1) and make the
report available to the public.
(b) Public Hearings.--In order to facilitate a national dialogue on
the Nation's infrastructure needs, the Commission shall hold public
hearings in at least 50 congressional districts representing a cross-
section of the geographical regions of the United States, and consult
with other interested persons, before submitting a final report under
subsection (c)
(c) Final Report.--
(1) National vision of infrastructure investments.--Not
later than one year after the last day of the appointment
period described in section 4(b), the Commission shall prepare
and submit to Congress a report that--
(A) documents the challenges of meeting the
Nation's transportation, water, energy, public lands,
and housing infrastructure needs in the 21st century;
and
(B) articulates a national vision of infrastructure
investments to overcome the challenges.
(2) Specific recommendations.--The report to be submitted
under paragraph (1) shall contain specific recommendations on
appropriate policies and investments, including integration of
existing programs, to provide the people of the United States
with--
(A) improved transportation mobility, choice, and
access to economic opportunities;
(B) streamlined investment processes to facilitate
State and local transportation investments;
(C) improved community health outcomes and social
equity;
(D) improved water conservation, quality, and
quantity;
(E) an efficient, vibrant, and flexible electric
grid that delivers clean, safe, and affordable energy;
(F) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; and
(G) improved public lands infrastructure sufficient
to accommodate the growth in users without degrading
the environmental and conservation values of the public
lands.
(3) Model principles.--The report to be submitted under
paragraph (1) shall contain a set of model principles to ensure
that future investments in the Nation's transportation, water,
energy, public lands, and housing infrastructure incorporate
the findings and recommendations contained in the report.

SEC. 6. POWERS.

(a) Hearings and Sessions.--For the purpose of carrying out this
Act, the Commission may hold such hearings, meet and act at such times
and places, take such testimony, administer such oaths, and receive
such evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Other Evidence.--The Commission shall gather evidence through
such means as the Commission considers appropriate, including--
(1) by soliciting comments through Federal Register
notices; and
(2) by receiving testimony at public hearings conducted by
members of the Commission, at the direction of the chairman of
the Commission, subject to appropriate rules governing the
receiving of evidence.
(c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly
from any department or agency of the United States information (other
than information required by any law to be kept confidential by such
department or agency) necessary for the Commission to carry out its
duties under this Act. Upon request of the Commission, the head of that
department or agency shall furnish such nonconfidential information to
the Commission.
(d) Contracts.--The Commission may enter into contracts with other
entities in carrying out the duties of the Commission.
(e) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--To the extent or in the amounts
provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the Commission may accept,
use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or
property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or
facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of
money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts,
bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be
available for disbursement upon order of the Chairperson.
(f) 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.
(g) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities
under this Act.

SEC. 7. STAFF.

(a) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of such
personnel as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, the
head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable
basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the
Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under
this Act.
(c) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily
equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the
General Schedule.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$2,500,000.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

The Commission shall terminate on the 180th day following the date
of transmittal of the final report required under section 5(c). All
records and papers of the Commission shall thereupon be delivered to
the Administrator of General Services for deposit in the National
Archives.
United States Commission on Rebuilding America for the 21st Century Act - Establishes the United States Commission on Rebuilding America for the 21st Century to review published materials on the nation's transportation, water, energy, public lands, and housing infrastructure and assess the challenges of meeting the nation's infrastructure needs in the 21st century.

Directs the Commission to submit to Congress a report that: (1) documents those challenges and articulates a national vision of infrastructure investments to overcome them; (2) contains specific recommendations on policies and investments to provide for streamlined state and local transportation investment processes, an electric grid that delivers clean, safe, and affordable energy, reductions in greenhouse has emissions, and improved transportation mobility, community health outcomes, water conservation, and public lands infrastructure accommodating user growth without degrading the environment; and (3) contains a set of model principles to ensure that future investments in the nation's infrastructure incorporate the report's findings and recommendations.