Q: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Commission on Measures of Household
Economic Security Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) Federal and State governments, policymakers,
legislators, and private sector entities depend on the economic
statistics that are published by the Federal Government;
(2) Federal economic statistics are used, among other
things--
(A) to judge our Nation's economic performance over
time; and
(B) to provide policymakers and legislators with
the information necessary to design appropriate
economic policies and other programs to address the
well-being of American individuals and households;
(3) questions have been raised about the sufficiency of
existing reported economic measures and statistics to provide a
meaningful and accurate reflection and assessment of the
economic well-being of American individuals and households;
(4) the most commonly reported economic statistics, such as
gross domestic product, unemployment rate, and consumer price
indices, do not adequately or accurately reflect the economic
status of average American individuals and households; and
(5) a more accurate, transparent, coherent, and
comprehensive assessment of the economic well-being of American
households and regular reporting of such information would
allow Federal and State governments--
(A) to better track and judge the economic status
of average Americans; and
(B) to develop better, more accurate, and more
responsive policies to address concerns that are more
directly relevant to American households.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION ON MEASURES OF HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC
SECURITY.

(a) Establishment.--There is established the Commission on Measures
of Household Economic Security (referred to in this Act as the
''Commission'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 8
members of whom--
(A) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of
the Senate, in consultation with the chairmen and
ranking members of the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate, and the Joint Economic Committee, of whom 1
shall be an employee of the Bureau of Economic
Analysis;
(B) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the Senate, in consultation with the chairmen and
ranking members of the committees referred to in
subparagraph (A), of whom 1 shall be an employee of the
Census Bureau;
(C) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, in consultation with the
chairmen and ranking members of the Committee on
Financial Services of the House of Representatives; the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives; and the Joint Economic Committee, of
whom 1 shall be an employee of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics; and
(D) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the House of Representatives, in consultation with the
chairmen and ranking members of the committees referred
to in subparagraph (C), of whom 1 shall be an employee
of the Federal Reserve.
(2) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be--
(A) appointed on a nonpartisan basis; and
(B) academic or government policy experts in the
field of economics, statistics, or other specialty
field that is directly related to the duties of the
Commission described in section 4(a).
(3) Date.--The members of the Commission shall be appointed
not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed
for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment.
(d) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The Commission shall select a
Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members.
(e) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date
on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the
Commission shall hold its first meeting.
(2) Regular meetings.--During the life of the Commission,
the Commission shall meet--
(A) at the call of the Chairman; and
(B) not less frequently than once every 3 months.
(f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting the business of the
Commission, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(g) Rules.--The Commission may establish by majority vote any other
rules for the conduct of the Commission's business, in accordance with
the provisions of this Act and other applicable law.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) Study.--The Commission shall identify, study, and evaluate--
(1) existing economic statistics and data collected and
reported by agencies of the Federal Government that describe
the economic well-being of American households;
(2) ways to synthesize, expand, augment, improve, and
modernize the statistical measures described in paragraph (1)
to provide a more accurate, transparent, coherent, and
comprehensive assessment of the economic well-being of American
households by--
(A) determining the cost, logistics, implementation
time, and reliability of producing new statistics;
(B) recommending improved standards and
methodologies for measuring and reflecting the economic
well-being of American individuals and households; and
(C) considering the development of statistical
measures to describe--
(i) the current debt situation of American
individuals and households, including a
description of the categories of debt, such as
credit card debt, education related loans, and
mortgage payments;
(ii) the movement of Americans between
salaried jobs with benefits to single or
multiple wage jobs with limited or no benefits,
including a comparison of income that includes
the value of benefits programs, such as health
insurance and retirement plans;
(iii) the percentage of Americans who are
covered by both employer-provided and
individual health care plans and the extent of
health care coverage per dollar paid by both
employers and employees;
(iv) the savings rate, including both
standard savings plans and pension plans;
(v) the disparity in income distribution
over time and between different demographic and
geographic groups;
(vi) the number of Americans receiving cash
or near cash transfer payments from the Federal
Government and a State government and the
percentage of household income represented by
such benefits; and
(vii) the breakdown of household
expenditures between categories such as food,
shelter, medical expenses, debt servicing, and
energy;
(D) the relevance, development, and implementation
of nonmarket satellite accounts, including accounts
related to--
(i) household production;
(ii) investments in formal education and
the resulting stock of skill capital;
(iii) investments in health and the
resulting stock of health capital;
(iv) activities of the non-profit and
volunteer sectors; and
(v) environmental assets and services.
(b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under this section, the
Commission shall consult with relevant government leaders,
representative citizen groups, and experts, including--
(1) the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors;
(2) the Secretary of Commerce;
(3) the Secretary of Labor;
(4) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(5) the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers;
(6) the Comptroller General of the United States;
(7) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency;
(8) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(9) the Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis;
(10) the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics;
(11) the Committee on National Statistics, National
Research Council at the National Academies; and
(12) representative groups of citizens, from sample
populations selected through methodologies and procedures
recommended by appropriate experts, that represent national
geographic, economic, and employment diversity.
(c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the first
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit a report to
Congress that contains--
(1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of
the Commission; and
(2) recommendations for such legislation and administrative
actions as the Commission considers appropriate, including--
(A) a list of economic statistics that should be
reported regularly to more accurately reflect the
economic status and well-being of American households,
and the uses and benefits of such statistics;
(B) the costs, logistics, estimated implementation
time, and reliability of producing the statistics
referred to in subparagraph (A); and
(C) the need for, and benefits of, establishing a
standing commission after the termination of the
Commission to address or recommend actions with respect
to--
(i) household economic information;
(ii) non-market satellite accounts; and
(iii) other economic indicators and
measurements that are the subject of study and
evaluation by the Commission.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this Act.
(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may secure such information
directly from any Federal department or agency as the
Commission determines to be necessary to carry out this Act.
Upon request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head of
such department or agency shall furnish such information to the
Commission.
(2) Confidentiality.--The Commission shall maintain the
same level of confidentiality for such information made
available under this subsection as is required of the head of
the department or agency from which the information was
obtained.
(c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
(d) Contract Authority.--
(1) In general.--Subject to the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.),
the Commission may enter into contracts with Federal and State
agencies, private firms, institutions, and individuals for the
conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its duties
and responsibilities.
(2) Duration.--A contract, lease, or other legal agreement
entered into by the Commission may not extend beyond the date
of the termination of the Commission.

SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

(a) Compensation of Members.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2),
each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee
of the Federal Government may be compensated at a rate equal to
the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay
for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 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.
(2) Federal employees.--All members of the Commission who
are officers or employees of the United States shall serve
without compensation in addition to that received for their
services as officers or employees of the United States.
(b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the
Commission.
(c) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Chairman of the Commission may,
without regard to the civil service laws and regulations,
appoint and terminate an executive director and such other
additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the
Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an
executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the
Commission.
(2) Compensation.--The Chairman of the Commission may fix
the compensation of the executive director and other personnel
without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of
positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate
of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not
exceed the rate payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of such title.
(3) Personnel as federal employees.--
(A) In general.--The executive director and any
personnel of the Commission who are employees shall be
employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States
Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87,
89, 89A, 89B, and 90 of such title.
(B) Members of board.--Subparagraph (A) may not be
construed to apply to members of the Commission.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government
employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement. Such
detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.
(e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The
Chairman of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of such title.
(f) Volunteer Services.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31,
United States Code, the Commission may--
(A) accept and utilize the services of volunteers
serving without compensation; and
(B) reimburse such volunteers for local travel and
office supplies, and for other travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with section 5703 of title 5, United States
Code.
(2) Status.--A person providing volunteer services to the
Commission shall be considered an employee of the Federal
Government in the performance of those services for the
purposes of--
(A) chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code
(relating to compensation for work related injuries);
(B) chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code
(relating to conflicts of interest); and
(C) chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code
(relating to tort claims).
(g) Administrative Support.--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.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the
Commission submits the report under section 4(c).

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--Of the amounts made available for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics for fiscal year 2009, not less than $2,500,000 shall
be made available for the activities of the Commission under this Act.
(b) Availability.--The amounts made available for the activities of
the Commission under subsection (a) shall remain available until the
date on which the Commission is terminated pursuant to section 7.
A:
Commission on Measures of Household Economic Security Act of 2008 - Establishes a Commission on Measures of Household Economic Security to study and report to Congress on: (1) existing economic statistics and data collected and reported by federal agencies about the economic well-being of American households; and (2) ways to improve and modernize these statistical measures to provide a more accurate, transparent, coherent, and comprehensive assessment of that economic well-being.