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106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5593
To establish a Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 27, 2000
Mr. Portman (for himself and Mr. Condit) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform.
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 ``Bipartisan Commission on Social
Security Reform Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The 2000 Report of the Social Security Board of
Trustees projects that the receipts financing the Social
Security trust funds will fall below its outgo in 2015 and the
trust funds will be depleted in 2037. At that time only 72
percent of Social Security benefits would be payable then with
incoming receipts.
(2) The primary reason is demographic: the post-World War
II baby boomers will begin retiring in less than a decade and
life expectancy is rising. By 2025 the number of people age 65
and older is predicted to grow by 75 percent. In contrast, the
number of workers supporting the system would grow by 13
percent.
(3) If there are no other surplus governmental receipts,
policymakers would have 3 choices: raise taxes or other income,
cut spending, or borrow the money. Mirroring this adverse
outlook are public opinion polls showing that fewer than 50
percent of respondents are confident that Social Security can
meet its long-term commitments. There also is a widespread
perception that Social Security may not be as good a value in
the future as it is today.
(4) While it is accepted that Social Security reform is
needed without undue delay, there clearly is no consensus on
how this should be accomplished. This was evident by the Report
of the 1994-1996 Social Security Advisory Council, which
provided 3 very different plans but none of which received a
majority's endorsement. It also is reflected by the many bills
introduced in the 105th Congress and the 106th Congress and
proposals by the administration that represent a diversity of
approaches to Social Security reform. As a result of
differences within Congress and with the administration, there
has been no movement on Social Security reform.
(5) This state of affairs shows the need to develop
consensus legislation between Congress and the administration
that can be enacted into law without undue delay. To accomplish
this there is to be established a Bipartisan Commission on
Social Security Reform charged with developing a unified
proposal to ensure the long-term retirement security of
Americans.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established in the legislative branch a Bipartisan
Commission on Social Security Reform (in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall design a single set of legislative and
administrative recommendations for long-range reforms for restoring the
solvency of the Social Security system, and maintaining retirement
income security in the United States.
SEC. 5. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 17
members, of whom--
(1) 3 members shall be selected by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, 1 from among Members of the House, and 2
from among private citizens;
(2) 3 members shall be selected by the majority leader of
the Senate, 1 from among Members of the Senate, and 2 from
among private citizens;
(3) 3 members shall be selected by the minority leader of
the House of Representatives, 1 from among Members of the
House, and 2 from among private citizens;
(4) 3 members shall be selected by the minority leader of
the Senate, 1 from among Members of the Senate, and 2 from
among private citizens; and
(5) 5 members shall be selected by the President, 2 from
among officers of the executive branch of the United States
Government, and 3 from among private citizens.
The Commissioner of Social Security shall be an ex officio, nonvoting
member of the Commission.
(b) Qualifications.--The members of the Commission shall consist of
individuals who are of recognized standing and distinction who can
represent the multiple generations who have a stake in the viability of
the Social Security system, and who possess a demonstrated capacity to
discharge the duties imposed on the Commission. At least 1 of the
members shall be appointed from individuals representing the interests
of employees, and at least 1 of the members shall be appointed from
individuals representing the interests of employers.
(c) Chair.--The officials referred to in paragraphs (1) through (5)
of subsection (a) shall designate a member of the Commission to serve
as Chair of the Commission (or 2 of the members of the Commission to
serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission) who shall chair (or jointly
chair) the Commission, determine its duties, and supervise its staff.
(d) Terms of Appointment.--The members of the Commission shall be
appointed not more than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act. The members of the Commission shall serve for the life of the
Commission.
(e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect the
power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the Commission
but any such vacancy shall be filled in the same manner in which the
original appointment was made.
SEC. 6. PROCEDURES.
(a) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of its Chair
(or Co-Chairs) or a majority of its members. If after 30 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, 9 or more members of the Commission
have been appointed, members who have been appointed may meet and
select the Chair (or Co-Chairs) who thereafter shall have the authority
to begin the operations of the Commission, including the hiring of
staff.
(b) Quorum.--A quorum shall consist of nine members of the
Commission, except that a lesser number may conduct a hearing under
subsection (c).
(c) Hearings and Other Activities.--For the purpose of carrying out
its duties, the Commission may hold such hearings and undertake such
other activities as the Commission determines necessary to carry out
its duties.
(d) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the
Commissioner of Social Security and the head of any other agency or
instrumentality of the Federal Government shall furnish information
deemed necessary by the panel to enable it to carry out its duties.
SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Compensation.--Except as provided in subsection (b), members of
the Commission shall receive no additional pay, allowances, or benefits
by reason of their service on the Commission.
(b) Travel Expenses and Per Diem.--Each member of the Commission
who is not a present Member of the Congress and who is not otherwise an
officer or employee of the Federal Government shall receive travel
expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance with
sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(c) Staff and Support Services.--
(1) Staff director.--
(A) Appointment.--The Chair (or Co-Chairs) in
accordance with the rules agreed upon by the Commission
shall appoint a staff director for the Commission.
(B) Compensation.--The staff director shall be paid
at a rate not to exceed the rate established for level
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title
5, United States Code.
(2) Staff.--The Chair (or Co-Chairs) in accordance with the
rules agreed upon by the Commission shall appoint such
additional personnel as the Commission determines to be
necessary.
(3) Applicability of civil service laws.--The staff
director and other members of the staff of the Commission shall
be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and shall be paid without regard to the provisions of
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(4) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the
Commission, the staff director may procure temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code.
(d) Physical Facilities.--The Architect of the Capitol, in
consultation with the appropriate entities in the legislative branch,
shall locate and provide suitable office space for the operation of the
Commission on a nonreimbursable basis. The facilities shall serve as
the headquarters of the Commission and shall include all necessary
equipment and incidentals required for the proper functioning of the
Commission.
(e) Administrative Support Services and Other Assistance.--
(1) Upon the request of the Commission, the Architect of
the Capitol, the Commissioner of Social Security, and the
Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission on a nonreimbursable basis such administrative
support services as the Commission may request.
(2) In addition to the assistance set forth in paragraphs
(1) and (2), departments and agencies of the United States may
provide the Commission such services, funds, facilities, staff,
and other support services as the Commission may deem advisable
and as may be authorized by law.
(g) Use of Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as Federal agencies
and shall, for purposes of the frank, be considered a commission of
Congress as described in section 3215 of title 39, United States Code.
(h) Printing.--For purposes of costs relating to printing and
binding, including the cost of personnel detailed from the Government
Printing Office, the Commission shall be deemed to be a committee of
the Congress.
SEC. 8. REPORT.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the first meeting of the
Commission, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of
the Senate a report which shall contain a detailed statement of the
findings and conclusions of the Commission, including the set of
recommendations required under section 4. The report shall be approved
by at least nine members of the Commission.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting its final
report.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for the activities of the Commission. Until such time as
funds are otherwise specifically appropriated for such activities,
$2,000,000 shall be available for the activities of the Commission from
funds otherwise currently appropriated for administrative expenses of
the Social Security Administration pursuant to section 201(g)(1)(A) of
the Social Security Act.
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