[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 3493 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3493
To establish a commission to study employment and economic insecurity
in the United States workforce.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 18, 2011
Mr. Hastings of Florida introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to study employment and economic insecurity
in the United States workforce.
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 ``National Commission on Employment
and Economic Security Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Americans' commitment to economic participation has
been a defining feature of the cultural fabric of the United
States, helping individuals feel positive about themselves,
develop independence, and maintain hope for the future.
(2) As Americans lose their jobs and their incomes shrink,
too often, they also face the loss of their family's health
insurance and, subsequent to the loss of income, even their
housing.
(3) Since the recession began in December 2007, more than 9
million jobs have been lost. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, by September 2011, the unemployment rate had
climbed to 9.1 percent. The scope of the economic downturn is
so large that its impact is felt almost everywhere along the
economic spectrum.
(4) As of September 2011, the number of unemployed persons
had reached 14 million, and the unemployment rate has hovered
between 9.0 and 9.2 percent since April 2011, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(5) The number of long-term unemployed workers (i.e., those
jobless for 27 weeks or more) was 6.2 million in September 2011
and has increased by almost 26 percent since the start of the
recession in 2007.
(6) According to an American Psychological Association
September 2010 report, money (76 percent), work (70 percent)
and the economy (65 percent) remain the most frequently cited
sources of stress for Americans.
(7) The loss of a job and the subsequent loss of income,
insurance, and other benefits from that job have been proven to
not only lead to increased stress but also be substantial
triggers for mental health disorders including depression and
anxiety.
(8) Calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
increased by more than 72 percent from 2007 to 2010.
(9) One-third of people going through foreclosure are
clinically depressed.
(10) According to a 2010 American Psychological Association
report, job stability is on the rise as a source of stress;
nearly half (49 percent) of adults reported that job stability
was a source of stress in 2010 (compared to 44 percent in
2009). At the same time, fewer Americans are satisfied with the
ways their employer helps them balance work and non-work
demands (36 percent compared to 42 percent in 2009).
(11) Research shows that time flexible work policies are
associated with less stress, fewer absences from work, and more
employer loyalty.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``National
Commission on Employment and Economic Security''.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall--
(1) examine the issues of economic and psychological
insecurity of members of the United States workforce caused by
employment displacement;
(2) gather data on the relationship between (A)
psychological stress caused by employment insecurity and
economic insecurity, (B) the increase in mental health
disorders including clinical depression and anxiety in the
United States, and (C) increased violence by employees and
former employees in the workplace and in their private lives;
(3) analyze the psychological impact of increased workplace
responsibilities and stress on current workers due to
downsizing, and the role of workplace flexibility policies in
alleviating stress on these remaining workers;
(4) examine the economic and psychological effects of the
decreasing number of well-paid jobs on members of the United
States workforce and their families;
(5) analyze whether measures may be taken to reduce said
economic and psychological effects; and
(6) recommend potential solutions, including
recommendations for legislative and administrative action, to
alleviate the problems of economic and psychological insecurity
of members of the United States workforce.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 17
members, with expertise in research methods or statistics, who shall be
appointed as follows:
(1) 9 individuals appointed by the President, of which--
(A) 2 members shall be individuals who represent
labor organizations as defined by section 2(5) of the
National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5));
(B) 2 members shall be individuals who represent
business interests;
(C) 2 members shall be individuals who represent
mental health interests; and
(D) 3 members shall be individuals who represent
relevant Federal agencies.
(2) 2 individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(3) 2 individuals appointed by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives.
(4) 2 individuals appointed by the majority leader of the
Senate.
(5) 2 individuals appointed by the minority leader of the
Senate.
(b) Qualifications.--
(1) In general.--Members shall be experts in the fields of
labor, employment, economics, and psychology.
(2) Political affiliation.--Political affiliation shall not
be a factor in the appointment of members.
(c) Deadline for Appointment.--Each member shall be appointed to
the Commission not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(d) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of the
Commission.
(e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(f) Basic Pay.--Members shall serve without pay.
(g) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(h) Quorum.--8 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum
but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(i) Chairperson.--
(1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be
elected by the members not later than 30 days after the date on
which all of the original members of the Commission have been
appointed.
(2) Presidential appointment.--If the members of the
Commission are unable to elect the Chairperson in accordance
with paragraph (1), the President shall appoint a member of the
Commission to be the Chairperson.
(j) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
SEC. 6. STAFF OF COMMISSION.
(a) Staff.--The Chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of the
personnel of the Commission as the Chairperson considers appropriate.
(b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The staff of the
Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service,
and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification
and General Schedule pay rates.
(c) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Chairperson,
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 it in carrying out its duties under this
Act.
SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places,
take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers
appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to
witnesses appearing before it.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
(c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly
from any Federal department or agency information necessary to enable
it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the
Commission, the head of that department or agency shall provide that
information to the Commission.
(d) Mail.--The Commission may use the United States mail in the
same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal departments
and agencies.
(e) 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.
(f) Immunity.--The Commission is an agency of the United States for
purpose of part V of title 18, United States Code (relating to immunity
of witnesses).
(g) Subpoena Power.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may issue a subpoena to
require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the
production of evidence relating to any matter described in
paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 4.
(2) Failure to obey an order or subpoena.--If a person
refuses to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph (1), the
Commission may apply to a United States district court for an
order requiring that person to appear before the Commission to
give testimony, produce evidence, or both, relating to the
matter under investigation. The application may be made within
the judicial district where the hearing is conducted or where
that person is found, resides, or transacts business. Any
failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the
court as civil contempt.
(3) Service of subpoenas.--The subpoenas of the Commission
shall be served in the manner provided for subpoenas issued by
a United States district court under the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure for the United States district courts.
(h) Contract Authority.--The Commission may contract with and
compensate government and private agencies or persons for supplies or
services, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41
U.S.C. 5).
SEC. 8. REPORT OF COMMISSION.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which all original members
have been appointed to the Commission, the Commission shall transmit to
the President and Congress a report that contains a detailed statement
of the findings and recommendations of the Commission made pursuant to
section 4.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
(a) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the
date of submission of the report pursuant to section 8.
(b) Administrative Activities Before Termination.--The Commission
may use the 60-day period referred to in paragraph (a) for the purpose
of concluding its activities, including providing testimony to
committees of Congress concerning its reports and disseminating the
second report.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000
for fiscal year 2012 for use in the development and implementation of
plans under this Act.
(b) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by
subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.
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