[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 199 Introduced in House (IH)]
103d CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 199
To establish a Commission on Retirement Income Policy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 1993
Mr. Hughes (for himself and Mr. Boehlert) introduced the following
bill; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Education and
Labor, and Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Commission on Retirement Income Policy.
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 ``Commission on Retirement Income
Policy Act of 1993''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the Commission on
Retirement Income Policy (in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').
SEC. 3. DUTIES.
(a) In General.--The Commission shall conduct a full and complete
review and study of--
(1) trends in retirement savings in the United States;
(2) existing Federal incentives and programs that are
established to encourage and protect such savings; and
(3) new Federal incentives and programs that are needed to
encourage and protect such savings.
(b) Specific Issues.--In fulfilling the duty described in
subsection (a), the Commission shall address--
(1) the amount and sources of Federal and private funds,
including tax expenditures (as defined in section 3 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622)), needed to
finance the incentives and programs referred to in subsection
(a)(2) and any new Federal incentive or program that the
Commission recommends be established;
(2) the most efficient and effective manner, considering
the needs of retirement plan sponsors for simplicity,
reasonable cost, and appropriate incentives, of ensuring that
individuals in the United States will have adequate retirement
savings;
(3) the amounts of retirement income that future retirees
will need to replace various levels of preretirement income,
including amounts necessary to pay for medical and long-term
care;
(4) the workforce and demographic trends that affect the
pensions of future retirees;
(5) the role of retirement savings in the economy of the
United States;
(6) sources of retirement income other than private
pensions that are available to individuals in the United
States; and
(7) the shift away from insured and qualified pension
benefits in the United States.
(c) Recommendations.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall formulate
recommendations based on the review and study conducted under
subsection (a). The recommendations shall include measures that
address the needs of future retirees for--
(A) appropriate pension plan coverage and other
mechanisms for saving for retirement;
(B) an adequate retirement income;
(C) preservation of benefits they accumulate by
participating in pension plans;
(D) information concerning pension plan benefits;
and
(E) procedures to resolve disputes involving such
benefits.
(2) Effect on federal budget deficit.--A recommendation of
the Commission for a new Federal incentive or program that
would result in an increase in the Federal budget deficit shall
not appear in the report required under section 7 unless it is
accompanied by a recommendation for offsetting the increase.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 18
members appointed not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act. The Commission shall consist of the
following members:
(A) 4 individuals appointed by the President.
(B) 7 individuals appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(C) 7 individuals appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate.
(2) Consultation with minority leaders.--3 of the
appointments made under paragraph (1)(B) shall be made in
consultation with the minority leader of the House of
Representatives. 3 of the appointments made under paragraph
(1)(C) shall be made in consultation with the minority leader
of the Senate.
(3) Qualifications.--The individuals referred to in
paragraph (1) shall be Members of the Congress, leaders of
business or labor, distinguished academics, or other
individuals with distinctive qualifications or experience.
(b) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of the
Commission.
(c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled not
later than 90 days after the date of the creation of the vacancy in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d) Compensation.--
(1) Rates of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title
5, United States Code.
(e) Quorum.--10 members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum, but 6 members may hold hearings, take testimony, or receive
evidence.
(f) Chairperson.--The chairperson of the Commission shall be
elected by a majority vote of the members of the Commission.
(g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
chairperson of the Commission.
(h) Decisions.--Decisions of the Commission shall be made according
to the vote of not less than a majority of the members who are present
and voting at a meeting called pursuant to subsection (g).
SEC. 5. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
(a) Executive Director.--The Commission shall have an executive
director appointed by the Commission. The Commission shall fix the pay
of the executive director.
(b) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of
additional personnel as it considers appropriate.
(c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The executive
director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments
in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(d) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code, at rates the Commission determines to be appropriate.
(e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, the
head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of
the personnel of the agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying
out its duties under this Act.
(f) 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. 6. POWERS.
(a) Hearings and Sessions.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Public hearings.--The Commission may hold public
hearings to receive the views of a broad spectrum of the public
on the status of the private retirement system of the United
States.
(b) Delegation of Authority.--Any member, committee, 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) Information.--
(1) Information from federal agencies.--
(A) In general.--The Commission may secure directly
from any Federal agency information necessary to enable
it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the
Commission, the head of the Federal agency shall
furnish the information to the Commission.
(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to
any information that the Commission is prohibited to
secure or request by another law.
(2) Public surveys.--The Commission may conduct the public
surveys necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. In
conducting such surveys, the Commission shall not be considered
an agency for purposes of chapter 35 of title 44, United States
Code.
(d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.
(e) Contract and Procurement Authority.--The Commission may make
purchases, and may contract with and compensate government and private
agencies or persons for property or services, without regard to--
(1) section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5); and
(2) title III of the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.).
(f) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts of
services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of
assisting the work of the Commission. Gifts of money and proceeds from
sales of property received as gifts shall be deposited in the Treasury
and shall be available for disbursement upon order of the Commission.
For purposes of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, property
accepted under this subsection shall be considered as a gift to the
United States.
(g) Volunteer Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31,
United States Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and
uncompensated services as the Commission determines necessary.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than December 31, 1993, the Commission shall submit a
report to the President, the majority and minority leaders of the
Senate, and the majority and minority leaders of the House of
Representatives. The report shall review the matters that the
Commission is required to study under section 3 and shall set forth the
recommendations of the Commission.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than the expiration of the
90-day period beginning on the date on which the Commission submits its
report under section 7.
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