Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer

Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer

Order Code RL30260
Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer
Updated July 16, 2008
Wendy Ginsberg
Analyst in American National Government
Government and Finance Division

Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer
Summary
Federal advisory committees are frequently chartered by the Chief Executive,
Congress, and agency heads to render independent advice and to make
recommendations. An advisory committee can be established by congressional
legislation, by presidential executive order or directive, or by an agency head under
general agency administrative authority. By virtue of their ad hoc status, advisory
committees can circumvent normal bureaucratic constraints to provide diverse points
of view in matters of public policy within a definite time frame. Whether designated
as commissions, committees, councils, or task forces, these independent study bodies
have dealt with social crises, policy issues, and technical problems of major
proportions. Commissions provide a flexible option, since their composition,
organization, and working arrangements may be varied through the specific mandates
establishing them.
Congress formally acknowledged the merits of using advisory committees to
obtain expert views drawn from business, academic, government, and other interests
when it enacted the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in 1972 (5 U.S.C.
Appendix — Federal Advisory Committee Act; 86 Stat. 770, as amended). The
legislative history pertaining to FACA reveals that Congress had two major concerns
about advisory committees before 1972. The first concern was that the public
perceived many advisory committees as duplicative and inefficient, and otherwise
lacking adequate controls or oversight. The second concern was the widespread
belief that advisory committees did not adequately represent the public interest, and
that committee meetings were too often closed to the public. Congressional
enactment of FACA established the first requirements for the management and
oversight of federal advisory committees to ensure impartial and relevant expertise.
FACA requires that the advice provided by advisory committees be objective and
accessible to the public, and that committee membership be “fairly balanced in terms
of the points of view represented.” Pursuant to FACA requirements, the General
Services Administration (GSA) maintains and administers management guidelines
for commissions. During FY2007, GSA reported a total of 922 advisory committees,
composed of 51,755 members, which provided advice and recommendations to 57
departments and agencies. The total reported cost to operate these advisory
committees during FY2007 was more than $352.6 million.
Introduced on April 3, 2008, H.R. 5687 would amend FACA to require that
advisory committee members be appointed without regard to political affiliation. The
GSA Administrator would be authorized to issue regulations and guidelines to
ensure that advisory committees provide impartial advice and expertise. The
legislation would also require FACA provisions to be made applicable to any
subcommittee or subgroup established by a federal advisory committee. On April 9,
the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ordered H.R. 5687 to
be reported, as amended, by voice vote (H.Rept. 110-650). The House passed the
legislation under a suspension of the rules on June 24, 2008.

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Federal Advisory Committee Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Statutory Intent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Major Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
GSA’s Administrative Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Congressional Initiatives in the 110th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Commission Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Commission Establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Commission Mandate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Membership Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Member Compensation and Travel Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Commission Staffing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Commission Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Powers of a Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
By-Laws and Procedural Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Commission Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
FACA Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Commission Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Appendix: Commissions Created by the Omnibus Consolidated and
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (112 Stat. 2681) . . . . . . . . . 11
Commission on Online Child Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
National Commission on Terrorism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
International Financial Institution Advisory Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
International Monetary Fund Advisory Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Land Between the Lakes Advisory Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Trade Deficit Review Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The Denali Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
President’s Council on Counter-Narcotics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Parents’ Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust Citizen Advisory Board . . . . . . 35
Canyon Ferry-Broadwater County Trust Advisory Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer
Introduction1
Although George Washington is usually credited with initiating the tradition of
the President seeking outside advice when he appointed an ad hoc group of
commissioners in 1794 to deal with the Whiskey Rebellion, it was not until the 20th
century that the Chief Executive, Congress, and agency heads began to make
extensive use of such panels to render independent advice and recommendations.
Whether designated as commissions, committees, councils, or task forces, these
independent study bodies have dealt with social crises, policy issues, and technical
problems of major proportions.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
Statutory Intent. Congress formally acknowledged the merits of using
advisory committees to obtain expert views drawn from business, academic,
government, and other interests when it enacted the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA) in 1972.2
The legislative history pertaining to FACA reveals that Congress had two major
concerns about advisory committees before 1972. The first concern was that the
public perceived many commissions as duplicative and inefficient, and otherwise
lacking adequate controls or oversight. The second concern was the widespread belief
that advisory committees did not adequately represent the public interest, and that
committee meetings were too often closed to the public.
Congressional enactment of FACA established the first requirements for the
management and oversight of federal commissions to ensure impartial and relevant
expertise. As required by FACA, the General Services Administration (GSA)
administers and provides management guidelines for commissions. GSA also
submits an annual report to the President and Congress based on the information
provided by the federal agencies concerning the meetings, costs, and membership of
advisory committees. During FY2007, GSA reported a total of 922 advisory
committees, composed of 51,755 members, which provided advice and
recommendations to 57 departments and agencies. The total reported cost to operate
these advisory committees during FY2007 was more than $352.6 million.3
1 This report was originally written by Stephanie Smith, who has retired from CRS. Readers
may contact Wendy Ginsberg with questions on Federal Advisory Committee issues.
2 5 U.S.C. Appendix — Federal Advisory Committee Act; 86 Stat. 770, as amended.
3 The FACA annual reports and database can be found at [http://fido.gov/facadatabase].

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Major Provisions. FACA requires that the advice provided by advisory
committees be objective and accessible to the public. Each federal commission
meeting is presumptively open to the public, with certain specified exceptions.
Adequate notice of meetings must be published in advance in the Federal Register.
Subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, all papers, records,
and minutes of meetings must be made available for public inspection. FACA also
contains general guidelines for membership, mandating that any legislation
establishing a committee be “fairly balanced in terms of the points of view
represented and the functions to be performed,” and that the commission’s
recommendations not be inappropriately influenced by the appointing authority or by
any special interest.
In the 35 years since FACA’s enactment in 1972, congressional oversight
hearings have revealed that, while FACA’s original goals were still relevant, some
of its provisions were in need of clarification. From 1983 through 1989, legislation
was introduced in the Senate to strengthen FACA’s management controls, as well as
to establish new ethical, financial, and conflict of interest disclosure requirements for
committee members.4 In 1997, FACA was amended to provide for public observation
of meetings of committees created by the National Academies of Sciences and Public
Administration in support of executive branch decisionmaking processes.5
GSA’s Administrative Guidance. Each advisory committee must file an
annual charter with GSA containing its mandate and duties, frequency of meetings,
and membership. There is no provision in FACA that requires or defines by-laws for
advisory committees. However, as part of its ongoing oversight function, GSA began
issuing administrative and interpretive guidelines in 1983 pertaining to the
implementation of FACA. These final rules provide guidance for advisory committee
chairpersons, and are reprinted in GSA’s annual FACA report.
The GSA guidelines authorize the secretary of each agency to appoint a
Designated Federal Officer for each commission. The GSA administrator makes the
appointments for those independent presidential commissions not under agency
jurisdiction. The Designated Federal Officers are responsible for implementing the
procedural rules pertaining to: approving and calling advisory committee meetings;
approving agendas; adjourning meetings; and chairing meetings when directed by
agency heads.
Of particular importance is the guidance that GSA provides to the agency
Committee Management Officers (CMOs) for the management and procedural
operations of advisory committees. Their responsibilities include those delegated to
the agency head, as well as keeping the necessary records pertaining to committee
charters and formal submissions to GSA’s annual report.
Commission statutes can also contain procedural references pertaining to voting
requirements, elections of chairpersons, membership appointments, and vacancies.
4 S. 1641 was introduced on July 19, 1983, and S. 2127 was introduced on Nov. 17, 1983;
S. 2721 was introduced on Aug. 10, 1988, and S. 444 was introduced on Feb. 23, 1989.
5 111 Stat. 2689.

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Congressional Initiatives in the 110th Congress
On April 2, 2008, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a hearing
to address the implementation and effectiveness of FACA. Testimony was heard
from government officials representing GSA, the Government Accountability Office,
the Department of Defense, and from the private sector on ways to strengthen
FACA’s membership requirements and applicability guidelines.6 The following day,
H.R. 5687 was introduced to amend FACA and would require that advisory
committee members be appointed without regard to political affiliation. Executive
branch agency heads would be authorized to require members serving on agency
advisory committees to fully disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. The
GSA Administrator would be authorized to issue regulations and guidelines to
ensure that advisory committees provide impartial advice and expertise. The
legislation would also require FACA provisions to be made applicable to any
subcommittee or subgroup established by a federal advisory committee. In addition,
H.R. 5687 would require each executive branch agency to publish advanced
notification of advisory committee meetings on the agency’s website and to provide
written transcripts of all advisory committee proceedings. On April 3, H.R. 5687 was
referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and, on
April 9, the bill was ordered to be reported, as amended (H.Rept. 110-650). Under
a suspension of the rules, the House passed the bill on June 24, 2008.
Commission Examples
The 12 commissions created by the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act ,7 are used here to illustrate the various options
available for creating independent study bodies. They are as follow: Commission on
Online Child Protection;8 National Commission on Terrorism;9 International
Financial Institution Advisory Commission;10 International Monetary Fund Advisory
Committee;11 Land Between the Lakes Advisory Board;12 Trade Deficit Review
Commission;13 Denali Commission;14 President’s Council on Counter-Narcotics;15
6 Ralph Lindeman, “Rep. Clay to Introduce House Legislation to Reform Federal Advisory
Committee Act,” BNA, Inc., Daily Report for Executives, no. 64 (Apr. 3, 2008), p. A-16.
7 112 Stat. 2681; P.L. 105-277; Oct. 21, 1998.
8 112 Stat. 2681-728.
9 112 Stat. 2681-210.
10 112 Stat. 2681-220.
11 112 Stat. 2681-228.
12 112 Stat. 2681-314.
13 112 Stat. 2681-547.
14 112 Stat. 2681-637.
15 112 Stat. 2681-688.

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Parents’ Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse;16 Montana Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Trust Citizen Advisory Board;17 Canyon Ferry-Broadwater County
Trust Advisory Committee;18 and the Advisory Commission on Electronic
Commerce.19 These major policy and technical commissions were established to
provide timely policy guidance on diverse issues of importance to Congress and the
public. The complete text of the statutory charters for these 12 commissions can be
found at the end of this report.
Commission Establishment
A commission’s establishment is generally prescribed in a brief introductory
paragraph in the first section of the enacting statute. The Commission on Online
Child Protection20 was established as follows:
There is hereby established a temporary Commission to be known as the
Commission on Online Child Protection ... for the purpose of conducting a study
under this section regarding methods to help reduce access by minors to material
that is harmful to minors on the Internet.
Sometimes legislation may authorize an agency head to create an advisory panel
at a later date, as illustrated by the following language: “The Secretary of the
Treasury should establish an International Monetary Fund Advisory Committee.” 21
As stated earlier, the President also has the authority to establish his own
commissions by executive order. Congress can also authorize national or
“presidential” study bodies by statute, as it did when it established the President’s
Council on Counter-Narcotics.22 This 18 member council, chaired by the President,
is mandated to “advise and assist” the President in overseeing and coordinating
national drug control strategy.
Commission Mandate
Often, one of the initial sections of a statute establishing a major advisory
committee provides congressional “findings” identifying the conditions justifying the
creation of a panel. For instance, the establishment authority for the Trade Deficit
Review Commission23 contained six major findings pertaining to U.S. trade and
16 112 Stat. 2681-689.
17 112 Stat. 2681-716.
18 112 Stat. 2681-718.
19 112 Stat. 2681-722.
20 112 Stat. 2681-728.
21 112 Stat. 2681-228.
22 112 Stat. 2681-688.
23 112 Stat. 2681-547.

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account deficits that led to congressional determination of the need to authorize a
commission study.
A section on “duties” and “functions” generally specifies the commission’s
mandate or responsibilities. The statutory charter of the National Commission on
Terrorism24 prescribed three specific duties for the commission: to review and assess
the federal statutes and policies relating to counterterrorism; and to recommend
changes in preventing and punishing international terrorism directed toward this
country.
A study commission’s objectives and the scope of its activities are best stated
in specific terms to guide the panel’s members and staff in carrying out their
responsibilities. Ideally, the assigned objectives of a commission should be realistic
and manageable, taking into consideration the time needed for appointment of staff,
research, and approval of the commission’s final report. The legislation authorizing
the Trade Deficit Review Commission contained a separate “issues to be addressed”
section listing eight specific areas for review as the commission undertakes its
deliberations and research in preparation of the final report.
Membership Requirements
Membership requirements in FACA are broad enough to allow a great deal of
discretion in determining the composition of a commission. Therefore, the
membership of an advisory committee will often depend upon its functions and
mandate.
The legislation mandating a commission may require that particular federal
officials serve as members. The President’s Council on Counter-Narcotics is
composed of 18 members, including the President, Vice President, and other cabinet
officers, such as the Secretaries of State, Treasury, Defense, Transportation, Health
and Human Services, and Education. The Advisory Commission on Electronic
Commerce25 requires membership consisting of the Secretaries of Commerce and
Treasury, and the United States Trade Representative. The President may also be
required to make appointments to major policy commissions created by Congress;
the 16-member Parents’ Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse26 specifies four
presidential appointments from the private sector.
Major policy commissions often require membership appointments by
congressional leaders. The statutory charter for the Trade Deficit Commission
contains the following membership requirements:
The Commission shall be composed of 12 members as follows:
24 112 Stat. 2681-210.
25 112 Stat. 2681-722.
26 112 Stat. 2681-689.

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(i) Three persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the
Senate upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate, after
consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Finance;
(ii) Three persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the
Senate upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate, after
consultation with the ranking minority members of the Committee on Finance;
(iii) Three persons shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Ways
and Means; and
(iv) Three persons shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House
of Representatives, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the
Committee on Ways and Means.
Commission charters may also require that members be appointed from the
private sector to represent particular interests. Scientific or technical advisory
committees are likely to have a majority of members who have specialized
backgrounds, but are still representative of different points of view or employment.
Members appointed to the International Monetary Fund Advisory Committee are
required to include representatives from industry, agriculture, organized labor,
banking and financial services, environmental, and human rights organizations.
The selection of members representing different points of view helps to ensure
that a commission’s final recommendations or report does not give the appearance
of being inappropriately influenced by any special interests.
FACA does not provide guidance on the number of members a commission or
committee should have or their terms of appointment. The membership generally
should be large enough to allow for representation of differing points of view and to
facilitate a quorum for commission meetings. Advisory committees of short-term
existence usually keep the same members for the committee’s duration, with any
vacancies filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.
Some advisory panels may have staggered membership terms so that only one
portion of the members will be new at any given time, thereby ensuring continuity
in the committee’s operations. The 16 members of the Parents’ Advisory Council on
Youth Drug Abuse are appointed to three-year terms; however, five of the initial
appointments are for a one-year term, and an additional five appointments are for a
term of two years to ensure staggered terms of office.
It is also possible for enabling legislation to specify how officers of an advisory
panel are to be selected. The chairman of the 11-member International Financial
Institution Advisory Commission,27 for example, is designated by the majority leader
of the Senate, after consultation with the Speaker of the House, and the minority
leaders of the House and the Senate. In contrast, the chairman and the vice-chairman
of the Parents’ Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse are chosen by the
commission membership. The chairman assigns committee duties relating to the
council, such as authorizing the executive director to convene hearings and other
administrative business.
27 112 Stat. 2681-220.

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The statutory authority of the seven-member Denali Commission28 authorizes
the Governor of Alaska, or an individual selected by the governor, to serve as the
state co-chairperson. In addition, a federal co-chairperson is appointed by the
Secretary of Commerce from nominations submitted by the President pro temporare
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The federal co-chairperson serves as an
employee of the Department of Commerce, and may be removed by the Commerce
secretary for cause. This individual is responsible for developing a research plan, and
also casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie vote by the commission members.
Member Compensation and Travel Expenses
Advisory panel members who are not federal employees or officers may or may
not receive compensation for their work on a commission. Members of the National
Commission on Terrorism, who are not government employees, are paid at a rate:
... not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed
for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United
States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is
engaged in performing the duties of the commission.
They may also be allowed travel expenses and per diem:
... 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.
Commission Staffing
Pressures of time are often not compatible with an advisory committee’s
mandate for detailed research and investigation, and a staff must be quickly
assembled. Generally speaking, the staff is composed of the executive director, staff
members, and consultants. The quality of the final report can produce tension
between the staff members and commission members; however, commission
members make the final decisions on conflicting interpretations and
recommendations.
Provisions in the legislation creating the Trade Deficit Review Commission
authorize the chairman, without regard to the Title 5 requirements, to appoint and
terminate an executive director, subject to confirmation by the Commission. The
chairman may compensate the executive director and staff:
... without regard to the provisions of 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 V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
28 112 Stat. 2681-637.

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The Trade Deficit Commission is also authorized to obtain administrative
support services from the General Services Administration, on a reimbursable basis.
Advisory panels may also use the services of outside consultants and experts as
defined in 5U.S.C.3109(b). The Denali Commission contains language authorizing
the chairman to employ temporary and intermittent services at pay rates not to exceed
the daily equivalent for level V of the Executive Schedule.
Federal employees may also be detailed to staff an advisory committee. The
Commission on Online Child Protection, for example, is authorized to request staff
and necessary resources from the Department of Commerce. Statutory language
creating the National Commission on Terrorism authorizes the chairman to request
the detail of any federal agency personnel, without reimbursement, to assist in
carrying out its duties.
Commission Reports
A commission may be required to prepare an interim, an annual, or a final report
for transmittal to the President and Congress, or other department heads. These
reporting requirements usually can be found under the “duties” or “functions”
sections of a panel’s statutory charter, or a special section may mandate the
production of a final report. The Parents’ Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse
is authorized to issue annual reports, in addition to any other reports or
recommendations it considers appropriate, to the Director of National Drug Control
Policy, and, subsequently, to Congress.
Since the recommendations contained in the final report are only advisory, no
changes in public policy occur on the authority of a commission. Therefore, the
implementation of such recommendations is dependent upon their expression in a
statute or presidential or agency directive, as appropriate.
To ensure greater accountability for, and oversight of, a panel’s final report,
specific provisions can be included in the establishment authority to require follow-
up or implementation of the final recommendations. As an example, the International
Financial Advisory Commission’s statutory mandate requires the President, through
the Secretary of the Treasury, to report to the appropriate oversight committees
within three months after receiving the commission’s final report and
recommendations. In addition, the President, through the Secretary of the Treasury,
must report annually on the implementation of any of the commission’s final
recommendations for three years following the commission’s termination.
Another approach is to require a commission to incorporate its final
recommendations into formal legislative or administrative language. The final report
of the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce must include “such legislative
recommendations as required to address the findings” of the commission’s research.

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Powers of a Commission
Explicit authority is needed for accomplishing the special duties for which an
advisory committee might be responsible. Vesting a commission with subpoena
power, however, is done on a very selective basis, depending largely upon the
investigatory mission of the panel. In another example, the Trade Deficit Review
Commission is authorized to hold hearings, take testimony, receive evidence, and use
the franking privilege in the same manner as other federal agencies. At the request
of the chairperson, the commission may also secure information directly from any
federal agency.
By-Laws and Procedural Requirements
Specific procedural requirements can often be found in the statutory mandate
that establishes an advisory panel. For example, the National Commission on
Terrorism’s enabling statute contains a section entitled “Administrative Matters”
which sets requirements for meeting times and quorums. Commission statutes can
also contain references to other procedural rules such as voting requirements, election
of a chairperson, membership vacancies, and appointments.
Unless otherwise addressed in a commission’s statutory mandate, GSA’s
Designated Federal Officers are responsible for implementing the procedural rules
pertaining to approving and calling advisory committees; approving agendas;
adjourning meetings; and chairing meetings when directed by agency heads.
Commission Funding
GSA reported that, in FY2007, federal departments and agencies spent a total
of $626.9 million to operate advisory panels, compensate members, and reimburse
travel and per diem expenses. Of this total, nearly $154.7 million was spent to
reimburse federal staff support assigned by the agencies to assist and monitor their
advisory committees.29
Commissions may be directly funded by Congress or provided with monies
indirectly through general agency appropriations, as in the case of the Commission
on Online Child Protection. Congress has authorized a one-time appropriation of $2
million for the Trade Deficit Review Commission for FY1999, while the National
Commission on Terrorism is authorized $20 million for FY1999, and such sums as
may be necessary for FY2000 through FY2003.
Although it happens rarely, a federal advisory commission can also receive
funds from private sources. The Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce is
authorized to
... accept, use, and dispose of gifts or grants of services or property, both real and
personal, for purposes of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission.
29 This information is available at [http://fido.gov/facadatabase].

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Gifts or grants not used at the expiration of the Commission shall be returned to
the donor or grantor.
In addition to its congressional funding, the Denali Commission is also authorized
to accept and dispose of gifts, donations of services or property.
When allowing the acceptance of private gifts or donations, the commission’s
statutory mandate might also include a reference to the accounting procedures that
may be necessary to allow for public disclosure of said funds. If a commission does
not receive congressional funding or agency sponsorship, thought must be given as
to how the proposed panel will go about finding suitable office space, or
administrative assistance in general. Ideally, a statutory provision in the
commission’s mandate will provide the necessary guidance. If not, the newly formed
commission will find itself at a disadvantage that could hinder and adversely affect
the research and work of the group.
FACA Exemption
Congress may exempt an advisory panel from FACA requirements, as was done
in the case of the Commission on Online Child Protection and the Denali
Commission.
When a commission is exempted from FACA’s guidelines, it also is exempted
from complying with GSA’s management guidelines for advisory committees. As
a result, a commission would not be required to file an annual report with GSA with
membership, funding, and meeting data. It would not have to publish advance notice
of meetings in the Federal Register. However, the final recommendations of a
commission can be criticized or ignored if it is perceived that its findings are made
without regard to public participation and the consideration of diverse points of view.
Commission Termination
Unless statutorily mandated or otherwise extended by the President or a federal
officer, an advisory committee will automatically terminate two years after its
establishment. Consequently, most advisory committees must be rechartered with
GSA every two years. Most statutory national study commissions are mandated so
as to terminate 30 days after the submission of a final report.

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Appendix: Commissions Created by the Omnibus
Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act (112 Stat. 2681)
Commission on Online Child Protection
(112 Stat. 2681-728)
SEC. 1405. STUDY BY COMMISSION ON ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION.
(a) Establishment. — There is hereby established a temporary Commission to
be known as the Commission on Online Child Protection (in this section referred to
as the “Commission”) for the purpose of conducting a study under this section
regarding methods to help reduce access by minors to material that is harmful to
minors on the Internet.
(b) Membership. — The Commission shall be composed of 19 members, as
follows:
(1) Industry members. — The Commission shall include — (A) 2 members
who are engaged in the business of providing Internet filtering or blocking
services or software; (B) 2 members who are engaged in the business of
providing Internet access services; (C) 2 members who are engaged in the
business of providing labeling or ratings services; (D) 2 members who are
engaged in the business of providing Internet portal or search services; (E) 2
members who are engaged in the business of providing domain name
registration services; (F) 2 members who are academic experts in the field of
technology; and (G) 4 members who are engaged in the business of making
content available over the Internet.
Of the members of the Commission by reason of each subparagraph of this
paragraph, an equal number shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and by the Majority Leader of the Senate.
(2) Ex officio members. — The Commission shall include the following
officials:
(A) The Assistant Secretary (or the Assistant Secretary’s designee).
(B) The Attorney General (or the Attorney General’s designee).
(C) The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (or the chairman’s
designee).
(c) Study. —
(1) In general. — The Commission shall conduct a study to identify
technological or other methods that — (A) will help reduce access by minors to
material that is harmful to minors on the Internet; and (B) may meet the
requirements for use as affirmative defenses for purposes of section 231(c) of
the Communications Act of 1934 (as added by this title). Any methods so
identified shall be used as the basis for making legislative recommendations to
the Congress under subsection (d)(3).
(2) Specific methods. — In carrying out the study, the Commission shall
identify and analyze various technological tools and methods for protecting

CRS-12
minors from material that is harmful to minors, which shall include (without
limitation) —
(A) a common resource for parents to use to help protect minors (such
as a “one-click-away” resource); (B) filtering or blocking software or
services; (C) labeling or rating systems; (D) age verification systems; (E)
the establishment of a domain name for posting of any material that is
harmful to minors; and (F) any other existing or proposed technologies or
methods for reducing access by minors to such material.
(3) Analysis. — In analyzing technologies and other methods identified
pursuant to paragraph (2), the Commission shall examine — (A) the cost of
such technologies and methods; (B) the effects of such technologies and
methods on law enforcement entities; (C) the effects of such technologies and
methods on privacy; (D) the extent to which material that is harmful to minors
is globally distributed and the effect of such technologies and methods on such
distribution; (E) the accessibility of such technologies and methods to parents;
and ( F) such other factors and issues as the Commission considers relevant and
appropriate.
(d) Report. — Not later than 1 year after the enactment of this Act, the
Commission shall submit a report to the Congress containing the results of the study
under this section, which shall include —
(1) a description of the technologies and methods identified by the study
and the results of the analysis of each such technology and method;
(2) the conclusions and recommendations of the Commission regarding
each such technology or method;
(3) recommendations for legislative or administrative actions to
implement the conclusions of the committee; and
(4) a description of the technologies or methods identified by the study
that may meet the requirements for use as affirmative defenses for purposes of
section 231(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (as added by this title).
(e) Staff and Resources. — The Assistant Secretary for Communication and
Information of the Department of Commerce shall provide to the Commission such
staff and resources as the Assistant Secretary determines necessary for the
Commission to perform its duty efficiently and in accordance with this section.
(f) Termination. — The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the
submission of the report under subsection (d).
(g) Inapplicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. — The Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.
SEC. 1406. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect 30 days after
the date of enactment of this Act.

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National Commission on Terrorism
(112 Stat. 2681-210)
SEC. 591.
(a) Establishment of National Commission on Terrorism. —
(1) Establishment. — There is established a national commission on
terrorism to review counter-terrorism policies regarding the prevention and
punishment of international acts of terrorism directed at the United States. The
commission shall be known as “The National Commission on Terrorism.”
(2) Composition. — The commission shall be composed of 10 members
appointed as follows:
(A) Three members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the
Senate.
(B) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(C) Two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(D) Two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House
of Representatives.
(E) The appointments of the members of the commission should be made
no later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Qualifications. — The members should have a knowledge and expertise
in matters to be studied by the commission.
(4) Chair. — The Speaker of the House of Representatives, after
consultation with the majority leader of the Senate and the minority leaders of
the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall designate one of the
members of the Commission to serve as chair of the Commission.
(5) Period of appointment: vacancies. — Members shall be appointed for
the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointment.
(6) Security clearances. — All Members of the Commission should hold
appropriate security clearances.
(b) Duties. —
(1) In general. — The commission shall consider issues relating to
international terrorism directed at the United States as follows:
(A) Review the laws, regulations, policies, directives, and practices
relating to counterterrorism in the prevention and punishment of
international terrorism directed towards the United States.
(B) Assess the extent to which laws, regulations, policies, directives,
and practices relating to counterterrorism have been effective in
preventing or punishing international terrorism directed towards
the United States. At a minimum, the assessment should include
a review of the following:
(i) Evidence that terrorist organizations have established an
infrastructure in the western hemisphere for the support and
conduct of terrorist activities.

CRS-14
(ii) Executive branch efforts to coordinate counterterrorism
activities among Federal, State, and local agencies and with
other nations to determine the effectiveness of such
coordination efforts.
(iii) Executive branch efforts to prevent the use of nuclear,
biological, and chemical weapons by terrorists.
(C) Recommend changes to counterterrorism policy in preventing and
punishing international terrorism directed toward the United States.
(2) Report. — Not later than 6 months after the date on which the
Commission first meets, the Commission shall submit to the President and the
Congress a final report of the findings and conclusions of the commission,
together with any recommendations.
(c) Administrative Matters. —
(1) Meetings. —
(A) The commission shall hold its first meeting on a date designated
by the Speaker of the House which is not later than 30 days after
the date on which all members have been appointed.
(B) After the first meeting, the commission shall meet upon the call
of the chair.
(C) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
(2) Authority of individuals to act for commission. — Any member
or agent of the commission may, if authorized by the commission, take any
action which the commission is authorized to take under this section.
(3) Powers. —
(A) 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 its duties.
(B) The commission may secure directly from any agency of the
Federal Government such information as the commission
considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of
the chair of the commission, the head of a department or agency
shall furnish the requested information expeditiously to the
commission.
(C) 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.
(4) Pay and expenses of commission members. —
(A) Subject to appropriations, each member of the commission who
is not an employee of the government shall be paid at a rate not
to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay
prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section
5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including
travel time) during which such member is engaged in
performing the duties of the commission.
(B) Members and personnel for the commission may travel on
aircraft, vehicles, or other conveyances of the Armed Forces of
the United States when travel is necessary in the performance of

CRS-15
a duty of the commission except when the cost of commercial
transportation is less expensive.
(C) The members of the commission may 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.
(D) (i) A member of the commission who is an annuitant otherwise
covered by section 8344 of 8468 of title 5, United States Code,
by reason of membership on the commission shall not be subject
to the provisions of such section with respect to membership on
the commission.
(ii) A member of the commission who is a member or former
member of a uniformed service shall not be subject to the
provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 5532 of such title
with respect to membership on the commission.
(5) Staff and administrative support. —
(A) The chairman of the commission may, without regard to civil service
laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and
up to three additional staff members as necessary to enable the
commission to perform its duties. The chairman of the commission
may fix the compensation of the executive director and other
personnel without regard to the provisions of 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 may not exceed the maximum rate of pay for GS-15
under the General Schedule.
(B) Upon the request of the chairman of the commission, the head of any
department or agency of the Federal Government may detail, without
reimbursement, any personnel of the department or agency to the
commission to assist in carrying out its duties. The detail of an
employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status
or privilege.
(d) Termination of commission. — The commission shall terminate 30 days
after the date on which the commission submits a final report.
(e) Funding. — There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

CRS-16
International Financial Institution Advisory
Commission
(112 Stat. 2681-220)
Sec. 603. (a) In General. — The Secretary of the Treasury shall establish an
International Financial Institution Advisory Commission (in this section referred to
as the “Commission”).
(b) Membership. —
(1) In general. — The Commission shall be composed of 11 members, as
follows:

(A) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(B) 3 members appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.
(C) 5 members appointed jointly by the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(2) Timing of appointments. — All appointments to the Commission shall
be made not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) Chairman. — The Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation
with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leaders of
the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall designate 1 of the members
of the Commission to serve as Chairman of the Commission.
(c) Qualifications. —
(1) Expertise. — Members of the Commission shall be appointed from
among those with knowledge and expertise in the workings of the international
financial institutions (as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of the International
Financial Institutions Act), the World Trade Organization, and the Bank for
International Settlements.
(2) Former affiliation. — At least 4 members of the Commission shall be
individuals who were officers or employees of the Executive Branch before
January 20, 1992, and not more than half of such 4 members shall have served
under Presidents from the same political party.
(d) Period of Appointment; Vacancies. — Members shall be appointed for the
life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment was made.
(e) Duties of the Commission. — The Commission shall advise and report to
the Congress on the future role and responsibilities of the international financial
institutions (as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of the International Financial
Institutions Act), the World Trade Organization, and the Bank for International
Settlements. In carrying out such duties, the Commission shall meet with and advise
the Secretary of the Treasury or the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and shall
examine —
(1) the effect of globalization, increased trade, capital flows, and other
relevant factors on such institutions; (2) the adequacy, efficacy, and desirability
of current policies and programs at such institutions as well as their suitability
for respective beneficiaries of such institutions; (3) cooperation or duplication

CRS-17
of functions and responsibilities of such institutions; and (4) other matters the
Commission deems necessary to make recommendations pursuant to
subsection (g).
(f) Powers and Procedures of the Commission. —
(1) Hearings. — The Commission or, at its direction, any panel or member
of the Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this
section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, receive
evidence, and administer oaths to the extent that the Commission or any panel
or member considers advisable.
(2) Information. — The Commission may secure directly information that
the Commission considers necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its
responsibilities under this section.
(3) Meetings. — The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman.
(g) Report. — On the termination of the Commission, the Commission shall
submit to the Secretary of the Treasury and the appropriate committees a report that
contains recommendations regarding the following matters:
(1) Changes to policy goals set forth in the Bretton Woods Agreements Act
and the International Financial Institutions Act.
(2) Changes to the charters, organizational structures, policies and
programs of the international financial institutions (as defined in section
1701(c)(2) of the International Financial Institutions Act).
(3) Additional monitoring tools, global standards, or regulations for,
among other things, global capital flows, bankruptcy standards, accounting
standards, payment systems, and safety and soundness principles for financial
institutions.
(4) Possible mergers or abolition of the international financial institutions
(as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of the International Financial Institutions Act),
including changes to the manner in which such institutions coordinate their
policy and program implementation and their roles and responsibilities.
(5) Any additional changes necessary to stabilize currencies, promote
continued trade liberalization and to avoid future financial crises.
(h) Termination. — The Commission shall terminate 6 months after the first
meeting of the Commission, which shall be not later than 30 days after the
appointment of all members of the Commission.
(i) Reports by the Executive Branch. —
(1) Within three months after receiving the report of the
Commission under subsection (g), the President of the United States
through the Secretary of the Treasury shall report to the appropriate
committees on the desirability and feasibility of implementing the
recommendations contained in the report.
(2) Annually, for three years after the termination of the
Commission, the President of the United States through the Secretary
of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate committees a report
on the steps taken, if any, through relevant international institutions
and international fora to implement such recommendations as are
deemed feasible and desirable under paragraph (1).

CRS-18
International Monetary Fund Advisory Committee
(112 Stat. 2681-228)
SEC. 1503. ADVOCACY OF POLICIES TO ENHANCE THE GENERAL
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
(b) Advisory Committee on IMF Policy. — Section 1701 of such act (22
U.S.C. 262p-5) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(e) Advisory Committee on IMF Policy. —
(1) In general. — The Secretary of the Treasury should establish an
International Monetary Fund Advisory Committee (in this subsection referred
to as the Advisory Committee’).
(2) Membership. — The Advisory Committee should consist of members
appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, after appropriate consultations with
the relevant organizations. Such members should include representatives from
industry, representatives from agriculture, representatives from organized labor,
representatives from banking and financial services, and representatives from
nongovernmental environmental and human rights organizations.’‘

CRS-19
Land Between the Lakes Advisory Board
(112 Stat. 2681-314)
SEC. 522. ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) Establishment. — Not later than 90 days after the date of transfer pursuant
to section 541, the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall establish the Land Between the
Lakes Advisory Board.
(b) Membership. — The Advisory Board shall be composed of 17 members,
of whom —
(1) 4 individuals shall be appointed by the Secretary, including —
(A) 2 residents of the State of Kentucky; and (B) 2 residents of
the State of Tennessee;
(2) 2 individuals shall appointed by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
Commissioner or designee;
(3) 1 individual shall be appointed by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife
Commission or designee;
(4) 2 individuals shall be appointed by the Governor of the State of
Tennessee;
(5) 2 individuals shall be appointed by the Governor of the State of
Kentucky; and
(6) 2 individuals shall be appointed by appropriate officials of each of the
3 counties containing the Recreation Area.
(c) Term. —
(1) In general. — The term of a member of the Advisory Board shall be 5
years.
(2) Succession. — Members of the Advisory Board may not succeed
themselves.
(d) Chairperson. — The Regional Forester shall serve as chairperson of the
Advisory Board.
(e) Rules of Procedure. — The Secretary shall prescribe the rules of procedure
for the Advisory Board.
(f) Functions. — The Advisory Board may advise the Secretary on —
(1) means of promoting public participation for the land and resource
management plan for the Recreation Area; and (2) environmental education.
(g) Meetings. —
(1) Frequency. — The Advisory Board shall meet at least biannually.
(2) Public meeting. — A meeting of the Advisory Board shall be open to
the general public.
(3) Notice of meetings. — The chairperson, through the placement of
notices in local news media and by other appropriate means shall give 2
weeks’ public notice of each meeting of the Advisory Board.
(h) No Termination. — Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Advisory Board.

CRS-20
Trade Deficit Review Commission
(112 Stat. 2681-547)
Sec.127. TRADE DEFICIT REVIEW COMMISSION.
(a) Short Title. — This section may be cited as the “Trade Deficit Review
Commission Act.”
(b) Findings. — Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States continues to run substantial merchandise trade and
current account deficits.
(2) Economic forecasts anticipate continued growth in such deficits in the
next few years.
(3) The positive net international asset position that the United States built
up over many years was eliminated in the 1980s. The United States today has
become the world’s largest debtor nation.
(4) The United States merchandise trade deficit is characterized by large
bilateral trade imbalances with a handful of countries.
(5) The United States has one of the most open borders and economies in
the world. The United States faces significant tariff and non-tariff trade barriers
with its trading partners. The United States does not benefit from fully
reciprocal market access.
(6) The United States is once again at a critical juncture in trade policy
development. The nature of the United States trade deficit and its causes and
consequences must be analyzed and documented.
(c) Establishment of Commission. —
(1) Establishment. — There is established a commission to be known as
the Trade Deficit Review Commission (hereafter in this section referred to as
the “Commission”).
(2) PURPOSE. — The purpose of the Commission is to study the nature,
causes, and consequences of the United States merchandise trade and current
account deficits.
(3) MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION. —
(A) COMPOSITION. — The Commission shall be composed of
12 members as follows:
(i) Three persons shall be appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the
Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the
Chairman of the Committee on Finance.
(ii) Three persons shall be appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the
Minority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the
ranking minority member of the Committee on Finance.
(iii) Three persons shall be appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the
Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means.
(iv) Three persons shall be appointed by the Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives, after consultation
with the ranking minority member of the Committee on
Ways and Means.

CRS-21
(B) QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS. —
(i) APPOINTMENTS. — Persons who are appointed
under subparagraph (A) shall be persons who —
(I) have expertise in economics, international trade,
manufacturing, labor, environment, business, or have
other pertinent qualifications or experience; and
(II) are not officers or employees of the United States.
(ii) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. — In appointing
Commission members, every effort shall be made to ensure
that the members —
(I) are representative of a broad cross-section of
economic and trade perspectives within the United
States; and
(II) provide fresh insights to analyzing the causes and
consequences of United States merchandise trade and
current account deficits.
(4) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES. —
(A) IN GENERAL. — Members shall be appointed not later
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act and the
appointment shall be for the life of the Commission.
(B) VACANCIES. — Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
(5) INITIAL MEETING. — Not later than 30 days after the date on which
all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall
hold its first meeting.
(6) MEETINGS. — The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
(7) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON. — The members of
the Commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members of the
Commission.
(8) QUORUM. — A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(9) VOTING. — Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to 1
vote, which shall be equal to the vote of every other member of the
Commission.
(d) Duties of the Commission. —
(1) IN GENERAL. — The Commission shall be responsible for examining
the nature, causes, and consequences of , and the accuracy of available data on,
the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.
(2) ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED. — The Commission shall examine and
report to the President, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and other appropriate
committees of Congress on the following:
(A) The relationship of the merchandise trade and current
account balances to the overall well-being of the United States
economy, and to wages and employment in various sectors of the
United States economy.

CRS-22
(B) The impact that United States monetary and fiscal policies
may have on the United States merchandise trade and current account
deficits.
(C) The extent to which the coordination, allocation, and
accountability of trade responsibilities among Federal agencies may
contribute to the trade and current account deficits.
(D) The causes and consequences of the merchandise trade and
current account deficits and specific bilateral trade deficits, including
—
(i) identification and quantification of —
(I) the macroeconomic factors and bilateral trade
barriers that may contribute to the United States
merchandise trade and current account deficits;
(II) any impact of the merchandise trade and current
account deficits on the domestic economy, industrial
base, manufacturing capacity , technology, number
and quality of jobs, productivity, wages, and the
United States standard of living;
(III) any impact of the merchandise trade and current
account deficits on the defense production and
innovation capacities of the United States; and
(IV) trade deficits within individual industrial,
manufacturing, and production sectors, and any
relationship between such deficits and the increasing
volume of intra-industry and intro-company
transactions;
(ii) a review of the adequacy and accuracy of the
current collection and reporting of import and export data,
and the identification and development of additional data
bases and economic measurements that may be needed to
properly quantify the merchandise trade and current
account balances may have on the United States economy;
and
(iii) the extent to which there is reciprocal market
access substantially equivalent to that afforded by the
United States in each country with which the United States
has a persistent and substantial bilateral trade deficit, and
the extent to which such deficits have become structural.
(E) Any relationship of United States merchandise trade and
current account deficits to both comparative and competitive trade
advantages within the global economy, including —
(i) a systemic analysis of the United States trade
patterns with different trading partners and to what extent
the trade patterns are based on comparative and
competitive trade advantages;
(ii) the extent to which the increased mobility of
capital and technology has changed both comparative and
competitive trade advantages;
(iv) the effect that offset and technology transfer
agreements have on the long-term competitiveness of the
United States manufacturing sectors; and

CRS-23
(v) any effect that international trade, labor,
environmental , or other agreements may have on United
States competitiveness.
(F) The extent to which differences in the growth rates of the
United States and its trading partners may impact on United States
merchandise trade and current account deficits.
(G) The impact that currency exchange rate fluctuations and any
manipulation of exchange rates may have on United States
merchandise trade and current account deficits.
(H) The flow of investments both into and out of the United
States, including —
(i) any consequences for the United States economy of
the current status of the United States as a debtor nation;
(ii) any relationship between such investment flows
and the United States merchandise trade and current
account deficits and living standards of United States
workers;
(iii) any impact such investment flows may have on
United States labor, community, environmental, and health
and safety standards, and how such investment flows
influence the location of manufacturing facilities; and
(iv) the effect of barriers to United States foreign
direct investment in developed and developing nations,
particularly nations with which the United States has a
merchandise trade and current account deficit.
(e) Final Report. —
(1) IN GENERAL. — Not later than 12 months after the date of the initial
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President and
Congress a final report which contains —
(A) the findings and conclusions of the Commission described
in subsection (d); and (B) recommendations for addressing the
problems identified as part of the Commission’s analysis.
(2) SEPARATE VIEWS. — Any Member of the Commission may submit
additional findings and recommendations as part of the final report.
(f) Powers of Commission. —
(1) 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 may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this section. The
Commission shall hold at least 1 or more hearings in Washington, D.C., and 4
in different regions of the United States.
(2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES. — The Commission
may secure directly from any Federal Department or agency such information
as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this
section. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such
department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(3) 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.

CRS-24
(g) Commission Personnel Matters. —
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. — Each member of the
Commission shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under
section 5315 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) 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 1 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.
(3) STAFF. —
(A) IN GENERAL. — The Chairperson 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.
(B) COMPENSATION. — The Chairperson of the Commission
may fix the compensation of the executive director and other
personnel without regard to the provisions of 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 V of the Executive Schedule under
section 5316 of such title.
(4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. — Any Federal
Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without
reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil
service status or privilege.
(5) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT
SERVICES. — The Chairperson 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.
(h) Support Services. — The Administrator of the General Services
Administration shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such
administrative support services as the Commission may request.
(i) Appropriations. — There are appropriated $2,000,000 to the Commission
to carry out the provisions of this section.
SEC. 128. None of the funds provided or otherwise made available in this Division
of this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless
expressly so provided herein.

CRS-25
The Denali Commission
(112 Stat. 2681-637)
SEC. 303. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment. — There is established a commission to be known as the
Denali Commission (referred to in this title as the “Commission)”.
(b) Membership. —
(1) Composition. — The Commission shall be composed of 7 members,
who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (referred to in this title
as the “Secretary”), of whom —
(A) one shall be the Governor of the State of Alaska, or an
individual selected from nominations submitted by the Governor,
who shall serve as the State Cochairperson;
(B) one shall be the President of the University of Alaska, or an
individual selected from nominations submitted by the President of
the University of Alaska;
(C) one shall be the President of the Alaska Municipal League
or an individual selected from nominations submitted by the
President of the Alaska Municipal League;
(D) one shall be the President of the Alaska Federation or
Natives or an individual selected from nominations submitted by the
President of the Alaska Federation or Natives;
(E) one shall be the Executive President of the Alaska State
AFL-CIO or an individual selected from nominations submitted by
the Executive President;
(F) one shall be the President of the Associated General
Contractors of Alaska or an individual selected from nominations
submitted by the President of the Associated General Contractors of
Alaska; and
(G) one shall be the Federal Cochairperson, who shall be
selected in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (2).
(2) Federal cochairperson. —
(A) In general. — The President pro temporare of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each submit a
list of nominations for the position of the Federal Cochairperson
under paragraph (1)(G), including pertinent biographical information,
to the Secretary.
(B) Appointment. — The Secretary shall appoint the Federal
Cochairperson from among the list of nominations submitted under
subparagraph (A). The Federal Cochairperson shall serve as an
employee of the Department of Commerce, and may be removed by
the Secretary for cause.
(C) Federal Cochairperson vote. — The Federal Cochairperson
appointed under this paragraph shall break any tie in the voting of the
Commission.
(4) Date. — The appointments of the members of the Commission shall
be made no later than January 1, 1999.

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(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) Meetings. —
(1) In general. — The Commission shall meet at the call of the Federal
Cochairperson not less frequently than 2 times each year, and may, as
appropriate, conduct business by telephone or other electronic means.
(2) Notification. — Not later than 2 weeks before calling a meeting under
this subsection, the Federal Cochairperson shall —
(A) notify each member of the Commission of the time, date
and location of that meeting; and (B) provide each member of the
Commission with a written agenda for the meeting, including any
proposals for discussion and consideration, and any appropriate
background materials.
(e) Quorum. — A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
SEC. 304. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Work Plan. —
(1) In general. — Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act and annually thereafter, the Commission shall develop a proposed work
plan for Alaska that meets the requirements of paragraph (2) and submit that
plan to the Federal Cochairperson for review in accordance with the
requirements of subsection (b).
(2) Work plan. — In developing the work plan, the Commission shall —
(A) solicit project proposals from local governments and other entities and
organizations; and (B) provide for a comprehensive work plan for rural and
infrastructure development and necessary job training in the area covered under
the work plan.
(3) Report. — Upon completion of a work plan under this subsection, the
Commission shall prepare, and submit to the Secretary, the Federal
Cochairperson, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a
report that outlines the work plan and contains recommendations for funding
priorities.
(b) Review by Federal CoChairperson. —
(1) In general. — Upon receiving a work plan under this section, the
Secretary, acting through the Federal Cochairperson, shall publish the work plan
in the Federal Register, with notice and an opportunity for public comment.
The period for public review and comment shall be the 30-day period beginning
on the date of publication of that notice.
(2) Criteria for review. — In conducting a review under paragraph (1), the
Secretary, acting through the Federal Cochairperson, shall —
(A) take into consideration the information, views, and
comments received from interested parties through the public review
and comment process specified in paragraph (1); and

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(B) consult with appropriate Federal officials in Alaska
including but not limited to Bureau of Indian Affairs, Economic
Development Administration, and Rural Development
Administration.
(3) Approval. — Not later than 30 days after the end of the period specified
in paragraph (1), the Secretary acting through the Federal Cochairperson, shall
—
(A) approve, disapprove, or partially approve the work plan that
is the subject of the review; and
(B) issue to the Commission a notice of the approval,
disapproval, or partial approval that —
(i) specifies the reasons for disapproving any portion
of the work plan; and
(ii) if applicable, includes recommendations for
revisions to the work plan to make the plan subject to
approval.
(4) Review of disapproval or partial approval. — If the Secretary, acting
through the Federal Cochairperson, disapproves or partially approves a work
plan, the Federal Cochairperson shall submit that work plan to the Commission
for review and revision.
SEC. 305. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Information from Federal Agencies. — The Commission may secure
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as it considers
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Upon request of the Federal
Cochairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall
furnish such information to the Commission. Agencies must provide the Commission
with the requested information in a timely manner. Agencies are not required to
provide the Commission any information that is exempt from disclosure by the
Freedom of Information Act. Agencies may, upon request by the Commission, make
services and personnel available to the Commission to carry out the duties of the
Commission. To the maximum extent practicable, the Commission shall contract for
completion of necessary work utilizing local firms and labor to minimize costs.
(b) 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.
(c) Gifts. — The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations
of services or property.
SEC. 306. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members. — Each member of the Commission who is
not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate
equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each
day (including travel time) during the time such member is engaged in the
performance of the duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who

CRS-28
are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation that
is 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 Federal Cochairperson of the Commission may,
without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint such personnel
as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties.
(2) Compensation. — The Chairman of the Commission may fix the
compensation of personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to
classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates.
(d) Detail of Government Employees. — Any Federal Government employee
may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be
without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services. — The Federal
Cochairperson 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) Offices. — The principal office of the Commission shall be located in
Alaska, at a location that the Commission shall select.
SEC. 307. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS.
(a) Rural Utilities. — In carrying out its functions under this title, the
Commission shall as appropriate, provide assistance, seek to avoid duplicating
services and assistance, and complement the water and sewer wastewater programs
under section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926d) and section 303 of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (33
U.S.C. 1263a).
(b) Bulk Fuels. — The Commission, in consultation with the Commandant of
the Coast Guard, shall develop a plan to provide for the repair or replacement of
bulk fuel storage tanks in Alaska that are not in compliance with applicable —
(1) Federal law, including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 484);
or
(2) State law.

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SEC. 308. EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the Commission.
SEC. 309. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General. — There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission
to carry out the duties of the Commission consistent with the purposes of this title
and pursuant to the work plan approved under section 4 under this Act, $20,000,000
for fiscal year 1999, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2000, 2001,
2002, and 2003.
(b) Availability. — Any sums appropriated under the authorization contained
in this section shall remain available until expended.

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President’s Council on Counter-Narcotics
(112 Stat. 2681-688)
SEC. 709. PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL ON COUNTER-NARCOTICS
(a)Establishment. — There is established a council to be known as the
President’s Council on Counter-Narcotics (referred to in this section as the
“Council”).
(b)Membership. —
(1)IN GENERAL. — Subject to paragraph (2), the Council shall be
composed of 18 members, of whom —
(A) 1 shall be the President, who shall serve as the Chairman of
the Council;
(B) 1 shall be the Vice President;
(C) 1 shall be the Secretary of State;
(D) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Treasury;
(E) 1 shall be the Secretary of Defense;
(F) 1 shall be the Attorney General;
(G) 1 shall be the Secretary of Transportation;
(H) 1 shall be the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(I) 1 shall be the Secretary of Education;
(J) 1 shall be the Representative of the United States of America
to the United Nations;
(K) 1 shall be the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget;
(L) 1 shall be the Chief of Staff to the President;
(M)1 shall be the Director of the Office, who shall serve as the
Executive Director of the Council;
(N) 1 shall be the Director of the Office, who shall serve as the
Executive Director of the Council;
(O) 1 shall be the Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs;
(P) 1 shall be the Counsel to the President;
(Q) 1 shall be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and
(R) 1 shall be the National Security Adviser to the Vice
President.
(2) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. — The President may, in the discretion
of the President, appoint additional members to the Council.
(c) Functions. — The Council shall advise and assist the President in —
(1) providing direction and oversight for the national drug control strategy,
including relating drug control policy to other national security interests and
establishing priorities; and
(2) ensuring coordination among departments and agencies of the Federal
Government concerning implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy.

CRS-31
(d) Administration. —
(1) IN GENERAL. — The Council may utilize established or ad
hoc committees, task forces, or interagency groups chaired by the
Director (or a representative of the Director) in carrying out the
functions of the Council under this section.
(2) STAFF. — The staff of the Office, in coordination with the
staffs of the Vice President and the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs, shall act as staff for the Council.
(3) COOPERATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES. — Each
department and agency of the executive branch shall — (A) cooperate
with the Council in carrying out the functions of the Council under
this section; and (B) provide such assistance, information, and advice
as the Council may request, to the extent permitted by law.

CRS-32
Parents’ Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse
(112 Stat. 2681-689)
(a) In General. —
(1) ESTABLISHMENT. — There is established a Council to be known as
the Parents Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse (referred to in this section
as the “Council”).
(2) MEMBERSHIP. — (A) COMPOSITION. — The Council shall be
composed of 16 members, of whom —
(i) 4 shall be appointed by the President, each of whom shall be
a parent or guardian of a child who is not less than 6 and not more
than 18 years of age as of the date on which the appointment is made;
(ii) 4 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, 3
of whom shall be a parent or guardian of a child who is not less than
6 and not more than 18 years of age as of the date on which the
appointment is made;
(iii) 2 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate,
each of whom shall be a parent or guardian of a child who is not less
than 6 and not more than 18 years of age as of the date on which the
appointment is made;
(iv) 4 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, 3 of whom shall be a parent or guardian of a child
who is not less than 6 and not more than 18 years of age as of the date
on which the appointment is made; and
(v) 2 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives, each of whom shall be a parent or guardian of a
child who is not less than 6 and not more than 18 years of age as of
the date on which the appointment is made.
(B) REQUIREMENTS. —
(i) IN GENERAL. — Each member of the Council shall be an
individual from the private sector with a demonstrated interest and
expertise in research, education, treatment, or prevention activities
related to youth drug abuse.
( i i ) R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S O F N O N P R O F I T
ORGANIZATIONS. — Not less than 1 member appointed under
each of clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph (2)(A) shall be a
representative of a nonprofit organization focused on involving
parents in antidrug education and prevention.
(C) DATE. — The appointments of the initial members of the Council
shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section.
(D) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. — The Director shall appoint the
Executive Director of the Council, who shall be an employee of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy.
(3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES. —
(A) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT. — Each member of the
Council shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that, of the
initial members of the Council —

CRS-33
(i) 1 member appointed under each of clauses (i)
through (v) of paragraph (2)(A) shall be appointed for a
term of 1 year; and
(ii) 1 member appointed under each of clauses (i)
through (v) of paragraph (2)(A) shall be appointed for a
term of 2 years.
(B) VACANCIES. — Any vacancy in the Council shall not affect its
powers, provided that a quorum is present, but shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before the expiration of the term of that member, if the successor of
that member has not been appointed.
(4) INITIAL MEETING. — Not later than 120 days after the date on which
all initial members of the Council have been appointed, the Council shall hold
its first meeting.
(5) MEETINGS. — The Council shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
(6) QUORUM. — Nine members of the Council shall constitute a quorum,
but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(7) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON. —
(A) IN GENERAL. — The members of the Council shall select
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the
Council.

(B) DUTIES OF CHAIRPERSON. — The Chairperson of the
Council shall assign committee duties relating to the Council and
direct and Executive Director to convene hearings and conduct other
necessary business of the Council.
(C) DUTIES OF VICE CHAIRPERSON. — If the Chairperson
of the Council is unable to serve, the Vice Chairperson shall serve as
the Chairperson.
(b) Duties of the Council. —
(1) IN GENERAL. — The Council —
(A) shall advise the Director on drug prevention, education, and
treatment and assist the Deputy Director of Demand Reduction in the
responsibilities for the coordination of the demand reduction
programs of the Federal Government and the analysis and
consideration of prevention and treatment alternatives; and
(B) may issue reports and recommendations on drug prevention,
education, and treatment, in addition to the reports detailed in
paragraph (2), as the Council considers appropriated.
(2) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS. — Any report or recommendation
issued by the Council shall be submitted to the Director and subsequently to
Congress.
(3) ADVICE ON THE NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY. —
Not later than December 1 of each year thereafter, the Council shall submit to
the Director an annual report containing drug control strategy recommendations
on drug prevention, education, and treatment. The Director may include any
recommendations submitted under this paragraph in the report submitted by the
Director under section 706(b).

CRS-34
(c) Expenses. — The members of the Council 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
Council.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations. — There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Council such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

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Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Citizen Advisory Board

(112 Stat. 2681-716)
SEC. 1007. MONTANA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST
(a) Establishment. — The Secretary [of the Interior ], in consultation with the
State [of Montana] congressional delegation and the Governor of the State, shall
establish a nonprofit charitable permanent perpetual public trust in the State, to be
known as the “Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust” (referred to in this
section as the “Trust”).
(c)Administration. —
(1) TRUST MANAGER. — The Trust shall be managed by a trust
manager, who —
(B) shall disburse funds from the Trust on receiving a request for
disbursement from a majority of the members of the Joint State-
Federal Agency Board established under paragraph (2) and after
determining, in consultation with the Citizen Advisory Board
established under paragraph (3) and after consideration of any
comments submitted by members of the public, that the request meets
the purpose of the Trust under subsection (b) and the requirements of
subsections (d) and (e).
(2) JOINT STATE-FEDERAL AGENCY BOARD. —
(A) ESTABLISHMENT. — There is established a Joint State-
Federal Agency Board, which shall consist of —
(i) 1 Forest Service employee employed in the State
designated by the Forest Service;
(ii) 1 Bureau of Land Management employee
employed in the State designated by the Bureau of Land
Management;
(iii) 1 Bureau of Reclamation employee employed in
the State designated by the Bureau of Reclamation;
(iv) 1 United States Fish and Wildlife Service
employee employed in the State designated by the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
(v) 1 Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
employee designated by the Department.
(B) REQUESTS FOR DISBURSEMENT. — After consulting
with the Citizen Advisory Board established under paragraph (3) and
after consideration of the Trust plan prepared under paragraph (3)(C)
and of any comments or requests submitted by members of the public,
the Joint State-Federal Agency Board, by a vote of a majority of its
members, may submit to the Trust Manager a request for
disbursement if the Board determines that the request meets the
purpose of the Trust.
(3) CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD. —
(A) IN GENERAL. — The Secretary shall nominate, and the
Joint State-Federal Agency Board shall approve by a majority vote,
a Citizen Advisory Board.

CRS-36
(B) MEMBERSHIP. — The Citizen Advisory Board shall
consist of 4 members, including 1 with a demonstrated commitment
to improving public access to public land and to fish and wildlife
conservation, from each of —
(i) a Montana organization representing agricultural
landowners;
(ii) a Montana organization representing hunters;
(iii) a Montana organization representing
fishermen; and
(iv) a Montana nonprofit land trust or
environmental organization.
(C) DUTIES. — The Citizen Advisory Board, in conjunction with the Joint
State-Federal Agency Board and the Montana Association of Counties, shall
prepare and periodically update a Trust plan including recommendations for
requests for disbursement by the Joint State-Federal Agency Board.

CRS-37
Canyon Ferry-Broadwater County Trust Advisory
Committee
(112 Stat. 2681-718)
SEC. 1008. CANYON FERRY-BROADWATER COUNTY TRUST.
(a) Establishment. — The Commissioners [Board of Commissioners for
Broadwater County, Montana] shall establish a nonprofit charitable permanent
perpetual public trust to be known as the “Canyon Ferry-Broadwater County Trust”
(referred to in this section as the “Trust”).
(c) Trust Management. —
(3) Disbursement. — The Trust manager — (B) shall not make any
expenditure except on the recommendation of the advisory committee
established under subsection (d).
(d) Advisory Committee. —
(1) ESTABLISHMENT. — The Commissioners shall appoint an advisory
committee consisting of not fewer than 3 nor more than 5 persons.
(2) DUTIES. — The advisory committee shall meet on a regular basis to
establish priorities and make requests for the disbursement of funds to the Trust
manager.
(3) APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSIONERS. — The advisory
committee shall recommend only such expenditures as are approved by the
Commissioners.

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Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce
(112 Stat. 2681-722)
SEC. 1102. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.
(a) Establishment of Commission. — There is established a commission to be
known as the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce (in this title referred
to as the “Commission”). The Commission shall —
(1) be composed of 19 members appointed in accordance with subsection
(b), including the chairperson who shall be selected by the members of the
Commission from among themselves; and
(2) conduct its business in accordance with the provisions of this title.
(b) Membership. —
(1) In general. — The Commissioners shall serve for the life of the
Commission. The membership of the Commission shall be as follows:
(A) 3 representatives from the Federal Government, comprised
of the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
United States Trade Representative (or their respective delegates).
(B) 8 representatives from State and local governments (one
such representative shall be from a State or local government that
does not impose a sales tax and one representative shall be from a
State that does not impose an income tax).
(C) 8 representatives of the electronic commerce industry
(including small business), telecommunications carriers, local retail
businesses, and consumer groups, comprised of —
(i) 5 individuals appointed by the Majority Leader of
the Senate;
(ii) 3 individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of
the Senate;
(iii) 5 individuals appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; and
(iv) 3 individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives.
(2) Appointments. — Appointments to the Commission shall be made not
later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The chairperson
shall be selected not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(3) Vacancies. — Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its
powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(c) Acceptance of Gifts and Grants. — The Commission may accept, use, and
dispose of gifts or grants of services or property, both real and personal, for purposes
of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts or grants not used at the
expiration of the Commission shall be returned to the donor or grantor.
(d) Other Resources. — The Commission shall have reasonable access to
materials, resources, data, and other information from the Department of Justice, the
Department of Commerce, the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury,

CRS-39
and the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The Commission shall also
have reasonable access to use the facilities of any such Department or Office for
purposes of conducting meetings.
(e) Sunset. — The Commission shall terminate 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(f) Rules of the Commission. —
(1) Quorum. — Nine members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum for conducting the business of the Commission.
(2) Meetings. — Any meetings held by the Commission shall be duly
noticed at least 14 days in advance and shall be open to the public.
(3) Opportunities to testify. — The Commission shall provide
opportunities for representatives of the general public, taxpayer groups,
consumer groups, and State and local government officials to testify.
(4) Additional rules. — The Commission may adopt other rules as needed.
(g) Duties of the Commission. —
(1) In general. — The Commission shall conduct a thorough study of
Federal, State and local, and international taxation and tariff treatment of
transactions using the Internet and Internet access and other comparable
intrastate, interstate or international sales activities.
(2) Issues to be studied. — The Commission may include in the study
under subsection (a) —
(A) an examination of —
(i) barriers imposed in foreign markets on United
States providers of property, goods, services, or
information engaged in electronic commerce and on
United States providers of telecommunications services;
and
(ii) how the imposition of such barriers will affect
United States consumers, the competitiveness of United
States citizens providing property, goods, services, or
information in foreign markets, and the growth and
maturing of the Internet;
(B) an examination of the collection and administration of
consumption taxes on electronic commerce in other countries and the
United States, and the impact of such collection on the global
economy, including an examination of the relationship between the
collection and administration of such taxes when the transaction uses
the Internet and when it does not;
(C) an examination of the impact of the Internet and Internet
access (particularly voice transmission) on the revenue base for taxes
imposed under section 4251 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(D) an examination of model State legislation that —
(i) would provide uniform definitions of categories of
property, goods, service, or information subject to or
exempt from sales and use taxes; and
(ii) would ensure that Internet access services, online
services, and communications and transactions using the
Internet, Internet access service, or online services would

CRS-40
be treated in a tax and technologically neutral manner
relative to other forms of remote sales;
(E) an examination of the effects of taxation, including the
absence of taxation, on all interstate sales transactions, including
transactions using the Internet, on retail businesses and on State and
local governments, which examination may include a review of the
efforts of State and local governments to collect sales and use taxes
owed on in-State purchases from out-of-State sellers; and
(F) the examination of ways to simplify Federal and State and
local taxes imposed on the provision of telecommunications services.
(3) Effect on the communications act of 1934. — Nothing in this section
shall include an examination of any fees or charges imposed by the Federal
Communications Commission or States related to —
(A) obligations under the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or
(B) the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
(or of amendments made by that Act).
(h) National Tax Association Communications and Electronic Commerce
Tax Project. — The Commission shall, to the extent possible, ensure that its work
does not undermine the efforts of the National Tax Association Communications and
Electronic Commerce Tax Project.
SEC. 1103. REPORT.
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commission shall transmit to Congress for its consideration a report reflecting the
results, including such legislative recommendations as required to address the
findings of the Commission’s study under this title. Any recommendation agreed to
by the Commission shall be tax and technologically neutral and apply to all forms of
remote commerce. No finding or recommendation shall be included in the report
unless agreed to by at least two-thirds of the members of the Commission serving at
the time the finding or recommendation is made.