Bipartisan Social Security Commission Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1401 To establish the Commission on Long-Term Social Security Solvency, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 27, 2019 Mr. COLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned A BILL To establish the Commission on Long-Term Social Security Solvency, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bipartisan Social Secu- 4 rity Commission Act of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 6 There is established in the legislative branch a com- 7 mission to be known as the ‘‘Commission on Long-Term 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1401 IH Social Security Solvency’’ (in this Act referred to as the 1 ‘‘Commission’’). 2 SEC. 3. DUTY OF THE COMMISSION. 3 Not later than 1 year after the initial meeting of the 4 Commission, the Commission shall transmit to Congress 5 a special message that includes recommendations and pro- 6 posed legislation for achieving solvency in each of the Fed- 7 eral Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the 8 Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund for a period of 9 at least 75 years beginning on the date that is 1 year after 10 the initial meeting of the Commission. Such message shall 11 be approved by at least 9 members of the Commission. 12 SEC. 4. MEMBERS. 13 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 14 shall be composed of 13 members. Of the members of the 15 Commission— 16 (1) 1 shall be appointed by the President; 17 (2) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 18 House of Representatives; 19 (3) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader 20 of the House of Representatives; 21 (4) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader 22 of the Senate; and 23 (5) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader 24 of the Senate. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1401 IH (b) QUALIFICATIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL AP- 1 POINTEES.—Of the members of the Commission appointed 2 by the Congress, at least 1 appointed by each political 3 party shall be an expert who is not an elected official or 4 an officer or employee of the Federal Government or of 5 any State. 6 (c) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Each of the ap- 7 pointments made under subsection (a) shall be made not 8 later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this 9 Act. 10 (d) TERMS; VACANCIES.—Each member shall be ap- 11 pointed for the life of the Commission, and a vacancy in 12 the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 13 original appointment was made. 14 (e) COMPENSATION.— 15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission 16 shall serve without pay. 17 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 18 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 19 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 20 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 21 States Code. 22 SEC. 5. OPERATION AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 23 (a) CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR.—The member of the 24 Commission appointed by the President under section 4(a) 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 1401 IH shall serve as the chair of the Commission. A co-chair of 1 the Commission shall be designated by the Speaker of the 2 House of Representatives at the time of the appointment. 3 (b) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not 4 later than 30 days after the members of the Commission 5 have been appointed, and at such times thereafter as the 6 chair or co-chair shall determine. 7 (c) RULES OF PROCEDURE.—The chair and co-chair 8 shall, with the approval of a majority of the members of 9 the Commission, establish written rules of procedure for 10 the Commission, which shall include a quorum require- 11 ment to conduct the business of the Commission. 12 (d) HEARINGS.—The Commission shall, for the pur- 13 pose of carrying out this Act, hold at least one hearing 14 that is open to the public and allows for public comment 15 and participation, and may hold such other hearings, sit 16 and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive 17 evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. 18 (e) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 19 may secure directly from any department or agency of the 20 United States, including the Congressional Budget Office 21 and the Government Accountability Office, any informa- 22 tion or technical assistance necessary to enable it to carry 23 out this Act. Upon request of the chair or co-chair of the 24 Commission, the head of that department or agency shall 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 1401 IH furnish that information or technical assistance to the 1 Commission. 2 (f) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may 3 contract with and compensate government and private 4 agencies or persons for any purpose necessary to enable 5 it to carry out this Act. 6 (g) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 7 States mails in the same manner and under the same con- 8 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 9 States. 10 SEC. 6. PERSONNEL. 11 (a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc- 12 tor who shall be appointed by the Commission. The Direc- 13 tor shall be paid at a rate of pay equivalent to the annual 14 rate of basic pay for a comparable position paid under the 15 Executive Schedule, subject to the approval of the chair 16 and the co-chair. 17 (b) STAFF.—The Director may appoint and fix the 18 pay of additional staff as the Director considers appro- 19 priate. 20 (c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission 21 may procure temporary and intermittent services under 22 section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates 23 for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 1401 IH annual rate of basic pay for a comparable position paid 1 under the Executive Schedule. 2 (d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 3 of the Commission, the head of any Federal department 4 or agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the 5 personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 6 to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act. 7 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 8 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen- 9 eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim- 10 bursable basis, the administrative support services nec- 11 essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 12 under this Act. 13 (f) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—The Commis- 14 sion may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 15 devises of services or property, both real and personal, for 16 the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Com- 17 mission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds 18 from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, 19 or devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be 20 available for disbursement upon order of the Commission. 21 SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 22 The Commission shall terminate not later than 60 23 days after the submission of the report described in sec- 24 tion 3. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 1401 IH SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 1 There is authorized to be appropriated not more than 2 $2,000,000 to carry out this Act. 3 SEC. 9. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION REC- 4 OMMENDATIONS. 5 (a) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION.— 6 (1) INTRODUCTION OF APPROVAL BILL.—The 7 majority leader of each House or a designee shall 8 (by request) introduce an approval bill as described 9 in subsection (c) not later than the third day of ses- 10 sion of that House after the date of receipt of a spe- 11 cial message transmitted to the Congress under sec- 12 tion 3. 13 (2) CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REP- 14 RESENTATIVES.— 15 (A) REFERRAL AND REPORTING.—Any 16 committee of the House of Representatives to 17 which an approval bill is referred shall report it 18 to the House without amendment not later than 19 the third legislative day after the date of its in- 20 troduction. If a committee fails to report the 21 bill within that period or the House has adopt- 22 ed a concurrent resolution providing for ad- 23 journment sine die at the end of a Congress, 24 such committee shall be automatically dis- 25 charged from further consideration of the bill 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 1401 IH and it shall be placed on the appropriate cal- 1 endar. 2 (B) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 3 Not later than 3 legislative days after the ap- 4 proval bill is reported or a committee has been 5 discharged from further consideration thereof, 6 it shall be in order to move to proceed to con- 7 sider the approval bill in the House. Such a mo- 8 tion shall be in order only at a time designated 9 by the Speaker in the legislative schedule within 10 two legislative days after the day on which the 11 proponent announces an intention to the House 12 to offer the motion provided that such notice 13 may not be given until the approval bill is re- 14 ported or a committee has been discharged 15 from further consideration thereof. Such a mo- 16 tion shall not be in order after the House has 17 disposed of a motion to proceed with respect to 18 that special message. The previous question 19 shall be considered as ordered on the motion to 20 its adoption without intervening motion. A mo- 21 tion to reconsider the vote by which the motion 22 is disposed of shall not be in order. 23 (C) CONSIDERATION.—If the motion to 24 proceed is agreed to, the House shall imme- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 1401 IH diately proceed to consider the approval bill in 1 the House without intervening motion. The ap- 2 proval bill shall be considered as read. All 3 points of order against the approval bill and 4 against its consideration are waived. The pre- 5 vious question shall be considered as ordered on 6 the approval bill to its passage without inter- 7 vening motion except 4 hours of debate equally 8 divided and controlled by the proponent and an 9 opponent and one motion to limit debate on the 10 bill. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage 11 of the approval bill shall not be in order. 12 (3) CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 13 (A) COMMITTEE ACTION.—The appropriate 14 committee of the Senate shall report without 15 amendment the approval bill not later than the 16 third session day after introduction. If a com- 17 mittee fails to report the approval bill within 18 that period or the Senate has adopted a concur- 19 rent resolution providing for adjournment sine 20 die at the end of a Congress, the committee 21 shall be automatically discharged from further 22 consideration of the approval bill and it shall be 23 placed on the appropriate calendar. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 1401 IH (B) MOTION TO PROCEED.—Not later than 1 3 session days after the approval bill is reported 2 in the Senate or the committee has been dis- 3 charged thereof, it shall be in order for any 4 Senator to move to proceed to consider the ap- 5 proval bill in the Senate. The motion shall be 6 decided without debate and the motion to re- 7 consider shall be deemed to have been laid on 8 the table. Such a motion shall not be in order 9 after the Senate has disposed of a prior motion 10 to proceed with respect to the approval bill. 11 (C) CONSIDERATION.—If a motion to pro- 12 ceed to the consideration of the approval bill is 13 agreed to, the Senate shall immediately proceed 14 to consideration of the approval bill without in- 15 tervening motion, order, or other business, and 16 the approval bill shall remain the unfinished 17 business of the Senate until disposed of. Con- 18 sideration on the bill in the Senate under this 19 subsection, and all debatable motions and ap- 20 peals in connection therewith, shall not exceed 21 30 hours equally divided in the usual form. All 22 points of order against the approval bill or its 23 consideration are waived. Consideration in the 24 Senate on any debatable motion or appeal in 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 1401 IH connection with the approval bill shall be lim- 1 ited to not more than 1 hour. A motion to post- 2 pone, or a motion to proceed to the consider- 3 ation of other business, or a motion to recom- 4 mit the approval bill is not in order. A motion 5 to reconsider the vote by which the approval bill 6 is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. 7 (4) AMENDMENTS PROHIBITED.—No amend- 8 ment to, or motion to strike a provision from, an ap- 9 proval bill considered under this section shall be in 10 order in either the Senate or the House of Rep- 11 resentatives. 12 (5) COORDINATION WITH ACTION BY OTHER 13 HOUSE.— 14 (A) IN GENERAL.—If, before passing the 15 approval bill, one House receives from the other 16 a bill— 17 (i) the approval bill of the other 18 House shall not be referred to a com- 19 mittee; and 20 (ii) the procedure in the receiving 21 House shall be the same as if no approval 22 bill had been received from the other 23 House until the vote on passage, when the 24 bill received from the other House shall 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1401.IH H1401 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 1401 IH supplant the approval bill of the receiving 1 House. 2 (B) EXCEPTION.—This paragraph shall 3 not apply to the House of Representatives [Text truncated for display. 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