Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 5672 To establish the Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 24, 2020 Mr. BILIRAKIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak- er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju- risdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish the Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security, 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 ‘‘Commission on Sus- 4 taining Medicare and Social Security Act of 2020’’. 5 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 6 There is established in the legislative branch a com- 7 mission to be known as the ‘‘Commission on Sustaining 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 5672 IH Medicare and Social Security’’ (in this Act referred to as 1 the ‘‘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 submit to Congress a 5 report on the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance 6 program under title II of the Social Security Act and the 7 Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security 8 Act, including— 9 (1) the impact of using alternative indexes on 10 beneficiaries and the Trust Funds, including the 11 Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI–E); 12 (2) the impact of using alternative premium 13 formulas for the Medicare program under title 14 XVIII of the Social Security Act on beneficiaries 15 and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance 16 Trust Fund, including premium formulas that con- 17 sider financial hardships and socioeconomic status; 18 (3) program reforms to increase the sustain- 19 ability of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability In- 20 surance program under title II of the Social Security 21 Act and the Medicare program under title XVIII of 22 the Social Security Act; and 23 (4) program reforms to prevent fraud, increase 24 integrity, and reduce improper payments. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 5672 IH SEC. 4. MEMBERS. 1 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 2 shall be composed of 11 members. Of the members of the 3 Commission— 4 (1) 3 shall be appointed by the President, in- 5 cluding— 6 (A) the Commissioner of the Social Secu- 7 rity Administration or a designee of the Com- 8 missioner; and 9 (B) the Administrator of the Centers for 10 Medicare and Medicaid Services or a designee 11 of the Administrator; 12 (2) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 13 House of Representatives, consisting of— 14 (A) 1 nongovernmental expert in the Old- 15 Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance pro- 16 gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 17 and 18 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi- 19 care program under title XVIII of the Social 20 Security Act; 21 (3) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader 22 of the House of Representatives; consisting of— 23 (A) 1 nongovernmental expert in the Old- 24 Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance pro- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 5672 IH gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 1 and 2 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi- 3 care program under title XVIII of the Social 4 Security Act; 5 (4) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader 6 of the Senate, consisting of— 7 (A) 1 nongovernmental expert in the Old- 8 Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance pro- 9 gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 10 and 11 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi- 12 care program under title XVIII of the Social 13 Security Act; and 14 (5) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader 15 of the Senate, consisting of— 16 (A) 1 nongovernmental expert in the Old- 17 Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance pro- 18 gram under title II of the Social Security Act; 19 and 20 (B) 1 nongovernmental expert of the Medi- 21 care program under title XVIII of the Social 22 Security Act. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 5672 IH (b) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Each of the ap- 1 pointments under subsection (a) shall be made not later 2 than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3 (c) TERMS; VACANCIES.—Each member shall be ap- 4 pointed for the life of the Commission, and a vacancy in 5 the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 6 original appointment was made. 7 (d) COMPENSATION.— 8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission 9 shall serve without pay. 10 (2) PROHIBITION ON COMPENSATION OF FED- 11 ERAL EMPLOYEES.—Members of the Commission 12 who are full-time officers or employees of the United 13 States may not receive additional pay, allowances, or 14 benefits by reason of their service on the Commis- 15 sion. 16 (3) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 17 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 18 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 19 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 20 States Code. 21 SEC. 5. OPERATION AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 22 (a) CO-CHAIRS.—The Commission shall have two co- 23 chairs who shall be elected from the members of the Com- 24 mission during the first meeting of the Commission. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 5672 IH (b) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not 1 later than 30 days after the members of the Commission 2 have been appointed, and at such times thereafter as the 3 co-chairs shall determine. 4 (c) RULES OF PROCEDURE.—The co-chairs shall, 5 with the approval of a majority of the members of the 6 Commission, establish written rules of procedure for the 7 Commission, which shall include a quorum requirement to 8 conduct the business of the Commission. 9 (d) HEARINGS.—The Commission may, for the pur- 10 pose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act 11 at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 12 as the Commission considers appropriate. 13 (e) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission 14 may secure directly from any department or agency of the 15 United States, including the Congressional Budget Office 16 and the Government Accountability Office, any informa- 17 tion or technical assistance necessary to enable the Com- 18 mission to carry out this Act. Upon request of the co- 19 chairs of the Commission, the head of that department 20 or agency shall furnish that information or technical as- 21 sistance to the Commission. 22 (f) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent or in the 23 amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the 24 Commission may contract with and compensate govern- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 5672 IH ment and private agencies or persons for any purpose nec- 1 essary to enable the Commission to carry out this Act. 2 (g) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 3 States mails in the same manner and under the same con- 4 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 5 States. 6 SEC. 6. PERSONNEL. 7 (a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc- 8 tor who shall be appointed by the Commission. The Direc- 9 tor shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level V of 10 the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 11 United States Code. 12 (b) STAFF.—The Director may appoint and fix the 13 pay of additional staff as the Director considers appro- 14 priate. 15 (c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission 16 may procure temporary and intermittent services under 17 section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates 18 for individuals not to exceed the maximum rate of basic 19 pay for GS–15 of the General Schedule. 20 (d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 21 of the Commission, the head of any Federal department 22 or agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the 23 personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 5672 IH to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under 1 this Act. 2 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 3 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen- 4 eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim- 5 bursable basis, the administrative support services nec- 6 essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 7 under this Act. 8 SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 9 The Commission shall terminate not later than 60 10 days after the submission of the report required by section 11 3. 12 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 13 There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 to 14 carry out this Act. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H5672.IH H5672 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS