42 U.S.C. § 903 : US Code - Section 903: Social Security Advisory Board

Search 42 U.S.C. § 903 : US Code - Section 903: Social Security Advisory Board

(a) Establishment of Board
There shall be established a Social Security Advisory Board (in
this section referred to as the "Board").
(b) Functions of Board
On and after the date the Commissioner takes office, the Board
shall advise the Commissioner on policies related to the old-age,
survivors, and disability insurance program under subchapter II of
this chapter, the program of special benefits for certain World War
II veterans under subchapter VIII of this chapter, and the
supplemental security income program under subchapter XVI of this
chapter. Specific functions of the Board shall include -
(1) analyzing the Nation's retirement and disability systems
and making recommendations with respect to how the old-age,
survivors, and disability insurance program and the supplemental
security income program, supported by other public and private
systems, can most effectively assure economic security;
(2) studying and making recommendations relating to the
coordination of programs that provide health security with
programs described in paragraph (1);
(3) making recommendations to the President and to the Congress
with respect to policies that will ensure the solvency of the old-
age, survivors, and disability insurance program, both in the
short-term and the long-term;
(4) making recommendations with respect to the quality of
service that the Administration provides to the public;
(5) making recommendations with respect to policies and
regulations regarding the old-age, survivors, and disability
insurance program and the supplemental security income program;
(6) increasing public understanding of the social security
system;
(7) making recommendations with respect to a long-range
research and program evaluation plan for the Administration;
(8) reviewing and assessing any major studies of social
security as may come to the attention of the Board; and
(9) making recommendations with respect to such other matters
as the Board determines to be appropriate.
(c) Structure and membership of Board
(1) The Board shall be composed of 7 members who shall be
appointed as follows:
(A) 3 members shall be appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate. Not more than 2 of such
members shall be from the same political party.
(B) 2 members (each member from a different political party)
shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate
with the advice of the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member
of the Senate Committee on Finance.
(C) 2 members (each member from a different political party)
shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, with the advice of the Chairman and the Ranking
Minority Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
(2) The members shall be chosen on the basis of their integrity,
impartiality, and good judgment, and shall be individuals who are,
by reason of their education, experience, and attainments,
exceptionally qualified to perform the duties of members of the
Board.
(d) Terms of appointment
Each member of the Board shall serve for a term of 6 years,
except that -
(1) a member appointed to a term of office after the
commencement of such term may serve under such appointment only
for the remainder of such term; and
(2) the terms of service of the members initially appointed
under this section shall begin on October 1, 1994, and expire as
follows:
(A) The terms of service of the members initially appointed
by the President shall expire as designated by the President at
the time of nomination, 1 each at the end of -
(i) 2 years;
(ii) 4 years; and
(iii) 6 years.
(B) The terms of service of members initially appointed by
the President pro tempore of the Senate shall expire as
designated by the President pro tempore of the Senate at the
time of nomination, 1 each at the end of -
(i) 3 years; and
(ii) 6 years.
(C) The terms of service of members initially appointed by
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire as
designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives at
the time of nomination, 1 each at the end of -
(i) 4 years; and
(ii) 5 years.
(e) Chairman
A member of the Board shall be designated by the President to
serve as Chairman for a term of 4 years, coincident with the term
of the President, or until the designation of a successor.
(f) Compensation, expenses, and per diem
A member of the Board shall, for each day (including traveltime)
during which the member is attending meetings or conferences of the
Board or otherwise engaged in the business of the Board, be
compensated at the daily rate of basic pay for level IV of the
Executive Schedule. While serving on business of the Board away
from their homes or regular places of business, members may be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 for persons in the
Government employed intermittently.
(g) Meetings
(1) The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman (in
consultation with the other members of the Board) not less than 4
times each year to consider a specific agenda of issues, as
determined by the Chairman in consultation with the other members
of the Board.
(2) Four members of the Board (not more than 3 of whom may be of
the same political party) shall constitute a quorum for purposes of
conducting business.
(h) Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Board shall be exempt from the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(i) Personnel
The Board shall, without regard to the provisions of title 5
relating to the competitive service, appoint a Staff Director who
shall be paid at a rate equivalent to a rate established for the
Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5. The Board
shall appoint such additional personnel as the Board determines to
be necessary to provide adequate support for the Board, and may
compensate such additional personnel without regard to the
provisions of title 5 relating to the competitive service.
(j) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated, out of the Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance Trust Fund, and the general fund of the Treasury, such
sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.