42 U.S.C. § 907a : US Code - Section 907A: National Commission on Social Security

Search 42 U.S.C. § 907a : US Code - Section 907A: National Commission on Social Security

(a) Establishment; membership; Chairman and Vice Chairman; quorum;
terms of office; vacancies; per diem and expense reimbursement;
meetings
(1) There is established a commission to be known as the National
Commission on Social Security (hereinafter referred to as the
"Commission").
(2)(A) The Commission shall consist of -
(i) five members to be appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, one of whom shall, at the
time of appointment, be designated as Chairman of the Commission;
(ii) two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; and
(iii) two members to be appointed by the President pro tempore
of the Senate.
(B) At no time shall more than three of the members appointed by
the President, one of the members appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, or one of the members appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate be members of the same
political party.
(C) The membership of the Commission shall consist of individuals
who are of recognized standing and distinction and who possess the
demonstrated capacity to discharge the duties imposed on the
Commission, and shall include representatives of the private
insurance industry and of recipients and potential recipients of
benefits under the programs involved as well as individuals whose
capacity is based on a special knowledge or expertise in those
programs. No individual who is otherwise an officer or full-time
employee of the United States shall serve as a member of the
Commission.
(D) The Chairman of the Commission shall designate a member of
the Commission to act as Vice Chairman of the Commission.
(E) A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum, but a lesser number may conduct hearings.
(F) Members of the Commission shall be appointed for a term which
shall end on April 1, 1981.
(G) A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but
shall be filled in the same manner as that herein provided for the
appointment of the member first appointed to the vacant position.
(3) Members of the Commission shall receive $138 per diem while
engaged in the actual performance of the duties vested in the
Commission, plus reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of such duties.
(4) The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman, or at
the call of a majority of the members of the Commission; but
meetings of the Commission shall be held not less frequently than
once in each calendar month which begins after a majority of the
authorized membership of the Commission has first been appointed.
(b) Continuing study, investigation, and review of social security
program; scope of study, etc., and public participation
(1) It shall be the duty and function of the Commission to
conduct a continuing study, investigation, and review of -
(A) the Federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance
program established by subchapter II of this chapter; and
(B) the health insurance programs established by subchapter
XVIII of this chapter.
(2) Such study, investigation, and review of such programs shall
include (but not be limited to) -
(A) the fiscal status of the trust funds established for the
financing of such programs and the adequacy of such trust funds
to meet the immediate and long-range financing needs of such
programs;
(B) the scope of coverage, the adequacy of benefits including
the measurement of an adequate retirement income, and the
conditions of qualification for benefits provided by such
programs including the application of the retirement income test
to unearned as well as earned income;
(C) the impact of such programs on, and their relation to,
public assistance programs, nongovernmental retirement and
annuity programs, medical service delivery systems, and national
employment practices;
(D) any inequities (whether attributable to provisions of law
relating to the establishment and operation of such programs, to
rules and regulations promulgated in connection with the
administration of such programs, or to administrative practices
and procedures employed in the carrying out of such programs)
which affect substantial numbers of individuals who are insured
or otherwise eligible for benefits under such programs, including
inequities and inequalities arising out of marital status, sex,
or similar classifications or categories;
(E) possible alternatives to the current Federal programs or
particular aspects thereof, including but not limited to (i) a
phasing out of the payroll tax with the financing of such
programs being accomplished in some other manner (including
general revenue funding and the retirement bond), (ii) the
establishment of a system providing for mandatory participation
in any or all of the Federal programs, (iii) the integration of
such current Federal programs with private retirement programs,
and (iv) the establishment of a system permitting covered
individuals a choice of public or private programs or both;
(F) the need to develop a special Consumer Price Index for the
elderly, including the financial impact that such an index would
have on the costs of the programs established under this chapter;
and
(G) methods for effectively implementing the recommendations of
the Commission.
(3) In order to provide an effective opportunity for the general
public to participate fully in the study, investigation, and review
under this section, the Commission, in conducting such study,
investigation, and review, shall hold public hearings in as many
different geographical areas of the country as possible. The
residents of each area where such a hearing is to be held shall be
given reasonable advance notice of the hearing and an adequate
opportunity to appear and express their views on the matters under
consideration.
(c) Special, annual, and final reports to President and Congress
concerning implementation, etc., of study, investigation, and
review responsibilities; termination of Commission
(1) No later than four months after the date on which a majority
of the authorized membership of the Commission is initially
appointed, the Commission shall submit to the President and the
Congress a special report describing the Commission's plans for
conducting the study, investigation, and review under subsection
(b) of this section, with particular reference to the scope of such
study, investigation, and review and the methods proposed to be
used in conducting it.
(2) At or before the close of each of the first two years after
the date on which a majority of the authorized membership of the
Commission is initially appointed, the Commission shall submit to
the President and the Congress an annual report on the study,
investigation, and review under subsection (b) of this section,
together with its recommendations with respect to the programs
involved. The second such report shall constitute the final report
of the Commission on such study, investigation, and review, and
shall include its final recommendations; and the Commission shall
cease to exist on April 1, 1981.
(d) Executive Director and additional personnel; appointment and
compensation
(1) The Commission shall appoint an Executive Director of the
Commission who shall be compensated at a rate fixed by the
Commission, but which shall not exceed the rate established for
level V of the Executive Schedule by title 5.
(2) In addition to the Executive Director, the Commission shall
have the power to appoint and fix the compensation of such
personnel as it deems advisable, in accordance with the provisions
of title 5 governing appointments to the competitive service, and
the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of
such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay
rates.
(e) Administrative procedures
In carrying out its duties under this section, the Commission, or
any duly authorized committee thereof, is authorized to hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, and take such
testimony, with respect to matters with respect to which it has a
responsibility under this section, as the Commission or such
committee may deem advisable. The Chairman of the Commission or any
member authorized by him may administer oaths or affirmations to
witnesses appearing before the Commission or before any committee
thereof.
(f) Data and information from other Federal departments and
agencies
The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency
of the United States such data and information as may be necessary
to enable it to carry out its duties under this section. Upon
request of the Chairman of the Commission, any such department or
agency shall furnish any such data or information to the
Commission.
(g) Administrative support services from General Services
Administration; reimbursement
The General Services Administration shall provide to the
Commission, on a reimbursable basis such administrative support
services as the Commission may request.
(h) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.