Commission on National Agricultural Statistics Service Modernization

(a)

Establishment

There is established a commission to be known as the Commission on National Agricultural Statistics Service Modernization (referred to in this section as the Commission). (b)

Study

The Commission shall conduct a study of the National Agricultural Statistics Service and provide recommendations on— (1)how data collection can be modernized and streamlined to— (A)improve the quality of statistics reported; (B)account for differences of national, regional, and local production; (C)accelerate adoption of new and innovative technologies to reduce the number of surveys needed; (D)improve producer response rates in statistical surveys and identifying ways to reduce survey fatigue; (E)increase transparency and confidence in statistical reports through improved collaboration with agricultural stakeholders; and (F)use more real-time statistical and environmental data to complement existing survey-based data and reporting; and (2)how the modernization and streamlining determined under paragraph (1) can be implemented and the estimated costs of such implementation. (c)

Membership

(1)

Composition

The Commission shall consist of the following 11 members: (A)The Administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the Department of Agriculture. (B)The Administrator of the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture. (C)The Chief Economist of the Department of Agriculture. (D)The Chair of the World Agricultural Outlook Board of the Department of Agriculture. (E)A representative from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (F)3 members appointed by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, of which— (i)1 shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee; (ii)1 shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee; and (iii)1 shall be appointed jointly by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee. (G)3 members appointed by the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, of which— (i)1 shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee; (ii)1 shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee; and (iii)1 shall be appointed jointly by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee. (2)

Date of appointments

The appointment of all members of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (3)

Term; vacancies

(A)

Term

A member shall be appointed for the duration of the Commission. (B)

Vacancies

A vacancy on the Commission— (i)shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and (ii)shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (4)

Initial meeting

Not later than 60 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been first appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission. (d)

Quorum

A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. (e)

Chairperson

The Chairperson of the Commission shall be selected by a majority of the Members of the Commission. (f)

Report

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report containing the results of the study required by subsection (b), including— (1)an inventory of surveys conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the frequency with which they are conducted; and (2)such recommendations for administrative, regulatory, and legislative changes as the Commission considers appropriate. (g)

Hearings

The Commission shall hold such hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers appropriate to carry out this section. (h)

Stakeholder engagement

The Commission shall establish a process to collect feedback from agricultural stakeholders to inform the results of the study required under subsection (b) and the report required under subsection (f). (i)

Information from Federal agencies

(1)

In general

The Commission may secure directly from a Federal agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this section. (2)

Authority to request information

At the request of the Chairperson of the Commission for information described in paragraph (1), the head of a Federal agency shall provide such information to the Commission. (j)

Postal services

The Commission may use the United States mail in the same manner and under the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Government. (k)

Assistance from the Secretary

The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide to the Commission appropriate office space and such reasonable administrative and support services as the Commission may request. (l)

Compensation of members

(1)

Non-Federal employees

A 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 which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. (2)

Federal employees

A member of the Commission who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. (3)

Travel expenses

A member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Commission. (m)

Federal Advisory Committee Act

Sections 1008 and 1013 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Commission or any proceeding of the Commission. (n)

Termination

The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 2028. (o)

Funding

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to remain available until expended.