[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2399 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2399

   To establish a commission to recommend a strategy for the global 
                        eradication of disease.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 30, 1999

  Mr. Gekas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a commission to recommend a strategy for the global 
                        eradication of disease.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission for the New 
National Goal: The Advancement of Global Health Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) During the 20th century the United States led the world 
        in defeating totalitarianism and communism.
            (2) The United States also led the world in spreading and 
        establishing democracy in every region.
            (3) The end of global conflict and the end of the Cold War, 
        now guaranteed by the power and leadership of the United 
        States, allow the Nation to establish new goals for the 21st 
        century.
            (4) The United States, the world leader in the research, 
        development, and production of technologies, medicines, and 
        methodologies utilized to prevent and cure disease, has 
        established a Center for Vaccine Development at the National 
        Institutes of Health that could assist in the global control of 
        infectious diseases. Infectious disease is the number one 
        global health challenge killing 11 million people globally and 
        180,000 people in the United States and is the third leading 
        cause of death in the United States. The United States has the 
        resources, through the National Institutes of Health and the 
        National Science Foundation, to expand health research 
        information globally through the use of Internet conferencing 
        and dissemination of data.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``National 
Commission for the New National Goal: The Advancement of Global 
Health'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall recommend to the Congress a national strategy 
for coordinating governmental, academic, and public and private health 
care entities for the purpose of the global eradication of disease. The 
Commission shall address how the United States may assist in the global 
control of infectious diseases through the development of vaccines and 
the sharing of health research information on the Internet.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Membership of the Commission.--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 public, 
private, and academic areas whose capacity is based on a special 
knowledge, such as computer sciences or the use of the Internet for 
medical conferencing, or expertise in medical research or related 
areas.
    (b) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 
members appointed as follows:
            (1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services (or the 
        Secretary's delegate).
            (2) The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission.
            (3) The Director of the National Institutes of Health.
            (4) The Director of the National Science Foundation.
            (5) 3 Members of the Senate appointed jointly by the 
        President of the Senate and the President pro tempore. Not more 
        than 2 members appointed under this paragraph may be of the 
        same political party.
            (6) 3 Members of the House of Representatives appointed by 
        the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Not more than 2 
        members appointed under this paragraph may be of the same 
        political party.
            (7) 2 individuals appointed by the President, by and with 
        the advice and consent of the Senate, from among individuals 
        who are not officers or employees of any government and who are 
        specially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of 
        their education, training, or experience.
            (8) 3 individuals appointed by the President from among 
        individuals who will represent the views of recipients of 
        health services. Not more than 1 member appointed under this 
        paragraph may be an officer or employee of the Federal 
        Government.
    (c) Continuation of Membership.--If a member was appointed to the 
Commission as a Member of Congress and the member ceases to be a Member 
of Congress, that member may continue as a member for not longer than 
the 30-day period beginning on the date that member ceases to be a 
Member of Congress.
    (d) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of the 
Commission.
    (e) Basic Pay.--Members shall serve without pay.
    (f) Quorum.--Nine members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (g) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson of the Commission shall be designated by the President at 
the time of the appointment.
    (h) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet monthly or at the call of 
a majority of its members.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, 
take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers 
appropriate.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which 
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the United States information 
necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the 
Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that 
department or agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
    (d) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Commission may accept, use, 
and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, 
both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the 
work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and 
proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or 
devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for 
disbursement upon order of the Chairperson or Commission. For purposes 
of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, property accepted under this 
subsection shall be considered as a gift, bequest, or devise to the 
United States.
    (e) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (f) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.
    (g) Contract Authority.--The Commission may contract with and 
compensate government and private agencies or persons for 
administrative and other services, without regard to section 3709 of 
the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).

SEC. 7. REPORTS.

    (a) Interim Reports.--The Commission may submit to the President 
and the Congress interim reports as the Commission considers 
appropriate.
    (b) Final Report.--The Commission shall transmit a final report to 
the President and the Congress not later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act. The final report shall contain a detailed 
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together 
with its recommendations for legislative, administrative, or other 
actions, as the Commission considers appropriate.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting its final 
report pursuant to section 7.

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect 60 days after the date of its enactment.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $1,000,000 
for fiscal year 2000 for the National Institutes of Health to carry out 
coordination activities under this Act with the Commission, the 
National Science Foundation, and other appropriate groups to transfer 
health research information on the Internet and to transfer the 
benefits of the infectious disease vaccine development program.

SEC. 11. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

    Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of 
section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 
651(c)(2)(A) and (C))) authorized by this Act shall be effective only 
to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation 
Acts.
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