[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3696 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3696

    To establish the President's Commission on Veterans and Smoking.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 16, 2000

Mr. Traficant (for himself and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish the President's Commission on Veterans and Smoking.

    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 ``President's Commission on Veterans 
and Smoking Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``President's 
Commission on Veterans and Smoking'' (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Study.--The Commission shall conduct a study of issues related 
to veterans and smoking, including the following:
            (1) The extent to which the past policy of the Armed Forces 
        of providing members of the Armed Forces with free cigarettes 
        contributed to these members becoming smokers.
            (2) The percentage of veterans who are smokers compared to 
        the percentage of smokers in the general population of the 
        United States.
            (3) The incidence and severity of smoking-related illnesses 
        among veterans compared to the incidence and severity of these 
        illnesses in the general population of the United States.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall transmit to the 
        Congress and the President a report.
            (2) Contents.--The report shall contain a detailed 
        statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, 
        and its recommendations on whether present policies should be 
        changed to better treat smoking-related illnesses of veterans.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 
members appointed as follows:
            (1) 1 member appointed by the President, who shall serve as 
        Chairman.
            (2) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) 3 members appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (4) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives.
            (5) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
        life of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (c) Pay; Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission shall serve 
without pay, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 
5, United States Code.
    (d) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairman or a majority of its members.

SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

    (a) Director.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Commission shall appoint a Director 
        on or after October 1, 2000.
            (2) Pay.--The Director shall be paid at the rate of basic 
        pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule.
    (b) Staff.--The Chairman may appoint additional personnel as the 
Chairman considers appropriate.
    (c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The staff of the 
Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and 
subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates, but at rates not in excess of the 
maximum rate for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 
of that title.
    (d) Experts and Consultants.--The Chairman may procure temporary 
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Chairman, the 
head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the 
Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

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. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 
witnesses appearing before it.
    (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.--Subject to sections 552, 552a, and 
552b of title 5, United States Code, 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 
Chairman of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall 
furnish that information to the Commission.
    (d) Gifts and Donations.--The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property to carry out this 
Act, but only to the extent or in amounts provided in appropriation 
Acts.
    (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.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may contract with and 
        compensate government and private agencies or persons for 
        supplies and other services.
            (2) Budget act compliance.--Any new contract authority 
        authorized by this Act shall be effective only to the extent or 
        in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 180 days after submitting its report 
under section 3(b).

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Commission $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and $2,100,000 for 
fiscal year 2002.
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