[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3237 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3237

To provide for an international scientific commission to assess changes 
in global climate patterns, to conduct scientific studies and analyses 
             on behalf of nations, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            October 25 (legislative day, September 22), 2000

  Mr. McCain introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for an international scientific commission to assess changes 
in global climate patterns, to conduct scientific studies and analyses 
             on behalf of nations, and for other purposes.

    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 ``International Climate Change Science 
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK.

    (a) In General.--The President is requested and authorized to 
negotiate an international agreement to establish an international 
commission comprised of scientists whose qualifications and experience 
qualifies them to conduct scientific, unbiased, politically and 
economically neutral assessments of global climate change, the factors 
involved in such change, the consequences of such change, and the 
potential effect of measures undertaken for the purpose of affecting 
global climate change.
    (b) Support Arrangements.--In negotiating the agreement under 
subsection (a), the President shall endeavor to obtain--
            (1) commitments for financial and other support of the 
        international commission;
            (2) commitments for the appointment of members on the same 
        basis as United States members of the commission are to be 
        appointed under subsection 3(a); and
            (3) assurances that the independence and scientific 
        integrity of the commission will be respected.

SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--United States members of the commission 
established pursuant to the international agreement negotiated under 
section 2 shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate, from a list of individuals nominated by the 
National Science Board who are selected solely on the basis of their 
scientific qualifications and without regard to political affiliation, 
and shall serve at the pleasure of the President. The President shall 
designate one member as the lead member of the United States membership 
for administrative purposes.
    (b) Reimbursement of Expenses.--United States members of the 
commission appointed under subsection (a) shall not be entitled to 
receive compensation for service relating to the performance of the 
duties of the commission, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for 
travel expenses incurred while in the actual performance of the duties 
of the commission.
    (c) Staff.--After consultation with other members appointed under 
subsection (a), the lead member shall appoint and fix the compensation 
of such personnel as the United States membership deems advisable. The 
lead member shall be responsible for--
            (1) the assignment of duties and responsibilities among 
        such personnel and their continuing supervision; and
            (2) the use and expenditures of funds available to United 
        States members of the commission.
    (d) Agency Assistance.--To the extent permitted by law, the United 
States membership may secure directly from any executive department, 
agency, or independent instrumentality of the Federal Government any 
information it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this 
Act. Each such department, agency, and instrumentality shall cooperate 
with the United States membership, and, to the extent permitted by law 
and upon request of the lead member, furnish such information to the 
commission.
    (e) Detailed Employees.--
            (1) Authority to detail.--Upon request of the lead member, 
        the head of any Federal department or agency may detail any of 
        the personnel of the department or agency to the commission to 
        assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.
            (2) Reimbursement.--Any Federal Government employee may be 
        detailed to the commission with or without reimbursement, and 
        any such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil 
        service status or privilege.
    (f) Support.--The National Science Foundation shall provide support 
services to the commission.
    (g) Other Authority.--The United States membership of the 
commission may procure by contract, to the extent funds are available, 
the temporary or intermittent services of experts or consultants 
pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.
    (h) FACA Not To Apply.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) does not apply to the United States membership of the 
commission.

SEC. 4. FUNCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--The United States members of the commission shall 
work with members of the commission from other countries in carrying 
out research, analysis, and assessments of global climate change.
    (b) Requested Studies.--The commission shall carry out studies at 
the request of any country concerning the impact of global climate 
change, and of proposed strategies or tactics for dealing with that 
impact, on the population, agriculture, industry, or economy of any 
country that is or is not represented on the membership of the 
commission or that is incapable of conducting such studies within its 
own scientific, economic, and governmental resources.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act for fiscal years 
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
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