[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1625 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1625

          To establish the Samuel Kelner Commission on Youth.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 26, 2001

 Mr. Ramstad introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
          To establish the Samuel Kelner Commission on Youth.

    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 ``Samuel Kelner Commission on Youth 
Authorization Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Samuel 
Kelner Commission on Youth'' (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall seek to reduce apathy among American youth 
regarding the Nation's system of government by discussing and making 
policy recommendations on issues affecting American youth, including 
issues in the following subject areas:
            (1) Public education.
            (2) Youth employment and wages.
            (3) Higher education financing.
            (4) Youth drug abuse and violence.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 
members, appointed as follows:
            (1) 4 members appointed by the President.
            (2) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the House 
        or Representatives.
            (4) 1 member appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (5) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
    (b) Age Limit.--An individual may not be appointed under subsection 
(a) if that individual will attain 18 years of age by the date of the 
Commission's first meeting or conference that occurs after that 
individual's appointment in the term for which the individual is 
appointed.
    (c) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for a term 
        of 1 year beginning on August 1 and may be reappointed.
            (2) Initial term.--The first 8 members shall be appointed 
        for the 1-year period that begins on August 1 of the calendar 
        year that follows the calendar year of the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
    (d) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy before the 
expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed 
shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A vacancy in 
the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made.
    (e) Pay.--Members shall serve without pay.
    (f) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, 
except that a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (h) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be 
elected by the members.
    (i) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--In each 1 year period beginning August 1 
        the Commission--
                    (A) shall conduct 4 meetings each spanning a period 
                of not more than 3 days; and
                    (B) shall conduct 1 conference spanning a period of 
                not more than 1 week.
            (2) Scheduling.--
                    (A) Initial meeting.--The initial meeting of the 
                Commission each year under paragraph (1)(A) shall begin 
                on the first Thursday in August.
                    (B) Remaining meetings.--The Commission, by 
                majority vote at the initial meeting each year, shall 
                determine the dates of the remaining meetings and the 
                conference under paragraph (1) for that year.
            (3) Emergency meeting.--In addition to the meetings 
        required under paragraph (1), the Commission shall, at the call 
        of the President, conduct 1 emergency meeting spanning a period 
        of not more than 3 days.

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

    (a) Director.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Commission shall have a Director who 
        shall be appointed by the President.
            (2) Pay.--The Director shall be paid at the rate of basic 
        pay for GS-12 of the General Schedule.
    (b) Staff.--The Commission may appoint additional personnel as it 
considers appropriate.
    (c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The Director and 
staff of the Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of 
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
service.
    (d) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission 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 Commission, 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.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action that 
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. The Chairperson may 
request such information if such request is authorized by a majority 
vote of the Commission. Upon request of the Chairperson, the head of 
that department or agency shall furnish that information to the 
Commission.
    (d) 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.
    (e) 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.
    (f) Contract Authority.--To the extent and in the amounts provided 
in advance in appropriations Acts, the Director may contract with and 
compensate government and private agencies or person for supplies and 
other services.

SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall submit to the President and 
the Congress a report not later than July 1 each year.
    (b) Contents.--Each report shall include policy recommendations on 
issues affecting youth, including issues in the following subject 
areas:
            (1) Public education.
            (2) Youth employment and wages.
            (3) Higher education financing.
            (4) Youth drug abuse and violence.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 5 years after the beginning of the 
terms of its first members.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission to carry 
out this Act $100,000 for each of fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 
and 2006. Such sums may remain available until expended.
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