[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 851 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 851

To assess the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the 
     entry of the People's Republic of China into the World Trade 
   Organization on American jobs, the environment, and worker rights.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 2003

Ms. Slaughter introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To assess the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the 
     entry of the People's Republic of China into the World Trade 
   Organization on American jobs, the environment, and worker rights.

    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 ``Trade Accountability Study Act''.

SEC. 2. TRADE IMPACT COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the ``Trade Impact Review 
Commission'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Duties.--The Commission shall--
            (1) determine--
                    (A) the extent to which exports of goods of the 
                United States to NAFTA countries, and imports of goods 
                of NAFTA countries into the United States, have 
                increased or decreased since January 1, 1994; and
                    (B) the number of jobs in the United States that 
                have been created as a result of increased exports of 
                goods of the United States to NAFTA countries, and the 
                number of jobs in the United States that have been lost 
                as a result of increased imports of goods of NAFTA 
                countries into the United States, since January 1, 
                1994; and
            (2) determine--
                    (A) the extent to which exports of goods of the 
                United States to the People's Republic of China, and 
                imports of goods of the People's Republic of China into 
                the United States, have increased or decreased since 
                December 11, 2001; and
                    (B) the number of jobs in the United States that 
                have been created as a result of increased exports of 
                goods of the United States to the People's Republic of 
                China, and the number of jobs in the United States that 
                have been lost as a result of increased imports of 
                goods of the People's Republic of China into the Untied 
                States, since December 11, 2001; and
            (3) submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress, 
        the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, and the 
        United States Trade Representative, the findings of the 
        Commission under paragraphs (1) and (2), as well as any 
        recommendations the Commission has for strengthening the United 
        States labor force in light of such findings.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Number and appointment.--The Commission shall be 
        composed of 5 members appointed as follows:
                    (A) 1 member appointed by the President.
                    (B) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House 
                of Representatives.
                    (C) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of 
                the House of Representatives.
                    (D) 1 member appointed by the majority leader of 
                the Senate.
                    (E) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of 
                the Senate.
            (2) Persons eligible.--
                    (A) In general.--The members of the Commission 
                shall be individuals who have knowledge or expertise, 
                whether by experience or training, in matters to be 
                studied by the Commission. The members may be from the 
                public or private sector, and may include employees of 
                the Federal Government or of State or local 
                governments, members of academia, nonprofit 
                organizations, or industry, or other interested 
                individuals.
                    (B) Diversity.--It is the intent of the Congress 
                that persons appointed to the Commission under 
                paragraph (1) be persons who represent diverse economic 
                and professional backgrounds from different regions of 
                the United States.
            (3) Consultation and appointment.--
                    (A) In general.--The President, Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives, minority leader of the House 
                of Representatives, majority leader of the Senate, and 
                minority leader of the Senate shall consult among 
                themselves before appointing the members of the 
                Commission in order to achieve, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, fair and equitable representation of 
                various points of view with respect to the matters to 
                be studied by the Commission.
                    (B) Completion of appointments; vacancies.--The 
                President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
                minority leader of the House of Representatives, 
                majority leader of the Senate, and minority leader of 
                the Senate shall conduct the consultation under 
                subparagraph (A) and make their respective appointments 
                not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
                of this Act.
            (4) Terms and vacancies.--Each member of the Commission 
        shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in 
        the membership of the Commission shall not affect the powers of 
        the Commission and shall be filled, not later than 30 days 
        after the vacancy occurs, in the same manner as the original 
        appointment was made.
            (5) Chair and vice chair.--The Commission shall select a 
        Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
    (d) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall hold its first meeting.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--After the initial meeting, the 
        Commission shall meet at the call of the Chair.
    (e) 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.
    (f) Compensation.--
            (1) Rate.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), members of 
        the Commission shall each be paid the daily equivalent of the 
        annual rate of pay payable for level IV of the Executive 
        Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for 
        each day (including travel time) during which they are engaged 
        in the actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--A 
        member of the Commission who is a full-time officer or employee 
        of the United States or a Member of Congress may not receive 
        additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of his or her 
        service on the Commission.
    (g) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5, United States Code.
    (h) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary 
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (i) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon the 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 
section.
    (j) Powers.--
            (1) Hearings and sessions.--The Commission may, for the 
        purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and 
        act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 
        as the Commission considers appropriate.
            (2) 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.
            (3) 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 section. 
        Upon request of the Chair or Vice Chair of the Commission, the 
        head of that department or agency shall furnish that 
        information to the Commission.
            (4) 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.
            (5) 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 section.
    (k) Report.--The Commission shall transmit a report containing its 
findings and recommendations under subsection (b)(3) not later than 180 
days after the first meeting of the Commission under subsection (d)(1).
    (l) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 30 days after 
submitting its report under subsection (k).
    (m) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 3. FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS.

    In preparing for and engaging in negotiations for trade agreements, 
the President shall ensure that the findings and recommendations of the 
Trade Impact Commission established in section 2 are included in 
developing trade policy with respect to such negotiations.

SEC. 4. PRESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATIONS.

    The President shall submit to the Congress, not later than May 31 
of each year, a report that certifies whether or not--
            (1) each NAFTA country is meeting commitments made in the 
        North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation and in 
        the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation; and
            (2) the People's Republic of China is meeting its 
        obligations with respect to protection of the environment and 
        worker rights by reason of its accession to the World Trade 
        Organization, including commitments made to the United States.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) NAFTA.--The term ``NAFTA'' means the North American 
        Free Trade Agreement entered into by the United States, Canada, 
        and Mexico on December 17, 1992.
            (2) NAFTA country.--The term ``NAFTA country'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 2(4) of the North American 
        Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3301(4)).
            (3) North american agreement on environmental 
        cooperation.--The term ``North American Agreement on 
        Environmental Cooperation'' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 532(b)(2) of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
        Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3472(b)(2)).
            (4) North american agreement on labor cooperation.--The 
        term ``North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 531(b)(2) of the North 
        American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 
        3471(b)(2)).
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