[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5953 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5953

 To provide for the establishment of the Commission for the Deployment 
          of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2006

Mr. Wynn (for himself, Mrs. Bono, Mr. Dent, Mr. Terry, Mr. Calvert, Mr. 
 Buyer, Mr. Inglis of South Carolina, Mr. Rush, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Ross, 
and Mr. Larson of Connecticut) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee 
 on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for the establishment of the Commission for the Deployment 
          of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, 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. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Commission 
for the Deployment of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells'' (in this Act referred 
to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 2. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall develop a strategic plan that identifies the 
best methods available to marshal the resources of the Federal 
Government, State governments, local governments, the private sector, 
and academia to achieve the mass commercialization of hydrogen as an 
energy source for stationary fuel cells and vehicle fuel cells at the 
soonest possible date. Such plan shall take into account actions 
previously taken by the Federal Government, State governments, local 
governments, the private sector, and academia. The Commission shall 
also examine ways to ensure that the United States can use all 
available feedstocks for hydrogen production, and shall make 
recommendations for an appropriate entity to monitor ongoing progress 
in implementing the strategic plan.

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 
members appointed as follows:
            (1) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (2) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives.
            (3) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (4) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
    (b) Qualifications.--Individuals appointed under subsection (a) 
shall have at least 5 years of professional-level experience in 
science, technology, engineering, or public policy. The appointing 
officials shall coordinate their appointments so as to ensure that the 
Commission has a diverse range of such experience. Individuals 
appointed under subsection (a) may include any former Federal 
employees.
    (c) Appointment Date.--Appointments under subsection (a) shall be 
made not later than 2 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (e) Basic Pay.--
            (1) Rates of pay.--Members shall each be paid at a rate not 
        to exceed the daily rate of basic pay for level V of the 
        Executive Schedule 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.--
        Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or 
        employees of the United States may not receive additional pay, 
        allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the 
        Commission.
    (f) Travel Expenses.--Each member 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.
    (g) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (h) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected by the members. The Vice 
Chairperson shall be a member of the Commission appointed by an 
appointing official of a different political party than the official 
who appointed the Chairperson to the Commission.

SEC. 4. STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

    (a) Staff.--Subject to rules prescribed by the Commission, the 
Commission may appoint and fix the pay of personnel as it considers 
appropriate, including any former Federal employee.
    (b) 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.
    (c) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary 
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (d) 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. 5. 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.--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) 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) Subpoena Power.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may issue subpoenas 
        requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the 
        production of any evidence relating to any matter under 
        investigation by the Commission. The attendance of witnesses 
        and the production of evidence may be required from any place 
        within the United States at any designated place of hearing 
        within the United States.
            (2) Failure to obey a subpoena.--If a person refuses to 
        obey a subpoena issued under paragraph (1), the Commission may 
        apply to a United States district court for an order requiring 
        that person to appear before the Commission to give testimony, 
        produce evidence, or both, relating to the matter under 
        investigation. The application may be made within the judicial 
        district where the hearing is conducted or where that person is 
        found, resides, or transacts business. Any failure to obey the 
        order of the court may be punished by the court as civil 
        contempt.
            (3) Service of subpoenas.--The subpoenas of the Commission 
        shall be served in the manner provided for subpoenas issued by 
        a United States district court under the Federal Rules of Civil 
        Procedure for the United States district courts.
            (4) Service of process.--All process of any court to which 
        application is made under paragraph (2) may be served in the 
        judicial district in which the person required to be served 
        resides or may be found.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    The Commission shall transmit a report to the Congress not later 
than 8 months after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall 
contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission, together with its recommendations for legislation, 
administrative actions, and such other actions as the Commission 
considers appropriate.
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