[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 24 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      January 30, 2007.
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. THERE IS ESTABLISHED IN THE HOUSE OF 
              REPRESENTATIVES A COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS THE HOUSE DEMOCRACY 
              ASSISTANCE COMMISSION (HEREAFTER IN THIS RESOLUTION REFERRED TO AS 
              THE ``COMMISSION'').

SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 20 Members 
of the House of Representatives, of whom 11 shall represent the majority party 
and be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 9 shall 
represent the minority party and be appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
House of Representatives.
    (b) Terms of Members of the House of Representatives.--Each member of the 
Commission shall be appointed for a term that is concurrent with the Congress in 
which the appointment is made. Such a member may be reappointed for one or more 
subsequent terms in accordance with the preceding sentence.
    (c) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be designated by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among the members appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives under subsection (a).

SEC. 3. DUTIES.

    (a) Activities.--The Commission shall work with the legislatures of partner 
countries, as determined pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b), 
on a frequent and regular basis in order to--
            (1) enable Members, officers, and staff of the House of 
        Representatives and congressional support agencies to provide expert 
        advice and consultation to members and staff of the legislatures of 
        partner countries;
            (2) enable members and staff of legislatures of partner countries to 
        study the operations of the House of Representatives and its support 
        agencies; and
            (3) provide recommendations to the Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development regarding the provision of 
        material assistance, such as modern automation and office systems, 
        information technology, and library supplies, as the Commission 
        determines to be needed by a legislature of a partner country in order 
        to improve the efficiency and transparency of its work, and to oversee 
        the provision of such assistance.
    (b) Selection of Partner Legislatures.--
            (1) In general.--In order to carry out the activities described in 
        subsection (a), the Commission may conduct, as needed, studies on the 
        feasibility of programs of assistance for legislatures of countries 
        described in paragraph (2) for the purpose of strengthening the 
        legislative infrastructure of such countries. Such studies shall 
        assess--
                    (A) the independent and substantive role that each 
                legislature plays, or could reasonably be expected to play, in 
                the legislative process and government oversight;
                    (B) the potential benefit to each legislature of expert 
                advice from and consultation with Members and staff of the House 
                of Representatives in areas such as the development of research 
                services and legislative information systems, legislative 
                procedure, committee operations, budget process, government 
                oversight, and constituent services; and
                    (C) the need in each legislature for material assistance, 
                such as modern automation and office systems, information 
                technology, and research materials, in order to improve 
                efficiency and transparency.
            (2) Countries described.--The countries referred to in paragraph (1) 
        are countries that have established, have re-established, or are 
        developing democratic legislatures which would benefit from the 
        assistance described in this resolution.
            (3) Additional partner legislatures.--From any countries studied in 
        accordance with paragraph (1), the Commission may select one or more 
        legislatures to receive assistance under the provisions of this 
        resolution, subject to a written expression of interest from the highest 
        ranking office within the legislature of a selected country.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than December 31, 2007, and each December 
        31 thereafter, the Commission shall prepare and submit to the Speaker of 
        the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of 
        Representatives, appropriate House committees, the Office of 
        Interparliamentary Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, 
        an annual report on the Commission's activities, including a review of 
        the activities of the Commission in the current year and a proposal for 
        the activities of the Commission in the upcoming year, as described in 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate House 
        committees'' means the following committees of the House of 
        Representatives:
                    (A) The Committee on Foreign Affairs.
                    (B) The Committee on Appropriations.
                    (C) The Committee on House Administration.
                    (D) The Committee on Rules.

SEC. 4. ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall carry out the duties described in 
section 3 using the staff and resources of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
including the use of consultants or temporary employees, such as individuals 
with expertise in development of democratic parliaments, legislative systems 
management, legislative research, parliamentary procedure, related legislative 
matters, and technology systems management, as appropriate.
    (b) Participation of Legislative Branch Employees.--At the request of the 
Commission, the head of any office of the House of Representatives or any 
congressional support agency may assist the work of the Commission by--
            (1) detailing personnel to the staff of the Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs or another standing committee of the House of Representatives; 
        or
            (2) authorizing personnel to participate in activities of the 
        Commission.

SEC. 5. TRANSITION FROM FORMER COMMISSION.

    (a) Continuation of Existing Programs.--The Commission may continue programs 
of assistance with legislatures of partner countries which were initiated by the 
former Commission.
    (b) Transfer of Authorities and Resources.--Any authorities and resources of 
the former Commission which remain available as of the day before the date of 
the adoption of this resolution, including unobligated funds, shall be 
transferred and made available to the Commission.
    (c) Definition.--In this section, the ``former Commission'' means the House 
Democracy Assistance Commission established under the House Democracy Assistance 
Commission Resolution (House Resolution 135, One Hundred Ninth Congress, agreed 
to March 14, 2005).
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.