1.This Act may be cited as
the Commission on Measures of
Household Economic Security Act of 2008
.
2.Congress finds that—
(1)Federal and State
governments, policymakers, legislators, and private sector entities depend on
the economic statistics that are published by the Federal Government;
(2)Federal economic
statistics are used, among other things—
(A)to judge our
Nation’s economic performance over time; and
(B)to provide
policymakers and legislators with the information necessary to design
appropriate economic policies and other programs to address the well-being of
American individuals and households;
(3)questions have
been raised about the sufficiency of existing reported economic measures and
statistics to provide a meaningful and accurate reflection and assessment of
the economic well-being of American individuals and households;
(4)the most commonly
reported economic statistics, such as gross domestic product, unemployment
rate, and consumer price indices, do not adequately or accurately reflect the
economic status of average American individuals and households; and
(5)a more accurate,
transparent, coherent, and comprehensive assessment of the economic well-being
of American households and regular reporting of such information would allow
Federal and State governments—
(A)to better track
and judge the economic status of average Americans; and
(B)to develop
better, more accurate, and more responsive policies to address concerns that
are more directly relevant to American households.
3.Establishment of
Commission on Measures of Household Economic Security
(a)There
is established the Commission on Measures of Household Economic Security
(referred to in this Act as the Commission
).
(b)
(1)The
Commission shall be composed of 8 members of whom—
(A)2 shall be
appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the
chairmen and ranking members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, and the
Joint Economic
Committee, of whom 1 shall be an employee of the Bureau of
Economic Analysis;
(B)2 shall be
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the
chairmen and ranking members of the committees referred to in subparagraph (A),
of whom 1 shall be an employee of the Census Bureau;
(C)2 shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with
the chairmen and ranking members of the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives; the Committee
on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and the
Joint Economic Committee, of
whom 1 shall be an employee of the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and
(D)2 shall be
appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, in
consultation with the chairmen and ranking members of the committees referred
to in subparagraph (C), of whom 1 shall be an employee of the Federal
Reserve.
(2)Members
of the Commission shall be—
(A)appointed on a
nonpartisan basis; and
(B)academic or
government policy experts in the field of economics, statistics, or other
specialty field that is directly related to the duties of the Commission
described in section 4(a).
(3)The
members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c)Period of
Appointment; VacanciesMembers shall be appointed for the life of
the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(d)Chairman and
Vice ChairmanThe Commission shall select a Chairman and Vice
Chairman from among its members.
(e)
(1)Not later than 60 days after the date on which all
members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold its
first meeting.
(2)During the life of the Commission, the Commission shall
meet—
(A)at the call of
the Chairman; and
(B)not less
frequently than once every 3 months.
(f)A
majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for
purposes of transacting the business of the Commission, but a lesser number of
members may hold hearings.
(g)The
Commission may establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of
the Commission’s business, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and
other applicable law.
4.
(a)The
Commission shall identify, study, and evaluate—
(1)existing economic
statistics and data collected and reported by agencies of the Federal
Government that describe the economic well-being of American households;
(2)ways to
synthesize, expand, augment, improve, and modernize the statistical measures
described in paragraph (1) to provide a more accurate, transparent, coherent,
and comprehensive assessment of the economic well-being of American households
by—
(A)determining the
cost, logistics, implementation time, and reliability of producing new
statistics;
(B)recommending
improved standards and methodologies for measuring and reflecting the economic
well-being of American individuals and households; and
(C)considering the
development of statistical measures to describe—
(i)the
current debt situation of American individuals and households, including a
description of the categories of debt, such as credit card debt, education
related loans, and mortgage payments;
(ii)the movement of
Americans between salaried jobs with benefits to single or multiple wage jobs
with limited or no benefits, including a comparison of income that includes the
value of benefits programs, such as health insurance and retirement
plans;
(iii)the percentage
of Americans who are covered by both employer-provided and individual health
care plans and the extent of health care coverage per dollar paid by both
employers and employees;
(iv)the savings
rate, including both standard savings plans and pension plans;
(v)the
disparity in income distribution over time and between different demographic
and geographic groups;
(vi)the number of
Americans receiving cash or near cash transfer payments from the Federal
Government and a State government and the percentage of household income
represented by such benefits; and
(vii)the breakdown
of household expenditures between categories such as food, shelter, medical
expenses, debt servicing, and energy;
(D)the relevance,
development, and implementation of nonmarket satellite accounts, including
accounts related to—
(i)household
production;
(ii)investments in
formal education and the resulting stock of skill capital;
(iii)investments in
health and the resulting stock of health capital;
(iv)activities of
the non-profit and volunteer sectors; and
(v)environmental
assets and services.
(b)In
conducting the study under this section, the Commission shall consult with
relevant government leaders, representative citizen groups, and experts,
including—
(1)the Chairman of
the Federal Reserve Board of Governors;
(2)the Secretary of
Commerce;
(3)the Secretary of
Labor;
(4)the Secretary of
the Treasury;
(5)the Chairman of
the Council of Economic Advisers;
(6)the Comptroller
General of the United States;
(7)the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(8)the Secretary of
Health and Human Services;
(9)the Director of
the Bureau of Economic Analysis;
(10)the Commissioner
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics;
(11)the Committee on
National Statistics, National Research Council at the National Academies;
and
(12)representative
groups of citizens, from sample populations selected through methodologies and
procedures recommended by appropriate experts, that represent national
geographic, economic, and employment diversity.
(c)Not
later than 18 months after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit a report to Congress that contains—
(1)a detailed
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission; and
(2)recommendations
for such legislation and administrative actions as the Commission considers
appropriate, including—
(A)a list of
economic statistics that should be reported regularly to more accurately
reflect the economic status and well-being of American households, and the uses
and benefits of such statistics;
(B)the costs,
logistics, estimated implementation time, and reliability of producing the
statistics referred to in subparagraph (A); and
(C)the need for, and
benefits of, establishing a standing commission after the termination of the
Commission to address or recommend actions with respect to—
(i)household
economic information;
(ii)non-market
satellite accounts; and
(iii)other economic
indicators and measurements that are the subject of study and evaluation by the
Commission.
5.
(a)The
Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take
such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable
to carry out this Act.
(b)Information
From Federal Agencies
(1)The Commission may secure such information directly from
any Federal department or agency as the Commission determines to be necessary
to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head
of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the
Commission.
(2)The
Commission shall maintain the same level of confidentiality for such
information made available under this subsection as is required of the head of
the department or agency from which the information was obtained.
(c)The Commission may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of
the Federal Government.
(d)
(1)Subject to the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.), the Commission may enter into
contracts with Federal and State agencies, private firms, institutions, and
individuals for the conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its
duties and responsibilities.
(2)A
contract, lease, or other legal agreement entered into by the Commission may
not extend beyond the date of the termination of the Commission.
6.Commission
personnel matters
(a)
(1)Except as provided under paragraph (2), each member of
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government may
be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the maximum annual
rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of
title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which
such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the
Commission.
(2)All members of the Commission who are officers or
employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to
that received for their services as officers or employees of the United
States.
(b)The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the
performance of services for the Commission.
(c)
(1)The Chairman of the Commission may, without regard to the
civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director
and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the
Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an executive director shall
be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
(2)The
Chairman of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director
and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and
General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive
director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level IV of
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
(3)Personnel as
federal employees
(A)The executive director and any personnel of the
Commission who are employees shall be employees under section 2105 of title 5,
United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 89A,
89B, and 90 of such title.
(B)Subparagraph (A) may not be construed to apply to members
of the Commission.
(d)Detail of
Government EmployeesAny Federal Government employee may be
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement. Such detail shall be without
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(e)Procurement of
Temporary and Intermittent ServicesThe Chairman of the
Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
(f)
(1)Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States
Code, the Commission may—
(A)accept and
utilize the services of volunteers serving without compensation; and
(B)reimburse such
volunteers for local travel and office supplies, and for other travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code.
(2)A
person providing volunteer services to the Commission shall be considered an
employee of the Federal Government in the performance of those services for the
purposes of—
(A)chapter 81 of
title 5, United States Code (relating to compensation for work related
injuries);
(B)chapter 11 of
title 18, United States Code (relating to conflicts of interest); and
(C)chapter 171 of
title 28, United States Code (relating to tort claims).
(g)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.
7.Termination of
the CommissionThe Commission
shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the
report under section 4(c).
8.Authorization of
appropriations
(a)Of the amounts made
available for the Bureau of Labor Statistics for fiscal year 2009, not less
than $2,500,000 shall be made available for the activities of the Commission
under this Act.
(b)The amounts made available for the
activities of the Commission under subsection (a) shall remain available until
the date on which the Commission is terminated pursuant to section 7.