IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 322 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 29, 2010 Mr. Issa (for himself, Mr. Hastings of Florida, and Mr. Gordon of Tennessee) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Establishing the Congressional Commission on the European Union, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This resolution may be cited as the Congressional Commission on the European Union Resolution.

2.

Establishment of Congressional Commission on the European Union

There is established in the legislative branch the Congressional Commission on the European Union (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the Commission).

3.

Membership of Commission

(a)

Selection and appointment of members

The Commission shall be composed of 18 members as follows: (1)Nine Members of the House of Representatives who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, of whom 5 shall be selected from the majority party, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 4 shall be selected from the minority party, after consultation with the minority leader of the House and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. For purposes of this paragraph, a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress shall be considered a Member of the House of Representatives. (2)Nine Members of the Senate who shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, of whom 5 shall be selected from the majority party of the Senate, after consultation with the Majority Leader and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 4 shall be selected from the minority party, after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. (b)

Chairman and vice chairman

(1)

Odd-numbered congress

At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress— (A)the President pro tempore of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members of the Commission to serve as Chairman of the Commission during that Congress; and (B)the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members of the Commission to serve as Vice Chairman of the Commission during that Congress. (2)

Even-numbered congress

At the beginning of each even-numbered Congress— (A)the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members of the Commission to serve as Chairman of the Commission during that Congress; and (B)the President pro tempore of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members of the Commission to serve as Vice Chairman of the Commission during that Congress.

4.

Duties of Commission

(a)

Activities

The Commission shall work with the European Parliament of the European Union and the European Commission on a frequent and regular basis in order to— (1)enable Members, officers, and employees of Congress to provide expert advice to members and staff of the European Parliament of the European Union and the European Commission, and to permit members and staff of such entities to obtain the services of the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Government Accountability Office through requests transmitted to the Commission; (2)enable members and staff of the European Parliament of the European Union and the European Commission visiting Congress and its support agencies to learn about their corresponding operations first-hand; and (3)provide information and recommendations to committees of the House of Representatives and Senate regarding legislation, regulatory standards, and activities being proposed by the European Parliament and European Commission. (b)

Studies

In order to carry out the activities described in subsection (a), the Commission shall conduct on an annual basis (or more frequently if necessary) a study on the impact on United States interests of legislation recently passed by the European Parliament and regulations issued by the European Commission. The Commission shall conduct on an annual basis a study on the impact on the European Union of legislation recently passed by Congress and regulations issued by the executive branch. The studies required under this subsection shall also assess the following: (1)The potential benefit to the European Parliament and European Commission of expert advice from Members, staff, and committees of Congress in areas including, but not limited to, regulatory reform, trade, defense, monetary policy, homeland security, human rights, science and technology, government oversight, education, agriculture, and health. (2)The potential benefit to Congress of expert advice from members, staff, and committees of the European Union and European Commission in areas including, but not limited to, regulatory reform, trade, defense, monetary policy, homeland security, human rights, science and technology, government oversight, education, agriculture, and health. (c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the establishment of the Commission and annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the following: (1)The results of the studies conducted pursuant to subsection (b). (2)In accordance with the results of such studies, a review of the activities of the Commission in the immediately preceding year and a proposal for the activities of the Commission in the subsequent year, as described in subsection (a). (d)

Official Meetings of the Commission

The Commission may hold hearings or meetings at the discretion of the Chairman on matters of mutual interest to Congress and the European Parliament and European Commission. (e)

Administration of oaths

The Chairman of the Commission or any member designated by the Chairman may administer oaths to any witness.

5.

Participation of certain legislative branch employees

At the request of the Commission, the head of any office or committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Government Accountability Office may assist the work of the Commission by authorizing personnel of such office, committee, or agency, as the case may be, to participate in activities of the Commission.

6.

Funding for Commission

(a)

Funding; disbursements

(1)

Source of funding

There are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties and functions, to be derived— (A)in the case of a fiscal year which ends during a Congress during which the Chairman of the Commission is a Member of the House of Representatives, from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives; and (B)in the case of a fiscal year which ends during a Congress during which the Chairman of the Commission is a Member of the Senate, from the contingent fund of the Senate. (2)

Disbursements

Funds provided to the Commission shall be disbursed on vouchers approved jointly by the Chairman and Vice Chairman. (b)

Official reception and representational expenses

Not to exceed $15,000 of the funds provided to the Commission for any fiscal year may be used for official reception and representational expenses during such fiscal year. (c)

Authorization of foreign travel for official purposes

Foreign travel for official purposes by Commission members and staff may be authorized by either the Chairman or the Vice Chairman, subject to the Rules of the House of Representatives (other than in the case of travel by a Member of the Commission who is a Member of the Senate). (d)

Use of foreign currencies

For purposes of this section, the Commission shall be deemed to be a standing committee of Congress and shall be entitled to use funds in accordance with section 502(b) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754(b)). (e)

Office facilities

(1)

In general

Funds may be provided for the lease of office space at or near the headquarters of the European Parliament and European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. (2)

Limitations on funding for office space

Funds for the lease of office space are subject to approval by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission, in consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Senate.

7.

Commission staff

(a)

Staff

(1)

Staff director

The Commission shall have a staff director, who shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Commission and whose pay shall be fixed by the Chairman of the Commission. (2)

Other staff

The Chairman of the Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of other personnel of the Commission, subject to the approval of at least 2 of the following Members of the Commission: (A)The Vice Chairman. (B)The senior Member from the minority party of the House of Representatives. (C)The senior Member from the minority party of the Senate. (b)

Treatment of employees as house employees

For purposes of pay and other employment benefits, rights, and privileges, and for all other purposes, including the applicability of the Rules of the House of Representatives, each employee of the Commission shall be considered an employee of the House of Representatives.

8.

Printing and binding costs

For purposes of costs relating to printing and binding, including the costs of personnel detailed from the Government Printing Office, the Commission shall be deemed to be a standing committee of Congress.