[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1444 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1444

  To establish the Congressional Commission on Civic Service to study 
 methods of improving and promoting volunteerism and national service, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 11, 2009

 Mr. McDermott (for himself, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Ruppersberger, 
 Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the Congressional Commission on Civic Service to study 
 methods of improving and promoting volunteerism and national service, 
                        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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Commission on Civic 
Service Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The social fabric of the United States is stronger if 
        individuals in the United States are committed to protecting 
        and serving our Nation by utilizing national service and 
        volunteerism to overcome our civic challenges.
            (2) A more engaged civic society will strengthen the Nation 
        by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and 
        experiences to work on solutions to some of our Nation's major 
        challenges.
            (3) Despite declines in civic health in the past 30 years, 
        national service and volunteerism among the Nation's youth are 
        increasing, and existing national service and volunteer 
        programs greatly enhance opportunities for youth to engage in 
        civic activity.
            (4) In addition to the benefits received by nonprofit 
        organizations and society as a whole, volunteering and national 
        service provide a variety of personal benefits and satisfaction 
        and can lead to new paths of civic engagement, responsibility, 
        and upward mobility.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established in the legislative branch a commission to be 
known as the ``Congressional Commission on Civic Service'' (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES.

    (a) General Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to gather 
and analyze information in order to make recommendations to Congress 
to--
            (1) improve the ability of individuals in the United States 
        to serve others and, by doing so, to enhance our Nation and the 
        global community;
            (2) train leaders in public service organizations to better 
        utilize individuals committed to national service and 
        volunteerism as they manage human and fiscal resources;
            (3) identify and offer solutions to the barriers that make 
        it difficult for some individuals in the United States to 
        volunteer or perform national service; and
            (4) build on the foundation of service and volunteer 
        opportunities that are currently available.
    (b) Specific Topics.--In carrying out its general purpose under 
subsection (a), the Commission shall address and analyze the following 
specific topics:
            (1) The level of understanding about the current Federal, 
        State, and local volunteer programs and opportunities for 
        service among individuals in the United States.
            (2) The issues that deter volunteerism and national 
        service, particularly among young people, and how the 
        identified issues can be overcome.
            (3) Whether there is an appropriate role for Federal, 
        State, and local governments in overcoming the issues that 
        deter volunteerism and national service and, if appropriate, 
        how to expand the relationships and partnerships between 
        different levels of government in promoting volunteerism and 
        national service.
            (4) Whether existing databases are effective in matching 
        community needs to would-be volunteers and service providers.
            (5) The effect on the Nation, on those who serve, and on 
        the families of those who serve, if all individuals in the 
        United States were expected to perform national service or were 
        required to perform a certain amount of national service.
            (6) Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory 
        service requirement for all able young people could be 
        developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a 
        manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation 
        and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from 
        diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.
            (7) The need for a public service academy, a 4-year 
        institution that offers a federally funded undergraduate 
        education with a focus on training future public sector 
        leaders.
            (8) The means to develop awareness of national service and 
        volunteer opportunities at a young age by creating, expanding, 
        and promoting service options for primary and secondary school 
        students and by raising awareness of existing incentives.
            (9) The effectiveness of establishing a training program on 
        college campuses to recruit and educate college students for 
        national service.
            (10) The effect on United States diplomacy and foreign 
        policy interests of expanding service opportunities abroad, 
        such as the Peace Corps, and the degree of need and capacity 
        abroad for an expansion.
            (11) The constraints that service providers, nonprofit 
        organizations, and State and local agencies face in utilizing 
        federally funded volunteer programs, and how these constraints 
        can be overcome.
            (12) Whether current Federal volunteer programs are suited 
        to address the special skills and needs of senior volunteers, 
        and if not, how these programs can be improved such that the 
        Federal government can effectively promote service among the 
        ``baby boomer'' generation.
    (c) Methodology.--
            (1) Public hearings.--The Commission shall conduct public 
        hearings in various locations around the United States.
            (2) Regular and frequent consultation.--The Commission 
        shall regularly and frequently consult with an advisory panel 
        of members of Congress appointed for such purpose by the 
        Speaker of the House of Representatives and the majority leader 
        of the Senate.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 
        members appointed as follows:
                    (A) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House 
                of Representatives.
                    (B) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of 
                the House of Representatives.
                    (C) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of 
                the Senate.
                    (D) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of 
                the Senate.
            (2) Qualifications.--The members of the Commission shall 
        consist of individuals who are of recognized standing and 
        distinction in the areas of international public service, 
        national public service, service-learning, local service, 
        business, or academia.
            (3) Deadline for appointment.--The members of the 
        Commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
            (4) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall 
        be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives at 
        the time of the appointment.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--The members of the Commission shall serve 
        for the life of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not 
        affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties 
        of the Commission but any such vacancy shall be filled in the 
        same manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (c) Compensation.--
            (1) Rates of pay; travel expenses.--Each member shall serve 
        without pay, except that 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.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
        Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any member of the Commission who 
        is a full-time officer or employee of the United States may not 
        receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits because of 
        service on the Commission.
    (d) Meeting Requirements.--
            (1) Frequency.--
                    (A) Quarterly meetings.--The Commission shall meet 
                at least quarterly.
                    (B) Additional meetings.--In addition to quarterly 
                meetings, the Commission shall meet at the call of the 
                Chairperson or a majority of its members.
            (2) Quorum.--5 members of the Commission shall constitute a 
        quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
            (3) Meeting by telephone or other appropriate technology.--
        Members of the Commission are permitted to meet using 
        telephones or other suitable telecommunications technologies 
        provided that all members of the Commission can fully 
        communicate with all other members simultaneously.

SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

    (a) Director.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Commission shall have a Director who 
        shall be appointed by the Chairperson with the approval of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Credentials.--The Director shall have credentials 
        related to international public service, national public 
        service, service-learning, or local service.
            (3) Salary.--The Director shall be paid at a rate 
        determined by the Chairperson with the approval of the 
        Commission, except that the rate may not exceed the rate of 
        basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule.
    (b) Staff.--With the approval of the Chairperson, the Director may 
appoint and fix the pay of additional qualified personnel as the 
Director considers appropriate.
    (c) Experts and Consultants.--With the approval of the Commission, 
the Director may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for 
individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual 
rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule.
    (d) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, 
Chairperson, or Director, 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. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold public hearings, sit and act at times and 
places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 
considers appropriate.
    (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.--Upon request of the Chairperson, the 
head of any department or agency shall furnish information to the 
Commission that the Commission deems necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act.
    (d) Physical Facilities and Equipment.--The Architect of the 
Capitol, in consultation with the appropriate entities in the 
legislative branch, shall locate and provide suitable facilities and 
equipment for the operation of the Commission on a nonreimbursable 
basis.
    (e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Architect of the Capitol and the Administrator of 
General Services shall provide to the Commission on a nonreimbursable 
basis such administrative support services as the Commission may 
request in order for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.

SEC. 8. REPORTS.

    (a) Interim Report.--The Commission shall submit an interim report 
on its activities to Congress not later than 20 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Final Report.--
            (1) Deadline.--The Commission shall submit a final report 
        on its activities to Congress not later than 120 days after the 
        submission of the interim report under subsection (a).
            (2) Contents.--The final report shall contain a detailed 
        statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, 
        together with its recommendations for proposed legislation.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 days after 
submitting its final report under section 8(b)(1).
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