[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2924 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2924

  To establish a commission to study the culture and glorification of 
                          violence in America.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 2009

  Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Kucinich) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a commission to study the culture and glorification of 
                          violence in America.

    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 ``Presidential Commission to Study the 
Culture and Glorification of Violence in America Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Violence in the United States may be fueled by 
        interrelated factors such as the media, psychological stress, 
        the role of the school system, gun regulations, and economic 
        characteristics.
            (2) According to the Department of Justice, there were 
        1,408,337 serious violent crimes in 2007.
            (3) Teens and young adults experience the highest rates of 
        violent crime.
            (4) In 2005, approximately 28 percent of public and private 
        school students ages 12-18 reported that they had been bullied 
        at school within the previous 6 months.
            (5) According to the Department of Justice, the 
        incarceration rate has continuously increased since the 1980s, 
        and prisoners convicted of a violent offense make up over half 
        of the national prison population.
            (6) According to the Department of Justice, the Federal 
        Government spent $36,248,000,000 on criminal justice in 2006, 
        while local governments spent $109,205,351,000.
            (7) According to several studies from the American Journal 
        of Economics and Sociology, economic frustration motivates 
        criminal behaviors and inhibits communal deterrence capacities.
            (8) According to the Department of Labor, the number of 
        unemployed persons has increased from 7,675,000 in April 2008 
        to 13,724,000 in April 2009. Unemployed workers are more likely 
        to be teenagers, young adults, and African-Americans.
            (9) According to a study from the American Academy of 
        Pediatrics (AAP), prolonged exposure to violence in the media 
        can increase acceptance of violence as an appropriate means of 
        solving problems, can glamorize weapons as sources of personal 
        power, and can contribute to aggressive behavior.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established a commission to be known as the Presidential 
Commission to Study the Culture and Glorification of Violence in 
America (hereinafter the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) examine the glorification of violence in the United 
        States;
            (2) examine the relationship between psychological factors 
        and increased violence;
            (3) examine the role of the media in the violent atmosphere 
        prevalent today;
            (4) examine the correlation, if any, between economic 
        frustration and increased violence;
            (5) examine the correlation, if any, between ease of access 
        to firearms and increased violence;
            (6) examine the role of the school system in preventing 
        violent behaviors and identifying potential perpetrators of 
        violence; and
            (7) make findings and conclusions and recommend potential 
        solutions (including recommendations for legislation and 
        administrative action) to alleviate the problems related to the 
        glorification of violence in the United States.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 16 
members (hereinafter the ``members'') who shall be appointed as 
follows:
            (1) 8 members appointed by the President.
            (2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives.
            (4) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (5) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
    (b) Qualifications.--
            (1) In general.--Members shall have special knowledge of or 
        experience in the issue of violence in America, and may include 
        sociologists, psychologists, clergy, school counselors, law 
        enforcement officials, victims of violence, and representatives 
        from the media and the entertainment and gun industries.
            (2) Political affiliation.--Political affiliation shall not 
        be a factor in the appointment of members.
    (c) Deadline for Appointment.--Every original member shall be 
appointed to the Commission not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (d) Terms and Vacancies.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (e) Basic Pay.--Members shall not be paid by reason of their 
service as members.
    (f) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (g) Quorum.--Eight members shall constitute a quorum for conducting 
the business of the Commission, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (h) Chairperson.--
            (1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission 
        (hereinafter the ``Chairperson'') shall be elected by the 
        members not later than 30 days after the date on which all of 
        the original members of the Commission have been appointed.
            (2) Presidential appointment.--If the members of the 
        Commission are unable to elect the Chairperson in accordance 
        with paragraph (1), the President shall appoint a member of the 
        Commission to be the Chairperson.
    (i) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson.

SEC. 6. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Staff.--The Chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of the 
Commission personnel as the Chairperson considers appropriate.
    (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 such title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates.
    (c) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Chairperson, 
the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a 
reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the department or agency to 
assist the Commission in carrying out the duties of the Commission.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may hold hearings, sit 
and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as 
the Commission considers appropriate to carry out this Act.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--The Commission may delegate to a 
member or agency any authority of the Commission under subsection (c) 
or (e).
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the United States information 
necessary to enable the Commission to carry out this Act. Upon request 
of the Chairperson, the head of the department or agency shall furnish 
the information to the Commission.
    (d) 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 duties.
    (e) Contract Authority.--The Commission may contract with and 
compensate Government or private agencies or persons for supplies or 
services, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 
U.S.C. 5).

SEC. 8. REPORT OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall transmit a report to the President and the 
Congress not later than one year after the date that all original 
members have been appointed to the Commission. The report shall contain 
a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations 
of the Commission.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the report 
required by section 8.

SEC. 10. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

    Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of 
section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974) authorized 
by this Act shall be effective only to such extent and in such amounts 
as are provided in appropriations Acts.
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