1.This Act may be cited as the
National Commission on Employment and
Economic Security Act
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Americans’
commitment to economic participation has been a defining feature of the
cultural fabric of the United States, helping individuals feel positive about
themselves, develop independence, and maintain hope for the future.
(2)As Americans lose
their jobs and their incomes shrink, too often, they also face the loss of
their family’s health insurance and, subsequent to the loss of income, even
their housing.
(3)Since the
recession began in December 2007, more than 9 million jobs have been lost.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by September 2011, the
unemployment rate had climbed to 9.1 percent. The scope of the economic
downturn is so large that its impact is felt almost everywhere along the
economic spectrum.
(4)As of September
2011, the number of unemployed persons had reached 14 million, and the
unemployment rate has hovered between 9.0 and 9.2 percent since April 2011,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(5)The number of
long-term unemployed workers (i.e., those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was 6.2
million in September 2011 and has increased by almost 26 percent since the
start of the recession in 2007.
(6)According to an
American Psychological Association September 2010 report, money (76 percent),
work (70 percent) and the economy (65 percent) remain the most frequently cited
sources of stress for Americans.
(7)The loss of a job
and the subsequent loss of income, insurance, and other benefits from that job
have been proven to not only lead to increased stress but also be substantial
triggers for mental health disorders including depression and anxiety.
(8)Calls to the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline increased by more than 72 percent from
2007 to 2010.
(9)One-third of
people going through foreclosure are clinically depressed.
(10)According to a
2010 American Psychological Association report, job stability is on the rise as
a source of stress; nearly half (49 percent) of adults reported that job
stability was a source of stress in 2010 (compared to 44 percent in 2009). At
the same time, fewer Americans are satisfied with the ways their employer helps
them balance work and non-work demands (36 percent compared to 42 percent in
2009).
(11)Research shows
that time flexible work policies are associated with less stress, fewer
absences from work, and more employer loyalty.
3.Establishment of
commissionThere is
established a commission to be known as the National Commission on
Employment and Economic Security
.
4.The Commission
shall—
(1)examine the issues
of economic and psychological insecurity of members of the United States
workforce caused by employment displacement;
(2)gather data on the
relationship between (A) psychological stress caused by employment insecurity
and economic insecurity, (B) the increase in mental health disorders including
clinical depression and anxiety in the United States, and (C) increased
violence by employees and former employees in the workplace and in their
private lives;
(3)analyze the
psychological impact of increased workplace responsibilities and stress on
current workers due to downsizing, and the role of workplace flexibility
policies in alleviating stress on these remaining workers;
(4)examine the
economic and psychological effects of the decreasing number of well-paid jobs
on members of the United States workforce and their families;
(5)analyze whether
measures may be taken to reduce said economic and psychological effects;
and
(6)recommend
potential solutions, including recommendations for legislative and
administrative action, to alleviate the problems of economic and psychological
insecurity of members of the United States workforce.
5.
(a)The Commission shall be composed of 17 members, with
expertise in research methods or statistics, who shall be appointed as
follows:
(1)9
individuals appointed by the President, of which—
(A)2 members shall be
individuals who represent labor organizations as defined by section 2(5) of the
National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5));
(B)2 members shall be
individuals who represent business interests;
(C)2 members shall be
individuals who represent mental health interests; and
(D)3 members shall be
individuals who represent relevant Federal agencies.
(2)2
individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3)2
individuals appointed by the minority leader of the House of
Representatives.
(4)2
individuals appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
(5)2
individuals appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
(b)
(1)Members shall be experts in the fields of labor,
employment, economics, and psychology.
(2)Political affiliation shall not be a factor in the
appointment of members.
(c)Each member shall be appointed to the Commission not
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d)Each
member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
(e)A
vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(f)Members shall serve without pay.
(g)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.
(h)8
members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may
hold hearings.
(i)
(1)The Chairperson of the Commission 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)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.
(j)The
Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
6.
(a)The
Chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of the personnel of the Commission as
the Chairperson considers appropriate.
(b)Applicability of
certain civil service lawsThe 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 that title
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(c)Staff of federal
agenciesUpon request of the Chairperson, 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.
7.
(a)The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this
Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may
administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.
(b)Powers of
members and agentsAny 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)The Commission may secure directly from any Federal
department or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act.
Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department
or agency shall provide that information to the Commission.
(d)The
Commission may use the United States mail in the same manner and under the same
conditions as other Federal departments and agencies.
(e)Administrative
support servicesUpon 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 under this Act.
(f)The
Commission is an agency of the United States for purpose of part V of title 18,
United States Code (relating to immunity of witnesses).
(g)
(1)The Commission may issue a subpoena to require the
attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence relating
to any matter described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 4.
(2)Failure to obey
an order or subpoenaIf a person refuses to obey a subpoena
issued under paragraph (1), the Commission may apply to a United States
district court for an order requiring that person to appear before the
Commission to give testimony, produce evidence, or both, relating to the matter
under investigation. The application may be made within the judicial district
where the hearing is conducted or where that person is found, resides, or
transacts business. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished
by the court as civil contempt.
(3)The subpoenas of the Commission shall be served in the
manner provided for subpoenas issued by a United States district court under
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for the United States district
courts.
(h)The Commission may contract with and compensate
government and private agencies or persons for supplies or services, without
regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
8.Not later than 1
year after the date on which all original members have been appointed to the
Commission, the Commission shall transmit to the President and Congress a
report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and recommendations
of the Commission made pursuant to section 4.
9.Termination of
commission
(a)The
Commission shall terminate 60 days after the date of submission of the report
pursuant to section 8.
(b)Administrative
activities before terminationThe Commission may use the 60-day
period referred to in paragraph (a) for the purpose of concluding its
activities, including providing testimony to committees of Congress concerning
its reports and disseminating the second report.
10.Authorization of
appropriations
(a)There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012 for use in the development and implementation of plans under
this Act.
(b)Amounts
authorized to be appropriated by subsection (a) are authorized to remain
available until expended.