[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6539 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6539

  To establish United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and 
                     Trade, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2012

  Mr. Nunes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and 
                     Trade, 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 ``United States-Brazil Joint 
Commission on Commerce and Trade Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish the United States-Brazil 
Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade to address bilateral trade 
matters, seek removal of trade barriers, and promote commercial 
opportunities, between the United States and Brazil.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-BRAZIL JOINT COMMISSION ON COMMERCE AND TRADE.

    (a) Establishment of United States-Brazil Joint Commission on 
Commerce and Trade.--
            (1) In general.--There is established a commission to be 
        known as the United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce 
        and Trade (in this section referred to as the ``Commission'').
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to improve 
        the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the 
        United States and Brazil by establishing high level reviews of 
        barriers to trade between the two countries, to promote 
        commercial opportunities between the United States and Brazil, 
        and to facilitate the dialogue necessary to examine the mutual 
        benefits of free trade.
            (3) Membership of commission.--
                    (A) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed 
                of 16 members. The composition of the Commission shall 
                be divided equally between the United States Government 
                and the Republic of Brazil. United States Commissioners 
                shall be appointed as follows:
                            (i) Two persons shall be appointed by the 
                        President pro tempore of the Senate upon the 
                        recommendation of the majority leader of the 
                        Senate, after consultation with the Chairman of 
                        the Committee on Finance and the Chairman of 
                        the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                        Senate.
                            (ii) Two persons shall be appointed by the 
                        President pro tempore of the Senate upon the 
                        recommendation of the minority leader of the 
                        Senate, after consultation with the ranking 
                        minority member of the Committee on Finance and 
                        the ranking minority member of the Committee on 
                        Foreign Relations of the Senate.
                            (iii) Two persons shall be appointed by the 
                        Speaker of the House of Representatives, after 
                        consultation with the Chairman of the Committee 
                        on Ways and Means and the Chairman of the 
                        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
                        Representatives.
                            (iv) Two persons shall be appointed by the 
                        minority leader of the House of 
                        Representatives, after consultation with the 
                        ranking minority member of the Committee on 
                        Ways and Means and the ranking minority member 
                        of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
                        House of Representatives.
                    (B) Qualifications.--Individuals appointed to the 
                Commission shall be individuals who have expertise in 
                international trade matters and United States-Brazil 
                relations.
            (4) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
                    (A) In general.--Members of the Commission shall be 
                appointed to 2-year terms.
                    (B) Staggering of terms.--Each appointing authority 
                referred to under clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph 
                (3)(A) shall--
                            (i) make the appointments on a staggered 
                        term basis, so that of the members initially 
                        appointed--
                                    (I) 1 of the 2 appointments shall 
                                be for a term expiring on December 31, 
                                2014; and
                                    (II) the other appointment shall be 
                                for a term expiring on December 31, 
                                2015; and
                            (ii) make the appointments not later than 
                        30 days after the date on which each new 
                        Congress convenes.
                    (C) Reappointment.--Members of the Commission may 
                be reappointed for additional terms of service as 
                members of the Commission.
                    (D) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall 
                not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same 
                manner as the original appointment.
            (5) Chairmen.--The members of the Commission shall select 
        co-Chairmen, one from the United States and one from Brazil.
            (6) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
        Chairmen.
                    (A) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after 
                the date on which all members of the Commission have 
                been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first 
                meeting.
                    (B) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall meet 
                at the call of the Chairmen of the Commission, with the 
                responsibility of chairing proceedings alternating 
                between the United States and Brazil.
                    (C) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the 
                Commission shall constitute a quorum for the 
                transaction of business of the Commission.
            (7) Voting.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
        entitled to one vote, which shall be equal to the vote of every 
        other member of the Commission.
    (b) Duties.--Not later than December 1 of each year (beginning in 
2014), the Commission shall submit to the United States Congress and 
the National Congress of Brazil a report regarding the status and 
economic impact of trade relations between the United States and 
Brazil. The report shall include a full analysis, along with 
conclusions and recommendations for legislative and administrative 
actions, if any, concerning barriers to trade and the enhancement of 
economic ties.
    (c) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission or, at its direction, any 
        panel or member of the Commission, may for the purpose of 
        carrying out the provisions of this section, hold hearings, sit 
        and act at times and places, take testimony, receive evidence, 
        and administer oaths to the extent that the Commission or such 
        panel or member considers advisable.
            (2) Information.--The Commission may secure directly from 
        any Federal department or agency information that the 
        Commission considers necessary to enable the Commission to 
        carry out its duties under this section, unless that 
        information is deemed to contain sensitive national 
        intelligence information or is otherwise subject to rules 
        concerning state secrets.
    (d) Commission Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Compensation of members.--United States Members of the 
        Commission shall be compensated in the same manner provided for 
        the compensation of members of the Trade Deficit Review 
        Commission under subsections (g)(1) and (g)(6) of section 127 
        of the Trade Deficit Review Commission Act (19 U.S.C. 2213 
        note).
            (2) Travel expenses.--Travel expenses of the United States 
        Commissioners shall be allowed in the same manner provided for 
        the allowance of the travel expenses of the Trade Deficit 
        Review Commission under section 127(g)(2) of the Trade Deficit 
        Review Commission Act.
            (3) Staff.--An executive director and other additional 
        personnel for the Commission shall be appointed, compensated, 
        and terminated in the same manner provided for the appointment, 
        compensation, and termination of the executive director and 
        other personnel of the Trade Deficit Review Commission under 
        section 127(g)(3) and section 127(g)(6) of the Trade Deficit 
        Review Commission Act. The executive director and any personnel 
        who are employees of the United States-Brazil Joint Commission 
        on Commerce and Trade shall be employees under section 2105 of 
        title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 
        83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title.
            (4) Detail of government employees.--Federal Government 
        employees may be detailed to the Commission in the same manner 
        provided for the detail of Federal Government employees to the 
        Trade Deficit Review Commission under section 127(g)(4) of the 
        Trade Deficit Review Commission Act.
            (5) Assignment of personnel by the government of brazil.--
        The Commission shall work with the Government of Brazil to 
        secure the appropriate expertise to carry out its work, 
        including through the assignment to the Commission of staff 
        officials selected by the Government of Brazil and the 
        temporary or ongoing employment of Brazilian nationals.
            (6) Foreign travel for official purposes.--Foreign travel 
        for official purposes by Commissioners to and from official 
        proceedings may be authorized by the Chairmen of the 
        Commission. Travel by the staff of the Commission for official 
        purposes may be authorized by the Chairmen of the Commission 
        only when necessary to carry out essential activities that 
        could not otherwise be conducted using alternative means.
            (7) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.--
        The Chairmen of the Commission may procure temporary and 
        intermittent services for the Commission in the same manner 
        provided for the procurement of temporary and intermittent 
        services for the Trade Deficit Review Commission under section 
        127(g)(5) of the Trade Deficit Review Commission Act.
            (8) Privately funded travel.--The Chairmen of the 
        Commission may authorize privately funded travel by members and 
        staff of the Commission for activities related to the duties of 
        the Commission. The Commission shall disclose to the public, 
        not later than 60 days after the privately funded travel 
        occurs, the source of the funding, together with the itinerary 
        of the activities of members and staff of the Commission 
        participating in the privately funded travel.
    (e) Assistance in Performing Duties.--The President of the United 
States shall provide for the transfer to the Commission of such staff, 
materials, and infrastructure (including leased premises) of Federal 
departments and agencies as the President considers necessary to assist 
the Commission in carrying out its duties.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Commission for fiscal year 2013, and for each fiscal year 
        thereafter, such sums as may be necessary to enable the 
        Commission to carry out its duties under this section.
            (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated to the Commission 
        pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until 
        expended.
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