[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8797 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8797

 To establish a Congressional Commission on Civics Education, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 20, 2020

Mr. Cicilline (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Carson of 
  Indiana, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Wild, Ms. Meng, Mr. Suozzi, and Mr. Raskin) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a Congressional Commission on Civics Education, 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 ``Commission on American Civics 
Education Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON CIVICS EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Congressional Commission 
on Civics Education (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 
        members, of whom:
                    (A) Five shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House and the House Minority Leader, in consultation 
                with the Chair and Ranking Member of the House 
                Committee on Education and Labor.
                    (B) Five shall be appointed by the Senate Majority 
                Leader and Senate Minority Leader, in consultation with 
                the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on 
                Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
            (2) Expertise of members.--Members appointed under 
        paragraph (1) shall represent entities or professions having to 
        do with civic knowledge and education, including--
                    (A) elementary and secondary schools;
                    (B) institutions of higher education;
                    (C) State educational agencies;
                    (D) local educational agencies;
                    (E) Federal, State, or local government;
                    (F) journalism; and
                    (G) nonprofit providers of civic education.
            (3) Limitations.--Members appointed under paragraph (1) may 
        not be--
                    (A) at any time during such appointment, a Member 
                of Congress; or
                    (B) individuals who have made political 
                contributions of any amount to any appointing 
                Congressional officials at any time.
            (4) Commission chairs.--From the members appointed under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall be co-chaired by--
                    (A) 1 member selected by the appointing 
                Congressional officials belonging to the majority 
                party; and
                    (B) 1 member selected by the appointing 
                Congressional officials belonging to the minority 
                party.
            (5) Travel expenses.--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.
    (c) Staff of Commission.--
            (1) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director who 
        shall be appointed by the co-chairs.
            (2) Staff.--To the extent or in the amounts provided in 
        advance in appropriation Acts, the Director, in coordination 
        with the co-chairs, may appoint and fix the pay of additional 
        personnel as the Commission considers appropriate.
            (3) Experts and consultants.--The Commission may procure 
        temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Duties.--The Commission shall:
            (1) Examine existing civics education programs in each 
        State.
            (2) Solicit the views of educators, school administrators, 
        and other State and local education officials, including 
        through--
                    (A) direct contact and engagement;
                    (B) field hearings;
                    (C) roundtable discussions; and
                    (D) focus groups.
            (3) Submit the report required under subsection (f).
    (e) Powers.--
            (1) Hearings.--The Commission may, for purposes of carrying 
        out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, 
        take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 
        considers appropriate.
            (2) Obtaining official data.--The Commission may secure 
        directly from any department or agency of the Unites States 
        information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act.
            (3) Gifts, bequests, and devises.--The Commission may 
        accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of 
        services or property, both real and personal, in a manner that 
        does not affect the findings of the Commission.
            (4) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails 
        in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
        departments and agencies of the United States.
            (5) 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 the responsibilities of the Commission under this 
        Act.
    (f) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall 
        submit a report to Congress that contains the following:
                    (A) A description of each State that exhibits--
                            (i) high levels of success in civic 
                        education and civic learning;
                            (ii) moderate levels of success in civic 
                        education and civic learning; and
                            (iii) low levels of success in civic 
                        education and civic learning.
                    (B) A determination with respect to existing State 
                civic education programs that may be used as national 
                models in all States.
                    (C) Recommendations to the Secretary of Education 
                with respect to issuing guidance on civics education to 
                States.
                    (D) A recommendation as to how the Secretary should 
                dedicate Department funds and resources to promoting 
                civics education, including with respect to 
                establishing an office dedicated to civics education.
            (2) Briefing.--Upon submission of the report described in 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall brief, with respect to the 
        contents of such report, the following individuals:
                    (A) Appointing Congressional officials.
                    (B) Members of the House Committee on Education and 
                Labor.
                    (C) Members of the Senate Committee on Health, 
                Education, Labor, and Pensions.
                    (D) The Secretary.
            (3) Publication.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
        which the briefing required under paragraph (2) occurs, the 
        Secretary shall make the report described in paragraph (1) 
        publicly available on the website of the Department of 
        Education.
    (g) Monthly Expense Reports.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall submit to the Chief 
        Administrator of the House of Representatives a detailed 
        monthly expense report for each month in accordance with 
        paragraph (2).
            (2) Timing.--With respect to a month, a report required 
        under paragraph (1) shall be submitted during the period 
        beginning on the first day of such month and ending on the day 
        that is 15 days after the last day of such month.
    (h) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on the date that is 
60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
            (2) Additional uses.--In addition to carrying out the 
        activities described in this section, the Commission may use 
        the funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for--
                    (A) office supplies;
                    (B) necessary electronic equipment, including--
                            (i) computers;
                            (ii) printers; and
                            (iii) telecommunications equipment; and
                    (C) maintenance costs, including--
                            (i) technical support; and
                            (ii) equipment repair.
    (j) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Appointing congressional official.--The term 
        ``appointing Congressional official'' means--
                    (A) the Speaker of the House;
                    (B) the House Minority Leader;
                    (C) the Senate Majority Leader; and
                    (D) the Senate Minority Leader.
            (2) ESEA terms.--The terms ``Department'', ``elementary 
        school'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'', 
        ``Secretary'', ``State'', and ``State educational agency'' have 
        the meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (3) Nonprofit provider of civic education.--The term 
        ``nonprofit provider of civic education'' means an organization 
        that focuses on supporting and strengthening civics education 
        programs.
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