S.Amdt. 1487

1. Adds TITLE XV--NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF THE ALL-VOLUNTEER ARMY at the end of division A

   Adds a title

   In S. 1042 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (d) Effect on Authorization Amounts.--A transfer made from one account to another under the authority of this section shall be deemed to increase the amount authorized for the account to which the amount is transferred by an amount equal to the amount transferred.

   Inserted: TITLE XV--NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF THE ALL-VOLUNTEER ARMY

   Inserted: SEC. 1501. FINDINGS.

   Inserted: Congress makes the following findings:

   Inserted: (1) The war in Iraq and military operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world have put the regular Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve under extreme stress.

   Inserted: (2) There is a severe mismatch between the size of the force and the missions that it is being asked to perform.

   Inserted: (3) The operational requirements of a sustained protracted conflict, combined with the supply and demand mismatch, are having a current negative and corrosive effect on the force, which could worsen over time.

   Inserted: (4) The demands on the force are not likely to diminish in the foreseeable future.

   Inserted: (5) 40 percent of the forces in Iraq are from the National Guard or the Reserve.

   Inserted: (6) The severe stresses on the force are having an effect on recruitment and retention for all components of the Army.

   Inserted: (7) The regular component of the Army could be thousands of recruits short of its goal by the end of 2005, and the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve could be even further behind their recruiting goals by that time.

   Inserted: (8) Shortfalls in recruiting impose further stress on the force, exacerbate recruiting and retention difficulties, and put pressure on recruiters to use more aggressive tactics and to lower standards.

   Inserted: (9) The stress is also seen in the day-to-day challenges faced by military families confronting multiple and extended tours of duty in combat operations abroad.

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   Inserted: (10) Surveys of members of the National Guard and the Reserve reveal that the combination of multiple and extended tours with the resulting family burdens is the principle reason for the decision of such members not to continue service in the Army.

   Inserted: (11) Addressing size, resources, recruiting, retention, military family quality of life, and others issues facing the Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve is an urgent national priority.

   Inserted: (12) These are admittedly very complex issues, and a partisan inquiry into who is responsible for "breaking the force" is not what is needed.

   Inserted: (13) Given the profound importance of these issues, a bipartisan commission of prominent Americans should study these issues and make recommendations to Congress on an appropriate response to them.

   Inserted: SEC. 1502. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

   Inserted: (a) Establishment.--There is established the National Commission on the Future of the All-Volunteer Army (in this title referred to as the "Commission").

   Inserted: (b) Membership.--

   Inserted: (1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of eight members of whom--

   Inserted: (A) two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate;

   Inserted: (B) two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

   Inserted: (C) two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

   Inserted: (D) two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, from among the members of such House.

   Inserted: (2) Date.--The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

   Inserted: (d) 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.

   Inserted: (e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman.

   Inserted: (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.

   Inserted: (g) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The Commission shall select a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members.

   Inserted: SEC. 1503. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

   Inserted: (a) Study.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a thorough study of all matters relating to the future of the all-volunteer Army.

   Inserted: (2) Matters studied.--In conducting the study, the Commission shall consider--

   Inserted: (A) the roles and missions anticipated for the Army during the five-year period beginning on January 1, 2006, including the role and missions of the Army in homeland defense;

   Inserted: (B) the proper size and structure of the Army in order to perform the roles and missions described in subparagraph (A), including the proper allocation of responsibilities for such roles and missions between the regular component of the Army and the reserve components of the Army;

   Inserted: (C) the proper size and structure of the reserve components of the Army to continue to contribute to the performance of such roles and missions;

   Inserted: (D) whether the current utilization of the reserve components of the Army is compatible with the continuing contribution of the reserve components of the Army to such roles and missions; and

   Inserted: (E) the recruitment and retention practices required to provide for an Army of the size and structure needed to perform such roles and missions, including practices relating to career paths, quality of life for members and their families, compensation, recruitment and retention incentives, and other benefits.

   Inserted: (b) Report.--Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit a report to the President and Congress which shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate in light of such findings and conclusions.

   Inserted: SEC. 1504. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

   Inserted: (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this title.

   Inserted: (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this title. Upon request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.

   Inserted: (c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

   Inserted: (d) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

   Inserted: SEC. 1505. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

   Inserted: (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States.

   Inserted: (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.

   Inserted: (c) Staff.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Chairman of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.

   Inserted: (2) Compensation.--The Chairman of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

   Inserted: (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.

   Inserted: (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The Chairman of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

   Inserted: SEC. 1506. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

   Inserted: The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 1503(b).

   Inserted: SEC. 1507. FUNDING.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 301(5) for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide activities, $3,000,000 may be available for the activities of the Commission under this title.

   Inserted: (b) Availability.--Amounts available under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

   Original wording

   At the end of division A, add the following:

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As printed