H.R. 5941 – Reading Mode

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5941

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 27, 2006

Mrs. Maloney (for herself, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Becerra, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Clay, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Shays, and Mr. Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

A BILL

To establish certain requirements relating to the continuation of the Survey of Income and Program Participation.

Restrictions

The Secretary of Commerce may not—

(1)

discontinue the Survey of Income and Program Participation,

(2)

make any change in the design or content of such Survey, or

(3)

allow any of the foregoing,

unless the discontinuation or change involved has first been approved in accordance with section 2.

Proposed actions

(a)

In general

Whenever in the judgment of the Secretary of Commerce it becomes necessary to discontinue the Survey of Income and Program Participation or to make any change in the design or content of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, he shall prepare a written proposal under this subsection. Such proposal—

(1)

shall include—

(A)

a description of the specific actions proposed to be taken;

(B)

the date or schedule for their proposed implementation; and

(C)

the reasons or justification for each proposed action; and

(2)

shall be submitted by the Secretary of Commerce to the SIPP Commission (established by section 3) in such time, form, and manner as the Commission may require.

(b)

Consideration and decision

The SIPP Commission shall promptly consider any proposal received under subsection (a) and, after appropriate deliberation, shall transmit its decision to approve or disapprove such proposal to the Secretary of Commerce in timely fashion. Any such decision shall be in writing and shall include a statement of reasons and justification.

Establishment of Commission

(a)

In general

There is established a commission to be known as the Commission on the Survey of Income and Program Participation (in this Act referred to as the SIPP Commission or the Commission).

(b)

Composition

The Commission shall be composed of—

(1)

the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who shall serve ex officio;

(2)

1 member from the Department of Agriculture, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture;

(3)

1 member from the Department of Labor, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Labor;

(4)

1 member from the Department of Energy, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Energy;

(5)

1 member from the Department of Health and Human Services, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(6)

1 member from the Social Security Administration, who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Social Security;

(7)

1 member from the Bureau of the Census, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the Director of the Census; and

(8)

2 members from the National Academy of Sciences, who shall be appointed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget from among individuals recommended by the Council of the National Academy of Sciences.

All appointments to the Commission shall be made from among social scientists and statisticians who have experience analyzing longitudinal household data on economic well-being and participation in government programs.

(c)

Terms of appointees

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), each member who is appointed to the Commission shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.

(2)

Vacancies

(A)

In general

Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term.

(B)

Service after term ends

A member may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until a successor has taken office.

(C)

Manner of appointment

A vacancy among any of the appointed members shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

(d)

Chairman

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall serve as Chairman of the Commission.

(e)

Functions

(1)

In general

It shall be the function of the Commission to consider and act on any proposal relating to the Survey of Income and Program Participation (described in section 2(a)) in accordance with section 2(b).

(2)

Nondelegable functions

The functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under this Act shall be nondelegable.

(f)

Procedures

The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman of the Commission. A majority of the members of the Commission who are eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum. All members except those under paragraphs (1) and (8), respectively, of subsection (b) shall be eligible to vote.

(g)

Compensation

Members of the Commission shall serve as such without pay, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including a per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons serving intermittently in Government service are allowed travel expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

Effective date

This Act shall take effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act or September 30, 2006, whichever is earlier.