,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bdgj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bj1 #bjac ,mr4 ,petri 7for himself and ,ms4 ,tsongas7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,veterans' ,affairs1 ,financial ,services1 ,energy and ,commerce1 and ,education and the ,workforce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,national ,commission on ,effective ,marginal ,tax ,rates for ,low-,income ,families4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,making ,work and ,marriage ,pay ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the take-home pay of low-income families is subject to reductions from many sources1 including the ,federal income tax1 ,social ,security payroll taxes1 and ,state income taxes4 ,in addition1 eligibility for many ,federal and ,state programs for assistance to working families1 such as the earned income tax credit1 the child tax credit1 supplemental nutritional assistance program1 housing assistance programs1 ,federal and ,state health care programs1 child care assistance1 and temporary assistance to needy families1 is based in part on income levels4 ,the rates at which the benefits from such programs are phased out have the same disposable income reducing effect as escalating marginal tax rates4 7#b7 ,the total effective marginal rate of tax for additional income earned by low-income people can exceed #ajj percent and can be a disincentive to working more hours1 getting a raise1 seeking education toward a more lucrative trade1 getting married1 or engaging in other economic or social activities4 7#c7 ,congress has enacted each of these programs without full consideration of the impact it would have on other existing programs4 ,as a result1 the structure of the ,united ,states system for the support of low-income families is uncoordinated and contains features which work against the goal of encouraging families to work their way toward self-sufficiency4 #c4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act3 7#a7 ,low-income ,the term low-income means1 with respect to any individual or family group1 an individual or family group1 as the case may be1 whose income is not more than #bbe percent of the poverty line 7as determined under section #fgc7b7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b7774 7#b7 ,federal benefits ,the term ,federal benefits means-- 7,a7 deductions1 credits1 and other tax benefits available to low-income taxpayers under the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 including-- 7i7 the earned income tax credit under section #cb of such ,code1 7ii7 the child tax credit under section #bd of such ,code1 and 7iii7 the dependent care tax credit under section #ba of such ,code1 and 7,b7 ,federal assistance programs for low-income individuals and families1 including-- 7i7 the supplemental nutritional assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 7ii7 any assistance1 loan1 loan guarantee1 housing1 housing assistance1 or other housing related program administered1 in whole or in part1 by the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 or any other ,federal agency housing assistance1 including the project-based and tenant-based rental assistance programs under section #h of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg1 7iii7 any ,federal programs providing child care assistance1 and 7iv7 ,federal programs providing health care assistance1 including assistance under the ,medicaid program established under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act1 the ,state ,children's ,health ,insurance ,program under title ,,xxi of such ,act1 and the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act4 7#c7 ,effective marginal tax rate ,the term effective marginal tax rate means the cost1 in terms of both taxes and loss of ,federal benefits1 for each dollar earned by a low-income individual4 #d4 ,national ,commission on ,effective ,marginal ,tax ,rates for ,low-,income ,families 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a commission to be known as the ,national ,commission on ,effective ,marginal ,tax ,rates for ,low-,income ,families 7hereinafter in this ,act referred to as the ,commission74 7b7 ,duties of commission 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall study and make recommendations on policy changes to mitigate the impact of the effective marginal tax rate and of phaseouts in ,federal benefits on low-income earners and their families4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the first meeting of the ,commission1 the ,commission shall submit to the ,president and to the ,chairman and ,ranking member of each ,committee of the ,house and the ,senate that has legislative jurisdiction over any of the ,federal programs or revenue policies addressed therein1 a report containing the following3 7,a7 ,analysis ,a detailed analysis of the following3 7i7 ,the ,commission's general recommendations for increasing coordination of the delivery of ,federal benefits for low-income families in order to reduce effective marginal tax rates and decrease disincentives to work and marriage4 7ii7 ,the relative usefulness of sudden benefit cutoffs 7sometime referred to as cliffs7 versus gradual reductions 7sometime referred to as phaseouts7 in ,federal benefits on low-income workers' behavior relating to work and marriage4 7iii7 ,the interaction of ,federal benefits and ,state assistance programs1 and the potential benefits of structuring ,state programs consistent with the design of ,federal assistance4 7iv7 ,the maximum extent to which funding for ,federal benefits can be appropriated annually avoiding the need to create additional entitlement programs4 7v7 ,the extent to which low-income cohabiting couples 7including couples with children and couples without children7 resist entering a legal marriage in order to maximize ,federal benefits and avoid lost income4 7,b7 ,recommendations 7i7 ,in general ,a description of the ,commission's recommendations relating to the following3 7,i7 ,combining all ,federal benefits which are not tax benefits into a single flexible voucher1 allowing the beneficiary to allocate funds within each of the supported benefit areas4 7,,ii7 ,to the extent possible1 providing all eligible families with equal voucher funds described in subclause 7,i71 varying only for income1 family size1 and the presence of children in the household4 7,,iii7 ,combining all ,federal benefits which are tax benefits for low-income families into a coordinated credit that minimizes phaseouts1 encourages work1 is adjusted for family size1 and does not penalize marriage4 7,,iv7 ,establishing a single eligibility standard for all ,federal benefits4 7ii7 ,revenue neutrality ,in making recommendations under this subparagraph1 the ,commission shall consider the need to maintain revenue neutrality in order to avoid increasing the deficit4 7iii7 ,blueprint for legislation ,the ,commission shall provide a blueprint for legislative proposals for each policy recommendation under this subparagraph4 7,c7 ,other matters 7i7 ,non-feasibility ,should the ,commission conclude that the policy framework described in subparagraph 7,b7 is not feasible1 the ,commission shall include in its report-- 7,i7 a detailed analysis of such policy framework1 7,,ii7 a comprehensive explanation of the reasons for its conclusion1 and 7,,iii7 one or more policy recommendations addressing the problem of effective marginal tax rates on low-income families4 7ii7 ,additional matter ,if the ,commission includes in its report a policy plan using the policy elements described in subparagraph 7,b71 it may also include additional alternative recommendations 7together with a legislative blueprint as provided under subparagraph 7,b77iii774 7c7 ,membership and meetings 7#a7 ,members ,the ,commission shall be composed of #ae members1 of whom #d shall be members described in paragraph 7#b7 and #aa shall be appointed pursuant to paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,cabinet members serving on ,commission 7,a7 ,in general ,the members described in this paragraph are the following ,secretaries3 7i7 ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury4 7ii7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7iii7 ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7iv7 ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7,b7 ,non-voting members2 chairman ,of the members of the ,commission described in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 the #b members with the least seniority in terms of service as ,secretary shall be nonvoting members1 7ii7 the member with the most seniority in terms of service as ,secretary shall be the chairman1 and 7iii7 in the event that the head of a cabinet department serving as a member of this ,commission under subparagraph 7,a7 is replaced1 and that ,cabinet ,secretary was serving as a voting member of the ,commission or as the ,chairman of the ,commission1 the incoming ,secretary shall assume such a role on the ,commission without regard to the seniority criteria established under this subparagraph4 7#c7 ,appointed members 7,a7 ,congressional appointments ,the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives1 the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives1 the majority leader of the ,senate1 and the minority leader of the ,senate shall each appoint #b members1 who shall each be experts in the subject matter of the ,commission4 7,b7 ,governors 7i7 ,in general ,the ,president shall appoint #c ,state governors1 of whom-- 7,i7 no more than #a shall represent the same political party represented by the ,president1 7,,ii7 #a shall be a governor of a ,state which is ranked in the top third on the list of benefit providers established under clause 7ii71 7,,iii7 #a shall be a governor of a ,state which is ranked in the middle third on the list of benefit providers established under clause 7ii71 and 7,,iv7 at least #a shall be a governor of a ,state which is ranked in the lowest third on the list of benefit providers established under clause 7ii74 7ii7 ,ranking of ,states ,the members of the ,commission described in paragraph 7#b77;,a7 shall establish a list ranking of ,states from highest benefit providers to lowest benefit providers based on the following3 7,i7 ,the level of benefits provided in the ,state under the ,temporary ,assistance to ,needy ,families under title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act4 7,,ii7 ,the average fair-market value of rental housing in the ,state4 7,,iii7 ,the ,state share of assistance provided under a ,state plan under the ,medicaid program under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act and a ,state child health plan under the ,state ,children's ,health ,insurance ,program under title ,,xxi of such ,act4 7,c7 ,date for original appointment ,the appointing authorities described in paragraph 7#a7 shall appoint the initial members of the ,commission not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7,d7 ,terms of appointment ,the term of any appointment shall be for the life of the ,commission4 7#d7 ,designees ,a member of the ,commission serving under paragraph 7#b71 appointed under paragraph 7#b77;,b71 or appointed under paragraph 7#c7 may appoint a designee to serve on the ,commission in such member's place4 7#e7 ,meetings ,the chairman shall call the first meeting of the ,commission4 ,thereafter1 the ,commission shall meet at the call of its chairman or a majority of its members4 7#f7 ,quorum ,a quorum shall consist of #i voting members of the ,commission4 7#g7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy on the ,commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made1 not later than #cj days after the ,commission is given notice of the vacancy1 and shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the ,commission4 7#h7 ,compensation ,members of the ,commission shall receive no additional pay1 allowances1 or benefits by reason of their service on the ,commission4 7#i7 ,expenses ,each member of the ,commission shall receive travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance with sections #egjb and #egjc of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7d7 ,commission staff 7#a7 ,appointment and compensation ,the chairman1 in accordance with rules agreed upon by the ,commission1 may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the ,commission to carry out its functions1 without regard to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 governing appointments in the competitive service1 and without regard to the provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of such title relating to classification and ,general ,schedule pay rates1 except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,personnel as federal employees 7,a7 ,in general ,the executive director and any personnel of the ,commission who are employees shall be employees under section #baje of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for purposes of chapters #fc1 #ha1 #hc1 #hd1 #he1 #hg1 #hi1 and #ij of that title4 7,b7 ,members of commission ,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not be construed to apply to members of the ,commission4 7,c7 ,detailees ,any ,federal ,government employee detailed to the ,commission shall retain the rights1 status1 and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption4 7,d7 ,expert and consultant services ,the ,commission is authorized to procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section #caji of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,e7 ,volunteer services ,notwithstanding section #acdb of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 the ,commission may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the ,commission determines necessary4 7e7 ,powers of commission 7#a7 ,hearings and other activities ,for the purpose of carrying out its duties1 the ,commission may hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as the ,commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties4 7#b7 ,detail of ,federal employees ,upon the request of the ,commission1 the head of any ,federal agency is authorized to detail1 on a reimbursable basis1 any of the personnel of such agency to the ,commission to assist the ,commission in carrying out its duties4 ,any such detail shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges of the ,federal employee4 7#c7 ,contracting ,the ,commission may1 to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation ,acts1 enter into contracts to enable the ,commission to discharge its duties under this title4 7#d7 ,technical assistance ,upon the request of the ,commission1 the head of a ,federal agency shall provide such technical assistance to the ,commission as the ,commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties4 7#e7 ,use of mails ,the ,commission may use the ,united ,states mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as ,federal agencies and shall1 for purposes of the frank1 be considered a commission of ,congress as described in section #cbae of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#f7 ,information from federal agencies 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,commission is authorized to secure directly from any executive department1 bureau1 agency1 board1 commission1 office1 independent establishment1 or instrumentality of the government1 information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and statistics for the purposes of this title4 ,each department1 bureau1 agency1 board1 commission1 office1 independent establishment1 or instrumentality shall1 to the extent authorized by law1 furnish such information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and statistics directly to the ,commission1 upon request made by the chairman1 the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the ,commission1 or any member designated by a majority of the ,commission4 7,b7 ,receipt1 handling1 storage1 and dissemination ,information shall only be received1 handled1 stored1 and disseminated by members of the ,commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes1 regulations1 and ,executive orders4 7#g7 ,administrative support services ,upon the request of the ,commission1 the ,administrator of ,general ,services shall provide to the ,commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the ,commission may request4 7#h7 ,printing ,for purposes of costs relating to printing and binding1 including the cost of personnel detailed from the ,government ,printing ,office1 the ,commission shall be deemed to be a committee of the ,congress4 7f7 ,termination ,the ,commission shall terminate #cj days after the date of submission of the report required in subsection 7b74 7g7 ,limitations on authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #a1ejj1jjj to carry out this section4 ,any amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of this subsection shall remain available without fiscal year limitation until expended4