,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #chhc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bc1 #bjai,mr4 ,connolly 7for himself and ,mr4 ,bishop of ,utah7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,commission on ,intergovernmental ,relations of the ,united ,states to facilitate the fullest cooperation1 coordination1 and mutual accountability among all levels of government1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,restore the ,partnership ,act4 #b4 ,establishment ,there is established a permanent1 bipartisan commission to be known as the ,commission on ,intergovernmental ,relations of the ,united ,states 7in this ,act referred to as the ,commission74 #c4 ,declaration of purpose ,in order to facilitate the fullest cooperation1 coordination1 and mutual accountability among all levels of government and thus better serve the ,american people in an increasingly complex society1 it is essential that a commission be established to give continuing attention to federalism and intergovernmental issues4 ,it is intended that the ,commission1 in the performance of its duties1 will-- 7#a7 convene representatives of ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments for the consideration of common problems2 7#b7 provide a forum for discussing ways to improve the administration and coordination of ,federal grant-in-aid1 regulatory1 tax1 and other programs requiring intergovernmental cooperation1 and to give ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments more flexibility and discretion in implementing ,federal policies and programs2 7#c7 give critical attention to the conditions1 controls1 and oversight involved in the administration of such ,federal programs2 7#d7 share lessons and best practices with ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments2 7#e7 encourage discussion and study during the early stages of emerging public challenges that are likely to require intergovernmental cooperation2 7#f7 advise the executive and legislative branches on ways to improve the intergovernmental operations of the ,white ,house and ,federal agencies1 including their offices of intergovernmental affairs and use of administrative waivers2 7#g7 identify the intergovernmental impacts of rulings by the ,united ,states ,supreme ,court on ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments2 and 7#h7 recommend1 within the framework of the ,united ,states ,constitution1 the appropriate allocation of governmental functions1 responsibilities1 revenues1 and expenditures among the levels of government4 #d4 ,membership 7a7 ,number and appointment ,the ,commission shall be composed of #ca members1 as follows3 7#a7 ,six members appointed by the ,president of the ,united ,states1 #c of whom shall be officers of the executive branch of the government1 and #c of whom shall be private citizens1 each of whom1 respectively1 shall have experience or familiarity with relations between the levels of government4 7#b7 ,three members appointed by the majority leader of the ,senate1 who shall be ,members of the ,senate4 7#c7 ,three members appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives1 who shall be ,members of the ,house4 7#d7 ,four members appointed by the ,president of the ,united ,states from a panel of at least #h ,governors submitted by the ,national ,governors ,association4 7#e7 ,four members appointed by the ,president of the ,united ,states from a panel of at least #h members of ,state legislative bodies submitted by the ,national ,conference of ,state ,legislatures4 7#f7 ,four members appointed by the ,president of the ,united ,states from a panel of at least #h mayors submitted jointly by the ,national ,league of ,cities and the ,united ,states ,conference of ,mayors4 7#g7 ,four members appointed by the ,president of the ,united ,states from a panel of at least #h elected county officers submitted by the ,national ,association of ,counties4 7#h7 ,one member appointed by the ,president of the ,united ,states from a panel of at least #d town or township elected governing board members submitted by the ,national ,association of ,towns and ,townships4 7#i7 ,two members appointed by the ,president of the ,united ,states from a panel of at least #d ,tribal officials submitted by the ,national ,congress of ,american ,indians4 7b7 ,political and geographical composition ,the political and geographic composition of the ,commission shall be as follows3 7#a7 ,the private-citizen members under paragraph 7#a7 of subsection 7a7 shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation4 7#b7 ,two of the appointees under paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of subsection 7a71 respectively1 shall be from the majority party of the applicable house4 7#c7 ,not more than #b of the appointees under paragraphs 7#d71 7#e71 7#f71 and 7#g7 of subsection 7a71 respectively1 shall be from any #a political party4 7#d7 ,not more than #a of the appointees under paragraphs 7#e71 7#f71 7#g71 and 7#i7 of subsection 7a71 respectively1 shall be from any #a ,state4 7#e7 ,at least #a of the appointees under paragraph 7#f7 of subsection 7a7 shall be from cities with a population of more than #ejj1jjj and at least #a of the appointees shall be from cities with a population of less than #ej1jjj4 7#f7 ,at least #a of the appointees under paragraph 7#g7 of subsection 7a7 shall be from counties with a population of more than #ejj1jjj and at least #a of the appointees shall be from counties with a population of less than #ej1jjj4 7#g7 ,the appointee under paragraph 7#h7 of subsection 7a7 shall not be a member of the party of the ,president4 7#h7 ,one of the appointees under paragraph 7#i7 of subsection 7a7 shall be a tribe engaged in class ,,ii gaming or class ,,iii gaming1 as such terms are defined by section #d of the ,indian ,gaming ,regulatory ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #bgjc71 respectively1 and #a shall be a tribe that is not engaged in such gaming4 7c7 ,initial appointments ,each initial appointment under subsection 7a7 shall be made not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,terms 7#a7 ,in general ,the term of office of each member of the ,commission shall be two years2 members shall be eligible for reappointment2 and1 except as provided under paragraph 7#b71 members shall serve until their successors are appointed4 7#b7 ,termination of service in official position from which originally appointed ,where any member ceases to serve in the official position from which originally appointed under section #c7;a71 the place of the member on the ,commission shall be deemed to be vacant4 7#c7 ,vacancies in membership ,any vacancy in the membership of the ,commission shall be filled for the remainder of the vacant term in the same manner in which the original appointment was made2 except that where the number of vacancies is fewer than the number of members specified in paragraphs 7#d71 7#e71 7#f71 7#g71 and 7#h7 of section #c7;a71 each panel of names submitted in accordance with the aforementioned paragraphs shall contain at least #b names for each vacancy4 #e4 ,organization of commission 7a7 ,initial meeting ,the ,president shall convene the ,commission not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act at such time and place as the ,president may designate4 7b7 ,chairman and vice chairman ,the ,president shall designate a ,chairman and a ,vice ,chairman from among the members of the ,commission4 ,the ,commission may subsequently establish a process for electing a ,chairman and ,vice ,chairman4 7c7 ,quorum ,seventeen members of the ,commission shall constitute a quorum1 but #b or more members1 representing more than #a of the class of members described in section #d7;a71 shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting hearings4 #f4 ,duties of commission 7a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall-- 7#a7 engage in such activities and make such studies1 investigations1 convenings1 and communications as are necessary or desirable in the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in section #c2 7#b7 consider1 on its own initiative1 mechanisms for fostering better relations and more productive partnerships between and among the levels of government2 7#c7 make available technical assistance to the executive and legislative branches of the ,federal ,government in the review of proposed legislation to determine its overall effect on all levels of government2 7#d7 recommend1 within the framework of the ,united ,states ,constitution1 the appropriate allocation of governmental functions1 responsibilities1 revenues1 and expenditures among the levels of government2 7#e7 recommend ways to improve the management1 performance1 and coordination of ,federal grant-in-aid and regulatory programs on ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 including metrics to inform intergovernmental improvements2 and 7#f7 recommend methods of coordinating and simplifying tax laws and administrative policies and practices to achieve a more orderly and less competitive fiscal relationship between the levels of government and to reduce the burden of compliance for taxpayers4 7b7 ,reports 7#a7 ,annual report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and on or before ,january #ca of each year thereafter1 the ,commission shall submit a report to the ,president and ,congress that-- 7,a7 identifies trends in federalism1 emerging and persistent issues needing intergovernmental attention1 data needs1 and areas requiring intergovernmental cooperation and coordination for better outcomes2 7,b7 summarizes any actions taken in accordance with the recommendations of the ,commission contained in any prior report1 and the results thereof2 7,c7 contains recommendations described in subsection 7a7 made in the year preceding the submission of the report2 7,d7 provide details on the activities1 administration1 expenditures1 and receipts of the ,commission2 and 7,e7 communicate any other matters the ,commission deems important4 7#b7 ,additional reports ,the ,commission may submit additional reports to the ,president1 to ,congress or any committee of ,congress1 and to any unit of government or organization as the ,commission may deem appropriate4 7c7 ,hearings ,congress shall hold hearings on any recommendations of the ,commission not later than #ij days after receiving a report described in subsection 7b77#a74 #g4 ,powers and administrative provisions 7a7 ,hearings and ,sessions ,the ,commission or1 on the authorization of the ,commission1 any subcommittee or members thereof1 may1 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this ,act1 hold such hearings1 take such testimony1 and sit and act at such times and places as the ,commission deems advisable4 ,any member authorized by the ,commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the ,commission or any subcommittee or members thereof4 7b7 ,cooperation by ,executive agencies 7#a7 ,request for information ,each department1 agency1 and instrumentality of the executive branch of the government1 including each independent agency1 is authorized and directed1 consistent with law1 to furnish to the ,commission1 upon request made by the ,chairman or ,vice ,chairman1 such information as the ,commission deems necessary to carry out its functions under this ,act4 7#b7 ,recommendations ,the ,commission shall furnish to any department1 agency1 or instrumentality of the executive branch1 including independent agencies1 any recommendations directed toward said department1 agency1 or instrumentality1 and said department1 agency1 or instrumentality shall furnish the ,commission within #ij days a written response that shall be included in any publication of the ,commission's recommendations4 7c7 ,executive ,director ,the ,commission shall have power to appoint and remove an ,executive ,director4 ,the ,executive ,director shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level ,,iii of the ,executive ,schedule 7section #ecad of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code74 ,such appointment shall be made solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the position and without regard to political affiliation4 7d7 ,staff ,subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the ,commission1 the ,executive ,director shall have the power to-- 7#a7 appoint1 fix the compensation of1 and remove such other personnel as he or she deems necessary2 and 7#b7 procure temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by section #caji of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7e7 ,applicability of other laws to employees ,except as otherwise provided in this ,act1 persons in the employ of the ,commission under subsections 7c7 and 7d77#a7 shall be considered ,federal employees for all purposes4 7f7 ,maximum ,compensation of employees ,any individual in the employ of the ,commission under subsection 7d77#a7 may not be paid at a rate of pay greater than the highest rate of basic pay provided under the ,general ,schedule 7section #eccb of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code74 #h4 ,application of the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act ,section #c7b7 of the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app7 is amended in the matter following subparagraph 7,c7 by-- 7#a7 striking and before 7ii72 and 7#b7 striking ,administration and inserting ,administration1 and 7iii7 the ,commission on ,intergovernmental ,relations of the ,united ,states4 #i4 ,reimbursement ,members of the ,commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel1 subsistence1 and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the ,commission4 #aj4 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this ,act4 #aa4 ,receipt of other funds ,the ,commission is authorized to receive funds through grants1 contracts1 and contributions from governmental agencies1 foundations1 and nonprofit organizations4 ,such funds may be received and expended by the ,commission only for the purposes of carrying out this ,act4 #ab4 ,repeal of ,advisory ,commission on ,intergovernmental ,affairs ,an ,act to establish an ,advisory ,commission on ,intergovernmental ,affairs1 approved ,september #bd1 #aiei 7,public ,law #hf-chj2 #db ,u4,s4,c4 #dbga et seq471 is repealed4