,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dffj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #aa1 #bjai,ms4 ,norton introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to create a national commission to combat workplace sexual harassment1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,commission to ,combat ,workplace ,sexual ,harassment ,act4 #b4 ,establishment ,there is established a commission to be known as the ,national ,commission to ,combat ,workplace ,sexual ,harassment 7in this ,act referred to as the ,commission74 #c4 ,duties of ,commission ,the ,commission shall-- 7#a7 carry out a comprehensive investigation and study of workplace sexual harassment in the ,united ,states-- 7,a7 through hearings and testimony taken from-- 7i7 workers1 employers1 and contractors in the ,united ,states1 including in such industries and places of work as hospitality1 factories1 offices1 agriculture1 food service1 retail1 news media1 technology1 banking1 entertainment1 and law enforcement regarding their experiences with sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace2 7ii7 experts in employment discrimination and sex discrimination1 including sexual harassment2 7iii7 members of the public2 and 7iv7 advocates against employment discrimination and sex discrimination1 including sexual harassment2 and 7,b7 which shall-- 7i7 summarize findings from the testimony of workers1 employers1 experts1 public witnesses1 and advocates1 mentioned in paragraph 7,a7 about sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace1 including retaliation for reporting such conduct2 7ii7 include an assessment of the causes and effects of workplace sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace2 7iii7 evaluate whether and how personal characteristics 7such as race1 gender1 gender identity1 sexual orientation1 age1 income and wealth1 geographic location7 or employment circumstances 7such as self employment1 contract1 seasonal1 permanent1 night shift1 gig economy7 render individuals more vulnerable to sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace2 7iv7 evaluate whether and how new forms of communication1 such as social media1 have had an effect on sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace2 7v7 analyze whether and how sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace have increased in the ,united ,states despite ,federal1 ,state1 and local legislation aimed at curbing such conduct2 7vi7 evaluate whether and how reporting occurs about sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace1 and whether and how that reporting is impacted by individuals' personal characteristics or employment circumstances2 7vii7 evaluate the efficacy of current reporting and accountability mechanisms in the private and public sector2 7viii7 analyze the causes and effects of unreported and underreported sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace1 and any disparities between complaints reported and claims resolved on the merits through mechanisms in the public and private sector2 and 7ix7 include a review of private sector1 ,state1 and local policies and practices that have had an effect in addressing and preventing sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace1 and enforcing prohibitions against such conduct2 and 7#b7 not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act-- 7,a7 submit to the ,president and the ,congress a comprehensive report of the ,commission's findings and conclusions1 together with any recommendations of the ,commission to combat sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 and other sexual misconduct in the workplace2 and 7,b7 conduct a hearing on the ,commission's report and recommendations4 #d4 ,membership 7a7 ,number and appointment ,the ,commission shall be composed of #aa members1 at least #f of whom shall be women1 appointed not later than #de days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 as follows3 7#a7 ,the majority leader and minority leader of the ,senate shall each appoint two members4 7#b7 ,the ,speaker and the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives shall each appoint two members4 7#c7 ,the ,president shall appoint three members4 7b7 ,qualifications ,each person nominated to the ,commission shall be knowledgeable on sexual harassment1 sexual assault1 or other sexual misconduct or related discrimination in the workplace4 7c7 ,terms 7#a7 ,in general ,each member shall be appointed for the life of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy shall not affect the power and duties of the ,commission1 but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and made within #ij days of a vacancy on the ,commission4 7d7 ,chairperson2 ,vice ,chairperson 7#a7 ,election ,at the initial meeting1 the ,commission shall select a ,chairperson and ,vice ,chairperson from among its members4 7#b7 ,vice ,chairperson ,the ,vice ,chairperson shall perform the duties of the ,chairperson in the event the ,chairperson is absent1 steps down1 or dies4 7e7 ,quorum ,six members of the ,commission shall constitute a quorum4 7f7 ,compensation ,each ,member of the ,commission-- 7#a7 shall not be considered to be a ,federal employee for any purpose by reason of service on the ,commission2 and 7#b7 shall serve without pay4 7g7 ,travel expenses ,each ,member of the ,commission shall receive travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 in accordance with sections #egjb and #egjc of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from their home or regular place of business in performance of services for the ,commission4 #e4 ,powers 7a7 ,meetings 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall meet at the call of the ,chairperson or a majority of its members4 7#b7 ,initial meeting ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall hold an initial meeting to develop and implement a schedule for completion of the study1 review1 and report required under section #c4 7b7 ,hearings ,the ,commission may hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as the ,commission determines necessary to carry out its duties4 7c7 ,other resources 7#a7 ,documents1 statistical data1 and other such information ,the ,commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the ,united ,states information necessary to enable it to carry out this ,act4 ,upon request of the ,chairperson of the ,commission1 the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the ,commission4 7#b7 ,office space and administrative support ,the ,administrator of ,general ,services shall make office space available for day-to-day activities of the ,commission and for scheduled meetings of the ,commission4 ,upon request1 the ,administrator shall provide1 on a reimbursable basis1 such administrative support as the ,commission requests to fulfill its duties4 7d7 ,authority ,to use ,united ,states 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 ,states4 7e7 ,authority ,to contract 7#a7 ,in general ,to the extent provided in advance in appropriations ,acts1 the ,commission may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons for the conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its duties under section #c1 without regard to section #faja of title #da1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,termination ,a contract1 lease1 or other legal agreement entered into by the ,commission may not extend beyond the date of termination of the ,commission4 #f4 ,staff 7a7 ,director ,the ,commission shall have a ,director who shall be appointed and may be removed by a majority vote of the ,commission4 ,the ,director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule4 7b7 ,staff 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director may appoint such personnel as the ,director determines to be appropriate4 ,such personnel shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule and may be removed by the ,director1 subject to a majority vote of the members of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,additional staff ,the ,commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the ,commission to carry out its duties1 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 to a person occupying a position at level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule4 7c7 ,experts and consultants ,with the approval of the ,commission1 the ,director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section #caji7;b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7d7 ,detail of ,government employees ,upon the request of the ,commission1 the head of any ,federal agency may detail1 without reimbursement1 any of the personnel of such agency to the ,commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the ,commission4 ,any such detail shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges of the personnel4 7e7 ,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 #g4 ,sunset ,the ,commission shall terminate on the date that is #fj days after the date on which the ,commission submits its report to ,congress pursuant to section #c7b74