,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhid ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ai1 #bjai,mr4 ,wicker introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,national ,shipper ,advisory ,committee4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,federal ,maritime ,commission ,national ,shipper ,advisory ,committee ,act of #bjai 4 #b4 ,advisory ,committee ,part ,b of subtitle ,,iv of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #dbd ,national ,shipper ,advisory ,committee ,sec4#dbdja4 ,national ,shipper ,advisory ,committee4#dbdjb4 ,administration4 #dbdja4 ,definitions ,in this chapter3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,maritime ,commission4 7#b7 ,committee ,the term ,committee means the ,national ,shipper ,advisory ,committee established by section #dbdjb4 #dbdjb4 ,national ,shipper ,advisory ,committee 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a ,national ,shipper ,advisory ,committee4 7b7 ,function ,the ,committee shall advise the ,federal ,maritime ,commission on policies relating to the competitiveness1 reliability1 integrity1 and fairness of the international ocean freight delivery system4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,committee shall consist of #bd members appointed by the ,commission in accordance with this section4 7#b7 ,expertise ,each member of the ,committee shall have particular expertise1 knowledge1 and experience in matters relating to the function of the ,committee4 7#c7 ,representation ,members of the ,committee shall be appointed as follows3 7,a7 ,twelve members shall represent entities who import cargo to the ,united ,states using ocean common carriers4 7,b7 ,twelve members shall represent entities who export cargo from the ,united ,states using ocean common carriers4 #dbdjc4 ,administration 7a7 ,meetings ,the ,committee shall1 not less than once each year1 meet at the call of the ,commission or a majority of the members of the ,committee4 7b7 ,employee status ,a member of the ,committee shall not be considered an employee of the ,federal ,government by reason of service on such ,committee1 except for the purposes of the following3 7#a7 ,chapter #ha of title #e4 7#b7 ,chapter #aga of title #bh and any other ,federal law relating to tort liability4 7c7 ,acceptance of volunteer services ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 a member of the ,committee may serve on such committee on a voluntary basis without pay4 7d7 ,status of members 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 with respect to a member of the ,committee whom the ,commission appoints to represent an entity or group-- 7,a7 the member is authorized to represent the interests of the applicable entity or group2 and 7,b7 requirements under ,federal law that would interfere with such representation and that apply to a special ,government employee 7as defined in section #bjb7;a7 of title #ah71 including requirements relating to employee conduct1 political activities1 ethics1 conflicts of interest1 and corruption1 do not apply to the member4 7#b7 ,exception ,notwithstanding subsection 7b71 a member of the ,committee shall be treated as a special ,government employee for purposes of the committee service of the member if the member1 without regard to service on the committee1 is a special ,government employee4 7e7 ,service on committee 7#a7 ,solicitation of nominations ,before appointing an individual as a member of the ,committee1 the ,commission shall publish a timely notice in the ,federal ,register soliciting nominations for membership on such ,committee4 7#b7 ,appointments 7,a7 ,in general ,after considering nominations received pursuant to a notice published under paragraph 7#a71 the ,commission may appoint a member to the ,committee4 7,b7 ,prohibition ,the ,commission shall not seek1 consider1 or otherwise use information concerning the political affiliation of a nominee in making an appointment to the ,committee4 7#c7 ,service at pleasure of the ,commission ,each member of the ,committee shall serve at the pleasure of the ,commission4 7#d7 ,security background examinations ,the ,commission may require an individual to have passed an appropriate security background examination before appointment to the ,committee4 7#e7 ,prohibition ,a ,federal employee may not be appointed as a member of the ,committee4 7#f7 ,terms 7,a7 ,in general ,the term of each member of the ,committee shall expire on ,december #ca of the third full year after the effective date of the appointment4 7,b7 ,continued service after term ,when the term of a member of the ,committee ends1 the member1 for a period not to exceed #a year1 may continue to serve as a member until a successor is appointed4 7#g7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy on the ,committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment4 7#h7 ,special rule for reappointments ,notwithstanding paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b71 the ,commission may reappoint a member of a committee for any term1 other than the first term of the member1 without soliciting1 receiving1 or considering nominations for such appointment4 7f7 ,staff services ,the ,commission shall furnish to the ,committee any staff and services considered by the ,commission to be necessary for the conduct of the ,committee's functions4 7g7 ,chair2 ,vice ,chair 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,committee shall elect a ,chair and ,vice ,chair from among the committee's members4 7#b7 ,vice ,chairman acting as ,chairman ,the ,vice ,chair shall act as ,chair in the absence or incapacity of1 or in the event of a vacancy in the office of1 the ,chair4 7h7 ,subcommittees and working groups 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,chair of the ,committee may establish and disestablish subcommittees and working groups for any purpose consistent with the function of the ,committee4 7#b7 ,participants ,subject to conditions imposed by the ,chair1 members of the ,committee may be assigned to subcommittees and working groups established under paragraph 7#a74 7i7 ,consultation1 advice1 reports1 and recommendations 7#a7 ,consultation ,before taking any significant action1 the ,commission shall consult with1 and consider the information1 advice1 and recommendations of1 the ,committee if the function of the ,committee is to advise the ,commission on matters related to the significant action4 7#b7 ,advice1 reports1 and recommendations ,the ,committee shall submit1 in writing1 to the ,commission its advice1 reports1 and recommendations1 in a form and at a frequency determined appropriate by the ,committee4 7#c7 ,explanation of actions taken ,not later than #fj days after the date on which the ,commission receives recommendations from the ,committee under paragraph 7#b71 the ,commission shall-- 7,a7 publish the recommendations on a public website2 and 7,b7 respond1 in writing1 to the ,committee regarding the recommendations1 including by providing an explanation of actions taken regarding the recommendations4 7#d7 ,submission to ,congress ,the ,commission shall submit to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate the advice1 reports1 and recommendations received from the ,committee under paragraph 7#b74 7j7 ,observers ,the ,commission may designate a representative to-- 7#a7 attend any meeting of the ,committee2 and 7#b7 participate as an observer at such meeting4 7k7 ,termination ,the ,committee shall terminate on ,september #cj1 #bjbi4 4