,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ifj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #bh1 #bjai ,mr4 ,merkley introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to establish a commission to develop proposals regarding voting representation for citizens of the ,united ,states who reside in a territory1 commonwealth1 or ,federal ,district of the ,united ,states4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,we the ,people ,commission on ,full ,representation ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,definition of covered jurisdiction ,in this ,act1 the term covered jurisdiction means-- 7#a7 ,puerto ,rico2 7#b7 the ,district of ,columbia2 7#c7 ,guam2 7#d7 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands2 7#e7 ,american ,samoa2 and 7#f7 the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 #c4 ,establishment of commission 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a commission to be known as the ,we the ,people ,commission on ,full ,representation 7in this ,act referred to as the ,commission74 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,composition ,the ,commission shall be composed of #aj members1 appointed as follows3 7,a7 ,two members appointed by the ,president4 7,b7 ,two members appointed by the majority leader of the ,senate4 7,c7 ,two members appointed by the minority leader of the ,senate4 7,d7 ,two members appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,e7 ,two members appointed by the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,qualifications 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall include not less than #a member who represents each covered jurisdiction4 7,b7 ,representation ,to represent a covered jurisdiction for purposes of subparagraph 7,a71 an individual shall-- 7i7 be a native of the jurisdiction2 7ii7 be an elected representative of the jurisdiction2 7iii7 have lived in the jurisdiction for a period of not less than #aj years2 or 7iv7 have expertise1 such as academic expertise1 on the jurisdiction4 7#c7 ,appointment deadline ,members of the ,commission shall be appointed not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,period of appointment ,members of the ,commission shall be appointed for the life of the ,commission4 7d7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy in the ,commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made4 7e7 ,meetings 7#a7 ,initial meeting ,the ,commission shall hold its first meeting not later than #cj days after a majority of members are appointed to the ,commission4 7#b7 ,meeting ,the ,commission shall regularly meet at the call of the ,chair4 ,such meetings may be carried out through the use of telephonic or other appropriate telecommunication technology if the ,commission determines that such technology will allow the members to communicate simultaneously4 7f7 ,quorum ,a majority of the members of the ,commission shall constitute a quorum1 but a lesser number of members may hold hearings4 7g7 ,chair ,the ,president shall designate a member of the ,commission to be the ,chair of the ,commission4 #d4 ,duties 7a7 ,development of proposals ,the ,commission-- 7#a7 shall develop a proposal for each covered jurisdiction regarding voting representation for citizens of the ,united ,states who reside in that jurisdiction2 7#b7 in a proposal for a covered jurisdiction under paragraph 7#a71 may recommend-- 7,a7 any type of representation1 including statehood or voting representation only in the ,house of ,representatives2 or 7,b7 no representation2 and 7#c7 in determining under paragraph 7#a7 whether and1 if so1 how a covered jurisdiction should be represented1 shall consider-- 7,a7 whether the jurisdiction has held a referendum on achieving voting representation in the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 the size of the jurisdiction4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall submit to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on ,rules of the ,house of ,representatives a report that contains the proposals developed under subsection 7a74 #e4 ,powers of ,commission 7a7 ,hearings ,the ,commission may hold such hearings1 sit and act at such times and places1 take such testimony1 and receive evidence as the ,commission considers advisable to carry out the responsibilities of the ,commission4 7b7 ,information from ,federal agencies ,the ,commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the ,federal ,government such information as the ,commission considers necessary to carry out the duties of the ,commission4 7c7 ,information from nongovernmental organizations 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out its duties1 the ,commission may seek guidance through consultation with foundations1 veteran service organizations1 nonprofit groups1 faith-based organizations1 private and public institutions of higher education1 and other organizations as the ,commission determines appropriate4 7#b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,commission should consult with nongovernmental organizations as authorized under paragraph 7#b74 7d7 ,postal services ,the ,commission may use the ,united ,states mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies of the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,gifts ,the ,commission may accept1 use1 and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property4 #f4 ,commission personnel matters 7a7 ,compensation of members2 travel expenses ,each member shall serve without pay but shall receive travel expenses to perform the duties of the ,commission1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,staff ,the ,chair1 in accordance with rules agreed upon by the ,commission1 may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and any other personnel that may be necessary to enable the ,commission to carry out the functions of the ,commission-- 7#a7 without regard to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 governing appointments in the competitive service2 and 7#b7 without regard to the provision of chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 relating to classification and ,general ,schedule pay rates1 except that no rate of pay fixed under this paragraph may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of that title4 7c7 ,detail of ,government employees ,any ,federal ,government employee may be detailed to the ,commission without reimbursement1 and that detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege4 7d7 ,personnel as ,federal employees 7#a7 ,in general ,the executive director and any personnel of the ,commission shall be considered employees under section #baje of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for purpose of chapters #fc1 #ha1 #hc1 #hd1 #he1 #hg1 #hi1 and #ij of that title4 7#b7 ,members of the ,commission ,paragraph 7#a7 shall not be construed to apply to members of the ,commission4 7e7 ,commission records ,the ,commission shall keep an accurate and complete record of the actions and meetings of the ,commission4 ,the record shall be made available for public inspection and the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states may audit and examine the record4 7f7 ,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 the duties of the ,commission under this ,act4 7g7 ,expert and consultant service ,the ,commission may procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section #caji of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid to a person occupying a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7h7 ,physical facilities and equipment ,upon the request of the ,commission1 the ,administrator of ,general ,services shall provide to the ,commission1 on a reimbursable basis1 the administrative support services necessary for the ,commission to carry out its responsibilities under this ,act4 ,the administrative support services may include human resource management1 budget1 leasing accounting1 and payroll services4 #g4 ,termination of ,commission ,the ,commission shall terminate #cj days after the date on which the ,commission submits the report under section #d4 #h4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to the ,commission to carry out this ,act4 7b7 ,availability ,any sums appropriated under the authorization contained in this section shall remain available1 without fiscal year limitation1 until expended4