,,ii  #aaith ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #dbff  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,march #bf1    
#bjbf,mr4 ,kelly introduced the         
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on ,banking1
 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs  ,a      
,,bill  ,to declare an emergency        
regarding the cost of living in the     
,united ,states and direct actions to be
 taken to address the cost-of-living    
emergency1 and for other purposes4  #a4 
,short title ,this ,act may be cited as 
the ,cost-of-living ,emergency ,act4    
#b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7    
,average ,u4,s4 household ,the term     
average ,u4,s4 household means a        
household in the ,united ,states earning
 less than the median household income  
for the prior year1 as determined by the
 ,united ,states ,census ,bureau4  7#b7 
,basic household necessities ,the term  
basic household necessities includes the
 following expenditures1 as defined by  
the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics on    

,january #a1 #bjbf3 7,a7 ,food at home4 
7,b7 ,owned dwellings4  7,c7 ,rented    
dwellings4  7,d7 ,gasoline and other    
fuels4  7,e7 ,medical services4  7,f7   
,utilities1 fuels1 and public services4 
7#c7 ,co-chair ,the term co-chair means 
an individual appointed to serve as a   
co-chair of the ,commission under       
section #h7;a77#c77;,b74  7#d7          
,commission ,the term ,commission means 
the ,cost-of-,living ,commission        
established under section #h7;a77#a74   
7#e7 ,council ,the term ,council means  
the ,council of ,economic ,advisers     
established under section #aj of the    
,employment ,act of #aidf 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4
 #ajbc74  7#f7 ,large corporation ,the  
term large corporation means any        
business that is not a small business   
concern1 as defined in section #c of the
 ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4   
#fcb74  7#g7 ,outside expert ,the term  
outside expert means an individual who  
is not an elected official or an officer
 or employee of the ,federal ,government

 or of any ,state4  7#h7 ,special       
,advisor ,the term ,special ,advisor    
means any individual appointed to the   
role of ,special ,advisor to the        
,president under section #d7c77;,a74    
7#i7 ,state ,the term ,state means a    
,state1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the 
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 and any 
other territory or possession of the    
,united ,states4  #c4 ,declaration of   
emergency with respect to cost of living
  7a7 ,declaration ,there is hereby     
declared an emergency with respect to   
the high cost of living facing the      
people of the ,united ,states4  7b7     
,termination  7#a7 ,in general ,except  
as provided by paragraph 7#b71 the      
emergency declared under subsection 7a7 
shall terminate on the date that is #ahj
 days after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act4  7#b7 ,extension ,the       
emergency declared under subsection 7a7 
may continue after the date described in
 paragraph 7#a7 if there is enacted into
 law a joint resolution extending the   

emergency4  7#c7 ,expedited procedures  
,a joint resolution described in        
paragraph 7#b7 shall be considered in   
accordance with the procedures set forth
 in section #bjb7;c7 of the ,national   
,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4        
#afbb7;c774  #d4 ,actions to be taken by
 the ,council of ,economic ,advisers    
during a cost-of-living emergency       
,during the period that the emergency   
declared under section #c is in effect1 
the ,president1 acting through the      
,chair of the ,council1 shall undertake 
the following actions3 7#a7 ,updated    
advisory mandate ,in carrying out the   
duties described in section #aj7;c7 of  
the ,employment ,act of #aidf 7#ae      
,u4,s4,c4 #ajbc7;c771 the ,council shall
 prioritize economic analysis and advice
 addressing the following subjects3 7,a7
 ,the affordability of basic household  
necessities4  7,b7 ,the economic        
pressures impacting low- and            
middle-income families4  7,c7 ,the      
distributional consequences of ,federal 

economic policy4  7#b7 ,establishment of
 ,cost-of-living ,emergency ,office ,not
 later than #g days after the date of   
enactment of this ,act1 the ,chair of   
the ,council shall establish within the 
,council a ,cost-of-living ,emergency   
,office that shall be responsible for   
coordinating whole of ,government       
efforts to reduce the costs of basic    
household necessities4  7#c7            
,designation of personnel  7,a7 ,in     
general ,pursuant to the authority under
 section #aj7;b7 of the ,employment ,act
 of #aidf 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #ajbc7;b771 the
 ,chair of the ,council shall appoint   
personnel to serve in the following     
roles3 7i7 ,special ,advisor to the     
,president for ,grocery ,costs1 who     
shall serve as the principal advisor to 
the ,president for all issues relating  
to the costs of food at home in the     
,united ,states4  7ii7 ,special ,advisor
 to the ,president for ,housing ,costs1 
who shall serve as the principal advisor
 to the ,president for all issues       

relating to the costs of owned or rented
 dwellings for individuals in the       
,united ,states4  7iii7 ,special        
,advisor to the ,president for ,utility 
,costs1 who shall serve as the principal
 advisor to the ,president for all      
issues relating to the cost of          
utilities1 fuels1 and public services   
for individuals in the ,united ,states4 
7iv7 ,special ,advisor to the ,president
 for ,health ,care ,costs1 who shall    
serve as the principal advisor to the   
,president for all issues relating to   
the cost of health insurance1 health    
care services1 and medications for      
individuals in the ,united ,states4  7v7
 ,special ,advisor to the ,president for
 ,transportation ,costs1 who shall serve
 as the principal advisor to the        
,president for all issues relating to-- 
7,i7 the cost of gasoline and other     
transportation fuels for individuals in 
the ,united ,states2  7,,ii7 costs      
associated with owning or leasing a     
personal vehicle for individuals in the 

,united ,states2 and  7,,iii7 other     
costs relating to transportation to or  
from work1 school1 or other essential   
activities for individuals in the       
,united ,states4  7vi7 ,special ,advisor
 to the ,president for ,wages1 who shall
 serve as the principal advisor to the  
,president for all issues relating to   
wages of individuals in the ,united     
,states4  7,b7 ,duties ,each ,special   
,advisor appointed to a role under      
subparagraph 7,a7 shall carry out the   
following duties3 7i7 ,assemble and lead
 a task force to be made up of members  
of the ,cabinet 7or the designees of    
such members71 the heads of independent 
regulatory agencies1 as defined in      
section #cejb of title #dd1 ,united     
,states ,code1 and other senior         
executive branch officials who shall    
meet not less frequently than weekly to 
discuss actions that may be taken to    
reduce the costs of the goods and       
services and strengthen household wages 
within the purview of the ,special      

,advisor4  7ii7 ,prepare a weekly report
 to be distributed to the ,president1   
,vice ,president1 the ,chief of ,staff  
to the ,president1 the ,director of the 
,office of ,management and ,budget1 each
 member of the ,cabinet1 and other      
senior employees serving in the         
,executive ,office of the ,president    
that-- 7,i7 provides details on the     
costs of goods and services within the  
purview of the ,special ,advisor2 and   
7,,ii7 identifies actions that may be   
taken to lower those costs4  7iii7 ,host
 regional listening sessions focused on 
the costs of the goods and services     
within the purview of the ,special      
,advisor that-- 7,i7 are held in        
geographically diverse regions of the   
,united ,states2  7,,ii7 allow members  
of the public to participate and share  
concerns related to the costs of goods  
and services within the purview of the  
,special ,advisor2 and  7,,iii7 occur   
not less frequently than #c times per   
year4  7iv7 ,prepare a summary report of

 each regional listening session held   
under clause 7iii7 and share the report 
with the ,council1 the ,joint ,economic 
,committee1 the ,speaker of the ,house  
of ,representatives1 and the ,president 
of the ,senate4  7v7 ,provide testimony 
to the ,joint ,economic ,committee not  
less frequently than once a year to     
identify actions that may be taken to   
reduce the costs of the goods and       
services within the purview of the      
,special ,advisor4  7#d7 ,state of      
,household ,budgets report ,every #c    
months1 the ,council shall submit a     
,state of ,household ,budgets report to 
the ,president1 the ,commission1 and the
 ,joint ,economic ,committee that       
includes information relating to the    
following metrics3 7,a7 ,the median     
household purchasing power in the       
,united ,states4  7,b7 ,the real wage   
growth net of housing and health costs  
in the ,united ,states4  7,c7 ,household
 debt-to-income burdens in the ,united  
,states4  7,d7 ,regional affordability  

indexes in the ,united ,states4  7,e7   
,basic household necessities inflation  
measures4  #e4 ,household costs impact  
statements  7a7 ,in general ,during the 
period that the emergency declared under
 section #c is in effect1 the           
,administrator of the ,office of        
,information and ,regulatory ,affairs of
 the ,office of ,management and ,budget 
shall require each agency head to       
include a household costs impact        
statement in any major regulatory action
 submitted to the ,administrator4  7b7  
,contents ,a household costs impact     
statement shall include-- 7#a7 the      
estimated effects of the regulatory     
action for an average ,u4,s4 household2 
7#b7 the regional variation in cost     
burdens on the average ,u4,s4 household2
  7#c7 the estimated benefits that a    
large corporation might see from the    
regulatory action2 and  7#d7 an analysis
 determining whether the regulatory     
action would provide more benefits for  
the average ,u4,s4 household or large   

corporations4  7c7 ,public availability 
,each agency head shall make any        
household costs impact statement        
submitted under subsection 7a7 publicly 
available unless national security      
prohibits disclosure4  #f4 ,emergency   
enforcement of price gouging laws  7a7  
,establishment ,during the period that  
the emergency declared under section #c 
is in effect1 the ,attorney ,general and
 the ,chair of the ,federal ,trade      
,commission shall jointly establish a   
task force to be known as the ,joint    
,task ,force on ,consumer ,costs 7in    
this section referred to as the ,task   
,force74  7b7 ,composition ,the ,task   
,force shall be composed of-- 7#a7 the  
,attorney ,general 7or a designee71 who 
shall serve as a ,co-,chair2  7#b7 the  
,chair of the ,federal ,trade           
,commission 7or a designee71 who shall  
serve as a ,co-,chair2 and  7#c7 such   
other officers and employees of the     
,department of ,justice and the ,federal
 ,trade ,commission as the ,co-,chairs  

may jointly designate1 including-- 7,a7 
attorneys from the ,antitrust ,division 
of the ,department of ,justice2  7,b7   
attorneys from the ,bureau of           
,competition and the ,bureau of         
,consumer ,protection of the ,federal   
,trade ,commission2 and  7,c7 economists
 and investigators with expertise in    
supply chain dynamics and retail        
pricing4  7c7 ,duties ,the ,task ,force 
shall coordinate the efforts of the     
,federal ,government to prevent and     
prosecute price gouging and other       
anticompetitive practices during the    
period that the emergency declared under
 section #c is in effect1 including by--
 7#a7 monitoring retail and wholesale   
price increases for essential goods and 
services2  7#b7 sharing information and 
evidence between the ,department of     
,justice and the ,federal ,trade        
,commission regarding potential         
violations of ,federal law2  7#c7       
investigating business and industry     
practices that inflate costs for        

households2  7#d7 initiating joint      
investigations into suspected           
anticompetitive practices1 unfair or    
deceptive acts or practices1 and unfair 
and illegal pricing practices such as   
price gouging1 price-fixing1 and price  
discrimination2  7#e7 providing guidance
 to ,state attorneys general to ensure a
 coordinated national response to       
localized unfair and illegal pricing    
practices2 and  7#f7 establishing a     
centralized public portal for consumers 
and whistleblowers to report suspected  
anticompetitive1 unfair or deceptive    
practices1 and unfair and illegal       
pricing practices4  7d7 ,enforcement    
powers ,in carrying out its duties under
 subsection 7c71 the ,task ,force shall 
utilize all authorities available to the
 ,department of ,justice and the        
,federal ,trade ,commission1 including  
authorities under-- 7#a7 the ,federal   
,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4  
#da et seq472  7#b7 the ,sherman ,act   
7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #a et seq472  7#c7 the   

,clayton ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #ab et     
seq472 and  7#d7 any other ,federal     
statute prohibiting fraud1 hoarding1 or 
the manipulation of prices in interstate
 commerce4  7e7 ,resource sharing ,the  
,attorney ,general and the ,chair of the
 ,federal ,trade ,commission may-- 7#a7 
detail personnel to the ,task ,force on 
a non-reimbursable basis2 and  7#b7     
notwithstanding any other provision of  
law1 share investigative files1 data1   
and technical resources if-- 7,a7 such  
sharing is necessary for the performance
 of the duties of the ,task ,force under
 subsection 7c72 and  7,b7 appropriate  
protections for confidential business   
information are maintained4  7f7        
,reporting ,not later than #fj days     
after the establishment of the ,task    
,force1 and every #ij days thereafter   
until the ,task ,force is terminated    
pursuant to subsection 7g71 the         
,co-,chairs shall submit a report on the
 activities of the ,task ,force1        
including the number of investigations  

opened and the status of enforcement    
actions1 to-- 7#a7 the ,committee on the
 ,judiciary of the ,senate2  7#b7 the   
,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and  
,transportation of the ,senate2  7#c7   
the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the 
,house of ,representatives2 and  7#d7   
the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce 
of the ,house of ,representatives4  7g7 
,termination ,the ,task ,force shall    
terminate on the date that is #cj days  
after the expiration or rescission of   
the emergency declared under section #c4
  7h7 ,rule of ,construction ,nothing in
 this ,act shall be construed as        
authorizing the ,department of ,justice 
or the ,federal ,trade ,commission to   
suspend1 terminate1 or deprioritize any 
ongoing investigation1 enforcement      
action1 or litigation initiated by the  
,task ,force that is ongoing at the time
 the ,task ,force terminates pursuant to
 subsection 7g74  #g4 ,use of           
authorities under ,defense ,production  
,act of #aiej  7a7 ,covered agency head 

defined ,in this section1 the term      
covered agency head means the head of an
 agency to whom the ,president          
delegated1 under section #bja7;a7 of    
,executive ,order #acfjc 7#gg ,fed4     
,reg4 #affea2 relating to national      
defense resources preparedness71        
authorities under section #aja of the   
,defense ,production ,act of #aiej 7#ej 
,u4,s4,c4 #deaa74  7b7 ,mandatory       
utilization ,during the period the      
emergency declared under section #c is  
in effect1 the ,president shall use the 
authorities provided under title ,,iii  
of the ,defense ,production ,act of     
#aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #deca et seq47 to  
expand productive capacity with respect 
to and supply of basic household        
necessities4  7c7 ,requirements  7#a7   
,strategic plan ,not later than #ae days
 after the date of enactment of this    
,act1 the ,president1 acting through    
each covered agency head1 shall develop 
a strategic plan for the expenditure of 
funds from the ,defense ,production ,act

 ,fund 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #decd7 to increase
 the domestic supply of basic household 
necessities4  7#b7 ,economic impact     
analysis ,each covered agency head shall
 conduct a continuous assessment of the 
domestic industrial base within the     
purview of the covered agency head to   
identify supply chain bottlenecks that  
contribute to price volatility for basic
 household necessities4  7#c7           
,evidentiary requirement for project    
execution ,the ,president may not       
execute a contract1 loan1 or purchase   
commitment under this section unless a  
relevant covered agency head submits a  
written certification to the ,president 
that the proposed activity supported by 
the contract1 loan1 or purchase         
commitment-- 7,a7 is directly supported 
by empirical economic data2 and  7,b7   
can be reasonably proven to result in a 
reduction of the retail or wholesale    
cost of a specific basic household      
necessity within #ahj days of the       
commencement of the activity4  7#d7     

,authorized actions ,in carrying out    
subsection 7a71 the ,president may carry
 out the following actions3 7,a7 ,loan  
guarantees and loans ,issue guarantees  
and make loans under sections #cja and  
#cjb of the ,defense ,production ,act of
 #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #deca1 #decb7 to  
small- and medium-sized businesses to   
modernize facilities for the production 
of basic household necessities4  7,b7   
,purchase commitments ,execute purchase 
commitments under section #cjc of the   
,defense ,production ,act of #aiej 7#ej 
,u4,s4,c4 #decc7 to make available basic
 household necessities at a consistent  
price to individuals in the ,united     
,states for the duration of the         
agreement4  7,c7 ,production cost offset
 ,provide for subsidy payments under    
section #cjc7;c7 of the ,defense        
,production ,act of #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4
 #decc7;c77 to offset the costs of      
domestically produced raw materials     
essential to the production of basic    
household necessities4  7d7 ,exemption  

from national defense requirement ,under
 subsections 7b7 and 7c71 the ,president
 shall exercise the authorities provided
 under title ,,iii of the ,defense      
,production ,act of #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4
 #deca et seq47 without regard to any   
requirement of that ,act that the       
exercise of such authorities be for the 
national defense4  #h4 ,congressional   
action on cost-of-living emergency  7a7 
,establishment of ,cost-of-,living      
,commission  7#a7 ,establishment ,there 
is hereby established in ,congress a    
,cost-of-,living ,commission4  7#b7     
,duties  7,a7 ,general ,the ,commission 
shall identify policies to-- 7i7        
meaningfully improve the cost-of-living 
situation for the average ,u4,s4        
household in the short- and medium-     
term1 including by reducing cost drivers
 for specified sectors2 and  7ii7       
achieve national economic growth that   
maintains a stable and sustainable cost 
of living over the long run4  7,b7      
,recommendations of committees ,not     

later than #fj days after the date of   
enactment of this ,act1 each committee  
of the ,senate and the ,house of        
,representatives may transmit to the    
,commission any recommendations of the  
committee to further the legislative    
policies described in subparagraph 7,a74
  7,c7 ,interim report ,the ,commission 
may meet to consider1 and vote on1 an   
interim report on-- 7i7 any findings1   
conclusions1 or recommendations of the  
,commission relating to the policies    
identified under subparagraph 7,a72 and 
7ii7 as the ,commission determines      
appropriate1 any findings resulting from
 any hearing held or evidence received  
by the ,commission4  7,d7 ,report1      
recommendations1 and legislative        
language  7i7 ,policy recommendations2  
permanent actions  7,i7 ,policy         
recommendations ,not later than #ahj    
days after the date of enactment of this
 ,act1 the ,commission shall meet to    
consider and vote on-- 7aa7 a report    
that contains a detailed statement of   

the findings1 conclusions1 and          
recommendations of the ,commission      
relating to the policies identified     
under subparagraph 7,a7 and the estimate
 of the ,congressional ,budget ,office  
required under paragraph 7#d77;,d72 and 
7bb7 legislative language to carry out  
the recommendations of the ,commission  
relating to the policies identified     
under subparagraph 7,a71 which shall    
include a statement of the economic and 
budgetary effects of the                
recommendations4  7,,ii7 ,permanent     
actions ,not later than #cj days before 
the date on which the emergency declared
 under section #c terminates1 the       
,commission shall meet to consider and  
vote on-- 7aa7 a report that contains a 
detailed statement of the actions that  
were taken in accordance with this ,act 
and findings as to whether any of those 
actions should be made continued after  
the date on which the emergency declared
 under section #c terminates2 and  7bb7 
if the ,commission finds that the       

actions taken in accordance with this   
,act should be continued after the date 
on which the emergency declared under   
section #c terminates1 legislative      
language to carry out the actions1 which
 shall include a statement of the       
economic and budgetary effects of the   
actions4  7ii7 ,approval of report and  
legislative language ,a report and      
legislative language of the ,commission 
under subclause 7,i7 or 7,,ii7 of clause
 7i7 shall require the approval of a    
majority of the members of the          
,commission1 provided that such majority
 shall be required to include not fewer 
than #b members of the ,commission      
appointed by members of the ,republican 
,party and not fewer than #b members    
appointed by members of the ,democratic 
party4  7iii7 ,additional views ,a      
member of the ,commission who gives     
notice of an intention to file          
supplemental1 minority1 or additional   
views at the time of the final          
,commission vote on the approval of the 

report and legislative language of the  
,commission under subclause 7,i7 or     
7,,ii7 of clause 7i7 shall be entitled  
to #c days to file those views in       
writing with the staff director of the  
,commission1 and such report shall be   
included in the report of the           
,commission published under clause 7iv74
  7iv7 ,report and legislative language 
to be made public ,upon the approval or 
disapproval by the ,commission of a     
report and legislative language under   
subclause 7,i7 or 7,,ii7 of clause 7i71 
the ,commission shall promptly1 and not 
more than #bd hours after the approval  
or disapproval or1 if timely notice is  
given under clause 7iii71 not more than 
#bd hours after additional views are    
filed under that clause1 make the       
report1 the legislative language1 and a 
record of the vote on the report and    
legislative language available to the   
public4  7v7 ,submission of report and  
legislative language ,if a report and   
legislative language are approved by the

 ,commission under subclause 7,i7 or    
7,,ii7 of clause 7i71 not later than #c 
days after the date on which the report 
and legislative language are made       
available to the public under clause    
7iv71 the ,commission shall submit the  
report and legislative language to the  
,president1 the ,vice ,president1 the   
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives1 and the majority and  
minority leaders of each ,house of      
,congress4  7vi7 ,extension  7,i7 ,in   
general ,the ,commission may extend the 
deadline set forth in subclause 7,i7 or 
7,,ii7 of clause 7i71 if the ,commission
 determines that additional time is     
necessary to complete the duties of the 
,commission under this section4  7,,ii7 
,approval ,an extension under subclause 
7,i7 shall require the approval of a    
majority of the members of the          
,commission1 provided that such majority
 shall be required to include not fewer 
than #b members of the ,commission      
appointed by members of the ,republican 

,party and not fewer than #b members    
appointed by members of the ,democratic 
party4  7#c7 ,membership  7,a7 ,in      
general ,not later than #ad days after  
the date of enactment of this ,act1 and 
with due consideration to the chairs and
 ranking members of the committees and  
subcommittees of ,congress that maintain
 subject matter jurisdiction1 as        
applicable1 the ,commission shall be    
composed of #ab members appointed as    
follows3 7i7 #b individuals from among  
the ,members of the ,senate1 and #a     
outside expert1 appointed by the        
majority leader of the ,senate4  7ii7 #b
 individuals from among the ,members of 
the ,senate1 and #a outside expert1     
appointed by the minority leader of the 
,senate4  7iii7 #b individuals from     
among the ,members of the ,house of     
,representatives1 and #a outside expert1
 appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house
 of ,representatives4  7iv7 #b          
individuals from among the ,members of  
the ,house of ,representatives1 and #a  

outside expert1 appointed by the        
minority leader of the ,house of        
,representatives4  7,b7 ,co-chairs ,not 
later than #ad days after the date of   
enactment of this ,act1 with respect to 
the ,commission-- 7i7 the leadership of 
the ,senate and ,house of               
,representatives of the same political  
party as the ,president shall appoint #a
 individual among the members of the    
,commission who shall serve as a        
co-chair of the ,commission2 and  7ii7  
the leadership of the ,senate and ,house
 of ,representatives of the opposite    
political party as the ,president shall 
appoint #a individual among the members 
of the ,commission who shall serve as a 
co-chair of the ,commission4  7,c7      
,staff director ,with respect to the    
,commission1 the co-chairs1 acting      
jointly1 shall hire the staff director  
of the ,commission4  7,d7 ,period of    
appointment ,the members of the         
,commission shall be appointed for the  
life of the ,commission4  7,e7 ,vacancy 

,any vacancy in the ,commission shall   
not affect the powers of the            
,commission1 but shall be filled not    
later than #ad days after the date on   
which the vacancy occurs1 in the same   
manner as the original appointment was  
made4  7,f7 ,ineligible members ,if a   
member of the ,commission who was       
appointed as a ,member of the ,senate or
 the ,house ,representatives ceases to  
be a ,member of the ,senate or the      
,house of ,representatives1 as          
applicable-- 7i7 the member shall no    
longer be a member of the ,commission2  
and  7ii7 a vacancy in the ,commission  
exists4  7#d7 ,administration  7,a7 ,in 
general ,with respect to the            
,commission1 to exercise the powers1    
functions1 and duties of the            
,commission1 there are authorized to be 
disbursed by the ,senate the actual and 
necessary expenses of the ,commission   
approved by the co-chairs of the        
,commission1 subject to the rules and   
regulations of the ,senate4  7,b7       

,expenses ,with respect to the          
,commission1 in carrying out the        
functions of the ,commission1 the       
,commission is authorized to incur      
expenses in the same manner and under   
the same conditions as the ,joint       
,economic ,committee is authorized under
 section #aa7;d7 of the ,employment ,act
 of #aidf 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #ajbd7;d774    
7,c7 ,quorum  7i7 ,in general ,with     
respect to the ,commission1 #g members  
of the ,commission shall constitute a   
quorum for purposes of voting1 meeting1 
and holding hearings4  7ii7 ,outside    
experts ,outside experts shall not count
 for purposes of determining whether    
there is a quorum under this            
subparagraph4  7,d7 ,congressional      
,budget ,office estimates ,the ,director
 of the ,congressional ,budget ,office  
shall1 with respect to the legislative  
language proposed by the ,commission    
under subclause 7,i77bb7 or 7,,ii77bb7  
of paragraph 7#b77;,d77i71 provide to   
the ,commission-- 7i7 estimates of the  

legislative language in accordance with 
sections #cjh7;a7 and #bja7;f7 of the   
,congressional ,budget ,act of #aigd 7#b
 ,u4,s4,c4 #fci7;a71 #fja7;f772 and     
7ii7 information on the budgetary       
effects of the legislative language on  
the long-term fiscal outlook4  7,e7     
,hearings  7i7 ,in general ,the         
,commission may1 for the purpose of     
carrying out this section1 hold such    
hearings1 sit and act at such times and 
places1 require attendance of witnesses 
and production of books1 papers1 and    
documents1 take such testimony1 receive 
such evidence1 and administer such oaths
 as the ,commission considers advisable4
  7ii7 ,hearing procedures and          
responsibilities of co-chairs  7,i7     
,announcement ,the co-chairs shall make 
a public announcement of the date1      
place1 time1 and subject matter of any  
hearing to be conducted under this      
subparagraph not later than #g days     
before the date of the hearing1 unless  
the co-chairs determine that there is   

good cause to begin such hearing on an  
earlier date4  7,,ii7 ,written statement
 ,a witness appearing before the        
,commission shall file a written        
statement of the proposed testimony of  
the witness not later than #b days      
before the date of the appearance of the
 witness1 unless the co-chairs of the   
,commission determine that there is good
 cause for the witness to not file the  
written statement or waive the          
requirement4  7iii7 ,hearing            
requirements ,the ,commission shall hold
 not less than #f hearings under this   
subparagraph1 which shall include-- 7,i7
 field hearings throughout the ,united  
,states2  7,,ii7 hearings to solicit    
testimony from appropriate officials of 
the executive branch2 and  7,,iii7      
hearings to solicit testimony from      
,members of ,congress 7in this subclause
 defined as a member of the ,senate or  
the ,house of ,representatives1 a       
,delegate to the ,house of              
,representatives1 and the ,resident     

,commissioner from ,puerto ,rico74  7,f7
 ,technical assistance and consultation 
,upon written request of the co-chairs  
of the ,commission1 the head of a       
,federal agency 7including a legislative
 branch agency7 shall provide technical 
assistance to1 and consult with1 the    
,commission in order for the members    
,commission to carry out the duties of  
the ,commission4  7,g7 ,outside expert  
,any outside expert appointed to the    
,commission-- 7i7 shall not be          
considered to be a ,federal employee for
 any purpose by reason of service on the
 ,commission2 and  7ii7 shall be allowed
 travel expenses1 including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized
 for employees of agencies under        
subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title   
#e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away   
from the home or regular place of       
business of the outside expert in the   
performance of services for the         
,commission4  7#e7 ,staff of ,commission
  7,a7 ,in general ,the co-chairs of    

,commission may jointly appoint and fix 
the compensation of staff of the        
,commission as the co-chairs determine  
necessary1 in accordance with the       
guidelines1 rules1 and requirements     
relating to employees of the ,senate4   
7,b7 ,ethical standards  7i7 ,senate ,a 
member of the ,commission appointed by a
 ,member of the ,senate and staff of the
 ,commission shall adhere to the ethics 
rules of the ,senate4  7ii7 ,house of   
,representatives ,a member of the       
,commission appointed by a ,member of   
the ,house of ,representatives shall be 
governed by the ethics rules and        
requirements of the ,house of           
,representatives4  7#f7 ,termination    
,the ,commission shall terminate #cj    
days after the date the ,commission     
submits the final report under paragraph
 7#b77;,d77v74  7b7 ,funding ,funding   
for the ,commission shall be derived in 
equal portions from-- 7#a7 the          
contingent fund of the ,senate from the 
appropriations account ,miscellaneous   

,items1 subject to the rules and        
regulations of the ,senate2 and  7#b7   
the applicable accounts of the ,house of
 ,representatives4