United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade Act - Establishes the United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade to address bilateral trade matters, seek removal of trade barriers, and promote commercial opportunities between the United States and Brazil.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6539 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6539
To establish United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and
Trade, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 21, 2012
Mr. Nunes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce and
Trade, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Brazil Joint
Commission on Commerce and Trade Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to establish the United States-Brazil
Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade to address bilateral trade
matters, seek removal of trade barriers, and promote commercial
opportunities, between the United States and Brazil.
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-BRAZIL JOINT COMMISSION ON COMMERCE AND TRADE.
(a) Establishment of United States-Brazil Joint Commission on
Commerce and Trade.--
(1) In general.--There is established a commission to be
known as the United States-Brazil Joint Commission on Commerce
and Trade (in this section referred to as the ``Commission'').
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to improve
the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the
United States and Brazil by establishing high level reviews of
barriers to trade between the two countries, to promote
commercial opportunities between the United States and Brazil,
and to facilitate the dialogue necessary to examine the mutual
benefits of free trade.
(3) Membership of commission.--
(A) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed
of 16 members. The composition of the Commission shall
be divided equally between the United States Government
and the Republic of Brazil. United States Commissioners
shall be appointed as follows:
(i) Two persons shall be appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate upon the
recommendation of the majority leader of the
Senate, after consultation with the Chairman of
the Committee on Finance and the Chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate.
(ii) Two persons shall be appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate upon the
recommendation of the minority leader of the
Senate, after consultation with the ranking
minority member of the Committee on Finance and
the ranking minority member of the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(iii) Two persons shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, after
consultation with the Chairman of the Committee
on Ways and Means and the Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(iv) Two persons shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the House of
Representatives, after consultation with the
ranking minority member of the Committee on
Ways and Means and the ranking minority member
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives.
(B) Qualifications.--Individuals appointed to the
Commission shall be individuals who have expertise in
international trade matters and United States-Brazil
relations.
(4) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
(A) In general.--Members of the Commission shall be
appointed to 2-year terms.
(B) Staggering of terms.--Each appointing authority
referred to under clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph
(3)(A) shall--
(i) make the appointments on a staggered
term basis, so that of the members initially
appointed--
(I) 1 of the 2 appointments shall
be for a term expiring on December 31,
2014; and
(II) the other appointment shall be
for a term expiring on December 31,
2015; and
(ii) make the appointments not later than
30 days after the date on which each new
Congress convenes.
(C) Reappointment.--Members of the Commission may
be reappointed for additional terms of service as
members of the Commission.
(D) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall
not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment.
(5) Chairmen.--The members of the Commission shall select
co-Chairmen, one from the United States and one from Brazil.
(6) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairmen.
(A) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after
the date on which all members of the Commission have
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first
meeting.
(B) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall meet
at the call of the Chairmen of the Commission, with the
responsibility of chairing proceedings alternating
between the United States and Brazil.
(C) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business of the Commission.
(7) Voting.--Each member of the Commission shall be
entitled to one vote, which shall be equal to the vote of every
other member of the Commission.
(b) Duties.--Not later than December 1 of each year (beginning in
2014), the Commission shall submit to the United States Congress and
the National Congress of Brazil a report regarding the status and
economic impact of trade relations between the United States and
Brazil. The report shall include a full analysis, along with
conclusions and recommendations for legislative and administrative
actions, if any, concerning barriers to trade and the enhancement of
economic ties.
(c) Hearings.--
(1) In general.--The Commission or, at its direction, any
panel or member of the Commission, may for the purpose of
carrying out the provisions of this section, hold hearings, sit
and act at times and places, take testimony, receive evidence,
and administer oaths to the extent that the Commission or such
panel or member considers advisable.
(2) Information.--The Commission may secure directly from
any Federal department or agency information that the
Commission considers necessary to enable the Commission to
carry out its duties under this section, unless that
information is deemed to contain sensitive national
intelligence information or is otherwise subject to rules
concerning state secrets.
(d) Commission Personnel Matters.--
(1) Compensation of members.--United States Members of the
Commission shall be compensated in the same manner provided for
the compensation of members of the Trade Deficit Review
Commission under subsections (g)(1) and (g)(6) of section 127
of the Trade Deficit Review Commission Act (19 U.S.C. 2213
note).
(2) Travel expenses.--Travel expenses of the United States
Commissioners shall be allowed in the same manner provided for
the allowance of the travel expenses of the Trade Deficit
Review Commission under section 127(g)(2) of the Trade Deficit
Review Commission Act.
(3) Staff.--An executive director and other additional
personnel for the Commission shall be appointed, compensated,
and terminated in the same manner provided for the appointment,
compensation, and termination of the executive director and
other personnel of the Trade Deficit Review Commission under
section 127(g)(3) and section 127(g)(6) of the Trade Deficit
Review Commission Act. The executive director and any personnel
who are employees of the United States-Brazil Joint Commission
on Commerce and Trade shall be employees under section 2105 of
title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81,
83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title.
(4) Detail of government employees.--Federal Government
employees may be detailed to the Commission in the same manner
provided for the detail of Federal Government employees to the
Trade Deficit Review Commission under section 127(g)(4) of the
Trade Deficit Review Commission Act.
(5) Assignment of personnel by the government of brazil.--
The Commission shall work with the Government of Brazil to
secure the appropriate expertise to carry out its work,
including through the assignment to the Commission of staff
officials selected by the Government of Brazil and the
temporary or ongoing employment of Brazilian nationals.
(6) Foreign travel for official purposes.--Foreign travel
for official purposes by Commissioners to and from official
proceedings may be authorized by the Chairmen of the
Commission. Travel by the staff of the Commission for official
purposes may be authorized by the Chairmen of the Commission
only when necessary to carry out essential activities that
could not otherwise be conducted using alternative means.
(7) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.--
The Chairmen of the Commission may procure temporary and
intermittent services for the Commission in the same manner
provided for the procurement of temporary and intermittent
services for the Trade Deficit Review Commission under section
127(g)(5) of the Trade Deficit Review Commission Act.
(8) Privately funded travel.--The Chairmen of the
Commission may authorize privately funded travel by members and
staff of the Commission for activities related to the duties of
the Commission. The Commission shall disclose to the public,
not later than 60 days after the privately funded travel
occurs, the source of the funding, together with the itinerary
of the activities of members and staff of the Commission
participating in the privately funded travel.
(e) Assistance in Performing Duties.--The President of the United
States shall provide for the transfer to the Commission of such staff,
materials, and infrastructure (including leased premises) of Federal
departments and agencies as the President considers necessary to assist
the Commission in carrying out its duties.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Commission for fiscal year 2013, and for each fiscal year
thereafter, such sums as may be necessary to enable the
Commission to carry out its duties under this section.
(2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated to the Commission
pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until
expended.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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