Free City Commission Act
This bill establishes the Free City Commission to study the effects of progressive governance on cities within the United States over the last 75 years.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8604 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8604
To establish the Free City Commission to examine the effects of liberal
Government policy on American cities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 29, 2022
Mr. Cawthorn introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Free City Commission to examine the effects of liberal
Government policy on American cities, 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 ``Free City Commission Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the legislative branch
a commission to be known as the ``Free City Commission'' (referred to
in this Act as the ``Commission'').
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to study the effects
of progressive governance on cities within the United States over the
last 75 years.
SEC. 3. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.
(a) Members.--
(1) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 20
members, to be appointed not later than 30 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, of whom--
(A) 5 members shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate;
(B) 5 members shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate;
(C) 5 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives; and
(D) 5 members shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(2) Qualifications.--Members appointed under subsection (a)
shall consist of individuals with expertise in any of the
issues described in paragraphs (1) through (10) of section 6.
(3) Limitation.--An individual appointed to the Commission
may not be an officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(4) Chair, vice chair, and meetings.--Not later than 30
days after the date on which a simple majority of the members
of the Commission are appointed under paragraph (1), such
members shall meet to elect a chair and vice chair from among
such members and shall determine a schedule of Commission
meetings.
(b) Initial Meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin the
operations of the Commission not later than 30 days after the
appointment of a simple majority of members of the Commission.
(c) Quorum and Vacancy.--
(1) Quorum.--A simple majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
members may hold hearings.
(2) Vacancy.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner in
which the original appointment was made.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall, with respect to cities in the United States
during the 75-year period preceding the date of enactment of this Act--
(1) examine the causal link between permissive drug
policies and the increase in drug violence and drug usage;
(2) examine the effects of a lack of educational
opportunities;
(3) evaluate the success of law enforcement tactics in
preventing violence and protecting civilians;
(4) examine the prevalence of abortion in minority
communities;
(5) examine the failures of public schools in urban
environments;
(6) evaluate the success of opportunity zones;
(7) the link between home ownership and community
stability;
(8) investigate mental health;
(9) study signs of civic engagement like voting and
parental involvement in schools;
(10) investigate public health markers like chronic disease
and sexual health;
(11) rates of religious affiliation, participation, and
belief in these communities; and
(12) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, submit a report on the findings under paragraphs
(1) through (11) to the individuals described in section
6(b)(2).
SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, meet and act
at such times and places, and receive such evidence as may be necessary
to carry out the functions of the Commission.
(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may access, to the extent
authorized by law, from any executive department, bureau,
agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment,
or instrumentality of the Federal Government such information,
suggestions, estimates, and statistics as the Commission
considers necessary to carry out this Act.
(2) Provision of information.--On written request of the
chair of the Commission, each department, bureau, agency,
board, commission, office, independent establishment, or
instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, provide
the requested information to the Commission.
(3) Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.--
Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and
disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff
consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and
Executive orders.
(c) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
(1) General services administration.--On request of the
chair of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services
shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis,
administrative support and other assistance necessary for the
Commission to carry out its duties.
(2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to the
assistance provided for under paragraph (1), departments and
agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission
such assistance as they may determine advisable and as
authorized by law.
(d) Contracting.--The Commission may enter into contracts to enable
the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act.
(e) Donations.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of
donations of services or property.
(f) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as a department
or agency of the United States.
SEC. 6. STAFF OF COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The chair of the Commission, in consultation with
the vice chair, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission,
may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other
personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its
functions, in accordance with the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed
the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the chair of the
Commission, the head of any executive department, bureau, agency,
board, commission, office, independent establishment, or
instrumentality of the Federal Government may detail, without
reimbursement, any of its personnel to the Commission to assist it in
carrying out its duties under this Act. Any detail of an employee shall
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(c) Consultant Services.--The Commission is authorized to procure
the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109
of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily
rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 7. TRAVEL EXPENSES.
Each member of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions in the same
manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are
allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 8. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICABILITY.
The provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply to
the Commission, including the staff of the Commission.
SEC. 9. REPORTS OF COMMISSION; TERMINATION.
(a) Other Reports and Information.--
(1) Reports.--The Commission may issue additional reports
as the Commission determines necessary.
(2) Information.--The Commission may hold public hearings
to collect information and shall make such information
available for use by the public.
(b) Final Report.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall, not later than 18
months after the date of its first meeting, submit to the
individuals described in paragraph (2) a final report
containing specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations
required under this Act as have been agreed to by a majority of
Commission members.
(2) Individuals.--The individuals described in this
paragraph are the President, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the Attorney General, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the minority leader of the House of
Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the
minority leader of the Senate.
(c) Termination.--
(1) In general.--The Commission, and all the authorities of
this Act, shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Records.--Not later than the date of termination of the
Commission under paragraph (1), all records and papers of the
Commission shall be delivered to the Archivist of the United
States for deposit in the National Archives.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
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