[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2729 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2729
To establish a commission to study how Federal laws and policies affect
United States citizens living in foreign countries.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 19, 2023
Ms. Titus (for herself, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Evans, Mrs. Beatty, and Ms.
Salazar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the
Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, House
Administration, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to study how Federal laws and policies affect
United States citizens living in foreign countries.
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 ``Commission on Americans Living
Abroad Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``Commission
on Americans Living Abroad'' (in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 10
members appointed by the President, of whom--
(1) two members shall be appointed from among individuals
recommended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(2) two members shall be appointed from among individuals
recommended by the minority leader of the House of
Representatives;
(3) two members shall be appointed from among individuals
recommended by the majority leader of the Senate; and
(4) two members shall be appointed from among individuals
recommended by the minority leader of the Senate.
(b) Qualifications.--
(1) Limit on officers or employees of the united states.--
Not more than 6 members shall be officers or employees of the
United States.
(2) Political party affiliation.--Not more than 6 members
of the Commission may be of the same political party.
(3) Expertise.--
(A) Officers or employees of the united states.--
Members of the Commission who are officers or employees
of the United States shall be appointed from among
individuals whose employment is directly related to the
matters to be studied by the Commission under section
4(a)(2).
(B) Other members.--Members of the Commission who
are not officers or employees of the United States
shall be appointed from among individuals who--
(i) have lived in a foreign country for not
less than one year;
(ii) are members of organizations that
represent United States citizens living in
foreign countries; or
(iii) have other experience that is
relevant to the matters to be studied by the
Commission under section 4(a)(2).
(c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed
for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall be
filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers.
(d) First Meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which
all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall
hold its first meeting.
(e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
(f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(g) Chairperson.--The President shall select a Chairperson for the
Commission from among its members.
SEC. 4. DUTIES.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a study on
how Federal laws and policies affect United States citizens
living in foreign countries, including civilians and members of
the Armed Forces.
(2) Matters studied.--The matters studied shall include the
following:
(A) Federal financial reporting requirements for a
United States citizen living in a foreign country,
including the requirements under section 5314 of title
31, United States Code.
(B) Federal policies and requirements that affect
the ability of a United States citizen living in a
foreign country to access foreign and domestic
financial institutions, including requirements under
chapter 4 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(commonly known as the ``Foreign Account Tax Compliance
Act'') and requirements affecting financial
institutions imposed by the Uniting and Strengthening
America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA
Patriot Act) (Public Law 107-56).
(C) Federal requirements for a spouse, child, or
another family member of a United States citizen living
in a foreign country who is not a United States citizen
to become a United States citizen.
(D) The ability of a United States citizen living
in a foreign country to vote in Federal, State, and
local elections in the United States, and the process
for such a citizen to vote in such elections.
(E) The processes by which a United States citizen
living in a foreign country interacts with Federal
programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
(F) Which Federal agencies have jurisdiction over
each Federal program that serves United States citizens
who live in foreign countries and possible methods to
improve the collaboration of and coordination between
such Federal agencies.
(b) Consultation With Outside Organizations.--In conducting the
study under subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with
organizations that represent United States citizens living in foreign
countries.
(c) Reports.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than one year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit a report
to the President, Congress, and the head of any Federal agency
identified in subsection (a)(2)(F), which shall contain a
detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the
Commission, together with its recommendations for such
legislative and administrative actions as it considers
appropriate.
(2) Update.--Not later than one year after the date on
which the Commission submits the report under paragraph (1),
the Commission shall submit an update to the President,
Congress, and the head of any Federal agency identified in
subsection (a)(2)(F), which shall describe any administrative
actions taken by the head of any Federal agency pursuant to the
recommendations in such report.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places,
take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers
appropriate.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
(c) Obtaining Official Data.--Subject to section 6103 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Commission may secure directly from
any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission
considers necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency
shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the United States.
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is
not an officer or employee of the United States shall be compensated at
a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay
prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of
title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time)
during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of
the Commission. All members of the Commission who are officers or
employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in
addition to that received for their services as officers or employees
of the United States.
(b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the
Commission.
(c) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission may,
without regard to the civil service laws and regulations,
appoint and terminate an executive director and such other
additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the
Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an
executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the
Commission.
(2) Compensation.--The Chairperson of the Commission may
fix the compensation of the executive director and other
personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of
chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to
classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates,
except that the rate of pay for the executive director and
other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any United States employee may
be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail
shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.
(e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The
Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of such title.
SEC. 7. FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSE.
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Commission
submits the report under section 4(c)(1), the head of any Federal
agency that is affected by a recommendation in such report shall submit
to the President, Congress, and the Commission a response to such
recommendation, including any plans to take administrative action
pursuant to such recommendation.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate on the date on which it submits its
update under section 4(c)(2).
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to the Commission to carry out this Act, to
remain available until the termination of the Commission.
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