HCON 2 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. CON. RES. 2CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Establishing the Congressional Commission on the European Union, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 5, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. ISSA submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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 concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Establishing the Congressional Commission on the European Union, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This resolution may be cited as the ‘Congressional Commission on the European Union Resolution’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON THE EUROPEAN UNION.

There is established in the legislative branch the Congressional Commission on the European Union (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the ‘Commission’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

(a) Selection and Appointment of Members- The Commission shall be composed of 18 members as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Nine Members of the House of Representatives who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, of whom 5 shall be selected from the majority party, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 4 shall be selected from the minority party, after consultation with the minority leader of the House and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. For purposes of this paragraph, a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress shall be considered a Member of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Nine Members of the Senate who shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, of whom 5 shall be selected from the majority party of the Senate, after consultation with the majority leader and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 4 shall be selected from the minority party, after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Chairman and Vice Chairman-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ODD-NUMBERED CONGRESS- At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the President pro tempore of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members of the Commission to serve as Chairman of the Commission during that Congress; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members of the Commission to serve as Vice Chairman of the Commission during that Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EVEN-NUMBERED CONGRESS- At the beginning of each even-numbered Congress--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members of the Commission to serve as Chairman of the Commission during that Congress; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the President pro tempore of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members of the Commission to serve as Vice Chairman of the Commission during that Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

(a) Activities- The Commission shall work with the European Parliament of the European Union and the European Commission on a frequent and regular basis in order to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) enable Members, officers, and employees of Congress to provide expert advice to members and staff of the European Parliament of the European Union and the European Commission, and to permit members and staff of such entities to obtain the services of the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Government Accountability Office through requests transmitted to the Commission;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) enable members and staff of the European Parliament of the European Union and the European Commission visiting Congress and its support agencies to learn about their corresponding operations first-hand; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) provide information and recommendations to committees of the House of Representatives and Senate regarding legislation, regulatory standards, and activities being proposed by the European Parliament and European Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Studies- In order to carry out the activities described in subsection (a), the Commission shall conduct on an annual basis (or more frequently if necessary) a study on the impact on United States interests of legislation recently passed by the European Parliament and regulations issued by the European Commission. The Commission shall conduct on an annual basis a study on the impact on the European Union of legislation recently passed by Congress and regulations issued by the executive branch. The studies required under this subsection shall also assess the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The potential benefit to the European Parliament and European Commission of expert advice from Members, staff, and committees of Congress in areas including, but not limited to, regulatory reform, trade, defense, monetary policy, homeland security, human rights, science and technology, government oversight, education, agriculture, and health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The potential benefit to Congress of expert advice from members, staff, and committees of the European Union and European Commission in areas including, but not limited to, regulatory reform, trade, defense, monetary policy, homeland security, human rights, science and technology, government oversight, education, agriculture, and health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Report- Not later than 180 days after the establishment of the Commission and annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The results of the studies conducted pursuant to subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) In accordance with the results of such studies, a review of the activities of the Commission in the immediately preceding year and a proposal for the activities of the Commission in the subsequent year, as described in subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Official Meetings of the Commission- The Commission may hold hearings or meetings at the discretion of the Chairman on matters of mutual interest to Congress and the European Parliament and European Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Administration of Oaths- The Chairman of the Commission or any member designated by the Chairman may administer oaths to any witness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.

At the request of the Commission, the head of any office or committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Government Accountability Office may assist the work of the Commission by authorizing personnel of such office, committee, or agency, as the case may be, to participate in activities of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. FUNDING FOR COMMISSION.

(a) Funding; Disbursements-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) SOURCE OF FUNDING- There are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties and functions, to be derived--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the case of a fiscal year which ends during a Congress during which the Chairman of the Commission is a Member of the House of Representatives, from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in the case of a fiscal year which ends during a Congress during which the Chairman of the Commission is a Member of the Senate, from the contingent fund of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DISBURSEMENTS- Funds provided to the Commission shall be disbursed on vouchers approved jointly by the Chairman and Vice Chairman.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Official Reception and Representational Expenses- Not to exceed $15,000 of the funds provided to the Commission for any fiscal year may be used for official reception and representational expenses during such fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authorization of Foreign Travel for Official Purposes- Foreign travel for official purposes by Commission members and staff may be authorized by either the Chairman or the Vice Chairman, subject to the Rules of the House of Representatives (other than in the case of travel by a Member of the Commission who is a Member of the Senate).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Use of Foreign Currencies- For purposes of this section, the Commission shall be deemed to be a standing committee of Congress and shall be entitled to use funds in accordance with section 502(b) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754(b)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Office Facilities-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Funds may be provided for the lease of office space at or near the headquarters of the European Parliament and European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LIMITATIONS ON FUNDING FOR OFFICE SPACE- Funds for the lease of office space are subject to approval by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission, in consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. COMMISSION STAFF.

(a) Staff-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) STAFF DIRECTOR- The Commission shall have a staff director, who shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Commission and whose pay shall be fixed by the Chairman of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) OTHER STAFF- The Chairman of the Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of other personnel of the Commission, subject to the approval of at least 2 of the following Members of the Commission:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The Vice Chairman.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The senior Member from the minority party of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) The senior Member from the minority party of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Treatment of Employees as House Employees- For purposes of pay and other employment benefits, rights, and privileges, and for all other purposes, including the applicability of the Rules of the House of Representatives, each employee of the Commission shall be considered an employee of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. PRINTING AND BINDING COSTS.

For purposes of costs relating to printing and binding, including the costs of personnel detailed from the Government Printing Office, the Commission shall be deemed to be a standing committee of Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink