Sec. 4. United States Economic Competitiveness Commission
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There is established a commission to be known as the United States Economic Competitiveness Commission (referred to in this section as the Commission ). The Commission shall be composed of 12 members appointed as follows: Three members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. Three members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Three members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
Each member of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of 2 years and may serve not more than 3 terms. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. The Commission shall meet at least once each month at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. The Commission shall hold at least 1 meeting in corporation in each of 6 months per year.
Eight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, except that if a majority of members in the quorum have been appointed by a leader of the same political party, the quorum shall include not fewer than 3 members appointed by a leader of the other political party. The Commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among its members. The term of office of the chairperson and vice chairperson shall be 2 years. The Commission shall conduct an ongoing independent assessment of the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy in order to offer recommendations to the Government for the improvement of United States competitiveness over time.
In carrying out the assessment required by subparagraph (A), the Commission shall, on an ongoing basis— assess the competitiveness of the United States in all sectors of the global economy, including sectors relating to manufacturing, aerospace, communications, information technology, energy, life sciences, biotechnology, and such other sectors as the Commission considers appropriate; identify, including through use of the Technology Database Mapping Program developed under paragraph (2)— markets (including anticipated markets) for new and developing technologies in each sector of the global economy; and new and developing process technologies, including manufacturing process technologies that can be used by United States corporations to gain a competitive advantage in such sectors of the global economy; and identify measures to take advantage of the markets and technologies identified under subclauses
(I)and
(II)of clause (ii), respectively, to give the United States a competitive advantage in such sectors of the global economy, including, as appropriate, measures to encourage and facilitate the development, acquisition, and use of technologies described in such subclauses. The Commission shall develop a detailed, accurate, and comprehensive computer program database, to be known as the Technology Database Mapping Program , to identify and keep track of new and developing technologies described in subclauses
(I)and
(II)of paragraph (1)(B)(ii). The Commission shall serve as an independent repository for information about technological developments in global markets. The Commission shall submit to Congress, at such periodic frequency as the Commission considers appropriate, a report on the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy. Each report submitted pursuant to subparagraph
(A)shall include the following: The findings of the Commission with respect to the most recent assessment carried out pursuant to clause
(i)of paragraph (1)(B). A description of the markets and technologies identified pursuant to clause
(ii)of such paragraph. A description of the measures identified pursuant to clause
(iii)of such paragraph and any factors affecting the implementation of such measures, including factors relating to the following: Proposed trade agreements and the enforcement of existing trade agreements. Taxation. Government procurement and Government regulations. The United States patent system. Intellectual property laws and the enforcement of such laws. Education, including vocational training. Research and development programs. Infrastructure development, with emphasis on improvements necessary to attract new jobs. Recommendations for national priorities for advanced research projects for industries of the future. The Commission shall submit to Congress such other reports as are requested by members of Congress or congressional committees. The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this section. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. Any member or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take under this section. The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information to the Commission. The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States and shall be available for disbursement upon order of the chairperson of the Commission. Upon the request of the Commission, the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this section. To the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or corporations to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this section. The members of the Commission shall serve without pay. Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. Subject to subparagraph
(C)and to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission shall appoint and fix the compensation of a director. The director of the Commission shall be responsible for the administration and coordination of the duties of the Commission and shall perform such other duties as the Commission may direct. In accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, subject to subparagraph (C), and to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the director may appoint and fix the compensation of such additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties. The director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service and may be compensated without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that— compensation fixed under subparagraph (A)(i) may not exceed $150,000 per year; and compensation fixed under subparagraph
(B)may not exceed a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule. In accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission and to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the director may procure the services of experts and consultants under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, without reimbursement from the Commission, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this section. Such detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of their regular employment without interruption. The authority for the Commission provided in this section shall terminate and the Commission shall be dissolved on September 30, 2017. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2018.