Sec. 4. Establishment of People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission
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There is established in the legislative branch a commission to be known as the People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission or the CARE Commission (in this Act referred to as the Commission ). The Commission— shall review all means-tested welfare programs within the Federal Government to— identify changes in law (which may include ways to streamline functions and increase efficiency within agencies or programs) that will achieve the purposes set forth in section 2; evaluate whether each means-tested welfare program could be consolidated with another means-tested welfare program, or a program subject to the availability of discretionary appropriations with similar goals, and make recommendations for consolidating the programs that are identified; evaluate the potential benefits of consolidating or repurposing any means-tested welfare program that does not have proven beneficial outcomes that assist in achieving purposes set forth in section 2 and make recommendations regarding consolidating or repurposing means-tested welfare programs that are identified; identify opportunities and make recommendations regarding ways for the Federal Government to reduce the cost or increase the efficiency of means-tested welfare program by contracting with private entities, or delegating authority to States, to perform activities relating to the program; identify means-tested welfare programs and entitlement authorities that should be modified to be carried out subject to the availability of discretionary appropriations; identify changes to the law that would allow caseworkers to have a wholistic view of the person and all programs for which the individual or family would be eligible, and identify other tools that caseworkers should have access to in order to achieve the goals set forth in section 2; identify and eliminate benefit cliffs by designing on/off ramps such as gradual benefit reductions as individuals’ wages increase, such that the gradual reduction in government benefits does not exceed the increase in wages; and identify other ways to achieve the purposes set forth in section 2 as determined by the Commission; in carrying out subparagraph (A), establish a system for evaluating the effectiveness of welfare programs, which includes income and employment outcomes for individuals and families in their respective programs, and engage in such other activities as the Committee deems appropriate to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs; may review the offsetting receipts and discretionary appropriations of the Federal Government, as determined appropriate by the Commission; and may develop the criteria for achieving the purposes set forth in section 2.
In carrying out the review under paragraph (1)(A), the Commission shall— consult with experts in company restructuring, reorganizing, and cost cutting; and establish working groups for means-tested welfare programs, as determined appropriate by the Commission, to provide recommendations to the Commission. The individuals serving on a working group established under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be employees or contractors of the Commission with expertise in a program reviewed by the working group.
Not later than 18 months after the date on which all members of the Commission are appointed, and upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report containing— a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission; and the assumptions, scenarios, and alternatives considered in reaching such findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The Commission shall— identify changes in law that will result in the consolidation and realignment in programs and outlays that will achieve the purposes set forth in section 2; include in the report submitted under paragraph
(3)a bill consisting of proposed legislative language to carry out the changes in law identified under subparagraph
(A)(in this Act referred to as the Commission bill ), except that the bill may not include provisions creating a new program or agency, unless such program or agency is the result of a consolidation or realignment of existing programs and agencies which will have the predicted outcome of achieving the purposes of section 2; and include in such report an estimate of the savings in outlays that will be achieved by the enactment of the Commission bill, as developed in conjunction with the Director of the Congressional Budget Office and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. After submission of the Commission bill under paragraph (4), the Commission shall promptly provide, upon request, to any Member of Congress information used by the Commission in making its recommendations. The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, appointed as follows: The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 2 members. The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 2 members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint 2 members. The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint 2 members. An individual may not be appointed as a member of the Commission if the individual was registered as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) at any time during the 5-year period ending on the date of the appointment. The members of the Commission shall select a Chairperson from among the members of the Commission. Not later than 1 month after the date of enactment of this Act, all members of the Commission shall be appointed. Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled not later than 14 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs in the same manner as the original appointment. Each member of the Commission shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 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. Members may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in performance of services for the Commission. The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act— hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties; and require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes, and materials as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties. The Commission may request directly, or require, by subpoena or otherwise, from any Federal agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon a request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall furnish such information to the Commission. Subpoenas issued under paragraph
(1)or
(2)shall bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and shall be served by any person or class of persons designated by the Chairperson for that purpose. In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph
(1)or (2), the United States district court for the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court. Section 1821 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to witnesses requested or subpoenaed to appear at any hearing of the Commission. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses of the Commission. The Commission may secure directly from the Congressional Budget Office and Office of Management and Budget such information, including estimates and analysis, as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office or Office of Management and Budget shall furnish such information, including estimates and analysis, to the Commission. Upon the request of the Commission, the Librarian of Congress shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support services, research services, and research staff necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. The Chairperson may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other employees as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, but at rates not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5 of the United States Code. Upon the request of the Chairperson, the head of any agency may detail an employee of the agency to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. The Chairperson of the Commission is authorized to procure the services of experts and consultants and temporary and intermittent services 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 V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which such consultant or expert is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. In carrying out its duties under this Act, the Commission shall— establish a website for the purpose of allowing any member of the public to submit suggestions to the Commission for its consideration; and consider each such suggestion submitted through the website. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission. The Commission shall terminate on the day after the earlier of— the date on which the Commission bill is enacted into law; or the last day of the Congress during which the Commission bill is introduced in the Senate or the House under section 5(a).
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Sec. 4
Establishment of People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission
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