109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3749
To establish a national commission to address the rebirth and renewal
of neighborhoods and communities affected by Hurricane Katrina.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 13, 2005
Mr. LEACH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To establish a national commission to address the rebirth and renewal
of neighborhoods and communities affected by Hurricane Katrina.
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 `Gulf State Community Renewal Commission Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Whereas Hurricane Katrina's devastation is colossal in scope;
Whereas it poses a massive national redevelopment obligation; and
Whereas the expertise of America's professionals in the fields of city and
regional planning, architecture, home building, and finance is required.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established the Gulf State Community Renewal Commission (in this
Act referred to as the `Commission').
SEC. 4. PURPOSES.
The purposes of the Commission are to--
(1) examine, evaluate, and report on the rebuilding of communities in both
urban and rural areas that were affected by Hurrican Katrina;
(2) identify actions necessary for rebuilding such communities, and neighborhoods
and town centers in such communities;
(3) identify professions and resources available to such communities to
assist in such rebuilding; and
(4) create models and plans for such rebuilding that address--
(A) transportation needs;
(B) economic development and job creation;
(C) the tourism industry;
(E) agriculture development;
(F) environmental concerns;
(G) natural disaster mitigation; and
(H) any other areas of the public and private sectors determined relevant
by the Commission.
SEC. 5. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Members- Subject to the requirements of subsection (b), the Commission
shall be composed of 21 members, appointed by the President, who shall include--
(1) not less than 11 members who are experts in city or regional planning
issues;
(2) not less than 3 members who are historians or otherwise employed in
academic institutions;
(3) not less than 3 members who are hombuilders, architects, or contractors;
(4) not less than 2 members who are experts in mortgage finance; and
(5) not less than 2 members who are experts in small business issues.
(1) STATE REPRESENTATION- The Commission shall include a total of 14 members
from the States of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and 7 members representative
of other States.
(c) Deadline for Appointment- All members of the Commission shall be appointed
on or before October 30, 2005.
(d) Chairperson; Vice Chairpersons- The Commission shall have a chairperson
and two vice chairpersons, with a resident of each State referred to in subsection
(b)(1) holding one of the three positions.
(e) Initial Meeting- The Commission shall meet and begin the operations of
the Commission as soon as practicable after appointment of all the members.
(f) Quorum; Vacancies- After its initial meeting, the Commission shall meet
upon the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members. 11 members
of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 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.
SEC. 6. FUNCTIONS.
The functions of the Commission are--
(1) to hold such hearings and conduct such examinations and studies as may
be appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Commission under section
2; and
(2) to submit to the President and Congress such reports as are required
by section 10 containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations
as the Commission shall determine regarding actions, plans, and models for
rebuilding neighborhoods and communities affected by Hurricane Katrina.
SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Sessions- The Commission may, for purposes of carrying out
this Act hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, receive
evidence, and administer oaths.
(b) Contracting- The Commission may enter, to such extent and in such amounts
as are provided in appropriation Acts, into contracts to enable the Commission
to discharge its duties under this Act.
(c) Information From Federal Agencies- The Commission may secure directly
from any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States any information
related to any inquiry of the Commission conducted under this Act. Each such
department, agency, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by
law, furnish such information directly to the Commission upon request.
(d) Assistance From Federal Agencies-
(1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION- The Administrator of General Services
shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative support
and other services for the performance of the Commission's functions.
(2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES- In addition to the assistance prescribed
in paragraph (1), departments and agencies of the United States are authorized
to provide to the Commission such services, funds, facilities, staff, and
other support services as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized
by law.
(e) Postal Services- The Commission may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies of the
United States.
(f) Powers of Subcommittees, Members, and Agents- Any subcommittee, member,
or agent of the Commission may take, if authorized by the Commission, any
action which the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
SEC. 8. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Director- The Commission shall have a Director who shall be appointed
by the Chairperson.
(b) Staff- The Chairperson, in consultation with the Vice Chairpersons, may
appoint additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission
to carry out its functions.
(c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws- 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 paid 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 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. Any individual
appointed under subsection (a) or (b) shall be treated as an employee for
purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of such title.
(d) Detailees- Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission
without reimbursement from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain
the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without
interruption.
(e) 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. 9. COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.
(a) Compensation- Each member of the Commission may be compensated at not
to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for
a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title
5, United States Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in
the actual performance of the duties of the Commission.
(b) Travel Expenses- While away from their homes or regular places of business
in the performance of services for the Commission, members of the Commission
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service
are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 10. REPORTS; TERMINATION.
(a) Initial Report- Not later than 90 days after the date of the first meeting
of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress
an initial report containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations
for the rebuilding of communities and neighborhoods affected by Hurricane
Katrina as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members.
(b) Incremental Reports- The Commission shall submit to the President and
the Congress an incremental report containing such findings, conclusions,
and recommendations for the rebuilding of communities and neighborhoods affected
by Hurricane Katrina as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members,
at each of the following times:
(1) Not later than 12 months after the submission of the initial report
of the Commission.
(2) Not later than 24 months after the submission of the initial report
of the Commission.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission, and all the authorities of this Act, shall
terminate 60 days after the date on which the second incremental report
is submitted under subsection (b)(2).
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES BEFORE TERMINATION- The Commission may use
the 60-day period referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose of concluding
its activities, including providing testimony to committees of Congress
concerning its reports.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission to carry out this
Act $7,500,000. Such funds shall remain available until expended.
END
