OPERATION IN GENERAL.

SEC. 104. OPERATION IN GENERAL. (a) Agency Cooperation.— The heads of executive agencies, the General Accounting Office, the Office of Technology Assessment, and the Congressional Budget Office shall provide the Commission such information as may be required to carry out its duties and functions. (b) Compensation.—Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation for work on the Commission. While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of duties of the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service under section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code. (c) Employees.— (1) To the extent there are sufficient funds available to the Commission and subject to such rules as may be adopted by the Commission, the Commission, without regard to the provisions of title 5 of the United States Code governing appointments in the competitive service and, except as provided in paragraph (2), without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to the classification and General Schedule pay rates, may— (A) appoint and fix the compensation of a director; and (B) appoint and fix the compensation of such additional personnel as the Commission determines necessary to assist it to carry out its duties and functions. (2) No employee of the Commission shall be compensated at a pay rate greater than the rate received by an employee at the grade of GS–16 as described in section 5104(16) of title 5 of the United States Code. (d) Staff and Services.— On the request of the Commission, the heads of executive agencies, the Comptroller General, and the Director of the Office of Technology Assessment may furnish the Commission with such office, personnel or support services as the head of the agency, or office, and the chairperson of the Commission agree are necessary to assist the Commission to carry out its duties and functions. The Commission shall not be required to pay, or reimburse, any agency for office, personnel or support services provided under this subsection. (e) Exemptions.— (1) The Commission shall be exempt from sections 7(d), 10(f), and 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). (2) The Commission shall be exempt from the requirements of sections 4301 through 4305 of title 5 of the United States Code.