establishment of commission

establishment of commission Sec. 154. (a) (1) There is hereby established a Commission to be known as the National Transportation Policy Study Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”. 90 STAT. 449 (2) The Commission shall make a full and complete investigation and study of the transportation needs and of the resources, requirements, and policies of the United States to meet such expected needs. It shall take into consideration all reports on National Transportation Policy which have been submitted to the Congress including but not limited to the National Transportation Reports of 1972 and 1974. It shall evaluate the relative merits of all modes of transportation in meeting our transportation needs. Based on such study, it shall recommend those policies which are most likely to insure that adequate transportation systems are in place which will meet, the needs for safe and efficient movement of goods and people. (b) Such Commission shall be comprised of 19 members as follows: (A) Six members appointed by the President of the Senate from the membership of the Committee on Public Works, Committee on Commerce, and Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the United States Senate; (B) five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the membership of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation and one member appointed by the Speaker from the membership of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce; and (C) seven members of the public appointed by the President. (c) The Commission shall not later than December 31, 1978 submit to the President and the Congress its final report including its findings and recommendations. The Commission shall cease to exist six months after submission of such report. All records and papers of the Commission shall thereupon be delivered to the Administrator of General Services for deposit in the Archives of the United States. (d) Such report shall include the Commission’s findings and recommendations with respect to— (A) the Nation’s transportation needs, both national and regional, through the year 2000; (B) the ability of our current transportation systems to meet the projected needs; (C) the proper mix of highway, rail, waterway, pipeline, and air transportation systems to meet anticipated needs; (D) the energy requirements and availability of energy to meet anticipated needs; (E) the existing policies and programs of the Federal government which affect the development of our national transportation systems; and (F) the new policies required to develop balanced national transportation systems which meet projected need. (e) (1) The Chairman of the Commission, who shall be elected by the Commission from among its members, shall request the head of each Federal department or agency which has an interest in or a responsibility with respect to a national transportation policy to appoint, and the head of such department or agency shall appoint, a liaison officer who shall work closely with the Commission and its staff in matters pertaining to this section. Such departments and agencies shall include, but not lie limited to, the Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2) In carrying out its duties the Commission shall seek the advice of various groups interested in national transportation policy includ-90 STAT. 450ing, but not limited to. State and local governments, public and private organizations working in the fields of transportation and safety, industry, education, and labor. (f) (1) The Commission or, on authorization of the Commission, any Committee of two or more members may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places as the Commission or such authorized committee, may deem advisable. (2) The Commission is authorized to secure from any department, agency, or individual instrumentality of the executive branch of the Government any information it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this section and each department, agency, and instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information to the Commission upon request made by the Chairman. (g) (1) Members of Congress who are members of the Commission shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as Members of Congress; hut they shall be reimbursed for travel, per diem in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives or subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. (2) Members of the Commission, except Members of Congress shall each receive compensation at a rate not in excess of the maximum rate of pay for GS–18, us provided in the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, and shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses, per diem in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives or subsistence and other necessary expenses incurred by them in performance of duties while serving as a Commission member. (h) (1) The Commission is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director, and such additional personnel as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its functions. The Director and personnel may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5. United States Code, covering 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. Any Federal employees subject to the civil service laws and regulations who may be employed by the Commission shall retain civil service status without interruption or loss of status or privilege. In no event shall any employee other than the staff director receive as compensation an amount in excess of the maximum rate for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5. United States Code. In addition, the Commission is authorized to obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the maximum rate of pay for grade GS–18, as provided in the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. (2) The staff director shall be compensated at a Level 2 of the Executive Schedule in subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code. (i) The Commission is authorized to enter into contracts or agreements for studies and surveys with public and private organizations and, if necessary, to transfer funds to Federal agencies from sums appropriated pursuant to this section to carry out such of its duties as the Commission determines can best be carried out in that manner. (j) Any vacancy which may occur on the Commission shall not affect its powers or functions but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. 90 STAT. 451 (k) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $15,000,000 to carry out this section. Funds appropriated under this section shall be available to the Commission until expended.