Commission on the Social Security “Notch” Issue.—

Sec. 635. Commission on the Social Security “Notch” Issue.— (a) Establishment.— There is established a Commission on the Social Security “Notch” Issue (in this section referred to as the “Commission”). (b) Membership.—The Commission shall be composed of 12 members as follows: (1) 4 members appointed by the President from among officers or employees of the executive branch, private citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than 2 of the members appointed by the President shall be members of the same political party. (2) 2 members appointed by the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Finance of the United States Senate, from among members of the Senate, private citizens of the United States, or both. (3) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, in consultation with the Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance of the United States Senate, from among members of the Senate, private citizens of the United States, or both. (4) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representa-106 STAT. 1778tives, from among members of the House of Representatives, private citizens of the United States, or both. (5) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, from among members of the House of Representatives, private citizens of the United States, or both. (c) Functions of the Commission.— (1) Study.—The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study of what has come to be known as the “notch” issue. The study shall examine the causes of the controversy, whether there are inequities in the treatment of social security beneficiaries born in different years, whether legislative action should be taken, and the effect on social security trust funds of such legislative action. (2) Findings and conclusions.—The Commission shall transmit a report to the Congress not later than December 31, 1993. The report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with any recommendations the Commission considers appropriate. Any recommendations which would increase social security expenditures would have to be accompanied by cost estimates and options for financing such recommendations. (d) Chairperson; Meetings.—The President shall designate a Chairperson from among the membership. The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members. (e) Pay.—Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, except that members of the Commission who are private citizens of the United States shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the Commission. (f) Staff.— (1) Staff.—Subject to rules prescribed by the Commission, the Chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of such personnel as the Chairperson considers appropriate. (2) Staff of department of health and human services.—Upon request of the Commission, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the Department of Health and Human Services to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this section. (g) Obtaining Official Data.—The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States such information as is necessary and appropriate to enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall, to the extent permitted by law, furnish that information to the Commission. (h) Termination.—The Commission shall terminate 30 days after transmittal of its report to the Congress. (i) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for purposes of this section, to remain available until expended, but in no event beyond the date of termination provided in subsection (h).