ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION.

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. (a) In General.—There is established the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. (b) Membership.— (1) Appointment.—The Commission shall be composed of— (A) the Ambassador at Large, who shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the Commission; and (B) Nine other members, who shall be United States citizens who are not being paid as officers or employees of the United States, and who shall be appointed as follows: (i) Three members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President. (ii) Three members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, of which two of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the Senate of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and of which one of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the Senate of the other political party. (iii) three members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, of which two of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the House of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and of which one of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the leader in the House of the other political party. (2) Selection.— (A) In general.—Members of the Commission shall be selected among distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the issue of international religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience abroad, human rights, and international law. 112 STAT. 2798 (B) Security clearances.—Each member of the Commission shall be required to obtain a security clearance. (3) Time of appointment.—The appointments required by paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Terms.—The term of office of each member of the Commission shall be 2 years. Members of the Commission shall be eligible for reappointment to a second term. (d) Election of Chair.—At the first meeting of the Commission in each calendar year, a majority of the members of the Commission present and voting shall elect the Chair of the Commission. (e) Quorum.—Six voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting business. (f) Meetings.—Each year, within 15 days, or as soon as practicable, after the issuance of the Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the Commission shall convene. The Commission shall otherwise meet at the call of the Chair or, if no Chair has been elected for that calendar year, at the call of six voting members of the Commission. (g) Vacancies.—Any vacancy of the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (h) Administrative Support.—The Secretary of State shall assist the Commission by providing to the Commission such staff and administrative services of the Office as may be necessary and appropriate for the Commission to perform its functions. Any employee of the executive branch of Government may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement to the agency of that employee and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. (i) Funding.—Members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.