SEC. 5205.100 MEMBERSHIP. (a) COMPOSITION AND REPRESENTATION.— (1) The Council shall consist of 12 members, of whom- (i) one shall be a national leader with experience and background in business; (ii) one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the labor community; (iii) one shall be a national leader who has been active in public interest activities; and (iv) one shall be a head of a Federal department or agency; (B) four members shall be appointed by the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate, acting jointly, of whom (i) one shall be a national leader with experience or background in business; (ii) one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the labor community; (iii) one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the academic community; and (iv) one shall be a representative of State or local government; and (C) four members shall be appointed by the Speaker, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, acting jointly, of whom (i) one shall be a national leader with experience and background in business; (ii) one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the labor community; (iii) one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the academic community; and (iv) one shall be a representative of State or local government. (2) In addition to the head of a Federal department or agency appointed in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A)(iv), other Federal officials may participate on an ex-officio basis as requested by the Council. (3) All members of the Council shall be individuals who have a broad understanding of the United States economy and the United States competitive position internationally. (4) Not more than 6 members of the Council shall be members of the same political party. (b) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.-The initial members of the Council shall be appointed within 30 days after January 21, 1989. (c) VACANCIES. (1) A vacancy on the Council shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. (2) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy on the Council occurring before the expiration of the term for which the pred 100 15 U.S.C. 4804. ecessor of such member was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. (3) A member of the Council may serve after the expiration of the term of such member until the successor of such member has taken office. (d) REMOVAL.-Members of the Council may be removed only for malfeasance in office. (e) CONFLICT OF INTEREST. (1) A member of the Council may not serve as an agent for a foreign principal. (2) Members of the Council shall be required to file a financial disclosure report under title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-521), except that such reports shall be held confidential and exempt from any law otherwise requiring their public disclosure. (3) Members of the Council shall be deemed to be special Government employees, as defined in section 202 of title 18, United States Code, for purposes of sections 201, 202, 203, 205, and 208 of such title. (f) COMPENSATION. (1) Each member of the Council who is not employed by the Federal Government or any State or local government (A) shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the rate for GS-18 of the General Schedule pursuant to section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day such member is engaged in duties as a member of the Council; and (B) shall be paid actual travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away from the usual place of residence of such member, in accordance with section 5703 of such title. (2) Each member of the Council who is employed by the Federal Government or any State or local government shall serve on the Council without additional compensation, but while engaged in duties as a member of the Council shall be paid actual travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away from the usual place of residence of such member, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (g) QUORUM. (1) IN GENERAL.-Seven members of the Council constitute a quorum, except that a lesser number may hold hearings if such action is approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire Council. (2) INITIAL ORGANIZATION.—The Council shall not commence its duties until all the nongovernmental members have been appointed and have qualified. (h) CHAIRPERSON.-The Council shall elect, by a two-thirds vote of the entire Council, a chairperson from among the nongovernmental members. (i) MEETINGS.-The Council shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of the members. (j) POLICY ACTIONS.-Except as provided in subsection (g), no action establishing policy shall be taken by the Council unless approved by two-thirds of the entire membership of the Council. (k) ALTERNATE MEMBERS. (1) Each member of the Council shall designate one alternate representative to attend any meeting that such member is unable to attend. (2) In the course of attending any such meeting, an alternate representative shall be considered a member of the Council for all purposes, except for voting. (1) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.-The Council may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for GS16 of the General Schedule. (m) DETAILS.-Upon request of the Council, the head of any other Federal agency is authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the Council to assist the Council in carrying out its duties under this subtitle. SEC. 5206.101 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF. (a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.— (1) The principal administrative officer of the Council shall be an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Council and who shall be paid at a rate not to exceed GS-18 of the General Schedule. (2) The Executive Director shall serve on a full-time basis. (b) STAFF.-(1) Within the limitations of appropriations to the Council, the Executive Director may appoint a staff for the Council in accordance with the Federal civil service and classification laws. (2) The staff of the Council shall be deemed to be special government employees as defined in section 202 of title 18, United States Code, for purposes of title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and sections 201, 202, 203, 205, 207, and 208 of title 18, United States Code. SEC. 5207.102 POWERS OF THE COUNCIL. (a) HEARINGS.-The Council may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subtitle, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Council considers appropriate. The Council may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Council. (1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Council may secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable the Council to carry out the provisions of this subtitle. Upon request of the chairman of the Council, the head of such agency shall promptly furnish such information to the Council. (B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to matters that are specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order. 101 15 U.S.C. 4805. 102 15 U.S.C. 4806. (2) In any case in which the Council receives any information from a Federal agency, the Council shall not disclose such information to the public unless such agency is authorized to disclose such information pursuant to Federal law. (d) CONSULTATION WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS.-No later than 60 days after the initial members are appointed to the Council, the Council shall submit a report to the President, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, that proposes the type and scope of activities the Council shall undertake, including the extent to which the Council will coordinate activities with other advisory committees relating to trade and competitiveness in order to maximize the effectiveness of the Council. (e) GIFTS.-The Council may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. (f) USE OF THE MAILS.-The Council may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies. (g) ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES.-The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Council, on a reimbursable basis, such administrative and support services as the Council may request. (h) SUBCOUNCILS. (1) The Council may establish, for such period of time as the Council determines appropriate, subcouncils of public and private leaders to analyze specific competitive issues. (2) Any such subcouncil shall include representatives of business, labor, government, and other individuals or representatives of groups whose participation is considered by the Council to be important to developing a full understanding of the subject with which the subcouncil is concerned. (3) Any such subcouncil shall include a representative of the Federal Government. (4) Any such subcouncil shall assess the actual or potential competitiveness problems facing the industry or the specific policy issues with which the subcouncil is concerned and shall formulate specific recommendations for responses by business, government, and labor (A) to encourage adjustment and modernization of the industry involved; (B) to monitor and facilitate industry responsiveness to opportunities identified under section 5208(b)(1)(B); (C) to encourage the ability of the industry involved to compete in markets identified under section 5208(b)(1)(C); or (D) to alleviate the problems in a specific policy area facing more than one industry. (5) Any discussion held by any subcouncil shall not be considered to violate any Federal or State antitrust law. (6) Any discussion held by any subcouncil shall not be subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, except that a Federal representative shall attend all subcouncil meetings. (7) Any subcouncil shall terminate 30 days after making recommendations, unless the Council specifically requests that the subcouncil continue in operation. (i) APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.-The provisions of subsections (e) and (f) of section 10, of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the Council. SEC. 5208.103 ANNUAL REPORT. (a) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.-The Council shall annually prepare and submit to the President, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and the appropriate Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report setting forth (1) the goals to achieve a more competitive United States economy; (2) the policies needed to meet such goals; (3) a summary of existing policies of the Federal Government or State and local governments significantly affecting the competitiveness of the United States economy; and (4) a summary of significant economic and technological developments, in the United States and abroad, affecting the competitive position of United States industries. (b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.-The report submitted under subsection (a) shall (1) identify and describe actual or foreseeable developments, in the United States and abroad, which (A) create a significant likelihood of a competitive challenge to, or of substantial dislocation in, an established United States industry; (B) present significant opportunities for United States industries to compete in new geographical markets or product markets, or to expand the position of such industries in established markets; or (C) create a significant risk that United States industries shall be unable to compete successfully in significant markets; (2) specify the industry sectors affected by the developments described in the report under paragraph (1); and (3) contain a statement of the findings and recommendations of the Council during the previous fiscal year, including any recommendations of the Council for (a) such legislative or administrative actions as the Council considers appropriate, and (b) including the elimination, consolidation, reorganization of government agencies especially such agencies that specifically deal with research, science, technology, and international trade. (c) REPORT BY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.-The Council shall consult with each committee to which a report is submitted under this section and after such consultation, each such committee shall submit to its respective House a report setting forth the views and recommendations of such committee with respect to the report of the Council. 103 15 U.S.C. 4807. |