text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Poverty Trap Study Act of 2001''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) Low income people are subject to many taxes, including 
          the Federal income tax, payroll taxes, and State income taxes. 
          In addition, eligibility for many Federal and State programs 
          for assistance to the working poor, such as the earned income 
          tax credit, food stamps, housing assistance programs, medicaid, 
          child care assistance, and the women, infants, and children 
          (WIC) nutrition program is based in part on income levels. The 
          rates at which the benefits from such programs are phased out 
          have the same effect as additional taxes imposed on the 
          beneficiaries.
              (2) The total effective marginal rate of tax for additional 
          income earned by low income people can exceed 100 percent and 
          can be a disincentive to working more hours, getting a raise, 
          learning a more lucrative trade, getting married, or engaging 
          in other economic or social activities.
  
  SEC. 3. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR THE WORKING POOR.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
  as the National Commission on Marginal Tax Rates for the Working Poor 
  (in this section referred to as the ``Commission'').
      (b) Duties of the Commission.--The Commission shall--
              (1) determine the total effective marginal rate of tax from 
          all taxes and benefit program phaseouts that persons are 
          subject to (both as individuals and as married couples) at all 
          earnings levels between $7,000 and $30,000 per year for at 
          least 5 States, including Wisconsin and California; and
              (2) submit the report required under subsection (f) to 
          Congress.
      (c) Membership.--
              (1) Number and appointment.--The Commission shall be 
          composed of 12 members, of whom--
                      (A) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                  House of Representatives;
                      (B) 2 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of 
                  the House of Representatives;
                      (C) 3 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of 
                  the Senate;
                      (D) 2 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of 
                  the Senate; and
                      (E) 2 shall be appointed by the President.
              (2) Chairman.--The members of the Commission shall elect a 
          chairman of the Commission at its first meeting.
              (3) Background.--At least half of the members appointed by 
          each person who appoints members under paragraph (1) shall be 
          recognized experts from think tanks or academia in the subject 
          matter reviewed by the Commission.
              (4) Terms of appointment.--The term of any appointment 
          under paragraph (1) to the Commission shall be for the life of 
          the Commission.
              (5) Meetings.--The President shall designate a member of 
          the Commission to call the first meeting of the Commission. 
          Thereafter, the Commission shall meet at the call of its 
          Chairman or a majority of its members.
              (6) Quorum.--A quorum shall consist of 7 members of the 
          Commission.
              (7) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled 
          in the same manner in which the original appointment was made, 
          not later than 30 days after the Commission is given notice of 
          the vacancy, and shall not affect the power of the remaining 
          members to execute the duties of the Commission.
              (8) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall receive 
          no additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their 
          service on the Commission.
              (9) Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall receive 
          travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in 
          accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United 
          States Code.
      (d) Staff and Support Services.--
              (1) Executive director.--
                      (A) Appointment.--The Chairman shall appoint an 
                  executive director of the Commission.
                      (B) Compensation.--The executive director shall be 
                  paid the rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive 
                  Schedule.
              (2) Staff.--With the approval of the Commission, the 
          executive director may appoint such personnel as the executive 
          director considers appropriate.
              (3) Applicability of civil service laws.--The staff of the 
          Commission shall be appointed without regard to the provisions 
          of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
          competitive service, and shall 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).
              (4) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the 
          Commission, the executive director may procure temporary and 
          intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
          States Code.
              (5) Physical facilities.--The Administrator of General 
          Services shall locate suitable office space for the operation 
          of the Commission. The facilities shall serve as the 
          headquarters of the Commission and shall include all necessary 
          equipment and incidentals required for the proper functioning 
          of the Commission.
      (e) Powers of Commission.--
              (1) Hearings and other activities.--For the purpose of 
          carrying out its duties, the Commission may hold such hearings 
          and undertake such other activities as the Commission 
          determines to be necessary to carry out its duties.
              (2) Studies by gao.--Upon the request of the Commission, 
          the Comptroller General shall conduct such studies or 
          investigations as the Commission determines to be necessary to 
          carry out its duties.
              (3) Detail of federal employees.--Upon the request of the 
          Commission, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to 
          detail, without reimbursement, any of the personnel of such 
          agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying 
          out its duties. Any such detail shall not interrupt or 
          otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges of the 
          Federal employee.
              (4) Technical assistance.--Upon the request of the 
          Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall provide such 
          technical assistance to the Commission as the Commission 
          determines to be necessary to carry out its duties.
              (5) Use of mails.--The Commission may use the United States 
          mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as 
          Federal agencies and shall, for purposes of the frank, be 
          considered a commission of Congress as described in section 
          3215 of title 39, United States Code.
              (6) Obtaining information.--The Commission may secure 
          directly from any Federal agency information necessary to 
          enable it to carry out its duties, if the information may be 
          disclosed under section 552 of title 5, United States Code. 
          Upon request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head of 
          such agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
              (7) Administrative support services.--Upon the request of 
          the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall 
          provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such 
          administrative support services as the Commission may request.
              (8) Printing.--For purposes of costs relating to printing 
          and binding, including the cost of personnel detailed from the 
          Government Printing Office, the Commission shall be deemed to 
          be a committee of the Congress.
      (f) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
  of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
  containing--
              (1) the Commission's findings; and
              (2) recommendations for resolving any economic and other 
          disincentives found by the Commission caused by the marginal 
          tax rates to which the working poor are subject.
      (g) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the 
  date of submission of the report required in subsection (f). Section 
  14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to 
  the Commission.
      (h) Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
  authorized to be appropriated not more than $900,000 to carry out this 
  section.
target: Poverty Trap Study Act of 2001 - Establishes the National Commission on Marginal Tax Rates for the Working Poor to: (1) determine the total effective marginal rate of tax from all taxes and benefit program phaseouts that persons are subject to at all earnings levels between $7,000 and $30,000 per year for at least five States, including Wisconsin and California; and (2) report to Congress. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates the Commission 30 days after the submission of its report.
feat_title: To establish a commission to study and make recommendations on marginal tax rates for the working poor.