text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson 
  Commission on Alcoholism Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
  
      There is established a commission to be known as the Harold Hughes-
  Bill Emerson Commission on Alcoholism (in this Act referred to as the 
  ``Commission'').
  
  SEC. 3. DUTIES.
  
      (a) In General.--The Commission shall carry out the following 
  duties:
              (1) Hold public hearings on selected areas of interest 
          related to alcoholism.
              (2) Promote the development of a national consensus on 
          policy issues related to alcoholism, which may include 
          conducting a national opinion survey on attitudes toward the 
          disease of alcoholism and its prevention.
              (3) Evaluate the interest of the provider and medical 
          communities in new medications related to alcoholism and the 
          barriers to the communities in obtaining such medications, and 
          make recommendations regarding research on and the 
          manufacturing and availability of such medications.
              (4) In conjunction with the National Institute on 
          Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse and the advisory council of such 
          Institute, conduct a study to identify the current state-of-
          the-art alcohol research, unmet alcohol research needs, and 
          appropriate research funding in view of the size and scope of 
          the alcoholism problem.
              (5) Evaluate and make recommendations regarding the 
          education of physicians in American medical schools concerning 
          alcoholism (including an examination of the requirements of 
          accreditation of medical schools) and the certification of 
          other individuals trained to provide alcoholism prevention and 
          treatment services.
              (6) Evaluate and make recommendations regarding the 
          availability, timing, and dissemination of research information 
          to alcoholism prevention and treatment services administrators 
          and providers, and the application of current research findings 
          by these administrators and providers.
              (7) Make recommendations designed to reduce and prevent 
          alcoholism which include recommendations concerning appropriate 
          roles for the Federal, State, and local governments and the 
          private sector, and concerning specific changes needed to 
          Federal laws and Federal programs.
      (b) Reports.--Not later than two years after the date on which 
  amounts under section 8 are first made available for carrying out this 
  Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a 
  report describing the findings made in studies under subsection (a). 
  The Commission may submit to the President and the Congress such 
  interim reports regarding the duties of the Commission under such 
  subsection as the Commission determines to be appropriate.
  
  SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
  
      (a) Composition.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 
          voting members appointed in accordance with paragraph (2), one 
          ex officio voting member designated in paragraph (3), and such 
          ex officio nonvoting members as may serve pursuant to paragraph 
          (4).
              (2) Appointed members.--Members of the Commission shall be 
          appointed in accordance with the following:
                      (A) The President shall appoint four individuals 
                  who are not officers or employees of the Federal 
                  Government. Such individuals shall be appointed from 
                  four of the following fields of expertise:
                              (i) An economist.
                              (ii) A biomedical or behavioral researcher 
                          or clinician.
                              (iii) A person from the field of business.
                              (iv) A representative of the medical 
                          schools.
                              (v) A health provider.
                      (B) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall, 
                  after consultation with the majority and minority 
                  leaders of the Senate, appoint four individuals. Of 
                  such individuals--
                              (i) two shall be Senators;
                              (ii) one shall be an expert in alcoholism 
                          prevention; and
                              (iii) one shall be an expert in alcoholism 
                          treatment.
                      (C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
                  shall, after consultation with the majority and 
                  minority leaders of the House, appoint four 
                  individuals. Of such individuals--
                              (i) two shall be Members of the House;
                              (ii) one shall be a person with personal or 
                          family experience with alcoholism; and
                              (iii) one shall be a marketing or 
                          communications expert.
              (3) Voting ex officio member.--The Director of the National 
          Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse shall serve as a 
          voting ex officio member of the Commission.
              (4) Nonvoting ex officio members or advisors.--The 
          Commission may request Federal officials to serve as nonvoting 
          members of or advisors to the Commission, including but not 
          limited to--
                      (A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the 
                  designee of the Secretary;
                      (B) the Assistant Secretary of Health, Department 
                  of Defense, or the designee of the Assistant Secretary;
                      (C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services or 
                  the designee of the Secretary; and
                      (D) the Attorney General or the designee of the 
                  Attorney General.
      (b) Chair.-- The Commission shall designate a voting member of the 
  Commission to serve as the chair of the Commission.
      (c) Terms.--The term of a member of the Commission is the duration 
  of the Commission.
      (d) Vacancies.--
              (1) Authority of commission.--A vacancy in the membership 
          of the Commission does not affect the power of the remaining 
          members to carry out the duties under section 3.
              (2) Appointment of successors.--A vacancy in the membership 
          of the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 
          original appointment was made.
              (3) Incomplete term.--If a member of the Commission does 
          not serve the full term applicable to the member, the 
          individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy shall be 
          appointed for the remainder of the term of the predecessor of 
          the individual.
      (e) Meetings.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
          the Chair or a majority of the members, except that not less 
          than two meetings shall be held each year for the duration of 
          the Commission.
              (2) Quorum.--A quorum for meetings of the Commission is 
          constituted by the presence of 7 members, except that a lesser 
          number may conduct hearings under section 6(a).
      (f) Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses.--
              (1) Compensation.--Members of the Commission may not 
          receive compensation for service on the Commission, subject to 
          paragraph (2).
              (2) Reimbursement.--Members of the Commission may, in 
          accordance with chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, be 
          reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
          expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the Commission.
  
  SEC. 5. STAFF AND CONSULTANTS.
  
      (a) Staff.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission may appoint and determine 
          the compensation of such staff as may be necessary to carry out 
          the duties of the Commission, including an executive director. 
          Such appointments and compensation may be made without regard 
          to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, that govern 
          appointments in the competitive services, and the provisions of 
          chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title that 
          relate to classifications and the General Schedule pay rates.
              (2) Limitation.--Staff members appointed under paragraph 
          (1) may not be compensated in excess of the maximum rate of 
          basic pay payable for GS-15, except that the executive director 
          may not be compensated in an amount exceeding the maximum rate 
          of basic pay payable under the General Schedule for positions 
          above GS-15.
      (b) Consultants.--The Commission may procure such temporary and 
  intermittent services of consultants under section 3109(b) of title 5, 
  United States Code, as the Commission may determine to be useful in 
  carrying out the duties under section 3. The Commission may not procure 
  services under this subsection at any rate in excess of the daily 
  equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable under the 
  General Schedule for positions above GS-15. Consultants under this 
  subsection may, in accordance with chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
  Code, be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
  expenses incurred for activities carried out on behalf of the 
  Commission pursuant to section 3.
  
  SEC. 6. POWERS.
  
      (a) In General.--For the purpose of carrying out the duties of the 
  Commission under section 3, the Commission may hold such hearings, sit 
  and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
  evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
      (b) Obtaining Official Information.--Upon the request of the 
  Commission, the heads of Federal agencies shall furnish directly to the 
  Commission information necessary for the Commission to carry out the 
  duties under section 3.
      (c) Use of Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails 
  in the same manner and under the same conditions as Federal agencies.
      (d) 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, 
  including quarters for the Commission, as may be necessary for the 
  Commission to carry out the duties under section 3.
      (e) Acceptance of Gifts.--The Commission may accept cash and in-
  kind contributions to the Commission for the purpose of carrying out 
  the activities of the Commission.
  
  SEC. 7. DURATION OF COMMISSION.
  
      The Commission terminates upon the expiration of the 60-day period 
  beginning on the date on which the final report is submitted under 
  section 3(b).
  
  SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there is authorized to be 
  appropriated $3,000,000. Amounts appropriated under the preceding 
  sentence are available until the termination of the Commission under 
  section 7.
  
  SEC. 9. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
  
      Section 18 of Public Law 96-180 (93 Stat. 1306; 42 U.S.C. 4541 
  note) is repealed.
target: Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Commission on Alcoholism Act - Establishes the Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Commission on Alcoholism. 
  Includes among the duties of the Commission:  (1) promoting the development of a national consensus on policy issues related to alcoholism; (2) evaluating the interest of the provider and medical communities in new medications related to alcoholism and the barriers to the communities in obtaining such medications; (3) in conjunction with the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, conducting a study to identify the current state-of-the-art alcohol research, unmet alcohol research needs, and appropriate research funding in view of the size and scope of the alcoholism problem; (4) evaluating and making recommendations regarding the education of physicians in American medical schools concerning alcoholism and the certification of other individuals trained to provide alcoholism prevention and treatment services; and (5) making recommendations designed to reduce and prevent alcoholism, including recommendations concerning appropriate roles for the Federal, State, and local governments and the private sector and changes needed to Federal laws and programs. 
  Requires the Commission to report to the President and the Congress on its findings. 
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Commission on Alcoholism Act