text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``National Bipartisan Commission on 
  the Future of Medicare Act of 1997''.
  
  SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
  
      There is established a commission to be known as the National 
  Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare (referred to in this 
  Act as the ``Commission'').
  
  SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
  
      The Congress finds that--
              (1) the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social 
          Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) provides essential health 
          care coverage to this Nation's senior citizens and to 
          individuals with disabilities;
              (2) the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established 
          under that Act has been spending more than it receives since 
          1995, and will be bankrupt in the year 2001;
              (3) the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund faces even 
          greater solvency problems in the long run with the aging of the 
          baby boom generation and the continuing decline in the number 
          of workers paying into the medicare program for each medicare 
          beneficiary;
              (4) the trustees of the trust funds of the medicare program 
          have reported that growth in spending within the Federal 
          Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under 
          that Act is unsustainable; and
              (5) expeditious action is needed in order to restore the 
          financial integrity of the medicare program and to maintain 
          this Nation's commitment to senior citizens and to individuals 
          with disabilities.
  
  SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
  
      The Commission shall--
              (1) review and analyze the long-term financial condition of 
          the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security 
          Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.);
              (2) identify problems that threaten the financial integrity 
          of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal 
          Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under 
          that title (42 U.S.C. 1395i, 1395t);
              (3) analyze potential solutions to the problems identified 
          under paragraph (2) that will ensure both the financial 
          integrity of the medicare program and the provision of 
          appropriate benefits under such program;
              (4) make recommendations to restore the solvency of the 
          Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the financial 
          integrity of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust 
          Fund through the year 2030, when the last of the baby boomers 
          reaches age 65;
              (5) make recommendations for establishing the appropriate 
          financial structure of the medicare program as a whole;
              (6) make recommendations for establishing the appropriate 
          balance of benefits covered and beneficiary contributions to 
          the medicare program;
              (7) make recommendations for the time periods during which 
          the recommendations described in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) 
          should be implemented; and
              (8) review and analyze such other matters as the Commission 
          deems appropriate.
  
  SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
  
      (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 
  members, of whom--
              (1) three shall be appointed by the President;
              (2) six shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
          Senate, in consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate, 
          of whom not more than 4 shall be of the same political party; 
          and
              (3) six shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
          Representatives, in consultation with the Minority Leader of 
          the House of Representatives, of whom not more than 4 shall be 
          of the same political party.
      (b) Comptroller General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
  States shall advise the Commission on the methodology to be used in 
  identifying problems and analyzing potential solutions in accordance 
  with the duties of the Commission described in section 4.
      (c) Terms of Appointment.--The members shall serve on the 
  Commission for the life of the Commission.
      (d) Meetings.--The Commission shall locate its headquarters in the 
  District of Columbia, and shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
      (e) Quorum.--Ten members of the Commission shall constitute a 
  quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
      (f) Chairperson.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives, in 
  consultation with the Majority Leader of the Senate, shall designate 1 
  of the members appointed under subsection (a) as Chairperson of the 
  Commission.
      (g) 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.
      (h) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall receive no 
  additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on 
  the Commission.
      (i) 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.
  
  SEC. 6. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
  
      (a) Executive Director.--
              (1) Appointment.--The Chairperson shall appoint an 
          executive director of the Commission.
              (2) Compensation.--The executive director shall be paid the 
          rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule.
      (b) Staff.--With the approval of the Commission, the executive 
  director may appoint such personnel as the executive director considers 
  appropriate.
      (c) 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).
      (d) 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.
      (e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon the request of the Commission, 
  the head of any Federal agency may detail any of the personnel of such 
  agency to the Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the 
  Commission.
      (f) Other Resources.--The Commission shall have reasonable access 
  to materials, resources, statistical data, and other information from 
  the Library of Congress and agencies and elected representatives of the 
  executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government. The 
  Chairperson of the Commission shall make requests for such access in 
  writing when necessary.
      (g) Physical Facilities.--The Administrator of the General Services 
  Administration 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.
  
  SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
  
      (a) Hearings.--The Commission may conduct public hearings or forums 
  at the discretion of the Commission, at any time and place the 
  Commission is able to secure facilities and witnesses, for the purpose 
  of carrying out the duties of the Commission.
      (b) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
  donations of services or property.
      (c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
  same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.
  
  SEC. 8. REPORT.
  
      Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
  the Commission shall submit a report to the President and Congress 
  which shall contain a detailed statement of the recommendations, 
  findings, and conclusions of the Commission.
  
  SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
  
      The Commission shall terminate on the date which is 30 days after 
  the date the Commission submits its report to the President and to 
  Congress under section 8.
  
  SEC. 10. FUNDING.
  
      There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums 
  as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Sums 
  appropriated under this section shall be paid equally from the Federal 
  Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and from the Federal Supplementary 
  Medical Insurance Trust Fund under title XVIII of the Social Security 
  Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i, 1395t).
target: National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare Act of 1997 - Establishes the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare to:  (1) review and analyze the long-term financial condition of the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act; (2) identify problems that threaten the financial integrity of the Medicare trust funds and make appropriate recommendations to restore such integrity through 2030; (3) analyze potential solutions to the problems identified that will ensure both the financial integrity of Medicare and the provision of appropriate benefits; and (4) make recommendations for establishing the appropriate financial structure of the Medicare program and for establishing the appropriate balance of benefits covered and beneficiary contributions to the Medicare program.  Requires a report to the President and the Congress. 
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare Act of 1997