§42503 Administration

Summary

Creates a committee that must meet at least once each year when the Commission or a majority of the members calls a meeting. Members are not federal employees just because they serve, except for the purposes of Chapter 81 of title 5 and Chapter 171 of title 28 and other federal tort laws. Members may serve without pay and cannot be paid for committee service. If the Commission appoints someone to represent a particular group or entity, that person may speak for that group and most rules that apply to special Government employees (for example, rules about conduct, political activity, ethics, conflicts of interest, and corruption) do not apply to them. If a person is already a special Government employee apart from the committee, they will be treated as one for committee work. Before appointing members, the Commission must publish a notice in the Federal Register asking for nominations and may then appoint from those nominations. The Commission must not consider a nominee’s political party. Members serve at the Commission’s pleasure, may need a security background check, and cannot be Federal employees. A member’s term ends on December 31 of the third full year after appointment, and they may stay up to 1 year until a successor is named. Vacancies are filled the same way, and the Commission can reappoint members after their first term without new nominations. The Commission will provide needed staff and services. The committee elects a Chair and Vice Chair; the Chair can create or end subcommittees and assign members. The Commission must consult the committee before taking major actions the committee advises on. The committee must give written advice, and the Commission must post those recommendations online and reply in writing within 60 days. The Commission must also send the recommendations to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The Commission may send a representative to observe meetings. The committee ends on September 30, 2029.