Social Security History

Appendix C of the 1983 Greenspan Commission on Social Security Reform

Appendix C
C H A R T E R
National Commission on Social Security Reform

Purpose

The National Commission on Social Security Reform was established by Executive Order No. 12335 on December 16, 1981 to provide appropriate recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the President, and the Congress on long-term reforms to put Social Security back on a sound financial footing.

Authority

The National Commission on Social Security Reform was established by Executive Order of the President on December 16, 1981 (Executive Order 12335), and is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, (5 U.S.C. App. I; 86 stat. 770) which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Function

The National Commission on Social Security shall:

(1) review relevant analyses of the current and long-term financial condition of the Social Security trust funds;

(2) identify problems that may threaten the long-term solvency of such funds;

(3) analyze potential solutions to such problems that will both assure the financial integrity of the Social Security System and the provision of appropriate benefits; and

(4) provide appropriate recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the President, and the Congress.

Structure

The Commission shall be composed of fifteen members appointed or designated by the President and selected as follows:

(1) Five members selected by the President from among officers or employees of the Executive Branch, private citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than three of the members selected by the President shall be members of the same political party;

(2) Five members selected by the majority leader of the Senate from among members of the Senate, private citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than three of the members selected by the Majority Leader shall be members of the same political party;

(3) Five members selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among members of the House, private citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than three of the members selected by the Speaker shall be members of the same political party.

The President shall designate a Chairman from among the members of The Commission.

The Commission shall have a staff headed by an Executive Director. Any expenses of the Commission shall be paid from such funds as may be available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Notwithstanding any other Executive Order, the responsibilities of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, except that of reporting annually to the Congress, which are applicable to the Commission, shall be performed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.

Meetings

Meetings are held approximately once a month at the call of the Chairman, who approves the agenda. A Government official is present at all meetings.

Meetings are open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary; notice of all meetings is given to the public.

Meetings are conducted and records of the proceedings kept, as required by applicable laws and Department regulations.

Compensation

Members of the Commission shall serve without any additional compensation for their work on the Commission. However, members appointed from among private citizens of the United States may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707), to the extent funds are available therefor.

Annual Cost Estimate

Subject to the availability of funds, the estimated cost for operating the Commission, including travel expenses for members, but excluding staff support, is $300,000 to $700,000. Estimate of man-years of staff support required is 10 to 15, at an estimated cost of $325,000 to $525,000, totaling an estimated cost of $625,000 to $1,225,000.

1983 Greenspan Commission on Social Security Reform

Appendix C of the 1983 Greenspan Commission on Social Security Reform

Historical Links