This Act may be cited as the “Restore the Partnership Act”.

There is established a permanent, bipartisan commission to be known as the “Commission on Intergovernmental Relations of the United States” (in this Act referred to as the “Commission”).

(a) In general.—In order to facilitate the fullest cooperation, coordination, and mutual accountability among all levels of government and thus better serve the people of the United States in an increasingly complex society, it is essential that a commission be established to give continuing attention to federalism and intergovernmental issues.

(b) Activities.—It is intended that the Commission, in the performance of the duties of the Commission, will—

(1) convene representatives of Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments for the consideration of common problems;

(2) provide a forum for discussing ways to improve the administration and coordination of Federal grant-in-aid, regulatory, tax, and other programs requiring intergovernmental cooperation, and to give State, Tribal, and local governments more flexibility and discretion in implementing Federal policies and programs;

(3) give critical attention to the conditions, controls, and oversight involved in the administration of such Federal programs;

(4) share lessons and best practices with Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments;

(5) encourage discussion and study during the early stages of emerging public challenges that are likely to require intergovernmental cooperation;

(6) advise the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government on ways to improve the intergovernmental operations of the White House and Federal agencies, including their offices of intergovernmental affairs and use of administrative waivers;

(7) identify the intergovernmental impacts of rulings by the United States Supreme Court on Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments; and

(8) recommend, within the framework of the United States Constitution, the appropriate allocation of governmental functions, responsibilities, revenues, and expenditures among the levels of government.

(a) Number and appointment.—The Commission shall be composed of 31 members, of whom—

(1) 6 members shall be appointed by the President, of whom—

(A) 3 shall be officers of the executive branch of the Federal Government; and

(B) 3 shall be private citizens, each of whom, respectively, shall have experience or familiarity with relations between the levels of government;

(2) 3 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be Members of the Senate;

(3) 3 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be Members of the House of Representatives;

(4) 4 members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of not less than 8 Governors submitted by the National Governors Association;

(5) 4 members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of not less than 8 members of State legislative bodies submitted by the National Conference of State Legislatures;

(6) 4 members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of not less than 8 mayors submitted jointly by the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors;

(7) 4 members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of not less than 8 elected county officers submitted by the National Association of Counties;

(8) 1 member shall be appointed by the President from a panel of not less than 4 town or township elected governing board members submitted by the National Association of Towns and Townships; and

(9) 2 members shall be appointed by the President from a panel of not less than 4 Tribal officials submitted by the National Congress of American Indians.

(b) Political and geographical composition.—The political and geographic composition of the Commission shall be as follows:

(1) The private citizen members under subsection (a)(1) shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation.

(2) Two of the appointees under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a), respectively, shall be from the majority party of the applicable House of Congress.

(3) Not more than 2 of the appointees under paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of subsection (a), respectively, shall be from any 1 political party.

(4) Not more than 1 of the appointees under paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (9) of subsection (a), respectively, shall be from any 1 State.

(5) Not less than 1 of the appointees under subsection (a)(6) shall be from cities with a population of more than 500,000, and not less than 1 of the appointees under subsection (a)(6) shall be from cities with a population of less than 50,000.

(6) Not less than 1 of the appointees under subsection (a)(7) shall be from counties with a population of more than 500,000, and not less than 1 of the appointees under subsection (a)(7) shall be from counties with a population of less than 50,000.

(7) The appointee under subsection (a)(8) shall not be a member of the party of the President.

(8) One of the appointees under subsection (a)(9) shall be an official of an Indian tribe engaged in class II gaming or class III gaming, as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703), respectively, and the other appointee under subsection (a)(9) shall be an official of an Indian tribe that is not engaged in such gaming.

(c) Initial appointments.—Each initial appointment under subsection (a) shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(d) Terms.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the Commission shall—

(A) serve a term of 2 years;

(B) be eligible for reappointment; and

(C) except as provided in paragraph (2), continue to serve until a successor is appointed.

(2) TERMINATION OF SERVICE IN OFFICIAL POSITION FROM WHICH ORIGINALLY APPOINTED.—If any member of the Commission ceases to serve in the official position to which the member was appointed under subsection (a), the place of the member on the Commission shall be deemed to be vacant.

(3) VACANCIES IN MEMBERSHIP.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled for the remainder of the vacant term in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

(B) EXCEPTION.—If the number of vacancies in the membership of the Commission is fewer than the number of members specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of subsection (a), each panel of names submitted in accordance with the those paragraphs shall contain not less than 2 names for each vacancy.

(a) Initial meeting.—The President shall convene the Commission not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act at such time and place as the President may designate.

(b) Chair and vice chair.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall designate a Chair and a Vice Chair of the Commission from among the members of the Commission.

(2) PROCESS FOR ELECTION.—After the President designates a Chair and Vice Chair under paragraph (1), the Commission may subsequently establish a process for electing a Chair and Vice Chair.

(c) Quorum.—Seventeen members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but 2 or more members, representing more than 1 of the class of members described in section 4(a), shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting hearings.

(a) In general.—The Commission shall—

(1) engage in such activities and make such studies, investigations, convenings, and communications as are necessary or desirable in the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in section 3;

(2) consider, on its own initiative, mechanisms for fostering better relations and more productive partnerships between and among the levels of government;

(3) make available technical assistance to the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government in the review of proposed legislation to determine the overall effect of the proposed legislation on all levels of government;

(4) recommend, within the framework of the United States Constitution, the appropriate allocation of governmental functions, responsibilities, revenues, and expenditures among the levels of government;

(5) recommend ways to improve the management, performance, and coordination of Federal grant-in-aid and regulatory programs on State, Tribal, and local governments, including metrics to inform intergovernmental improvements; and

(6) recommend methods of coordinating and simplifying tax laws and administrative policies and practices to achieve a more orderly and less competitive fiscal relationship between the levels of government and to reduce the burden of compliance for taxpayers.

(b) Reports.—

(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and on or before January 31 of each year thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a report that—

(A) identifies trends in federalism, emerging and persistent issues needing intergovernmental attention, data needs, and areas requiring intergovernmental cooperation and coordination for better outcomes;

(B) summarizes any actions taken in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission contained in any prior report, and the results thereof;

(C) contains the recommendations described in subsection (a) made in the year preceding the submission of the report;

(D) provide details on the activities, administration, expenditures, and receipts of the Commission; and

(E) communicate any other matters as the Commission may determine important.

(2) ADDITIONAL REPORTS.—The Commission may submit additional reports to the President, to Congress or any committee of Congress, and to any unit of government or organization as the Commission may determine appropriate.

(c) Hearings.—Not later than 90 days after the date on which Congress receives a report described in subsection (b)(1), Congress shall hold hearings on the recommendations of the Commission.

(a) Hearings and Sessions.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission or, on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee or members thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings, take such testimony, and sit and act at such times and places as the Commission determines to be advisable.

(2) OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS.—Any member authorized by the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission or any subcommittee or members thereof.

(b) Cooperation by Executive agencies.—

(1) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.—Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including each independent agency, is authorized and directed, consistent with law, to furnish to the Commission, upon request made by the Chair or Vice Chair, such information as the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out the functions of the Commission under this Act.

(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission shall furnish to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including independent agencies, any recommendations directed toward the department, agency, or instrumentality, and the department, agency, or instrumentality shall furnish the Commission within 90 days a written response that shall be included in any publication of the recommendations of the Commission.

(c) Executive Director.—The Commission shall have power to appoint and remove an Executive Director—

(1) who shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code; and

(2) the appointment of whom shall be made solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the position and without regard to political affiliation.

(d) Staff.—Subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Commission, the Executive Director shall have the power to—

(1) appoint, fix the compensation of, and remove such other personnel as he or she determines to be necessary; and

(2) procure temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.

(e) Applicability of other laws to employees.—Except as otherwise provided in this Act, persons in the employ of the Commission under subsections (c) and (d)(1) shall be considered Federal employees for all purposes.

(f) Maximum Compensation of employees.—Any individual in the employ of the Commission under subsection (d)(1) may not be paid at a rate of pay greater than the highest rate of basic pay provided under the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.

Section 3(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (C)—

Members of the Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the Commission.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

The Commission is authorized to receive funds through grants, contracts, and contributions from governmental agencies, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Such funds may be received and expended by the Commission only for the purposes of carrying out this Act.

“An Act to establish an Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Affairs”, approved September 24, 1959 (Public Law 86–380; 42 U.S.C. 4271 et seq.), is repealed.