[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 2 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 2
Establishing the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities to
develop a plan under which the functions and responsibilities of the
Office of the United States Trade Representative shall be moved to the
legislative branch in accordance with article I, section 8 of the
Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Griffith submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Establishing the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities to
develop a plan under which the functions and responsibilities of the
Office of the United States Trade Representative shall be moved to the
legislative branch in accordance with article I, section 8 of the
Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This resolution may be cited as the ``Reclaiming Congress's
Constitutional Mandate in Trade Resolution''.
SEC. 2. JOINT AD HOC COMMITTEE ON TRADE RESPONSIBILITIES.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a Joint Ad Hoc Committee
on Trade Responsibilities (referred to as the ``Joint Ad Hoc
Committee'').
(b) Membership.--The Joint Ad Hoc Committee shall consist of 14
members, who shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date
of the adoption of this resolution, as follows:
(1) Nine Members of the House of Representatives who shall
be members of the Committee on Ways and Means or the Committee
on Energy and Commerce, of whom--
(A) six shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, one of whom (as designated by
the Speaker at the time of appointment) shall serve as
the Chair of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee; and
(B) three shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(2) Five Senators who shall be members of the Committee on
Finance, of whom--
(A) three shall be appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate, one of whom (as designated by the
majority leader at the time of appointment) shall serve
as the Vice Chair of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee; and
(B) two shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate.
(c) Duties.--
(1) Plan for transfer of ustr functions to legislative
branch.--The Joint Ad Hoc Committee shall develop a plan under
which the functions and responsibilities of the Office of the
United States Trade Representative shall be moved to the
legislative branch in accordance with article I, section 8 of
the Constitution of the United States.
(2) Consultation with advisory board.--In developing the
plan under paragraph (1), the Joint Ad Hoc Committee shall
consult regularly with the Congressional Advisory Board on
Trade Responsibilities established under section 3.
(3) Deadline for transfer under plan.--Under the plan
developed by the Joint Ad Hoc Committee under paragraph (1),
the functions and responsibilities of the Office of the United
States Trade Representative shall be moved to the legislative
branch--
(A) upon the expiration of the 4-year period which
begins on the date the Joint Ad Hoc Committee submits
the report described in subsection (e); or
(B) on July 1, 2028,
whichever is later.
(d) Authorities; Employment and Compensation of Staff.--
(1) Authority of committee.--
(A) In general.--The Joint Ad Hoc Committee may--
(i) subject to subparagraph (B), sit and
act at such places and times as the Joint Ad
Hoc Committee determines are appropriate during
the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods
of Congress; and
(ii) require the attendance of witnesses
and the production of books, papers, and
documents, administer oaths, take testimony,
and procure printing and binding.
(B) Meetings.--Beginning on the date that is 90
days after the date of the adoption of this resolution,
the Joint Ad Hoc Committee may meet at the call of the
Chair or a majority of its members that are appointed
as of such date.
(2) Appointment and compensation of staff.--(A) The Joint
Ad Hoc Committee may appoint and fix the compensation of such
experts, consultants, technicians, and clerical personnel as it
deems necessary, but shall utilize existing staff to the extent
possible. Staff shall be compensated and reimbursed in
accordance with current rules, statutes, practices, and
procedures under which congressional staff are currently
compensated and reimbursed for their official expenses.
(B) The Joint Ad Hoc Committee may utilize such voluntary
and uncompensated services as it deems necessary and may
utilize the services, information, facilities, and personnel of
other agencies of the legislative branch.
(3) Witnesses.--Witnesses requested to appear before the
Joint Ad Hoc Committee shall be reimbursed for travel,
subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in traveling
to and from Joint Ad Hoc Committee proceedings.
(4) Expenses.--
(A) House of representatives.--There shall be paid
out of the applicable accounts of the House of
Representatives such sums as may be necessary for the
portion of the expenses of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee
which are allocable to the House. Such payments shall
be made on vouchers signed by the Chair of the Joint Ad
Hoc Committee and approved in the manner directed by
the Committee on House Administration of the House of
Representatives. Amounts made available under this
paragraph shall be expended in accordance with
regulations prescribed by the Committee on House
Administration of the House of Representatives.
(B) Senate.--There shall be paid out of the
contingent fund of the Senate such sums as may be
necessary for the portion of the expenses of the Joint
Ad Hoc Committee which are allocable to the Senate.
Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed by the
Vice Chair of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee.
(e) Report.--Not later than 16 months after the date on which all
members of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee are appointed under subsection
(b), the Committee shall submit to Congress a report that contains the
plan described in subsection (c).
(f) Termination.--The Joint Ad Hoc Committee shall terminate upon
the expiration of the 1-year period which begins on the date the Joint
Ad Hoc Committee submits the report required under subsection (e).
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a Congressional Advisory
Board on Trade Responsibilities (referred to as the ``Advisory
Board'').
(b) Membership.--The Advisory Board shall consist of 21 members,
who shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of the
adoption of this resolution, as follows:
(1) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, of whom--
(A) one member shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) three members shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(2).
(2) Four members appointed by the majority leader of the
Senate, of whom--
(A) one member shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) three members shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(2).
(3) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives, of whom--
(A) one member shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) two members shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(2).
(4) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the
Senate, of whom--
(A) one member shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) two members shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(2).
(5) Six members appointed by the United States Trade
Representative, of whom--
(A) three members shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) three members shall be appointed from among the
individuals described in subsection (c)(2).
(6) The United States Trade Representative (or the Trade
Representative's designee).
(c) Individuals Eligible for Appointment.--The individuals eligible
for appointment to the Advisory Board under subsection (b) are the
following:
(1) Individuals with expertise on the constitutional roles
of the President and Congress regarding United States trade
policy and the development, negotiation, implementation, and
administration of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
(2) Individuals who are representatives of non-Federal
governments, labor, industry, agriculture, small business,
service industries, retailers, nongovernmental environmental
and conservation organization, and consumer interests.
(d) Duties.--The Advisory Board shall advise the Joint Ad Hoc
Committee on Trade Responsibilities established under section 2 in its
development of the plan described in section 2(c).
(e) Expenses.--Members of the Advisory Board shall serve without
pay, but each member who does not reside in the Washington Metropolitan
Area shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. In this subsection, the
term ``Washington Metropolitan Area'' means the District of Columbia,
the counties of Montgomery and Prince Georges in Maryland, and the
counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, and Prince William and the
cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia.
(f) Availability of Staff of Joint Ad Hoc Committee.--The Advisory
Board may not appoint staff, but upon request of the Advisory Board,
the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities may detail any of
its personnel to assist the Advisory Board in carrying out the Advisory
Board's duties under this Act.
(g) Termination.--The Advisory Board shall terminate upon the
expiration of the 1-year period which begins on the date the Joint Ad
Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities submits the report required
under section 2(e).
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE OF UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE.
The United States Trade Representative and other heads of offices
in the executive branch, shall make available to the Joint Ad Hoc
Committee on Trade Responsibilities established under section 2 and the
Congressional Advisory Board on Trade Responsibilities established
under section 3 such information and assistance the Joint Ad Hoc
Committee and the Advisory Board may reasonably require to carry out
their activities.
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