H.R. 8135

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8135 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8135

To declare an emergency regarding the cost of living in the United 
States and direct actions to be taken to address the cost-of-living 
emergency, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 27, 2026

Mr. Deluzio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on 
Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, the 
Budget, and Rules, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To declare an emergency regarding the cost of living in the United 
States and direct actions to be taken to address the cost-of-living 
emergency, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Cost-of-living Emergency Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Average u.s. household.--The term ``average U.S. 
household'' means a household in the United States earning less 
than the median household income for the prior year, as 
determined by the United States Census Bureau.
(2) Basic household necessities.--The term ``basic 
household necessities'' includes the following expenditures, as 
defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on January 1, 2026:
(A) Food at home.
(B) Owned dwellings.
(C) Rented dwellings.
(D) Gasoline and other fuels.
(E) Medical services.
(F) Utilities, fuels, and public services.
(3) Co-chair.--The term ``co-chair'' means an individual 
appointed to serve as a co-chair of the Commission under 
section 8(a)(3)(B).
(4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Cost-of-
Living Commission established under section 8(a)(1).
(5) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Council of 
Economic Advisers established under section 10 of the 
Employment Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1023).
(6) Large corporation.--The term ``large corporation'' 
means any business that is not a small business concern, as 
defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
(7) Outside expert.--The term ``outside expert'' means an 
individual who is not an elected official or an officer or 
employee of the Federal Government or of any State.
(8) Special advisor.--The term ``Special Advisor'' means 
any individual appointed to the role of Special Advisor to the 
President under section 4(3)(A).
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, the District 
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other 
territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO COST OF LIVING.

(a) Declaration.--There is hereby declared an emergency with 
respect to the high cost of living facing the people of the United 
States.
(b) Termination.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), the 
emergency declared under subsection (a) shall terminate on the 
date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
(2) Extension.--The emergency declared under subsection (a) 
may continue after the date described in paragraph (1) if there 
is enacted into law a joint resolution extending the emergency.
(3) Expedited procedures.--A joint resolution described in 
paragraph (2) shall be considered in accordance with the 
procedures set forth in section 202(c) of the National 
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(c)).

SEC. 4. ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS DURING 
A COST-OF-LIVING EMERGENCY.

During the period that the emergency declared under section 3 is in 
effect, the President, acting through the Chair of the Council, shall 
undertake the following actions:
(1) Updated advisory mandate.--In carrying out the duties 
described in section 10(c) of the Employment Act of 1946 (15 
U.S.C. 1023(c)), the Council shall prioritize economic analysis 
and advice addressing the following subjects:
(A) The affordability of basic household 
necessities.
(B) The economic pressures impacting low- and 
middle-income families.
(C) The distributional consequences of Federal 
economic policy.
(2) Establishment of white house cost cutting council.--Not 
later than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Chair of the Council shall establish within the Council a White 
House Cost Cutting Council that shall be responsible for 
coordinating whole of Government efforts to reduce the costs of 
basic household necessities.
(3) Designation of personnel.--
(A) In general.--Pursuant to the authority under 
section 10(b) of the Employment Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 
1023(b)), the Chair of the Council shall appoint 
personnel to serve in the following roles:
(i) Special Advisor to the President for 
Grocery Costs, who shall serve as the principal 
advisor to the President for all issues 
relating to the costs of food at home in the 
United States.
(ii) Special Advisor to the President for 
Housing Costs, who shall serve as the principal 
advisor to the President for all issues 
relating to the costs of owned or rented 
dwellings for individuals in the United States.
(iii) Special Advisor to the President for 
Utility Costs, who shall serve as the principal 
advisor to the President for all issues 
relating to the cost of utilities, fuels, and 
public services for individuals in the United 
States.
(iv) Special Advisor to the President for 
Health Care Costs, who shall serve as the 
principal advisor to the President for all 
issues relating to the cost of health 
insurance, health care services, and 
medications for individuals in the United 
States.
(v) Special Advisor to the President for 
Transportation Costs, who shall serve as the 
principal advisor to the President for all 
issues relating to--
(I) the cost of gasoline and other 
transportation fuels for individuals in 
the United States;
(II) costs associated with owning 
or leasing a personal vehicle for 
individuals in the United States; and
(III) other costs relating to 
transportation to or from work, school, 
or other essential activities for 
individuals in the United States.
(vi) Special Advisor to the President for 
Wages, who shall serve as the principal advisor 
to the President for all issues relating to 
wages of individuals in the United States.
(B) Duties.--Each Special Advisor appointed to a 
role under subparagraph (A) shall carry out the 
following duties:
(i) Assemble and lead a task force to be 
made up of members of the Cabinet (or the 
designees of such members), the heads of 
independent regulatory agencies, as defined in 
section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, 
and other senior executive branch officials who 
shall meet not less frequently than weekly to 
discuss actions that may be taken to reduce the 
costs of the goods and services and strengthen 
household wages within the purview of the 
Special Advisor.
(ii) Prepare a weekly report to be 
distributed to the President, Vice President, 
the Chief of Staff to the President, the 
Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget, each member of the Cabinet, and other 
senior employees serving in the Executive 
Office of the President that--
(I) provides details on the costs 
of goods and services within the 
purview of the Special Advisor; and
(II) identifies actions that may be 
taken to lower those costs.
(iii) Host regional listening sessions 
focused on the costs of the goods and services 
within the purview of the Special Advisor 
that--
(I) are held in geographically 
diverse regions of the United States;
(II) allow members of the public to 
participate and share concerns related 
to the costs of goods and services 
within the purview of the Special 
Advisor; and
(III) occur not less frequently 
than 3 times per year.
(iv) Prepare a summary report of each 
regional listening session held under clause 
(iii) and share the report with the Council, 
the Joint Economic Committee, the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, and the President 
of the Senate.
(v) Provide testimony to the Joint Economic 
Committee not less frequently than once a year 
to identify actions that may be taken to reduce 
the costs of the goods and services within the 
purview of the Special Advisor.
(4) State of household budgets report.--Every 3 months, the 
Council shall submit a State of Household Budgets report to the 
President, the Commission, and the Joint Economic Committee 
that includes information relating to the following metrics:
(A) The median household purchasing power in the 
United States.
(B) The real wage growth net of housing and health 
costs in the United States.
(C) Household debt-to-income burdens in the United 
States.
(D) Regional affordability indexes in the United 
States.
(E) Basic household necessities inflation measures.

SEC. 5. HOUSEHOLD BUDGET IMPACT STATEMENTS.

(a) In General.--During the period that the emergency declared 
under section 3 is in effect, the Administrator of the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and 
Budget shall require each agency head to include a household budget 
impact statement in any major regulatory action submitted to the 
Administrator.
(b) Contents.--A household budget impact statement shall include--
(1) the estimated effects of the regulatory action for an 
average U.S. household;
(2) the regional variation in cost burdens on the average 
U.S. household;
(3) the estimated benefits that a large corporation might 
see from the regulatory action; and
(4) an analysis determining whether the regulatory action 
would provide more benefits for the average U.S. household or 
large corporations.
(c) Public Availability.--Each agency head shall make any household 
budget impact statement submitted under subsection (a) publicly 
available unless national security prohibits disclosure.

SEC. 6. EMERGENCY ENFORCEMENT OF PRICE GOUGING LAWS.

(a) Establishment.--During the period that the emergency declared 
under section 3 is in effect, the Attorney General and the Chair of the 
Federal Trade Commission shall jointly establish a task force to be 
known as the ``Joint Task Force on Consumer Costs'' (in this section 
referred to as the ``Task Force'').
(b) Composition.--The Task Force shall be composed of--
(1) the Attorney General (or a designee), who shall serve 
as a Co-Chair;
(2) the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (or a 
designee), who shall serve as a Co-Chair; and
(3) such other officers and employees of the Department of 
Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as the Co-Chairs may 
jointly designate, including--
(A) attorneys from the Antitrust Division of the 
Department of Justice;
(B) attorneys from the Bureau of Competition and 
the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade 
Commission; and
(C) economists and investigators with expertise in 
supply chain dynamics and retail pricing.
(c) Duties.--The Task Force shall coordinate the efforts of the 
Federal Government to prevent and prosecute price gouging and other 
anticompetitive practices during the period that the emergency declared 
under section 3 is in effect, including by--
(1) monitoring retail and wholesale price increases for 
essential goods and services;
(2) sharing information and evidence between the Department 
of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission regarding potential 
violations of Federal law;
(3) investigating business and industry practices that 
inflate costs for households;
(4) initiating joint investigations into suspected 
anticompetitive practices, unfair or deceptive acts or 
practices, and unfair and illegal pricing practices such as 
price gouging, price-fixing, and price discrimination;
(5) providing guidance to State attorneys general to ensure 
a coordinated national response to localized unfair and illegal 
pricing practices; and
(6) establishing a centralized public portal for consumers 
and whistleblowers to report suspected anticompetitive, unfair 
or deceptive practices, and unfair and illegal pricing 
practices.
(d) Enforcement Powers.--In carrying out its duties under 
subsection (c), the Task Force shall utilize all authorities available 
to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, 
including authorities under--
(1) the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et 
seq.);
(2) the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.);
(3) the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.); and
(4) any other Federal statute prohibiting fraud, hoarding, 
or the manipulation of prices in interstate commerce.
(e) Resource Sharing.--The Attorney General and the Chair of the 
Federal Trade Commission may--
(1) detail personnel to the Task Force on a non-
reimbursable basis; and
(2) notwithstanding any other provision of law, share 
investigative files, data, and technical resources if--
(A) such sharing is necessary for the performance 
of the duties of the Task Force under subsection (c); 
and
(B) appropriate protections for confidential 
business information are maintained.
(f) Reporting.--Not later than 60 days after the establishment of 
the Task Force, and every 90 days thereafter until the Task Force is 
terminated pursuant to subsection (g), the Co-Chairs shall submit a 
report on the activities of the Task Force, including the number of 
investigations opened and the status of enforcement actions, to--
(1) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives.
(g) Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate on the date that 
is 30 days after the expiration or rescission of the emergency declared 
under section 3.
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
as authorizing the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade 
Commission to suspend, terminate, or deprioritize any ongoing 
investigation, enforcement action, or litigation initiated by the Task 
Force that is ongoing at the time the Task Force terminates pursuant to 
subsection (g).

SEC. 7. USE OF AUTHORITIES UNDER DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950.

(a) Covered Agency Head Defined.--In this section, the term 
``covered agency head'' means the head of an agency to whom the 
President delegated, under section 201(a) of Executive Order 13603 (77 
Fed. Reg. 16651; relating to national defense resources preparedness), 
authorities under section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 
U.S.C. 4511).
(b) Mandatory Utilization.--During the period the emergency 
declared under section 3 is in effect, the President shall use the 
authorities provided under title III of the Defense Production Act of 
1950 (50 U.S.C. 4531 et seq.) to expand productive capacity with 
respect to and supply of basic household necessities.
(c) Coordination With Council of Economic Advisers.--
(1) Strategic plan.--Not later than 15 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the President, acting through each 
covered agency head, shall develop a strategic plan for the 
expenditure of funds from the Defense Production Act Fund (50 
U.S.C. 4534) to increase the domestic supply of basic household 
necessities.
(2) Economic impact analysis.--Each covered agency head 
shall conduct a continuous assessment of the domestic 
industrial base within the purview of the covered agency head 
to identify supply chain bottlenecks that contribute to price 
volatility for basic household necessities.
(3) Evidentiary requirement for project execution.--The 
President may not execute a contract, loan, or purchase 
commitment under this section unless a relevant covered agency 
head submits a written certification to the President that the 
proposed activity supported by the contract, loan, or purchase 
commitment--
(A) is directly supported by empirical economic 
data; and
(B) can be reasonably proven to result in a 
reduction of the retail or wholesale cost of a specific 
basic household necessity within 180 days of the 
commencement of the activity.
(4) Authorized actions.--In carrying out subsection (a), 
the President may carry out the following actions:
(A) Loan guarantees and loans.--Issue guarantees 
and make loans under sections 301 and 302 of the 
Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4531, 4532) 
to small- and medium-sized businesses to modernize 
facilities for the production of basic household 
necessities.
(B) Purchase commitments.--Execute purchase 
commitments under section 303 of the Defense Production 
Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4533) to make available basic 
household necessities at a consistent price to 
individuals in the United States for the duration of 
the agreement.
(C) Production cost offset.--Provide for subsidy 
payments under section 303(c) of the Defense Production 
Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4533(c)) to offset the costs of 
domestically produced raw materials essential to the 
production of basic household necessities.
(d) Exemption From National Defense Requirement.--Under subsections 
(b) and (c), the President shall exercise the authorities provided 
under title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4531 
et seq.) without regard to any requirement of that Act that the 
exercise of such authorities be for the national defense.

SEC. 8. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON COST-OF-LIVING EMERGENCY.

(a) Establishment of Cost-of-Living Commission.--
(1) Establishment.--There is hereby established in Congress 
a Cost-of-Living Commission.
(2) Duties.--
(A) General.--The Commission shall identify 
policies to--
(i) meaningfully improve the cost-of-living 
situation for the average U.S. household in the 
short- and medium-term, including by reducing 
cost drivers for specified sectors; and
(ii) achieve national economic growth that 
maintains a stable and sustainable cost-of-
living over the long run.
(B) Recommendations of committees.--Not later than 
60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
committee of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives may transmit to the Commission any 
recommendations of the committee to further the 
legislative policies described in subparagraph (A).
(C) Interim report.--The Commission may meet to 
consider, and vote on, an interim report on--
(i) any findings, conclusions, or 
recommendations of the Commission relating to 
the policies identified under subparagraph (A); 
and
(ii) as the Commission determines 
appropriate, any findings resulting from any 
hearing held or evidence received by the 
Commission.
(D) Report, recommendations, and legislative 
language.--
(i) Policy recommendations; permanent 
actions.--
(I) Policy recommendations.--Not 
later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission 
shall meet to consider and vote on--
(aa) a report that contains 
a detailed statement of the 
findings, conclusions, and 
recommendations of the 
Commission relating to the 
policies identified under 
subparagraph (A) and the 
estimate of the Congressional 
Budget Office required under 
paragraph (4)(D); and
(bb) legislative language 
to carry out the 
recommendations of the 
Commission relating to the 
policies identified under 
subparagraph (A), which shall 
include a statement of the 
economic and budgetary effects 
of the recommendations.
(II) Permanent actions.--Not later 
than 30 days before the date on which 
the emergency declared under section 3 
terminates, the Commission shall meet 
to consider and vote on--
(aa) a report that contains 
a detailed statement of the 
actions that were taken in 
accordance with this Act and 
findings as to whether any of 
those actions should be made 
continued after the date on 
which the emergency declared 
under section 3 terminates; and
(bb) if the Commission 
finds that the actions taken in 
accordance with this Act should 
be continued after the date on 
which the emergency declared 
under section 3 terminates, 
legislative language to carry 
out the actions, which shall 
include a statement of the 
economic and budgetary effects 
of the actions.
(ii) Approval of report and legislative 
language.--A report and legislative language of 
the Commission under subclause (I) or (II) of 
clause (i) shall require the approval of a 
majority of the members of the Commission, 
provided that such majority shall be required 
to include not fewer than 2 members of the 
Commission appointed by members of the 
Republican Party and not fewer than 2 members 
appointed by members of the Democratic Party.
(iii) Additional views.--A member of the 
Commission who gives notice of an intention to 
file supplemental, minority, or additional 
views at the time of the final Commission vote 
on the approval of the report and legislative 
language of the Commission under subclause (I) 
or (II) of clause (i) shall be entitled to 3 
days to file those views in writing with the 
staff director of the Commission, and such 
report shall be included in the report of the 
Commission published under clause (iv).
(iv) Report and legislative language to be 
made public.--Upon the approval or disapproval 
by the Commission of a report and legislative 
language under subclause (I) or (II) of clause 
(i), the Commission shall promptly, and not 
more than 24 hours after the approval or 
disapproval or, if timely notice is given under 
clause (iii), not more than 24 hours after 
additional views are filed under that clause, 
make the report, the legislative language, and 
a record of the vote on the report and 
legislative language available to the public.
(v) Submission of report and legislative 
language.--If a report and legislative language 
are approved by the Commission under subclause 
(I) or (II) of clause (i), not later than 3 
days after the date on which the report and 
legislative language are made available to the 
public under clause (iv), the Commission shall 
submit the report and legislative language to 
the President, the Vice President, the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, and the 
majority and minority leaders of each House of 
Congress.
(vi) Extension.--
(I) In general.--The Commission may 
extend the deadline set forth in 
subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i), if 
the Commission determines that 
additional time is necessary to 
complete the duties of the Commission 
under this section.
(II) Approval.--An extension under 
subclause (I) shall require the 
approval of a majority of the members 
of the Commission, provided that such 
majority shall be required to include 
not fewer than 2 members of the 
Commission appointed by members of the 
Republican Party and not fewer than 2 
members appointed by members of the 
Democratic Party.
(3) Membership.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 14 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and with due 
consideration to the chairs and ranking members of the 
committees and subcommittees of Congress that maintain 
subject matter jurisdiction, as applicable, the 
Commission shall be composed of 12 members appointed as 
follows:
(i) 2 individuals from among the Members of 
the Senate, and 1 outside expert, appointed by 
the majority leader of the Senate.
(ii) 2 individuals from among the Members 
of the Senate, and 1 outside expert, appointed 
by the minority leader of the Senate.
(iii) 2 individuals from among the Members 
of the House of Representatives, and 1 outside 
expert, appointed by the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives.
(iv) 2 individuals from among the Members 
of the House of Representatives, and 1 outside 
expert, appointed by the minority leader of the 
House of Representatives.
(B) Co-chairs.--Not later than 14 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, with respect to the 
Commission--
(i) the leadership of the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the same political party 
as the President shall appoint 1 individual 
among the members of the Commission who shall 
serve as a co-chair of the Commission; and
(ii) the leadership of the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the opposite political 
party as the President shall appoint 1 
individual among the members of the Commission 
who shall serve as a co-chair of the 
Commission.
(C) Staff director.--With respect to the 
Commission, the co-chairs, acting jointly, shall hire 
the staff director of the Commission.
(D) Period of appointment.--The members of the 
Commission shall be appointed for the life of the 
Commission.
(E) Vacancy.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall 
not affect the powers of the Commission, but shall be 
filled not later than 14 days after the date on which 
the vacancy occurs, in the same manner as the original 
appointment was made.
(F) Ineligible members.--If a member of the 
Commission who was appointed as a Member of the Senate 
or the House Representatives ceases to be a Member of 
the Senate or the House of Representatives, as 
applicable--
(i) the member shall no longer be a member 
of the Commission; and
(ii) a vacancy in the Commission exists.
(4) Administration.--
(A) In general.--With respect to the Commission, to 
exercise the powers, functions, and duties of the 
Commission, there are authorized to be disbursed by the 
Senate the actual and necessary expenses of the 
Commission approved by the co-chairs of the Commission, 
subject to the rules and regulations of the Senate.
(B) Expenses.--With respect to the Commission, in 
carrying out the functions of the Commission, the 
Commission is authorized to incur expenses in the same 
manner and under the same conditions as the Joint 
Economic Committee is authorized under section 11(d) of 
the Employment Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1024(d)).
(C) Quorum.--
(i) In general.--With respect to the 
Commission, 7 members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, 
meeting, and holding hearings.
(ii) Outside experts.--Outside experts 
shall not count for purposes of determining 
whether there is a quorum under this 
subparagraph.
(D) Congressional budget office estimates.--The 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall, with 
respect to the legislative language proposed by the 
Commission under subclause (I)(bb) or (II)(bb) of 
paragraph (2)(D)(i), provide to the Commission--
(i) estimates of the legislative language 
in accordance with sections 308(a) and 201(f) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 
U.S.C. 639(a), 601(f)); and
(ii) information on the budgetary effects 
of the legislative language on the long-term 
fiscal outlook.
(E) Hearings.--
(i) In general.--The Commission may, for 
the purpose of carrying out this section, hold 
such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
places, require attendance of witnesses and 
production of books, papers, and documents, 
take such testimony, receive such evidence, and 
administer such oaths as the Commission 
considers advisable.
(ii) Hearing procedures and 
responsibilities of co-chairs.--
(I) Announcement.--The co-chairs 
shall make a public announcement of the 
date, place, time, and subject matter 
of any hearing to be conducted under 
this subparagraph not later than 7 days 
before the date of the hearing, unless 
the co-chairs determine that there is 
good cause to begin such hearing on an 
earlier date.
(II) Written statement.--A witness 
appearing before the Commission shall 
file a written statement of the 
proposed testimony of the witness not 
later than 2 days before the date of 
the appearance of the witness, unless 
the co-chairs of the Commission 
determine that there is good cause for 
the witness to not file the written 
statement or waive the requirement.
(iii) Hearing requirements.--The Commission 
shall hold not less than 6 hearings under this 
subparagraph, which shall include--
(I) field hearings throughout the 
United States;
(II) hearings to solicit testimony 
from appropriate officials of the 
executive branch; and
(III) hearings to solicit testimony 
from Members of Congress (in this 
subclause defined as a member of the 
Senate or the House of Representatives, 
a Delegate to the House of 
Representatives, and the Resident 
Commissioner from Puerto Rico).
(F) Technical assistance and consultation.--Upon 
written request of the co-chairs of the Commission, the 
head of a Federal agency (including a legislative 
branch agency) shall provide technical assistance to, 
and consult with, the Commission in order for the 
members Commission to carry out the duties of the 
Commission.
(G) Outside expert.--Any outside expert appointed 
to the Commission--
(i) shall not be considered to be a Federal 
employee for any purpose by reason of service 
on the Commission; and
(ii) shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code, while away from the home or 
regular place of business of the outside expert 
in the performance of services for the 
Commission.
(5) Staff of commission.--
(A) In general.--The co-chairs of Commission may 
jointly appoint and fix the compensation of staff of 
the Commission as the co-chairs determine necessary, in 
accordance with the guidelines, rules, and requirements 
relating to employees of the Senate.
(B) Ethical standards.--
(i) Senate.--A member of the Commission 
appointed by a Member of the Senate and staff 
of the Commission shall adhere to the ethics 
rules of the Senate.
(ii) House of representatives.--A member of 
the Commission appointed by a Member of the 
House of Representatives shall be governed by 
the ethics rules and requirements of the House 
of Representatives.
(6) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 30 days 
after the date the Commission submits the final report under 
paragraph (2)(D)(v).
(b) Funding.--Funding for the Commission shall be derived in equal 
portions from--
(1) the contingent fund of the Senate from the 
appropriations account ``Miscellaneous Items'', subject to the 
rules and regulations of the Senate; and
(2) the applicable accounts of the House of 
Representatives.
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