1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “America Forward Act of 2020”.
America Forward Act of 2020
A BILL
To establish the America Forward Commission to create a strategy to re-open the economy, and for other purposes.
2. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
the coronavirus disease 2019 (referred to in this Act as “COVID-19”) pandemic is a public health and economic crisis;
most of the Nation and the economy are currently shut down to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19;
the response to the pandemic and steps to reopen the United States should be based on public health and other expert guidelines;
to restore the full functioning of the Nation, an official advisory body to the Federal Government to provide external, expert guidance and real-time recommendations is necessary; and
such recommendations should be available to the public.
3. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to establish an America Forward Commission to create a strategy to re-open the economy in light of the coronavirus disease pandemic.
4. America Forward Commission
Establishment— There is established an independent commission to be known as the America Forward Commission (referred to in this Act as the “Commission”).
Membership—
Selection— The Comptroller General of the United States is authorized to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to appoint the members of the Commission, in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.
Number of members— The Commission shall consist of not less than 10 nor more than 15 members.
Qualifications—
In general— The Commission shall include—
not less than 1 expert in each of the fields of economics, transportation, medicine, and national security; and
not less than 1 officer (which may include an elected official) or employee of a State or local government.
No Federal employees— No employee of the Federal Government may serve on the Commission.
Appointment— The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Period of appointment— A member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
Chairperson and vice chairperson— The Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the Commission.
Vacancies— A vacancy in the Commission—
shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
shall be filled in the same manner, and subject to all requirements, as described in this section.
Meetings—
Initial meeting— Not later than 14 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall hold the first meeting of the Commission.
Frequency— The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
5. Duties
In general— The Commission shall—
examine the tools and techniques necessary to ensure that Federal, State, and local governments can diagnose, isolate, and mitigate the public health and economic impacts of the coronavirus, including seasonal reoccurrence;
evaluate information-sharing policies and practices for essential information between Federal, State, and local stakeholders;
develop recommendations for necessary medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and other materials;
evaluate proposals to strengthen the resilience of economic sectors and protect workers of the United States who are most vulnerable to disruption from viral pandemics;
advise on best practices for strengthening international trade, business, and tourism in a manner that reduces the risk of foreign traveler-related transmission of viral disease; and
perform other advisory and research activities as determined necessary by the Commission.
Findings and recommendations— On a rolling basis as the Commission completes its findings or recommendations regarding any paragraph of subsection (a), the Commission shall—
submit such findings or recommendations to the White House Coronavirus Task Force and Congress; and
make such findings or recommendations available to the public.
Response by White House— Not later than 7 days after receiving any findings or recommendations by the Commission under subsection (b), the White House Coronavirus Task Force shall—
respond, in writing, to the Commission’s recommendations or findings; and
make the Task Force's response publicly available through the internet website of the White House.
Transference of duties— If, before the termination of the Commission, the White House Coronavirus Task Force ceases to be in existence—
any submissions to the Task Force required under subsection (b)(1) shall be made to the President; and
the President shall carry out the actions required under subsection (c).
6. Powers of Commission
Information from Federal agencies—
In general— The Commission may secure directly from a Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act.
Furnishing information— On request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of the department or agency shall furnish the information to the Commission.
Postal services— The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Gifts— The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
7. Commission personnel matters
Compensation and travel expenses— A member of the Commission shall not be compensated, but 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 their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.
Administrative and operational support— The Comptroller General of the United States is authorized to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to provide administrative and operational support, including assistance in procuring meeting space, for the Commission.
Staff— The Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint such personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The annual rate of basic pay for an individual appointed under this subsection shall be comparable to the annual rate of basic pay for an employee who occupies a position within the General Schedule under subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, and has a similar level of experience as that individual.
Detail of government employees— A Federal Government employee may, upon the request of the Commission, be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement in order to provide technical and operational support, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
Procurement of temporary and intermittent services— The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
Conflicts of interest— Notwithstanding section 8(a), the Chairperson shall ensure that the interests and affiliations of members of the Commission conform with the conflict of interest statutes, regulations issued by the Director of Office of Government Ethics including any supplemental agency requirements, and other Federal ethics rules that apply to members of advisory committees.
8. General rules; termination
Inapplicability of FACA— The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Commission or the activities of the Commission.
Termination of Commission— The Commission shall terminate not later than 1 year after the expiration of the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Service under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19.
9. Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary.