119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2797

1. Short title
2. Findings
3. Establishment
4. Duties of commission
5. Membership
6. Personnel of Commission
7. Powers of Commission
8. Termination
9. Authorization of appropriations

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "House Expansion Commission Act".

2. Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1) - For nearly a century, the number of members of the House of Representatives has been set at the 1929 cap of 435 members.

(2) - The number of constituents represented by each member of the House of Representatives has dramatically increased since the number of members of the House of Representatives was arbitrarily capped in 1929.

(3) - The 1929 cap on the number of members of the House of Representatives was instituted when the United States population was 123 million. Since then, the United States population has tripled to about 346 million which means the average congressional district now represents nearly 800,000 constituents, according to data from the Bureau of the Census.

(4) - With current population growth estimates, the average congressional district could have approximately 829,000 constituents by 2050.

(5) - A growing movement in Congress, and in think tanks, seeks to increase the number of members of the House of Representatives to increase public access to members, improve diversity, and enhance Member ability to serve their constituents.

(6) - Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced House bill 622, the Restoring Equal and Accountable Legislators in the House Act, in the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, which would add 150 seats to the House of Representatives, increasing it to 585 members.

3. Establishment

There is established a commission to be known as the "U.S. House of Representatives Expansion Commission" (in this Act referred to as the "Commission").

4. Duties of commission

(a) Study - The Commission shall study—

(1) - the current size of the membership of the House of Representatives considering—

(A) - the correlation between the current size of the House and fair representation and efficacy; and

(B) - whether an expanded House of Representatives can better serve Congress’ core Article 1 function;

(2) - the option of a one-time expansion compared to the feasibility of recurring expansions;

(3) - the so called "Cube Root Law", "Wyoming Rule", and other relevant methods to increase the size of the House of Representatives;

(4) - the cost implications and practical challenges to the House of Representatives associated with expanding the number of members of the House of Representatives including the logistics for—

(A) - offices and meeting spaces;

(B) - congressional support entities;

(D) - voting by members of the House of Representatives;

(E) - House administration offices; and

(F) - funding;

(5) - how countries with similar legislative structures expanded their legislative bodies and the outcomes of such expansions;

(6) - the historical context of the last time the number of members of the House of Representatives was changed and key motivations behind the amendments made by the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the fifteenth and subsequent decennial census and to provide for apportionment of Representatives in Congress", approved June 18, 1929 (2 U.S.C. 2a);

(7) - whether an expanded House of Representatives can better exercise the powers vested in Article I of the Constitution;

(8) - how expanding the number of members of the House of Representatives may affect district size variance across States and impact underrepresented constituencies; and

(9) - the potential effects of an expanded House of Representative on the ability of the House to enact laws.

(b) Consultation - In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with the Architect of the Capitol, the Administrator of General Services, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and such other persons as the Commission considers appropriate.

(c) Report and proposals - Not later than 2 years after the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President and to the Congress a report of the study of the Commission, and shall include in the report proposals based on such study for—

(1) - expanding the size of the membership of the House of Representatives;

(2) - potential ways to expand the House of Representatives to bolster the key role of the House of Representatives in representing the American people in Congress; and

(3) - solutions to any identified challenges that may arise from such expansion.

5. Membership

(a) Number and appointment - The Commission shall be composed of 13 members who are not Members of Congress at the time of appointment, and who shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, as follows:

(1) - 5 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) - 5 members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

(3) - 1 individual, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who previously served in the House of Representatives.

(4) - 1 individual, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who previously served in the House of Representatives.

(5) - 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the House of Representatives to serve as Chairperson of the Commission.

(b) Terms

(1) In general - Each member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.

(2) Vacancies - A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

(3) Priority - In making appointments under this section, the appointing authorities shall seek to appoint individuals who are particularly qualified to perform the functions of the Commission, by reason of either practical experience or academic expertise in politics, government, mathematics, or statistics.

(1) Rates of pay - Except as provided in paragraph (2), Members shall serve without pay.

(2) Travel expenses - Each member 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.

(d) Quorum - 7 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.

(e) Meetings - The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.

6. Personnel of Commission

(a) Director - The Commission shall have a Director who shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Commission. To the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule.

(b) Staff - The Director, with the approval of the Commission, and the Commission may appoint such personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed—

(1) - the equivalent of that payable to a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule, in the case of an employee appointed by the Director; and

(2) - the equivalent of that payable to a person occupying a position at level V of the Executive Schedule, in the case of an employee appointed by the Commission.

(c) Experts and consultants - With the approval of the Commission, the Director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.

(d) Detail of government employees - Upon the request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission. Any such detail shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges of the personnel.

7. Powers of Commission

(a) Hearings and sessions - The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.

(b) Powers of members and groups of members - Any member or group of members may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this section.

(c) Obtaining official data - The Commission may secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable it to carry out its duties, if the information may be disclosed under section 552 of title 5, United States Code. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.

(d) Administrative support services - Upon the request of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.

(e) Volunteer services - Notwithstanding 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission determines necessary.

(f) Postal service - The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies of the United States.

(g) Contract authority - The Commission may enter into contracts for the acquisition of administrative supplies and equipment for use by the Commission, to the extent that funds are available for such purpose.

8. Termination

The Commission shall terminate 90 days after submitting the report under section 4(c).

9. Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

119-HR2797

House Expansion Commission Act