Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/530

 124 STAT. 504 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 ‘‘(D) REQUESTS FOR APPROPRIATIONS.—Requests or esti- mates for regular, supplemental, or deficiency appropria- tions on behalf of the Board may not be submitted by the Chairperson without the prior approval of a majority vote of the Board. ‘‘(4) REMOVAL.—Any appointed member may be removed by the President for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause. ‘‘(h) VACANCIES; QUORUM; SEAL; VICE CHAIRPERSON; VOTING ON REPORTS.— ‘‘(1) VACANCIES.—No vacancy on the Board shall impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the Board. ‘‘(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the appointed members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. ‘‘(3) SEAL.—The Board shall have an official seal, of which judicial notice shall be taken. ‘‘(4) VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Board shall annually elect a Vice Chairperson to act in the absence or disability of the Chairperson or in case of a vacancy in the office of the Chair- person. ‘‘(5) VOTING ON PROPOSALS.—Any proposal of the Board must be approved by the majority of appointed members present. ‘‘(i) POWERS OF THE BOARD.— ‘‘(1) HEARINGS.—The Board may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Board considers advisable to carry out this section. ‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO INFORM RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR DATA COLLECTION.—The Board may advise the Secretary on priorities for health services research, particularly as such priorities per- tain to necessary changes and issues regarding payment reforms under Medicare. ‘‘(3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Board may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the Chairperson, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the Board on an agreed upon schedule. ‘‘(4) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Board may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. ‘‘(5) GIFTS.—The Board may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. ‘‘(6) OFFICES.—The Board shall maintain a principal office and such field offices as it determines necessary, and may meet and exercise any of its powers at any other place. ‘‘(j) PERSONNEL MATTERS.— ‘‘(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS AND CHAIRPERSON.—Each appointed member, other than the Chairperson, shall be com- pensated at a rate equal to the annual rate of basic pay pre- scribed for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. The Chairperson shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level II of the Deadline.