Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 78.djvu/59

 78 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 88-271-FEB. 20, 1964

17

Public Law 88-271 AN ACT

T > «^slul>lisb ii I iiMj'd Sl4i(.es "Puerto Rioo (\iiiinii«sum ou the Status < < f IMierto Rioo. »

February 20. 1964

[H. R. 5945]

Be it enacted by the Senote and House of Representathes of th-e United States of America in Congress assembled, That, with due p^^"to^RJ^o^'com. recognition to the principle of government by consent of the governed, mission. the Congress of the United States hereby establishes the United States- Establishment. Puerto Rico Coniiuission on the Status of Puerto Rico. SEC. 2. (a) The Commission shall, subject t-o enlargement as pro- composition. vided in subsection (c) of this section, be composed of seven members. (b) The President of the T^nited States shall apjKiint the Chairman ^'^- members. of the Commission and f wo other members, all of whom shall be citizens of the United States and none of whom shall be residents of Puerto Rico. The President of the Senate, with the approval of the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, shall appoint two meml>ers from the membersliip of the Senate. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, with the approval of the majority and minority leaders of the House, shall appoint two meml)ers from the membership of the House. (c) The Congress hereby invites Qxte Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ^"efto Rican to provide for participation of the Commonwealth and its people in the work of the (Vymmission b^" enactment of a law providing for the appointment of an additional six meml)ers of the Commission, for the equal sharing of the expenses of \h^. Commission, and for making available, without reimbursement, to \h^ Conmdssion the information and assistance of the departments and agencies of Puerto Rico uidess prohibited under any law effective 011 the date of enactmejit of this Act, u].Hm request of the Conunission. ] f t he legislative assembly shalI do so and if the additional six members are appointed the Commission shall consist of thirt.een members. (d) A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the Qu°fum. transaction of its business, but the Connnission may provide for the taking of testimony and the reception of evidence at, meetings at which there are present not less than three members of \h& Commission. The Chairman of the Connnission shall call a meeting for organizing the Commission as soon as possible after he and a majority of the members of the Commission have been appointed. SEC. 3. (a) Any member of the Commission who is not an officer Payment. or employee of the Government of the United States or the government of Puerto Rico shall be paicl $75 per diem for his services while actually engaged on Commission business, and all members shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual travel and reasonable subsistence expenses incurred in connection with their service on the Commission. (b) The Commission is authorized to appoint and fix the compen- Executive secresation of an Executive Secretary and such other additional personnel ' ^ ^°^" "^^"^ * as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions without regard to the civil service laws, rules, and regulations, but any Federal employee subject to those la\\'s, rules, and regidations, who may be detailed to the Commission (which detail is hereby authorized) shall retain his civil service status without interruption or loss of status or privilege. (c) The Commission is authorized and directed to call upon the cifs^'^rnfirm^ti^n head of any Federal department or agency to furnish information and assistance." and assistance which the Commission deems necessary for the performance of its functions, and the heads of such departments and agencies are authorized and directed to furnish such assistance, and

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