Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 1.djvu/500

 90 STAT. 450

Hearings.

Information acquisition.

Compensation.

5 USC 5332 note.

5 USC 5101 et seq., 5331.

5 USC 5313. Contract authority.

PUBLIC LAW 94-280—MAY 5, 1976 ing, but not limited to. State and local governments, public and private organizations working in the fields of transportation and safety, industry, education, and labor. (f)(1) The Commission or, on authorization of the Commission, any Committee of two or more members may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places as the Commission or such authorized committee may deem advisable. (2) The Commission is authorized to secure from any department, agency, or individual instrumentality of the executive branch of the Government any information it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this section and each department, agency, and instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information to the Commission upon request made by the Chairman. (g)(1) Members of Congress who are members of the Commission shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as Members of Congress; but they shall be reimbursed for travel, per diem in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives or subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. (2) Members of the Commission, except Members of Congress shall each receive compensation at a rate not in excess of the maximum rate of pay for GS-18, as provided in the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, and shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses, per diem in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives or subsistence and other necessary expenses incurred by them in performance of duties while serving as a Commission member. (h)(1) The Commission is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director, and such additional personnel as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its functions. The Director and personnel may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, covering appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid 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. Any Federal employees subject to the civil service laws and regulations who may be employed by the Commission shall retain civil service status without interruption or loss of status or privilege. In no event shall any employee other than the staff director receive as compensation an amount in excess of the maximum rate for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. In addition, the Commission is authorized to obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the maximum rate of pay for grade GS-18, as provided in the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. (2) The staff director shall be compensated at a Level 2 of the Executive Schedule in subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code. (i) The Commission is authorized to enter into contracts or agreements for studies and surveys with public and private organizations and, if necessary, to transfer funds to Federal agencies from sums appropriated pursuant to this section to carry out such of its duties as the Commission determines can best be carried out in that manner. (j) Any vacancy which may occur on the Commission shall not affect its powers or functions but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

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