THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20201

Purpose

Title V11, Section 706 of the Social Security Act (title 42, United States Code, Section 907) requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint an Advisory Council on Social Security every 4 years for the purpose of reviewing the status of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund , the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Supplementary Medicare Insurance Trust Fund in relation to the long-term commitments of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) program and the programs under. Parts A and B of title XVIII, and for the purpose of reviewing the scope of coverage and the adequacy of benefits under, and all other aspects of, these programs, including their impact on the public assistance programs under the Social Security Act.

Authority

42 U.S. Code 907, Section 706 of the Social Security Act, as amended. The Council is governed by provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S. Code Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Function

The Advisory Council on Social Security shall conduct the reviews required by title VII, Section 706 of the Social Security Act, as amended, and prepare and submit reports on its findings and recommendations. In addition, the Council should address the following:

• Financing issues, including the long-range financial status of the OASDI program.
• General Social Security program issues such as the relative equity/adequacy provided for persons at various income levels, in various family situations, and various age cohorts, taking into account such factors as the increased labor force participation of women, lower marriage rates, increased likelihood of divorce, and higher poverty rates of aged women.

In addressing the above topics, the Council may wish to analyze the relative roles of the public and private sectors in the provision of retirement income, particularly how underlying policies of various public and private programs, including relevant tax laws, affect retirement decisions and the economic status of the elderly. In doing this analysis, the Council also may wish to consider how the provisions of the disability insurance program and the availability of health insurance and health care costs affect such matters.

Structure

The Council shall consist of a Chairperson and 12 other persons, appointed by the Secretary, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service. The appointed members shall, to the extent possible, represent organizations of employers and employees in equal numbers and represent self-employed persons and the public. Members shall serve for the duration of the Council.

Management and staff support services shall be provided by the Office of Policy
and External Affairs, Social Security Administration. The Council may engage such additional technical or other staff services as may be required to carry out its functions.

Meetings

Meetings shall be held approximately once per month at the call of the chair with the advance approval of a government official, who shall also approve the agenda. A Government official shall be present at all meetings.

Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary; notice of all meetings shall be given to the public.

Meetings shall be conducted and records of the proceedings kept, as required by applicable laws and Departmental regulations.

Compensation

Appointed members of the Council, while serving on business of the Council (inclusive of travel time), shall receive compensation at rates fixed by the Secretary, but not exceeding $100 per day and, while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons in the Government employed intermittently.

Annual Cost Estimate

Estimated annual cost for operating the Council, including compensation and travel expenses for members but excluding staff support, is $209,530. Estimated annual person years of staff support required is 3, at an estimated annual cost of $286,728.

Reports

Reports of the Advisory Council's findings and recommendations (including any interim reports the Council may have issued) shall be submitted to the Secretary not later than January 1, 1995, and such reports shall thereupon be transmitted to the Congress and to the Board of Trustees of each of the Trust Funds.

Termination
The Council shall cease to exist after transmittal of its reports to Congress.
APPROVED:

THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201

Reports

The Council shall submit reports (including any interim reports the Council may have issued) of its findings and recommendations to the Secretary not later than January 1 of the second year after the year in which it is appointed, and such reports and recommendations shall thereupon be transmitted to the Congress and to the Board of Trustees of each of the Trust Funds.

APPROVED: