PUBLIC LAW 105-277 —OCT. 21, 1998 112 STAT. 2681-548 (i) Three persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Finance. (ii) Three persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee on Finance. (iii) Three persons shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. (iv) Three persons shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Mean. (B) QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.— (i) APPOINTMENTS. —Persons who are appointed under subparagraph (A) shall be persons who— (I) have expertise in economics, international trade, manufacturing, labor, environment, business, or have other pertinent qualifications or experience; and (II) are not officers or employees of the United States. (ii) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. — I n appointing Commission members, every effort shall be made to ensure that the members— (I) are representative of a broad cross-section of economic and trade perspectives within the United States; and (II) provide fresh insights to analyzing the causes and consequences of United States merchandise trade and current account deficits. (4) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES. — (A) IN GENERAL.—Members shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act and the appointment shall be for the life of the Commission. (B) VACANCIES. —Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (5) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting. (6) MEETINGS. — The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (7) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission. (8) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (9) VOTING. —Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to 1 vote, which shall be equal to the vote of every other member of the Commission. (d) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.— 59-194O-98 -19:QL3Part4
�
