S.Amdt. 6279

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Husted for bill S. 4784, aims to add a new section (SEC. 1094) to the bill. The purpose is to allow the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security to appoint highly qualified experts from outside the civil service to the Bureau of Industry and Security.

The amendment changes the process for filling gaps in expertise through the following measures:

• Hiring Authority: The Under Secretary can identify expertise gaps through an annual study and hire outside experts, including those from the intelligence community, regardless of certain civil service rules.
• Pay and Limits: The Under Secretary can set basic pay rates up to the maximum for senior-level positions. Total annual compensation cannot exceed the amount payable to the Vice President.
• Staffing Constraints: No more than 25 employees can be appointed and retained under this authority at any one time.
• Term Limits: Appointments generally cannot exceed 5 years, though the Under Secretary can grant a one-year extension for national security or foreign policy reasons.
• Accountability: The Under Secretary must submit reports to specific Senate and House committees every 180 days (for the first report) and annually thereafter. These reports must detail the expertise gaps, steps taken to hire from within the civil service, the number of outside hires, their qualifications, and their impact on the Bureau's mission.

The amendment specifies that it does not waive background investigations, applicant qualifications, or federal ethics and conflict-of-interest laws. This authority is set to expire 5 years after the act is enacted, though existing employees may finish their term of service.