PUBLIC LAW 102-325—JULY 23, 1992 106 STAT. 825 schools, and such partnerships are largely funded by such colleges and universities; (7) independent colleges and universities have been an extraordinary example of private-public partnerships, with such colleges and universities operating in the public interest to provide a public good; (8) less than 20 percent of the revenue of independent colleges and universities comes from governmental funds, most of which is in the form of Federal and State financial aid; (9) decreases in Federal and State support for student financial aid progrsuns has placed at risk the option of choosing an independent college or university for an increasing number of students; (10) whereas at the turn of the twentieth century 80 percent of the students enrolled in higher education in the United States were enrolled in independent colleges and universities, such percentage has now declined to 21 percent, and further erosions place at risk the option of choosing an independent college or university for students and parents; and (11) the entire sector of independent colleges and universities and the important contributions such sector makes to our Nation is at risk and deserves national policy attention. SEC. 1423. PURPOSE. It is the purpose of this part to establish a National Commission on Independent Higher Education. SEC. 1424. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDEPENDENT HIGHER EDU- CATION. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— There is established as an independent agency in the executive branch a commission to be known as the National Commission on Independent Higher Education (hereafter in this part referred to as the "Commission"). (b) MEMBERSHIP. — (1) COMPOSITION.— The Commission shall be composed of 9 members, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the President, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, and 1 of wnom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate. (2) EXPERTISE REQUIREMENT. —The members of the Commission shall consist of individuals with expertise and experience in independent higher education, including expertise in national tax policy, individuals with expertise in State higher education finance, individuals with expertise in Federal financial aid programs, individuals with expertise in issues of student and faculty diversity, and individuals with expertise in graduate education and research. (3) DATE.—The members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES. — Members of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
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