PUBLIC LAW 105-33—AUG. 5, 1997 111 STAT. 349 (2) STAFF.— With the approval of the Commission, the executive director may appoint such personnel as the executive director considers appropriate. (3) APPLICABILITY OF CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.— The staff of the Commission shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall 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). (4) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—With the approval of the Commission, the executive director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. (5) PHYSICAL FACILITIES.— The Administrator of the General Services Administration shall locate suitable office space for the operation of the Commission. The facilities shall serve as the headquarters of the Commission and shall include all necessary equipment and incidentals required for the proper functioning of the Commission. (e) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— (1) HEARINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.—For the purpose of carrying out its duties, the Commission may hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties. (2) STUDIES BY GAO.—Upon the request of the Commission, the Comptroller General shall conduct such studies or investigations as the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties. (3) COST ESTIMATES BY CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE AND OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ACTUARY OF HCFA.— (A) The Director of the Congressional Budget Office or the Chief Actuary of the Health Care Financing Administration, or both, shall provide to the Commission, upon the request of the Commission, such cost estimates as the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties. (B) The Commission shall reimburse the Director of the Congressional Budget Office for expenses relating to the employment in the office of the Director of such additional staff as may be necessary for the Director to comply with requests by the Commission under subparagraph (A). (4) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— Upon the request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to detail, without reimbursement, any of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties. Any such detail shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges of the Federal employee. (5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon the request of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall provide such technical assistance to the Commission as the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties, (6) USE OF MAILS.— The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as Federal agencies and shall, for purposes of the frank, be
�
