97 STAT. 132 PUBLIC LAW 98-21 —APR. 20, 1983 42 USC 402 and note, 426. become eligible (as defined in section 334 of Public Law 95-216) for monthly periodic benefits (within the meaning of the provisions amended by subsection (a)) for months after June 1983. Joint Study Panel on the Social Security Administration. 42 USC 902 note. Membership. Vacancies. Pay. Appropriation authorization. STUDY CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY SEC. 338. (a) There is hereby established, under the authority of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, a joint study panel to be known as the Joint Study Panel on the Social Security Adminis- tration (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Panel"). The duties of the Panel shall be to conduct the study provided for in subsection (c). (b)(1) The Panel shall be composed of 3 members, appointed jointly by the chairmen of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and such chairmen shall jointly select one member of the Panel to serve as chairman of the Panel. Members of the Panel shall be chosen, on the basis of their integrity, impartiality, and good judgment, from individuals who, as a result of their training, experience, and attain- ments, are widely recognized by professionals in the fields of govern- ment administration, social insurance, and labor relations as experts in those fields. (2) Vacancies in the membership of the Panel shall not affect the power of the remaining members to perform the duties of the Panel and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. (3) Each member of the Panel not otherwise in the employ of the United States Government shall receive the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which such member is actually engaged in the perform- ance of the duties of the Panel. Each member of the Panel shall be allowed travel expenses in the same manner as any individual employed intermittently by the Federal Government is allowed travel expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. (4) By agreement between the chairmen of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Commit- tee on Finance of the Senate, such Committees shall provide the Panel, on a reimbursible basis, office space, clerical personnel, and such supplies and equipment as may be necessary for the Panel to carry out its duties under this section. Subject to such limitations as the chairmen of such Committees may jointly prescribe, the Panel may appoint such additional personnel as the Panel considers neces- sary and fix the compensation of such personnel as it considers appropriate at an annual rate which does not exceed the rate of basic pay then payable for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, and may procure by contract the temporary or intermittent services of clerical personnel and experts or consultants, or organizations thereof. (5) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Panel, from amounts in the general fund of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. (c)(1) The Panel shall undertake, as soon as possible after the date tif the enactment of this Act, a thorough study with respect to the
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