H.R. 8561 — Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act of 2026

This section establishes the membership of the Commission as 10 members appointed by the President, of whom two shall be appointed from among individuals recommended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two by the House minority leader, two by the Senate majority leader, and two by the Senate minority leader. It limits the Commission to no more than six members who are officers or employees of the United States and no more than six members of the same political party, and requires members to possess relevant expertise, including direct employment experience for federal members or at least five years of residence abroad or membership in organizations representing U.S. citizens living overseas for non-federal members. The section further provides that members serve for the life of the Commission, directs the President to designate a chairperson, requires the first meeting no later than 60 days after all appointments, and sets a majority quorum for Commission actions.

This section directs the Commission to conduct a study on the effects of Federal laws and policies on United States citizens living abroad, including the costs and burdens of such laws, veterans’ access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits compared to veterans in the United States, financial reporting requirements under section 5314 of title 31, United States Code, and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, family-based naturalization processes, voting access in Federal, State, and local elections, interactions with Social Security and Medicare, interagency coordination, effects on retirement savings and remittances, and barriers to establishing and owning small and medium-sized businesses. The section requires the Commission to consult with organizations representing overseas citizens and to submit an initial report with findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the President and Congress within one year of enactment, followed by an update report one year later describing any administrative actions taken in response.

This section authorizes the Commission to hold hearings, take testimony, and receive evidence; to delegate such powers to its members or agents; to obtain information directly from federal departments and agencies, subject to section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and to use the United States mails on the same terms as other federal agencies.

This section provides compensation for Commission members who are not federal officers or employees at the daily equivalent of the annual rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule, while federal members serve without additional pay. It authorizes travel expenses, including per diem, at standard federal rates; permits the Chairperson to appoint and compensate an executive director and other staff at rates not exceeding level V of the Executive Schedule; allows the detail of federal employees without reimbursement or loss of civil service status; and authorizes procurement of temporary and intermittent services at rates up to the daily equivalent of level V of the Executive Schedule.

This section directs the head of any affected Federal department or agency to submit a response to recommendations contained in the Commission report required by section 4(c)(1), including any plans for administrative action, to the President, the Congress, and the Commission not later than 180 days after the report is submitted.