Volume 83 · 838
Public Law 91–181
To establish the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People, and for other purposes.
Approved December 30, 1969
Statutory text
AN ACT
To establish the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That it is the purpose of this Act to assure that Federal programs are reaching all Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Cuban Americans, and all other Spanish-speaking and Spanish-surnamed Americans and providing the assistance they need, and to seek out new programs that may be necessary to handle problems that are unique to such persons.
Sec. 2.
There is hereby established the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”).
The Committee shall be composed of—
the Secretary of Agriculture;
the Secretary of Commerce;
the Secretary of Labor;
the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare;
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
the Secretary of the Treasury;
the Attorney General;
the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity;
the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;
the Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission most concerned with the Spanish-speaking and Spanish-surnamed Americans;
the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission; and
the Chairman of the Committee, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among individuals who are recognized for their knowledge of and familiarity with the special problems and needs of the Spanish speaking.
The Chairman may invite the participation in the activities of the Committee of any executive department or agency not represented on the Committee, when matters of interest to such executive department or agency are under consideration.
The Chairman of the Committee shall not concurrently hold any other office or position of employment with the United States, but shall serve in a full-time capacity as the chief officer of the Committee.
The Chairman of the Committee shall receive compensation at the rate prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule by section
Post, p. 864.
5316 of title 5, United States Code.
The Chairman of the Committee shall designate one of the other Committee members to serve as acting Chairman during the absence or disability of the Chairman.
The Committee shall meet at least quarterly during each year.
Sec. 3.
The Committee shall have the following functions:
to advise Federal departments and agencies regarding appropriate action to be taken to help assure that Federal programs are providing the assistance needed by Spanish-speaking and Spanish-surnamed Americans; and
to advise Federal departments and agencies on the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated policies, plans, and programs focusing on the special problems and needs of Spanish-speaking and Spanish-surnamed Americans, and on priorities thereunder.
In carrying out its functions, the Committee may foster such surveys, studies, research and demonstration and technical assistance projects, establish such relationships with State and local governments and the private sector, and promote such participation of State and local governments and the private sector as may be appropriate to identify and assist in solving the special problems of Spanish-speaking and Spanish-surnamed Americans.
Sec. 4.
The Committee is authorized to prescribe rules and
Rules and regulations.
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
The Committee shall consult with and coordinate its activities
Coordination.
with appropriate Federal departments and agencies and shall utilize the facilities and resources of such departments and agencies to the maximum extent: possible in carrying out its functions.
The Committee is authorized in carrying out its functions to
Agreements.
enter into agreements with Federal departments and agencies as appropriate.
Sec. 5.
The Committee is authorized to request directly from any Federal department or agency any information it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this Act, and to utilize the services and facilities of such department or agency; and each Federal department or agency is authorized to furnish such information, services, and facilities to the Committee upon request of the Chairman to the extent permitted by law and within the limits of available funds.
Sec. 6.
The Chairman shall appoint and fix the compensation
Personnel, compensation.
of such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Committee and may obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals not in excess of the daily equivalent paid for positions under GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
Federal departments and agencies, in their discretion, may detail to temporary duty with the Committee such personnel as the Chairman may request for carrying out the functions of the Committee, each such detail to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other employee status.
Sec. 7.
There is established an Advisory Council on Spanish-Speaking
Advisory Council on Spanish-Speaking Americans.
Establishment.
Americans (hereinafter referred to as the Advisory Council) composed of nine members appointed by the President from among individuals who are representative of the Mexican American, Puerto Rican American, Cuban American, and other elements of the Spanish-speaking and Spanish-surnamed community in the United States. In making such appointments the President shall give due consideration to any recommendations submitted by the Committee.
The Advisory Council shall advise the Committee with respect to such matters as the Chairman of the Committee may request. The President shall designate the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the
Chairman and Vice Chairman.
Designation.
Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is authorized to—
appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel, and
obtain the services of such experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, at rates for individuals not in excess of the daily equivalent paid for positions under GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5302 of such title,
as may be necessary to carry out its functions.
Each member of the Advisory Council who is appointed from private life shall receive $100 a day for each day during which he is engaged in the actual performance of his duties as a member of the Council. A member of the Council who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without additional compensation.
Travel expenses, etc.
All members of the Council shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of such duties.
Sec. 8.
Nothing in this legislation shall be construed to restrict or infringe upon the authority of any Federal department or agency.
Sec. 9.
Subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 5, United States Code shall apply to the employees of the Committee and the employees of the Advisory Council.
Sec. 10.
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1970 and 1971 such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, and any funds heretofore and hereafter made available for expenses of the Interagency Committee on Mexican-American Affairs established by the President’s memorandum of June 9, 1967, shall be available for the purposes of this Act.
Sec. 11.
The Committee shall, as soon as practicable, after the end of each fiscal year, submit a report to the President and the Congress of its activities for the preceding year, including in such report any recommendations the Committee deems appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Act.
Sec. 12.
This Act shall expire five years after it becomes effective.
Approved December 30, 1969.