# Plain Language Summary: Free City Commission Act

This bill would create a new government commission with 20 members tasked with studying what the bill calls the effects of "progressive governance" on American cities over the past 75 years. The commission would be made up of experts appointed equally by the Senate majority leader, Senate minority leader, House Speaker, and House minority leader—five members each. These members would be private citizens (not government employees) with expertise in specific areas like drug policy, education, law enforcement, and public health. The commission would have 18 months to complete its work and submit a final report to the President, Attorney General, and congressional leaders before automatically shutting down two years after it's created.

The commission's main job would be to investigate a specific list of topics in American cities, including the relationship between drug policies and drug-related violence, the state of public schools, law enforcement tactics, home ownership rates, mental health issues, and civic engagement like voting. The bill also includes some more politically charged topics, such as examining abortion rates in minority communities and religious participation levels. Essentially, the commission would gather data and research on these issues and try to draw conclusions about how progressive policies have affected cities.

From a practical standpoint, this commission wouldn't directly change any laws or policies—it's purely a research and fact-finding body. Its main impact would be producing a report with findings and recommendations that could potentially influence future policy discussions. The commission would have access to federal agency data and could hold public hearings to gather information. Members wouldn't be paid for their service but would receive travel expenses. The bill doesn't specify how much the commission would cost to operate, though it would need funding for staff, research, and administrative support.

Free City Commission Act

Cawthorn, Madison

Free City Commission Act This bill establishes the Free City Commission to study the effects of progressive governance on cities within the United States over the last 75 years.