; (2) appoint, fix the compensation of, assign, and supervise all personnel employed by the Commission except that— (A) the appointment of any hearing examiner shall be subject to approval of the Commission within the first year of such hearing examiner's employment; and (B) regional Commissioners shall appoint and supervise such personnel employed regularly and full time in their respective regions as are compensated at a rate up to and including level GS–9 of the General Schedule; (3) assign duties among officers and employees of the Commission, including Commissioners, so as to balance the workload and provide for orderly administration; (4) direct the preparation of requests for appropriations for the Commission, and the use of funds made available to the Commission; (5) designate 3 Commissioners to serve on the National Appeals Board, 1 whom shall be designated to serve as Vice Chairperson of the Commission (who shall act as Chairperson of the Commission in the absence or disability of the Chairperson or in the event of a vacancy in the position of Chairperson); (6) designate, for each region established under section 3632(a)(2), 1 Commissioner to serve as regional Commissioner in each such region, except that— (A) in each such designation the Chairperson shall consider years of service, personal preference, and fitness; and (B) no such designation shall take effect unless concurred in by the President; (7) serve as spokesperson for the Commission and report annually to each House of Congress on the activities of the Commission