(ix) The Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member. (x) The Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member. (B) Deadline for appointment Members shall be appointed to the Commission under subparagraph (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the commission is established. (C) Effect of lack of appointment by appointment date If one or more appointments under subparagraph (A) is not made by the appointment date specified in subparagraph (B), or if a position described in subparagraph (A) is vacant for more than 90 days, the authority to make such appointment shall transfer to the Chair of the Commission. (5) Chair and vice chair The Commission shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. (6) Terms Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (7) Status as federal employees Notwithstanding the requirements of section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, including the required supervision under subsection (a)(3) of such section, the members of the Commission shall be deemed to be Federal employees. (b) Duties (1) In general The Commission shall carry out the review described in paragraph (2). In carrying out such review, the Commission shall consider the methods and means necessary to advance research capacity at covered institutions to comprehensively address the national security and defense needs of the United States. (2) Scope of the review In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the following: (A) The competitiveness of covered institutions in developing, pursuing, capturing, and executing defense research with the Department of Defense through contracts and grants. (B) Means and methods for advancing the capacity of covered institutions to conduct research related to national