,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cggg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #af1 #bjai ,ms4 ,clarke of ,new ,york 7for herself and ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,national ,commission to investigate the treatment of migrant families and children by the ,trump ,administration4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,commission ,to ,investigate the ,treatment of ,migrant ,families and ,children ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,establishment of commission ,there is established in the legislative branch the ,national ,commission to ,investigate the ,treatment of ,migrant ,families and ,children ,by the ,trump ,administration 7in this ,act referred to as the ,commission74 #c4 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,commission are to-- 7#a7 examine the handling of migrant families and children apprehended along the ,united ,states-,mexico border by ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,protection since ,january #bjag2 7#b7 ascertain1 evaluate1 and report on the evidence developed by all relevant governmental agencies regarding the facts and circumstances surrounding the handling by the ,departments of ,homeland ,security and ,health and ,human ,services of migrant families and children who were apprehended at the southern border since ,january #bjag2 7#c7 build upon the investigations of other entities1 and avoid unnecessary duplication1 by reviewing the findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations of-- 7,a7 ,department of ,homeland ,security ,office of ,inspector ,general2 7,b7 ,department of ,health and ,human ,services ,office of ,inspector ,general2 and 7,c7 other executive branch1 congressional1 or independent investigations into the treatment of and detention conditions for migrant families and children apprehended at the southern border by the ,department of ,homeland ,security since ,january #bjag2 7#d7 make a full and complete accounting of the handling of the migrant families and children apprehended at the southern border since ,january #bjag2 and 7#e7 investigate and report to the ,president and ,congress on its findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations for corrective measures4 #d4 ,composition of the commission2 qualifications 7a7 ,members ,the ,commission shall be composed of #aj members1 of whom-- 7#a7 one member shall be appointed by the leader of the ,house of ,representatives of the ,democratic ,party 7majority or minority leader1 as the case may be71 with the concurrence of the leader of the ,senate of the ,democratic party 7majority or minority leader as the case may be71 who shall serve as chairman of the ,commission2 7#b7 two members shall be appointed by the senior member of the ,senate leadership of the ,democratic party2 7#c7 three members shall be appointed by the senior member of the ,senate leadership of the ,republican party2 7#d7 three members shall be appointed by the senior member of the leadership of the ,house of ,representatives of the ,democratic party2 and 7#e7 one member shall be appointed by the senior member of the leadership of the ,house of ,representatives of the ,republican party4 7b7 ,qualifications ,each individual appointed to the ,commission must have expertise and experience in at least one of the following areas3 7#a7 immigration law1 particularly experience representing asylees2 7#b7 public health2 7#c7 child welfare2 7#d7 civil rights2 7#e7 as a representative of a humanitarian organization that gives assistance to individuals crossing the southern border2 or 7#f7 as a local official from a border community on the southern border of the ,united ,states4 #e4 ,functions of commission ,the functions of the ,commission are to-- 7#a7 investigate the relevant facts and circumstances related to the handling by the ,departments of ,homeland ,security and ,health and ,human ,services of the migrant families and children apprehended at the southern border since ,january #bjag1 including any relevant legislation1 ,executive order1 regulation1 plan1 policy1 practice1 or procedure2 7#b7 identify1 review1 and evaluate the lessons learned from the handling by the ,departments of ,homeland ,security and ,health and ,human ,services of the migrant families and children apprehended at the southern border since ,january #bjag1 regarding the structure1 coordination1 management policies1 and procedures of the ,federal ,government1 and1 if appropriate1 ,state and local governments and nongovernmental entities1 relative to providing timely1 effective1 and humane treatment of migrant families and unaccompanied alien children seeking asylum in the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 submit to the ,president and ,congress such reports as are required by this title containing such findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations as the ,commission shall determine1 including proposing organization1 coordination1 planning1 management arrangements1 procedures1 rules1 and regulations4 #f4 ,powers of commission 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,hearings and evidence ,the ,commission or1 on the authority of the ,commission1 any subcommittee or member thereof1 may1 for the purpose of carrying out this title-- 7,a7 hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places1 take such testimony1 receive such evidence1 administer such oaths2 and 7,b7 subject to paragraph 7#b77;,a71 require1 by subpoena or otherwise1 the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books1 records1 correspondence1 memoranda1 papers1 and documents1 as the ,commission or such designated subcommittee or designated member may determine advisable4 7#b7 ,subpoenas 7,a7 ,issuance 7i7 ,in general ,a subpoena may be issued under this subsection only-- 7,i7 by the agreement of the chairman and the vice chairman2 or 7,,ii7 by the affirmative vote of #f members of the ,commission4 7ii7 ,signature ,subject to clause 7i71 subpoenas issued under this subsection may be issued under the signature of the chairman or any member designated by a majority of the ,commission1 and may be served by any person designated by the chairman or by a member designated by a majority of the ,commission4 7,b7 ,enforcement 7i7 ,in general ,in the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under subsection 7a71 the ,united ,states district court for the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person resides1 is served1 or may be found1 or where the subpoena is returnable1 may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence4 ,any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court4 7ii7 ,additional enforcement ,in the case of any failure of any witness to comply with any subpoena or to testify when summoned under authority of this section1 the ,commission may1 by majority vote1 certify a statement of fact constituting such failure to the appropriate ,united ,states attorney1 who may bring the matter before the grand jury for its action1 under the same statutory authority and procedures as if the ,united ,states attorney had received a certification under sections #ajb through #ajd of the ,revised ,statutes of the ,united ,states 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #aib through #aid74 7b7 ,contracting ,the ,commission may1 to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation ,acts1 enter into contracts to enable the ,commission to discharge its duties under this title4 7c7 ,information from federal agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission is authorized to secure directly from any executive department1 bureau1 agency1 board1 commission1 office1 independent establishment1 or instrumentality of the ,government1 information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and statistics for the purposes of this title4 ,each department1 bureau1 agency1 board1 commission1 office1 independent establishment1 or instrumentality shall1 to the extent authorized by law1 furnish such information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and statistics directly to the ,commission1 upon request made by the chairman1 the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the ,commission1 or any member designated by a majority of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,receipt1 handling1 storage1 and dissemination ,information shall only be received1 handled1 stored1 and disseminated by members of the ,commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes1 regulations1 and ,executive orders4 7d7 ,assistance from federal agencies 7#a7 ,general services administration ,the ,administrator of ,general ,services shall provide to the ,commission on a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services for the performance of the ,commission's functions4 7#b7 ,other departments and agencies ,in addition to the assistance prescribed in paragraph 7#a71 departments and agencies of the ,united ,states may provide to the ,commission such services1 funds1 facilities1 staff1 and other support services as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law4 #g4 ,public meetings and release of public versions of reports 7a7 ,public meetings and release of public versions of reports ,the ,commission shall-- 7#a7 hold public hearings and meetings to the extent appropriate2 and 7#b7 release public versions of the reports required under section #aaj7;a7 and 7b74 7b7 ,public hearings ,any public hearings of the ,commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information provided to or developed for or by the ,commission as required by any applicable statute1 regulation1 or ,executive order4 #h4 ,staff of commission 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,appointment and compensation ,the chairman1 in consultation with vice chairman1 in accordance with rules agreed upon by the ,commission1 may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the ,commission to carry out its functions1 without regard to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 governing appointments in the competitive service1 and without regard to the provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of such title relating to classification and ,general ,schedule pay rates1 except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,personnel as federal employees 7,a7 ,in general ,the executive director and any personnel of the ,commission who are employees shall be employees under section #baje of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for purposes of chapters #fc1 #ha1 #hc1 #hd1 #he1 #hg1 #hi1 and #ij of that title4 7,b7 ,members of commission ,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not be construed to apply to members of the ,commission4 7b7 ,detailees ,any ,federal ,government employee may be detailed to the ,commission without reimbursement from the ,commission1 and such detailee shall retain the rights1 status1 and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption4 7c7 ,consultant services ,the ,commission is authorized to procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section #caji of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 #i4 ,compensation and travel expenses ,each member of the ,commission may be compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for each day during which that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the ,commission4 #aj4 ,security clearances for commission members and staff ,the appropriate ,federal agencies or departments shall cooperate with the ,commission in expeditiously providing to the ,commission members and staff appropriate security clearances to the extent possible pursuant to existing procedures and requirements1 except that no person shall be provided with access to classified information under this title without the appropriate security clearances4 #aa4 ,reports of commission2 termination 7a7 ,interim reports ,the ,commission may submit to the ,president and ,congress interim reports containing such findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations for corrective measures as have been agreed to by a majority of ,commission members4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall submit to the ,president and ,congress a final report containing such findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations for corrective measures as have been agreed to by a majority of ,commission members4 7c7 ,termination 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission1 and all the authorities of this title1 shall terminate #fj days after the date on which the final report is submitted under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,administrative activities before termination ,the ,commission may use the #fj-;day period referred to in paragraph 7#a7 for the purpose of concluding its activities1 including providing testimony to committees of ,congress concerning its reports and disseminating the final report4 #ab4 ,funding 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized #c1jjj1jjj for purposes of carrying out the activities of the ,commission under this title4 7b7 ,duration of availability ,amounts made available to the ,commission under subsection 7a7 shall remain available until the termination of the ,commission4