,i  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #fdbi  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,april #c1 #bjbj,mrs4
 ,murphy of ,florida 7for herself and   
,mr4 ,katko7 introduced the following   
bill2 which was referred to the         
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and
 in addition to the ,committees on      
,financial ,services1 and               
,transportation and ,infrastructure1 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 in the ,legislative ,branch a 
,national ,commission on the            
,coronavirus ,disease #bjai ,pandemic in
 the ,united ,states4  #a4 ,short title 
,this ,act may be cited as the ,national
 ,commission on ,,covid-#ai ,act4  #b4  
,establishment of ,commission ,there is 
established in the legislative branch   
the ,national ,commission on ,,covid-#ai
 in the ,united ,states 7hereinafter in 

this ,act referred to as the            
,commission74  #c4 ,purposes  7a7 ,in   
general ,the purposes of the ,commission
 are to-- 7#a7 examine the facts and    
circumstances relating to the emergence 
and spread in the ,united ,states of the
 respiratory illness known as           
coronavirus disease #bjai 7hereinafter  
in this ,act referred to as             
,,covid-#ai72  7#b7 evaluate the ,united
 ,states preparation for and response to
 ,,covid-#ai2 and  7#c7 report to the   
,president and ,congress on its         
findings1 conclusions1 and              
recommendations for corrective measures 
that can be taken to prevent1 prepare   
for1 respond to1 and mitigate the       
effects of future pandemics in the      
,united ,states4  7b7 ,particular       
subjects for review ,in particular1 the 
,commission shall examine1 evaluate1    
make findings and recommendations1 and  
report on the ,united ,states           
preparation for and response to         
,,covid-#ai as it relates to-- 7#a7     

surveillance1 testing1 treatments1 and  
vaccines2  7#b7 personal protective     
equipment for health workers and other  
first responders2  7#c7 medical devices1
 equipment1 drugs1 and supply chains2   
7#d7 the use and public health impact of
 social distancing practices1           
stay-at-home directives1 school and     
business closures1 and other measures   
prescribed by government authorities or 
adopted voluntarily in order to contain 
the virus2  7#e7 the preparedness and   
capacity of the ,united ,states health  
care system1 including hospitals1       
physicians1 community health centers1   
and laboratories2  7#f7 the ,federal    
,government's actions1 including        
guidance1 regarding altered standards of
 care1 end of life care1 and            
prioritization of scarce medical and    
emergency resources2  7#g7 the ,national
 ,response ,framework and any other     
applicable response plans2  7#h7 the    
,defense ,production ,act2  7#i7 the    
,strategic ,national ,stockpile2  7#aj7 

the role and responsibility of1 and     
coordination among1 departments and     
agencies of the ,united ,states1        
including but not limited to1 the       
,department of ,health and ,human       
,services1 the ,centers for ,disease    
,control and ,prevention1 the ,food and 
,drug ,administration1 the ,department  
of ,homeland ,security1 the ,federal    
,emergency ,management ,agency1 the     
,department of ,defense1 and the        
,national ,security ,council2  7#aa7 the
 nature and extent of communication and 
coordination between the ,federal       
,government and ,state1 territory1      
tribal1 and local governments2 between  
the ,federal ,government and the private
 sector2 and between the ,united ,states
 ,government and the governments of     
foreign nations2 and  7#ab7 any other   
subject the ,commission determines to be
 appropriate and relevant in order to   
fulfill its purposes4  #d4 ,composition 
7a7 ,members ,the ,commission shall     
consist of #aj members as follows3 7#a7 

,one member appointed by the ,president1
 who shall serve as chairperson of the  
,commission4  7#b7 ,one member appointed
 by the leader of the ,house of         
,representatives from the party opposite
 the ,president 7majority or minority   
leader1 as the case may be71 in         
consultation with the leader of the     
,senate from the party opposite the     
,president 7majority or minority leader1
 as the case may be71 who shall serve as
 vice chairperson of the ,commission4   
7#c7 ,two members appointed by the      
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives4  7#d7 ,two members    
appointed by the minority leader of the 
,house of ,representatives4  7#e7 ,two  
members appointed by the majority leader
 of the ,senate4  7#f7 ,two members     
appointed by the minority leader of the 
,senate4  7b7 ,qualifications  7#a7     
,political party affiliation ,not more  
than #e members of the ,commission shall
 be from the same political party4  7#b7
 ,nongovernmental appointees ,an        

individual appointed to the ,commission 
may not be an officer or employee of the
 ,federal ,government or any ,state or  
local government4  7#c7 ,other          
qualifications ,it is the sense of      
,congress that individuals appointed to 
the ,commission should be prominent     
,united ,states citizens1 with national 
recognition and significant experience  
and expertise in such professions as    
governmental service1 public health1    
medicine1 emergency management or       
response1 public administration1        
logistics1 and organizational           
management4  7c7 ,deadline for          
appointment  7#a7 ,in general ,all      
members of the ,commission shall be     
appointed on or between ,january #ba1   
#bjba1 and ,february #ai1 #bjba4  7#b7  
,exception ,if the determination that a 
public health emergency exists as a     
result of ,,covid-#ai1 as issued by the 
,secretary of the ,department of ,health
 and ,human ,services on ,january #ca1  
#bjbj1 is not in effect as of ,august   

#ca1 #bjbj1 all members of the          
,commission shall be appointed on or    
between ,september #a1 #bjbj1 and       
,october #a1 #bjbj4  7d7 ,term of       
members ,members of the ,commission     
shall serve for the life of the         
,commission4  7e7 ,initial meeting ,the 
,commission shall hold its initial      
meeting and begin the operations of the 
,commission as soon as practicable1 but 
in no event later than ,march #ae1      
#bjba1 if appointed pursuant to         
subsection 7c77#a71 or ,october #ca1    
#bjbj1 if appointed pursuant to         
subsection 7c77#b74  7f7 ,quorum1       
vacancies ,after its initial meeting1   
the ,commission shall meet upon the call
 of the chairperson or a majority of its
 members4 ,six members of the           
,commission shall constitute a quorum4  
,any vacancy in the ,commission shall   
not affect its powers1 but shall be     
filled in the same manner in which the  
original appointment was made4  7g7     
,compensation ,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  7h7 ,travel
 expenses ,while away from their homes  
or regular places of business in the    
performance of services for the         
,commission1 members of the ,commission 
shall be allowed travel expenses1       
including per diem in lieu of           
subsistence1 in the same manner as      
persons employed intermittently in the  
,government service are allowed expenses
 under section #egjc of title #e1       
,united ,states ,code4  #e4 ,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 ,act-- 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 chairperson and the vice         
chairperson2 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 chairperson or any     
member designated by a majority of the  
,commission1 and may be served by any   

person designated by the chairperson 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 subparagraph 7,a71 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     
,act4  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 purpose of this     
,act1 each of whom shall1 to the extent 
authorized by law1 furnish such         
information directly to the ,commission1
 upon request made by the chairperson1  

the chairperson 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  7e7  
,gifts ,the ,commission may accept1 use1
 and dispose of gifts or donations of   
services or property4  7f7 ,postal      
services ,the ,commission may use the   
,united ,states mails in the same manner
 and under the same conditions as       
departments and agencies of the ,united 
,states4  #f4 ,nonapplicability of      
,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act  7a7 
,in general ,the ,federal ,advisory     
,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47    
shall not apply to the ,commission4  7b7
 ,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 #i4  7c7 
,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  #g4 ,staff of        
,commission  7a7 ,in general  7#a7      
,appointment and compensation ,the      
chairperson1 in consultation with the   
vice chairperson1 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 the
 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  #h4 ,security clearances
 for ,commission members and staff ,the 
appropriate ,federal departments or     
agencies 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  #i4 ,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 ,final report ,not later than #a  
year after the date of the ,commission's
 initial meeting1 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 ,act1 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  #aj4   
,funding  7a7 ,authorization of         
appropriations ,there is authorized to  
be appropriated to the ,commission such 
sums as may be necessary for any fiscal 
year1 half of which shall be derived    
from the applicable account of the      
,house of ,representatives1 and half of 

which shall be derived from the         
contingent fund of the ,senate4  7b7    
,duration of availability ,amounts made 
available to the ,commission under      
subsection 7a7 shall remain available   
until the termination of the            
,commission4