,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #fedh  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,april #ag1 #bjbj,mr4 
,s*iff 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,cisn]os1 ,mr4  
,%]man1 ,mr4 ,wel*1 ,mr4 ,coh51 ,mr4    
,swalwell ( ,cali=nia1 ,ms4 ,%]rill1    
,mr4 ,trone1 ,mr4 ,heck1 ,mr4 ,cr[1 ,ms4
 ,dean1 & ,ms4 ,wild7 introduc$ ! foll[+
 bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,en]gy & ,comm]ce  ,a ,,bill  ,to       
e/abli% ! ,commission on ! ,,covid-#ai  
,p&emic 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  #a4 ,%ort   
title2 s5se ( ,congress  7a7 ,%ort title
 ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,national    
,commission on ! ,,covid-#ai ,p&emic 9 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,act4  7b7 ,s5se (       
,congress ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t--  
7#a7 x is crucial to und]/& !           
vuln]abilities to ! national security ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates reveal$ by ! coronavirus
 disease #ai 7,,covid-#ai7 p&emic1      
especially h[ prep>$ ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
w\ld be 9 ! future = a biological attack
 t n only causes public heal? confusion 
& al>m b also public fe> simil> to !    

level caus$ by a t]rori/ attack2  7#b7 !
 purpose ( e/abli%+ ! commission "u     
section #b is n j to look back at prior 
practices & mi/akes b to le>n lessons z 
quickly z possible to bett] protect !   
,unit$ ,/ates go+ =w>d 9 ! future2  7#c7
 x is crucial to bett] und]/& ! increas+
 likelihood ( p&emic ?reats 7su* z !    
rec5t ?reats ( sev]e acute respiratory  
syndrome 7,,s>s71 ,ebola1 !             
#bjji-;,h#a,n#a influ5za1 & ,,covid-#ai7
 & heal? issues t ! ,unit$ ,/ates c\ld  
face dur+ ! next sev]al decades2 &  7#d7
 ! commission e/abli%$ "u section #b    
%\ld use ! au?ority "u subsection       
7j77#a7 ( su* section to provide !      
,presid5t1 ,congress1 & ! public int]im 
reports dur+ ! c\rse ( ! inve/igation4  
#b4 ,commission on ! ,,covid-#ai ,p&emic
 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t (   
,commission ,!re is e/abli%$ 9 !        
legislative bran* ! ,national           
,commission on ! ,,covid-#ai ,p&emic 9 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates 79 ?is section ref]r$ to 
z ! ,commission74  7b7 ,purposes ,!     

purposes ( ! ,commission are to-- 7#a7  
exam9e & report ^u ! facts &            
circum/ances relat+ to1 & make a full & 
complete assessm5t & acc\nt+ (1 !       
outbreak & spread ( coronavirus disease 
#ai 7,,covid-#ai7 caus$ by ! sev]e acute
 respiratory syndrome coronavirus #b    
7,,s>s-,co,v-#b7 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 79   
?is section ref]r$ to z ,,covid-#ai72   
7#b7 asc]ta91 evaluate1 & report on !   
evid5ce develop$ by any relevant        
gov]nm5tal & nongov]nm5tal entities     
reg>d+ ! facts & circum/ances surr\nd+  
,,covid-#ai2  7#c7 make a full &        
complete assessm5t & acc\nt+ ( !        
prep>$ness ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 ,/ate  
gov]nm5ts1 local gov]nm5ts1 & ! private 
sector = ! outbreak & spread (          
,,covid-#ai 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#d7    
make a full & complete assessm5t &      
acc\nt+ ( ! actions by ! ,f$]al         
,gov]nm5t1 ,/ate gov]nm5ts1 local       
gov]nm5ts1 & ! private sector 9 response
 to ! outbreak & spread ( ,,covid-#ai 9 
! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7#e7 inve/igate &   

report to ! ,presid5t1 ,congress1 & !   
public on its f9d+s1 conclusions1 &     
recomm5dations to improve ! ability ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates to prep>e =1 detect1      
prev5t1 &1 if necess>y1 respond to      
epidemics & p&emics su* z ,,covid-#ai1  
:e!r naturally occurr+ or caus$ by ,/ate
 or non-,/ate actors4  7c7 ,composition 
( ,commission  7#a7 ,memb]s ,!          
,commission %all be compos$ ( #aj       
memb]s1 ( :om-- 7,a7 #a memb] %all be   
appo9t$ by ! ,presid5t1 :o %all s]ve z  
*air ( ! ,commission2  7,b7 #a memb]    
%all be appo9t$ by ! lead]s ( ! ,s5ate  
7majority or m9ority lead]1 z ! case may
 be7 ( ! political p>ty t is n ! same   
political p>ty z ! ,presid5t1 9         
consultation ) ! lead] ( ! ,h\se (      
,repres5tatives 7majority or m9ority    
lead]1 z ! case may be7 ( ! same        
political p>ty z su* ,s5ate lead]s1 :o  
%all s]ve z vice *air ( ! ,commission2  
7,c7 #b memb]s %all be appo9t$ by !     
s5ior memb] ( ! ,s5ate lead]%ip ( !     
,democratic ,p>ty2  7,d7 #b memb]s %all 

be appo9t$ by ! s5ior memb] ( ! lead]%ip
 ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives ( !        
,republican ,p>ty2  7,e7 #b memb]s %all 
be appo9t$ by ! s5ior memb] ( ! ,s5ate  
lead]%ip ( ! ,republican ,p>ty2 &  7,f7 
#b memb]s %all be appo9t$ by ! s5ior    
memb] ( ! lead]%ip ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives ( ! ,democratic ,p>ty4  
7#b7 ,qualifications2 initial meet+     
7,a7 ,political p>ty affiliation ,n m   
?an #e memb]s ( ! ,commission %all be f 
! same political p>ty4  7,b7            
,nongov]nm5tal appo9tees ,an individual 
appo9t$ to ! ,commission may n be an    
(fic] or employee ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t  
or any ,/ate or local gov]nm5t4  7,c7   
,qualifications ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress
 t individuals appo9t$ to ! ,commission 
%\ld be prom95t ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s1 )
 national recognition & significant dep?
 ( exp]i5ce 9 su* pr(essions z public   
heal?1 m$ic9e 7includ+ epidemiology71   
gov]nm5tal s]vice1 academia1 homel&     
security1 ! arm$ s]vices1 em]g5cy       
prep>$ness & managem5t1 law1 public     

adm9i/ration1 & intellig5ce4  7,d7      
,deadl9e = appo9tm5t ,all memb]s ( !    
,commission %all be appo9t$ dur+ ! p]iod
 beg9n+ ,janu>y #ba1 #bjba1 & end+      
,febru>y #e1 #bjba4  7,e7 ,initial meet+
 ,! ,commission %all meet & beg9 !      
op]ations ( ! ,commission z soon z      
practicable1 b n lat] ?an ,m>* #e1      
#bjba4  7#c7 ,quorum2 vacancies ,aft]   
its initial meet+1 ! ,commission %all   
meet ^u ! call ( ! *air or a majority ( 
its memb]s4 ,six memb]s ( ! ,commission 
%all con/itute a quorum4 ,any vacancy 9 
! ,commission %all n affect its p[]s1 b 
%all be fill$ 9 ! same mann] 9 :i* !    
orig9al appo9tm5t 0 made4  7#d7 ,9-p]son
 meet+s ,! memb]s ( ! ,commission %all  
conduct its meet+s 9 p]son unless su*   
9-p]son meet+s w\ld pose a heal? risk or
 significant practical *all5ges4  7d7   
,functions ( ,commission ,! functions ( 
! ,commission are to-- 7#a7 conduct an  
inve/igation t-- 7,a7 addresses ! matt]s
 specifi$ 9 subsection 7b72  7,b7       
inve/igates relevant facts &            

circum/ances relat+ to ! outbreak &     
spread ( ,,covid-#ai 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 
& ! response to su* outbreak & spread1  
includ+ ) respect to any relevant       
legislation1 ,executive ord]1           
regulation1 plan1 policy1 practice1 or  
proc$ure2 &  7,c7 may include relevant  
facts & circum/ances relat+ to-- 7i7    
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local au?orities )     
responsibilities relevant to ! outbreak 
& spread ( ,,covid-#ai 9 ! ,unit$       
,/ates1 includ+ su* au?orities )        
responsibilities relat+ to public heal?1
 em]g5cy managem5t1 & epidemic & p&emic 
prep>$ness & response2  7ii7 private    
sector organizations2  7iii7 intellig5ce
 ag5cies & law en=cem5t ag5cies2  7iv7  
diplomacy & int]national coord9ation2   
7v7 immigration & bord] control2  7vi7 !
 role ( congressional ov]sight & res\rce
 allocation2 &  7vii7 o!r activities ( !
 public & private sectors det]m9$       
relevant by ! ,commission = its inquiry2
  7#b7 id5tify1 review1 & evaluate !    
lessons le>n$ f ! outbreak & spread (   

,,covid-#ai 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & !      
response to su* outbreak & spread1      
reg>d+ ! /ructure1 coord9ation1         
managem5t1 policies1 proc$ures1 &       
actions ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local        
gov]nm5ts & nongov]nm5tal entities      
relative to prep>+ =1 detect+1 prev5t+1 
& respond+ to epidemics & p&emics1 :e!r 
naturally occurr+ or caus$ by a ,/ate or
 non-,/ate actor2 &  7#c7 submit to !   
,presid5t & ,congress1 & make publicly  
available1 su* reports z are requir$ by 
?is section conta9+ su* f9d+s1          
conclusions1 & recomm5dations z !       
,commission %all det]m9e1 includ+       
propos+ organization1 coord9ation1      
plann+1 managem5t arrangem5ts1          
proc$ures1 rules1 & regulations4  7e7   
,p[]s ( ,commission  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  7,a7
 ,he>+s & evid5ce ,! ,commission or1 z  
delegat$ by ! *air & vice *air1 any     
subcommittee or memb] !re(1 may1 = !    
purpose ( c>ry+ out ?is section-- 7i7   
hold su* he>+s & sit & act at su* times 
& places1 take su* te/imony1 receive su*

 evid5ce1 adm9i/] su* oa?s1 z !         
,commission or su* designat$            
subcommittee or designat$ memb] may     
det]m9e advisable2 &  7ii7 subject to   
subp>agraph 7,b77i71 require1 by subpo5a
 or o!rwise1 ! att5dance & te/imony (   
su* witnesses & ! production ( su*      
books1 records1 correspond5ce1 memor&a1 
pap]s1 & docum5ts1 z ! ,commission or   
su* designat$ subcommittee or designat$ 
memb] may det]m9e advisable4  7,b7      
,issuance ( subpo5as  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,a   
subpo5a may be issu$ "u ?is p>agraph    
only-- 7,i7 by ! agreem5t ( ! *air & !  
vice *air2 or  7,,ii7 by ! affirmative  
vote ( #f memb]s ( ! ,commission4  7ii7 
,signature ,subject to clause 7i71      
subpo5as issu$ "u ?is p>agraph may be   
issu$ "u ! signature ( ! *air or any    
memb] designat$ by a majority ( !       
,commission1 & may be s]v$ by any p]son 
designat$ by ! *air or by a memb]       
designat$ by a majority ( ! ,commission4
  7,c7 ,en=cem5t ( subpo5as  7i7 ,9     
g5]al ,9 ! case ( contumacy or failure  

to obey a subpo5a issu$ "u ?is p>agraph1
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt = !       
judicial di/rict 9 :i* ! subpo5a$ p]son 
resides1 is s]v$1 or may be f\nd1 or :]e
 ! subpo5a is returnable1 may issue an  
ord] requir+ su* p]son to appe> at any  
designat$ place to te/ify or to produce 
docum5t>y or o!r evid5ce4 ,any failure  
to obey ! ord] ( ! c\rt may be puni%$ by
 ! c\rt z a contempt ( t c\rt4  7ii7    
,additional en=cem5t ,9 ! case ( any    
failure ( any witness to comply ) any   
subpo5a or to te/ify :5 summon$ "u      
au?ority ( ?is subsection1 ! ,commission
 may1 by majority vote1 c]tify a /atem5t
 ( fact con/itut+ su* failure to !      
appropriate ,unit$ ,/ates attorney1 :o  
%all br+ ! matt] be=e ! gr& jury = its  
action1 "u ! same /atutory au?ority &   
proc$ures z if ! ,unit$ ,/ates attorney 
_h receiv$ a c]tification "u sections   
#ajb ?r\gh #ajd ( ! ,revis$ ,/atutes ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #aib ?r\gh 
#aid74  7#b7 ,contract+ ,! ,commission  
may1 to su* ext5t & 9 su* am\nts z are  

provid$ 9 appropriation ,acts1 ent] into
 contracts to enable ! ,commission to   
dis*>ge its duties "u ?is section4  7#c7
 ,in=mation f ,f$]al ag5cies  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,! ,commission is au?oriz$ to     
secure directly f any executive         
dep>tm5t1 bureau1 ag5cy1 bo>d1          
commission1 (fice1 indep5d5t e/abli%m5t1
 or in/rum5tality ( ! ,gov]nm5t1        
in=mation1 sugge/ions1 e/imates1 &      
/ati/ics = ! purposes ( ?is section4    
,ea* dep>tm5t1 bureau1 ag5cy1 bo>d1     
commission1 (fice1 indep5d5t e/abli%m5t1
 or in/rum5tality %all1 to ! fulle/     
ext5t p]mitt$ by law1 furni% su*        
in=mation1 sugge/ions1 e/imates1 &      
/ati/ics directly to ! ,commission1 ^u  
reque/ made by ! *air1 ! *air ( any     
subcommittee creat$ by a majority ( !   
,commission1 or any memb] designat$ by a
 majority ( ! ,commission4  7,b7        
,receipt1 h&l+1 /orage1 & dissem9ation  
,in=mation %all only be receiv$1 h&l$1  
/or$1 & dissem9at$ by memb]s ( !        
,commission & its /aff consi/5t ) all   

applicable /atutes1 regulations1 &      
,executive ord]s4  7#d7 ,assi/ance f    
,f$]al ag5cies  7,a7 ,g5]al ,s]vices    
,adm9i/ration ,! ,adm9i/rator ( ,g5]al  
,s]vices %all provide to ! ,commission  
on a reimbursable basis adm9i/rative    
support & o!r s]vices = ! p]=mance ( !  
,commission's functions4  7,b7 ,o!r     
dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ,9 addition to !    
assi/ance prescrib$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 
dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
may provide to ! ,commission su*        
s]vices1 funds1 facilities1 /aff1 & o!r 
support s]vices z !y may det]m9e        
advisable & z may be au?oriz$ by law4   
7#e7 ,gifts ,! ,commission may accept1  
use1 & dispose ( gifts or donations (   
s]vices or prop]ty4  7#f7 ,po/al s]vices
 ,! ,commission may use ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
mails 9 ! same mann] & "u ! same        
conditions z dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates4  7f7 ,nonapplicability ( 
,f$]al ,advisory ,committee ,act  7#a7  
,9 g5]al ,! ,f$]al ,advisory ,committee 
,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 %all n apply  

to ! ,commission4  7#b7 ,presumption =  
public meet+s  7,a7 ,op5 to ! public ,! 
,commission %all make its he>+s & meet+s
 op5 to ! public unless ! *air & vice   
*air det]m9e by cons5sus1 on a          
case-by-case basis1 t ! he>+ or meet+   
%\ld be clos$ to ! public4  7,b7        
,protection ( in=mation ,any public     
meet+ or he>+ ( ! ,commission %all be   
conduct$ 9 a mann] consi/5t ) !         
protection ( in=mation provid$ to or    
develop$ = or by ! ,commission z requir$
 by any applicable /atute1 regulation1  
or ,executive ord]4  7g7 ,/aff (        
,commission  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  7,a7        
,appo9tm5t & comp5sation ,! *air1 9     
consultation ) vice *air1 9 accordance )
 rules agre$ ^u by ! ,commission1 may   
appo9t & fix ! comp5sation ( a /aff     
director & su* o!r p]sonnel z may be    
necess>y to enable ! ,commission to c>ry
 out its functions1 )\t reg>d to !      
provisions ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 gov]n+ appo9tm5ts 9 ! competitive
 s]vice1 & )\t reg>d to ! provisions (  

*apt] #ea & sub*apt] ,,iii ( *apt] #ec (
 su* title relat+ to classification &   
,g5]al ,s*$ule pay rates1 except t no   
rate ( pay fix$ "u ?is subsection may   
exce$ ! equival5t ( t payable = a       
position at level ,v ( ! ,executive     
,s*$ule "u section #ecaf ( title #e1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7,b7 ,p]sonnel z  
,f$]al employees  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! /aff  
director & any p]sonnel ( ! ,commission 
:o are employees %all be employees "u   
section #baje ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code1 = purposes ( *apt]s #fc1 #ha1    
#hc1 #hd1 #he1 #hg1 #hi1 & #ij ( t      
title4  7ii7 ,memb]s ( ,commission      
,clause 7i7 %all n be con/ru$ to apply  
to memb]s ( ! ,commission4  7#b7        
,detailees ,any ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t        
employee may be detail$ to ! ,commission
 )\t reimbursem5t f ! ,commission1 & su*
 detailee %all reta9 ! rights1 /atus1 & 
privileges ( 8 or h] regul> employm5t   
)\t int]ruption4  7#c7 ,consultant      
s]vices ,! ,commission is au?oriz$ to   
procure ! s]vices ( exp]ts & consultants

 9 accordance ) section #caji ( title   
#e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 b at rates n to
 exce$ ! daily rate paid a p]son occupy+
 a position at level ,,iv ( ! ,executive
 ,s*$ule "u section #ecae ( title #e1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7h7 ,comp5sation &
 travel exp5ses  7#a7 ,comp5sation ,ea* 
memb] ( ! ,commission may be comp5sat$  
at n to exce$ ! daily equival5t ( !     
annual rate ( basic pay 9 effect = a    
position at level ,,iv ( ! ,executive   
,s*$ule "u section #ecae ( title #e1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = ea* day dur+ :i* 
t memb] is engag$ 9 ! actual p]=mance ( 
! duties ( ! ,commission4  7#b7 ,travel 
exp5ses ,:ile away f _! homes or regul> 
places ( bus9ess 9 ! p]=mance ( s]vices 
= ! ,commission1 memb]s ( ! ,commission 
%all be all[$ travel exp5ses1 includ+ p]
 diem 9 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 9 ! same mann]
 z p]sons employ$ int]mitt5tly 9 !      
,gov]nm5t s]vice are all[$ exp5ses "u   
section #egjc7;b7 ( title #e1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code4  7i7 ,security cle>ances =
 ,commission memb]s & /aff ,!           

appropriate ,f$]al ag5cies or dep>tm5ts 
%all coop]ate ) ! ,commission 9         
exp$iti\sly provid+ to ! ,commission    
memb]s & /aff appropriate security      
cle>ances to ! ext5t possible pursuant  
to exi/+ proc$ures & requirem5ts1 except
 t no p]son %all be provid$ ) access to 
classifi$ in=mation "u ?is section )\t !
 appropriate security cle>ances4  7j7   
,reports ( ,commission  7#a7 ,int]im    
reports ,! ,commission may submit to !  
,presid5t & ,congress1 & make publicly  
available1 int]im reports conta9+ su*   
f9d+s1 conclusions1 & recomm5dations =  
corrective measures z h be5 agre$ to by 
a majority ( ,commission memb]s4  7#b7  
,f9al report ,n lat] ?an ! date describ$
 9 p>agraph 7#c77;,a71 ! ,commission    
%all submit to ! ,presid5t & ,congress1 
& make publicly available1 a f9al report
 conta9+ su* f9d+s1 conclusions1 &      
recomm5dations = corrective measures z h
 be5 agre$ to by a majority (           
,commission memb]s4  7#c7 ,deadl9e  7,a7
 ,date describ$ ,! date describ$ 9 ?is  

subp>agraph is ,octob] #ae1 #bjba1      
unless n few] ?an #h memb]s ( !         
,commission vote = a #ij-;day ext5sion4 
7,b7 ,numb] ( ext5sions ,! ,commission  
may make n m ?an #c ext5sions "u        
subp>agraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,notification ,!
 ,commission %all notify ! ,presid5t1   
,congress1 & ! public ( ea* ext5sion "u 
subp>agraph 7,a74  7k7 ,t]m9ation  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,commission1 & all !        
au?orities ( ?is section1 %all t]m9ate  
#ij days aft] ! date on :i* ! f9al      
report is submitt$ "u subsection        
7j77#b74  7#b7 ,adm9i/rative activities 
be=e t]m9ation ,! ,commission may use ! 
#ij-;day p]iod ref]r$ to 9 p>agraph 7#a7
 = ! purpose ( conclud+ its activities1 
includ+ provid+ te/imony to committees (
 ,congress conc]n+ its reports1         
dissem9at+ ! f9al report1 & expla9+ to !
 public su* reports & ! conclusions ( ! 
,commission4  7l7 ,fund+  7#a7          
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is  
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         
,commission su* sums z may be necess>y =

 any fiscal ye>1 half ( :i* %all be     
d]iv$ f ! applicable acc\nt ( ! ,h\se ( 
,repres5tatives1 & half ( :i* %all be   
d]iv$ f ! cont+5t fund ( ! ,s5ate4  7#b7
 ,duration ( availability ,am\nts made  
available to ! ,commission "u p>agraph  
7#a7 %all rema9 available until !       
t]m9ation ( ! ,commission4  7#c7 ,notice
 ,! *air %all promptly notify ,congress 
if ! *air det]m9es t ! am\nts made      
available to ! ,commission "u p>agraph  
7#a7 are insuffici5t = ! ,commission to 
c>ry out its duties1 includ+ dur+ an    
ext5d$ p]iod describ$ 9 subsection      
7j77#c74