,,ii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #dacb  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,july #a1      
#bjbj,mrs4 ,feinstein 7for herself1 ,ms4
 ,klobuchar1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,casey1
 ,mr4 ,reed1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4     
,markey1 ,ms4 ,harris1 ,ms4 ,hirono1    
,mr4 ,carper1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mrs4  
,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,ms4 ,smith1
 ,ms4 ,warren1 and ,mr4 ,cardin7        
introduced the following bill2 which was
 read twice and referred to the         
,committee on ,rules and ,administration
  ,a ,,bill  ,to establish the          
,commission on the ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic
 in the ,united ,states4  #a4 ,short    
title2 sense of ,congress  7a7 ,short   
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,national ,commission on the ,,covid-#ai
 ,pandemic in the ,united ,states ,act4 
7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense
 of ,congress that-- 7#a7 it is         
important to consider what the          
coronavirus disease #ai 7,,covid-#ai7   
pandemic reveals about the              

vulnerabilities to the national security
 of the ,united ,states1 especially how 
prepared the ,united ,states would be   
for a biological attack that not only   
causes public health confusion and fear 
but also public fear similar to the     
level caused by a terrorist attack2     
7#b7 the purpose of establishing the    
commission under section #b is not just 
to look back at prior practices and     
mistakes but to learn lessons as quickly
 as possible to better protect the      
,united ,states going forward2 and  7#c7
 it is crucial to better understand the 
increasing likelihood of pandemic       
threats 7such as the recent threats of  
severe acute respiratory syndrome       
7,,sars71 ,ebola1 the #bjji-;,h#a,n#a   
influenza1 and ,,covid-#ai7 and health  
issues that the ,united ,states could   
face during the next several decades4   
#b4 ,national ,commission on the        
,,covid-#ai ,pandemic in the ,united    
,states  7a7 ,establishment of          
,commission ,there is established in the

 legislative branch the ,national       
,commission on the ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic
 in the ,united ,states 7in this section
 referred to as the ,commission74  7b7  
,purposes ,the purposes of the          
,commission are to-- 7#a7 examine and   
report upon the facts and circumstances 
relating to the outbreak and spread of  
coronavirus disease #ai 7,,covid-#ai7   
caused by the severe acute respiratory  
syndrome coronavirus #b                 
7,,sars-,co,v-#b7 7in this section      
referred to as ,,covid-#ai7 in the      
,united ,states2  7#b7 ascertain1       
evaluate1 and report on the evidence    
developed by any relevant governmental  
and nongovernmental entities regarding  
the facts and circumstances surrounding 
,,covid-#ai2  7#c7 make a full and      
complete assessment and accounting of   
the circumstances surrounding the       
outbreak and spread of ,,covid-#ai in   
the ,united ,states2  7#d7 make a full  
and complete assessment and accounting  
of the preparedness of the ,federal     

,government1 ,state governments1 local  
governments1 and the private sector for 
the outbreak and spread of ,,covid-#ai  
in the ,united ,states2  7#e7 make a    
full and complete assessment and        
accounting of the actions by the        
,federal ,government1 ,state            
governments1 local governments1 and the 
private sector in response to the       
outbreak and spread of ,,covid-#ai in   
the ,united ,states2 and  7#f7          
investigate and report to the ,president
 and ,congress on its findings1         
conclusions1 and recommendations to     
improve the ability of the ,united      
,states to prepare for1 detect1 prevent1
 and1 if necessary1 respond to epidemics
 and pandemics such as ,,covid-#ai1     
whether naturally occurring or caused by
 ,state or non-,state actors4  7c7      
,composition of ,commission  7#a7       
,members ,the ,commission shall be      
composed of #aj members1 of whom-- 7,a7 
#a member shall be appointed by the     
,president1 who shall serve as chair of 

the ,commission2  7,b7 #a member shall  
be appointed by the leader of the       
,senate 7majority or minority leader1 as
 the case may be7 of the political party
 that is not the same political party as
 the ,president1 in consultation with   
the leader of the ,house of             
,representatives 7majority or minority  
leader1 as the case may be7 of the same 
political party as such ,senate leader1 
who shall serve as vice chair of the    
,commission2  7,c7 #b members shall be  
appointed by the senior member of the   
,senate leadership of the ,democratic   
,party2  7,d7 #b members shall be       
appointed by the senior member of the   
leadership of the ,house of             
,representatives of the ,republican     
,party2  7,e7 #b members shall be       
appointed by the senior member of the   
,senate leadership of the ,republican   
,party2 and  7,f7 #b members shall be   
appointed by the senior member of the   
leadership of the ,house of             
,representatives of the ,democratic     

,party4  7#b7 ,qualifications2 initial  
meeting  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  
,qualifications ,it is the sense of     
,congress that individuals appointed to 
the ,commission should be prominent     
,united ,states citizens1 with national 
recognition and significant depth of    
experience in such professions as public
 health1 medicine 7including            
epidemiology71 governmental service1    
academia1 homeland security1 the armed  
services1 emergency preparedness and    
management1 law1 public administration1 
and intelligence4  7,d7 ,deadline for   
appointment ,all members of the         
,commission shall be appointed during   
the period beginning ,january #ba1      
#bjba1 and ending ,february #e1 #bjba4  

7,e7 ,initial meeting ,the ,commission  
shall meet and begin the operations of  
the ,commission as soon as practicable4 
7#c7 ,quorum2 vacancies ,after its      
initial meeting1 the ,commission shall  
meet upon the call of the chair 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  7d7 
,functions of ,commission ,the functions
 of the ,commission are to-- 7#a7       
conduct an investigation that-- 7,a7    
addresses the matters specified in      
subsection 7b72  7,b7 investigates      
relevant facts and circumstances        
relating to the outbreak and spread of  
,,covid-#ai in the ,united ,states1 and 
the response to such outbreak and       
spread1 including with respect to any   
relevant legislation1 ,executive order1 
regulation1 plan1 policy1 practice1 or  
procedure2 and  7,c7 may include        

relevant facts and circumstances        
relating to-- 7i7 ,federal1 ,state1 and 
local authorities with responsibilities 
relevant to the outbreak and spread of  
,,covid-#ai in the ,united ,states1     
including such authorities with         
responsibilities relating to public     
health1 emergency management1 and       
epidemic and pandemic preparedness and  
response2  7ii7 private sector          
organizations2  7iii7 intelligence      
agencies and law enforcement agencies2  
7iv7 diplomacy and international        
coordination2  7v7 immigration and      
border control2  7vi7 the role of       
congressional oversight and resource    
allocation2 and  7vii7 other activities 
of the public and private sectors       
determined relevant by the ,commission  
for its inquiry2  7#b7 identify1 review1
 and evaluate the lessons learned from  
the outbreak and spread of ,,covid-#ai  
in the ,united ,states1 and the response
 to such outbreak and spread1 regarding 
the structure1 coordination1 management1

 policies1 procedures1 and actions of   
,federal1 ,state1 and local governments 
and nongovernmental entities relative to
 preparing for1 detecting1 preventing1  
and responding to epidemics and         
pandemics1 whether naturally occurring  
or caused by a ,state or non-,state     
actor2 and  7#c7 submit to the          
,president and ,congress such reports as
 are required by this section containing
 such findings1 conclusions1 and        
recommendations as the ,commission shall
 determine1 including proposing         
organization1 coordination1 planning1   
management arrangements1 procedures1    
rules1 and regulations4  7e7 ,powers of 
,commission  7#a7 ,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 section-- 7i7 hold such hearings   
and sit and act at such times and       
places1 take such testimony1 receive    
such evidence1 and administer such      

oaths1 as the ,commission or such       
designated subcommittee or designated   
member may determine advisable2 and     
7ii7 subject to subparagraph 7,b77i71   
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 ,issuance of 
subpoenas  7i7 ,in general ,a subpoena  
may be issued under this paragraph      
only-- 7,i7 by the agreement of the     
chair and the vice chair2 or  7,,ii7 by 
the affirmative vote of #f members of   
the ,commission4  7ii7 ,signature       
,subject to clause 7i71 subpoenas issued
 under this paragraph may be issued     
under the signature of the chair or any 
member designated by a majority of the  
,commission1 and may be served by any   
person designated by the chair or by a  
member designated by a majority of the  

,commission4  7,c7 ,enforcement of      
subpoenas  7i7 ,in general ,in the case 
of contumacy or failure to obey a       
subpoena issued under this paragraph1   
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        
subsection1 the ,commission may1 by     
majority vote1 certify a statement of   
fact constituting such failure to the   
appropriate ,united ,states attorney1   
who shall 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  7#b7     
,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     
section4  7#c7 ,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    
section4 ,each department1 bureau1      
agency1 board1 commission1 office1      
independent establishment1 or           
instrumentality shall1 to the fullest   
extent permitted by law1 furnish such   

information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and
 statistics directly to the ,commission1
 upon request made by the chair1 the    
chair 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     
7#d7 ,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           
subparagraph 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  7#e7 ,gifts ,the    
,commission may accept1 use1 and dispose
 of gifts or donations of services or   
property4  7#f7 ,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  7f7   
,nonapplicability of ,federal ,advisory 
,committee ,act  7#a7 ,in general ,the  
,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e  
,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the 
,commission4  7#b7 ,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 subsection 7j74  7#c7 ,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  7g7 ,staff of        
,commission  7#a7 ,in general  7,a7     
,appointment and compensation ,the      
chair1 in consultation with vice chair1 
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  7i7 ,in general ,the
 staff 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  7ii7  
,members of ,commission ,clause 7i7     
shall not be construed to apply to      
members of the ,commission4  7#b7       
,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  7#c7  
,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  7h7 ,compensation and travel    
expenses  7#a7 ,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  7#b7 ,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  7i7         

,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   
section without the appropriate security
 clearances4  7j7 ,reports of           
,commission  7#a7 ,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  7#b7  
,final report ,not later than ,august   
#ca1 #bjbb1 the ,commission shall submit
 to the ,president1 ,congress1 and the  
public a final report containing such   
findings1 conclusions1 and              

recommendations for corrective measures 
as have been agreed to by a majority of 
,commission members4  7k7 ,termination  
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission1 and  
all the authorities of this section1    
shall terminate #fj days after the date 
on which the final report is submitted  
under subsection 7j77#b74  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  7l7    
,funding  7#a7 ,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  7#b7   

,duration of availability ,amounts made 
available to the ,commission under      
paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available   
until the termination of the            
,commission4