,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dacb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #a1 #bjbj,mrs4   
,fe9/e9 7= h]self1 ,ms4 ,klobu*>1 ,ms4  
,baldw91 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4 ,re$1 ,mr4   
,blum5?al1 ,mr4 ,m>key1 ,ms4 ,h>ris1    
,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,c>p]1 ,mr4 ,van     
,holl51 ,mrs4 ,gillibr&1 ,mr4 ,m]kley1  
,ms4 ,smi?1 ,ms4 ,w>r51 & ,mr4 ,c>d97   
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,rules
 & ,adm9i/ration  ,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 important to consid] :at !    
coronavirus disease #ai 7,,covid-#ai7   
p&emic reveals ab\t ! vuln]abilities to 
! national security ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1  
especially h[ prep>$ ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
w\ld be = a biological attack t n only  

causes public heal? confusion & fe> 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>d2 &  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 decades4  #b4 ,national          
,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+ to ! outbreak &     

spread ( coronavirus disease #ai        
7,,covid-#ai7 caus$ by ! sev]e acute    
respiratory syndrome coronavirus #b     
7,,s>s-,co,v-#b7 79 ?is section ref]r$  
to z ,,covid-#ai7 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2    
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+ ( !        
circum/ances surr\nd+ ! outbreak &      
spread ( ,,covid-#ai 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 
7#d7 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#e7 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#f7  
inve/igate & report to ! ,presid5t &    

,congress 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] ( ! ,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]1 :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      
practicable4  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  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 & ,congress 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$ures1 rules1 & regulations4  7e7   
,p[]s ( ,commission  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  7,a7
 ,he>+s & evid5ce ,! ,commission or1 on 
! au?ority ( ! ,commission1 any         
subcommittee or memb] !re(1 may1 = !    
purpose ( c>ry+ out ?is section-- 7i7   
hold su* he>+s & sit & act at su* times 
& places1 take su* te/imony1 receive su*
 evid5ce1 & adm9i/] su* oa?s1 z !       
,commission or su* designat$            
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 ,public meet+s &
 release ( public v]sions ( reports ,!  
,commission %all-- 7,a7 hold public     
he>+s & meet+s to ! ext5t appropriate2 &
  7,b7 release public v]sions ( !       
reports requir$ "u subsection 7j74  7#c7
 ,public he>+s ,any public he>+s ( !    

,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 #egjc ( 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 & ,congress 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 ,augu/ #ca1 #bjbb1 !        
,commission %all submit to ! ,presid5t1 
,congress1 & ! public a f9al report     
conta9+ su* f9d+s1 conclusions1 &       
recomm5dations = corrective measures z h
 be5 agre$ to by a majority (           
,commission memb]s4  7k7 ,t]m9ation     
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,commission1 & all !   
au?orities ( ?is section1 %all t]m9ate  
#fj 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 ! 
#fj-;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 reports &        
dissem9at+ ! f9al report4  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