,,ii  #aagth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #cbjc  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,november #d1  
#bjba,mrs4 ,feinstein 7for herself1 ,mr4
 ,marshall1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 and ,ms4 
,ernst7 introduced the following bill2  
which was read twice and referred to the
 ,committee on ,health1 ,education1     
,labor1 and ,pensions  ,a ,,bill  ,to   
establish the ,commission on the        
,,covid-#ai ,pandemic4  #a4 ,short      
title2 sense of ,congress  7a7 ,short   
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,national ,commission on the ,,covid-#ai
 ,pandemic ,act4  7b7 ,sense of         
,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress 
that-- 7#a7 the ,,sars-,co,v-#b         
7,,covid-#ai7 pandemic has caused       
immense suffering in the ,united        
,states1 having resulted in more than   
#gcf1jjj ,american deaths as of ,october
 #bjba1 and infecting at least          
#de1jjj1jjj2  7#b7 following other      
destructive and traumatic events in our 
history1 including the ,september #aa1  

#bjja1 terrorist attacks1 ,congress has 
established a bipartisan commission of  
experts to study the event and produce a
 report and recommendations1 and such an
 exercise can assist in national        
healing2  7#c7 the extent of the loss of
 life and the economic cost of the      
pandemic demonstrate the high risks that
 pandemic diseases can pose to public   
health and to national security1 and    
demands a thorough1 authoritative1 and  
independent review of the origin of     
,,sars-,co,v-#b as well as ,united      
,states actions and policies before and 
during the pandemic1 and recommendations
 to ,congress and policymakers as to how
 we can be better prepared for future   
pandemic diseases1 including those that 
could be caused by intentional          
biological attacks2  7#d7 individuals   
appointed to the ,commission established
 in subsection 7b7 should be prominent  
citizens of the ,united ,states with    
national recognition and significant    
experience and expertise in-- 7,a7      

public health and biosafety2  7,b7      
epidemiology2  7,c7 medicine2  7,d7     
emergency management or response2  7,e7 
public administration2  7,f7 logistics2 
7,g7 organizational management2 or  7,h7
 medical intelligence and forensic      
investigations2 and  7#e7 it is crucial 
to better understand and manage 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 related 
health issues that the ,united ,states  
could face during the next several      
decades4  #b4 ,commission on the        
,,covid-#ai ,pandemic  7a7              
,establishment of ,commission ,there is 
established in the legislative branch   
the ,national ,commission on the        
,,covid-#ai ,pandemic 7in this section  
referred to as the ,commission74  7b7   
,duties ,the ,commission shall-- 7#a7 in
 accordance with subsection 7d71 conduct
 an investigation of all relevant facts 

and circumstances regarding the novel   
coronavirus disease #bjai 7in this      
section referred to as ,,covid-#ai7 in  
order to make a full and complete       
accounting of-- 7,a7 the preparedness of
 the ,united ,states for pandemic       
disease before the outbreak of          
,,covid-#ai2  7,b7 the circumstances    
surrounding the initial outbreak and    
spread of ,,covid-#ai2 and  7,c7 the    
actions taken by the ,federal           
,government1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal 
governments1 including with respect to  
the private sector1 civil society1 and  
relevant international organizations    
7including the ,world ,health           
,organization7 in response to           
,,covid-#ai2  7#b7 identify and examine 
lessons learned regarding pandemic      
preparedness1 response1 and recovery    
efforts by the ,federal ,government and 
,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 
and international partners2 and  7#c7   
submit to the ,president and ,congress1 
and make publicly available1 such       

reports as are required by this section 
containing findings1 conclusions1 and   
recommendations as the ,commission      
determines appropriate to improve the   
ability of the ,united ,states to       
prepare for1 detect1 prevent1 and1 if   
necessary1 respond to and recover from  
epidemics and pandemics such as         
,,covid-#ai 7whether naturally occurring
 or caused by state or non-state actors7
 in a way that minimizes negative       
effects on public health1 the economy1  
and society4  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 ,house of             
,representatives 7the ,speaker 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     

,senate 7majority or minority leader1 as
 the case may be7 of the same political 
party as such leader of the ,house of   
,representatives1 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 ,affiliations2 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  
,conflicts of interest ,an individual   
appointed to the ,commission may not    
have conflicts of interest1 or otherwise
 have demonstrated a strong bias toward 
a particular conclusion that may        
prejudice the individual's judgement as 
it pertains to the matters before the   
,commission4 ,a senior member of the    
leadership of either party in the       
,senate or the ,house of                
,representatives may raise objections to
 appointees who raise such concerns4    
7,d7 ,deadline for appointment ,all     
members of the ,commission shall be     
appointed not later than #cj days after 
the date of enactment of this ,act4     
7,e7 ,initial meeting ,the ,commission  
shall meet and begin the operations of  
the ,commission as soon as practicable1 
but not later than #ae days after       
appointment of all members of the       
,commission4  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  7#d7 ,in-person meetings    
,the members of the ,commission shall   
conduct its meetings in person unless   
such in-person meetings would pose a    
health risk or significant practical    
challenges4  7d7 ,investigation ,the    
investigation under subsection 7b77#a7  
shall address the following3 7#a7 ,the  
structure1 coordination1 management1    
policies1 procedures1 and actions of the
 ,federal ,government1 ,state1 local1   
and ,tribal governments1 and            
nongovernmental entities in response to 
the ,,covid-#ai pandemic4  7#b7 ,the    
effectiveness of communications to the  
public concerning the pandemic and the  
public health response1 including       
physical distancing practices1 the use  

of masks1 and other non-pharmaceutical  
interventions intended to reduce the    
spread of ,,covid-#ai4  7#c7 ,the role  
of international cooperation in         
responding to the pandemic1 including   
the role of international organizations 
such as the ,world ,health ,organization
 and ,china's government's cooperation  
in the global investigation of          
,,covid-#ai4  7#d7 ,the availability of 
personal protective equipment for health
 workers and first responders1 and the  
availability of other relevant medical  
equipment and supplies1 including the   
role of the ,strategic ,national        
,stockpile4  7#e7 ,the role of the      
,federal ,government in the development1
 testing1 production1 and distribution  
of treatments and vaccines for          
,,covid-#ai4  7#f7 ,the preparedness and
 capacity of the health care system of  
the ,united ,states1 including          
hospitals1 physicians1 community health 
centers1 and laboratories4  7#g7 ,the   
link between variations in the language 

that individuals use to describe a novel
 virus or disease and how such language 
may contribute to or conversely help to 
prevent an increase in incidents of     
stigma1 discrimination1 and harassment  
against an identifiable group of people 
and the communities in which they live4 
7#h7 ,the origins of the novel          
coronavirus that causes ,,covid-#ai4    
,such an investigation shall include    
engaging with willing partner           
governments and experts from around the 
world1 seeking access to all relevant   
records on the virus cultures1 isolates1
 genomic sequences1 databases1 and      
patient specimens1 and personnel of     
interest4 ,the investigation shall fully
 and without prejudice explore the      
likely origins of ,,covid-#ai1 as       
addressed in the ,august1 #bg1 #bjbj1   
,office of the ,director of ,national   
,intelligence unclassified summary of   
the ,intelligence ,community assessment 
on ,,covid-#ai origins1 including       
natural exposure to an infected animal  

and a laboratory-associated incident    
involving experimentation1 animal       
handling1 or sampling by the ,wuhan     
,institute of ,virology1 or another lab 
conducting similar research4  7#i7 ,any 
other subject the ,commission determines
 relevant to understanding the origins  
of ,,covid-#ai1 the ,united ,states     
response to ,,covid-#ai1 and developing 
recommendations to prepare for future   
pandemics4  7e7 ,powers of ,commission  
7#a7 ,in general  7,a7 ,hearings and    
evidence ,the ,commission or1 as        
delegated by the chair and vice chair1  
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  
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        
section1 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        
,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal    
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 ,federal         
,government or a ,state1 local1 or      
,tribal government 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,c7 ,non-interference with public      
health duties ,the ,commission and its  
staff shall seek information and        
testimony in a manner that ensures      
,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal    
individuals and entities and private    
sector individuals and entities are able
 to prioritize activities related to the
 pandemic response4  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 ,intelligence and      
investigative support ,the ,director of 
,national ,intelligence1 the ,secretary 
of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,defense1  
the ,secretary of ,health and ,human    
,services1 and the ,attorney ,general   
shall1 to the extent authorized by law1 
support the duties of the ,commission by
 providing information1 intelligence1   
analysis1 recommendations1 estimates1   
and statistics directly to the          
,commission1 upon request made by the   
chair of the ,commission1 the chair of  
any subcommittee created by a majority  
of the ,commission1 or any member       
designated by a majority of the         
,commission4  7,c7 ,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 
,declassification review of intelligence
 related to ,,covid-#ai  7,a7           
,commencement of review ,not later than 
#cj days after the date of the initial  
meeting of the ,commission1 the         
,director of ,national ,intelligence    
shall1 in coordination with the         
,director of the ,federal ,bureau of    
,investigation1 the ,director of the    
,central ,intelligence ,agency1 and the 
heads of such other elements of the     
intelligence community as the ,director 
of ,national ,intelligence considers    
appropriate1 commence a declassification
 review of any and all information the  
,commission determines necessary        
relating to the origin of ,,covid-#ai4  
7,b7 ,completion of review ,not later   
than #ij days after the date of the     
initial meeting of the ,commission1 the 
,director of ,national ,intelligence    
shall complete the review described in  
subparagraph 7,a7 and determine what    
additional information relating to the  

origin of ,,covid-#ai can be            
appropriately declassified and shared   
with the public4  7,c7 ,submission of   
report ,the ,director of ,national      
,intelligence shall submit to ,congress 
an unclassified report that contains the
 additional information described in    
subparagraph 7,b7 with only such        
redactions as the ,director determines  
necessary to protect sources and methods
 without altering or obscuring such     
information4  7#f7 ,gifts ,the          
,commission may not accept1 use1 and    
dispose of gifts or donations of        
services or property4  7#g7 ,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 ,presumption for public meetings   

7,a7 ,open to the public ,the           
,commission shall make its hearings and 
meetings open to the public unless the  
chair and vice chair determine by       
consensus1 on a case-by-case basis1 that
 the hearing or meeting should be closed
 to the public4  7,b7 ,protection of    
information ,any public meeting or      
hearing 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 the 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 ,the chair   
shall ensure that any internships with  
the ,commission are paid positions4     
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 #egjc7;b7 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 report ,not  
later than #a year after the date of    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission 
shall submit to the ,president and      
,congress1 and make publicly available1 
an interim report 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 the date described in  
paragraph 7#c77;,a71 the ,commission    
shall submit to the ,president and      
,congress1 and make publicly available1 
a final report containing such findings1
 conclusions1 and recommendations for   
corrective measures as have been agreed 
to by a majority of ,commission members4
  7#c7 ,deadline  7,a7 ,date described  
,the date described in this subparagraph
 is #bj months after the date of the    
initial meeting of the ,commission1     
unless not fewer than #h members of the 
,commission vote for an extension of not
 more than #abj days4  7,b7 ,number of  

extensions ,the ,commission may make not
 more than #a extension under           
subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,notification  
,the ,commission shall notify the       
,president1 ,congress1 and the public of
 each extension under subparagraph 7,a74
  7k7 ,termination  7#a7 ,in general    
,the ,commission1 and all the           
authorities of this section1 shall      
terminate #ij 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
 #ij-;day period referred to in         
paragraph 7#a7 for the purpose of       
concluding its activities1 including    
providing testimony to committees of    
,congress concerning its reports1       
disseminating the final report1 and     
explaining to the public such reports   
and the conclusions of the ,commission4 
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 
year4  7#b7 ,duration of availability   
,amounts made available to the          
,commission under paragraph 7#a7 shall  
remain available until the termination  
of the ,commission4  7#c7 ,notice ,the  
chair shall promptly notify ,congress if
 the chair determines that the amounts  
made available to the ,commission under 
paragraph 7#a7 are insufficient for the 
,commission to carry out its duties1    
including during an extended period     
described in subsection 7j77#c74  7m7   
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the
 terms chair and vice chair refer to the
 chair and vice chair of the ,commission
 appointed under subsection 7c77#a74    
7#b7 ,the term ,state means each of the 
several ,states1 the ,district of       
,columbia1 ,puerto ,rico1 ,american     
,samoa1 ,guam1 the ,united ,states      
,virgin ,islands1 and the ,commonwealth 
of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4