The bill would establish a 14-member, bipartisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States which would examine the facts and causes relating to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for corrective measures that can be taken to prevent future acts of terrorism.
The Commission?s Composition
The 14 members of the Commission will be appointed as follows:
? 4 members, including the chairperson of the Commission, will be appointed by the President of the United States
? 10 members will be appointed by congressional leaders. The chairperson, in consultation with the ranking member, of the following committees will appoint one member:
- Senate Committee on Armed Services
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- House Committee on Armed Services
- House Committee on Energy and Commerce
- House Committee on the Judiciary
- House Committee on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- House Committee on International Relations
Additionally, Commission membership will meet the following qualifications:
? No more than 7 members of the Commission may be from the same political party
? Members should be prominent U.S. citizens with national recognition and backgrounds in government service, law enforcement, the armed services, legal practice, public administration, intelligence gathering, commerce, and foreign affairs
? No current government employees may be appointed
Timing
No more than six months after the Commission?s initial meeting, it will submit an initial report to the President and Congress. A second report, containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations, must be submitted to the President and Congress no later than one year after the submission of the initial report.
Function and Scope
The primary functions of the Commission are:
? to conduct an investigation into the facts and circumstances relating to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 including any relevant legislation, Executive order, regulation, plan, practice, or procedure
? review and evaluate the lessons learned from the terrorist attacks regarding the structure, coordination, and management arrangement of the Federal Government in detecting, preventing, and responding to terrorist attacks
? submit to the President and Congress reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including proposing organization, coordination, planning, management arrangements, procedures, rules and regulations
To achieve these functions, the Commission will be allowed to:
? hold hearings
? require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents
? secure information, including information needing security clearances, services, as well as funds, facilities, staff, and other support services from Federal agencies.
PDF Copy of the Full Bill
Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
