text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``International Space Station 
  Independent Safety Commission Act of 2004''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      For purposes of this Act--
              (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Commission 
          established under this Act;
              (2) the term ``ISS'' means the International Space Station;
              (3) the term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics and 
          Space Administration;
              (4) the term ``NASA Administrator'' means the Administrator 
          of NASA; and
              (5) the term ``NTSB'' means the National Transportation 
          Safety Board.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
  
      (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish an independent, 
  nonpartisan Commission within the executive branch to discover and 
  assess any vulnerabilities of the International Space Station that 
  could lead to its destruction, compromise the health of its crew, or 
  necessitate its premature abandonment.
      (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The President shall issue an 
  executive order establishing a Commission within 30 days after the date 
  of enactment of this Act.
  
  SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.
  
      (a) Number of Commissioners.--The Commission shall consist of 15 
  members.
      (b) Selection.--The members of the Commission shall be chosen in 
  the following manner:
              (1) The Chairman of the NTSB shall be a member of the 
          Commission.
              (2) The President shall appoint the remaining 14 members, 
          and shall designate the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the 
          Commission from among its members.
              (3) Five of the 14 members appointed by the President shall 
          be selected by the President in the following manner:
                      (A) The majority leader of the Senate, the minority 
                  leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
                  Representatives, the minority leader of the House of 
                  Representatives, and the President of the collective-
                  bargaining organization including the largest number of 
                  NASA engineers, shall each provide to the President a 
                  list of candidates for membership on the Commission.
                      (B) The President shall select one of the 
                  candidates from each of the 5 lists for membership on 
                  the Commission.
              (4)(A) With the exception of the Chairman of the NTSB, no 
          officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve as a 
          member of the Commission.
              (B) No member of the Commission shall have, or have 
          pending, a contractual relationship with NASA.
              (C) The President may waive the prohibitions in 
          subparagraphs (A) and (B) with respect to the selection of not 
          more than 2 members of the Commission.
              (5) The President shall not appoint any individual as a 
          member of the Commission who has a current or former 
          relationship with the NASA Administrator that the President 
          determines would constitute a conflict of interest.
              (6) To the extent practicable, the President shall ensure 
          that the members of the Commission include some individuals 
          with experience relative to human-carrying spacecraft, as well 
          as some individuals with investigative experience and some 
          individuals with legal experience.
              (7) To the extent practicable, the President shall seek 
          diversity in the membership of the Commission.
      (c) Deadline for Appointment.--All members of the Commission shall 
  be appointed no later than 60 days after issuance of the executive 
  order establishing the Commission.
      (d) Initial Meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin 
  operations as soon as practicable.
      (e) Quorum; Vacancies.--After its initial meeting, the Commission 
  shall meet upon the call of the Chairman or a majority of its members. 
  Eight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy 
  in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in 
  the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
  
  SEC. 5. TASKS OF THE COMMISSION.
  
      The Commission shall, to the extent possible, undertake the 
  following tasks:
              (1) Catalog threats to and vulnerabilities of the ISS, 
          including design flaws, natural phenomena, computer software or 
          hardware flaws, sabotage or terrorist attack, number of 
          crewmembers, and inability to adequately deliver replacement 
          parts and supplies, and management or procedural deficiencies.
              (2) Make recommendations for corrective actions.
              (3) Provide any additional findings or recommendations 
          considered by the Commission to be important, whether or not 
          they are related to ISS safety.
              (4) Prepare a report to Congress, the President, and the 
          public.
  
  SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
  
      (a) In General.--
              (1) Hearings and evidence.--The Commission or, on the 
          authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member 
          thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act--
                      (A) hold such hearings and sit and act at such 
                  times and places, take such testimony, receive such 
                  evidence, administer such oaths; and
                      (B) subject to paragraph (2)(A), require, by 
                  subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of 
                  such witnesses and the production of such books, 
                  records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and 
                  documents,
          as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or designated 
          member may determine advisable.
              (2) Subpoenas.--
                      (A) Issuance.--
                              (i) In general.--A subpoena may be issued 
                          under this subsection only--
                                      (I) by the agreement of the 
                                  Chairman and the Vice Chairman; or
                                      (II) by the affirmative vote of 8 
                                  members of the Commission.
                              (ii) Signature.--Subject to clause (i), 
                          subpoenas issued under this subsection may be 
                          issued under the signature of the Chairman or 
                          any member designated by a majority of the 
                          Commission, and may be served by any person 
                          designated by the Chairman or by a member 
                          designated by a majority of the Commission.
                      (B) Enforcement.--
                              (i) In general.--In the case of contumacy 
                          or failure to obey a subpoena issued under 
                          subparagraph (A), the United States district 
                          court for the judicial district in which the 
                          subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be 
                          found, or where the subpoena is returnable, may 
                          issue an order requiring such person to appear 
                          at any designated place to testify or to 
                          produce documentary or other evidence. Any 
                          failure to obey the order of the court may be 
                          punished by the court as a contempt of that 
                          court.
                              (ii) Additional enforcement.--In the case 
                          of a failure of a witness to comply with a 
                          subpoena or to testify when summoned under 
                          authority of this section, the Commission may, 
                          by majority vote, certify a statement of fact 
                          constituting such failure to the appropriate 
                          United States attorney, who may bring the 
                          matter before a grand jury for its action, 
                          under the same statutory authority and 
                          procedures as if the United States attorney had 
                          received a certification under sections 102 
                          through 104 of the Revised Statutes of the 
                          United States (2 U.S.C. 192 through 194).
      (b) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in such 
  amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to 
  enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act.
      (c) Information From Federal Agencies.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission may secure directly from 
          any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
          office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 
          Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics 
          for the purposes of this Act. Each department, bureau, agency, 
          board, commission, office, independent establishment, or 
          instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish 
          such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics 
          directly to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman, 
          the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the 
          Commission, or any member designated by a majority of the 
          Commission.
              (2) Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.--
          Information shall be received, handled, stored, and 
          disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff 
          consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and 
          Executive orders.
      (d) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
              (1) 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 tasks.
              (2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to the 
          assistance prescribed in paragraph (1), departments and 
          agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission 
          such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support 
          services as they may determine advisable and as may be 
          authorized by law.
              (3) NASA engineering and safety center.--The NASA 
          Engineering and Safety Center shall provide data and technical 
          support as requested by the Commission.
      (e) 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 States.
  
  SEC. 7. PUBLIC MEETINGS, INFORMATION, AND HEARINGS.
  
      (a) Public Meetings and Release of Public Versions of Reports.--The 
  Commission shall--
              (1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent 
          appropriate; and
              (2) release public versions of the reports required under 
          this Act.
      (b) 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 statute, regulation, or Executive order.
  
  SEC. 8. STAFF OF COMMISSION.
  
      (a) In General.--
              (1) Appointment and compensation.--The Chairman, in 
          consultation with Vice Chairman, in accordance with rules 
          agreed upon by the Commission, 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 
          functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
          States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
          and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
          subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
          classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no 
          rate of pay fixed under this paragraph may exceed the 
          equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the 
          Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States 
          Code. Employees of NASA shall not be appointed to the staff of 
          the Commission.
              (2) Personnel as federal employees.--
                      (A) In general.--The executive director and any 
                  personnel of the Commission shall be considered 
                  employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States 
                  Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 
                  89, and 90 of that title.
                      (B) Members of commission.--Subparagraph (A) does 
                  not apply to members of the Commission.
      (b) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee, except for an 
  employee of NASA, may be detailed to the Commission without 
  reimbursement from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain the 
  rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without 
  interruption.
      (c) Consultant Services.--The Commission may procure the services 
  of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, 
  United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a 
  person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
  section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. Any consultant or expert 
  whose services are procured under this subsection shall disclose any 
  contract or association it has with NASA or any NASA contractor.
  
  SEC. 9. COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.
  
      (a) 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 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which 
  that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the 
  Commission.
      (b) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or regular places 
  of business in the performance of services for the Commission, members 
  of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
  in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed 
  intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under 
  section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code.
  
  SEC. 10. 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 requirements. No person 
  shall be provided with access to classified information under this Act 
  without the appropriate security clearances.
  
  SEC. 11. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND TERMINATION.
  
      (a) Interim Reports.--The Commission may submit to the President 
  and Congress interim reports containing such findings, conclusions, and 
  recommendations for corrective actions as have been agreed to by a 
  majority of Commission members.
      (b) Final Report.--The Commission shall submit to the President and 
  Congress, and make concurrently available to the public, a final report 
  containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for 
  corrective actions as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission 
  members. Such report shall include any minority views or opinions not 
  reflected in the majority report.
      (c) Termination.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission, and all the authorities of 
          this Act with respect to the Commission, shall terminate 60 
          days after the date on which the final report is submitted 
          under subsection (b).
              (2) Administrative activities before termination.--The 
          Commission may use the 60-day period referred to in paragraph 
          (1) for the purpose of concluding its activities, including 
          providing testimony to committees of Congress concerning its 
          reports and disseminating the final report.
      (d) National Academy of Sciences Review.--The NASA Administrator 
  shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences 
  for a review of compliance with the recommendations of the Commission. 
  The National Academy of Sciences may consult with former members of the 
  Commission as appropriate. The NASA Administrator shall transmit a 
  report to the Congress containing the results of the review not later 
  than 18 months after the date the final report of the Commission is 
  submitted under section 11(b).
  
  SEC. 12. FUNDING.
  
      Such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act are authorized to 
  be appropriated. Sums authorized by this Act shall remain available 
  until the termination of the Commission.
target: International Space Station Independent Safety Commission Act of 2004 - Directs the President to establish, an independent, non-partisan Commission within the executive branch to discover and assess any vulnerabilities of the International Space Station (ISS) that could lead to its destruction, compromise the health of its crew, or necessitate its premature abandonment.
  
  Provides for the Commission to consist of 15 members, including the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Prohibits: (1) any Commission member from having or having pending a contractual relationship with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and (2) the President from appointing any individual as a Commission member who has a current or former relationship with the Administrator of NASA that the President determines would constitute a conflict of interest.
  
  Instructs the Commission to undertake the following tasks: (1) catalog threats to and vulnerabilities of the ISS, including sabotage or terrorist attack; (2) make recommendations for corrective actions; and (3) provide any additional findings or recommendations considered by the Commission to be important, whether or not they are related to ISS safety.
  
  Sets forth the powers and other authorities of the Commission.
  
  Directs the NASA Engineering and Safety Center to provide data and technical support as requested by the Commission.
  
  Requires the appropriate Federal agencies or departments to cooperate with the Commission in expeditiously providing appropriate security clearances to the Commission members and staff. Prohibits any person from being provided access to classified information under this Act without the appropriate security clearances.
  
  Allows the Commission to submit interim reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations for corrective actions to the President and Congress. Terminates the Commission and all the authorities of this Act with respect to the Commission after the Commission's final report containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations for such actions is submitted to the President and Congress and made available to the public.
  
  Directs the NASA Administrator to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for a review of compliance with the Commission's recommendations and to transmit a report to Congress containing the results of such review.
feat_title: To provide for the establishment of an independent, Presidentially-appointed Commission to assess the safety of the International Space Station and its crew.