text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on Chemical and 
  Biological Warfare Agent Exposure Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
  as the ``Commission on Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Exposure'' 
  (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
      (b) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 9 members (in 
  this Act referred to as the ``members'') who shall be appointed as 
  follows:
              (1) 3 members shall be appointed by the President.
              (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
          House of Representatives.
              (3) 1 member shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
          the House of Representatives.
              (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the President pro 
          tempore of the Senate.
              (5) 1 member shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
          the Senate.
      (c) Qualifications.--
              (1) In general.--Members shall be appointed from among 
          individuals with knowledge and expertise relevant to the duties 
          of the Commission, and may not be officers or employees of the 
          United States.
              (2) Exception.--A member who, when appointed to the 
          Commission, was not an officer or employee of the United 
          States, and who later becomes such an officer or employee may 
          continue as a member for not longer than the 30-day period 
          beginning on the date that the member becomes such an officer 
          or employee.
      (d) Initial Appointments.--All initial appointments to the 
  Commission shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act.
      (e) Chairman.--The Chairman of the Commission (in this Act referred 
  to as the ``Chairman'') shall be elected by the members.
      (f) Period of Appointment.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
  life of the Commission.
      (g) Security Clearances.--All members of the Commission shall apply 
  for appropriate security clearances. The Secretary of Defense shall 
  provide expedited processing of security clearances of members.
      (h) Initial Meeting.--The Commission shall convene its first 
  meeting not later than 30 days after the date as of which all initial 
  appointments to the Commission have been made.
  
  SEC. 3. INVESTIGATION.
  
      The Commission shall investigate the following:
              (1) The presence of chemical and biological warfare agents 
          in the Persian Gulf theater during the Persian Gulf conflict, 
          the amounts and locations of the agents present, and the 
  proximity of members of the Armed Forces to such locations.
              (2) The location and nature of all releases, detections, or 
          reports of chemical or biological warfare agents in connection 
          with the Persian Gulf conflict, the identity of the units of 
          the Armed Forces and the number of individuals potentially 
          exposed to the agents, and the degree of exposure to the 
          agents.
              (3) The level of preparedness of members of the Armed 
          Forces to recognize and respond to possible exposure to 
          chemical and biological warfare agents during the Persian Gulf 
          conflict, the appropriateness of standards used by the Armed 
          Forces to evaluate low levels of exposure to the agents, the 
          adequacy of medical training and procedures of the Armed Forces 
          for identifying and treating exposure to the agents, the 
          adequacy of information provided to members of the Armed Forces 
          on the possible presence or release of the agents, and the 
          appropriateness of instructions and procedures followed to 
          protect members of the Armed Forces from exposure to the 
          agents.
              (4) The handling by the Department of Defense of reports on 
          the use, presence, destruction, storage, and transportation of 
          chemical and biological weapons in connection with the Persian 
          Gulf conflict.
              (5) The adequacy of the recordkeeping and reporting 
          procedures of the Department of Defense with respect to 
          exposure to chemical and biological warfare agents.
              (6) The adequacy of Department of Defense training, 
          preparation, detection, and safety procedures concerning 
          chemical and biological warfare agents.
  
  SEC. 4. REPORT.
  
      Not later than 2 years after the first meeting of the Commission, 
  the Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a report 
  containing--
              (1) the results and findings of the investigation conducted 
          under section 3; and
              (2) recommendations for such changes as the Commission 
          considers appropriate, in the recordkeeping, reporting, 
          preparation, and training procedures of the Department of 
          Defense with respect to exposure to chemical and biological 
          warfare agents, to improve the safety and readiness of members 
          of the Armed Forces.
  
  SEC. 5. POWERS.
  
      (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
  carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times 
  and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 
  Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths 
  to witnesses appearing before it.
      (b) Obtaining Information.--The Commission may secure directly from 
  any department or agency of the United States information necessary to 
  enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chairman, the head 
  of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the 
  Commission in a full and timely manner.
      (c) Subpoena Power.--
              (1) In general.--The Commission may issue a subpoena to 
          require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the 
          production of evidence relating to any matter under 
          investigation by the Commission.
              (2) Failure to obey an order or subpoena.--If a person 
          refuses to obey an order or subpoena of the Commission that is 
          issued in connection with a Commission proceeding, the 
          Commission may apply to the United States district court in the 
          judicial district in which the proceeding is held for an order 
  requiring the person to comply with the subpoena or order.
      (d) Immunity.--The Commission is an agency of the United States for 
  purposes of part V of title 18, United States Code (relating to 
  immunity of witnesses).
      (e) Contract Authority.--The Commission may contract with and 
  compensate government and private agencies or persons for services 
  without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
  
  SEC. 6. COMMISSION PROCEDURES.
  
      (a) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
  Chairman.
      (b) Quorum.--5 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum 
  but a lesser number may hold hearings.
      (c) Delegation of Authority.--Any member or agent of the Commission 
  may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the 
  Commission is authorized to take by this Act.
  
  SEC. 7. PERSONNEL MATTERS.
  
      (a) Pay of Members.--Members shall not be paid by reason of their 
  service as members.
      (b) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
  including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
  5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
      (c) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director who shall be 
  appointed by the Chairman.
      (d) Staff.--With the approval of the Commission and as the Director 
  considers appropriate, the Director may--
              (1) appoint trained investigators and other Commission 
          personnel; and
              (2) fix the pay of such trained investigators and other 
          Commission personnel.
      (e) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The Director and 
  staff of the Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of 
  title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
  service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 
  51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to 
  classification and General Schedule pay rates.
  
  SEC. 8. OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
  
      (a) Postal and Printing Services.--The Commission may use the 
  United States mails and obtain printing and binding services in the 
  same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
  agencies of the United States.
      (b) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
  Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
  Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
  services necessary for the Commission to carry out its duties under 
  this Act.
      (c) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary 
  and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
  States Code.
  
  SEC. 9. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.
  
      Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of 
  section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974) authorized 
  by this Act shall be effective only to such extent and in such amounts 
  as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
  
  SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
  
      The Commission shall terminate 60 days after submitting its report 
  pursuant to section 4.
target: Commission on Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Exposure Act - Establishes the Commission on Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Exposure to investigate the presence of, and U.S. military personnel exposure to, chemical and biological warfare agents in the Persian Gulf theater during the Persian Gulf War.  Requires a Commission report to the President and the Congress on investigation results and appropriate recommendations for changes in the recordkeeping, reporting, preparation, and training procedures of the Department of Defense with respect to such exposure in order to improve the safety and readiness of U.S. military personnel. 
  Terminates the Commission 60 days after such report.
feat_title: Commission on Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Exposure Act