USC Chapter 707

in effect

51 U.S.C. § 70701 Definitions

In this chapter: (1) Commission.—The term “Commission” means a Commission established under this chapter. (2) Incident.—The term “incident” means either an accident or a deliberate act.

51 U.S.C. § 70702 Establishment of Commission

(a) Establishment.—The President shall establish an independent, nonpartisan Commission within the executive branch to investigate any incident that results in the loss of—(1) a space shuttle; (2) the International Space Station or its operational viability; (3) any other orbital or suborbital space vehicle carrying humans that is—(A) owned by the Federal Government; or (B) being used pursuant to a contract or Space Act Agreement with the Federal Government for carrying a government astronaut or a researcher funded by the Federal Government; or (4) a crew member or passenger of any space vehicle described in this subsection. (b) Deadline for Establishment.—The President shall establish a Commission within 7 days after an incident specified in subsection (a). (c) Definitions.—In this section:(1) Government astronaut.—The term “government astronaut” has the meaning given the term in section 50902. (2) Space act agreement.—The term “Space Act Agreement” means an agreement entered into by the Administration pursuant to its other transactions authority under section 20113(e).

51 U.S.C. § 70703 Tasks of Commission

A Commission established pursuant to this chapter shall, to the extent possible, undertake the following tasks: (1) Investigation.—Investigate the incident. (2) Cause.—Determine the cause of the incident. (3) Contributing factors.—Identify all contributing factors to the cause of the incident. (4) Recommendations.—Make recommendations for corrective actions. (5) Additional findings or recommendations.—Provide any additional findings or recommendations deemed by the Commission to be important, whether or not they are related to the specific incident under investigation. (6) Report.—Prepare a report to Congress, the President, and the public.

51 U.S.C. § 70704 Composition of Commission

(a) Number of Commissioners.—A Commission established pursuant to this chapter shall consist of 15 members. (b) Selection.—The members of a Commission shall be chosen in the following manner:(1) Appointment by president.—The President shall appoint the members, and shall designate the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission from among its members. (2) Lists provided by leaders of congress.—The majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall each provide to the President a list of candidates for membership on the Commission. The President may select one of the candidates from each of the 4 lists for membership on the Commission. (3) Prohibition regarding federal officers and employees and members of congress.—No officer or employee of the Federal Government or Member of Congress shall serve as a member of the Commission. (4) Prohibition regarding contractors.—No member of the Commission shall have, or have pending, a contractual relationship with the Administration. (5) Prohibition regarding conflict of interest.—The President shall not appoint any individual as a member of a Commission under this section who has a current or former relationship with the Administrator that the President determines would constitute a conflict of interest. (6) Experience.—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) Diversity.—To the extent practicable, the President shall seek diversity in the membership of the Commission. (c) Deadline for Appointment.—All members of a Commission established under this chapter shall be appointed no later than 30 days after the incident. (d) Initial Meeting.—A Commission shall meet and begin operations as soon as practicable. (e) Subsequent Meetings.—After its initial meeting, a Commission shall meet upon the call of the Chairman or a majority of its members. (f) Quorum.—Eight members of a Commission shall constitute a quorum. (g) Vacancies.—Any vacancy in a Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

51 U.S.C. § 70705 Powers of Commission

(a) Hearings and Evidence.—A Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this chapter—(1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer such oaths; and (2) 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 member may determine advisable. (b) Contracting.—A 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 chapter. (c) Information From Federal Agencies.—(1) In general.—A 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 chapter. 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 only 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 a 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) Administration engineering and safety center.—The Administration Engineering and Safety Center shall provide data and technical support as requested by the Commission.

51 U.S.C. § 70706 Public meetings, information, and hearings

(a) Public Meetings and Release of Public Versions of Reports.—A Commission shall—(1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent appropriate; and (2) release public versions of the reports required under this chapter. (b) Public Hearings.—Any public hearings of a 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.

51 U.S.C. § 70707 Staff of Commission

(a) Appointment and Compensation.—The Chairman, in consultation with the Vice Chairman, in accordance with rules agreed upon by a 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. (b) Detailees.—Any Federal Government employee, except for an employee of the Administration, may be detailed to a 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.—A Commission may procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, but at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for positions at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5. An expert or consultant whose services are procured under this subsection shall disclose any contract or association the expert or consultant has with the Administration or any Administration contractor.

51 U.S.C. § 70708 Compensation and travel expenses

(a) Compensation.—Each member of a Commission may be compensated at a rate not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for positions at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5 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 a 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 of title 5.

51 U.S.C. § 70709 Security clearances for Commission members and staff

The appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall cooperate with a 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 chapter without the appropriate security clearances.

51 U.S.C. § 70710 Reporting requirements and termination

(a) Interim Reports.—A 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.—A 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.—A Commission, and all the authorities of this chapter with respect to that Commission, shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the final report is submitted under subsection (b). (2) Administrative activities before termination.—A 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.