I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4974 

To provide for quadrennial national security reviews, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 25, 2010 

Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. SKELTON, Ms. HARMAN, 

Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. WALZ, Mr. REYES, Mr. 

OWENS, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, 

and Mr. CARTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To provide for quadrennial national security reviews, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Quadrennial National 

5 Security Review Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) On February 24, 2009, President Barack 

9 Obama noted the importance of utilizing a whole-ofVerDate Nov 24 2008 02:59 Mar 27, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4974.IH H4974

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1 government approach, stating that in order, ‘‘to 

2 meet the challenges of the 21st century—from ter3 rorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic dis4 ease to cyber threats to crushing poverty—we will 

5 . . . use all elements of our national power.’’. 

6 (2) In recognition of the importance of inte7 grating all elements of our national influence, one of 

8 the President’s first actions was to merge the Na9 tional Security Council and Homeland Security 

10 Council into a single National Security Staff. 

11 (3) United States national security goals are es12 tablished in the National Security Strategy, which is 

13 required by law to be submitted annually to Con14 gress in conjunction with the Administration’s budg15 et proposal. However, only two versions have been 

16 published in the last 8 years, providing little insight 

17 about how we can harness all assets of national 

18 power to achieve these national security goals. 

19 (4) Interagency operations are now common in 

20 United States national security missions, however, 

21 outside the military, there is still no driving organi22 zational method for properly matching individual 

23 agency resources with larger joint missions. 

24 (5) The Department of Defense’s Quadrennial 

25 Defense Review has led to greater coordination and 


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1 cooperation among the service branches and simi2 larly the new Quadrennial Review of Diplomacy and 

3 Development is designed to identify key objectives 

4 and missions for United States diplomatic policy, 

5 there is no review that examines the goals and re6 sources across all United States agencies with na7 tional security responsibilities. 

8 (6) In its ‘‘Beyond Goldwater-Nichols Phase 2’’ 

9 report, the Center for Strategic and International 

10 Studies (CSIS) recognized this gap in strategic anal11 ysis. 

12 (7) CSIS recommended the establishment of a 

13 Quadrennial National Security Review to create an 

14 interagency process to identify national security 

15 goals, assess existing needs and capabilities, estab16 lish priorities for funding, and recommend specific 

17 policy and budget proposals to achieve national secu18 rity goals using all elements of national power. 

19 (8) The congressionally mandated Project on 

20 National Security Reform similarly recommended 

21 that the United States needs to develop an overall 

22 strategy to provide timely resources and adequate 

23 authorities for supporting our national security 

24 goals. 


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1 (9) The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review Re2 port recommends the creation of ‘‘National Security 

3 Planning Guidance to direct the development of both 

4 military and nonmilitary plans and institutional ca5 pabilities.’’. The Report states that this guidance 

6 should set national security priorities, responsibilities 

7 and assist United States Federal agencies to ‘‘better 

8 align their strategy, budget and planning functions 

9 with national objectives.’’. 

10 (10) The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review ac11 knowledges that, ‘‘the complexity of 21st century 

12 conflicts demands that the United States govern13 ment significantly improve interagency comprehen14 sive assessments, analysis, planning and execution 

15 for whole-of-government operations,’’ and advocates 

16 for ‘‘an improved interagency strategic planning 

17 process that makes optimal use of all national in18 struments of statecraft.’’. 

19 SEC. 3. QUADRENNIAL NATIONAL SECURITY REVIEWS. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The National Security Act of 

21 1947 is amended by inserting after section 108 (50 U.S.C. 

22 404a) the following: 

23 ‘‘SEC. 108A. QUADRENNIAL NATIONAL SECURITY REVIEWS. 

24 ‘‘(a) QNSR REQUIRED.—Every 4 years, during a 

25 year following a year evenly divisible by 4, the President 


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1 shall, in consultation with the Director of the Office of 

2 Management and Budget, Congress, and the heads of 

3 other appropriate departments and agencies responsible 

4 for national security, conduct a quadrennial national secu5 rity review (in this section referred to as a ‘QNSR’) to 

6 set forth the security goals, including long-term and short7 term security goals, of the United States. 

8 ‘‘(b) REPORT.— 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In a year following the year 

10 in which a QNSR is conducted under this section, 

11 but not later than the date on which the President 

12 submits the budget for the next fiscal year to Con13 gress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 

14 States Code, the President shall submit to Congress 

15 a report on such QNSR. Such report shall include— 

16 ‘‘(A) a discussion of the worldwide inter17 ests, goals, and objectives of the United States 

18 that are vital to the national security of the 

19 United States; 

20 ‘‘(B) a prioritization of the goals described 

21 in subparagraph (A); 

22 ‘‘(C) a description of— 

23 ‘‘(i) which agencies and departments 

24 of the Federal Government will be respon25 sible for achieving such goals; and 


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1 ‘‘(ii) the organizational, policy, and 

2 budget requirements of agencies and de3 partments of the Federal Government to 

4 achieve such goals; 

5 ‘‘(D) an assessment of potential risks to 

6 the United States, citizens of the United States, 

7 and interests of the United States and any 

8 challenges to the pursuit or attainment of such 

9 goals by the United States; 

10 ‘‘(E) an assessment of the role of other na11 tions in the attainment of such goals by the 

12 United States, including an assessment of polit13 ical, economic, or cultural trends at the global, 

14 regional, or national level that will affect such 

15 attainment; 

16 ‘‘(F) a discussion of the foreign policy, na17 tional defense capabilities, international cooper18 ative efforts, and other relevant means by which 

19 to deter aggression and implement such goals 

20 and policies; 

21 ‘‘(G) an evaluation of the capacity of the 

22 departments and agencies involved with imple23 menting national security strategy to conduct 

24 strategic planning and national security-related 


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1 operations with other agencies and depart2 ments; 

3 ‘‘(H) an identification of the elements of 

4 national power (including political, military, 

5 economic, intelligence, legal, cultural, and edu6 cational assets and capabilities) needed to deter 

7 aggression and implement such goals and poli8 cies, including description of existing assets and 

9 capabilities available to the United States; 

10 ‘‘(I) a description of how the Federal Gov11 ernment will coordinate elements of national 

12 power among agencies and departments of the 

13 Federal Government to produce unity of effort 

14 in pursuing such goals and policies; 

15 ‘‘(J) an assessment of any additional re16 sources, policy recommendations, or other 

17 changes needed to maximize the ability of the 

18 United States to achieve the interests, goals, 

19 and objectives discussed in the QNSR; 

20 ‘‘(K) the national security strategy report 

21 required under section 108(a)(3); and 

22 ‘‘(L) a projection of the costs of imple23 menting the goals described in subparagraph 

24 (A) for the 5 fiscal years following the fiscal 

25 year in which the QNSR is submitted, including 


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1 the cost for each agency and department and a 

2 prioritization of each program within a depart3 ment or agency and an explanation of the stra4 tegic importance of such program. 

5 ‘‘(2) FORM OF QNSR.—Each QNSR shall be 

6 submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 

7 classified annex. 

8 ‘‘(c) QNSR ADVISORY COMMISSION.— 

9 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a 

10 commission to be known as the ‘QNSR Advisory 

11 Commission’ (in this subsection referred to as the 

12 ‘Commission’). 

13 ‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The Commission shall assess 

14 each report submitted under subsection (b)(1) (in15 cluding the national security strategy report re16 quired under section 108(a)(3)) and the national se17 curity budget. 

18 ‘‘(3) MEMBERSHIP.— 

19 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

20 be composed of 15 members, of whom— 

21 ‘‘(i) three shall be appointed by the 

22 President; 

23 ‘‘(ii) three shall be appointed by the 

24 Speaker of the House of Representatives; 


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1 ‘‘(iii) two shall be appointed by the 

2 minority leader of the House of Represent3 atives; 

4 ‘‘(iv) three shall be appointed by the 

5 majority leader of the Senate; 

6 ‘‘(v) two shall be appointed by the mi7 nority leader of the Senate; 

8 ‘‘(vi) one shall be appointed jointly by 

9 the Speaker and the minority leader of the 

10 House of Representatives; and 

11 ‘‘(vii) one shall be appointed jointly by 

12 the majority leader and the minority leader 

13 of the Senate. 

14 ‘‘(B) QUALIFICATIONS.— 

15 ‘‘(i) POLITICAL PARTY AFFILI16 ATION.—Not more than 8 members of the 

17 Commission shall be from the same polit18 ical party. 

19 ‘‘(ii) NONGOVERNMENTAL EMPLOY20 EES.—An individual appointed to the Com21 mission may not be an officer or employee 

22 of the Federal Government or any State or 

23 local government. 

24 ‘‘(iii) OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.—It is 

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1 pointed to the Commission should be 

2 prominent United States citizens, with na3 tional recognition and significant depth of 

4 experience in such professions as govern5 mental service, law enforcement, the armed 

6 services, law, public administration, intel7 ligence gathering, commerce, public diplo8 macy, international development, conflict 

9 resolution, economics, trade, finance, and 

10 foreign affairs. 

11 ‘‘(C) CHAIR; VICE CHAIR.— 

12 ‘‘(i) ODD NUMBERED REPORTS.— 

13 During the period beginning on the date 

14 on which the Commission is established for 

15 the first time under paragraph (1) and 

16 ending on the date on which the Commis17 sion is subsequently terminated pursuant 

18 to paragraph (7)(A), and during the period 

19 beginning every 8 years thereafter and 

20 ending on the date on which the Commis21 sion is subsequently terminated pursuant 

22 to paragraph (7)(A), the member ap23 pointed under subparagraph (A)(vi) shall 

24 serve as the Chair of the Commission and 

25 the member appointed under subparagraph 


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1 (A)(vii) shall serve as the Vice Chair of the 

2 Commission. 

3 ‘‘(ii) EVEN NUMBERED REPORTS.— 

4 During the period beginning on the date 

5 on which the Commission is reestablished 

6 for the first time under paragraph (7)(B) 

7 and ending on the date on which the Com8 mission is subsequently terminated pursu9 ant to paragraph (7)(A), and during the 

10 period beginning every 8 years thereafter 

11 and ending on the date on which the Com12 mission is subsequently terminated pursu13 ant to paragraph (7)(A), the member ap14 pointed under subparagraph (A)(vii) shall 

15 serve as the Chair of the Commission and 

16 the member appointed under subparagraph 

17 (A)(vi) shall serve as the Vice Chair of the 

18 Commission. 

19 ‘‘(D) DATE OF APPOINTMENT.—All mem20 bers of the Commission shall be appointed not 

21 later than 180 days after the date on which a 

22 report is submitted under subsection (b)(1). 

23 ‘‘(E) TERM.—Each member appointed 

24 under subparagraph (A) shall serve a term of 2 

25 years. 


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1 ‘‘(F) QUORUM.—Eight members of the 

2 Commission shall constitute a quorum but a 

3 lesser number may hold hearings. 

4 ‘‘(G) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Com5 mission shall be filled in the same manner as 

6 the original appointment. 

7 ‘‘(H) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member 

8 shall receive travel expenses, including per diem 

9 in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with appli10 cable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 

11 57 of title 5, United States Code. 

12 ‘‘(4) STAFF.—The Commission may appoint 

13 and fix the pay of personnel as the Commission con14 siders appropriate. 

15 ‘‘(5) POWERS.— 

16 ‘‘(A) HEARINGS.—The Commission may, 

17 for the purpose of carrying out this section, 

18 hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, 

19 take testimony, and receive evidence as the 

20 Commission considers appropriate. 

21 ‘‘(B) SUBPOENAS.— 

22 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Commission 

23 may issue subpoenas requiring the attend24 ance and testimony of witnesses and the 

25 production of any evidence relating to any 


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1 matter relating to the assessment of the 

2 report submitted under subsection (b)(1) 

3 and the national security budget. 

4 ‘‘(ii) FAILURE TO OBEY A SUB5 POENA.—If a person refuses to obey a sub6 poena issued under clause (i), the Commis7 sion may apply to a United States district 

8 court for an order requiring that person to 

9 appear before the Commission to give testi10 mony, produce evidence, or both, relating 

11 to the matter under investigation. The ap12 plication may be made within the judicial 

13 district where the hearing is conducted or 

14 where that person is found, resides, or 

15 transacts business. Any failure to obey the 

16 order of the court may be punished by the 

17 court as civil contempt. 

18 ‘‘(iii) SERVICE OF SUBPOENAS.—The 

19 subpoenas of the Commission shall be 

20 served in the manner provided for sub21 poenas issued by a United States district 

22 court under the Federal Rules of Civil Pro23 cedure for the United States district 

24 courts. 


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1 ‘‘(iv) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—All 

2 process of any court to which application is 

3 made under clause (ii) may be served in 

4 the judicial district in which the person re5 quired to be served resides or may be 

6 found. 

7 ‘‘(C) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGEN8 CIES.—The Commission may secure directly 

9 from any department or agency of the United 

10 States information necessary to enable it to 

11 carry out this section. Upon request of the 

12 Chair of the Commission, the head of that de13 partment or agency shall furnish that informa14 tion to the Commission. 

15 ‘‘(D) SUPPORT FROM OTHER FEDERAL

16 AGENCIES.— 

17 ‘‘(i) ADMINISTRATIVE.—Upon the re18 quest of the Commission, the Adminis19 trator of General Services shall provide to 

20 the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 

21 the administrative support services nec22 essary for the Commission to carry out its 

23 responsibilities under this section. 

24 ‘‘(ii) STAFF.—Upon request of the 

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1 partment or agency may detail, on a reim2 bursable basis, any of the personnel of that 

3 department or agency to the Commission 

4 to assist it in carrying out its duties under 

5 this section. 

6 ‘‘(E) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.— 

7 The Commission may accept, use, and dispose 

8 of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or prop9 erty, both real and personal, for the purpose of 

10 aiding or facilitating the work of the Commis11 sion. 

12 ‘‘(F) POSTAL SERVICE.—The Commission 

13 may use the United States mails in the same 

14 manner and under the same conditions as other 

15 departments and agencies of the United States. 

16 ‘‘(G) CONTRACTING.—The Commission 

17 may, to such extent and in such amounts as are 

18 provided in appropriation Acts, enter into con19 tracts to enable the Commission to discharge its 

20 duties under this section. 

21 ‘‘(6) REPORT.—Not later than two years after 

22 the date on which a report on the QNSR is sub23 mitted under subsection (b)(1), the Commission 

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1 sessment of the Commission of such report on the 

2 QNSR and the national security budget. 

3 ‘‘(7) TERMINATION; REESTABLISHMENT; FED4 ERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— 

5 ‘‘(A) TERMINATION.—Subject to subpara6 graph (B), the Commission shall terminate on 

7 the date that is 30 days after the date on which 

8 the Commission submits a report under para9 graph (6). 

10 ‘‘(B) REESTABLISHMENT.—The Commis11 sion shall be reestablished on the date on which 

12 a report on the QNSR is submitted under sub13 section (b)(1). 

14 ‘‘(C) INAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVI15 SORY COMMITTEE ACT.—Section 14(a)(2) of the 

16 Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

17 App.; relating to the termination of advisory 

18 committees) shall not apply to the Commis19 sion.’’. 

20 (b) NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY REPORT.—Sec21 tion 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 

22 404a) is amended— 

23 (1) in subsection (a)(3)— 

24 (A) by striking ‘‘(3) Not’’ and inserting 

25 ‘‘(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), not’’; and 


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1 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

2 subparagraph: 

3 ‘‘(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in a 

4 year when a quadrennial national security review is 

5 required to be submitted under section 108A, the 

6 President shall submit the national security strategy 

7 report with the quadrennial national security review 

8 in accordance with such section.’’; and 

9 (2) in subsection (b)— 

10 (A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 

11 paragraph (6); and 

12 (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 

13 following new paragraph: 

14 ‘‘(4) Specific recommendations and initiatives 

15 with regard to organizational structure and resource 

16 allocation.’’. 

17 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec18 tions in the first section of the National Security Act of 

19 1947 is amended by adding after the item relating to sec20 tion 108 the following new item: 

‘‘108A. Quadrennial national security reviews.’’. 

Æ 


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