Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance Act

To establish the Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance Act 2. Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance (a) Establishment There is established in the legislative branch the Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Commission (b) Functions and duties The Commission shall— (1) continually verify that the Islamic Republic of Iran is complying with its obligations and commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (hereafter in this Act referred to as the JCPOA) (2) continually assess the adequacy of the safeguards and other control mechanisms and other assurances contained in the JCPOA with respect to Iran’s nuclear program to ensure Iran’s activities permitted thereunder are not being used to further any nuclear-related military or nuclear explosive purpose, including for any research on or development of any nuclear explosive device or any other nuclear-related military purpose; (3) continually assess the capacity and capability of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to effectively implement the verification regime required by or related to the JCPOA, including whether the IAEA has sufficient access to investigate suspicious sites or allegations of covert nuclear-related activities and whether it has the required funding, manpower, and authority to administer the verification regime required by or related to the JCPOA; and (4) submit to Congress the reports required by section 5. 3. Membership (a) Selection and membership The Commission shall be composed of 20 members as follows: (1) Four Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Two Members shall be selected from the majority party and two Members shall be selected, after consultation with the minority leader of the House, from the minority party. (2) Four Members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. Two Members shall be selected, after consultation with the majority leader, from the majority party, and two Members shall be selected, after consultation with the minority leader, from the minority party. (3) Two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. (4) Two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. (5) Two Members of the Senate appointed by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. (6) Two Members of the Senate appointed by the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. (7) One member of the Department of State appointed by the President of the United States. (8) One member of the Department of Defense appointed by the President of the United States. (9) One member of the Department of Energy appointed by the President of the United States. (10) One member of the Department of the Treasury appointed by the President of the United States. (b) Chairperson and Co-Chairperson (1) In general There shall be a Chairperson and Co-chairperson of the Commission. (2) Designation of Chairperson At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress, the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members as Chairperson of the Commission. At the beginning of each even numbered Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members as Chairperson of the Commission. (3) Designation of Co-chairperson At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress, the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the minority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members as Co-chairperson of the Commission. At the beginning of each even numbered Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the recommendation of the minority leader, shall designate one of the House Members as Co-chairperson of the Commission. (c) Prohibition on compensation Members of the Commission may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Commission. 4. Testimony of witnesses, production of evidence; issuance of subpoena; administration of oaths (a) Testimony of witnesses and production of evidence In carrying out this Act, the Commission may require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents as it deems necessary. (b) Subpoenas Subpoenas shall be issued jointly by the Chairperson and Co-chairperson of the Commission, and may be served by any person designated by the Chairperson and Co-chairperson. (c) Administration of oaths The Chairperson of the Commission, or any member designated by the Chairperson, may administer oaths to any witness. 5. Commission reports (a) Report on matters covered by this Act The Commission shall submit to Congress a report with respect to the matters covered by this Act not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and on an annual basis thereafter. The Commission shall provide information relating to the JCPOA to Members of the House and Senate as requested. (b) Report on expenditures For each fiscal year for which an appropriation is made the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on its expenditures under such appropriation. (c) Justification of budget The Commission shall prepare and submit to Congress a justification of the annual budget of the Commission at the time of submission of the annual budget of the President to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code. 6. Staff of commission (a) Staff (1) Staff director The Commission shall have a staff director, who shall be appointed jointly by the Chairperson and Co-chairperson of the Commission and whose pay shall be fixed jointly by the Chairperson and Co-chairperson of the Commission. (2) Other staff The Chairperson of the Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of other personnel of the Commission, subject to the approval of at least 2 of the following members of the Commission: (A) The Co-chairperson of the Commission. (B) For purposes of each even numbered Congress, a Senate member of the Commission designated by the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader. For purposes of each odd-numbered Congress, a House member of the Commission designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (C) For purposes of each even numbered Congress, a Senate member of the Commission designated by the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the minority leader. For purposes of each odd numbered Congress, a House member of the Commission designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the recommendation of the minority leader. (b) Treatment of employees as House employees For purposes of pay and other employment benefits, rights, and privileges, and for all other purposes, including the applicability of the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, each employee of the Commission shall be considered an employee of the House of Representatives. For purposes of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Commission shall be considered an employing office with respect to its employees. (c) Detailees Any Federal Government employee 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. (d) Consultant services The Commission is authorized to 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. (e) Security clearances All members of the Commission shall hold appropriate security clearances by reason of their participation on the Commission. (f) Foreign travel Foreign travel for official purposes by members and staff of the Commission may be authorized by either the Chairperson or Co-chairperson of the Commission. 7. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 8. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action defined In this Act, the term Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA

Summary: Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance Act This bill establishes in the legislative branch the Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance which shall: (1) continually verify that the Islamic Republic of Iran is complying with its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); (2) continually assess the adequacy of JCPOA safeguards to ensure that Iran's permitted activities are not being used to further nuclear-related military or nuclear explosive purpose; (3) continually assess the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) capability to implement the JCPOA verification regime, including whether the IAEA has sufficient access to investigate suspicious sites or allegations of covert nuclear-related activities and whether it has the required funding, manpower, and authority to administer such verification regime; and (4) report to Congress on the matters covered by this bill. "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" means the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna July 14, 2015, by Iran and China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and all implementing materials and agreements related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.