I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6455 
To establish the National Commission Regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus 
COVID–19 Pandemic, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 3, 2020 
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi (for himself, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. LAN-
GEVIN, Mr. RICHMOND, Mr. PAYNE, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. 
CORREA, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Ms. CLARKE 
of New York, Ms. TITUS, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mrs. 
DEMINGS, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. SHERMAN, and Mr. CLAY) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To establish the National Commission Regarding the 2019 
Novel Coronavirus COVID–19 Pandemic, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Commission 
Regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19) Pan-
demic Act’’ or the ‘‘COVID–19 Commission Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. NATIONAL COMMISSION REGARDING THE 2019 
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS COVID–19 PANDEMIC. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
legislative branch a National Commission Regarding the 
2019 Novel Coronavirus COVID–19 Pandemic (referred 
to in this section as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) PURPOSES.—The Commission shall— 
(1) make a full and complete accounting of the 
circumstances surrounding the emergence of the 
2019 novel coronavirus, the Nation’s preparedness 
for the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic, and the 
actions taken by Federal, State, local, Tribal, and 
territorial governments at critical junctures before 
and after the World Health Organization designated 
the 2019 novel coronavirus as a public health emer-
gency of international concern on January 30, 2020; 
(2) identify and examine lessons learned regard-
ing preparedness, response, and recovery efforts at 
the Federal, State, local, Tribal, territorial, and 
international levels relating to the 2019 novel 
coronavirus; 
(3) review and evaluate recommendations and 
pandemic plans issued by the Bipartisan Commis-
sion on Biodefense and other nonpartisan entities re-
garding health security, pandemic preparedness, re-
sponse, or recovery; and 
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(4) not later than 18 months after the initial 
meeting of the Commission pursuant to subsection 
(e), publish a public report that includes rec-
ommendations for the development of a national 
plan to improve preparedness, response, and recov-
ery efforts based on the lessons learned under para-
graph (1) that addresses policies, programs, and, as 
appropriate, changes in law to minimize negative 
public health, economic, and social impacts of future 
wide-scale public health emergencies. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 25 members, of whom— 
(A) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform of the 
House of Representatives, of whom one member 
shall be selected by the Chair and one member 
shall be selected by the Ranking Member; 
(B) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives, of whom one member shall 
be selected by the Chair and one member shall 
be selected by the Ranking Member; 
(C) two members shall be appointed by the 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of 
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the House of Representatives, of whom one 
member shall be selected by the Chair and one 
member shall be selected by the Ranking Mem-
ber; 
(D) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives, of whom one member 
shall be selected by the Chair and one member 
shall be selected by the Ranking Member; 
(E) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives, of whom one member shall be 
selected by the Chair and one member shall be 
selected by the Ranking Member; 
(F) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives, of whom 
one member shall be selected by the Chair and 
one member shall be selected by the Ranking 
Member; 
(G) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Education and Labor of the 
House of Representatives, of whom one member 
shall be selected by the Chair and one member 
shall be selected by the Ranking Member; 
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(H) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate, of whom one 
member shall be selected by the Chair and one 
member shall be selected by the Ranking Mem-
ber; 
(I) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate, of whom one member 
shall be selected by the Chair and one member 
shall be selected by the Ranking Member; 
(J) two members shall be appointed by the 
Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, 
of whom one member shall be selected by the 
Chair and one member shall be selected by the 
Ranking Member; 
(K) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate, of whom one member 
shall be selected by the Chair and one member 
shall be selected by the Ranking Member; 
(L) two members shall be appointed by the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, 
of whom one member shall be selected by the 
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Chair and one member shall be selected by the 
Ranking Member; and 
(M) one member shall be appointed by the 
Joint Economic Committee of Congress selected 
by the Chairman and Vice Chair. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(A) AREAS
OF
EXPERTISE.—Each indi-
vidual appointed to the Commission shall be a 
United States persons with significant expertise 
in one or more of the following areas: 
(i) Public health preparedness, re-
sponse, and recovery operations. 
(ii) Administration of emergency pre-
paredness, response, and recovery oper-
ations. 
(iii) Transportation. 
(iv) Education. 
(v) Economics. 
(vi) Healthcare, with a focus on bio-
technology and biomedical sciences. 
(vii) Foreign policy. 
(viii) Logistics and supply chain. 
(ix) Intelligence. 
(x) Election security and administra-
tion. 
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(B) POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION.—Not 
more than 13 members of the Commission may 
be from the same political party. 
(C) COMPOSITION.—At least one member 
of the Commission shall be an individual with 
significant expertise in each of the areas speci-
fied in subparagraph (A). Not fewer than 18 
members of the Commission, in an equally di-
vided manner, shall be individuals with signifi-
cant expertise in the areas specified clauses (i) 
and (ii) of such subparagraph. 
(D) NONGOVERNMENT
APPOINTEES.—An 
individual appointed to the Commission may 
not be an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government. 
(3) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Members 
of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 
45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Chair and Vice 
Chair of the Commission shall be members with significant 
expertise in the areas specified in clauses (i) and (ii) of 
subsection (c)(2)(A), and shall be chosen from among the 
members through a vote taken by a majority of the mem-
bers. The Chair and Vice Chair shall be of different polit-
ical parties. 
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(e) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall meet 
and begin operating not later than 45 days after the date 
of the appointment of its final member. 
(f) QUORUM; VACANCIES.—After its initial meeting, 
the Commission shall meet upon the call of the Chair or 
a majority of its members. Eighteen members of the Com-
mission shall constitute a quorum, and members shall 
have the option to vote by proxy. Any vacancy in the Com-
mission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in 
the same manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
(g) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) 
HEARINGS
AND
EVIDENCE.—The 
Commission or, on the authority of the Com-
mission, may, for the purpose of carrying out 
this section— 
(i) hold such hearings and sit and act 
at such times and places, take such testi-
mony, receive such evidence, administer 
such oaths; and 
(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), re-
quire, by subpoena or otherwise, the at-
tendance and testimony of such witnesses 
and the production of such books, records, 
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correspondence, memoranda, papers, and 
documents. 
(B) SUBPOENAS.— 
(i) ISSUANCE.— 
(I) IN
GENERAL.—A subpoena 
may be issued under this subsection 
only— 
(aa) by the agreement of the 
Chair and the Vice Chair; or 
(bb) by the affirmative vote 
of 18 members of the Commis-
sion. 
(II) 
SIGNATURE.—Subject 
to 
subclause (I), subpoenas issued under 
this subsection may be issued under 
the signature of the Chair and Vice 
Chair or any member designated by a 
majority of the Commission, and may 
be served by any person designated by 
the Chair and Vice Chair or by a 
member designated by a majority of 
the Commission. 
(ii) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—In the case of 
contumacy or failure to obey a sub-
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poena issued under this subsection, 
the United States district court for 
the judicial district in which the sub-
poenaed person resides, is served, or 
may be found, or where the subpoena 
is returnable, may issue an order re-
quiring such person to appear at any 
designated place to testify or to 
produce documentary or other evi-
dence. Any failure to obey the order of 
the court may be punished by the 
court as a contempt of that court. 
(II) 
ADDITIONAL
ENFORCE-
MENT.—In the case of any failure of 
any witness to comply with any sub-
poena or to testify when summoned 
under authority of this subsection, the 
Commission may, by majority vote, 
certify a statement of fact consti-
tuting such failure to the appropriate 
United States attorney, who may 
bring the matter before the grand 
jury for its action, under the same 
statutory authority and procedures as 
if the United States attorney had re-
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ceived a certification under sections 
102 through 104 of the Revised Stat-
utes of the United States (2 U.S.C. 
192 through 194). 
(2) INFORMATION
FROM
FEDERAL, 
STATE, 
LOCAL, TRIBAL, OR TERRITORIAL AGENCIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is au-
thorized to secure directly from any executive 
department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
office, independent establishment, or other in-
strumentality of government at the Federal, 
State, local Tribal, or territorial level, informa-
tion, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for 
the purposes of carrying out this section. Each 
such department, bureau, agency, board, com-
mission, office, independent establishment, or 
instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized 
by law, furnish such information, suggestions, 
estimates, and statistics directly to the Commis-
sion, upon request made by the Chair and Vice 
Chair or any member designated by a majority 
of the Commission. 
(B) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND 
DISSEMINATION.—Information shall only be re-
ceived, handled, stored, and disseminated by 
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members of the Commission and its staff con-
sistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, 
and Executive orders. 
(3) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(A) 
GENERAL
SERVICES
ADMINISTRA-
TION.—The Administrator of General Services 
shall provide to the Commission on a reimburs-
able basis administrative support and other 
services for the performance of the Commis-
sion’s functions. 
(B) OTHER
DEPARTMENTS
AND
AGEN-
CIES.—In addition to the assistance prescribed 
in subparagraph (A), departments and agencies 
of the United States may provide to the Com-
mission such services, funds, facilities, staff, 
and other support services as they may deter-
mine advisable and as may be authorized by 
law. 
(h) PUBLIC MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall hold 
public hearings and meetings to the extent appro-
priate. 
(2) PROTECTION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION.— 
Any public hearings of the Commission shall be con-
ducted in a manner consistent with the protection of 
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information provided to or developed for or by the 
Commission as required by any applicable statute, 
regulation, or Executive order. 
(i) STAFF OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION.— 
The Chair, in consultation with Vice Chair, and 
in accordance with rules agreed upon by the 
Commission, may appoint and fix the com-
pensation of an executive director and such 
other personnel as may be necessary to enable 
the Commission to carry out its functions, with-
out 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 subsection may ex-
ceed the equivalent of that payable for a posi-
tion at level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
(B) PERSONNEL
AS
FEDERAL
EMPLOY-
EES.— 
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(i) IN
GENERAL.—The executive di-
rector and any other personnel of the Com-
mission in accordance with subparagraph 
(A) shall be treated as 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. 
(ii) MEMBERS
OF
COMMISSION.— 
Clause (i) shall not be construed to apply 
to members of the Commission. 
(2) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government em-
ployee 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 interrup-
tion. 
(3) 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. 
(j) COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each 
member of the Commission may be compensated at not 
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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. 
(k) SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR COMMISSION MEM-
BERS AND STAFF.—The appropriate Federal agencies or 
departments shall cooperate with the Commission in expe-
ditiously providing to the Commission members and staff 
appropriate security clearances to the extent possible pur-
suant to existing procedures and requirements, except that 
no person may be provided with access to classified infor-
mation under this subsection without the appropriate se-
curity clearances. 
(l) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, and all the 
authorities of this section, shall terminate 60 days 
after the date on which the report is published under 
subsection (b)(4). 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES BEFORE TER-
MINATION.—The Commission may use the 60-day 
period referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose 
of concluding its activities, including providing testi-
mony to committees of Congress concerning its re-
ports and disseminating the public report. 
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(m) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission $4,000,000 to carry 
out this section. 
(2) DURATION
OF
AVAILABILITY.—Amounts 
made available to the Commission under paragraph 
(1) are authorized to remain available until the ter-
mination of the Commission. 
Æ 
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