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(3) An assessment of the extent of unnecessary
duplication of functions between the Office of the Sec-
retary of Defense and the Joint Staff.
(4) An assessment of the extent of unnecessary
duplication of functions between the Office of the Sec-
retary of Defense and the military departments.
(5) An assessment of the appropriate number of
Under Secretaries of Defense, Assistant Secretaries of
Defense, Deputy Under Secretaries of Defense, and
Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense.
(6) An assessment of any benefits or efficiencies
derived from decentralizing certain functions cur-
rently performed by the Office of the Secretary of
Defense.
(d) SPECIAL
REQUIREMENTS
REGARDING
HEAD-
QUARTERS.—The examination of the missions, functions,
and responsibilities of the management headquarters and
headquarters support activities of the military departments
and Defense Agencies shall include the following:
(1) An assessment on the adequacy of the present
headquarters organization structure to efficiently and
effectively support the mission of the military depart-
ments and the Defense Agencies.
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(2) An assessment of options to reduce the num-
ber of personnel assigned to such headquarters staffs
and headquarters support activities.
(3) An assessment of the extent of unnecessary
duplication of functions between the Office of the Sec-
retary of Defense and headquarters staffs of the mili-
tary departments and the Defense Agencies.
(4) An assessment of the possible benefits that
could be derived from further functional consolidation
between the civilian secretariat of the military de-
partments and the staffs of the military service chiefs.
(5) An assessment of the possible benefits that
could be derived from reducing the number of civilian
officers in the military departments who are ap-
pointed by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate.
(e) SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING ACQUISI-
TION ORGANIZATIONS.—The examination of the missions,
functions, and responsibilities of the various acquisition
organizations of the Department of Defense shall include
the following:
(1) An assessment of benefits of consolidation or
selected elimination of Department of Defense acquisi-
tion organizations.
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(2) An assessment of the opportunities to stream-
line the defense acquisition infrastructure that were
realized as a result of the enactment of the Federal
Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law
103–355) and the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divi-
sions D and E of Public Law 104–106) or as result
of other acquisition reform initiatives implemented
administratively during the period from 1993 through
1997.
(3) An assessment of such other defense acquisi-
tion infrastructure streamlining or restructuring op-
tions as the Commission considers appropriate.
(f) COOPERATION FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.—In
carrying out its duties, the Commission should receive the
full and timely cooperation of the Secretary of Defense and
any other United States Government official responsible for
providing the Commission with analyses, briefings, and
other information necessary for the fulfillment of its respon-
sibilities.
SEC. 503. REPORTS.
The Commission shall submit to Congress an interim
report containing its preliminary findings and conclusions
not later than March 15, 1998, and a final report contain-
ing its findings and conclusions not later than July 15,
1998.
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SEC. 504. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission or, at its direction,
any panel or member of the Commission, may, for the pur-
pose of carrying out the provisions of this title, hold hear-
ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, receive
evidence, and administer oaths to the extent that the Com-
mission or any panel or member considers advisable.
(b) INFORMATION.—The Commission may secure
directly from the Department of Defense and any other Fed-
eral department or agency information that the Commis-
sion considers necessary to enable the Commission to carry
out its responsibilities under this title.
SEC. 505. COMMISSION PROCEDURES.
(a) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the Chairman.
(b) QUORUM.—(1) Five members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum other than for the purpose of hold-
ing hearings.
(2) The Commission shall act by resolution agreed to
by a majority of the members of the Commission.
(c) COMMISSION.—The Commission may establish
panels composed of less than full membership of the Com-
mission for the purpose of carrying out the Commission’s
duties. The actions of each such panel shall be subject to
the review and control of the Commission. Any findings and
determinations made by such a panel shall not be consid-
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ered the findings and determinations of the Commission
unless approved by the Commission.
(d) AUTHORITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO ACT FOR COMMIS-
SION.—Any member or agent of the Commission may, if
authorized by the Commission, take any action which the
Commission is authorized to take under this title.
SEC. 506. PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) PAY OF MEMBERS.—Members of the Commission
shall serve without pay by reason of their work on the Com-
mission.
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of
agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places
of business in the performance of services for the Commis-
sion.
(c) STAFF.—(1) The chairman of the Commission
may, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, appoint a staff director and such additional person-
nel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to per-
form its duties. The appointment of a staff director shall
be subject to the approval of the Commission.
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(2) The chairman of the Commission may fix the pay
of the staff director and other personnel without regard to
the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification
of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that
the rate of pay fixed under this paragraph for the staff
director may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title and the
rate of pay for other personnel may not exceed the maxi-
mum rate payable for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule.
(d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon re-
quest of the chairman of the Commission, the head of any
Federal department or agency may detail, on a non-
reimbursable basis, any personnel of that department or
agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its
duties.
(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The chairman of the Commission may
procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individ-
uals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5316 of such title.
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SEC. 507. MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) POSTAL AND PRINTING SERVICES.—The Commis-
sion 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
Federal Government.
(b) MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT
SERVICES.—The Secretary of Defense shall furnish the
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, any administrative
and support services requested by the Commission.
SEC. 508. FUNDING.
Funds for activities of the Commission shall be pro-
vided from amounts appropriated for the Department of
Defense for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide
activities for fiscal year 1998. Upon receipt of a written
certification from the Chairman of the Commission specify-
ing the funds required for the activities of the Commission,
the Secretary of Defense shall promptly disburse to the Com-
mission, from such amounts, the funds required by the Com-
mission as stated in such certification.
SEC. 509. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the date
of the submission of its final report under section 503.