(1) Several recent failures have drawn negative 
attention to the protective mission of the United 
States Secret Service. Such key failures include 
lapses in responding appropriately to potential 
threats to the White House complex, United States 
Secret Service personnel exhibiting conduct that is 
unbecoming to the Service in several instances, and 
reports of United States Secret Service personnel 
misusing the authorities and resources of the Serv-
ice. 
(2) For example, on September 19, 2014, an 
individual obtained unauthorized access to the White 
House. Such access was obtained after failures in 
five security layers by the United States Secret Serv-
ice. In another example, on November 11, 2011, an 
individual fired multiple shots from a semiautomatic 
rifle at the White House complex. It was revealed 
that a total of seven bullets struck the exterior of 
the building. The Service failed to fully investigate 
the incident in a timely manner or to disclose it. 
(3) On March 23, 2014, a Special Agent as-
signed to the Counter Assault Team was found in-
toxicated to the point of unconsciousness in a hotel 
in Amsterdam in advance of a Presidential visit. In 
another example, on April 11, 2012, conduct unbe-
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coming to United States Secret Service personnel 
was 
exhibited 
before 
a 
Presidential 
visit 
to 
Cartagena, Columbia. Nine personnel were involved 
in serious misconduct. 
(4) Surveillance personnel from the Washington 
field office were diverted in 2011 from supporting 
the protective mission at the request of senior lead-
ership in order to provide protection to a United 
States Secret Service employee at her home fol-
lowing a neighborhood dispute. Such a diversion was 
outside the scope of the Service’s duties and violated 
the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of 
the Executive Branch. 
(b) FURTHER FINDINGS.—Congress further finds 
that the protection of the President, Vice President, First 
and Second Families, and former Presidents is a matter 
of national security. Any issues that distract from the pro-
tective mission of the United States Secret Service are a 
threat to the national security of the United States. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established in the legislative branch an inde-
pendent advisory panel to— 
(1) examine the efficiency and effectiveness of 
the leadership structure, protocols, training, tools, 
and capabilities of the Department of Homeland Se-
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curity’s mission to protect national leaders, visiting 
heads of state and government, designated sites, and 
special events of national significance (in accordance 
with paragraph (1) of section 3056(e) of title 18 
United States Code); and 
(2) make recommendations to improve the over-
all efficiency and effectiveness of the United States 
Secret Service. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The independent advisory panel 
(in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Panel’’) established pursu-
ant to section 3 shall be composed of eight members, as 
follows: 
(1) Two members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, in coordi-
nation with the chairs of the Committee on the Judi-
ciary and the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives. Only one of such 
members may be from the same political party as 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(2) Two members shall be appointed by the ma-
jority leader of the Senate, in coordination with the 
chairs of the Committee on the Judiciary and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate. Only one of such members 
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may be from the same political party as the majority 
leader of the Senate. 
(3) One member shall be appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives, in co-
ordination with the ranking members of the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary and the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives. 
(4) One member shall be appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the Senate, in coordination with the 
ranking members of the Committee on the Judiciary 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental Affairs of the Senate. 
(5) Two members shall be appointed by the 
President, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security. Only one of such members may 
be from the same political party as the President. 
(b) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in subsection 
(a), members of the Panel may not be current appointees 
of the President’s Administration or Members of Con-
gress, in order to ensure objectivity of the Panel’s assess-
ments. No member may be or have been an employee of 
the United States Secret Service at any point in their ca-
reer. 
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(c) DEADLINE
FOR APPOINTMENTS.—All appoint-
ments to the Panel shall be made not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) CO-CHAIRS.—The Panel shall have two co-chairs, 
as follows: 
(1) A co-chair who shall be a member of the 
Panel designated by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives. 
(2) A co-chair who shall be a member of the 
Panel designated by the majority leader of the Sen-
ate. 
(e) VACANCY.—In the event of a vacancy on the 
Panel, the individual appointed to fill the vacant seat shall 
be— 
(1) subject to paragraph (2), appointed by the 
same officer (or the officer’s successor) who made 
the appointment to the seat when the Panel was 
first established; or 
(2) if the officer’s successor is of a party other 
than the party of the officer who made the initial 
appointment when the Panel was first established, 
chosen in consultation with the senior officers of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate of the 
party which is the party of the officer who made 
such initial appointment. 
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(f) GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Members of the 
Panel who are officers or employees of the Federal Gov-
ernment shall serve without additional pay (or benefits in 
the nature of compensation) for service as a member of 
the Panel. 
(g) INITIAL MEETING.—The Panel shall meet and 
begin the operations of the Panel not later than 60 days 
after the appointment of all Panel members under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 5. DUTIES. 
The Panel shall assess the current leadership struc-
ture, protocols, training, tools, and capabilities of the 
United States Secret Service, including assessing— 
(1) the unity of effort between the divisions of 
the United States Secret Service, law enforcement 
agencies, and other components of the Department 
of Homeland Security related to the protective and 
investigative missions, including whether mission du-
plication with other Federal entities exists; 
(2) the impact of United States Secret Service 
personnel culture on the effectiveness and efficiency 
of the Service, including Special Agent and Uni-
formed Division retention; 
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(3) the impact any leadership or security defi-
ciencies have on the threat from acts of terrorism or 
other security incidents; 
(4) identification of all security breaches at lo-
cations under United States Secret Service protec-
tion in the past five years; 
(5) the extent to which current resources pro-
vide for accomplishing the mission of the United 
States Secret Service; 
(6) the effectiveness of communications and dis-
semination of homeland security information within 
the United States Secret Service and with other law 
enforcement entities in routine as well as emergency 
situations; and 
(7) any necessary recommendations for congres-
sional consideration. 
SEC. 6. POWERS AND AUTHORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Panel or, on the authority of 
the Panel, any portion thereof, may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this section— 
(1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such 
times and places, take such testimony, receive such 
evidence, administer such oaths (provided that the 
quorum for a hearing shall be two members of the 
Panel); and 
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(2) subject to subsection (b), require by sub-
poena or otherwise provide for the attendance and 
testimony of such witnesses and the production of 
such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
papers, and documents, as the Panel, or such por-
tion thereof, may determine advisable. 
(b) OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.—Hearings and other ac-
tivities conducted under subsection (a) shall be open to 
the public unless the Panel, or, on the authority of the 
Panel, any portion thereof, determines that such is not 
appropriate, including for reasons relating to the disclo-
sure of information or material regarding the national se-
curity interests of the United States or the disclosure of 
sensitive law enforcement data. 
(c) SUBPOENAS.— 
(1) ISSUANCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A subpoena may be 
issued under this subsection only— 
(i) by the two co-chairs; or 
(ii) by the affirmative recorded vote of 
six members of the Panel. 
(B) SIGNATURE.—Subpoenas issued under 
this subsection may be— 
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(i) issued under the signature of the 
two co-chairs or any member designated by 
a majority of the Panel; and 
(ii) served by any person designated 
by the two co-chairs or by any member 
designated by a majority of the Panel. 
(2) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of contu-
macy or failure to obey a subpoena 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 requiring such person to 
produce documentary or other evidence. Any 
failure to obey the order of the court may be 
punished by the court as contempt of that 
court. 
(B) ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT.—In the 
case of any failure of any witness to comply 
with any subpoena, the Panel may, by majority 
vote, certify a statement of fact constituting 
such failure to the appropriate United States 
attorney, who may bring the matter before a 
grand jury for its action, under the same statu-
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tory authority and procedures as if the United 
States attorney had received a certification 
under sections 102 through 104 of the Revised 
Statutes of the United States (2 U.S.C. 192 
through 194). 
(d) PERSONNEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Panel shall have the au-
thorities provided in section 3161 of title 5, United 
States Code, and shall be subject to the conditions 
specified in such section, except to the extent that 
such conditions would be inconsistent with the re-
quirements of this section. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The co-chairs, in accord-
ance with rules agreed upon by the Panel, may ap-
point and fix the compensation of a staff director 
and such other personnel as may be necessary to en-
able the Panel to carry out its functions, without re-
gard 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 relat-
ing to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 
except that no rate of pay fixed under this para-
graph may exceed the equivalent of that payable for 
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a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) DETAILEES.—Any employee of the Federal 
Government may be detailed to the Panel without 
reimbursement from the Panel, and such employee 
shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of such 
employee’s regular employment without interruption. 
(4) EXPERT AND CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The 
Panel 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 ex-
ceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a posi-
tion at level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
(5) VOLUNTEER
SERVICES.—Notwithstanding 
section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the 
Panel may accept and use voluntary and uncompen-
sated services as the Panel determines necessary. 
(e) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—The appropriate de-
partments or agencies of the Federal Government shall co-
operate with the Panel in expeditiously providing to the 
Panel members and staff appropriate security clearances 
to the extent possible pursuant to existing procedures and 
requirements, except that no person shall be provided with 
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