TITLE 
I—NATIONAL 
COMMIS-
SION ON CHILDREN AND DIS-
ASTERS 
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established in the legislative branch the Na-
tional Commission on Children and Disasters (in this title 
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 102. PURPOSES OF COMMISSION. 
The purposes of the Commission are to— 
(1) examine, assess, and report upon the facts 
and causes relating to the needs of children before, 
during, and after all hazards, disasters, and emer-
gencies; 
(2) build upon the investigations of other enti-
ties and avoid unnecessary duplication, by reviewing 
the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of 
other executive branch, congressional, or inde-
pendent commissions, or nongovernmental entities, 
relating to the needs of children before, during, and 
after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies, includ-
ing Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of 
September 11, 2001; and 
(3) investigate and report to the President and 
Congress on its findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations for corrective measures that can be 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
taken to address fully the needs of children before, 
during, and after all hazards, disasters, and emer-
gencies. 
SEC. 103. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall be composed 
of 10 members, of whom— 
(1) 1 member shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate, and shall serve as the chairperson; 
(2) 1 member, who is of a different political 
party than that of the member appointed under 
paragraph (1), shall be appointed by the President, 
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
and shall serve as vice chairperson; 
(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the Major-
ity Leader of the Senate; 
(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the Minor-
ity Leader of the Senate; 
(5) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speak-
er of the House of Representatives; and 
(6) 2 members shall be appointed by the Minor-
ity Leader of the House of Representatives. 
(b) POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION.—Not more than 
5 members of the Commission shall be from the same po-
litical party. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(c) GOVERNMENTAL APPOINTEES.—An individual 
appointed to the Commission may not be an elected official 
of the Federal Government or any State or local govern-
ment. 
(d) PRIVATE
NONPROFIT
REPRESENTATION.—At 
least a majority of the members of the Commission shall 
be from private nonprofit entities with a demonstrated en-
gagement in addressing the needs of children before, dur-
ing, and after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies. 
(e) MEMBER EXPERTISE.—Each of the following 
areas of primary expertise must be represented by at least 
one member of the Commission: 
(1) Child physical and mental health services 
and delivery systems. 
(2) Child welfare services and delivery systems. 
(3) Affordable housing services relevant to chil-
dren, youth, and families. 
(4) Elementary and secondary education serv-
ices. 
(5) Public finance mechanisms relevant to chil-
dren, youth, and families. 
(6) Emergency mitigation, preparedness, re-
sponse and recovery activities relevant to children. 
(7) Philanthropy focused on the needs of chil-
dren. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(8) Private enterprise, including experience in 
donating goods, services, or personnel to meet the 
needs of children and families after a major disaster. 
(f) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—All members of 
the Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(g) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall meet 
and begin the operations of the Commission not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(h) QUORUM; VACANCIES.—After its initial meeting, 
the Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson 
or a majority of the members of the Commission. Six 
members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for 
purposes of conducting business. Any vacancy in the Com-
mission shall not affect its powers, and shall be filled in 
the same manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
SEC. 104. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) conduct an investigation that— 
(A) examines and assesses relevant facts 
and causes relating to the needs of children be-
fore, during, and after all hazards, disasters, 
and emergencies; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(B) includes relevant facts and causes re-
lating to the needs of— 
(i) 
children’s 
health 
and 
mental 
health, including emergency care, critical 
care, trauma care, infectious diseases, and 
psychosocial support in a variety of set-
tings including pre-hospital settings; 
(ii) child care, including in private for- 
profit and nonprofit settings; 
(iii) child welfare; 
(iv) elementary and secondary edu-
cation; 
(v) affordable housing; 
(vi) transportation; 
(vii) public finance mechanisms; 
(viii) juvenile justice; and 
(ix) relevant activities in emergency 
mitigation, preparedness, response, and re-
covery; 
(2) identify, review and evaluate existing law 
relevant to the needs of children before, during, and 
after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies; 
(3) identify, review, and evaluate the lessons 
learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the ter-
rorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and any other 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
relevant disaster of the past 10 years which the 
Commission chooses to analyze, regarding the miti-
gation, preparedness, response, recovery, coordina-
tion, and service delivery policies of the Federal Gov-
ernment, and, where applicable, State and local gov-
ernments and nongovernmental entities, relative to 
addressing fully the needs of children before, during, 
and after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies; 
and 
(4) submit to the President and Congress such 
reports as required by this title containing such find-
ings, conclusions, and recommendations for correc-
tive measures as the Commission shall determine ap-
propriate, including proposing organization, plan-
ning, coordination, management, and financial poli-
cies, arrangements, procedures, rules, and regula-
tions. 
SEC. 105. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE.—The Commis-
sion or, on the authority of the Commission, any 
subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the pur-
pose of carrying out this title— 
(A) hold such hearings and sit and act at 
such times and places, take such testimony, re-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
tion Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission 
to discharge its duties under this title. 
(c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is author-
ized to secure directly from any executive depart-
ment, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 
independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 
Federal Government, information, suggestions, esti-
mates, and statistics for the purposes of this title. 
Each department, bureau, agency, board, commis-
sion, office, independent establishment, or instru-
mentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, fur-
nish such information, suggestions, estimates, and 
statistics directly to the Commission, upon request 
made by the chairperson, the chairperson of any 
subcommittee created by the Commission, or any 
member designated by a majority of the Commis-
sion. 
(2) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DIS-
SEMINATION.—Information shall only be received, 
handled, stored, and disseminated by members of 
the Commission and its staff consistent with all ap-
plicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders. 
(d) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(1) GENERAL
SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION.— 
The Administrator of General Services shall provide 
to the Commission on a reimbursable basis adminis-
trative support and other services for the perform-
ance of the Commission’s functions. 
(2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—In 
addition to the assistance provided for under para-
graph (1), departments and agencies of the United 
States may provide to the Commission such services 
as they may determine advisable and as may be au-
thorized by law. 
(e) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
(f) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as departments and agencies of the 
United States. 
SEC. 106. STAFF OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION.—The 
chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with 
the vice chairperson, in accordance with rules agreed 
upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the 
compensation of a staff director and such other per-
sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Commis-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
sion to carry out its functions, in accordance with 
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, except 
that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may 
exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position 
at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App) shall apply to the staff director and any 
personnel of the Commission. 
(B) MEMBERS OF COMMISSION.—Subpara-
graph (A) shall not be construed to apply to 
members of the Commission. 
(b) 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 or his or her regular employ-
ment without interruption. 
(c) CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The Commission is au-
thorized 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 per-
son occupying a position at level IV of the Executive 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 107. COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES. 
(a) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis-
sion may be compensated at a rate not 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 sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day dur-
ing which that member is engaged in the actual perform-
ance of the duties of the Commission. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—While away from their 
homes or regular places of business in the performance 
of services for the Commission, members of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons em-
ployed intermittently in the Government service are al-
lowed expenses under section 5703(b) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 108. REPORTS OF THE COMMISSION; TERMINATION. 
(a) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may sub-
mit to the President and Congress interim reports con-
taining such findings, conclusions, and recommendations 
for corrective measures as have been agreed to by a major-
ity of Commission members. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 16 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission 
shall submit to the President and Congress a final report 
containing such findings, conclusions, and recommenda-
tions for corrective measures as have been agreed to by 
a majority of Commission members. 
(c) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, and all the 
authorities of this title, shall terminate 60 days after 
the date on which the final report is submitted 
under subsection (b). 
(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 its final report. 
SEC. 109. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this title, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 
2009. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:15 Sep 10, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3495.IH
H3495
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS