(3) submit a report to the President and Con-
gress on specific findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations to address the needs of children as 
they relate to preparation for, response to, and re-
covery from all hazards, including major disasters 
and emergencies. 
SEC. 5. 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; 
(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; 
(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) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSON SELEC-
TION.—The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be 
elected from among members of the Commission.
(c) GOVERNMENTAL APPOINTEES.—An individual 
appointed to the Commission may not be an official or 
employee of the Federal Government. 
(d) COMMISSION REPRESENTATION.—The Commis-
sion shall include— 
(1) representatives from private nonprofit enti-
ties with demonstrated expertise in addressing the 
needs of children as they relate to preparation for, 
response to, and recovery from all hazards, including 
major disasters and emergencies; and 
(2) State emergency managers and local emer-
gency managers. 
(e) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members appointed under 
subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) individuals involved with providing services 
to children, including health, education, housing, and 
other social services, including grant and entitlement 
programs; 
(2) individuals with experience in emergency 
management, including coordination of resources 
and services among State and local governments, the 
Federal Government, and nongovernmental entities; 
(3) individuals with philanthropic experience fo-
cused on the needs of children;
(4) individuals with experience in providing do-
nated goods and services, including personnel serv-
ices, to meet the needs of children and families as 
they relate to preparation for, response to, and re-
covery from all hazards, including major disasters 
and emergencies; and 
(5) individuals who have conducted academic 
research into related issues. 
(f) APPOINTMENTS.—All members of the Commission 
shall be appointed not later than 90 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 
120 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(h) QUORUM AND VACANCY.— 
(1) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a 
lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
(2) VACANCY.—Any vacancy in the Commission 
shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the 
same manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall—
(1) conduct a comprehensive study that exam-
ines and assesses the needs of children as they relate 
to preparation for, response to, and recovery from 
all hazards, including major disasters and emer-
gencies, including specific findings relating to— 
(A) children’s physical and mental health; 
(B) child care, including in private for- 
profit and nonprofit settings; 
(C) child welfare; 
(D) elementary and secondary education; 
(E) sheltering, temporary housing, and af-
fordable housing; 
(F) transportation; 
(G) entitlement and grant programs; 
(H) juvenile justice; 
(I) evacuation; and 
(J) relevant activities in emergency man-
agement; 
(2) identify, review, and evaluate existing law 
relevant to the needs of children as they relate to 
preparation for, response to, and recovery from all 
hazards, including major disasters and emergencies; 
(3) identify, review, and evaluate the lessons 
learned from past disasters and emergencies relative 
to addressing the needs of children; and
(4) submit a report to the President and Con-
gress on the Commission’s specific findings, conclu-
sions, and recommendations to address the needs of 
children as they relate to preparation for, response 
to, and recovery from all hazards, including major 
disasters and emergencies, including specific rec-
ommendations on the need for planning and estab-
lishing a national resource center on children and 
disasters, coordination of resources and services, ad-
ministrative actions, policies, regulations, financing, 
and legislative changes as the Commission considers 
appropriate. 
SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, meet and act at such times and places, and re-
ceive such evidence as may be necessary to carry out the 
functions of the Commission. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure 
directly from any executive department, bureau, 
agency, board, commission, office, independent es-
tablishment, or instrumentality of the Federal Gov-
ernment such information, suggestions, estimates, 
and statistics as the Commission considers necessary 
to carry out this Act.
(2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On request 
of the Chairperson of the Commission, each depart-
ment, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 
independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, 
to the extent authorized by law, provide the re-
quested information to the Commission. 
(3) 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. 
(c) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.—On 
request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the 
Administrator of General Services shall provide to 
the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, adminis-
trative support and other services necessary for the 
Commission to carry out its duties. 
(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 authorized 
by law.
SEC. 11. REPORTS OF COMMISSION; TERMINATION. 
(a) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 
2008, the Commission shall submit to the President and 
Congress an interim report containing specific findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations required under this Act 
as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission mem-
bers. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission 
shall submit to the President and Congress a final report 
containing specific findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations required under this Act as have been 
agreed to by a majority of Commission members. 
(c) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, and all the 
authorities of this Act, shall terminate 180 days 
after the date on which the final report is submitted 
under subsection (b). 
(2) RECORDS.—Not later than the date of ter-
mination of the Commission under paragraph (1), 
all records and papers of the Commission shall be 
delivered to the Archivist of the United States for 
deposit in the National Archives.
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 
2009. 
Passed the House of Representatives November 6, 
2007. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 3495 
AN ACT 
To establish a National Commission on Children 
and Disasters, and for other purposes.