I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7286 
To establish a commission to assess the total cost spent on relief during 
the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 30, 2022 
Mr. CAWTHORN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to assess the total cost spent 
on relief during the 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 ‘‘COVID–19 Excess Ac-
countability and Surplus Expenditures Act’’ or the 
‘‘CEASE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘COVID–19 Funding Accountability Commission’’ (in 
this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
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SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall assess spending by the Federal 
Government related to relief during the COVID–19 pan-
demic, including— 
(1) the total amount of money spent by the 
Federal Government on such relief; 
(2) the total amount of money designated by 
the Federal Government for such relief that has 
been unspent as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act; and 
(3) any other matters regarding such spending 
as the Commission determines appropriate. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERS. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of at least 2 but no more than 5 mem-
bers from each agency (as such term is defined in section 
551 of title 5, United States Code), appointed by the head 
of the relevant agency. 
(b) DETAILEES.—Each member so appointed shall be 
a detailee, on a non-reimbursable basis, to the Commis-
sion. 
(c) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission. 
(d) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission 
shall not receive any additional compensation as a result 
of being such a member. 
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SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may, for the pur-
pose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act 
at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 
as the Commission considers appropriate. 
(b) OBTAINING DATA.—The Commission may secure 
directly from any department or agency of the United 
States information necessary to enable the Commission to 
carry out this Act. Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of that department or agency shall furnish that infor-
mation to the Commission. 
SEC. 6. REPORT. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress 
a report containing a detailed statement of the findings 
and conclusions of the Commission, together with the rec-
ommendations of the Commission for legislation, adminis-
trative actions, and any other matters the Commission 
considers appropriate. 
SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate after submitting the 
report to Congress pursuant to section 6. 
Æ 
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