levels of risk, real-time situational awareness, and 
instantaneous communication. 
(8) An examination of the forward presence and 
pre-positioning necessary by the Department of 
State for negotiation and conflict deterrence in re-
sponse to anticipated threats and conflicts. 
(9) An examination of the current information 
infrastructure and technologies at the Department 
of State and recommendations on how these tech-
nologies should be updated, changed, or replaced for 
optimum utilization by the year 2008 and beyond. 
(10) An examination of ways the Department of 
State develops scenarios that may require a Depart-
ment response, and recommendations for improving 
this process to incorporate nontraditional threat 
planning scenarios and input from other Federal 
agencies and nongovernmental organizations. 
(11) Recommendations regarding future per-
sonnel policies of the Department of State, including 
the following: 
(A) Whether an anticipated need exists for 
additional personnel who possess certain lan-
guage skills, functional skills, and educational 
background.
(B) Whether the Department of State 
should examine nontraditional recruitment and 
training efforts, including policies related to lat-
eral transfers of personnel from other govern-
ment agencies or the private sector, to meet De-
partment of State needs. 
(e) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Panel may secure directly from the Department of State 
and from any other Federal agency such information as 
the Panel considers necessary to carry out its duties under 
this section. The head of the agency concerned shall en-
sure that information requested by the Panel under this 
subsection is promptly provided. 
(f) PERSONNEL MATTERS.—
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each mem-
ber of the Panel shall be compensated at a rate 
equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 
basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code, for each day (including travel time) 
during which such member is engaged in the per-
formance of the duties of the Panel. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 
Panel 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 per-
formance of services for the Panel. 
(3) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.—With-
out regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
the chairperson of the Panel may appoint and termi-
nate an executive director and a staff of not more 
than four additional individuals, none of whom may 
be current employees of the Department of State or 
members of the Foreign Service, if the Panel deter-
mines that an executive director and staff are nec-
essary in order for the Panel to perform its duties 
effectively. The employment of an executive director 
shall be subject to confirmation by the Panel. 
(4) COMPENSATION
OF
EXECUTIVE
DIREC-
TOR.—The chairperson may fix the compensation of 
the executive director without regard to the provi-
sions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
of title 5, United States Code, relating to classifica-
tion of positions and General Schedule pay rates, ex-
cept that the rate of pay for the executive director 
may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
(5) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.—
Any Federal Government employee may be detailed 
to the Panel without reimbursement, and such detail 
shall be without interruption or loss of civil or for-
eign service status or privilege. The Secretary shall 
ensure that sufficient personnel are detailed to the 
Panel to enable the Panel to carry out its duties ef-
fectively. 
(6) TRAVEL
CONDITIONS.—To the maximum 
extent practicable, the members and employees of 
the Panel shall travel on government aircraft, ships, 
vehicles, or other conveyances when travel is nec-
essary in the performance of a duty of the Panel, ex-
cept that no such aircraft, ship, vehicle, or other 
conveyance may be scheduled primarily for the 
transportation of any such member or employee 
when the cost of commercial transportation is less 
expensive. 
(g) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.—
(1) USE
OF
MAIL.—The Panel 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.
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
AND
SUPPORT
SERV-
ICES.—The Secretary of State shall furnish the 
Panel any administrative and support services re-
quested by the Panel. 
(3) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—The Panel may 
accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of serv-
ices or property. 
(4) CONTRACTUAL
AUTHORITY.—The Panel 
may enter into such contracts as necessary for tech-
nical support and analysis, provided that the dura-
tion of such contracts does not exceed 120 days and 
that the total amount spent on all such contracts 
does not exceed $500,000. 
(h) PAYMENT
OF PANEL EXPENSES.—The com-
pensation, travel expenses, and per diem allowances of 
members and employees of the Panel shall be paid out of 
funds available to the Department of State for the pay-
ment of compensation, travel allowances, and per diem al-
lowances, respectively, of civilian employees of the Depart-
ment. The other expenses of the Panel shall be paid out 
of funds available to the Department for the payment of 
similar expenses incurred by the Department.
(i) SUNSET PROVISION.—The Panel shall terminate 
six months after the submission of a final report to the 
Congress under subsection (d).
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