(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that individuals appointed to the Commission 
should be prominent United States citizens with na-
tional recognition and significant depth of experience 
in such professions as governmental service, law en-
forcement, the Armed Forces, law, public adminis-
tration, intelligence gathering, foreign assistance, 
and foreign affairs. 
(3) POLITICAL
PARTY
AFFILIATION.—To the 
extent practicable, members of the Commission shall 
not be affiliated with a major political party, with no 
more than 4 members being from the same political 
party. 
(4) NONGOVERNMENTAL APPOINTEES.—An in-
dividual appointed to the Commission may not be an 
officer, employee, or elected member of the Federal 
Government or an elected member of any State or 
local government. 
(5) 
DEADLINE
FOR
APPOINTMENT.—Each 
member of the Commission shall be appointed by not 
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this bill. 
(6) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall 
meet and begin the operations of the Commission by 
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not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) QUORUM; VACANCIES.—After its initial meeting, 
the Commission shall meet upon the call of the chair-
person or a majority of its members. Six members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in the 
Commission shall not affect its powers but shall be filled 
in the same manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The functions of the Commission 
are to carry out the following: 
(1) Investigate the relevant actions, decisions, 
and policies made by the United States in Afghani-
stan after the attacks of September 11, 2001, in-
cluding decisions made by presidential administra-
tions, the United States Armed Forces, the intel-
ligence community, the Department of State, and 
other relevant Federal departments and agencies, 
and United States efforts made in conjunction with 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and part-
ners. 
(2) Ascertain whether the objectives and goals 
of United States policies in Afghanistan were exe-
cuted effectively and provide insight into policy and 
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operational failures across the Federal Government, 
including efforts made in coordination with allies 
and partners of the United States. 
(3) Identify, review, and evaluate the struc-
tures, coordination, and management of the policy-
making of the Federal Government related to Af-
ghanistan since 2001. 
(4) Provide a full assessment of the United 
States and allied drawdown efforts from Afghani-
stan, including the 2021 withdrawal, and review the 
advice provided by Federal agencies to the Presi-
dent, as well as the decision-making process with re-
spect to the final withdrawal from Afghanistan. 
(5) Submit to the President and Congress such 
reports as required by this Act, containing such 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations as the 
Commission shall determine, including proposing or-
ganization, coordination, planning, and management 
corrections for the Federal Government as it relates 
to foreign policy and national security decision mak-
ing. 
(b) SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION.—For purposes of sub-
section (a)(1), the term ‘‘actions and decisions’’ include 
actions and decisions relating to any of the following: 
(1) The President of the United States. 
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(2) The National Security Council. 
(3) The United States Armed Forces. 
(4) The Department of Defense and its relevant 
agencies. 
(5) The intelligence community. 
(6) The Department of State and its relevant 
agencies. 
(7) Other Federal departments and agencies, as 
determined appropriate by the Commission. 
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS
AND EVIDENCE.—The Commission 
may, for purposes of carrying out this Act— 
(1) hold hearings, sit and act at times and 
places, take testimony, receive evidence, and admin-
ister oaths; and 
(2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the at-
tendance and testimony of witnesses and the produc-
tion of books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
papers, and documents. 
(b) SUBPOENAS.— 
(1) SERVICE.—Subpoenas issued under sub-
section (a)(2) may be served by any person des-
ignated by the Commission. 
(2) ENFORCEMENT.—In the case of contumacy 
or failure to obey a subpoena issued under sub-
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section (a)(2), the United States district court for 
the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person 
resides, is served, or may be found, or where the 
subpoena is returnable, may issue an order requiring 
such person to appear at any designated place to 
testify or produce documentary or other evidence. 
Any failure to obey the order of the court may be 
punished by the court as a contempt of that court. 
(c) CLOSED MEETINGS.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law that would require meetings of the Com-
mission to be open to the public, any portion of a meeting 
of the Commission may be closed to the public if the Com-
mission determines that such portion is likely to disclose 
matters that could endanger the national security of the 
United States. 
(d) CONTRACTING.—The Commission may, to such 
extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropria-
tion Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission 
to discharge its duties under this Act. 
(e) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Commission may secure directly from any department, 
agency, or instrumentality of the United States any infor-
mation related to any inquiry of the Commission con-
ducted under this Act. Each such department, agency, or 
instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, fur-
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