(3) CHAIR.—At the first meeting of the Com-
mission, a majority of the members of the Commis-
sion present and voting shall elect the Chair of the 
Commission. 
(4) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy of the Commis-
sion shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
(5) RULES.—The Commission shall establish 
the rules and procedures of the Commission which 
shall require the approval of at least six members of 
the Commission. 
(c) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission’s primary 
responsibility shall be to make recommendations to 
the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
and Congress on policies to achieve and maintain the 
border security strategy specified in section 3, and 
should include— 
(A) review and recommendations regarding 
immigration and border enforcement policies, 
strategies, and programs that take into consid-
eration their impact on border and tribal com-
munities; 
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(B) recommendations on ways in which the 
Border 
Communities 
Liaison 
Offices 
can 
strengthen relations and collaboration between 
communities in the border regions and the De-
partment of Homeland Security, the Depart-
ment of Justice, and other Federal agencies 
that carry out such policies, strategies, and pro-
grams; 
(C) an evaluation on how the policies, 
strategies, and programs of Federal agencies 
operating along the international borders be-
tween the United States and Mexico and be-
tween the United States and Canada protect 
the due process, civil, and human rights of bor-
der residents, visitors, and migrants at and 
near such borders; 
(D) an assessment of the extent of the 
negative economic impact, if any, on the United 
States due to staffing needs at land ports of 
entry along such borders; 
(E) a determination of whether border 
policies and practices ensure that the free flow 
of legitimate travel and commerce is not dimin-
ished by efforts, activities, and programs aimed 
at securing the international land ports of entry 
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along the international border between the 
United States and Mexico; 
(F) any other matters regarding cross-bor-
der trade policies, strategies, and programs the 
Commission determines appropriate; and 
(G) an evaluation and recommendations 
regarding the training of border enforcement 
personnel described in section 17. 
(2) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—The Commission may, 
for the purpose of carrying out its duties, hold hear-
ings, sit and act, take testimony, receive evidence, 
and administer oaths. 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
convene at least two public hearings each year 
on border security. 
(B) SUMMARIES.—The Commission shall 
provide a summary of each hearing convened 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) on the Federal 
Register. 
(d) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence rates authorized for employees of 
agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code, while away from their homes or reg-
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ular places of business in the performance of services for 
the Commission. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Secretary shall 
provide the Commission such staff and administrative 
services as may be necessary and appropriate for the Com-
mission to perform its functions. Any employee of the ex-
ecutive branch of Government may be detailed to the Com-
mission without reimbursement to the agency of that em-
ployee and such detail shall be without interruption or loss 
of civil service or status or privilege. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than two years after its first 
meeting, the Commission shall submit to the President, 
Congress, and the Secretary of Homeland Security a final 
report that contains— 
(1) findings with respect to the duties of the 
Commission; and 
(2) recommendations regarding border and im-
migration enforcement policies, strategies, and pro-
grams, including— 
(A) a recommendation as to whether the 
Commission should continue to operate; and 
(B) a description of any duties for which 
the Commission should be responsible after the 
termination date described in subsection (f). 
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(g) RESPONSE.—Not later than 180 days after re-
ceiving the findings and recommendations from the Com-
mission under subsection (f), the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall issue a response that describes how the De-
partment of Homeland Security has addressed, or will ad-
dress, such findings and recommendations. If the Sec-
retary disagrees with any finding of the Commission, the 
Secretary shall provide an explanation for the disagree-
ment. 
(h) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Chair, or a majority of the members of the Commission, 
may request statistics relating to the duties described in 
subsection (c) directly from any Federal agency, which 
shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such infor-
mation, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to 
the Commission. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section for each of the fiscal 
years 2016 through 2019. 
(j) SUNSET.—The Commission shall terminate oper-
ations 60 days after the date on which the Commission 
submits the report described in subsection (i). 
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