I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5481 
To give subpoena power to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater 
Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 8, 2010 
Mrs. CAPPS (for herself, Mr. MARKEY of Massachusetts, Mr. GEORGE MILLER 
of California, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. MCCOL-
LUM, Mr. DEUTCH, Ms. BERKLEY, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. 
SPEIER, Mr. MICHAUD, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. HIRONO, and Ms. SUTTON) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To give subpoena power to the National Commission on 
the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SUBPOENA POWER OF THE NATIONAL COMMIS-
SION ON THE BP DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL 
SPILL AND OFFSHORE DRILLING. 
(a) SUBPOENA POWER.—The National Commission 
on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore 
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Drilling established by Executive Order No. 13543 of May 
21, 2010 (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’), may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance and 
testimony of witnesses and the production of books, 
records, correspondence, memoranda, and other docu-
ments. 
(b) ISSUANCE.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—A subpoena may be 
issued under this section only— 
(A) by agreement of the Co-Chairs of the 
Commission; or 
(B) by the affirmative vote of a majority of 
the members of the Commission. 
(2) SIGNATURE
AND
SERVICE.—A subpoena 
issued under this section may be issued under the 
signature of either Co-Chair or any member des-
ignated by a majority of the Commission, and may 
be served by any person designated by the Co-Chairs 
or a member designated by a majority of the Com-
mission. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) REQUIRED PROCEDURES.—In the case of 
contumacy of any person issued a subpoena under 
this section or refusal by such person to comply with 
the subpoena, the Commission shall request the At-
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torney General to seek enforcement of the subpoena. 
Upon such request, the Attorney General shall seek 
enforcement of the subpoena in a court described in 
paragraph (2). The court in which the Attorney 
General seeks enforcement of the subpoena shall 
issue an order requiring the subpoenaed person to 
appear at any designated place to testify or to 
produce documentary or other evidence, and may 
punish any failure to obey the order as a contempt 
of that court. 
(2) JURISDICTION
FOR
ENFORCEMENT.—Any 
United States district court for a judicial district in 
which a person issued a subpoena under this section 
resides, is served, or may be found, or where the 
subpoena is returnable, shall have jurisdiction to en-
force the subpoena as provided in paragraph (1). 
Æ 
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