I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6429 
To establish in the Legislative Branch a National Commission on the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 3, 2020 
Mrs. MURPHY of Florida (for herself and Mr. KATKO) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and 
Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 establish in the Legislative Branch a National Commis-
sion on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in the 
United States. 
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 ‘‘National Commission 
on COVID-19 Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established in the legislative branch the Na-
tional Commission on COVID-19 in the United States 
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The purposes of the Commission 
are to— 
(1) examine the facts and circumstances relat-
ing to the emergence and spread in the United 
States 
of 
the 
respiratory 
illness 
known 
as 
coronavirus disease 2019 (hereinafter in this Act re-
ferred to as ‘‘COVID-19’’); 
(2) evaluate the United States preparation for 
and response to COVID-19; and 
(3) report to the President and Congress on its 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations for cor-
rective measures that can be taken to prevent, pre-
pare for, respond to, and mitigate the effects of fu-
ture pandemics in the United States. 
(b) PARTICULAR SUBJECTS FOR REVIEW.—In par-
ticular, the Commission shall examine, evaluate, make 
findings and recommendations, and report on the United 
States preparation for and response to COVID-19 as it 
relates to— 
(1) surveillance, testing, treatments, and vac-
cines; 
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(2) personal protective equipment for health 
workers and other first responders; 
(3) medical devices, equipment, drugs, and sup-
ply chains; 
(4) the use and public health impact of social 
distancing practices, stay-at-home directives, school 
and business closures, and other measures pre-
scribed by government authorities or adopted volun-
tarily in order to contain the virus; 
(5) the preparedness and capacity of the United 
States health care system, including hospitals, physi-
cians, community health centers, and laboratories; 
(6) the Federal Government’s actions, including 
guidance, regarding altered standards of care, end of 
life care, and prioritization of scarce medical and 
emergency resources; 
(7) the National Response Framework and any 
other applicable response plans; 
(8) the Defense Production Act; 
(9) the Strategic National Stockpile; 
(10) the role and responsibility of, and coordi-
nation among, departments and agencies of the 
United States, including but not limited to, the De-
partment of Health and Human Services, the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food 
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and Drug Administration, the Department of Home-
land Security, the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, the Department of Defense, and the Na-
tional Security Council; 
(11) the nature and extent of communication 
and coordination between the Federal Government 
and State, territory, tribal, and local governments; 
between the Federal Government and the private 
sector; and between the United States Government 
and the governments of foreign nations; and 
(12) any other subject the Commission deter-
mines to be appropriate and relevant in order to ful-
fill its purposes. 
SEC. 4. COMPOSITION. 
(a) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall consist of 10 
members as follows: 
(1) One member appointed by the President, 
who shall serve as chairperson of the Commission. 
(2) One member appointed by the leader of the 
House of Representatives from the party opposite 
the President (majority or minority leader, as the 
case may be), in consultation with the leader of the 
Senate from the party opposite the President (ma-
jority or minority leader, as the case may be), who 
shall serve as vice chairperson of the Commission. 
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