I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4259 
To establish the Veterans’ Right to Know Commission. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 8, 2005 
Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself, Mr. REHBERG, Mr. FILNER, Mr. 
PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 
MCDERMOTT, Mr. HOLT, and Mr. STRICKLAND) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in ad-
dition to the Committee on Rules, 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 the Veterans’ Right to Know Commission. 
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 ‘‘Veterans’ Right to 
Know Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Veterans’ Right to Know Commission’’ (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The duties of the Commission 
shall be— 
(1) to investigate chemical or biological warfare 
tests or projects, especially such projects carried out 
between 1954 and 1973, placing particular emphasis 
on actions or conditions associated with such 
projects that could have contributed to health risks 
or been harmful to any United States civilian per-
sonnel or member of the United States Armed 
Forces who participated in such a project or who 
was otherwise potentially exposed to any biological 
or chemical agent, simulant, tracer, decontaminant, 
or herbicide as a result of such projects; and 
(2) to submit a report to Congress of its find-
ings and recommendations. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE EXAMINED.—In carrying out 
this Act, the Commission shall specifically examine— 
(1) classified and unclassified data, test oper-
ation plans, safety plans, test reports, test results, 
and any other materials related to a chemical or bio-
logical warfare test or project; 
(2) the types and dosages of any biological or 
chemical agent, including any simulant, tracer, 
decontaminant, pharmaceutical, or herbicide, used
during each chemical or biological warfare test or 
project; 
(3) information relating to the personal protec-
tion of participants in each chemical or biological 
warfare test or project, including respiratory equip-
ment, clothing, citadel systems, vaccinations, and 
safety and medical protocols; 
(4) the list provided to the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs by the Department of Defense of 
names of individuals who participated in each chem-
ical or biological warfare test or project, the method 
by which such names were provided, and any other 
information relating to the number of individuals 
who participated in such a project or who were oth-
erwise potentially exposed to any biological or chem-
ical agent, simulant, tracer, decontaminant, pharma-
ceutical, or herbicide as a result of such a project; 
(5) the date and location of any land, air, or 
sea test conducted as part of any chemical or bio-
logical warfare test or project and the dispersal area 
likely to have been affected by the release of a chem-
ical 
or 
biological 
agent, 
simulant, 
tracer, 
decontaminant, pharmaceutical, or herbicide during 
the tests; and
(6) any available data collected during health 
screenings or cause of death determinations per-
formed on any individual who participated in a 
chemical or biological warfare test or project to de-
termine any possible health consequences of such 
participation. 
(c) CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WARFARE TEST OR 
PROJECT.—In this Act, the term ‘‘chemical or biological 
warfare test or project’’ means any project or program 
carried out by the Department of Defense, including 
Project 112 and the Shipboard Hazard and Defense 
Project (Project SHAD), as a part of which any biological 
or chemical agent, simulant, tracer, decontaminant, phar-
maceutical, or herbicide was tested or used. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 10 members as follows: 
(1) 1 member appointed by the President, who 
shall serve as chair of the Commission. 
(2) 1 member appointed jointly by the minority 
leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the 
House of Representatives, who shall serve as vice 
chair of the Commission. 
(3) 2 members appointed by the majority leader 
of the Senate.
(4) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. 
(5) 2 members appointed by the minority leader 
of the Senate. 
(6) 2 members appointed by the minority leader 
of the House of Representatives. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each individual appointed to 
the Commission shall be a prominent United States 
citizen with national recognition and significant ex-
perience in areas related to the duties of the Com-
mission. 
(2) VETERAN APPOINTMENTS.— 
(A) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The chair 
and vice chair of the Commission shall be vet-
erans (as that term is defined in section 101 of 
title 38, United States Code). 
(B) MEMBERS.—2 members of the Com-
mission shall be veterans who participated in 
chemical or biological warfare test or project 
and who have knowledge of the tests conducted 
during such projects. 
(3) OTHER APPOINTMENTS.—A member of the 
Commission shall not be an officer of employee of 
the Federal Government, any State government, or
any unit of local government. This paragraph shall 
not apply to appointments under paragraph (2). 
(c) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Commission. 
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(d) TIME FOR APPOINTMENT.—Each member of the 
Commission shall be appointed before the expiration of the 
45-day period which begins on the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(e) BASIC PAY.—Members shall be compensated at 
a rate not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of 
the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code, for each day during which that mem-
ber is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of 
the Commission. 
(f) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(g) CHAIR.—The chair shall serve as a full-time em-
ployee of the United States.