Short title

This Act may be cited as the

National Commission on the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2019

Establishment and purpose

(a)

Establishment

There is established a National Commission on the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico (in this Act referred to as the Commission). (b)

Purpose

The purpose of the Commission is to examine the Federal preparedness, response, and recovery to the 2017 natural disasters in Puerto Rico, including the Federal Government’s consideration of the following aspects: (1)Federal preparedness activities prior to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, including Federal plans for the 2017 hurricane season and decision making regarding prepositioning contracts and supplies. (2)Federal response activities during Hurricanes Irma and Maria, including Federal coordination, distribution of assistance, and contracting. (3)Federal recovery activities after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, including Federal efforts to obtain accurate accounting of the death toll, damage impacts, and long-term rebuilding assistance for survivors.

Considerations

To carry out its examination, the Commission shall take into consideration the Federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions that were impacted by the 2017 hurricane season, as well as the following issues: (1)The impact and destruction of Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, the resulting landslides, and flooding. (2)The adequacy of the death toll methodology and processes, and whether previous death counts and mortality estimates slowed or otherwise affected Federal response efforts. (3)The Federal emergency and contingency plans in place before the 2017 hurricane season. (4)The Federal preparedness guidelines issued ahead of the 2017 hurricane season. (5)The vulnerability of Puerto Rico’s economic situation on Federal preparedness. (6)The implications of Puerto Rico’s reliance on imported oil for power generation. (7)The adequacy of the telecommunications network in Puerto Rico. (8)The capacity of the local government and Federal Government to quickly mobilize and respond to disasters and emergencies in Puerto Rico. (9)The impact of the uncertainty in long-term Federal health care funding on medical and emergency readiness. (10)The implication of Puerto Rico’s treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its impact on readiness. (11)The adequacy of available data and its effects on the Federal response. (12)The geographic, ecological, and infrastructure issues that could have affected response efforts. (13)A comparison of response efforts in other United States jurisdictions vis-a-vis efforts in Puerto Rico for the 2017 hurricane season.

Composition and compensation of Commission

(a)

Members

The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of whom two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate. (b)

Chair and Vice Chair

The Commission, by majority vote, shall choose a Chair and Vice Chair. (c)

Qualifications and restrictions

(1)

In general

Individuals shall be selected for appointment on the Commission solely on the basis of their professional qualifications, experience, and expertise in relevant fields, including disaster response and emergency preparedness. (2)

Restrictions

Individuals may not be an officer or employee of the Federal Government or any State, or a current elected official of the local government. (d)

Appointment

(1)

In general

All members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2)

Presidential authority

The President shall have no authority to terminate the appointment of any member of the commission. (e)

Vacancies

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 not later than 60 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs. (f)

Compensation

(1)

In general

Members of the Commission may be compensated for travel expenses necessary to conduct the work and services for the Commission. (2)

Travel expenditures

Members shall be allowed travel expenditures, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. (g)

Staff

(1)

In general

With a majority vote of the Commission, members may recruit personnel to assist with the Commission’s work, including the creation of the report. (2)

Personnel

Any such personnel may include private citizens, employees or detailees of the Federal Government, or employees of the territorial government.

Functions and powers of the Commission

(a)

Quorum

(1)

In general

Not later than 60 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the Commission. (2)

Subsequent meetings

Each subsequent meeting shall occur upon the call of the Chair or a majority of its members. (3)

Quorum

A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings. (b)

Public meetings

The Commission shall host not less than 10 public meetings in locations that are accessible to individuals of every municipality with elected officials, local community leaders, academic institutions, for-profit and non-for-profit organizations, and individuals in Puerto Rico to the extent appropriate. (c)

Written input

The Commission shall allow participants both in Puerto Rico and the mainland to provide written input to be included in an appendix of the final report. (d)

Hearings

(1)

In general

The Commission may hold hearings, take testimony, and receive evidence for its investigation. (2)

Protection of information

Any public hearings of the Commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information provided to or developed for or by the Commission as required by any applicable statute, regulation, or Executive order. (e)

Subpoenas

The Commission may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and requiring the submission of data, books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, electronic files, metadata, tapes, and materials of any nature relating to any matter under investigation. (f)

Information from agencies

The Commission may secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics. (g)

GSA services

The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services for the performance of the Commission’s functions. (h)

Federal assistance from other agencies

Departments and agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law. (i)

Postal services

The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.

Reports of Commission

(a)

Report

Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a final report on the causes and circumstances surrounding the natural disasters in Puerto Rico, including preparedness and immediate response, and providing recommendations to guard against future natural disasters outside of the continental United States, which shall contain findings, conclusions, and recommendations as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members and shall— (1)be made available to the public in the English and Spanish languages; (2)include findings for the issues described in section 2; and (3)include— (A)the number and nature of complaints filed to the Inspectors General for Federal agencies responsible in the aftermath of the 2017 natural disasters; (B)details on Federal procurement and acquisition practices in the aftermath of the 2017 natural disasters; (C)details on disaster mitigation protocols given cultural and language differences; and (D)disaster response processes taking into account demographics (age, race, gender, income) and the impact on segments of the population with disabilities. (b)

Appendix

An appendix to the final report shall include written input of participants in Puerto Rico and the mainland. (c)

Interim report

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall provide to Congress an interim report.

Sunset

The Commission shall terminate on the day that is 90 days after the date on which the final report is submitted.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out this Act, to remain available until expended.