[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1900 Reported in Senate (RS)]





                                                       Calendar No. 351

105th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1900

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

     To establish a commission to examine issues pertaining to the 
   disposition of Holocaust-era assets in the United States before, 
  during, and after World War II, and to make recommendations to the 
          President on further action, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             April 30, 1998

                       Reported with an amendment





                                                       Calendar No. 351
105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1900

     To establish a commission to examine issues pertaining to the 
   disposition of Holocaust-era assets in the United States before, 
  during, and after World War II, and to make recommendations to the 
          President on further action, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 1, 1998

Mr. D'Amato (for himself, Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Faircloth, 
 Mr. Bennett, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Bryan, 
Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Reed, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Allard, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Coverdell, 
Mr. Inouye, Mr. Abraham, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Santorum, Mr. 
 Bond, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Enzi) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                 on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

                             April 30, 1998

               Reported by Mr. D'Amato, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To establish a commission to examine issues pertaining to the 
   disposition of Holocaust-era assets in the United States before, 
  during, and after World War II, and to make recommendations to the 
          President on further action, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Holocaust Assets 
Commission Act of 1998''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Presidential 
Commission, to be known as the ``Presidential Advisory Commission on 
Holocaust Assets in the United States'' (hereafter in this Act referred 
to as the ``Commission'').</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Membership.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Number.--The Commission shall be composed of 
        23 members, appointed in accordance with paragraph 
        (2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Appointments.--Of the 23 members of the 
        Commission--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) 11 shall be private citizens, 
                appointed by the President;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) 3 shall be representatives of the 
                Department of State, the Department of Justice, and the 
                Department of the Treasury (1 representative of each 
                such Department), appointed by the President;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) 2 shall be Members of the House of 
                Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House 
                of Representatives;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) 2 shall be Members of the House of 
                Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of 
                the House of Representatives;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) 2 shall be Members of the Senate, 
                appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
                Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) 2 shall be Members of the Senate, 
                appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) 1 shall be the Chairperson of the 
                United States Holocaust Memorial Council.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Criteria for membership.--Each private citizen 
        appointed to the Commission shall be an individual who has a 
        record of demonstrated leadership on issues relating to the 
        Holocaust or in the fields of commerce, culture, or education 
        that would assist the Commission in analyzing the disposition 
        of the assets of Holocaust victims.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Advisory panels.--The Chairperson of the 
        Commission may, in the discretion of the Chairperson, establish 
        advisory panels to the Commission, including State or local 
        officials, representatives of organizations having an interest 
        in the work of the Commission, or others having expertise that 
        is relevant to the purposes of the Commission.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Date.--The appointments of the members of the 
        Commission shall be made not later than 90 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall 
be selected by the President from among the members of the Commission 
appointed under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(2).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Period of Appointment.--Members of the Commission 
shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the 
Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
the Chairperson at any time after the date of appointment of the 
Chairperson.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Quorum.--Thirteen of the members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold 
meetings.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Original Research.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in 
        paragraph (3), the Commission shall conduct a thorough study 
        and develop an historical record of the collection and 
        disposition of the assets described in paragraph (2), if such 
        assets came into the possession or control of the Federal 
        Government at any time after January 30, 1933, either--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) after having been obtained from 
                victims of the Holocaust by, on behalf of, or 
under authority of a government referred to in subsection (c); 
or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) because such assets were left 
                unclaimed as the result of actions taken by, on behalf 
                of, or under authority of a government referred to in 
                subsection (c).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Types of assets.--Assets described in this 
        paragraph include--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) gold;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) gems, jewelry, and non-gold precious 
                metals;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) accounts in banks in the United 
                States;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) domestic financial instruments 
                purchased before May 8, 1945 by individual victims of 
                the Holocaust, whether recorded in the name of the 
                victim or in the name of a nominee, and whether or not 
                held in a brokerage account;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) insurance policies and proceeds 
                thereof;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) real estate situated in the United 
                States;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) works of art; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) books, manuscripts, and religious 
                objects.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Coordination of activities.--In carrying out 
        its duties under paragraph (1), the Commission shall, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, coordinate its activities with, and 
        not duplicate similar activities already or being undertaken 
        by, private individuals, private entities, or government 
        entities, whether domestic or foreign.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Comprehensive Review of Other Research.--Upon request 
by the Commission and permission by the relevant individuals or 
entities, the Commission shall review comprehensively research by 
private individuals, private entities, and non-Federal government 
entities, whether domestic or foreign, into the collection and 
disposition of the assets described in subsection (a)(2), to the extent 
that such research focuses on assets that came into the possession or 
control of private individuals, private entities, or non-Federal 
government entities within the United States at any time after January 
30, 1933, either--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) after having been obtained from victims of the 
        Holocaust by, on behalf of, or under authority of a government 
        referred to in subsection (c); or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) because such assets were left unclaimed as the 
        result of actions taken by, on behalf of, or under authority of 
        a government referred to in subsection (c).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Governments Included.--A government referred to in 
this subsection includes, as in existence during the period beginning 
on March 23, 1933, and ending on May 8, 1945--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Nazi government of Germany;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) any government in any area occupied by the 
        military forces of the Nazi government of Germany;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) any government established with the assistance 
        or cooperation of the Nazi government of Germany; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) any government which was an ally of the Nazi 
        government of Germany.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Reports.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Submission to the president.--Not later than 
        December 31, 1999, the Commission shall submit a final report 
        to the President that shall contain any recommendations for 
        such legislative, administrative, or other action as it deems 
        necessary or appropriate. The Commission may submit interim 
        reports to the President as it deems appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Submission to the congress.--After receipt of 
        the final report under paragraph (1), the President shall 
        submit to the Congress any recommendations for legislative, 
        administrative, or other action that the President considers 
        necessary or appropriate.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit 
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this 
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may 
secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information 
as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act. Upon 
request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of any such 
department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission 
as expeditiously as possible.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) 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 Federal Government.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 
gifts or donations of services or property.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Compensation.--No member of the Commission who is a 
private citizen shall be compensated for service on the Commission. All 
members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United 
States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received 
for their services as officers or employees of the United 
States.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, General 
Counsel, and Other Staff.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        selection of the Chairperson of the Commission under section 2, 
        the Chairperson shall, without regard to the civil service laws 
        and regulations, appoint an executive director, a deputy 
        executive director, and a general counsel of the Commission, 
        and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to 
        enable the Commission to perform its duties under this 
        Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Qualifications.--The executive director, 
        deputy executive director, and general counsel of the 
        Commission shall be appointed without regard to political 
        affiliation, and shall possess all necessary security 
        clearances for such positions.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Duties of executive director.--The executive 
        director of the Commission shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) serve as principal liaison between the 
                Commission and other Government entities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) be responsible for the administration 
                and coordination of the review of records by the 
                Commission; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) be responsible for coordinating all 
                official activities of the Commission.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Compensation.--The Chairperson of the 
        Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director, 
        deputy executive director, general counsel, and other personnel 
        employed by the Commission, without regard to the provisions of 
        chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United 
        States Code, relating to classification of positions and 
        General Schedule pay rates, except that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the rate of pay for the executive 
                director of the Commission may not exceed the rate 
                payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under 
                section 5314 of title 5, United States Code; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the rate of pay for the deputy 
                executive director, the general counsel of the 
                Commission, and other Commission personnel may not 
                exceed the rate payable for level IV of the Executive 
                Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
                Code.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Employee benefits.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--An employee of the 
                Commission shall be an employee for purposes of 
                chapters 84, 85, 87, and 89 of title 5, United States 
                Code, and service as an employee of the Commission 
                shall be service for purposes of such 
                chapters.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Nonapplication to members.--This 
                paragraph shall not apply to a member of the 
                Commission.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Office of personnel management.--The Office of 
        Personnel Management--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) may promulgate regulations to apply 
                the provisions referred to under subsection (a) to 
                employees of the Commission; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) shall provide support services 
                relating to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) the initial employment of 
                        employees of the Commission; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) other personnel needs of the 
                        Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal 
Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without 
reimbursement to the agency of that employee, and such detail shall be 
without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--
The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and 
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of such title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Staff Qualifications.--Any person appointed to the 
staff of or employed by the Commission shall be an individual of 
integrity and impartiality.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Conditional Employment.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Commission may offer 
        employment on a conditional basis to a prospective employee 
        pending the completion of any necessary security clearance 
        background investigation. During the pendency of any such 
        investigation, the Commission shall ensure than such 
        conditional employee is not given and does not have access to 
        or responsibility involving classified or otherwise restricted 
        material.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Termination.--If a person hired on a 
        conditional basis as described in paragraph (1) is denied or 
        otherwise does not qualify for all security clearances 
        necessary for the fulfillment of the responsibilities of that 
        person as an employee of the Commission, the Commission shall 
        immediately terminate the employment of that person with the 
        Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (h) Expedited Security Clearance Procedures.--A candidate 
for executive director or deputy executive director of the Commission 
and any potential employee of the Commission shall, to the maximum 
extent possible, be investigated or otherwise evaluated for and 
granted, if applicable, any necessary security clearances on an 
expedited basis.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. SUPPORT SERVICES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    During the 180-day period following the date of enactment 
of this Act, the General Services Administration shall provide 
administrative support services (including offices and equipment) for 
the Commission.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on 
which the Commission submits its final report under section 
3.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Inapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to the 
Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Public Attendance.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
each meeting of the Commission shall be open to members of the 
public.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. FUNDING OF COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Notwithstanding section 1346 of title 31, United States 
Code, or section 611 of the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1998, of funds made available for fiscal years 1998 
and 1999 to the Departments of Justice, State, and any other 
appropriate agency that are otherwise unobligated, not more than 
$3,500,000 shall be available for the interagency funding of activities 
of the Commission under this Act. Funds made available to the 
Commission pursuant to this section shall remain available for 
obligation until December 31, 1999.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Holocaust Assets Commission Act 
of 1998''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Presidential Commission, 
to be known as the ``Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust 
Assets in the United States'' (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Number.--The Commission shall be composed of 21 
        members, appointed in accordance with paragraph (2).
            (2) Appointments.--Of the 21 members of the Commission--
                    (A) 9 shall be private citizens, appointed by the 
                President;
                    (B) 3 shall be representatives of the Department of 
                State, the Department of Justice, and the Department of 
                the Treasury (1 representative of each such 
                Department), appointed by the President;
                    (C) 2 shall be Members of the House of 
                Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House 
                of Representatives;
                    (D) 2 shall be Members of the House of 
                Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of 
                the House of Representatives;
                    (E) 2 shall be Members of the Senate, appointed by 
                the Majority Leader of the Senate;
                    (F) 2 shall be Members of the Senate, appointed by 
                the Minority Leader of the Senate; and
                    (G) 1 shall be the Chairperson of the United States 
                Holocaust Memorial Council.
            (3) Criteria for membership.--Each private citizen 
        appointed to the Commission shall be an individual who has a 
        record of demonstrated leadership on issues relating to the 
        Holocaust or in the fields of commerce, culture, or education 
        that would assist the Commission in analyzing the disposition 
        of the assets of Holocaust victims.
            (4) Advisory panels.--The Chairperson of the Commission 
        may, in the discretion of the Chairperson, establish advisory 
        panels to the Commission, including State or local officials, 
        representatives of organizations having an interest in the work 
        of the Commission, or others having expertise that is relevant 
        to the purposes of the Commission.
            (5) Date.--The appointments of the members of the 
        Commission shall be made not later than 90 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be 
selected by the President from among the members of the Commission 
appointed under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(2).
    (d) Period of Appointment.--Members of the Commission shall be 
appointed for the life of the Commission.
    (e) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission 
shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment.
    (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson at any time after the date of appointment of the 
Chairperson.
    (g) Quorum.--Eleven of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold meetings.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Original Research.--
            (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 
        (3), the Commission shall conduct a thorough study and develop 
        an historical record of the collection and disposition of the 
        assets described in paragraph (2), if such assets came into the 
        possession or control of the Federal Government, including the 
        Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any Federal 
        reserve bank, at any time after January 30, 1933--
                    (A) after having been obtained from victims of the 
                Holocaust by, on behalf of, or under authority of a 
                government referred to in subsection (c);
                    (B) because such assets were left unclaimed as the 
                result of actions taken by, on behalf of, or under 
                authority of a government referred to in subsection 
                (c); or
                    (C) in the case of assets consisting of gold 
                bullion, monetary gold, or similar assets, after such 
                assets had been obtained by the Nazi government of 
                Germany from the central bank or other governmental 
                treasury in any area occupied by the military forces of 
                the Nazi government of Germany.
            (2) Types of assets.--Assets described in this paragraph 
        include--
                    (A) gold;
                    (B) gems, jewelry, and non-gold precious metals;
                    (C) accounts in banks in the United States;
                    (D) domestic financial instruments purchased before 
                May 8, 1945 by individual victims of the Holocaust, 
                whether recorded in the name of the victim or in the 
                name of a nominee;
                    (E) insurance policies and proceeds thereof;
                    (F) real estate situated in the United States;
                    (G) works of art; and
                    (H) books, manuscripts, and religious objects.
            (3) Coordination of activities.--In carrying out its duties 
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall, to the maximum 
        extent practicable, coordinate its activities with, and not 
        duplicate similar activities already or being undertaken by, 
        private individuals, private entities, or government entities, 
        whether domestic or foreign.
    (b) Comprehensive Review of Other Research.--Upon request by the 
Commission and permission by the relevant individuals or entities, the 
Commission shall review comprehensively research by private 
individuals, private entities, and non-Federal government entities, 
whether domestic or foreign, into the collection and disposition of the 
assets described in subsection (a)(2), to the extent that such research 
focuses on assets that came into the possession or control of private 
individuals, private entities, or non-Federal government entities 
within the United States at any time after January 30, 1933, either--
            (1) after having been obtained from victims of the 
        Holocaust by, on behalf of, or under authority of a government 
        referred to in subsection (c); or
            (2) because such assets were left unclaimed as the result 
        of actions taken by, on behalf of, or under authority of a 
        government referred to in subsection (c).
    (c) Governments Included.--A government referred to in this 
subsection includes, as in existence during the period beginning on 
March 23, 1933, and ending on May 8, 1945--
            (1) the Nazi government of Germany;
            (2) any government in any area occupied by the military 
        forces of the Nazi government of Germany;
            (3) any government established with the assistance or 
        cooperation of the Nazi government of Germany; and
            (4) any government which was an ally of the Nazi government 
        of Germany.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Submission to the president.--Not later than December 
        31, 1999, the Commission shall submit a final report to the 
        President that shall contain any recommendations for such 
        legislative, administrative, or other action as it deems 
        necessary or appropriate. The Commission may submit interim 
        reports to the President as it deems appropriate.
            (2) Submission to the congress.--After receipt of the final 
        report under paragraph (1), the President shall submit to the 
        Congress any recommendations for legislative, administrative, 
        or other action that the President considers necessary or 
        appropriate.

SEC. 4. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act 
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this Act.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure 
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the 
Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of any such department or 
agency shall furnish such information to the Commission as 
expeditiously as possible.
    (c) 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 Federal Government.
    (d) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.

SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation.--No member of the Commission who is a private 
citizen shall be compensated for service on the Commission. All members 
of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States 
shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their 
services as officers or employees of the United States.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission.
    (c) Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, General Counsel, 
and Other Staff.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the selection 
        of the Chairperson of the Commission under section 2, the 
        Chairperson shall, without regard to the civil service laws and 
regulations, appoint an executive director, a deputy executive 
director, and a general counsel of the Commission, and such other 
additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to 
perform its duties under this Act.
            (2) Qualifications.--The executive director, deputy 
        executive director, and general counsel of the Commission shall 
        be appointed without regard to political affiliation, and shall 
        possess all necessary security clearances for such positions.
            (3) Duties of executive director.--The executive director 
        of the Commission shall--
                    (A) serve as principal liaison between the 
                Commission and other Government entities;
                    (B) be responsible for the administration and 
                coordination of the review of records by the 
                Commission; and
                    (C) be responsible for coordinating all official 
                activities of the Commission.
            (4) Compensation.--The Chairperson of the Commission may 
        fix the compensation of the executive director, deputy 
        executive director, general counsel, and other personnel 
        employed by the Commission, without regard to the provisions of 
        chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United 
        States Code, relating to classification of positions and 
        General Schedule pay rates, except that--
                    (A) the rate of pay for the executive director of 
                the Commission may not exceed the rate payable for 
                level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 
                of title 5, United States Code; and
                    (B) the rate of pay for the deputy executive 
                director, the general counsel of the Commission, and 
                other Commission personnel may not exceed the rate 
                payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
                section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
            (5) Employee benefits.--
                    (A) In general.--An employee of the Commission 
                shall be an employee for purposes of chapters 84, 85, 
                87, and 89 of title 5, United States Code, and service 
                as an employee of the Commission shall be service for 
                purposes of such chapters.
                    (B) Nonapplication to members.--This paragraph 
                shall not apply to a member of the Commission.
            (6) Office of personnel management.--The Office of 
        Personnel Management--
                    (A) may promulgate regulations to apply the 
                provisions referred to under subsection (a) to 
                employees of the Commission; and
                    (B) shall provide support services relating to--
                            (i) the initial employment of employees of 
                        the Commission; and
                            (ii) other personnel needs of the 
                        Commission.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government 
employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement to the 
agency of that employee, and such detail shall be without interruption 
or loss of civil service status or privilege.
    (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title.
    (f) Staff Qualifications.--Any person appointed to the staff of or 
employed by the Commission shall be an individual of integrity and 
impartiality.
    (g) Conditional Employment.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may offer employment on a 
        conditional basis to a prospective employee pending the 
        completion of any necessary security clearance background 
        investigation. During the pendency of any such investigation, 
        the Commission shall ensure that such conditional employee is 
        not given and does not have access to or responsibility 
        involving classified or otherwise restricted material.
            (2) Termination.--If a person hired on a conditional basis 
        as described in paragraph (1) is denied or otherwise does not 
        qualify for all security clearances necessary for the 
        fulfillment of the responsibilities of that person as an 
        employee of the Commission, the Commission shall immediately 
        terminate the employment of that person with the Commission.
    (h) Expedited Security Clearance Procedures.--A candidate for 
executive director or deputy executive director of the Commission and 
any potential employee of the Commission shall, to the maximum extent 
possible, be investigated or otherwise evaluated for and granted, if 
applicable, any necessary security clearances on an expedited basis.

SEC. 6. SUPPORT SERVICES.

    During the 180-day period following the date of enactment of this 
Act, the General Services Administration shall provide administrative 
support services (including offices and equipment) for the Commission.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the 
Commission submits its final report under section 3.

SEC. 8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

    (a) Inapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) does not apply to the Commission.
    (b) Public Attendance.--To the maximum extent practicable, each 
meeting of the Commission shall be open to members of the public.

SEC. 9. FUNDING OF COMMISSION.

    Notwithstanding section 1346 of title 31, United States Code, or 
section 611 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
1998, of funds made available for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 to the 
Departments of Justice, State, and any other appropriate agency that 
are otherwise unobligated, not more than $3,500,000 shall be available 
for the interagency funding of activities of the Commission under this 
Act. Funds made available to the Commission pursuant to this section 
shall remain available for obligation until December 31, 1999.