Quadrennial national security reviews

(a)

In general

The National Security Act of 1947 is amended by inserting after section 108 (50 U.S.C. 404a) the following:

108A.

Quadrennial national security reviews

(a)

QNSR required

Every four years, during a year following a year evenly divisible by four, the President shall, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Congress, and the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies responsible for national security, conduct a quadrennial national security review (in this section referred to as a QNSR) to set forth the security goals, including long-term and short-term security goals, of the United States. (b)

Report

(1)

In general

In a year following the year in which a QNSR is conducted under this section, but not later than the date on which the President submits the budget for the next fiscal year to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the President shall submit to Congress a report on such QNSR. Such report shall include— (A)a discussion of the worldwide interests, goals, and objectives of the United States that are vital to the national security of the United States; (B)a prioritization of the goals described in subparagraph (A); (C)a description of— (i)which agencies and departments of the Federal Government will be responsible for achieving such goals; and (ii)the organizational, policy, and budget requirements of agencies and departments of the Federal Government to achieve such goals; (D)an assessment of potential risks to the United States, citizens of the United States, and interests of the United States and any challenges to the pursuit or attainment of such goals by the United States; (E)an assessment of the role of other nations in the attainment of such goals by the United States, including an assessment of political, economic, or cultural trends at the global, regional, or national level that will affect such attainment; (F)a discussion of the foreign policy, national defense capabilities, international cooperative efforts, and other relevant means by which to deter aggression and implement such goals and policies; (G)an evaluation of the capacity of the departments and agencies involved with implementing national security strategy to conduct strategic planning and national security-related operations with other agencies and departments; (H)an identification of the elements of national power (including political, military, economic, intelligence, legal, cultural, and educational assets and capabilities) needed to deter aggression and implement such goals and policies, including description of existing assets and capabilities available to the United States; (I)a description of how the Federal Government will coordinate elements of national power among agencies and departments of the Federal Government to produce unity of effort in pursuing such goals and policies; (J)an assessment of any additional resources, policy recommendations, or other changes needed to maximize the ability of the United States to achieve the interests, goals, and objectives discussed in the QNSR; (K)the national security strategy report required under section 108(a)(3); and (L)a projection of the costs of implementing the goals described in subparagraph (A) for the five fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the QNSR is submitted, including the cost for each agency and department and a prioritization of each program within a department or agency and an explanation of the strategic importance of such program. (2)

Form of QNSR

Each QNSR shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (c)

QNSR advisory commission

(1)

Establishment

There is established a commission to be known as the QNSR Advisory Commission (in this subsection referred to as the Commission). (2)

Duties

The Commission shall assess each report submitted under subsection (b)(1) (including the national security strategy report required under section 108(a)(3)) and the national security budget. (3)

Membership

(A)

In general

The Commission shall be composed of 15 members, of whom— (i)three shall be appointed by the President; (ii)three shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (iii)two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; (iv)three shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (v)two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (vi)one shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and (vii)one shall be appointed jointly by the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate. (B)

Qualifications

(i)

Political party affiliation

Not more than eight members of the Commission shall be from the same political party. (ii)

Nongovernmental employees

An individual appointed to the Commission may not be an officer or employee of the Federal Government or any State or local government. (iii)

Other qualifications

It is the sense of Congress that individuals appointed to the Commission should be prominent United States citizens, with national recognition and significant depth of experience in such professions as governmental service, law enforcement, the armed services, law, public administration, intelligence gathering, commerce, public diplomacy, international development, conflict resolution, economics, trade, finance, and foreign affairs. (C)

Chair; vice chair

(i)

Odd numbered reports

During the period beginning on the date on which the Commission is established for the first time under paragraph (1) and ending on the date on which the Commission is subsequently terminated pursuant to paragraph (7)(A), and during the period beginning every eight years thereafter and ending on the date on which the Commission is subsequently terminated pursuant to paragraph (7)(A), the member appointed under subparagraph (A)(vi) shall serve as the Chair of the Commission and the member appointed under subparagraph (A)(vii) shall serve as the Vice Chair of the Commission. (ii)

Even numbered reports

During the period beginning on the date on which the Commission is reestablished for the first time under paragraph (7)(B) and ending on the date on which the Commission is subsequently terminated pursuant to paragraph (7)(A), and during the period beginning every eight years thereafter and ending on the date on which the Commission is subsequently terminated pursuant to paragraph (7)(A), the member appointed under subparagraph (A)(vii) shall serve as the Chair of the Commission and the member appointed under subparagraph (A)(vi) shall serve as the Vice Chair of the Commission. (D)

Date of appointment

All members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 180 days after the date on which a report is submitted under subsection (b)(1). (E)

Term

Each member appointed under subparagraph (A) shall serve a term of 2 years. (F)

Quorum

Eight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings. (G)

Vacancy

A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (H)

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. (4)

Staff

The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of personnel as the Commission considers appropriate. (5)

Powers

(A)

Hearings

The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. (B)

Subpoenas

(i)

In general

The Commission may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence relating to any matter relating to the assessment of the report submitted under subsection (b)(1) and the national security budget. (ii)

Failure to obey a Subpoena

If a person refuses to obey a subpoena issued under clause (i), the Commission may apply to a United States district court for an order requiring that person to appear before the Commission to give testimony, produce evidence, or both, relating to the matter under investigation. The application may be made within the judicial district where the hearing is conducted or where that person is found, resides, or transacts business. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as civil contempt. (iii)

Service of subpoenas

The subpoenas of the Commission shall be served in the manner provided for subpoenas issued by a United States district court under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for the United States district courts. (iv)

Service of process

All process of any court to which application is made under clause (ii) may be served in the judicial district in which the person required to be served resides or may be found. (C)

Information from Federal agencies

The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the Commission. (D)

Support from other Federal agencies

(i)

Administrative

Upon the request of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this section. (ii)

Staff

Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this section. (E)

Gifts, bequests, and devises

The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission. (F)

Postal service

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. (G)

Contracting

The Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this section. (6)

Report

Not later than two years after the date on which a report on the QNSR is submitted under subsection (b)(1), the Commission shall submit to Congress a report containing the assessment of the Commission of such report on the QNSR and the national security budget. (7)

Termination; reestablishment; Federal Advisory Committee Act

(A)

Termination

Subject to subparagraph (B), the Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits a report under paragraph (6). (B)

Reestablishment

The Commission shall be reestablished on the date on which a report on the QNSR is submitted under subsection (b)(1). (C)

Inapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act

Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to the termination of advisory committees) shall not apply to the Commission.

(b)

National security strategy report

Section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 404a) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(3)— (A)by striking (3) Not and inserting (3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), not; and (B)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(B)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in a year when a quadrennial national security review is required to be submitted under section 108A, the President shall submit the national security strategy report with the quadrennial national security review in accordance with such section.

; and

(2)in subsection (b)— (A)by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (B)by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:

(4)Specific recommendations and initiatives with regard to organizational structure and resource allocation.

(c)

Conforming amendment

The table of sections in the first section of the National Security Act of 1947 is amended by adding after the item relating to section 108 the following new item:

108A. Quadrennial national security reviews.