[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1970 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 508
110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1970

    To establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters, a 
   National Resource Center on Children and Disasters, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2007

Mr. Dodd (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Murkowski, and Ms. 
   Landrieu) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

                           November 15, 2007

  Reported by Mr. Kennedy, with an amendment and an amendment to the 
                                 title
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters, a 
   National Resource Center on Children and Disasters, 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 ``Addressing the Disaster 
Needs of Children Act of 2007''.</DELETED>

         <DELETED>TITLE I--NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND 
                          DISASTERS</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    There is established in the legislative branch the 
National Commission on Children and Disasters (in this title referred 
to as the ``Commission'').</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 102. PURPOSES OF COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The purposes of the Commission are to--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) examine, assess, and report upon the facts and 
        causes relating to the needs of children before, during, and 
        after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) build upon the investigations of other 
        entities and avoid unnecessary duplication, by reviewing the 
        findings, conclusions, and recommendations of other executive 
        branch, congressional, or independent commissions, or 
        nongovernmental entities, relating to the needs of children 
        before, during, and after all hazards, disasters, and 
        emergencies; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) investigate and report to the President and 
        Congress on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for 
        measures that can be taken to address fully the needs of 
        children before, during, and after all hazards, disasters, and 
        emergencies.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 103. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 
members, of whom--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) 1 member shall be appointed by the President, 
        by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall 
        serve as the chairperson;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) 1 member, who is of a different political 
        party than that of the member appointed under paragraph (1), 
        shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
        consent of the Senate, and shall serve as Vice 
        chairperson;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the Majority 
        Leader of the Senate;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the Minority 
        Leader of the Senate;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
        the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) 2 members shall be appointed by the Minority 
        Leader of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Political Party Affiliation.--Not more than 5 members 
of the Commission shall be from the same political party.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Governmental Appointees.--An individual appointed to 
the Commission may not be an elected official of the Federal Government 
or any State or local government.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Member Expertise.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not less than 1 member of the 
        Commission shall have demonstrated expertise in--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) child health, including physical and 
                mental health;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) child health services and delivery 
                systems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) child care services and delivery 
                systems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) child welfare services and delivery 
                systems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) primary education services;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) housing services relevant to children 
                and families;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) transportation services relevant to 
                children and families;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) juvenile justice systems and services 
                relevant to children and families;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) public finance mechanisms relevant to 
                children and families; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) emergency mitigation, preparedness, 
                recovery, and response activities relevant to children 
                and families.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Nongovernmental expertise.--At least 1 member 
        of the Commission shall be from a private nonprofit, private 
        for-profit, or philanthropic entity with demonstrated expertise 
        in addressing the needs of children before, during, and after 
        all hazards, disasters, and emergencies.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Deadline for Appointment.--All members of the 
Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Initial Meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin 
the operations of the Commission not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Quorum; Vacancies.--After its initial meeting, the 
Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of 
the members of the Commission. Six members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business. Any vacancy in 
the Commission shall not affect its powers, and shall be filled in the 
same manner in which the original appointment was made.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 104. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Commission shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) conduct an investigation that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) examines and assesses relevant facts 
                and causes relating to the needs of children before, 
                during, and after all hazards, disasters, and 
                emergencies; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) includes relevant facts and causes 
                relating to the needs of--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) child health, including 
                        physical and mental health;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) child care;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) child welfare;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) primary education;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (v) housing;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (vi) transportation;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (vii) juvenile justice;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (viii) public finance mechanisms; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ix) relevant activities in 
                        emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, 
                        and recovery;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) identify, review, and evaluate existing laws 
        relevant to the needs of children before, during, and after all 
        hazards, disasters, and emergencies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) identify, review, and evaluate relevant past 
        events regarding the mitigation, preparedness, response, 
        recovery, coordination, and service delivery policies of the 
        Federal Government, and, where applicable, State and local 
        governments and nongovernmental entities, relative to 
        addressing fully the needs of children before, during, and 
        after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) submit to the President and Congress such 
        reports as required by this title containing such findings, 
        conclusions, and recommendations for measures as the Commission 
        shall determine appropriate, including proposing organization, 
        planning, coordination, management, and financial policies, 
        arrangements, procedures, rules, and regulations.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 105. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Hearings and evidence.--The Commission may, 
        for the purpose of carrying out this title hold such hearings 
        and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, 
        receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as may be 
        necessary to carry out the functions of the 
        Commission.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Witness allowances and fees.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Section 1821 of title 28, 
                United States Code, shall apply to a witness requested 
                to appear at a hearing of the Commission.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Expenses.--The per diem and mileage 
                allowances for a witness shall be paid from funds 
                available to pay the expenses of the 
                Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) 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 
title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Information From Federal Agencies.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Commission is authorized to 
        secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, 
        board, commission, office, independent establishment, or 
        instrumentality of the Federal Government, information, 
        suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this 
        title. Each department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
        office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to 
        the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, 
        suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the 
        Commission, upon request made by the chairperson, the 
        chairperson of any subcommittee created by the Commission, or 
        any member designated by a majority of the 
        Commission.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Receipt, handling, storage, and 
        dissemination.--Information shall only be received, handled, 
        stored, and disseminated by members of the Commission and its 
        staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and 
        Executive orders.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) General services administration.--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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition 
        to the assistance provided for under paragraph (1), departments 
        and agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission 
        such services as they may determine advisable and as may be 
        authorized by law.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as 
departments and agencies of the United States.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 106. STAFF OF COMMISSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Appointment and compensation.--The chairperson 
        of the Commission, in consultation with the vice chairperson, 
        in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, may 
        appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such 
        other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to 
        carry out its functions, in accordance with the provisions of 
        title 5, United States Code, except that no rate of pay fixed 
        under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable 
        for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Personnel as federal employees.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--The provisions of the 
                Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) shall 
                apply to the staff director and any personnel of the 
                Commission.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Members of commission.--Subparagraph 
                (A) shall not be construed to apply to members of the 
                Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may be 
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, 
and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges or 
his or her regular employment without interruption.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Consultant Services.--The Commission is authorized to 
procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with 
section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed 
the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 107. COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission may 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 member is engaged in the actual performance of 
the duties of the Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
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(b) of title 5, United States 
Code.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 108. REPORTS OF THE COMMISSION; TERMINATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Interim Reports.--The Commission may submit to the 
President and Congress interim reports containing such findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations for measures as have been agreed to by 
a majority of Commission members.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Final Report.--Not later than 16 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
President and Congress a final report containing such findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations for measures as have been agreed to by 
a majority of Commission members.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Termination.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Commission, and all the 
        authorities of this title, shall terminate 60 days after the 
        date on which the final report is submitted under subsection 
        (b).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Administrative activities before 
        termination.--The Commission may use the 60-day period referred 
        to in paragraph (1) for the purpose of concluding its 
        activities, including providing testimony to committees of 
        Congress concerning its reports and disseminating its final 
        report.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 109. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
title, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.</DELETED>

      <DELETED>TITLE II--NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER ON CHILDREN AND 
                          DISASTERS</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF RESOURCE CENTER.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this title 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a National Resource 
Center on Children and Disasters (in this title referred to as the 
``Center'').</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 202. PURPOSE OF THE CENTER.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Center shall provide resource information to Federal, 
State, local, and tribal governments, as well as to other 
nongovernmental entities, on issues relating to the needs of children 
before, during, and after all hazards, disasters, and 
emergencies.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 203. FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTER.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Center shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) establish a clearinghouse to collect, 
        maintain, disseminate, and, where appropriate, develop 
        information, networks, and resources on issues relating to the 
        needs of children before, during, and after all hazards, 
        disasters, and emergencies, including child health, child care, 
        child welfare, primary education, housing, transportation, 
        juvenile justice, public finance mechanisms, and relevant 
        activities in emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and 
        recovery; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) develop and maintain a website and related 
        systems for disseminating information on issues described in 
        paragraph (1).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 204. COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Collaboration.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall collaborate with any executive department, bureau, 
agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or 
instrumentality of the Government responsible for policies, 
arrangements, procedures, rules, and regulations relevant to the needs 
of children before, during, and after all hazards, disasters, and 
emergencies.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into 
a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Attorney General, 
to collaborate where appropriate on the functions described in section 
203.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Consultation.--In carrying out this title, the 
Secretary shall consult with--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) State and local agencies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) national and local organizations with 
        demonstrated expertise in working to address the needs of 
        children before, during, and after all hazards, disasters, and 
        emergencies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) national organizations with demonstrated 
        specialty expertise in areas such as child health, child care, 
        child welfare, primary education, public housing, 
        transportation, juvenile justice, public finance mechanisms, 
        and relevant activities in emergency mitigation, preparedness, 
        response, and recovery; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) qualified professionals who possess the 
        specialized knowledge, skills, experience, and relevant 
        attributes related to addressing the needs of children before, 
        during, and after all hazards, disasters, and 
        emergencies.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 205. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Secretary may, to such extent and in such amounts as 
are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the 
Center to discharge its duties under this title.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 206. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
title $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Kids in Disasters Well-being, 
Safety, and Health Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) All hazards.--The term ``all hazards'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``hazard'' under section 602(a)(1) of the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5195a), and includes natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
        other man-made disasters.
            (2) Child; children.--The terms ``child'' and ``children'' 
        mean an individual or individuals, respectively, who have not 
        attained 18 years of age.
            (3) Emergency.--The term ``emergency'' has the meaning 
        given such term under section 102(1) of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(1)).
            (4) Major disaster.--The term ``major disaster'' has the 
        meaning given such term under section 102(2) of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5122(2)).

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``National 
Commission on Children and Disasters'' (referred to in this Act as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 4. PURPOSES OF COMMISSION.

    The purposes of the Commission are to--
            (1) conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess the 
        needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response 
        to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters 
        and emergencies;
            (2) build upon the evaluations of other entities and avoid 
        unnecessary duplication, by reviewing the findings, 
        conclusions, and recommendations of other commissions, Federal, 
        State, and local governments, or nongovernmental entities, 
        relating to the needs of children as they relate to preparation 
        for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including 
        major disasters and emergencies; and
            (3) submit a report to the President and Congress on 
        specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations to address 
        the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, 
        response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major 
        disasters and emergencies.

SEC. 5. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 members, of 
whom--
            (1) 1 member shall be appointed by the President;
            (2) 1 member, who is of a different political party than 
        that of the member appointed under paragraph (1), shall be 
        appointed by the President;
            (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
        the Senate;
            (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the Senate;
            (5) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives; and
            (6) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the House of Representatives.
    (b) Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Meetings.--Not later than 30 
days after the date on which all members of the Commission are 
appointed under subsection (a), such members shall meet to elect a 
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among such members and shall 
determine a schedule of Commission meetings.
    (c) Governmental Appointees.--An individual appointed to the 
Commission may not be an official or employee of the Federal 
Government.
    (d) Commission Representation.--The Commission shall include at 
least one--
            (1) representative from private nonprofit entities with 
        demonstrated expertise in addressing the needs of children as 
        they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from 
        all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies; and
            (2) State emergency manager or local emergency manager.
    (e) Qualifications.--Members appointed under subsection (a) may 
include--
            (1) individuals involved with providing services to 
        children, including health, education, housing, and other 
        social services;
            (2) individuals with experience in emergency management, 
        including coordination of resources and services among State 
        and local governments, the Federal Government, and 
        nongovernmental entities;
            (3) individuals with philanthropic experience focused on 
        the needs of children in all hazards, including major disasters 
        and emergencies;
            (4) individuals with experience in providing donated goods 
        and services, including personnel services, to meet the needs 
        of children and families as they relate to preparation for, 
        response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major 
        disasters and emergencies; and
            (5) individuals who have conducted academic research 
        related to addressing the needs of children in all hazards, 
        including major disasters and emergencies.
    (f) Initial Meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin the 
operations of the Commission not later than 120 days after the 
appointment of members of the Commission.
    (g) Quorum and Vacancy.--
            (1) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
        shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may 
        hold hearings.
            (2) Vacancy.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
        affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner in 
        which the original appointment was made.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) conduct pursuant to section 4(2) a comprehensive study 
        that examines and assesses the needs of children as they relate 
        to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, 
        including major disasters and emergencies, including specific 
        findings relating to--
                    (A) child physical health, mental health, and 
                trauma;
                    (B) child care in all settings;
                    (C) child welfare;
                    (D) elementary and secondary education;
                    (E) sheltering, temporary housing, and affordable 
                housing;
                    (F) transportation;
                    (G) juvenile justice;
                    (H) evacuation; and
                    (I) relevant activities in emergency management;
            (2) identify, review, and evaluate existing laws, 
        regulations, policies, and programs relevant to the needs of 
        children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and 
        recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and 
        emergencies;
            (3) identify, review, and evaluate the lessons learned from 
        past disasters and emergencies relative to addressing the needs 
        of children; and
            (4) submit a report to the President and Congress on the 
        Commission's specific findings, conclusions, and 
        recommendations to address the needs of children as they relate 
        to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, 
        including major disasters and emergencies, including specific 
        recommendations on the need for planning and establishing a 
        national resource center on children and disasters, 
        coordination of resources and services, administrative actions, 
        policies, regulations, and legislative changes as the 
        Commission considers appropriate.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, meet and act 
at such times and places, and receive such evidence as may be necessary 
to carry out the functions of the Commission.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may access, to the extent 
        authorized by law, from any executive department, bureau, 
        agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, 
        or instrumentality of the Federal Government such information, 
        suggestions, estimates, and statistics as the Commission 
        considers necessary to carry out this Act.
            (2) Provision of information.--On written request of the 
        Chairperson of the Commission, each department, bureau, agency, 
        board, commission, office, independent establishment, or 
        instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, provide 
        the requested information to the Commission.
            (3) Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.--
        Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and 
        disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff 
        consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and 
        Executive orders.
    (c) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) General services administration.--On request of the 
        Chairperson of the Commission, the Administrator of General 
        Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable 
        basis, administrative support and other assistance necessary 
        for the Commission to carry out its duties.
            (2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to the 
        assistance provided for under paragraph (1), departments and 
        agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission 
        such assistance as they may determine advisable and as 
        authorized by law.
    (d) Contracting.--The Commission may enter into contracts to enable 
the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act.
    (e) Donations.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 
donations of services or property.
    (f) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as a department 
or agency of the United States.

SEC. 8. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation 
with the Vice Chairperson, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the 
Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director 
and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission 
to carry out its functions, in accordance with the provisions of title 
5, United States Code, except that no rate of pay fixed under this 
subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (b) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Chairperson of 
the Commission, the head of any executive department, bureau, agency, 
board, commission, office, independent establishment, or 
instrumentality of the Federal Government may detail, without 
reimbursement, any of its personnel to the Commission to assist it in 
carrying out its duties under this Act. Any detail of an employee shall 
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
    (c) Consultant Services.--The Commission is authorized to procure 
the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 
of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily 
rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 9. TRAVEL EXPENSES.

    Each member of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but 
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions in the same 
manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are 
allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 10. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICABILITY.

    The provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply to 
the Commission, including the staff of the Commission.

SEC. 11. REPORTS OF COMMISSION; TERMINATION.

    (a) Interim Report.--The Commission shall, not later than 1 year 
after the date of its first meeting, submit to the President and 
Congress an interim report containing specific findings, conclusions, 
and recommendations required under this Act as have been agreed to by a 
majority of Commission members.
    (b) Other Reports and Information.--
            (1) Reports.--The Commission may issue additional reports 
        as the Commission determines necessary.
            (2) Information.--The Commission may hold public hearings 
        to collect information and shall make such information 
        available for use by the public.
    (c) Final Report.--The Commission shall, not later than 2 years 
after the date of its first meeting, submit to the President and 
Congress a final report containing specific findings, conclusions, and 
recommendations required under this Act as have been agreed to by a 
majority of Commission members.
    (d) Termination.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission, and all the authorities of 
        this Act, shall terminate 180 days after the date on which the 
        final report is submitted under subsection (b).
            (2) Records.--Not later than the date of termination of the 
        Commission under paragraph (1), all records and papers of the 
        Commission shall be delivered to the Archivist of the United 
        States for deposit in the National Archives.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, 
$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

SEC. 13. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to confer on the Commission 
purposes and duties that are the responsibility of the Congress.
            Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to establish a 
        National Commission on Children and Disasters, and for other 
        purposes.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 508

110th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1970

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters, a 
   National Resource Center on Children and Disasters, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 15, 2007

        Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the title