[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4974 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4974

  To provide for quadrennial national security reviews, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2010

Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Skelton, Ms. Harman, Mr. 
 Gonzalez, Mr. Davis of Kentucky, Mr. Walz, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Owens, Mr. 
  Rothman of New Jersey, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, and Mr. Carter) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for quadrennial national security reviews, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Quadrennial National Security Review 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) On February 24, 2009, President Barack Obama noted the 
        importance of utilizing a whole-of-government approach, stating 
        that in order, ``to meet the challenges of the 21st century--
        from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease 
        to cyber threats to crushing poverty--we will . . . use all 
        elements of our national power.''.
            (2) In recognition of the importance of integrating all 
        elements of our national influence, one of the President's 
        first actions was to merge the National Security Council and 
        Homeland Security Council into a single National Security 
        Staff.
            (3) United States national security goals are established 
        in the National Security Strategy, which is required by law to 
        be submitted annually to Congress in conjunction with the 
        Administration's budget proposal. However, only two versions 
        have been published in the last 8 years, providing little 
        insight about how we can harness all assets of national power 
        to achieve these national security goals.
            (4) Interagency operations are now common in United States 
        national security missions, however, outside the military, 
        there is still no driving organizational method for properly 
        matching individual agency resources with larger joint 
        missions.
            (5) The Department of Defense's Quadrennial Defense Review 
        has led to greater coordination and cooperation among the 
        service branches and similarly the new Quadrennial Review of 
        Diplomacy and Development is designed to identify key 
        objectives and missions for United States diplomatic policy, 
        there is no review that examines the goals and resources across 
        all United States agencies with national security 
        responsibilities.
            (6) In its ``Beyond Goldwater-Nichols Phase 2'' report, the 
        Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) 
        recognized this gap in strategic analysis.
            (7) CSIS recommended the establishment of a Quadrennial 
        National Security Review to create an interagency process to 
        identify national security goals, assess existing needs and 
        capabilities, establish priorities for funding, and recommend 
        specific policy and budget proposals to achieve national 
        security goals using all elements of national power.
            (8) The congressionally mandated Project on National 
        Security Reform similarly recommended that the United States 
        needs to develop an overall strategy to provide timely 
        resources and adequate authorities for supporting our national 
        security goals.
            (9) The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review Report recommends 
        the creation of ``National Security Planning Guidance to direct 
        the development of both military and nonmilitary plans and 
        institutional capabilities.''. The Report states that this 
        guidance should set national security priorities, 
        responsibilities and assist United States Federal agencies to 
        ``better align their strategy, budget and planning functions 
        with national objectives.''.
            (10) The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review acknowledges that, 
        ``the complexity of 21st century conflicts demands that the 
        United States government significantly improve interagency 
        comprehensive assessments, analysis, planning and execution for 
        whole-of-government operations,'' and advocates for ``an 
        improved interagency strategic planning process that makes 
        optimal use of all national instruments of statecraft.''.

SEC. 3. 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:

``SEC. 108A. QUADRENNIAL NATIONAL SECURITY REVIEWS.

    ``(a) QNSR Required.--Every 4 years, during a year following a year 
evenly divisible by 4, 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 5 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 8 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 8 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 8 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.''.
                                 <all>