[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3462 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3462

  To provide subpoena power to the National Commission on the British 
   Petroleum Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 8, 2010

Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Gillibrand, 
  Mr. Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Begich, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
   Dorgan, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
 Kaufman, and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following bill; which was 
       read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide subpoena power to the National Commission on the British 
   Petroleum Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, 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. POWERS OF NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE BRITISH PETROLEUM OIL 
              SPILL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

    (a) Hearings.--The National Commission on the British Petroleum Oil 
Spill in the Gulf of Mexico (referred to in this section as the 
``Commission'') or, at the direction of the Commission, any 
subcommittee or member of the Commission, may, for the purpose of 
carrying out the duties of the Commission, as the Commission or the 
subcommittee or member considers advisable in consultation with the 
Attorney General--
            (1) hold such hearings, meet and act at such times and 
        places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and 
        administer such oaths; and
            (2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and 
        testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, 
        records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes, 
        and materials.
    (b) Issuance and Enforcement of Subpoenas.--
            (1) Issuance.--A subpoena issued under subsection (a) 
        shall--
                    (A) bear the signature of a Chairperson of the 
                Commission; and
                    (B) be served by any person or class of persons 
                designated by a Chairperson for that purpose.
            (2) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or failure to 
        obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a)(2), the United 
        States district court for the district in which the subpoenaed 
        person resides, is served, or may be found may issue an order 
        requiring the person to appear at any designated place to 
        testify or to produce documentary or other evidence.
            (3) Noncompliance.--Any failure to obey the order of the 
        court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.
    (c) Witness Allowances and Fees.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1821 of title 28, United States 
        Code, shall apply to a witness requested or subpoenaed to 
        appear at a hearing of the Commission.
            (2) Expenses.--The per diem and mileage allowances for a 
        witness shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses 
        of the Commission.
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