[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3488-S3490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMBATING PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ACT OF 1996

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, it is well known that there is an 
enormous international threat posed by weapons of mass destruction.
  Testimony which was recently heard by the Senate Intelligence 
Committee, which I chair, disclosed that some 25 nations have weapons 
of mass destruction including nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and 
chemical weapons.
  In testimony offered by John Deutch in 1994, when he was Deputy 
Secretary of Defense, he pointed out that ``If North Koreans build the 
Taepo Dong II missile, Alaska and parts of Hawaii would be potentially 
at risk.'' I think it is not well known that parts of the

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United States are potentially at risk from long-range missiles.
  We have seen the development of biological weapons by Saddam Hussein 
which was confirmed last August by his son-in-law following his 
defection. We see the building of chemical weapons by Qadhafi noted 
recently by Secretary of Defense Perry with his statement that we could 
not tolerate the completion of those weapons of mass destruction. We 
have seen China sell missiles to Pakistan. We have seen the tremendous 
tension building up on the subcontinent with both Pakistan and India 
engaging in a missile race.
  In the United States, Mr. President, while we have noted the enormous 
problems on weapons of mass destruction, we have seen a governmental 
structure which is extraordinarily complicated and really unable to 
deal in a coordinated method with this tremendous problem.
  This chart depicts the problems in the United States of the numerous 
agencies which have jurisdiction in one way or another over weapons of 
mass destruction. This chart contains boxes depicting 96 different 
entities which have authority of one sort or another over this field.
  We have some authority vested in the National Security Council. We 
have some authority vested in the Department of Defense, some authority 
vested in the Department of State, some in the Department of Justice, 
some in the Department of Energy, some with the Director of Central 
Intelligence, others even with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, still further authority in the Secretary of the Treasury and 
authority in the Secretary of Commerce.
  This is on its face an enormously unwieldy Federal bureaucracy, and 
that is our response to the problem of weapons of mass destruction. And 
as shown by this chart it is obviously a bureaucracy which cannot 
function efficiently.
  In 1993, when I studied the Clinton health program, I asked an 
assistant to make a listing of all the agencies, boards and 
commissions, and my assistant made a chart instead which depicted an 
enormous bureaucracy, which was influential in helping to defeat that 
health care program. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a chart may be 
worth 1,000 pictures, Mr. President, and I think that this chart shows 
the urgency of some reorganization of the Federal Government to deal 
with this enormous problem.
  The study of the congressionally mandated Commission on Roles and 
Missions of the Armed Forces pointed out that ``Despite the declared 
national emergency, there is no evidence that combating proliferation 
receives continuous high level attention.'' The study's conclusion is 
worth noting and emphasizing:
  Mechanisms for effectively integrating the combating proliferation 
activities of all departments and agencies are lacking. Given the 
complexity of the tasks involved, the need for marshaling resources 
from many agencies, and the necessarily protracted nature of these 
efforts, the failure to assign clear and empowered leadership has 
impeded the United States effort.
  That conclusion is obvious in taking a look at the enormous 
complicated bureaucracy in the United States assigned to deal with this 
problem.
  In looking at the solution, I have considered a number of 
alternatives. One option is the creation of ``czar,'' such as the drug 
czar empowered to coordinate activities against drugs in United States. 
I have considered the creation of a high-level position on the National 
Security Council staff. I have considered the option of having a second 
Deputy Secretary of Defense. I have also considered the option of a new 
Assistant Secretary of Defense [ASD], like the ASD for special 
operations and low-intensity conflict created in the late 1980's as a 
result of legislation introduced by Senator Cohen and Senator Nunn.
  I have decided instead that this matter ought to be studied by a high 
level special commission like the Aspin-Brown Commission, which 
recently filed a comprehensive report to reorganize the U.S. 
intelligence community. This is a matter which can be most effectively 
dealt with by experts on a commission. Rather than the introduction of 
legislation and the holding of hearings, the commission would have a 
much broader purview and that is the legislation which I am introducing 
today.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my legislation, together 
with a chart depicting this complicated bureaucracy which now seeks to 
deal with this problem of great national and international importance, 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1681

       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 ``Combatting Proliferation of 
     Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996''.
      TITLE I--ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAMS AND POLICIES FOR COMBATTING 
                             PROLIFERATION

     SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be 
     known as the Commission on Programs and Policies for 
     Combatting the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
     (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
       (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 
     members of whom--
       (1) 6 shall be appointed by the President;
       (2) 3 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
     Senate, in consultation with the Minority Leader of the 
     Senate; and
       (3) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, in consultation with the Minority Leader of 
     the House of Representatives.
       (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be 
     appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the 
     Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled 
     in the same manner as the original appointment.
       (d) Initial Meeting.--No later than 30 days after the date 
     on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, 
     the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
       (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
     shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may 
     hold hearings.
       (f) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The Commission shall 
     select a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members.
       (g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
     Chairman.

     SEC. 102. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall carry out a thorough 
     study of the organization, policies, and programs of the U.S. 
     Government related to combatting the proliferation of weapons 
     of mass destruction.
       (2) Specific requirements.--In carrying out the study, the 
     Commission shall--
       (A) assess the effectiveness of the policies and programs 
     of all departments and agencies of the Federal Government 
     including the intelligence community meeting the national 
     security interests of the United States with respect to the 
     proliferation of such weapons; and
       (B) assess the current structure and organization of all 
     Federal agencies and the cooperation between elements of the 
     intelligence community and the intelligence-gathering 
     services of foreign governments in addressing issues relating 
     to the proliferation of such weapons.
       (b) Recommendations.--In conducting the study, the 
     Commission shall develop recommendations on means of 
     improving the effectiveness of the organization, policies, 
     programs of the intelligence community, and the programs and 
     policies of the other departments and agencies of the Federal 
     Government, in meeting the national security interests of the 
     United States with respect to the proliferation of weapons of 
     mass destruction.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to 
     Congress a report containing a detailed statement of the 
     findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its 
     recommendations for such legislation and administrative 
     actions as it considers appropriate.

     SEC. 103. POWERS OF 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 the purposes of this title.
       (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 the provisions of this title. Upon request of the 
     Chairman of the Commission, the head of such department or 
     agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
       (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. 104. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

       (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission 
     who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government

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     shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
     of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of 
     the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
     States Code, for each day (including travel time) during 
     which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties 
     of 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) Staff.--
       (1) In general.--The Chairman of the Commission may, 
     without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
     appoint and terminate an executive director and such other 
     additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
     Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an 
     executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the 
     Commission.
       (2) Compensation.--The Chairman of the Commission may fix 
     the compensation of the executive director and other 
     personnel 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 the rate of pay for the executive 
     director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable 
     for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
     such title.
       (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government 
     employee may be detailed to the Commission without 
     reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption 
     or loss of civil service status or privilege.
       (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--
     The Chairman 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.

     SEC. 105. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

       The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the date on 
     which the Commission submits its report under section 102(c).

     SEC. 106. DEFINITION.

       For purposes of this title, the term ``intelligence 
     community'' shall have the meaning given such term in section 
     3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
     401a(4)).

     SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     for the Commission for fiscal year 1996 such sums as may be 
     necessary for the Commission to carry out its duties under 
     this title.
       (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall 
     remain available until the termination of the Commission 
     under section 105.
                        TITLE II--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 201. REPORTS ON ACQUISITION OF TECHNOLOGY RELATING TO 
                   WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND ADVANCED 
                   CONVENTIONAL MUNITIONS.

       (a) Reports.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter, the 
     Director of Central Intelligence shall submit to Congress a 
     report on--
       (1) the acquisition by foreign countries during the 
     preceding 6 months of dual-use and other technology useful 
     for the development or production of weapons of mass 
     destruction (including nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and 
     biological weapons) and advanced conventional munitions; and
       (2) trends in the acquisition of such technology by such 
     countries.
       (b) Form of Reports.--The reports submitted under 
     subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but 
     may include a classified annex.

  [The chart referred to by Senator Specter was not reproducible in the 
Record.]

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