(a) Establishment
There is hereby established a commission to be known as the Commission on Safeguards, Security, and Counterintelligence at Department of Energy Facilities (in this section referred to as the “Commission”).
(b) Membership and organization
(1) The Commission shall be composed of nine members appointed from among individuals in the public and private sectors who have significant experience in matters related to the security of nuclear weapons and materials, the classification of information, or counterintelligence matters, as follows:
(A)
Two shall be appointed by the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, in consultation with the ranking member of that Committee.
(B)
One shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, in consultation with the chairman of that Committee.
(C)
Two shall be appointed by the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the ranking member of that Committee.
(2) Members of the Commission shall be appointed for four year terms, except as follows:
(A)
One member initially appointed under paragraph (1)(A) shall serve a term of two years, to be designated at the time of appointment.
(3)
Any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and shall not affect the powers of the Commission.
(4)
(A)
After five members of the Commission have been appointed under paragraph (1), the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, in consultation with the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, shall designate the chairman of the Commission from among the members appointed under paragraph (1)(A).
(B)
The chairman of the Commission may be designated once five members of the Commission have been appointed under paragraph (1).
(5)
The initial members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after October 5, 1999.
(6)
The members of the Commission shall establish procedures for the activities of the Commission, including procedures for calling meetings, requirements for quorums, and the manner of taking votes.
(8)
The Commission may commence its activities under this section upon the designation of the chairman of the Commission under paragraph (4).
(c) Duties
(1) The Commission shall, in accordance with this section, review the safeguards, security, and counterintelligence activities (including activities relating to information management, computer security, and personnel security) at Department of Energy facilities to—
(A)
determine the adequacy of those activities to ensure the security of sensitive information, processes, and activities under the jurisdiction of the Department against threats to the disclosure of such information, processes, and activities; and
(B)
make recommendations for actions the Commission determines as being necessary to ensure that such security is achieved and maintained.
(2) The activities of the Commission under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)
An analysis of the sufficiency of the Design Threat Basis documents as a basis for the allocation of resources for safeguards, security, and counterintelligence activities at the Department facilities in light of applicable guidance with respect to such activities, including applicable laws, Department of Energy orders, Presidential Decision Directives, and Executive orders.
(B)
Visits to Department facilities to assess the adequacy of the safeguards, security, and counterintelligence activities at such facilities.
(C)
Evaluations of specific concerns set forth in Department reports regarding the status of safeguards, security, or counterintelligence activities at particular Department facilities or at facilities throughout the Department.
(D)
Reviews of relevant laws, Department orders, and other requirements relating to safeguards, security, and counterintelligence activities at Department facilities.
(E)
Any other activities relating to safeguards, security, and counterintelligence activities at Department facilities that the Secretary of Energy considers appropriate.
(d) Reports
(1)
Not later than February 15 each year, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Energy and to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the activities of the Commission during the preceding year. The report shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(2) Each report—
(B)
shall set forth proposals for any changes in safeguards, security, or counterintelligence activities at Department of Energy facilities that the Commission considers appropriate in light of such activities; and
(C)
may include any other recommendations for legislation or administrative action that the Commission considers appropriate.
(e) Personnel matters
(1)
(A)
Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5 for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
(B)
All members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation by reason of their service on the Commission.
(2)
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 while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.
(3)
(A)
The Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate such personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties.
(B)
The Commission may fix the compensation of the personnel of the Commission without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates.
(4)
Any officer or employee of the United States may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(5)
The members and employees of the Commission shall hold security clearances appropriate for the matters considered by the Commission in the discharge of its duties under this section.
(f) Applicability of chapter 10 of title 5
The provisions of chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the activities of the Commission.
(g) Funding
(1)
From amounts authorized to be appropriated by sections 3101 and 3103, the Secretary of Energy shall make available to the Commission not more than $1,000,000 for the activities of the Commission under this section.
(2)
Amounts made available to the Commission under this subsection shall remain available until expended.
(Pub. L. 106–65, div. C, title XXXI, § 3142, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 931; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(268), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4335.)