Title: Act of June 3, 1976, Public Law No. 94-304, 90 Stat. 661 (codified as amended at 22 U.S.C. 3001-3009)
Sec. 3001. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; establishment
There is established the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (hereafter
in this chapter referred to as the ''Commission'').
Sec. 3002. Function and duties of Commission
The Commission is authorized and directed to monitor the acts of the signatories which
reflect compliance with or violation of the articles of the Final Act of the Conference on
Security and Cooperation in Europe, with particular regard to the provisions relating to
human rights and Cooperation in Humanitarian Fields. The Commission is further
authorized and directed to monitor and encourage the development of programs and
activities of the United States Government and private organizations with a view toward
taking advantage of the provisions of the Final Act to expand East-West economic
cooperation and a greater interchange of people and ideas between East and West.
Sec. 3003. Commission membership
(a) Selection and appointment of members
The Commission shall be composed of twenty-one members as follows:
(1) Nine Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives. Five Members shall be selected from the majority
party and four Members shall be selected, after consultation with the minority
leader of the House, from the minority party.
(2) Nine Members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. Five
Members shall be selected from the majority party of the Senate, after
consultation with the majority leader, and four Members shall be selected, after
consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, from the minority party.
(3) One member of the Department of State appointed by the President of the
United States.
(4) One member of the Department of Defense appointed by the President of the
United States.
(5) One member of the Department of Commerce appointed by the President of
the United States.
(b) Commission Chairman and Cochairman
There shall be a Chairman and a Cochairman of the Commission.
(c) Designation of Chairman
At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress, the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members as Chairman of the Commission. At the beginning of each even-numbered Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members as Chairman of the Commission.
(d) Designation of Cochairman
At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall designate one of the House Members as Cochairman of the
Commission. At the beginning of each even-numbered Congress, the President of the
Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the
Senate Members as Cochairman of the Commission.
Sec. 3004. Testimony of witnesses, production of evidence; issuance of subpena;
administration of oaths
In carrying out this chapter, the Commission may require, by subpena or otherwise, the
attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records,
correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents as it deems necessary.
Subpenas may be issued over the signature of the Chairman of the Commission or any
member designated by him, and may be served by any person designated by the
Chairman or such member. The Chairman of the Commission, or any member
designated by him, may administer oaths to any witness.
Sec. 3005. Presidential report to Congress; annual submission; contents
In order to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties, the Secretary
of State shall submit to the Commission an annual report discussing the
overall United States policy objectives that are advanced through meetings
of decision-making bodies of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), the OSCE implementation review process, and other activities
of the OSCE. The report shall also include a summary of specific U.S. policy
objectives with respect to participating States where there is a particular
concern relating to the implementation of OSCE commitments or where an OSCE
presence exists. This summary shall address the role played by OSCE
institutions, mechanisms, or field activities in achieving U.S. policy
objectives. The report, covering the period from January 1 to December 31,
shall be submitted within 90 days after the end of the reporting period. The
report shall be posted on the website of the Department of State.
Sec. 3006. Commission report to Congress; periodic reports; expenditure of
appropriations
The Commission is authorized and directed to report to the House of Representatives
and the Senate with respect to the matters covered by this chapter on a periodic basis
and to provide information to Members of the House and Senate as requested. For each
fiscal year for which an appropriation is made the Commission shall submit to Congress
a report on its expenditures under such appropriation.
Sec. 3007. Appropriations for Commission
(a) Authorization; disbursements
(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for each fiscal
year such sums as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its duties and functions. Appropriations to the Commission are authorized to remain available until
expended.
(2) Appropriations to the Commission shall be disbursed on vouchers approved -
(A) jointly by the Chairman and the Cochairman, or
(B) by a majority of the members of the personnel and administration
committee established pursuant to section 3008(a) of this title.
(b) Use of foreign currencies
For purposes of section 1754(b) of this title, the Commission shall be deemed to be a
standing committee of the Congress and shall be entitled to use funds in accordance
with such sections.
(c) Official reception and representational expenses
Not to exceed $6,000 of the funds appropriated to the Commission for each fiscal
year may be used for official reception and representational expenses.
(d) Foreign travel for official purposes
Foreign travel for official purposes by Commission members and staff may be
authorized by either the Chairman or the Cochairman.
Sec. 3008. Commission staff
(a) Personnel and administration committee
The Commission shall have a personnel and administration committee composed of
the Chairman, the Cochairman, the senior Commission member from the minority
party in the House of Representatives, and the senior Commission member from the
minority party in the Senate.
(b) Committee functions
All decisions pertaining to the hiring, firing, and fixing of pay of Commission staff
personnel shall be by a majority vote of the personnel and administration committee,
except that -
(1) the Chairman shall be entitled to appoint and fix the pay of the staff director,
and the Cochairman shall be entitled to appoint and fix the pay of his senior staff
person; and
(2) the Chairman and Cochairman each shall have the authority to appoint, with
the approval of the personnel and administration committee, at least four
professional staff members who shall be responsible to the Chairman or the
Cochairman (as the case may be) who appointed them. The personnel and
administration committee may appoint and fix the pay of such other staff
personnel as it deems desirable.
(c) Staff appointments
All staff appointments shall be made without regard to the provisions of title 5
governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to
classification and general schedule pay rates.
(d) Commission employees as congressional employees
(1) For purposes of pay and other employment benefits, rights, and privileges
and for all other purposes, any employee of the Commission shall be considered
to be a congressional employee as defined in section 2107 of title 5.
(2) For purposes of section 3304(c)(1) [1] of title 5, staff personnel of the
Commission shall be considered as if they are in positions in which they are paid
by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House
of Representatives.
[1] See References in Text note below.
(3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be effective
as of June 3, 1976.
Sec. 3009. Printing and binding costs
For purposes of costs relating to printing and binding, including the costs of personnel
detailed from the Government Printing Office, the Commission shall be deemed to be a
committee of the Congress.
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