[Pages S5386-S5387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SA 3620. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title XII, add the following:

Subtitle F--Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission

SEC. 1271. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is established an independent commission, which shall
be known as the ``Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission''
(referred to in this subtitle as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 1272. DUTIES.

(a) Review of Illicit Drug Control Policies.--The
Commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of United
States foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere to reduce the
illicit drug supply and drug abuse and reduce the damage
associated with illicit drug markets and trafficking. The
Commission shall also identify policy and program options to
improve existing international counternarcotics policy. The
review shall include the following topics:
(1) An evaluation of United States-funded international
illicit drug control programs in the Western Hemisphere,
including drug interdiction, crop eradication, alternative
development, drug production surveys, police and justice
sector training, demand reduction, and strategies to target
drug kingpins.
(2) An evaluation of the impact of United States
counternarcotics assistance programs in the Western
Hemisphere, including counternarcotics cooperation with
Mexico, counternarcotics assistance programs in Colombia, the
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and the Central America
Regional Security Initiative, in curbing drug production,
drug trafficking, and drug-related violence and improving
citizen security.
(3) An evaluation of how the President's annual
determination of major drug-transit and major illicit drug
producing countries under section 706 of the Foreign
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (22 U.S.C.
2291j-1) serves United States interests with respect to
United States international illicit drug control policies.
(4) An evaluation of how reforming section 706 of the
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (22
U.S.C. 2291j-1) to authorize counternarcotic measures
included in Section 802 of the Narcotics Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2492) serves United States interests with respect to
United States international illicit drug control policies.
(5) An evaluation of whether the proper indicators of
success are being used to evaluate United States
international illicit drug control policy.
(6) An evaluation of United States efforts to stop illicit
proceeds from drug trafficking organizations from entering
the United States financial system.
(7) An evaluation of the links between the illegal
narcotics trade and human smuggling and human trafficking
activities in the Western Hemisphere.
(8) An evaluation of the links between the illegal
narcotics trade in the Western Hemisphere and terrorist
activities around the world.
(9) An evaluation of United States efforts to combat narco-
terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.
(10) An evaluation of the financing of foreign terrorist
organizations by drug trafficking organizations and an
evaluation of United States efforts to stop such activities.
(11) An evaluation of United States efforts to combat money
laundering related to drug trafficking organizations.
(12) An evaluation of alternative drug policy models in the
Western Hemisphere.
(13) An evaluation of the impact of local drug consumption
in Latin America and the Caribbean in promoting violence and
insecurity.
(14) Recommendations on how best to improve United States
counternarcotics policies in the Western Hemisphere.
(b) Coordination With Governments, International
Organizations, and Nongovernmental Organizations in the
Western Hemisphere.--In conducting the review required under
subsection (a), the Commission is encouraged to consult
with--
(1) government, academic, and nongovernmental leaders, as
well as leaders from international organizations, from
throughout the United States, Latin America, and the
Caribbean; and
(2) the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission
(CICAD).
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the first
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit a
report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate,
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives, the Secretary, and the Director of the
Office of National Drug Control Policy that contains--
(A) a detailed statement of the recommendations, findings,
and conclusions of the Commission under subsection (a); and
(B) summaries of the input and recommendations of the
leaders and organizations with which the Commission consulted
under subsection (b).
(2) Public availability.--The report required under this
subsection shall be made available to the public.

SEC. 1273. MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be
composed of 10 members to be appointed as follows:
(1) The majority leader and minority leader of the Senate
shall each appoint two members.
(2) The Speaker and the minority leader of the House of
Representatives shall each appoint two members.
(3) The President shall appoint two members.
(b) Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may not include--
(A) Members of Congress; or
(B) Federal, State, or local government officials.
(2) Member of congress.--In this subsection, the term
``Member of Congress'' includes a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress.
(c) Appointment of Initial Members.--The initial members of
the Commission shall be appointed not later than 30 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Vacancies.--Any vacancies shall not affect the power
and duties of the Commission, but shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment. An appointment required
by subsection (a) should be made within 90 days of a vacancy
on the Commission.
(e) Period of Appointment.--Each member shall be appointed
for the life of the Commission.
(f) Initial Meeting and Selection of Chairperson.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall hold an
initial meeting to develop and implement a schedule for
completion of the review and report required under section
1272.

[[Page S5387]]

(2) Chairperson.--At the initial meeting, the Commission
shall select a Chairperson from among its members.
(g) Quorum.--Six members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum.
(h) Compensation.--Members of the Commission--
(1) shall not be considered to be a Federal employee for
any purpose by reason of service on the Commission; and
(2) shall serve without pay.
(i) Travel Expenses.--Members shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of
business in performance of services for the Commission.

SEC. 1274. POWERS.

(a) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson or a majority of its members.
(b) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings and
undertake such other activities as the Commission determines
necessary to carry out its duties.
(c) Other Resources.--
(1) Documents, statistical data, and other such
information.--
(A) In general.--The Library of Congress, the Office of
National Drug Control Policy, the Department, and any other
Federal department or agency shall, in accordance with the
protection of classified information, provide reasonable
access to documents, statistical data, and other such
information the Commission determines necessary to carry out
its duties.
(B) Obtaining information.--The Chairperson of the
Commission shall request the head of an agency described in
subparagraph (A) for access to documents, statistical data,
or other such information described in such subparagraph that
is under the control of such agency in writing when
necessary.
(2) Office space and administrative support.--The
Administrator of General Services shall make office space
available for day-to-day activities of the Commission and for
scheduled meetings of the Commission. Upon request, the
Administrator shall provide, on a reimbursable basis, such
administrative support as the Commission requests to fulfill
its duties.
(d) Authority To Use United States Mails.--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.
(e) Authority To Contract.--
(1) In general.--Subject to the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949, the Commission is
authorized to enter into contracts with Federal and State
agencies, private firms, institutions, and individuals for
the conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its
duties under section 1272.
(2) Termination.--A contract, lease, or other legal
agreement entered into by the Commission may not extend
beyond the date of termination of the Commission.

SEC. 1275. STAFFING.

(a) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director who
shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Commission. The
Director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of
basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
(b) Staffing.--
(1) In general.--With the approval of the Commission, the
Director may appoint such personnel as the Director
determines to be appropriate. Such personnel shall be paid at
a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level IV of
the Executive Schedule.
(2) Additional staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix
the compensation of such other personnel as may be necessary
to enable the Commission to carry out its duties, without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
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, except that no rate of pay
fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that
payable to a person occupying a position at level V of the
Executive Schedule.
(c) Experts and Consultants.--With the approval of the
Commission, the Director may procure temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5,
United States Code.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon the request of
the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail,
without reimbursement, any of the personnel of such agency to
the Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the
Commission. Any such detail shall not interrupt or otherwise
affect the civil service status or privileges of the
personnel.
(e) Volunteer Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of
title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and
use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission
determines necessary.

SEC. 1276. SUNSET.

The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 60 days
after the date on which the Commission submits its report to
Congress pursuant to section 1272(c).
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