Brian Schatz
Senator for Hawaii · Democratic · United States
“And the reason I voted no yesterday is because I am not voting for a defense bill until this war is over, and I am not voting for a defense bill until we get to debate the most important thing happening in terms of our national defense. We are at war, and we are being prevented from even overseeing it.”
“And the reason I voted no yesterday is because I am not voting for a defense bill until this war is over, and I am not voting for a defense bill until we get to debate the most important thing happening in terms of our national defense. We are at war, and we are being prevented from even overseeing it.”
“And the criticism of the Obama agreement--and I was on the floor defending it--was that it didn't last long enough--not that it wasn't any good, but that it didn't last in perpetuity; that it was only good for 10 years. Now we have got nothing. Now we have got nothing.”
“To that point, having repeatedly ruled out allowing any uranium enrichment and demanding that Iran turn over its uranium stockpile, Trump has changed his tune on both: ``It is a little hard''--``it is a little hard''--``when other people have it, other adjoining states have it, and you're not letting them have it for purposes of electrici…”
“We went to war to change the regime. Not only not a success, but a terrible failure. We have got a younger and more radical and entrenched Ayatollah in the regime of Iran. And now they know they can withstand our best hit.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4098-S4100] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Iran Mr. SCHATZ. Mr.”
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“(k) Personnel Matters.-- (1) Compensation of members.--A member of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall be compensated at a daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for grade 7, step 1, of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day, not to exceed 14 days per month, for which a member is engaged in the performance of their duties under this Act, limited to convening meetings, including public and private meetings to receive testimony in furtherance of the duties of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee and the purposes of this division.”
“(j) Congressional Accountability Act Applicability.--For purposes of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), any individual who is a member of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall be considered a covered employee under the Act.”
“(h) Consultation or Engagement With Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian Organizations.--In carrying out the duties of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee under subsection (g), the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall meaningfully consult or engage, as appropriate, in a timely manner with Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations. (i) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee.”
“(g) Duties.--The Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall-- (1) serve as an advisory body to the Commission; (2) assist the Commission in organizing and carrying out culturally appropriate public and private convenings relating to the duties of the Commission; (3) assist the Commission in determining what documentation from Federal and religious organizations and institutions may be necessary to fulfill the duties of the Commission; (4) assist the Commission in the production of the initial report and final report required under paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively, of section 5312(e); (5) coordinate with the Commission, the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee; and (6) provide advice to, or fulfill such other requests by, the Commission as the Commission may require to carry out the purposes described in section 5002.”
“(2) Subsequent business meetings.--After the initial business meeting of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee is held under paragraph (1), the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (3) Format of business meetings.--A meeting of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee may be conducted in-person or virtually. (4) Quorum required.--A business meeting of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee may be held only after a quorum, established in accordance with subsection (c), is present. (f) Rules.--The Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee may establish, with the advice of the Commission, by a majority vote, any rules for the conduct of business, in accordance with this section and other applicable law.”
“(e) Business Meetings.-- (1) Initial business meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee are appointed under subsection (b)(1)(A), the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall hold an initial business meeting-- (A) to establish rules for the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee; (B) to appoint 3 designees to fulfill the responsibilities described in section 5311(h)(1)(A); and (C) to appoint 2 members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee to serve as non-voting designees on the Commission in accordance with section 5311(c)(3).”
“(c) Quorum.--A simple majority of the members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum. (d) Removal.--A quorum of members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee may remove another member only for neglect of duty or malfeasance.”
“(B) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee-- (i) shall not affect the powers of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee if a simple majority of the positions of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee are filled; and (ii) shall be filled within 90 days in the same manner as was the original appointment. (5) Termination.--The Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the final report required under section 5312(e)(3). (6) Limitation.--No member of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee (other than the member described in paragraph (1)(A)(iii)) may otherwise be an officer or employee of the Federal Government.”
“(B) Failure to appoint.--If the Commission fails to appoint all members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee in accordance with subparagraph (A), the Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, with the concurrence of the Vice Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, shall appoint, in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (1), individuals to all vacant positions of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee not later than 30 days after the date of the initial business meeting of the Commission under section 5311(c)(1). (4) Period of appointment; vacancies.-- (A) Period of appointment.--A member of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall be appointed for an automatically renewable term of 2 years.”
“(B) Submission.--The Secretary of the Interior shall provide the Commission with nominations submitted under subparagraph (A) at the initial business meeting of the Commission under section 5311(c)(1) and the Commission shall select the members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee from among those nominees. (3) Date.-- (A) In general.--The Commission shall appoint all members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee during the initial business meeting of the Commission under section 5311(c)(1).”
“(B) Additional requirements.--Not fewer than 2 members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall have experience with health care or mental health, traditional healing or cultural practices, counseling, or working with survivors, or descendants of survivors, of Indian Boarding Schools to ensure that the Commission considers culturally responsive support for survivors, families, and communities. (2) Nominations.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Americans, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations may submit to the Secretary of the Interior nominations for individuals to be appointed as members of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee.”
“(b) Membership, Nomination, and Appointment to the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee.-- (1) Membership.-- (A) In general.--The Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee shall include 19 members, to be appointed by the Commission from among the nominees submitted under paragraph (2)(A), of whom-- (i) 1 shall be the Vice Chairperson of the Commission, who shall serve as the Chairperson of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee; (ii) 1 shall be the Vice Chairperson of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee, who shall serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee; (iii) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Interior, or a designee, who shall serve as the Secretary of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee; (iv) 12 shall be representatives from each of the 12 regions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and 1 shall be a representative from Hawai`i; (v) 1 shall represent the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition; (vi) 1 shall represent the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers; and (vii) 1 shall represent the National Indian Education Association.”
“(2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall be allowed travel expenses, including [[Page S3811]] 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 Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee. Subtitle B--Advisory Committees CHAPTER 1--NATIVE AMERICAN TRUTH AND HEALING ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEC. 5321. NATIVE AMERICAN TRUTH AND HEALING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Establishment.--The Commission shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the ``Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee''.”
“1301 et seq.), any individual who is a member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall be considered a covered employee under that Act. (j) Personnel Matters.-- (1) Compensation of members.--A member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall be compensated at a daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for grade 7, step 1, of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day, not to exceed 10 days per month, for which a member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee is engaged in the performance of their duties under this division limited to convening meetings, including public and private meetings to receive testimony in furtherance of the duties of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee and the purposes of this division.”
“(g) Consultation or Engagement With Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian Organizations.--In carrying out the duties of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee under subsection (f), the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall meaningfully consult or engage, as appropriate, in a timely manner with Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations. (h) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee. (i) Congressional Accountability Act Applicability.--For purposes of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C.”
“(f) Duties.--The Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall-- (1) assist the Commission, the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee in coordinating public and private convenings, including providing advice to the Commission on developing criteria and protocols for convenings; (2) provide advice and evaluate Committee recommendations relating to the commemoration and public education relating to Indian Boarding Schools and Indian Boarding School Policies; (3) assist the Commission-- (A) in the production of the initial and final reports required under paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively, of section 5312(e); and (B) by providing such other advice, or fulfilling such other requests, as may be required by the Commission; and (4) coordinate with the Commission, the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee.”
“(e) Rules.--The Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee, with the advice of the Commission, may establish, by a majority vote, any rules for the conduct of business, in accordance with this section and other applicable law.”
“(2) Subsequent business meetings.--After the initial business meeting of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee is held under paragraph (1), the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (3) Format of business meetings.--A business meeting of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee may be conducted in- person or virtually. (4) Quorum required.--A business meeting of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee may be held only after a quorum, established in accordance with subsection (d), is present. (d) Quorum.--A simple majority of the members of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for a business meeting.”
“(c) Business Meetings.-- (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee are appointed under subsection (b)(1), the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall hold an initial business meeting-- (A) to appoint-- (i) a Chairperson, who shall also serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee; (ii) a Vice Chairperson, who shall also serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee; and (iii) other positions, as determined necessary by the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee; (B) to establish, with the advice of the Commission, rules for the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee; (C) to appoint 3 designees to fulfill the responsibilities described in section 5311(h)(1)(A); and (D) to appoint, with the advice of the Commission, 2 members of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee to serve as non-voting designees on the Commission in accordance with section 5311(c)(3).”
“(C) Removal.--A quorum of members of the Commission may remove a member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee only for neglect of duty or malfeasance. (5) Termination.--The Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the final report required under section 5312(e)(3). (6) Limitation.--No member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee may otherwise be an officer or employee of the Federal Government.”
“(4) Period of appointment; vacancies; removal.-- (A) Period of appointment.--A member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall be appointed for an automatically renewable term of 2 years. (B) Vacancies.-- (i) In general.--A member of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee may vacate the position at any time and for any reason. (ii) Effect; filling of vacancy.--A vacancy in the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee-- (I) shall not affect the powers of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee if a simple majority of the positions of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee are filled; and (II) shall be filled within 90 days in the same manner as was the original appointment.”
“(3) Date.-- (A) In general.--The Commission shall appoint all members of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee during the initial business meeting of the Commission under section 5311(c)(1). (B) Failure to appoint.--If the Commission fails to appoint all members of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee in accordance with subparagraph (A), the Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, with the concurrence of the Vice Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, shall appoint individuals, in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (1), to all vacant positions of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee not later than 30 days after the date of the initial business meeting of the Commission under section 5311(c)(1).”
“(2) Nominations.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Americans, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations may submit to the Secretary of the Interior nominations for individuals to be appointed as members of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee. (B) Submission.--The Secretary of the Interior shall provide the Commission with nominations submitted under subparagraph (A) at the initial business meeting of the Commission under section 5311(c)(1) and the Commission shall select the members of the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee from among those nominees.”
“(a) Establishment.--There is established a subcommittee of the Commission, to be known as the ``Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee''. (b) Membership, Nomination, and Appointment to the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee.-- (1) Membership.--The Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall include 15 members, to be appointed by the Commission, in consultation with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, from among the nominees submitted under paragraph (2)(A), of whom-- (A) 12 shall be representatives from each of the 12 regions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and 1 shall be a representative from Hawai`i; (B) 9 shall be individuals who attended an Indian Boarding School of whom-- (i) not fewer than 2 shall be individuals who graduated during the 5-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this Act from-- (I) an Indian Boarding School in operation as of that date of the enactment; or (II) a Bureau of Indian Education-funded school; and (ii) all shall represent diverse regions of the United States; (C) 5 shall be descendants of individuals who attended Indian Boarding Schools, who shall represent diverse regions of the United States; and (D) 1 shall be an educator who, as of the date of the appointment-- (i) is employed at an Indian Boarding School; or (ii) was employed at an Indian Boarding School during the 5-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this Act.”
“(6) Secretarial response to final report.--Not later than 120 days after the date on which the Secretary of the Interior, the [[Page S3810]] Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services receive the final report under paragraph (3), the Secretaries shall each make publicly available a written response to recommendations for future action by those agencies, if any, contained in the final report, and submit the written response to-- (A) the President; (B) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (D) the Comptroller General of the United States. CHAPTER 3--SURVIVORS TRUTH AND HEALING SUBCOMMITTEE SEC. 5313. SURVIVORS TRUTH AND HEALING SUBCOMMITTEE.”
“(B) Publication of final report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Commission submits the final report under paragraph (3), the Commission, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall each make the final report publicly available on the website of the applicable agency.”
“(5) Additional commission responsibilities relating to the publication of the initial and final reports.-- (A) Events relating to initial report.-- (i) In general.--The Commission shall hold not fewer than 2 events in each region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and in Hawai`i following publication of the initial report under paragraph (2) to receive comments on the initial report. (ii) Timing.--The schedule of events referred to in clause (i) shall be announced not later than 90 days after the date on which the initial report under paragraph (2) is published.”
“(4) Report recipients.--The individuals referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) are-- (A) the President; (B) the Secretary of the Interior; (C) the Attorney General; (D) the Comptroller General of the United States; (E) the Secretary of Education; (F) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (G) the Secretary of Defense; (H) the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; (I) the Chairperson and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; (J) the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus; (K) the Executive Director of the White House Council on Native American Affairs; (L) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; (M) the Archivist of the United States; (N) the Librarian of Congress; and (O) the Director of the National Museum of the American Indian.”
“(3) Commission final report.--Before the termination of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the individuals described in paragraph (4), and make publicly available, a final report containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission that have been agreed on by the vote of a majority of the members of the Commission and \3/5\ of the members of each of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee and the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee.”
“(2) Commission initial report.--Not later than 4 years after the date on which a majority of the members of the Commission are appointed under section 5311(b)(1), the Commission shall submit to the individuals described in paragraph (4), and make publicly available, an initial report containing-- (A) a detailed review of existing research, including documentation, scholarship, or other resources shared with the Commission that further the purposes of this division; (B) a detailed statement of the initial findings and conclusions of the Commission; and (C) a detailed statement of the initial recommendations of the Commission.”
“(e) Reports.-- (1) Annual reports to congress.--Not less frequently than annually until the year before the year in which the Commission terminates, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes the activities of the Commission during the previous year, including an accounting of funds and gifts received and expenditures made, the progress made, and any barriers encountered in carrying out this division.”
“(d) Duties Related to Burials.--The Commission shall, with respect to burial sites associated with Indian Boarding Schools-- (1) coordinate, as appropriate, with the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee, lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Federal agencies, institutions, and organizations to locate and identify, in a culturally appropriate manner, marked and unmarked burial sites, including cemeteries, unmarked graves, and mass burial sites, where students of Indian Boarding Schools were originally or later interred; (2) locate, document, analyze, and coordinate the preservation or continued preservation of records and information relating to the interment of students, including any records held by Federal, State, international, or local entities or religious institutions or organizations; and (3) share, to the extent practicable, with affected lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs burial locations and the identities of children who attended Indian Boarding Schools.”
“(2) Inclusions.--Recommendations made under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, recommendations relating to-- (A) in light of Tribal and Native Hawaiian law, Tribal customary law, tradition, custom, and practice, how the Federal Government can meaningfully acknowledge the role of the Federal Government in supporting Indian Boarding School Policies in all issue areas that the Commission determines relevant, including appropriate forms of memorialization, preservation of records, objects, artifacts, and burials; (B) how modification of existing statutes, procedures, regulations, policies, budgets, and practices will, in the determination of the Commission, address the findings of the Commission and ongoing effects of Indian Boarding School Policies; (C) how the Federal Government can promote public awareness of, and education about, Indian Boarding School Policies and the impacts of those policies, including through coordinating with the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee, the Smithsonian Institution, and other relevant institutions and organizations; and (D) the views of religious institutions.”
“(2) Requirements.--The Commission shall ensure that meetings and convenings held under paragraph (1) provide access to adequate trauma-informed care services for participants, attendees, and communities during and following the meetings and convenings where the Commission receives testimony, including ensuring that private space is available for survivors and descendants of survivors, family members, and other community members to receive trauma-informed care services. (c) Recommendations.-- (1) In general.--The Commission shall make recommendations to Congress relating to the investigation carried out under subsection (a), which shall be included in the final report required under subsection (e)(3).”
“(b) Meetings and Convenings.-- (1) In general.--The Commission shall hold, with the advice of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee and the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee, and in coordination with, as relevant, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations, as part of its investigation under subsection (a), safe, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate public or private meetings or convenings to receive testimony relating to that investigation.”
“(3) Research related to objects, artifacts, and real property.--If the Commission conducts a comprehensive review of research described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) that focuses on objects, artifacts, or real or personal property that are in the possession or control of private individuals, private entities, or non-Federal Government entities within the United States, the Commission may enter into a contract or agreement to acquire, hold, curate, or maintain those objects, artifacts, or real or personal property until the objects, artifacts, or real or personal property can be properly repatriated or returned, consistent with applicable Federal law, subject to the condition that no Federal funds may be used to purchase those objects, artifacts, or real or personal property.”
“(2) Matters to be investigated.--The matters to be investigated by the Commission under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum-- (A) conducting a comprehensive review of existing research and historical records of Indian Boarding School Policies and any documentation, scholarship, or other resources relevant to the purposes of this division from-- (i) any archive or any other document storage location, notwithstanding the location of that archive or document storage location; and (ii) any research conducted by private individuals, private entities, and non-Federal Government entities, whether domestic or foreign, including religious institutions; (B) collaborating with the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee to obtain all relevant information from-- (i) the Department of the Interior, the Department of Health and Human Services, other relevant Federal agencies, and institutions or organizations, including religious institutions or organizations, that operated an Indian Boarding School, carried out Indian Boarding School Policies, or have information that the Commission determines to be relevant to the investigation of the Commission; and (ii) Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Americans, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations; and (C) conducting a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of Indian Boarding School Policies on Native American students and alumni, including the impact on cultures, traditions, and languages.”
“(a) Investigation.-- (1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive interdisciplinary investigation of Indian Boarding School Policies, including the social, cultural, economic, emotional, and physical effects of Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States on Native American communities, Indian Tribes, survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, families of those survivors, and their descendants.”
“(k) Consultation or Engagement With Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian Organizations.--In carrying out the duties of the Commission under section 5312, the Commission shall meaningfully consult or engage, as appropriate, in a timely manner with Native Americans, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Native Hawaiian organizations. (l) Funding.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to section 105 of [[Page S3809]] the Indian Land Consolidation Act Amendments of 2000 (25 U.S.C. 2201 note; Public Law 106-462) and section 403 of the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1523), $90,000,000 shall be used to carry out this division. CHAPTER 2--DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 5312. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.”
“(i) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to the Commission. (j) Congressional Accountability Act Applicability.--For purposes of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.)-- (1) any individual who is an employee of the Commission shall be considered a covered employee under that Act; and (2) the Commission shall be considered an employing office under that Act; and (3) a member of the Commission shall be considered a covered employee under that Act.”
“(3) Minimum number of convenings.--The Commission shall hold-- (A) not fewer than 1 convening in each of the 12 regions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and in Hawai`i during the life of the Commission; and (B) beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, not fewer than 1 convening in each quarter to receive testimony each calendar year until the date on which the Commission submits the final report of the Commission under section 5312(e)(3). (4) Opportunity to provide testimony.--No person or entity shall be denied the opportunity to provide relevant testimony or information at a convening held under this subsection, except at the discretion of the Chairperson of the Commission (or a designee).”
“(C) Additional meetings.--The Commission and designees described in subparagraph (A) may hold additional meetings, as necessary, to amend, by a \3/5\ majority in attendance at a meeting of the Commission, the rules, protocols, and formats for convenings established under that subparagraph. (2) Announcement of convenings.--Not later than 30 days before the date of a convening under this subsection, the Commission shall announce the location and details of the convening.”
“(h) Convening.-- (1) Convening protocol.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 45 days after the initial business meeting of the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, the Commission, 3 designees from the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and 3 designees from the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee shall hold a meeting to recommend rules, protocols, and formats for convenings carried out under this subsection. (B) Rules and protocols.--Not later than 45 days after the initial meeting described in subparagraph (A), the Commission shall finalize rules, protocols, and formats for convenings carried out under this subsection by a \3/5\ majority in attendance at a meeting of the Commission.”
“(D) Tax documents.--The Commission (or a designee) shall, on request of a donor under subparagraph (A) or (B), provide tax documentation to that donor for any tax-deductible gift made by that donor under those subparagraphs. (E) Archiving.--The Commission shall coordinate with the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution to archive and preserve relevant gifts or donations received under subparagraph (A) or (B).”
“(ii) Return of gifts and donations.--On termination of the Commission under subsection (b)(5), any gifts, unspent donations, property, or other record or recording accepted by the Commission under clause (i) shall be-- (I) returned to the donor that made the donation under that clause; or (II) archived under subparagraph (E). (B) Fundraising.--The Commission may, on the affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the members of the Commission, solicit funds to accomplish the purposes of this division. (C) Disbursement.--The Commission may, on the affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the members of the Commission, approve a spending plan of funds to accomplish the purposes of this division.”
“(C) General services administration.--The Administrator of General Services shall provide, on request of the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support and other services for the performance of the functions of the Commission under this division. (3) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Government. (4) Gifts, fundraising, and disbursement.-- (A) Gifts and donations.-- (i) In general.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of any gift, donation, service, property, or other record or recording to accomplish the purposes of this division.”
“(2) Contracting; volunteer services.-- (A) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts, and in accordance with applicable law, enter into contracts and other agreements with public agencies, private organizations, and individuals to enable the Commission to carry out the duties of the Commission under this division. (B) Volunteer and uncompensated services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and use such voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission determines to be necessary.”
“(g) Powers of Commission.-- (1) Convenings and information.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this division-- (A) hold such convenings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such information, virtually or in-person, as the Commission may determine necessary to accomplish the purposes of this division; (B) conduct or request such interdisciplinary research, investigation, or analysis of such information and documents, records, or other data as the Commission may determine necessary to accomplish the purposes of this division, including-- (i) securing, directly from a Federal agency, such information as the Commission considers necessary to accomplish the purposes of this division; and (ii) requesting the head of any relevant Tribal or State agency to provide to the Commission such information as the Commission considers necessary to accomplish the purposes of this division; (C) request such records, papers, correspondence, memoranda, documents, books, videos, oral histories, recordings, or any other paper or electronic material, as the Commission may determine necessary to accomplish the purposes of this division; (D) oversee, direct, and collaborate with the Federal and Religious Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, the Native American Truth and Healing Advisory Committee, and the Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee to accomplish the purposes of this division; and (E) coordinate with Federal and non-Federal entities to preserve and archive, as appropriate, any gifts, documents, or other property received while carrying out the purposes of this division.”
“(2) Travel expenses.--A member 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. (3) Detail of government employees.--Any Federal Government employee, with the approval of the head of the appropriate Federal agency and at the request of the Commission, may be detailed to the Commission without-- (A) reimbursement to the agency of that employee; and (B) interruption or loss of civil service status, benefits, or privileges.”
“(e) Rules.--The Commission may establish, by a majority vote, any rules for the conduct of Commission business, in accordance with this section and other applicable law. (f) Commission Personnel Matters.-- (1) Compensation of commissioners.--A member of the Commission shall be compensated at a daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for grade 5 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day, not to exceed 10 days per month, for which a member is engaged in the performance of their duties under this division, limited to convening meetings, including public or private meetings to receive testimony in furtherance of the duties of the Commission and the purposes of this division.”