ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

SEC. 563. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. (a) Meetings.—(1) The commission shall hold its first meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which all members have been appointed. (2) The commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman. (3) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings. (b) Authority of Individuals To Act for Commission.—Any member or agent of the commission may, if authorized by the commission, take any action which the commission is authorized to take under this title. (c) Powers.—(1) 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 its duties. (2) The commission may secure directly from the Department of Defense and any other department or agency of the Federal Government such information as the commission considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of the chairman of the commission, the head of a department or agency shall furnish the requested information expeditiously to the commission. (3) 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.111 STAT. 1755 (d) Pay and Expenses of Commission Members.—(1) Each member of the commission who is not an employee of the Government shall be paid 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 performing the duties of the commission. (2) Members and personnel of the commission may travel on aircraft, vehicles, or other conveyances of the Armed Forces when travel is necessary in the performance of a duty of the commission except when the cost of commercial transportation is less expensive. (3) The members of the commission may 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. (4) (A) A member of the commission who is an annuitant otherwise covered by section 8344 or 8468 of title 5, United States Code, by reason of membership on the commission shall not be subject to the provisions of such section with respect to such membership. (B) A member of the commission who is a member or former member of a uniformed service shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 5532 of such title with respect to membership on the commission. (e) Staff and Administrative Support.—(1) The chairman of the commission may, without regard to civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and up to three additional staff members as necessary to enable the commission to perform its duties. 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 may not exceed the maximum rate of pay for grade GS–15 under the General Schedule. (2) Upon the request of the chairman of the commission, the head of any department or agency of the Federal Government may detail, without reimbursement, any personnel of the department or agency to the commission to assist in carrying out its duties. A detail of an employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. (3) 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 that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such title. (4) The Secretary of Defense shall furnish to the commission such administrative and support services as may be requested by the chairman of the commission.