Bill would establish coronavirus commission

A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill that would establish a coronavirus commission to examine the nation’s response to the pandemic.

Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently joined 13 colleagues in presenting the National Commission on the COVID–19 Pandemic in the United States Act.

“This bill would create a bipartisan commission to identify those mistakes, hold parties accountable and establish protocols to prevent such widespread tragedy from happening in the future,” Casey said.

The bill provisions, officials said, include establishing a panel composed of 10 members, with the same party balance as the 9/11 commission who are prohibited from being current federal officials; providing a full accounting to the President, Congress and residents of the facts and circumstances related to the domestic outbreak; conducting hearings and public events to obtain information and educate the public; and possessing subpoena power to compel cooperation by relevant witnesses and materials from the federal government, as well as state and local governments.

The National Commission on the COVID–19 Pandemic in the United States Act serves as a companion to a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).

The Senate measure stipulates the panel would be established no sooner than February 2021 – post pandemic and after the presidential election.