Title 51, National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-110

§70705 Powers of Commission

Title 51 › Subtitle VII — Access to Space › CHAPTER 707 — HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION › § 70705

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives the Commission the power to hold hearings, call witnesses, take testimony, collect evidence, swear people in, and require people or organizations to produce books, records, and papers — including by using subpoenas. The Commission can meet when and where it needs to do its work. It may also enter into contracts to help it do its job, but only up to the amounts Congress provides in appropriation laws. Federal agencies must provide information, estimates, and statistics if asked by the Commission’s chair, the leader of a subcommittee set up by a majority of the Commission, or any member chosen by a majority. Commission members and staff must handle that information following all laws, rules, and presidential orders. The General Services Administration must give administrative support if the Commission pays for it. Other agencies may also provide help when allowed by law. The Administration Engineering and Safety Center must supply data and technical support when asked.

Full Legal Text

Title 51, §70705

National and Commercial Space Programs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Hearings and Evidence.—
A Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this chapter—
(1)hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer such oaths; and
(2)require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents,
as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or member may determine advisable.
(b)Contracting.—
A Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this chapter.
(c)Information From Federal Agencies.—
(1)In general.—
A Commission may secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this chapter. Each department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman, the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the Commission, or any member designated by a majority of the Commission.
(2)Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.—
Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
(d)Assistance From Federal Agencies.—
(1)General services administration.—
The Administrator of General Services shall provide to a Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services for the performance of the Commission’s tasks.
(2)Other departments and agencies.—
In addition to the assistance prescribed in paragraph (1), departments and agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law.
(3)Administration engineering and safety center.—
The Administration Engineering and Safety Center shall provide data and technical support as requested by the Commission.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7070542 U.S.C. 16845.Pub. L. 109–155, title VIII, § 825, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2942.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

51 U.S.C. § 70705

Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110