
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC4806]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
               CHAPTER 74--COMPETITIVENESS POLICY COUNCIL
 
Sec. 4806. Powers of Council


(a) Hearings

    The Council may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of 
this chapter, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, 
take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Council considers 
appropriate. The Council may administer oaths or affirmations to 
witnesses appearing before the Council.

(b) Information

    (1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Council may 
secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable 
the Council to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Upon request of 
the chairman of the Council, the head of such agency shall promptly 
furnish such information to the Council.
    (B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to matters that are specifically 
authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept 
secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in 
fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order.
    (2) In any case in which the Council receives any information from a 
Federal agency, the Council shall not disclose such information to the 
public unless such agency is authorized to disclose such information 
pursuant to Federal law.

(c) Consultation with President and Congress

    No later than 120 days after the initial members are appointed to 
the Council, the Council shall submit a report to the President, the 
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and the appropriate committees of 
the House of Representatives and of the Senate, that proposes the type 
and scope of activities the Council shall undertake, including the 
extent to which the Council will coordinate activities with other 
advisory committees relating to trade and competitiveness in order to 
maximize the effectiveness of the Council.

(d) Gifts

    The Council may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of 
services or property.

(e) Use of mails

    The Council may use the United States mails in the same manner and 
under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.

(f) Administrative and support services

    The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Council, 
on a reimbursable basis, such administrative and support services as the 
Council may request.

(g) Subcouncils

    (1) The Council may establish, for such period of time as the 
Council determines appropriate, subcouncils of public and private 
leaders to analyze specific competitive issues.
    (2) Any such subcouncil shall include representatives of business, 
labor, government, and other individuals or representatives of groups 
whose participation is considered by the Council to be important to 
developing a full understanding of the subject with which the subcouncil 
is concerned.
    (3) Any such subcouncil shall include a representative of the 
Federal Government.
    (4) Any such subcouncil shall assess the actual or potential 
competitiveness problems facing the industry or the specific policy 
issues with which the subcouncil is concerned and shall formulate 
specific recommendations for responses by business, government, and 
labor--
        (A) to encourage adjustment and modernization of the industry 
    involved;
        (B) to monitor and facilitate industry responsiveness to 
    opportunities identified under section 4807(b)(1)(B) of this title;
        (C) to encourage the ability of the industry involved to compete 
    in markets identified under section 4807(b)(1)(C) of this title; or
        (D) to alleviate the problems in a specific policy area facing 
    more than one industry.

    (5) Any discussion held by any subcouncil shall not be considered to 
violate any Federal or State antitrust law.
    (6) Any discussion held by any subcouncil shall not be subject to 
the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, except that a 
Federal representative shall attend all subcouncil meetings.
    (7) Any subcouncil shall terminate 30 days after making 
recommendations, unless the Council specifically requests that the 
subcouncil continue in operation.

(h) Applicability of Advisory Committee Act

    The provisions of subsections (e) and (f) of section 10,\1\ of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the Council.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ So in original. The comma probably should not appear.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Pub. L. 100-418, title V, Sec. 5207, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1459; 
Pub. L. 101-382, title I, Sec. 133(c), Aug. 20, 1990, 104 Stat. 649.)

                       References in Text

    The Federal antitrust laws, referred to in subsec. (g)(5), is 
classified generally to chapter 1 (Sec. 1 et seq.) of this title.
    The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsecs. (g)(6) 
and (h), is Pub. L. 92-463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, as amended, 
which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and 
Employees.


                               Amendments

    1990--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101-382 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c), 
and substituted ``120'' for ``60''.
    Subsecs. (d) to (i). Pub. L. 101-382, Sec. 133(c)(1), redesignated 
subsecs. (e) to (i) as (d) to (h), respectively. Former subsec. (d) 
redesignated (c).
