Findings

Congress finds that— (1) an open society which affords free access to public facilities and spaces and which protects the right to engage in open discussion is an essential premise of American governmental institutions and democratic values; (2) the United States is currently facing a challenge to the safety and security of the public, public employees, and public facilities and spaces that is unique in the history of this Nation; (3) to meet this challenge without eroding or harming any of the basic tenets of the Republic and of our democracy, this Nation needs to assemble the best thinking available; and (4) a commission of experts from a broad base of disciplines and backgrounds is necessary to examine all the factors that should be considered in securing public safety from terrorist attacks while maintaining the highest level of free and open access to the public.