Stakeholder and community engagement

(a) Department of Homeland Security Border Oversight Commission (1) Establishment There is established an independent commission, which shall be known as the Department of Homeland Security Border Oversight Commission (referred to in this Act as the Commission). (2) Organization (A) Leadership The Commission shall be led by a Chair and a Vice Chair. (B) Membership (i) In general The Commission shall be composed of 30 members, who shall— (I) be appointed by the Speaker and the minority leader of the House of Representatives and the majority leader and minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the President; and (II) have expertise in the areas of migration, local crime indices, civil and human rights, community relations, cross-border trade and commerce, quality of life indicators, or other pertinent experience. (ii) Regional representation Of the 30 members appointed pursuant to clause (i)(I)— (I) 13 members shall be from States bordering Canada and shall comprise the northern border subcommittee; and (II) 17 members shall be from States bordering Mexico and shall comprise the southern border subcommittee. (iii) Northern border subcommittee Of the 13 members of the northern border subcommittee— (I) 2 shall be elected local government officials; (II) 2 shall be local law enforcement officials; (III) 2 shall be civil rights advocates; (IV) 1 shall represent the business community; (V) 1 shall represent institutions of higher education; (VI) 1 shall represent a faith community; (VII) 2 shall be U.S. Border Patrol officers or agents, including at least 1 member of the National Border Patrol Council; and (VIII) 2 shall be tribal officials. (iv) Southern border subcommittee Of the 17 members of the southern border subcommittee— (I) 3 shall be elected local government officials; (II) 3 shall be local law enforcement officials; (III) 3 shall be civil rights advocates; (IV) 2 shall represent the business community; (V) 1 shall represent institutions of higher education; (VI) 1 shall represent a faith community; (VII) 2 shall be U.S. Border Patrol officers or agents, including at least 1 member of the National Border Patrol Council; and (VIII) 2 shall be tribal officials. (v) Chair; vice chair The members of the Commission shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair from among its members by a majority vote of at least 16 members. (vi) Terms of service The Chair and the Vice Chair of the Commission shall serve 4-year terms in such positions. Members of the Commission shall also serve 4-year terms. (vii) Appointment deadline Congress shall make the initial appointments to the Commission not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Meetings (A) Commission The Commission shall meet at least semiannually and may convene additional meetings, as necessary, at the call of the Chair and the Vice Chair. (B) Subcommittees The northern border subcommittee and the southern border subcommittee shall each meet at least quarterly, and may convene additional meetings, as necessary. (4) Duties The Commission, the northern border subcommittee, and the southern border subcommittee shall— (A) develop recommendations for improvements regarding border enforcement policies, strategies, and programs that take into consideration the impact of such policies, strategies, and programs on border communities; (B) evaluate policies, strategies, and programs of Federal agencies operating along the northern and southern United States borders— (i) to protect— (I) due process; (II) the civil and human rights of border residents and visitors; and (III) private property rights of land owners; (ii) to reduce the number of migrant deaths; and (iii) to improve the safety of agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; (C) develop recommendations for improvements regarding the safety of agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while such agents and officers are in the field; and (D) evaluate training and establish training courses related to— (i) management and leadership skills for supervisors in each U.S. Border Patrol sector, at each port of entry on the northern and southern United States borders, and at each U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office; and (ii) the extent to which supervisory and management personnel practices at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement— (I) encourage and facilitate workforce development for agents and officers; and (II) promote agent and officer field safety and post-Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (referred to in this Act as FLETC) training of border enforcement personnel in accordance with section 6. (5) Additional responsibilities (A) In general In carrying out the duties set forth in paragraph (4), the Commission shall take into consideration any recommendations and evaluations agreed upon by the northern border subcommittee and the southern border subcommittee. (B) Subcommittee reports The northern border subcommittee and the southern border subcommittee shall each— (i) submit an annual report to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission that contains the recommendations and evaluations of the subcommittees developed pursuant to paragraph (4); and (ii) make each such report available to the public. (6) Prohibition on compensation Members of the Commission may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the Federal Government by reason of their service on the Commission or on either of its subcommittees. (b) Hearings and evidence The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member of the Commission, may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or designated member determines necessary to carry out its duties under subsection (a)(4). (c) Savings provision Nothing in this Act may be construed as affecting the investigative and disciplinary procedures of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the Department of Homeland Security with respect to agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (d) Reports (1) Annual reports The Commission shall— (A) submit an annual report to the Secretary of Homeland Security that contains information regarding the activities, findings, and recommendations of the Commission, including the northern border subcommittee and the southern border subcommittee, during the preceding year; and (B) make each such report available to the public. (2) Congressional notification The Secretary of Homeland Security shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives regarding each report received from the Commission pursuant to paragraph (1).