113 STAT. 402 PUBLIC LAW 106-55—AUG. 17, 1999 22 USC 6432b. sit and act at times and places in the United States, take testimony and receive evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act. "(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission, subject to applicable law. "(c) POSTAL SERVICES.— The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. "(d) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.— The Commission may adopt such rules and regulations, relating to administrative procedure, as may be reasonably necessary to enable it to carry out the provisions of this title. "(e) VIEWS OF THE COMMISSION,—The Members of the Commission may speak in their capacity as private citizens. Statements on behalf of the Commission shall be issued in writing over the names of the Members. The Commission shall in its written statements clearly describe its statutory authority, distinguishing that authority from that of appointed or elected officials of the United States Government. Oral statements, where practicable, shall include a similar description. "(f) TRAVEL.— The Members of the Commission may, with the approval of the Commission, conduct such travel as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this title. Each trip must be approved by a majority of the Commission. This provision shall not apply to the Ambassador-at-Lairge, whose travel shall not require approval by the Commission. "SEC. 204. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. "(a) IN GENERAL. —The Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an Executive Director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The decision to employ or terminate an Executive Director shall be made by an affirmative vote of at least six of the nine members of the Commission. "(b) COMPENSATION.—The Commission may fix the compensation of the Executive Director and other personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the Executive Director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. "(c) PROFESSIONAL STAFF. —The Commission and the Executive Director shall hire Commission stafF on the basis of professional and nonpartisan qualifications. Commissioners may not individually hire staff of the Commission. Staff shall serve the Commission as a whole and may not be assigned to the particular service of a single Commissioner or a specified group of Commissioners. This subsection does not prohibit staff personnel from assisting individu£d members of the Commission with particular needs related to their duties.
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