---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 70705"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "70705"
heading: "Powers of Commission"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/70705"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Access to Space"
  - "Chapter 707 — Human Space Flight Independent Investigation Commission"
---

# §70705. Powers of Commission

- (a) **Hearings and Evidence.—** A [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) or, on the authority of the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1), 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](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) or such designated subcommittee or member may determine advisable.

- (b) **Contracting.—** A [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) may, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) to discharge its duties under this chapter.
- (c) **Information From Federal Agencies.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** A [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) may secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, [commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1), 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](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1), office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1), upon request made by the Chairman, the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1), or any member designated by a majority of the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.—** Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
- (d) **Assistance From Federal Agencies.—**
  - (1) **General services administration.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of General Services shall provide to a [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) on a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services for the performance of the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1)’s tasks.
  - (2) **Other departments and agencies.—** In addition to the assistance prescribed in [paragraph (1)](#d-1), departments and agencies of the United States may provide to the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1) 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](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) Engineering and Safety Center shall provide data and technical support as requested by the [Commission](/usc/51/70701.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3433.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 70705 | 42 U.S.C. 16845. | Pub. L. 109–155, title VIII, § 825, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2942. |