15 U.S.C. § 4806 — Powers of Council

(a) Hearings The Council^* can, 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 can administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Council.

(b) Information (1)
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Council can 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 must 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 under such Executive order.
(2) In any case in which the Council receives any information from a Federal agency, the Council must not disclose such information to the public unless such agency is authorized to disclose such information under Federal law.

(c) Consultation with President and Congress No later than 120 days after the initial members are appointed to the Council, the Council must 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 must 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 can accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

(e) Use of mails The Council can 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 must provide to the Council, on a reimbursable basis, such administrative and support services as the Council can request.

(g) Subcouncils
(1) The Council can 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 must 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 must include a representative of the Federal Government.
(4) Any such subcouncil must assess the actual or potential competitiveness problems facing the industry or the specific policy issues with which the subcouncil is concerned and must 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 must not be considered to violate any Federal or State antitrust law.
(6) Any discussion held by any subcouncil must not be subject to the provisions of chapter 10 of title 5, except that a Federal representative must attend all subcouncil meetings.
(7) Any subcouncil must end 30 days after making recommendations, unless the Council specifically requests that the subcouncil continue in operation.

(h) Applicability of chapter 10 of title 5 The provisions of subsections (e) and (f) of section 1009 of title 5 must not apply to the Council.