The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent U.S. Government agency

Independent agencies of the United States government

Independent agencies of the United States federal government are those agencies that exist outside of the federal executive departments...

 created by Congress in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE commitments. It was established in 1976 pursuant to Public Law No. 94-304.

The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. House of Representatives, nine members from the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

, and one member each from the Departments of State

United States Department of State

The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...

, Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

, and Commerce

United States Department of Commerce

The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...

. The positions of Chairman and Co-Chairman are shared by the House and Senate and rotate every two years, when a new Congress convenes. A professional staff assists the Commissioners in their work.

The Commission contributes to the formulation of U.S. policy toward the OSCE and the participating States and takes part in its execution, including through Member and staff participation on official U.S. Delegations to OSCE meetings and in certain OSCE bodies. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, NGOs, and private individuals from other OSCE participating States.

The Commission convenes public hearings and briefings with expert witnesses on OSCE-related issues; issues public reports concerning implementation of OSCE commitments in participating States; publishes a periodic Digest with up-to-date information on OSCE developments and Commission activities; and organizes official delegations to participating States and OSCE meetings to address and assess democratic, economic, and human rights developments firsthand.

Commissioners, 112th Congress

	Majority	Minority
House members	Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey, Chairman Joseph R. Pitts Joseph R. Pitts Joseph R. "Joe" Pitts is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lancaster and includes much of Amish country... , Pennsylvania Robert B. Aderholt, Alabama Phil Gingrey Phil Gingrey John Phillip "Phil" Gingrey, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is located in the northwestern suburbs of Atlanta.-Early life, education and career:... , Georgia Michael C. Burgess Michael C. Burgess Michael Clifton Burgess, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003, and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.-Early life, education, and early career:... , Texas	Alcee L. Hastings, Florida, Ranking Member Louise McIntosh Slaughter Louise McIntosh Slaughter Louise McIntosh Slaughter is the U.S. Representative for New York's 28th congressional district, serving since 1993, and Chair of the House Rules Committee from 2007 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Rochester and Buffalo and includes parts of Erie,... , New York Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre Douglas Carmichael "Mike" McIntyre II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.... , North Carolina Steve Cohen Steve Cohen Stephen Ira Cohen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Tennessee's 9th district includes almost three-fourths of Memphis. Cohen is Tennessee's first Jewish congressman.... , Tennessee
Senate members	Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland, Co-Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse Sheldon Whitehouse Sheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party... , Rhode Island Tom Udall Tom Udall Thomas Stewart "Tom" Udall is the junior United States Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. He had represented as a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999. Udall was elected as the junior United States senator from New Mexico on November 4, 2008,... , New Mexico Jeanne Shaheen Jeanne Shaheen Jeanne Shaheen is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the Senior United States Senator from New Hampshire. The first woman in U.S. history to be elected as both a Governor and U.S. Senator, she was the first woman to be elected Governor of New Hampshire, serving from... , New Hampshire Richard Blumenthal Richard Blumenthal Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut.... , Connecticut	Roger F. Wicker, Mississi, Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss Saxby Chambliss Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative .... , Georgia Marco Rubio Marco Rubio Marco Antonio Rubio is the junior United States Senator from Florida . A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives .... , Florida Kelly Ayotte Kelly Ayotte Kelly A. Ayotte is the junior United States Senator from New Hampshire and a member of the Republican Party. She earlier served as the Attorney General of New Hampshire.-Early life, education and career:... , New Hampshire

Executive Branch	Michael H. Posner, Department of State Alexander Vershbow, Department of Defense Michael C. Camuñez, Department of Commerce

United States Code Reference

Title 22, Chapter 45
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; establishment

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Function and duties of Commission

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission membership

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Testimony of witnesses, production of evidence; issuance of subpena; administration of oaths

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Report relating to Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission report to Congress; periodic reports; expenditure of appropriations

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Appropriations for Commission

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission staff

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Printing and binding costs