The National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry was created by the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21), enacted in April 2000, to study the market position and general condition of retail travel agents in today's competitive markets for the sale of air travel services. The commission will examine whether the financial condition of travel agents is declining and, if so, the effect of such a decline on consumers. It also will explore whether there are impediments to information regarding the services and products offered by the airline industry, and, if so, the effects of those impediments on travel agents, Internet-based distributors and consumers.

For 155 years, the Smithsonian Institution has had as its mission "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." Given the important questions facing the scientific world today, the existing level of institutional financial and physical resources, the strengths of the Institution's people and its collections, how should the Smithsonian set priorities for scientific research in the years ahead and, in general, carry out its historic mission more effectively? 1) How should scientific research be organized to optimize the use of the Institution's human, physical and financial resources? 2) How should the performance of scientific research by individuals and research departments be evaluated? 3) How can the relationship between research and public programming be enhanced? 4) What suggestions, of any type might the Science Commission have to strengthen research at the Smithsonian? 5) What should be the qualifications of those chosen to lead key scientific research units of the Smithsonian? 6) What should be done to enhance public recognition of Smithsonian science?