[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 330 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 330

 To establish a special ad hoc committee to review the current welfare 
     system and to report comprehensive welfare reform legislation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 25, 1994

   Mr. Castle (for himself and Mr. Emerson) submitted the following 
        resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 To establish a special ad hoc committee to review the current welfare 
     system and to report comprehensive welfare reform legislation.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The House of Representatives find that--
            (1) three primary low-income assistance programs (aid to 
        families with dependent children (AFDC), food stamps, and 
        medicaid) and other welfare programs were created in a good-
        faith effort to provide needed assistance to a specific 
        population;
            (2) amendments to authorizing legislation have resulted in 
        a patchwork approach to problems that have surfaced within each 
        program, creating differences in legislative and regulatory 
        policy, thereby causing additional conflicts;
            (3) as a result of the unique histories and missions of 
        these three programs, each program is within the jurisdiction 
        of a different committee;
            (4) partly as a result of this, policies, laws, and 
        regulations restrict the ability of the program administrators 
        to provide coordinated, timely, and appropriate benefits to 
        those eligible for more than one type of assistance;
            (5) four committees and five subcommittees exercise primary 
        authorization and oversight responsibilities for the three 
        programs; and
            (6) this jurisdictional oversight has contributed to 
        complexity, duplication, and lack of coordination among the 
        three programs.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.

    There is established a special ad hoc Committee on Welfare Reform 
(referred to as the ``Committee'') to be composed of--
            (1) 4 members of the Committee on Agriculture--
                    (A) 2 to be appointed by the Speaker; and
                    (B) 2 to be appointed by the minority leader;
            (2) 4 members of the Committee on Education and Labor--
                    (A) 2 to be appointed by the Speaker; and
                    (B) 2 to be appointed by the minority leader;
            (3) 4 members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce--
                    (A) 2 to be appointed by the Speaker; and
                    (B) 2 to be appointed by the minority leader;
            (4) 4 members of the Committee on Ways and Means--
                    (A) 2 to be appointed by the Speaker; and
                    (B) 2 to be appointed by the minority leader;
            (5) 9 Members of the House--
                    (A) 7 to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom 
                he shall designate to serve as chairman.
                    (B) 2 to be appointed by the minority leader.
Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the committee shall be 
filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS.

    The Committee is authorized and directed--
            (1) to conduct a thorough review of the current welfare 
        system that provides assistance to individuals with limited 
        incomes; and
            (2) to report to the House by bill with respect to any 
        matters covered by this resolution;
not later than September 30, 1994.

SEC. 4. AUTHORITY AND EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION OF STAFF.

    (a) Authority of Committee.--The Committee may--
            (1) sit and act at such places and times as the Committee, 
        or any duly authorized subcommittee thereof, determines are 
        appropriate during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned 
        periods of Congress; and
            (2) require the attendance of witnesses and the production 
        of books, papers, and documents, administer oaths, take 
        testimony, and procure printing and binding.
    (b) Appointment and Compensation of Staff.--
(1) The Committee may appoint and fix the compensation of such experts, 
consultants, technicians, and clerical and stenographic assistants as 
it deems necessary and advisable, but shall utilize the services of the 
staffs of those standing committees from which members have been 
selected from membership on the Committee to the extent possible.
    (2) The Committee may utilize such voluntary and uncompensated 
services as it deems necessary and may utilize the services, 
information, facilities, and personnel of the General Accounting 
Office, the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, 
and other agencies of the legislative branch.
    (3) The members and staff of the Committee shall be reimbursed for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in 
the performance of the duties vested in the Committee, other than 
expenses in connection with meetings of the Committee held in the 
District of Columbia during such times as the Congress is in session.
    (c) Witnesses.--Witnesses requested to appear before the Committee 
shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
expenses incurred by them in traveling to and from the places at which 
they are to appear.
    (d) Expenses.--Notwithstanding any law, rule, or other authority, 
there shall be paid from the contingent fund of the House $750,000 for 
the expenses of the committee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers 
signed by the chairman of the committee and approved by the Committee 
on House Administration. Amounts made available under this subsection 
shall be expended in accordance with regulations prescribed by the 
Committee on House Administration.

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