[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 61 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 61

 To provide for independent investigations and factfinding for ethics 
                            investigations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 1997

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 To provide for independent investigations and factfinding for ethics 
                            investigations.

    Resolved,

SECTION. 1. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS AND FACTFINDING FOR ETHICS 
              INVESTIGATIONS.

    (a) Appointment of Independent Panel.--(1) The Speaker and the 
minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint jointly 
20 independent factfinders at the beginning of each Congress (but in 
the case of the One Hundred Fifth Congress within 30 calendar days 
after the adoption of this resolution) to carry out investigations on 
behalf of the House of Representatives as required by the Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct. Independent factfinders appointed under 
this section may include former Members of Congress, former officers or 
employees of the Congress, or other private citizens.
    (2) No individual who engages in, or is otherwise employed in, 
lobbying of the Congress and who is required under the Federal 
Regulation of Lobbying Act to register with the Clerk of the House of 
Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate shall be considered 
eligible for appointment as an independent factfinder under this 
subsection.
    (b) Compensation of Factfinders.--
            (1) In general.--Each independent factfinder shall be 
        compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
        annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
        Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the 
        independent factfinder is engaged in the performance of his or 
        her duties under this section.
            (2) Travel expenses.--Each independent factfinder shall be 
        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from his or her home or regular place of 
        business in the performance of his or her duties under this 
        section.

SEC. 2. USE OF INDEPENDENT FACTFINDERS BY THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF 
              OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives shall adopt rules--
            (1) allowing the committee to decide whether to use, on a 
        case-by-case basis, 4 or 6 independent factfinders appointed in 
        lieu of a 4 or 6-member investigative subcommittee whenever the 
        committee votes to conduct a preliminary inquiry;
            (2) providing for the joint selection of 4 or 6 independent 
        factfinders by the chairman and ranking minority party member 
        from the pool of 20 independent factfinders appointed pursuant 
        to section 1(a);
            (3) providing that whenever independent factfinders are 
        used in lieu of a 4 or 6-member investigative subcommittee--
                    (A) upon completion of an investigation, the 
                independent factfinders shall report their findings of 
                fact and recommendations, if any, to the committee;
                    (B) if the independent factfinders, by majority 
                vote, adopt a statement of alleged violation, the 
                entire committee shall be deemed to be an adjudicatory 
                subcommittee and be governed by the rules adopted by 
                the committee to carry out section 803(d) of the Ethics 
                Reform Act of 1989;
            (4) providing that independent factfinders conducting an 
        investigation pursuant to this subsection shall have the same 
        power to investigate as vested in the investigative 
        subcommittee, subject to the approval of the chairman and 
        ranking minority party member; and
            (5) providing that the staff of the committee shall assist 
        the independent factfinders in carrying out their 
        responsibilities.
                                 <all>