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







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 61

Funding the Committee on Governmental Affairs for conducting a Special 
Investigation of Federal election campaign fundraising and expenditure 
                               practices.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 4, 1997

Mr. Glenn submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                 Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Funding the Committee on Governmental Affairs for conducting a Special 
Investigation of Federal election campaign fundraising and expenditure 
                               practices.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SCOPE OF HEARINGS.

    (a) In General.--The Committee on Governmental Affairs (hereafter 
referred to as the ``Committee'') shall conduct a Special Investigation 
into illegal or improper fundraising and spending practices in the 1996 
Federal election campaigns, including the following:
            (1) Foreign contributions and the effect of those 
        contributions on the United States political system.
            (2) Conflicts of interest involving Federal office holders 
        and employees, and the misuse of Government offices.
            (3) Failure by Federal employees to maintain and observe 
        legal limitations relating to fundraising and official 
        business.
            (4) The independence of the Presidential campaigns from the 
        political activities pursued for their benefit by outside 
        individuals or groups.
            (5) The misuse of charitable and tax exempt organizations 
        in connection with political or fundraising activities.
            (6) Amounts given to or spent by a political party for the 
        purpose of influencing Federal elections generally that are not 
        subject to the limitations or reporting requirements of the 
        Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) 
        (commonly referred to as `soft money') and the effect of soft 
        money on the United States political system.
            (7) Promises or grants of special access in return for 
        political contributions or favors.
            (8) The effect of independent expenditures (whether by 
        corporations, labor unions, or otherwise) upon the current 
        Federal campaign finance system, and the question as to whether 
        such expenditures are truly independent.
            (9) Contributions to and expenditures by entities for the 
        benefit or in the interest of Federal officers.
            (10) Practices described in paragraphs (1) through (9) that 
        occurred in previous Federal election campaigns to the extent 
        that those practices are similar or analogous.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this resolution shall be 
construed to limit the authority of the Committee on Governmental 
Affairs under the Senate Rules or section 13(d) of S. Res. 54, adopted 
February 13, 1997.

SEC. 2. INVESTIGATIONS PROCEDURES.

    (a) Additional Procedures.--The procedures under this section shall 
apply to the Special Investigation in addition to the procedures under 
the Senate and Committee Rules.
    (b) In General.--The Committee shall ensure that the majority and 
minority--
            (1) have contemporaneous access to all documentary evidence 
        received by the Committee and the right to be given adequate 
        advance notice of, to be present at, and to participate equally 
        in all depositions and investigatory interviews;
            (2) have equal opportunity to obtain and present relevant 
        testimonial and documentary evidence on the subjects of the 
        Committee's inquiry; and
            (3) are treated equally and without discrimination in the 
        discharge of the Committee's administrative responsibilities, 
        including--
                    (A) equal and contemporaneous access to computer 
                hardware and software, communication equipment and 
                services, and other office equipment, including 
                nonstandard items;
                    (B) equal and contemporaneous consideration and 
                approval of all travel associated with official 
                committee business; and
                    (C) the assignment of office space of equal 
                quality.
    (c) Detailees.--The Committee shall ensure that any detailee 
engaged in activities for the investigation is jointly directed and 
jointly tasked by the majority and minority, unless the Committee 
agreed to reimburse the full cost of such detailee to the detailee's 
employer, and the employer has approved the arrangement.
    (d) Investigatory Topics and Hearings.--
            (1) Priorities.--Priority of investigatory topics and 
        hearings shall be established based upon relevance to 
        illustrating the need for reform of current campaign finance 
        laws, with illustrations taken, wherever possible, from 
        practices of both major political parties.
            (2) Task forces.--The Chairman and Ranking Member shall 
        establish joint investigative task forces to plan and structure 
        such hearings, including the selection of witnesses, so as to 
        present a comprehensive explanation and illustration of current 
        fundraising and expenditure practices by the two major 
        political parties and their candidates for Federal offices, 
        including practices alleged to be illegal, improper, or 
        otherwise designed to evade Federal regulation.

SEC. 3. REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided under subsection (b), the 
Committee shall make a final report to the Senate of the results of the 
investigation it conducts pursuant to this resolution, together with 
its findings and any recommendations, at the earliest practicable date, 
but not later than December 31, 1997. Either subsequent to or prior to 
the final Committee report, the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the 
Committee may introduce a continued funding resolution for the Special 
Investigation (which shall be placed on the calendar on the date of 
introduction) or the Committee may report to the Senate a continued 
funding resolution. The Majority Leader may turn to such resolution at 
any time after 10 calendar days that the resolution is placed on the 
calendar.
    (b) Extension.--On or before December 31, 1997, the Committee may 
extend the investigation by and final report of the Committee from 
December 31, 1997 to March 31, 1998. An extension under this subsection 
may be made only by a unanimous vote of the Committee.

SEC. 4. EXPENSES.

    (a) In General.--The expenses for the Special Investigation shall 
not exceed $1,800,000 for the investigation, which shall be made 
available, for the payment of salaries and all other expenses of the 
Special Investigation, from the contingent fund of the Senate out of 
the Account for Expenses for Inquiries and Investigations.
    (b) Limitation on Source of Funding.--No funds may be expended on 
the Special Investigation described under section 1, except funds made 
available under this resolution or a continued funding resolution 
described under section 3.

SEC. 5. CONSIDERATION OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION.

    Not later than May 1, 1997, the Senate shall proceed to 
consideration of S. 25 which shall remain the pending order of business 
until final disposition.
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