[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 165 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 165

  Establishing a Select Committee on Homeland Security and Terrorism.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 2, 2001

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Establishing a Select Committee on Homeland Security and Terrorism.

    Resolved, 

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND 
              TERRORISM.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a select committee of the 
Senate, to be known as the Select Committee on Homeland Security and 
Terrorism (in this resolution referred to as the ``Select Committee'').
    (b) Purposes.--
            (1) In general.--The purposes of the Select Committee are--
                    (A) to assist the Senate in coordinating and 
                prioritizing Federal reforms, initiatives, and 
                proposals to detect, deter, and manage the consequences 
                of terrorism and incidents of terrorism in the United 
                States;
                    (B) to consult with and receive testimony from the 
                President's Office of Homeland Security and other 
                appropriate Federal agencies;
                    (C) to make such findings of fact as are warranted 
                and appropriate; and
                    (D) to make such recommendations, including 
                recommendations for new legislation and amendments to 
                existing laws and any administrative or other actions, 
                as the Select Committee may determine to be necessary 
                or desirable.
            (2) Legislative jurisdiction.--There shall be referred to 
        the Select Committee all proposed legislation, messages, 
        petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to Federal 
        reforms, initiatives, and proposals to detect, deter, and 
        manage the consequences of terrorism and incidents of terrorism 
        in the United States.
    (c) Composition.--
            (1) In general.--The Select Committee shall be composed, as 
        follows:
                    (A) The Majority Leader of the Senate and the 
                Minority Leader of the Senate.
                    (B) The chairman and ranking minority member of 
                each of the committees designated by the Majority and 
                Minority Leaders of the Senate, acting jointly, as 
                having primary and preeminent jurisdiction over 
                homeland security and terrorism.
                    (C) Two Members of the Senate who do not serve on 
                any committee designated under subparagraph (B), 
                appointed by the Majority Leader.
                    (D) Two Members of the Senate who do not serve on 
                any committee designated under subparagraph (B), 
                appointed by the Minority Leader.
                    (E) Two Members with expertise and experience in 
                homeland security and terrorism, appointed by the 
                Majority Leader.
                    (F) Two Members with expertise and experience in 
                homeland security and terrorism, appointed by the 
                Minority Leader.
            (2) Cochairmen.--The Majority and Minority Leaders of the 
        Senate shall serve as cochairmen of the Select Committee.
            (3) Co-vice chairmen.--The Majority Leader of the Senate 
        shall designate one of the Members of the Senate appointed 
        under paragraph (1)(C) to serve as co-vice chairman. The 
        Minority Leader of the Senate shall designate one of the 
        Members of the Senate appointed under paragraph (1)(D) to serve 
        as co-vice chairman.
            (4) Service.--For the purpose of paragraph 4 or rule XXV of 
        the Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a 
        member, chairman, or vice chairman of the Select Committee 
        shall not be taken into account.

SEC. 2. POWERS.

    (a) In General.--For the purposes of this resolution, the Select 
Committee is authorized--
            (1) to make investigations into any matter within its 
        jurisdiction;
            (2) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the 
        Senate;
            (3) to employ personnel;
            (4) to hold hearings;
            (5) to sit and act at any time or place during the 
        sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate;
            (6) to procure the service of individual consultants or 
        organizations thereof, in accordance with the provisions of 
        section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946;
            (7) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of 
        witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, papers, 
        and documents; and
            (8) to take depositions and other testimony.
    (b) Administration of Oaths.--The chairman of the Select Committee 
or any member thereof may administer oaths to witnesses.
    (c) Subpoenas.--Subpoenas authorized by the Select Committee may be 
issued over the signature of the chairman, the vice chairman or any 
member of the Select Committee designated by the chairman, and may be 
served by any person designated by the chairman or any member signing 
the subpoenas.

SEC. 3. REPORTS.

    (a) To the Senate.--The Select Committee, for the purposes of 
accountability to the Senate, shall make regular and periodic reports 
to the Senate on the nature and extent of the homeland security and 
antiterrorism activities of the various departments and agencies of the 
United States. Such committee shall promptly call to the attention of 
the Senate or to any other appropriate committee or committees of the 
Senate any matters requiring the attention of the Senate or such other 
committee or committees.
    (b) From the Executive Branch.--The Select Committee shall obtain 
an annual report from the President. The report shall review the 
activities of the agencies or departments concerned to detect, deter, 
and manage the consequences of terrorism and incidents of terrorism in 
the United States. An unclassified version of the report may be made 
available to the public at the discretion of the Select Committee.

SEC. 4. INFORMATION SHARING.

    It is the sense of the Senate that the head of each department and 
agency of the United States should keep the Select Committee fully and 
currently informed with respect to homeland security and antiterrorism 
activities, including any significant anticipated activities, which are 
the responsibility of or engaged in by such department or agency, 
except that this does not constitute a condition precedent to the 
implementation of any such activity.

SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as prohibiting or 
otherwise restricting the authority of any other committee to study and 
review any homeland security or antiterrorism matter to the extent that 
such matter directly affects a matter otherwise within the jurisdiction 
of such committee.
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