[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 435 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 435

  Establishment of a select committee to investigate and oversee the 
   awarding and execution of contracts for relief and reconstruction 
           activities in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 8, 2005

Mr. Tancredo submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                         the Committee on Rules

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Establishment of a select committee to investigate and oversee the 
   awarding and execution of contracts for relief and reconstruction 
           activities in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

    Resolved,  That there is established a select committee to 
investigate and oversee the awarding and execution of contracts for 
relief and reconstruction activities in areas affected by Hurricane 
Katrina.

SEC. 2. FUNCTIONS.

    The select committee shall conduct an ongoing study and 
investigation of the awarding and carrying out of contracts by the 
Government for relief and reconstruction activities in areas affected 
by Hurricane Katrina, and to make such recommendations to the House as 
the select committee deems appropriate regarding the following 
matters--
            (1) oversight procedures for the awarding of contracts and 
        distribution of appropriated funds;
            (2) bidding, contracting, and auditing standards in the 
        issuance of government contracts;
            (3) accountability of contractors and Federal, State, and 
        local government officials involved in procurement;
            (4) penalties for violations of law, official corruption, 
        and abuses in the awarding or carrying out of government 
        contracts; and
            (5) such other matters as the select committee deems 
        appropriate.

SEC. 3. APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.

    The select committee shall be composed of 15 individuals, to be 
appointed by the Speaker of the House (of whom 7 shall be appointed 
upon the recommendation of the minority leader), one of whom shall be 
designated as chairman. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the 
select committee shall be filled in the same manner in which the 
original appointment was made.

SEC. 4. RULES AND PROCEDURE.

    (a) Powers.--For the purpose of carrying out this resolution, the 
select committee may sit and act during the present Congress at any 
time and place within the United States or elsewhere, whether the House 
is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned and hold such hearings as 
it considers necessary and to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 
attendance and testimony of such witnesses, the furnishing of 
information by interrogatory, and the production of such books, 
records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, and other things 
and information of any kind as it deems necessary, including classified 
materials.
    (b) Quorum.--One-third of the members of the select committee shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business except for the 
reporting of the results of its study and investigation (with its 
recommendations) or the authorization of subpoenas, which shall require 
a majority of the committee to be actually present.
    (c) Issuance of Subpoenas.--A subpoena may be authorized and issued 
by the select committee in the conduct of any investigation or series 
of investigations or activities only when authorized by 8 members of 
the select committee. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the 
chairman or by any member designated by the select committee, and may 
be served by any person designated by the chairman or such member. 
Subpoenas shall be issued under the seal of the House and attested by 
the Clerk. The select committee may request investigations, reports, 
and other assistance from any agency of the executive, legislative, or 
judicial branch of the Government.
    (d)  Meetings.--The chairman, or in his absence a member designated 
by the chairman, shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the 
select committee. All meetings and hearings of the select committee 
shall be conducted in open session, unless 8 members of the select 
committee vote to close a meeting or hearing.
    (e) Applicability of Rules of the House.--The Rules of the House of 
Representatives applicable to standing committees shall govern the 
select committee where not inconsistent with this resolution.
    (f) Written Committee Rules.--The select committee shall adopt 
additional written rules, which shall be public, to govern its 
procedures, which shall not be inconsistent with this resolution or the 
Rules of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Appointment of Staff.--The select committee staff shall be 
appointed, and may be removed, by the chairman and shall work under the 
general supervision and direction of the chairman.
    (b) Compensation.--The chairman shall fix the compensation of all 
staff of the select committee within the budget approved for such 
purposes for the select committee.
    (c) Reimbursement of Expenses.--The select committee may reimburse 
the members of its staff for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
expenses incurred by them in the performance of the their functions for 
the select committee.
    (d) Payment of Expenses.--There shall be paid out of the applicable 
accounts of the House such sums as may be necessary for the expenses of 
the select committee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed by 
the chairman of the select committee and approved in the manner 
directed 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.
    (e) Expiration.--The select committee shall cease to exist at the 
close of the 109th Congress.

SEC. 6. REPORTS.

    (a) Reports.--The select committee shall provide quarterly reports 
to the House containing the results of its study and investigation, 
with its recommendations. Any report made by the select committee when 
the House is not in session shall be filed with the Clerk of the House. 
Any report made by the select committee shall be referred to the 
committee or committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter 
of the report.
    (b) Records.--Upon the dissolution of the select committee, the 
records, files, and materials of the select committee shall be 
transferred to the Clerk of the House.
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