[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 437 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 437

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                    September 15, 2005.
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is hereby established the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate 
the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina (hereinafter referred to 
as the ``select committee'').

SEC. 2. COMPOSITION.

    (a) The select committee shall be composed of 20 members appointed by the 
Speaker, of whom 9 shall be appointed after consultation with the Minority 
Leader. The Speaker shall designate one Member as chairman.
    (b)(1) The Speaker and the Minority Leader shall be ex officio members of 
the select committee but shall have no vote in the select committee and may not 
be counted for purposes of determining a quorum.
    (2) The Speaker and the Minority Leader each may designate a leadership 
staff member to assist in their capacity as ex officio members, with the same 
access to select committee meetings, hearings, briefings, and materials as 
employees of the select committee and subject to the same security clearance and 
confidentiality requirements as staff of the select committee.

SEC. 3. INVESTIGATION AND REPORT.

    The select committee is authorized and directed to conduct a full and 
complete investigation and study and to report its findings to the House not 
later than February 15, 2006, regarding--
            (1) the development, coordination, and execution by local, State, 
        and Federal authorities of emergency response plans and other activities 
        in preparation for Hurricane Katrina; and
            (2) the local, State, and Federal government response to Hurricane 
        Katrina.

SEC. 4. PROCEDURE.

    Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, including the items 
referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), shall apply to the select committee:
            (1) Clause 2(j)(1) of rule XI (guaranteeing the minority additional 
        witnesses).
            (2) Clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI (providing for the authority to 
        subpoena witnesses and documents).

SEC. 5. JOINT OPERATIONS.

    The chairman of the select committee, in conducting the investigation and 
study described in section 3, shall consult with the chairman of a Senate 
committee conducting a parallel investigation and study regarding meeting 
jointly to receive testimony, the scheduling of hearings or issuance of 
subpoenas, and joint staff interviews of key witnesses.

SEC. 6. STAFF; FUNDING.

    (a)(1) To the greatest extent practicable, the select committee shall 
utilize the services of staff of employing entities of the House. At the request 
of the chairman in consultation with the ranking minority member, staff of 
employing entities of the House or a joint committee may be detailed to the 
select committee to carry out this resolution and shall be deemed to be staff of 
the select committee.
    (2) The chairman, upon consultation with the ranking minority member, may 
employ and fix the compensation of such staff as the chairman considers 
necessary to carry out this resolution.
    (b) There shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House $500,000 
for the expenses of the select committee. Such payments shall be made on 
vouchers signed by the chairman 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.

SEC. 7. DISSOLUTION AND DISPOSITION OF RECORDS.

    (a) The select committee shall cease to exist 30 days after filing the 
report required under section 3.
    (b) Upon dissolution of the select committee, the records of the select 
committee shall become the records of any committee designated by the Speaker.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.