[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 207 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 207

Calling on the President of the United States immediately to recommend 
new candidates for the positions of the Attorney General of the United 
 States and the President of the International Bank for Reconstruction 
  and Development (commonly known as the ``World Bank'') in order to 
 preserve the integrity and the efficacy of the Department of Justice 
                          and the World Bank.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2007

Mr. Dodd submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Calling on the President of the United States immediately to recommend 
new candidates for the positions of the Attorney General of the United 
 States and the President of the International Bank for Reconstruction 
  and Development (commonly known as the ``World Bank'') in order to 
 preserve the integrity and the efficacy of the Department of Justice 
                          and the World Bank.

Whereas the Department of Justice is responsible for upholding and enforcing the 
        law throughout the United States of America;
Whereas the Attorney General, as the Nation's chief law enforcement official, 
        must place the rule of law above partisan political gain;
Whereas Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has consistently provided misleading 
        and incomplete testimony to Congress regarding his role in the 
        inappropriate and politically motivated firings of at least 8 United 
        States Attorneys, as well as refusing to acknowledge widespread concern 
        within the Department of Justice on the legality of its domestic 
        surveillance program;
Whereas, according to the testimony of former Deputy Attorney General James 
        Comey, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, while White House Counsel, 
        attempted to pressure then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to authorize a 
        domestic surveillance program that the Department of Justice itself had 
        determined had ``no legal basis'', while he was in the intensive care 
        unit of George Washington University Hospital and had relinquished the 
        powers of the Attorney General;
Whereas the current controversies surrounding the Attorney General have 
        undermined the effectiveness and integrity of the Department of Justice 
        and have contributed to a reduction in morale among employees who have 
        important work to accomplish;
Whereas the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in this 
        resolution referred to as the ``World Bank'', plays a vital role in 
        global efforts to reduce poverty, aid development, and promote good 
        governance in all nations in which it operates;
Whereas anti-corruption efforts have been a key element of the World Bank 
        strategy under both the current and previous Bank Presidents;
Whereas Paul D. Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, arranged for a pay and 
        promotion package for Shaha Ali Riza, a bank employee with whom he had a 
        personal relationship, upon becoming President in 2005;
Whereas, on May 14, 2007, an Ethics Committee of the World Bank investigating 
        this incident reported to the World Bank's Board of Directors that ``Mr. 
        Wolfowitz's contract requiring that he adhere to the Code of Conduct for 
        board officials and that he avoid any conflict of interest, real or 
        apparent, were violated'' in arranging for a pay raise and promotion for 
        Shaha Ali Riza, thus contravening World Bank ethical and governance 
        rules;
Whereas, on April 26, 2007, more than 40 members of the Bank's anti-corruption 
        unit issued a statement declaring that due to corruption allegations 
        against Mr. Wolfowitz, ``The credibility of our front-line staff is 
        eroding in the face of legitimate questions from our clients about the 
        bank's ability to practice what it preaches on governance'';
Whereas several of the World Bank's largest donors, including European nations 
        who supply a major portion of the World Bank's operating revenue, have 
        warned that they might withhold funds for the World Bank so long as Mr. 
        Wolfowitz remains in office; and
Whereas the actions of Attorney General Gonzales and Mr. Wolfowitz have created 
        a crisis of confidence and credibility within two vital institutions 
        with serious national and international consequences and merit decisive 
        action by the President of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate calls on the President of the United 
States immediately to recommend new candidates for the positions of the 
Attorney General of the United States and the President of the World 
Bank in order to preserve the integrity and the efficacy of the 
Department of Justice and the World Bank.
                                 <all>