[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 48 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 48

   Establishing a select committee to review national security laws, 
                        policies, and practices.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 20, 2011

   Ms. Lee of California (for herself and Mr. Conyers) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Establishing a select committee to review national security laws, 
                        policies, and practices.

Whereas a select committee would be able to take a broad look at Executive 
        Branch decisions and the role of many departments and agencies, 
        including contractors, in law enforcement, national security, and 
        intelligence activities including surveillance, interrogation and 
        detention practices, without having any jurisdictional limitations; and
Whereas a select committee will bring members of the relevant standing 
        committees together with a dedicated staff to provide intensive 
        investigation, oversight, and recommendation that cannot be accomplished 
        by the committees of jurisdiction working piecemeal: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That there is hereby established a select committee to 
review national security laws, policies, and practices (hereinafter 
referred to as the ``select committee'').

SEC. 2. JURISDICTION; FUNCTIONS.

    (a) Legislative Jurisdiction.--The select committee shall not have 
legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to take 
legislative action on any bill or resolution.
    (b) Investigative Jurisdiction.--The select committee shall study 
and make recommendations about the effectiveness of past and present 
United States law enforcement, national security and intelligence 
activities and the extent, if any, to which unlawful, improper or 
unauthorized activities were engaged in by or on behalf of any Federal, 
State, or local government official, including--
            (1) the effectiveness and efficiency of past and present 
        law enforcement, and national security and intelligence 
        policies, programs, and activities;
            (2) the development and implementation of policies or 
        practices regarding the capture, detention, transfer, extra-
        judicial rendition, and treatment of individuals by United 
        States Armed Forces, law enforcement and the United States 
        intelligence community, including policies intended to conceal 
        the fact that a person has been detained by, or at the direct 
        request of, the United States;
            (3) the development and implementation of policies or 
        practices regarding domestic surveillance activities, or the 
        surveillance of United States persons abroad;
            (4) the adequacy of past and present congressional 
        oversight mechanisms and impediments to access to information 
        necessary to conduct proper oversight; and
            (5) such other related matters as the committee deems 
        necessary to carry out its responsibilities.

SEC. 3. COMPOSITION.

    The select committee shall be composed of 7 members appointed by 
the Speaker, of whom 3 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of 
the minority leader. The Speaker shall designate one member of the 
select committee as its chairman. A vacancy in the membership of the 
select committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment.

SEC. 4. PROCEDURE.

    (a) Rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
shall apply to the select committee where not inconsistent with this 
resolution.
    (b) The select committee is authorized to--
            (1) require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance and 
        testimony of any person (including at a taking of a deposition 
        by counsel or consultant of the committee), and the production 
        of such things; and
            (2) adopt a rule regulating the taking of depositions by a 
        member, counsel, or consultant of the committee, including 
        pursuant to subpoena.

SEC. 5. REPORTING.

    The select committee shall report to the House from time to time 
the results of its investigations and studies as it may deem advisable. 
At least one public report shall be filed with the House not later than 
one year following the date of enactment of this Act, and shall include 
legislative recommendations based on its findings.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) 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.
    (b) Staff and Travel.--In carrying out its functions under this 
resolution, the select committee may--
            (1) appoint, either on a permanent basis or as experts or 
        consultants, any staff that the select committee considers 
        necessary;
            (2) prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the staff;
            (3) fix the compensation of the staff at per annum gross 
        rates that do not exceed the highest rate of basic pay, as in 
        effect from time to time, of level V of the Executive Schedule 
        in section 5316 of title 5, United States Code;
            (4) terminate the employment of any such staff as the 
        select committee considers appropriate;
            (5) reimburse members of the select committee and its staff 
        for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 
        by them in the performance of their functions for the select 
        committee, other than expenses in connection with any meeting 
        of the select committee held in the District of Columbia; and
            (6) obtain detailees or staff from the executive or 
        legislative branch of the Government, who shall be deemed staff 
        of the select committee.

SEC. 7. DISSOLUTION AND WINDUP OF AFFAIRS.

    The select committee shall cease to exist on December 31, 2012.

SEC. 8. DISPOSITION OF RECORDS.

    Upon dissolution of the select committee, its records shall become 
records of such standing committee or committees as the Speaker may 
designate.
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