[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 10 (Thursday, January 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S900-S901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 39--ORIGINAL RESOLUTION REPORTED AUTHORIZING 
         EXPENDITURES BY THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

  Mr. THOMPSON, from the Committee on Governmental Affairs, reported 
the following original resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Rules and Administration:

                               S. Res. 39

       Resolved, That, in carrying out its powers, duties, and 
     functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, in 
     accordance with its jurisdiction under rule XXV of such 
     rules, including holding hearings, reporting such hearings, 
     and making investigations as authorized by paragraphs 1 and 8 
     of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Governmental Affairs is authorized from March 1, 
     1997, through February 28, 1998, and March 1, 1998 through 
     February 28, 1999, in its discretion (1) to make expenditures 
     from the contingent fund of the Senate, (2) to employ 
     personnel, and (3) with the prior consent of the Government 
     department or agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, to use on a reimbursable, or non-reimbursable 
     basis the services of personnel of any such department or 
     agency.
       Sec. 2. The expenses of the committee for the period March 
     1, 1997, through February 28, 1998, under this resolution 
     shall not exceed $11,050,721, of which amount (1) not to 
     exceed $375,000 may be expended for the procurement of the 
     services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof 
     (as authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended), and not to exceed 
     $2,470 may be expended for the training of the professional 
     staff of such committee (under procedures specified by 
     section 202(j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 
     1946).
       (b) For the period March 1, 1998, through February 28, 
     1999, expenses of the committee under this resolution shall 
     not exceed $4,653,386, of which amount (1) not to exceed 
     $75,000 may be expended for the procurement of the services 
     of individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as 
     authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended), and not to exceed 
     $2,470 may be expended for the training of the professional 
     staff of such committee (under procedures specified by 
     section 202(j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 
     1946).
       Sec. 3. (a) The committee, or any duly authorized 
     subcommittee thereof, is authorized to study or investigate
       (1) the efficiency and economy of operations of all 
     branches of the Government including the possible existence 
     of fraud, misfeasance, malfeasance, collusion, mismanagement, 
     incompetence, corruption, or unethical practices, waste, 
     extravagance, conflicts of interest, and the improper 
     expenditure of government funds in transactions, contracts, 
     and activities of the government or of government officials 
     and employees and any and all such improper practices between 
     Government personnel and corporations, individuals, 
     companies, or persons affiliated therewith, doing business 
     with the Government; and the compliance or noncompliance of 
     such corporations, companies, or individuals or other 
     entities with the rules, regulations, and laws governing the 
     various governmental agencies and its relationships with the 
     public.
       (2) the extent to which criminal or other improper 
     practices or activities are, or have been, engaged in the 
     field of labor-management relations or in groups or 
     organizations of employees or employers, to the detriment of 
     interests of the public, employers, or employees, and to 
     determine whether any changes are required in the laws of the 
     United States in order to protect such interests against the 
     occurrence of such practices or activities;
       (3) organized criminal activities which may operate in or 
     otherwise utilize the facilities of interstate or 
     international commerce in furtherance of any transactions and 
     the manner and extent to which, and the identity of the 
     persons, firms, or corporations, or other entities by whom 
     such utilization is being made, and further, to study and 
     investigate the manner in which and the extent to which 
     persons engaged in organized criminal activity have 
     infiltrated lawful business enterprise, and to study the 
     adequacy of Federal laws to prevent the operations of 
     organized crime in interstate or international commerce; and 
     to determine whether any changes are required in the laws of 
     the United States in order to protect the public against such 
     practices or activities;
       (4) all other aspects of crime and lawlessness within the 
     United States which have an impact upon or affect the 
     national health, welfare, and safety; including but not 
     limited to investment fraud schemes, commodity and security 
     fraud, computer fraud and the use of offshore banking and 
     corporate facilities to carry out criminal objectives;
       (5) The efficiency and economy of operations of all 
     branches and functions of the Government with particular 
     reference to--
       (A) The effectiveness of present national security methods, 
     staffing, and processes as tested against the requirements 
     imposed by the rapidly mounting complexity of national 
     security problems;
       (B) the capacity of present national security staffing, 
     methods, and processes to make full use of the Nation's 
     resources of knowledge and talents;
       (C) the adequacy of present intergovernmental relations 
     between the United States and international organizations 
     principally concerned with national security of which the 
     United States is a member; and
       (D) legislative and other proposals to improve these 
     methods, processes, and relationships;
       (6) The efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of all 
     agencies and departments of the Government involved in the 
     control and management of energy shortages including, but not 
     limited to, their performance with respect to--
       (A) the collection and dissemination of accurate statistics 
     on fuel demand and supply;
       (B) the implementation of effective energy conservation 
     measures;
       (C) the pricing of energy in all forms;
       (D) coordination of energy programs with State and local 
     government;
       (E) control of exports of scarce fuels;
       (F) the management of tax, import, pricing, and other 
     policies affecting energy supplies;
       (G) maintenance of the independent sector of the petroleum 
     industry as a strong competitive force;
       (H) the allocation of fuels in short supply by public and 
     private entities;
       (I) the management of energy supplies owned or controlled 
     by the Government;
       (J) relations with other oil producing and consuming 
     countries;
       (K) the monitoring of compliance by governments, 
     corporations, or individuals with the laws and regulations 
     governing the allocation, conservation, or pricing of energy 
     supplies; and
       (L) research into discovery and development of alternative 
     energy supplies; and
       (7) the efficiency and economy of all branches and 
     functions of government with particular reference to the 
     operations and management of Federal regulatory policies and 
     programs: Provided, That, in carrying out the duties herein 
     set forth, the inquiries of this committee or any 
     subcommittee thereof shall not be deemed limited to the 
     records, functions, and operations of any particular branch 
     of the Government; but may extend to the records and 
     activities of any persons, corporation, or other entity.
       (b) Nothing contained in this section shall affect or 
     impair the exercise of any other standing committee of the 
     Senate of any power, or the discharge by such committee of 
     any duty, conferred or imposed upon it by the Standing Rules 
     of the Senate or by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 
     1946, as amended.
       (c) For the purpose of this section the committee, or any 
     duly authorized subcommittee thereof, or its chairman, or any 
     other member of the committee or subcommittee designated by 
     the chairman, from March 1, 1997, through February 28, 1998, 
     and March 1, 1998, through February 28, 1999, is authorized, 
     in its, his, or their discretion (1) to require by subpoena 
     or otherwise the attendance of witnesses and production of 
     correspondence, books, papers, and documents, (2) to hold 
     hearings, (3) to sit and act at any time or place during the 
     sessions, recess, and adjournment periods of the Senate, (4) 
     to administer oaths, and (5) to take testimony, either orally 
     or by sworn statement, or, in the case of staff members of 
     the Committee and the Permanent Subcommittee on 
     Investigations, by deposition in accordance with the 
     Committee Rules of Procedure.
       (d) All subpoenas and related legal processes of the 
     committee and its subcommittee authorized under S. Res. 71 of 
     the One Hundredth Third Congress, second session, are 
     authorized to continue.
       Sec. 4. The committee shall report its findings, together 
     with such recommendations for legislation as it deems 
     advisable, to the Senate at the earliest practicable date, 
     but not later than February 28, 1995, and February 1996, 
     respectively.
       Sec. 5. Expenses of the committee under this resolution 
     shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon 
     vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee, except 
     that vouchers shall not be required (1) for the disbursement 
     of salaries of employees paid at an annual rate, or (2) the 
     payment of telecommunications provided by the Office of the 
     Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or (3) 
     for the payment of stationery keeper, United States Senate, 
     or (3) for the payment of stationery supplies purchased 
     through the Keeper of the Stationery, United States Senate, 
     or (4) for payments to the Postmaster, United States Senate, 
     or (5) for the payment of metered

[[Page S901]]

     charges on copying equipment provided by the Office of the 
     Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or (6) 
     for the payment of Senate Recording and Photographic 
     Services.
       Sec. 6 There are authorized such sums as may be necessary 
     for agency contributions related to the compensation of 
     employees of the committee from March 1, 1997, through 
     February 28, 1998, and March 1, 1998, through February 28, 
     1999, to be paid from the Appropriations account for 
     ``Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations.''

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