[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  AUTHORIZING PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 91 
submitted earlier today by Senators Lott and Daschle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows.

       A resolution (S. Res. 91) to authorize the production of 
     records by the Select Committee on Intelligence.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the Select Committee on Intelligence has 
received a request from the inspector general of the Department of 
Justice for copies of certain committee records relevant to the 
inspector general's pending inquiry into allegations of involvement by 
the Central Intelligence Agency in crack cocaine trafficking with 
supporters of the Nicaraguan Contras.
  It is anticipated that other Senate committees may receive similar 
requests for documents in the future.
  This resolution would authorize the chairman and vice chairman of the 
Intelligence Committee, acting jointly, to provide committee records in 
response to this request, utilizing appropriate security procedures. 
This resolution would also authorize the chairman and ranking member of 
other Senate committees, acting jointly, to provide relevant records of 
such committees in response to similar requests without the necessity 
of further Senate action.
  I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and that any statements relating to the resolution be placed at the 
appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 91) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                               S. Res. 91

       Whereas, the Office of the Inspector General of the United 
     States Department of Justice has requested that the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence provide it with copies of committee 
     records relevant to the Office's pending review of matters 
     related to allegations of Central Intelligence Agency 
     involvement in crack cocaine trafficking with supporters of 
     the Nicaraguan Contras;
       Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United 
     States and rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no 
     evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate 
     can, by administrative or judicial process, be taken from 
     such control or possession but by permission of the Senate;
       Whereas, when it appears that documents, papers, and 
     records under the control or in the possession of the Senate 
     may promote the administration of justice, the Senate will 
     take such action as will promote the ends of justice 
     consistently with the privileges of the Senate; Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the chairman and vice chairman of the Senate 
     Select Committee on Intelligence, acting jointly, are 
     authorized to provide to the Office of Inspector General of 
     the United States Department of Justice or to other 
     government investigators, under appropriate security 
     procedures, copies of committee records related to 
     allegations of Central Intelligence Agency involvement in 
     crack cocaine trafficking with supporters of the Nicaraguan 
     Contras.
       Sec. 2. That the chairman and ranking minority member of 
     any other committee of the Senate, acting jointly, are 
     authorized to provide to the Office of Inspector General of 
     the United States Department of Justice or to other 
     government investigators, under appropriate security 
     procedures, copies of records held by their committee related 
     to allegations of Central Intelligence Agency involvement in 
     crack cocaine trafficking with supporters of the Nicaraguan 
     Contras.

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