[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3772-S3773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE YEAR 2000 TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, on March 25, 1999, the Senate Special 
Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem published its rules of 
procedure. Also published was an overview of the Committee's 
jurisdiction and authority. We publish today the corrected and complete 
statement of jurisdiction and authority of the Committee which is 
provided by S. Res. 208, 105th Congress, as amended by S. Res. 231, 
105th Congress, and S. Res. 7, 106th Congress.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the corrected and 
completed statement of jurisdiction and authority be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 S. Res. 208, April 2, 1998, as Amended

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a special 
     committee of the Senate to be known

[[Page S3773]]

     as the Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem 
     (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the ``special 
     committee'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the special committee is--
       (1) to study the impact of the year 2000 technology problem 
     on the Executive and Judicial Branches of the Federal 
     Government, State governments, and private sector operations 
     in the United States and abroad;
       (2) to make such findings of fact as are warranted and 
     appropriate; and
       (3) to make such recommendations, including recommendations 
     for new legislation and amendments to existing laws and any 
     administrative or other actions, as the special committee may 
     determine to be necessary or desirable.
       No proposed legislation shall be referred to the special 
     committee, and the committee shall not have power to report 
     by bill, or otherwise have legislative jurisdiction.
       (c) Treatment as Standing Committee.--For purposes of 
     paragraphs 1, 2, 7(a)(1)-(2), and 10(a) of rule XXVI and rule 
     XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and section 202 
     (i) and (j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, 
     the special committee shall be treated as a standing 
     committee of the Senate.

     SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Membership.--
       (1) In general.--The special committee shall consist of 7 
     members of the Senate--
       (A) 4 of whom shall be appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the majority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate; 
     and
       (B) 3 of whom shall be appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the minority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate.
       The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the 
     Appropriations Committee shall be appointed ex-officio 
     members.
       (2) Vacancies.--Vacancies in the membership of the special 
     committee shall not affect the authority of the remaining 
     members to execute the functions of the special committee and 
     shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments 
     to it are made.
       (3) Service.--For the purpose of paragraph 4 of rule XXV of 
     the Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a 
     member, chairman, or vice chairman of the special committee 
     shall not be taken into account.
       (b) Chairman.--The chairman of the special committee shall 
     be selected by the Majority Leader of the Senate and the vice 
     chairman of the special committee shall be selected by the 
     Minority Leader of the Senate. The vice chairman shall 
     discharge such responsibilities as the special committee or 
     the chairman may assign.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) In General.--For the purposes of this resolution, the 
     special committee is authorized, in its discretion--
       (1) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the 
     Senate;
       (2) to employ personnel;
       (3) to hold hearings;
       (4) to sit and act at any time or place during the 
     sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate;
       (5) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of 
     witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, 
     papers, and documents;
       (6) to take depositions and other testimony;
       (7) to procure the services of individual consultations or 
     organizations thereof, in accordance with the provisions of 
     section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946; 
     and
       (8) with the prior consent of the Government department or 
     agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, to use on a reimbursable or \1\ 
     nonreimbursable basis the services of personnel of any such 
     department or agency.
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     \1\ As amended by S. Res. 231, 105th Cong., 2d Sess. (1998).
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       (b) Oaths for Witnesses.--The chairman of the special 
     committee or any member thereof may administer oaths to 
     witnesses.
       (c) Subpoenas.--Subpoenas authorized by the special 
     committee may be issued over the signature of the chairman 
     after consultation with the vice chairman, or any member of 
     the special committee designated by the chairman after 
     consultation with the vice chairman, and may be served by any 
     person designated by the chairman or the member signing the 
     subpoena.
       (d) Other Committee Staff.--The special committee may use, 
     with the prior consent of the chairman of any other Senate 
     committee or the chairman of any subcommittee of any 
     committee of the Senate and on a nonreimbursable basis, the 
     facilities or services of any members of the staff of such 
     other Senate committee whenever the special committee or its 
     chairman, following consultation with the vice chairman, 
     considers that such action is necessary or appropriate to 
     enable the special committee to make the investigation and 
     study provided for in this resolution.
       (e) Use of Office Space.--The staff of the special 
     committee may be located in the personal office of a Member 
     of the special committee.

     SEC. 4. REPORT AND TERMINATION.

       The special committee shall report its findings, together 
     with such recommendations as it deems advisable, to the 
     Senate at the earliest practicable date.

     SEC. 5. FUNDING. \2\
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     \2\ As amended by S. Res. 231, 105th Cong., 2d Sess. (1998), 
     and by S. Res. 7, 106th Cong., 1st Sess. (1999).
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       (a) In General.--There shall be made available from the 
     contingent fund of the Senate out of the Account for Expenses 
     for Inquiries and Investigations, for use by the special 
     committee to carry out this resolution--
       (1) not to exceed $875,000 for the period beginning on 
     April 2, 1998, through February 28, 1999, and $875,000 for 
     the period beginning on March 1, 1999 through February 29, 
     2000, of which not to exceed $500,000 shall be available for 
     each period 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; 
     and
       (2) such additional sums as may be necessary for agency 
     contributions related to the compensation of employees of the 
     special committee.
       (b) Expenses.--Payment of expenses of the special committee 
     shall be disbursed upon vouchers approved by the chairman, 
     except that vouchers shall not be required for the 
     disbursement of salaries paid at an annual rate.

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