[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 106 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9236-S9237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 163--TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE 
          TO STUDY THE CAUSES OF FIREARMS VIOLENCE IN AMERICA

  Mrs. BOXER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 163

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) In the past eleven years, nearly 400,000 Americans have 
     died from gunshots, and about 35,000 Americans will die in 
     1999 because of gun violence;
       (2) Death by gunshots is the second leading cause of 
     accidental death in the United States and is expected to 
     become the number one cause within the next four years;
       (3) Treating gunshot injuries costs the American health 
     care system approximately $4.5 billion annually, with 80 
     percent of the costs paid for by the public in tax dollars or 
     cost-shifting.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a special 
     committee of the Senate to be known as the Special Committee 
     on Firearms Violence (hereafter in this resolution referred 
     to as the ``special committee'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the special committee is--
       (1) to study the causes of firearms violence in America;
       (2) to make such findings of fact as are warranted and 
     appropriate, including the impact of firearms violence on the 
     well-being of American children; and
       (3) to explore ways to reduce firearms violence in America, 
     including increasing controls on the sale and distribution of 
     firearms, and to make recommendations for such legislation 
     and administrative actions as the special committee 
     determines to be necessary and appropriate.
       No proposed legislation shall be referred to the special 
     committee, nor shall the special committee 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) and (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. 3. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION.

       (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.
       (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 
     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.

[[Page S9237]]

     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 non-reimbursable basis the 
     services of personnel of any such department or agency.
       (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--
       (1) 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
       (2) 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.

     SEC. 4. REPORT AND TERMINATION.

       The special committee shall report its findings, together 
     with such recommendations as it deems appropriate, to the 
     Senate prior to December 31, 2000.

     SEC. 5. FUNDING.

       (a) In general.--From the date this resolution is agreed to 
     through December 31, 2000, the expenses of the special 
     committee incurred under this resolution shall be paid out of 
     the miscellaneous items account of the contingent fund of the 
     Senate and shall not exceed $250,000 for the period beginning 
     on the date of adoption of this resolution through March 1, 
     2000, and $250,000 for the period of March 1, 2000 through 
     December 31, 2000, of which amount not to exceed $75,000 
     shall be available for each period for the procurement of the 
     services of individual consultants, or organization thereof, 
     as authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 72a(i)).
       (b) Payment of Benefits.--The retirement and health 
     benefits of employees of the special committee shall be paid 
     out of the miscellaneous items account of the contingent fund 
     of the Senate.

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