[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 113 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 172--TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE 
             TO ADDRESS THE CULTURAL CRISIS FACING AMERICA

  Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Lott, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. 
Allard, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. 
Craig) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 172

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a special 
     committee of the Senate to be known as the Special Committee 
     on American Culture (hereafter in this resolution referred to 
     as the ``special committee'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the special committee is--
       (1) to study the causes and reasons for social and cultural 
     regression;
       (2) to make such findings of fact as are warranted and 
     appropriate, including the impact that such negative cultural 
     trends and developments have on the broader society, 
     particularly in regards to child well-being; and
       (3) to explore means of cultural renewal.
     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) 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. 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.
       (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 nonreimbursable 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 nonreimburseable 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 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--
       (1) shall be paid out of the miscellaneous items account of 
     the contingent fund of the Senate;
       (2) shall not exceed $500,000, of which amount not to 
     exceed $150,000 shall be available 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 (2 U.S.C. 72a(i)); and
       (3) shall include sums in addition to expenses described 
     under paragraph (2), as may be necessary for agency 
     contributions related to compensation of employees of the 
     special committee.
       (b) Payment of 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 disbursements of salaries (and related agency 
     contributions) paid at an annual rate.

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