[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE AND TO REPORT 
 EVIDENCE WITH RESPECT TO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGIANST JUDGE SAMUEL 
                                B. KENT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and the distinguished 
Republican leader, Mr. McConnell, I send a resolution to the desk on 
the appointment of an impeachment trial committee and ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 203) to provide for the appointment 
     of a committee to receive and to report evidence with respect 
     to the articles of impeachment against Judge Samuel B. Kent.

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question is on agreeing to the 
resolution.
  The resolution (S. Res. 203) was agreed to, as follows:

                              S. Res. 203

       Resolved, That pursuant to Rule XI of the Rules of 
     Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on 
     Impeachment Trials, the Presiding Officer shall appoint a 
     committee of twelve senators to perform the duties and to 
     exercise the powers provided for in the rule.
       Sec. 2. The majority and minority leader shall each 
     recommend six members and chairman and vice chairman 
     respectively to the Presiding Officer for appointment to the 
     committee.
       Sec. 3. The committee shall be deemed to be a standing 
     committee of the Senate for the purpose of reporting to the 
     Senate resolutions for the criminal or civil enforcement of 
     the committee's subpoenas or orders, and for the purpose of 
     printing reports, hearings, and other documents for 
     submission to the Senate under Rule XI.
       Sec. 4. During proceedings conducted under Rule XI the 
     chairman of the committee is authorized to waive the 
     requirement under the Rules of Procedure and Practice in the 
     Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials that questions by a 
     Senator to a witness, a manager, or counsel shall be reduced 
     to writing and put by the Presiding Officer.
       Sec. 5. In addition to a certified copy of the transcript 
     of the proceedings and testimony had and given before it, the 
     committee is authorized to report to the Senate a statement 
     of facts that are uncontested and a summary, with appropriate 
     references to the record, of evidence that the parties have 
     introduced on contested issues of fact.
       Sec. 6. The actual and necessary expenses of the committee, 
     including the employment of staff at an annual rate of pay, 
     and the employment of consultants with prior approval of the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration at a rate not to exceed 
     the maximum daily rate for a standing committee of the 
     Senate, shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate 
     from the appropriation account ``Miscellaneous Items'' upon 
     vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee, except 
     that no voucher shall be required to pay the salary of any 
     employee who is compensated at an annual rate of pay.
       Sec. 7. The Committee appointed pursuant to section one of 
     this resolution shall terminate no later than 45 days after 
     the pronouncement of judgment by the Senate on the articles 
     of impeachment.
       Sec. 8. The Secretary shall notify the House of 
     Representatives and counsel for Judge Samuel B. Kent of this 
     resolution.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the 
resolution was agreed to.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to lay that motion on the table.
  Without objection, the motion to lay upon the table was agreed to.

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