[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S1242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF LEGAL EXPENSES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 92, submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 92) to authorize the payment of legal 
     expenses of Senate employees out of the contingent fund of 
     the Senate.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, earlier this week the joint leadership 
group of the Senate made the following recommendation to Senate legal 
counsel regarding representation of two Senate employees in an upcoming 
judicial proceeding:

  Recommendation of Action To Avoid Conflict or Inconsistency in the 
                    Representation of Senate Parties

       Having been notified of an apparent conflict of interest by 
     the Senate Legal Counsel pursuant to Sec. 710(a) of the 
     Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. Sec. 288i(a), and 
     as contemplated by Sec. 710(b) and (d) of that Act, 2 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 288i(b) and (d), it is recommended that the Senate Legal 
     Counsel take the following action in order to avoid a 
     potential conflict that could arise between the Legal 
     Counsel's responsibilities to the Select Committee on Ethics 
     and representation of Jean Manning and Erica Watkins, Senate 
     employees who are being subpoenaed to testify and produce 
     documents before a federal grand jury. In the event that Ms. 
     Manning or Ms. Watkins requests legal representation in 
     connection with her appearance before the grand jury, the 
     Senate Legal Counsel shall refer Ms. Manning and Ms. Watkins 
     to the Committee on Rules and Administration for assistance 
     in arranging for the employment of private counsel to 
     represent them with respect to official actions and 
     responsibilities.

       The Joint Leadership Group
       March __, 2011

  Mr. SCHUMER. Ms. Manning and Ms. Watkins have now contacted the 
Committee on Rules and Administration for assistance in arranging for 
the employment of private counsel to represent them with respect to 
testimony and document production before the Federal grand jury in the 
District of Columbia.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that 
there be no intervening action or debate, and that any statements 
relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 92) was agreed to, as follows:

                               S. Res. 92

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF THE PAYMENT OF LEGAL EXPENSES.

       (a) In General.--The Committee on Rules and Administration 
     is authorized to pay out of the contingent fund of the Senate 
     the legal expenses incurred by Jean Manning and Erica Watkins 
     for the employment of private counsel to represent them with 
     respect to official actions and responsibilities before the 
     grand jury in the United States District Court for the 
     District of Columbia.
       (b) Determination.--The amount of expenses paid pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall be determined by the Committee on Rules 
     and Administration.

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