[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 181 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 338 and S. 
Res. 339 en bloc, both of which were submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER.
  The clerk will report the resolutions by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 338) to authorize the production of 
     records by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.
       A resolution (S. Res. 339) to authorize the production of 
     records by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolutions en bloc.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation has received two requests from state attorneys general, 
one seeking access to records that the Committee obtained during its 
recent investigation into unauthorized charges on telephone bills and 
the practice of ``cramming,'' and the other seeking access to records 
that the Committee obtained during its investigation in 2009 into 
aggressive sales tactics on the Internet and their impact on American 
consumers.
  These two resolutions would authorize the Chairman and Ranking 
Minority Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, acting jointly, to provide records, obtained by the 
Committee in the course of these investigations, in response to these 
requests and to other government entities and officials with a 
legitimate need for the records.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolutions be agreed to en bloc, the preambles be agreed to en bloc, 
and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no 
intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to the 
resolutions be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolutions (S. Res. 338 and S. Res. 339) were agreed to en bloc.
  The preambles were agreed to.
  The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:

                               S. Res 338

 To authorize the production of records by the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation.

       Whereas, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation conducted an investigation into unauthorized 
     charges on telephone bills;
       Whereas, the Committee has received a request from a state 
     law enforcement official for access to records of the 
     Committee's investigation;
       Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United 
     States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no 
     evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate 
     can, by administrative or judicial process, be taken from 
     such control or possession but by permission of the Senate;
       Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or 
     in the possession of the Senate is needed for the promotion 
     of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote 
     the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the 
     Senate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 
     acting jointly, are authorized to provide to law enforcement 
     officials, regulatory agencies, and other entities or 
     individuals duly authorized by federal, state, or local 
     governments, records of the Committee's investigation into 
     unauthorized charges on telephone bills.

                              S. Res. 339

 (To authorize the production of records by the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation)

       Whereas, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation conducted an investigation in 2009 into 
     aggressive sales tactics on the Internet and their impact on 
     American consumers;
       Whereas, the Committee has received a request from a state 
     law enforcement official for access to records of the 
     Committee's investigation;
       Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United 
     States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no 
     evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate 
     can, by administrative or judicial process, be taken from 
     such control or possession but by permission of the Senate;
       Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or 
     in the possession of the Senate is needed for the promotion 
     of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote 
     the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the 
     Senate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 
     acting jointly, are authorized to provide to law enforcement 
     officials, regulatory agencies, and other entities or 
     individuals duly authorized by federal, state, or local 
     governments, records of the Committee's investigation into 
     aggressive sales tactics on the Internet and their impact on 
     American consumers.

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