[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 12, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S661-S662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 30--ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEE TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT 
                                 WASTE

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Enzi) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Rules and Administration:

                               S. Res. 30

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.

       There shall be a Senate committee known as the Committee to 
     Reduce Government Waste (referred to in this resolution as 
     the ``committee'').

     SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP.

       (a) Composition.--The committee shall be composed of 12 
     members as follows:
       (1) 4 members from the Committee on Finance, 2 selected by 
     the Majority Leader and 2 selected by the Minority Leader.
       (2) 4 members from the Committee on Appropriations, 2 
     selected by the Majority Leader and 2 selected by the 
     Minority Leader.
       (3) 4 members from the Committee on the Budget, 2 selected 
     by the Majority Leader and 2 selected by the Minority Leader.
       (b) Tenure of Office.--
       (1) Period of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for 
     a period not to exceed 6 years.
       (2) Exceptions.--No person shall continue to serve as a 
     member of the committee after that person has ceased to be a 
     member of the Committee from which the member was chosen.
       (c) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the committee shall not 
     affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as 
     the original appointment.
       (d) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The committee shall select 
     a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members.
       (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the committee 
     shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may 
     hold hearings. The powers conferred upon them under section 4 
     may be exercised by a majority vote.

     SEC. 3. DUTIES.

       (a) In General.--The committee shall have the following 
     duties:
       (1) Study.--The committee shall--
       (A) research, review, and study Federal programs that are 
     underperforming or nonessential; and
       (B) determine which Federal programs should be modified or 
     eliminated.
       (2) Recommendations.--The committee shall develop 
     recommendations to the Senate for actions designed to modify 
     or eliminate underperforming or nonessential Federal 
     programs.
       (3) Reports and legislation.--The committee shall submit to 
     the Senate--
       (A) at least once a year, reports including--
       (i) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of 
     the committee; and
       (ii) a list of underperforming or nonessential Federal 
     programs; and
       (B) such legislation and administrative actions as the 
     committee considers appropriate.
       (b) Consideration of Legislation.--Any legislation 
     submitted to the Senate by the committee shall be considered 
     under the provisions of section 310 of the Congressional 
     Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 641).

     SEC. 4. POWERS.

       (a) Hearings.--The committee or, at its direction, any 
     subcommittee or member of the committee, may, for the purpose 
     of carrying out the provisions of section 3--
       (1) sit and act, at any time, during the sessions, 
     recesses, and adjourned periods of congress;
       (2) require as the committee considers necessary, by 
     subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses and the 
     production of books, papers, and documents;
       (3) administer oaths and take testimony; and
       (4) procure necessary printing and binding.
       (b) Witness Allowances and Fees.--The provisions of section 
     1821 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to 
     witnesses requested to appear at any hearing of the 
     committee. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses 
     shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses of the 
     committee.
       (c) Expenditures.--The committee, or any subcommittee 
     thereof, is authorized to make such expenditures as it deems 
     advisable.

     SEC. 5. APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION OF STAFF.

       Except as otherwise provided by law, the committee shall 
     have the power to appoint and fix the compensation of the 
     Chief of Staff of the committee and such experts and 
     clerical, stenographic, and other assistants as the committee 
     deems advisable.

     SEC. 6. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

       The expenses of the committee shall be paid from the 
     contingent fund of the Senate.

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