[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 137 (Monday, August 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5619-S5620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2218. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2137 proposed by Mr. Schumer (for Ms. Sinema (for
herself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Tester, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Romney)) to the
bill H.R. 3684, to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway
safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. _____. DISCLOSURE BY PROFESSIONAL PERSONS SEEKING
APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION UNDER SECTION 316 OR
317 OF PROMESA.
(a) Required Disclosure.--
(1) In general.--In a voluntary case commenced under
section 304 of PROMESA (48 U.S.C. 2164), no attorney,
accountant, appraiser, auctioneer, agent, consultant, or
other professional person may be compensated under section
316 or 317 of that Act (48 U.S.C. 2176, 2177) unless prior to
making a request for compensation, the professional person
has submitted a verified statement conforming to the
disclosure requirements of rule 2014(a) of the Federal Rules
of Bankruptcy Procedure setting forth the connection of the
professional person with--
[[Page S5620]]
(A) the debtor;
(B) any creditor;
(C) any other party in interest, including any attorney or
accountant;
(D) the Financial Oversight and Management Board
established in accordance with section 101 of PROMESA (48
U.S.C. 2121); and
(E) any person employed by the Oversight Board described in
subparagraph (D).
(2) Other requirements.--A professional person that submits
a statement under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) supplement the statement with any additional relevant
information that becomes known to the person; and
(B) file annually a notice confirming the accuracy of the
statement.
(b) Review.--
(1) In general.--The United States Trustee shall review
each verified statement submitted pursuant to subsection (a)
and may file with the court comments on such verified
statements before the professionals filing such statements
seek compensation under section 316 or 317 of PROMESA (48
U.S.C. 2176, 2177).
(2) Objection.--The United States Trustee may object to
compensation applications filed under section 316 or 317 of
PROMESA (48 U.S.C. 2176, 2177) that fail to satisfy the
requirements of subsection (e).
(3) Right to be heard.--Each person described in section
1109 of title 11, United States Code, may appear and be heard
on any issue in a case under this section.
(c) Jurisdiction.--The district courts of the United States
shall have jurisdiction of all cases under this section.
(d) Retroactivity.--
(1) In general.--If a court has entered an order approving
compensation under a case commenced under section 304 of
PROMESA (48 U.S.C. 2164), each professional person subject to
the order shall file a verified statement in accordance with
subsection (a) not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(2) No delay.--A court may not delay any proceeding in
connection with a case commenced under section 304 of PROMESA
(48 U.S.C. 2164) pending the filing of a verified statement
under paragraph (1).
(e) Limitation on Compensation.--
(1) In general.--In a voluntary case commenced under
section 304 of PROMESA (48 U.S.C. 2164), in connection with
the review and approval of professional compensation under
section 316 or 317 of PROMESA (48 U.S.C. 2176, 2177), the
court may deny allowance of compensation for services and
reimbursement of expenses, accruing after the date of the
enactment of this Act of a professional person if the
professional person--
(A) has failed to file statements of connections required
by subsection (a) or has filed inadequate statements of
connections;
(B) except as provided in paragraph (3), is on or after the
date of enactment of this Act not a disinterested person, as
defined in section 101 of title 11, United States Code; or
(C) except as provided in paragraph (3), represents, or
holds an interest adverse to, the interest of the estate with
respect to the matter on which such professional person is
employed.
(2) Considerations.--In making a determination under
paragraph (1), the court may take into consideration whether
the services and expenses are in the best interests of
creditors and the estate.
(3) Committee professional standards.--An attorney or
accountant described in section 1103(b) of title 11, United
States Code, shall be deemed to have violated paragraph (1)
if the attorney or accountant violates section 1103(b) of
title 11, United States Code.
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