[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S979-S980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 77--AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY THE COMMITTEE ON
HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Mr. PAUL submitted the following resolution; from the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs which was referred to the
Committee on Rules and Administration:
S. Res. 77
Resolved,
SECTION 1. GENERAL AUTHORITY.
In carrying out its powers, duties, and functions under the
Standing Rules of the Senate, in accordance with its
jurisdiction under rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the
Senate and Senate Resolution 445 (108th Congress), agreed to
October 9, 2004, including holding hearings, reporting such
hearings, and making investigations as authorized by
paragraphs 1 and 8 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the
Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs (in this resolution referred to as the ``committee'')
is authorized from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027,
in its discretion, to--
(1) make expenditures from the contingent fund of the
Senate;
(2) employ personnel; and
(3) with the prior consent of the Government department or
agency concerned and
[[Page S980]]
the Committee on Rules and Administration, use on a
reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis the services of
personnel of any such department or agency.
SEC. 2. EXPENSES.
(a) Expenses for Period Ending September 30, 2025.--The
expenses of the committee for the period March 1, 2025,
through September 30, 2025, under this resolution shall not
exceed $8,380,388, of which amount--
(1) not to exceed $400,000 may be expended for the
procurement of the services of individual consultants, or
organizations thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i)));
and
(2) not to exceed $20,000 may be expended for the training
of the professional staff of the committee (under procedures
specified by section 202(j) of that Act).
(b) Expenses for Fiscal Year 2026 Period.--The expenses of
the committee for the period October 1, 2025, through
September 30, 2026, under this resolution shall not exceed
$14,366,379, of which amount--
(1) not to exceed $400,000 may be expended for the
procurement of the services of individual consultants, or
organizations thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i)));
and
(2) not to exceed $20,000 may be expended for the training
of the professional staff of the committee (under procedures
specified by section 202(j) of that Act).
(c) Expenses for Period Ending February 28, 2027.--The
expenses of the committee for the period October 1, 2026,
through February 28, 2027, under this resolution shall not
exceed $5,985,991, of which amount--
(1) not to exceed $400,000 may be expended for the
procurement of the services of individual consultants, or
organizations thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i)));
and
(2) not to exceed $20,000 may be expended for the training
of the professional staff of the committee (under procedures
specified by section 202(j) of that Act).
SEC. 3. EXPENSES AND AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS.
(a) Expenses of the Committee.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
expenses of the committee under this resolution shall be paid
from the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers approved
by the chairman of the committee.
(2) Vouchers not required.--Vouchers shall not be required
for--
(A) the disbursement of salaries of employees paid at an
annual rate;
(B) the payment of telecommunications provided by the
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper;
(C) the payment of stationery supplies purchased through
the Keeper of the Stationery;
(D) payments to the Postmaster of the Senate;
(E) the payment of metered charges on copying equipment
provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and
Doorkeeper;
(F) the payment of Senate Recording and Photographic
Services; or
(G) the payment of franked and mass mail costs by the
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper.
(b) Agency Contributions.--There are authorized to be paid
from the appropriations account for ``Expenses of Inquiries
and Investigations'' of the Senate such sums as may be
necessary for agency contributions related to the
compensation of employees of the committee--
(1) for the period March 1, 2025, through September 30,
2025;
(2) for the period October 1, 2025, through September 30,
2026; and
(3) for the period October 1, 2026, through February 28,
2027.
SEC. 4. INVESTIGATIONS.
(a) In General.--The committee, or any duly authorized
subcommittee of the committee, is authorized to study or
investigate--
(1) the efficiency and economy of operations of all
branches of the Government including the possible existence
of fraud, misfeasance, malfeasance, collusion, mismanagement,
incompetence, corruption, or unethical practices, waste,
extravagance, conflicts of interest, and the improper
expenditure of Government funds in transactions, contracts,
and activities of the Government or of Government officials
and employees and any and all such improper practices between
Government personnel and corporations, individuals,
companies, or persons affiliated therewith, doing business
with the Government, and the compliance or noncompliance of
such corporations, companies, or individuals or other
entities with the rules, regulations, and laws governing the
various governmental agencies and its relationships with the
public;
(2) the extent to which criminal or other improper
practices or activities are, or have been, engaged in the
field of labor-management relations or in groups or
organizations of employees or employers, to the detriment of
interests of the public, employers, or employees, and to
determine whether any changes are required in the laws of the
United States in order to protect such interests against the
occurrence of such practices or activities;
(3) organized criminal activity which may operate in or
otherwise utilize the facilities of interstate or
international commerce in furtherance of any transactions and
the manner and extent to which, and the identity of the
persons, firms, or corporations, or other entities by whom
such utilization is being made, and further, to study and
investigate the manner in which and the extent to which
persons engaged in organized criminal activity have
infiltrated lawful business enterprise, and to study the
adequacy of Federal laws to prevent the operations of
organized crime in interstate or international commerce, and
to determine whether any changes are required in the laws of
the United States in order to protect the public against such
practices or activities;
(4) all other aspects of crime and lawlessness within the
United States which have an impact upon or affect the
national health, welfare, and safety, including but not
limited to investment fraud schemes, commodity and security
fraud, computer fraud, and the use of offshore banking and
corporate facilities to carry out criminal objectives;
(5) the efficiency and economy of operations of all
branches and functions of the Government with particular
reference to--
(A) the effectiveness of present national security methods,
staffing, and processes as tested against the requirements
imposed by the rapidly mounting complexity of national
security problems;
(B) the capacity of present national security staffing,
methods, and processes to make full use of the Nation's
resources of knowledge and talents;
(C) the adequacy of present intergovernmental relations
between the United States and international organizations
principally concerned with national security of which the
United States is a member; and
(D) legislative and other proposals to improve these
methods, processes, and relationships;
(6) the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of all
agencies and departments of the Government involved in the
control and management of energy shortages including, but not
limited to, their performance with respect to--
(A) the collection and dissemination of accurate statistics
on fuel demand and supply;
(B) the implementation of effective energy conservation
measures;
(C) the pricing of energy in all forms;
(D) coordination of energy programs with State and local
government;
(E) control of exports of scarce fuels;
(F) the management of tax, import, pricing, and other
policies affecting energy supplies;
(G) maintenance of the independent sector of the petroleum
industry as a strong competitive force;
(H) the allocation of fuels in short supply by public and
private entities;
(I) the management of energy supplies owned or controlled
by the Government;
(J) relations with other oil producing and consuming
countries;
(K) the monitoring of compliance by governments,
corporations, or individuals with the laws and regulations
governing the allocation, conservation, or pricing of energy
supplies; and
(L) research into the discovery and development of
alternative energy supplies; and
(7) the efficiency and economy of all branches and
functions of Government with particular references to the
operations and management of Federal regulatory policies and
programs.
(b) Extent of Inquiries.--In carrying out the duties
provided in subsection (a), the inquiries of this committee
or any subcommittee of the committee shall not be construed
to be limited to the records, functions, and operations of
any particular branch of the Government and may extend to the
records and activities of any persons, corporation, or other
entity.
(c) Special Committee Authority.--For the purposes of this
section, the committee, or any duly authorized subcommittee
of the committee, or its chairman, or any other member of the
committee or subcommittee designated by the chairman is
authorized, in its, his, her, or their discretion--
(1) to require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance of
witnesses and production of correspondence, books, papers,
and documents;
(2) to hold hearings;
(3) to sit and act at any time or place during the
sessions, recess, and adjournment periods of the Senate;
(4) to administer oaths; and
(5) to take testimony, either orally or by sworn statement,
or, in the case of staff members of the Committee and the
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, by deposition in
accordance with the Committee Rules of Procedure.
(d) Authority of Other Committees.--Nothing contained in
this section shall affect or impair the exercise of any other
standing committee of the Senate of any power, or the
discharge by such committee of any duty, conferred or imposed
upon it by the Standing Rules of the Senate or by the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
(e) Subpoena Authority.--All subpoenas and related legal
processes of the committee and any duly authorized
subcommittee of the committee authorized under Senate
Resolution 59 (118th Congress), agreed to February 15, 2023,
are authorized to continue.
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