[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4498. Mr. SCHIFF submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee
on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. SELECT COMMITTEE ON JEFFREY EPSTEIN, GHISLAINE
MAXWELL, AND DISCLOSURES OF RELATED
INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, AND MATERIALS.
(a) Establishment; Composition.--
(1) Establishment.--There is hereby established a select
committee of the Senate, to be known as the ``Select
Committee on Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and
Disclosures of Related Information, Documents, and
Materials'' (in this section referred to as the ``Select
Committee'').
(2) Composition.--
(A) In general.--The Select Committee shall be composed of
7 Senators, who shall be appointed in accordance with
subparagraph (B).
(B) Appointment.--Not later than 14 days after the date of
enactment of this Act--
(i) the majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 4
members from among Members of the Senate; and
(ii) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 3
members from among Members of the Senate.
(C) Co-chairpersons.--
(i) In general.--There shall be 2 Co-Chairpersons of the
joint committee.
(ii) Appointment.--Not later than 14 days after the date of
enactment of this Act--
(I) the majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 1 Co-
Chairperson from among the members of the Select Committee;
and
(II) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 1 Co-
Chairperson from among the members of the Select Committee.
(D) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the Select
Committee shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointment.
(b) Duties.--The Select Committee shall--
(1) conduct an investigation and study of the extent, if
any, to which illegal, improper, or unethical activities were
engaged in by any persons, acting either individually or in
combination with others, in--
(A) conspiring with, aiding, or abetting Jeffrey Epstein or
Ghislaine Maxwell in sexual assault or human trafficking; or
(B) any decision by an officer or employee of the Federal
Government to release, redact, or fail to disclose documents
subject to the Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law
119-38; 139 Stat. 656); and
(2) determine whether, in the judgment of the Select
Committee, any occurrences which may be revealed by the
investigation and study under paragraph (1) indicate the
necessity or desirability of the enactment of legislation to
safeguard against similar abuses in the future.
(c) Authorities.--
(1) In general.--For the purposes of carrying out its
duties under this section, the Select Committee is authorized
in its discretion--
(A) to make investigations into any matter within the scope
of its duties under subsection (b);
(B) to employ personnel;
(C) to hold hearings;
(D) to sit and act at any time or place during the
sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate;
(E) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of
witnesses and the production of memoranda, documents,
records, or any other materials;
(F) to take depositions and other testimony and authorize
employees of the Select Committee to take depositions and
other testimony;
(G) to procure the services of individual consultants, or
organizations thereof, in accordance with section 202(i) of
the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C.
4301(i));
(H) with the prior consent of the department or agency
concerned and the Committee on Rules and Administration, to
use on a reimbursable basis the services of personnel of any
such department or agency; and
(I) to make recommendations and report on matters within
its jurisdiction.
(2) Oaths.--Each Co-Chairperson of the Select Committee or
any member thereof may administer oaths to witnesses.
(3) Subpoenas.--
(A) In general.--A subpoena for the attendance of witnesses
at a hearing or deposition or the productions of memoranda,
documents, records, or any other materials may be authorized
by either Co-Chairperson of the Select Committee or upon the
affirmative vote of 4 members of the Select Committee.
(B) Notice.--A written notice of the intent to issue a
subpoena shall be provided to both Co-Chairpersons of the
Select Committee immediately upon the authorization of the
subpoena.
(C) Timing.--A subpoena shall not be issued by the Select
Committee until after the time that is 48 hours after the
time notice is provided under subparagraph (B), excluding any
time occurring on a Saturday or Sunday, unless waived jointly
by the Co-Chairpersons.
(d) Personnel.--
(1) Staff director.--The Co-Chairpersons of the Select
Committee, acting jointly, shall appoint the staff director
of the Select Committee.
(2) Other staff.--The Co-Chairpersons of the Select
Committee may jointly appoint and fix the compensation of
such other staff as the Co-Chairpersons determine necessary.
(3) Limitations.--Appointments under this subsection shall
be made within the guidelines for employees of the Senate and
following all applicable rules and employment requirements of
the Senate.
(e) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Select Committee shall report to
the Senate the results of its investigations and studies,
together with such detailed findings, policy recommendations,
and legislative proposals as the Select Committee determines
advisable.
(f) Funding.--Funding for the Select Committee shall be
derived from the contingent fund of the Senate from the
appropriations account ``Miscellaneous Items'', subject to
the rules and regulations of the Senate.
(g) Termination.--The Select Committee shall terminate 60
days after submitting the report required under subsection
(e).
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