[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19716-19717]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               AMENDMENTS

  Under clause 8 of rule XVIII, proposed amendments were submitted as 
follows:

                               H.R. 3673

                        Offered By: Mr. Tancredo

       Amendment No. 1: At the end (before the short title), 
     insert the following new title:

               TITLE _--ESTABLISHMENT OF SELECT COMMITTEE

       Sec. _. There is established a select committee to 
     investigate and oversee the awarding and execution of 
     contracts for relief and reconstruction activities in areas 
     affected by hurricane Katrina.
       Sec. _. The select committee shall conduct an ongoing study 
     and investigation of the awarding and carrying out of 
     contracts by the Government for relief and reconstruction 
     activities in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, and to 
     make such recommendations to the House as the select 
     committee deems appropriate regarding the following matters--
       (1) oversight procedures for the awarding of contracts and 
     distribution of appropriated funds;
       (2) bidding, contracting, and auditing standards in the 
     issuance of government contracts;
       (3) accountability of contractors and Federal, State, and 
     local government officials involved in procurement;
       (4) penalties for violations of law, official corruption, 
     and abuses in the awarding or carrying out of government 
     contracts; and
       (5) such other matters as the select committee deems 
     appropriate.
       Sec. _. The select committee shall be composed of 15 
     individuals, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House (of 
     whom 7 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the 
     minority leader), one of whom shall be designated as 
     chairman. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the 
     select committee shall be filled in the same manner in which 
     the original appointment was made.
       Sec. _. (a) For the purpose of carrying out this title, the 
     select committee may sit and act during the present Congress 
     at any time and place within the United States or elsewhere, 
     whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has 
     adjourned and hold such hearings as it considers necessary 
     and to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and 
     testimony of such witnesses, the furnishing of information by 
     interrogatory, and the production of such books, records, 
     correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, and other 
     things and information of any kind as it deems necessary, 
     including classified materials.
       (b) One-third of the members of the select committee shall 
     constitute a quorum for the transaction of business except 
     for the reporting of the results of its study and 
     investigation (with its recommendations) or the authorization 
     of subpoenas, which shall require a majority of the committee 
     to be actually present.
       (c) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the select 
     committee in the conduct of any investigation or series of 
     investigations or activities only when authorized by 8 
     members of the select committee. Authorized subpoenas shall 
     be signed by the chairman or by any member designated by the 
     select committee, and may be served by any person designated 
     by the chairman or such member. Subpoenas shall be issued 
     under the seal of the House and attested by the Clerk. The 
     select committee may request investigations, reports, and 
     other assistance from any agency of the executive, 
     legislative, or judicial branch of the Government.
       (d) The chairman, or in his absence a member designated by 
     the chairman, shall preside at all meetings and hearings of 
     the select committee. All meetings and hearings of the select 
     committee shall be conducted in open session, unless 8 
     members of the select committee vote to close a meeting or 
     hearing.
       (e) The Rules of the House of Representatives applicable to 
     standing committees shall govern the select committee where 
     not inconsistent with this title.
       (f) The select committee shall adopt additional written 
     rules, which shall be public, to govern its procedures, which 
     shall not be inconsistent with this title or the Rules of the 
     House of Representatives.
       Sec. _. (a) The select committee staff shall be appointed, 
     and may be removed, by the chairman and shall work under the 
     general supervision and direction of the chairman.
       (b) The chairman shall fix the compensation of all staff of 
     the select committee within the budget approved for such 
     purposes for the select committee.
       (c) The select committee may reimburse the members of its 
     staff for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses 
     incurred by them in the performance of the their functions 
     for the select committee.
       (d) There shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of 
     the House such sums as may be necessary for the expenses of 
     the select committee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers 
     signed by the chairman of the select committee and approved 
     in the manner directed by the Committee on House 
     Administration. Amounts made available under this subsection 
     shall be expended in accordance with regulations prescribed 
     by the Committee on House Administration.
       (e) The select committee shall cease to exist at the close 
     of the 109th Congress.
       Sec. _. (a) The select committee shall provide quarterly 
     reports to the House containing the results of its study and 
     investigation, with its recommendations. Any report made by 
     the select committee when the House is not in session shall 
     be filed with the Clerk of the House. Any report made by the

[[Page 19717]]

     select committee shall be referred to the committee or 
     committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter of 
     the report.
       (b) Upon the dissolution of the select committee, the 
     records, files, and materials of the select committee shall 
     be transferred to the Clerk of the House.