Creates a select committee in the House of Representatives to investigate the awarding and carrying out of Government contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism. Directs the committee to make recommendations regarding: (1) bidding, contracting, and auditing standards; (2) oversight procedures; (3) forms of payment and safeguards against money laundering; (4) accountability of contractors and Government procurement officials; (5) penalties for violations and abuses; (6) subcontracting under large comprehensive contracts; (7) inclusion and utilization of small businesses, through subcontracts or otherwise; and (8) such other matters as the select committee deems appropriate.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 116 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 116
Creating a select committee to investigate the awarding and carrying
out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to
fight the war on terrorism.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2005
Mr. Leach (for himself and Mr. Tierney) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Creating a select committee to investigate the awarding and carrying
out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to
fight the war on terrorism.
Whereas challenges to the national security have forced America to commit very
large sums of Government funds to support operations in Afghanistan and
Iraq and improve the security for the homeland;
Whereas Congress has a responsibility to ensure comprehensive oversight when
Government funds are at issue;
Whereas the great size of the funds involved, together with the necessary speed
with which these funds are committed, presents a challenge to the
traditional oversight function of Congress;
Whereas conflicts of interest and Government overcharging are a danger whenever
large sums of money are at stake, and are particularly unseemly in times
of war;
Whereas in this age of global economic interdependence, the Administration has
made a commitment to let contracts to foreign as well as domestic
companies;
Whereas oversight should not be considered a partisan activity but viewed solely
in the context of preserving public resources and bolstering people's
confidence in the Government;
Whereas the Truman Committee in World War II stands as a constructive precedent
for bipartisan oversight of wartime contracting;
Whereas the Truman Committee was established within a Congress controlled by the
same party as the Executive;
Whereas in times marked by corporate abuses and cheating, the integrity of the
procurement process is of paramount importance to sustain the public's
support for government programs; and
Whereas whatever the merits of Government policy, the public has a right to
expect that war profiteering does not occur and that its resources are
carefully disbursed and honestly spent: Now therefore be it
Resolved, That, until otherwise provided by law, there is hereby
created a select committee to investigate the awarding and carrying out
of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight
the war on terrorism (hereinafter referred to as the ``select
committee'').
membership and functions
Sec. 2. The select committee is to be composed of 15 Members of the
House, to be appointed by the Speaker (of whom 7 shall be appointed
upon the recommendation of the minority leader), one of whom shall be
designated as chairman from the majority party and one of whom shall be
designated ranking member from the minority party. Any vacancy
occurring in the membership of the select committee shall be filled in
the same manner in which the original appointment was made. The select
committee shall conduct an ongoing study and investigation of the
awarding and carrying out of contracts by the Government to conduct
activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism
and make such recommendations to the House as the select committee
deems appropriate regarding the following matters--
(1) bidding, contracting, and auditing standards in the
issuance of Government contracts;
(2) oversight procedures;
(3) forms of payment and safeguards against money
laundering;
(4) accountability of contractors and Government officials
involved in procurement;
(5) penalties for violations of law and abuses in the
awarding and carrying out of Government contracts;
(6) subcontracting under large, comprehensive contracts;
(7) inclusion and utilization of small businesses, through
subcontracts or otherwise; and
(8) such other matters as the select committee deems
appropriate.
rules and procedure
Sec. 3. (a) Quorum.--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,
except that the select committee may designate a lesser number, but not
less than two, as a quorum for the purpose of holding hearings to take
testimony and receive evidence.
(b) Powers.--For the purpose of carrying out this resolution, 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.
(c) Issuance of Subpoenas.--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 a majority of
the members voting, a majority being present. 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, and judicial branches of the Government.
(d) Meetings.--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 a majority of members of the
select committee voting, there being in attendance the requisite number
required for the purpose of hearings to take testimony, vote to close a
meeting or hearing.
(e) Applicabilities of Rules of the House.--The Rules of the House
of Representatives applicable to standing committees shall govern the
select committee where not inconsistent with this resolution.
(f) Written Commitee Rules.--The select committee shall adopt
additional written rules, which shall be public, to govern its
procedures, which shall not be inconsistent with this resolution or the
Rules of the House of Representatives.
administrative provisions
Sec. 4. (a) Appointment of Staff.--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) Powers of Ranking Minority Member.--All staff provided to the
minority party members of the select committee shall be appointed, and
may be removed, by the ranking minority member of the committee, and
shall work under the general supervision and direction of such member.
(c) Compensation.--The chairman shall fix the compensation of all
staff of the select committee, after consultation with the ranking
minority member regarding any minority party staff, within the budget
approved for such purposes for the select committee.
(d) Reimbursement of Expenses.--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.
(e) Payment of Expenses.--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.
reports
Sec. 5. The select committee shall from time to time report to the
House 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 select committee shall be referred to the committee
or committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter of the
report.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
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