Creates a select committee to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 432 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 432
Creating a select committee to investigate the awarding and carrying
out of contracts to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane
Katrina.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2005
Mr. Leach 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 rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane
Katrina.
Resolved, That, until otherwise provided by law, there is hereby
created a select committee to investigate the awarding and carrying out
of contracts to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina
(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 rebuild
communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina 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 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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