IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 449 

To create a select committee to monitor and investigate the awarding and 

carrying out of contracts related to the relief and reconstruction efforts 

in response to Hurricane Katrina. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 

Mr. TIERNEY (for himself and Mr. LEACH) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Rules 

RESOLUTION 

To create a select committee to monitor and investigate 

the awarding and carrying out of contracts related to 

the relief and reconstruction efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina. 

Whereas Congress has already dedicated tens of billions of 

dollars in emergency assistance and is expected to commit additional sums as neccessary to support the relief, 

rehabilitation, and reconstruction of the Gulf Coast region; 

Whereas Congress has a responsibility to see that such funds 

are expeditiously and efficiently received by the individuals, families, communities, parishes, cities, and states 

affected by Hurricane Katrina; 
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Whereas the magnitude of such funds together with the speed 

with which these funds have been approved presents a 

challenge to the traditional functions of Congress; 

Whereas the awarding and execution of contracts related to 

the relief and reconstruction efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina must be conducted in a way that is transparent, verifiable, and which gives confidence to the 

American people that their tax-dollars are being effectively and judiciously spent; 

Whereas Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure comprehensive oversight of the expenditure of 

United States Government funds; 

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 contracting; 

Whereas the Truman Committee is estimated to have saved 

the taxpayers of the United States 15 million dollars and 

potentially thousands of lives by eliminating unnecessary 

bureaucracy and ensuring transparency and prompt delivery of necessary war supplies; 

Whereas the Truman Committee was established within a 

Congress controlled by the same party as the Executive; 

Whereas in the bipartisan spirit of the original Truman Committee, and in recognition of the great challenges currently confronting the country, Congress should ensure 

that contracts awarded for relief and reconstruction ef-
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forts in response to Hurricane Katrina are appropriately 

awarded and properly executed: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That there is hereby created a select com2 mittee to investigate the awarding and carrying out of con3 tracts related to the relief and reconstruction efforts in 

4 response to Hurricane Katrina. 

5 MEMBERSHIP AND FUNCTIONS

6 SEC. 2. The select committee is to be composed of 

7 15 Members of the House, to be appointed by the Speaker 

8 (of whom 7 shall be appointed upon the recommendation 

9 of the minority leader), one of whom shall be designated 

10 as chairman from the majority party and one of whom 

11 shall be designated ranking member from the minority 

12 party. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the 

13 select committee shall be filled in the same manner in 

14 which the original appointment was made. The select com15 mittee shall conduct an ongoing study and investigation 

16 of the awarding and carrying out of contracts by the Gov17 ernment to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane 

18 Katrina and make such recommendations to the House 

19 as the select committee deems appropriate regarding the 

20 following matters— 

21 (1) bidding, contracting, and auditing stand22 ards in the issuance of Government contracts; 

23 (2) oversight procedures; 
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1 (3) forms of payment and safeguards against 

2 money laundering; 

3 (4) accountability of contractors and Govern4 ment officials involved in procurement; 

5 (5) penalties for violations of law and abuses in 

6 the awarding and carrying out of Government con7 tracts; 

8 (6) subcontracting under large, comprehensive 

9 contracts; 

10 (7) inclusion and utilization of small businesses, 

11 through subcontracts or otherwise; and 

12 (8) such other matters as the select committee 

13 deems appropriate. 

14 RULES AND PROCEDURE

15 SEC. 3. (a) QUORUM.—One-third of the members of 

16 the select committee shall constitute a quorum for the 

17 transaction of business except for the reporting of the re18 sults of its study and investigation (with its recommenda19 tions) or the authorization of subpoenas, which shall re20 quire a majority of the committee to be actually present, 

21 except that the select committee may designate a lesser 

22 number, but not less than two, as a quorum for the pur23 pose of holding hearings to take testimony and receive evi24 dence. 

25 (b) POWERS.—For the purpose of carrying out this 

26 resolution, the select committee may sit and act during 
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1 the present Congress at any time and place within the 

2 United States or elsewhere, whether the House is in ses3 sion, has recessed, or has adjourned and hold such hear4 ings as it considers necessary and to require, by subpoena 

5 or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such wit6 nesses, the furnishing of information by interrogatory, and 

7 the production of such books, records, correspondence, 

8 memoranda, papers, documents, and other things and in9 formation of any kind as it deems necessary, including 

10 classified materials. 

11 (c) ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS.—A subpoena may be 

12 authorized and issued by the select committee in the con13 duct of any investigation or series of investigations or ac14 tivities, only when authorized by a majority of the mem15 bers voting, a majority being present. Authorized sub16 poenas shall be signed by the chairman or by any member 

17 designated by the select committee, and may be served by 

18 any person designated by the chairman or such member. 

19 Subpoenas shall be issued under the seal of the House 

20 and attested by the Clerk. The select committee may re21 quest investigations, reports, and other assistance from 

22 any agency of the executive, legislative, and judicial 

23 branches of the Government. 

24 (d) MEETINGS.—The chairman, or in his absence a 

25 member designated by the chairman, shall preside at all 
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1 meetings and hearings of the select committee. All meet2 ings and hearings of the select committee shall be con3 ducted in open session, unless a majority of members of 

4 the select committee voting, there being in attendance the 

5 requisite number required for the purpose of hearings to 

6 take testimony, vote to close a meeting or hearing. 

7 (e) APPLICABILITIES OF RULES OF THE HOUSE.— 

8 The Rules of the House of Representatives applicable to 

9 standing committees shall govern the select committee 

10 where not inconsistent with this resolution. 

11 (f) WRITTEN COMMITTEE RULES.—The select com12 mittee shall adopt additional written rules, which shall be 

13 public, to govern its procedures, which shall not be incon14 sistent with this resolution or the Rules of the House of 

15 Representatives. 

16 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

17 SEC. 4. (a) APPOINTMENT OF STAFF.—The select 

18 committee staff shall be appointed, and may be removed, 

19 by the chairman and shall work under the general super20 vision and direction of the chairman. 

21 (b) POWERS OF RANKING MINORITY MEMBER.—All 

22 staff provided to the minority party members of the select 

23 committee shall be appointed, and may be removed, by the 

24 ranking minority member of the committee, and shall 

25 work under the general supervision and direction of such 

26 member. 
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1 (c) COMPENSATION.—The chairman shall fix the 

2 compensation of all staff of the select committee, after 

3 consultation with the ranking minority member regarding 

4 any minority party staff, within the budget approved for 

5 such purposes for the select committee. 

6 (d) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.—The select 

7 committee may reimburse the members of its staff for 

8 travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 

9 by them in the performance of their functions for the se10 lect committee. 

11 (e) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.—There shall be paid 

12 out of the applicable accounts of the House such sums 

13 as may be necessary for the expenses of the select com14 mittee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed 

15 by the chairman of the select committee and approved in 

16 the manner directed by the Committee on House Adminis17 tration. Amounts made available under this subsection 

18 shall be expended in accordance with regulations pre19 scribed by the Committee on House Administration. 

20 REPORTS

21 SEC. 5. The select committee shall from time to time 

22 report to the House the results of its study and investiga23 tion, with its recommendations. Any report made by the 

24 select committee when the House is not in session shall 

25 be filed with the Clerk of the House. Any report made 

26 by the select committee shall be referred to the committee 
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1 or committees that have jurisdiction over the subject mat2 ter of the report. 

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