IV 

House Calendar No. 84 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 437 

[Report No. 109–220, Part I] 

To establish the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation 

for and Response to Hurricane Katrina. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 

Mr. DREIER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 

Reported from the Committee on Rules 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 

Committee on House Administration discharged; referred to the House 

Calendar and ordered to be printed 

RESOLUTION 

To establish the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate 

the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina. 

1 Resolved, 
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•HRES 437 RH 

1 SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT. 

2 There is hereby established the Select Bipartisan 

3 Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Re4 sponse to Hurricane Katrina (hereinafter referred to as 

5 the ‘‘select committee’’). 

6 SEC. 2. COMPOSITION. 

7 (a) The select committee shall be composed of 20 

8 members appointed by the Speaker, of whom 9 shall be 

9 appointed after consultation with the Minority Leader. 

10 The Speaker shall designate one Member as chairman. 

11 (b)(1) The Speaker and the Minority Leader shall be 

12 ex officio members of the select committee but shall have 

13 no vote in the select committee and may not be counted 

14 for purposes of determining a quorum. 

15 (2) The Speaker and the Minority Leader each may 

16 designate a leadership staff member to assist in their ca17 pacity as ex officio members, with the same access to se18 lect committee meetings, hearings, briefings, and mate19 rials as employees of the select committee and subject to 

20 the same security clearance and confidentiality require21 ments as staff of the select committee. 

22 SEC. 3. INVESTIGATION AND REPORT. 

23 The select committee is authorized and directed to 

24 conduct a full and complete investigation and study and 

25 to report its findings to the House not later than February 

26 15, 2006, regarding— 
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•HRES 437 RH 

1 (1) the development, coordination, and execu2 tion by local, State, and Federal authorities of emer3 gency response plans and other activities in prepara4 tion for Hurricane Katrina; and 

5 (2) the local, State, and Federal government re6 sponse to Hurricane Katrina. 

7 SEC. 4. PROCEDURE. 

8 Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 

9 including the items referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), 

10 shall apply to the select committee: 

11 (1) Clause 2(j)(1) of rule XI (guaranteeing the 

12 minority additional witnesses). 

13 (2) Clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI (providing for the 

14 authority to subpoena witnesses and documents). 

15 SEC. 5. JOINT OPERATIONS. 

16 The chairman of the select committee, in conducting 

17 the investigation and study described in section 3, shall 

18 consult with the chairman of a Senate committee con19 ducting a parallel investigation and study regarding meet20 ing jointly to receive testimony, the scheduling of hearings 

21 or issuance of subpoenas, and joint staff interviews of key 

22 witnesses. 

23 SEC. 6. STAFF; FUNDING. 

24 (a)(1) To the greatest extent practicable, the select 

25 committee shall utilize the services of staff of employing 
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•HRES 437 RH 

1 entities of the House. At the request of the chairman in 

2 consultation with the ranking minority member, staff of 

3 employing entities of the House or a joint committee may 

4 be detailed to the select committee to carry out this resolu5 tion and shall be deemed to be staff of the select com6 mittee. 

7 (2) The chairman, upon consultation with the rank8 ing minority member, may employ and fix the compensa9 tion of such staff as the chairman considers necessary to 

10 carry out this resolution. 

11 (b) There shall be paid out of the applicable accounts 

12 of the House $500,000 for the expenses of the select com13 mittee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed 

14 by the chairman and approved in the manner directed by 

15 the Committee on House Administration. Amounts made 

16 available under this subsection shall be expended in ac17 cordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on 

18 House Administration. 

19 SEC. 7. DISSOLUTION AND DISPOSITION OF RECORDS. 

20 (a) The select committee shall cease to exist 30 days 

21 after filing the report required under section 3. 

22 (b) Upon dissolution of the select committee, the 

23 records of the select committee shall become the records 

24 of any committee designated by the Speaker. 

House Calendar No. 84 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 437 

[Report No. 109–220, Part I] 

RESOLUTION 

To establish the Select Bipartisan Committee to InHurricane Katrina. vestigate the Preparation for and Response to 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 

Reported from the Committee on Rules 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 

Committee on House Administration discharged; referred 

to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed