IV 

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. 

1 Resolved, That, until otherwise provided by law, there 

2 is hereby created a select committee to investigate the 

3 awarding and carrying out of contracts to rebuild commu4 nities devastated by Hurricane Katrina (hereinafter re5 ferred to as the ‘‘select committee’’). 

6 MEMBERSHIP AND FUNCTIONS

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

8 15 Members of the House, to be appointed by the Speaker 

9 (of whom 7 shall be appointed upon the recommendation 

10 of the minority leader), one of whom shall be designated 
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1 as chairman from the majority party and one of whom 

2 shall be designated ranking member from the minority 

3 party. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the 

4 select committee shall be filled in the same manner in 

5 which the original appointment was made. The select com6 mittee shall conduct an ongoing study and investigation 

7 of the awarding and carrying out of contracts by the Gov8 ernment to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane 

9 Katrina and make such recommendations to the House 

10 as the select committee deems appropriate regarding the 

11 following matters— 

12 (1) bidding, contracting, and auditing stand13 ards in the issuance of Government contracts; 

14 (2) oversight procedures; 

15 (3) forms of payment and safeguards against 

16 money laundering; 

17 (4) accountability of contractors and Govern18 ment officials involved in procurement; 

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

20 the awarding and carrying out of Government con21 tracts; 

22 (6) subcontracting under large, comprehensive 

23 contracts; 

24 (7) inclusion and utilization of small businesses, 

25 through subcontracts or otherwise; and 
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1 (8) such other matters as the select committee 

2 deems appropriate. 

3 RULES AND PROCEDURE

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

5 the select committee shall constitute a quorum for the 

6 transaction of business except for the reporting of the re7 sults of its study and investigation (with its recommenda8 tions) or the authorization of subpoenas, which shall re9 quire a majority of the committee to be actually present, 

10 except that the select committee may designate a lesser 

11 number, but not less than two, as a quorum for the pur12 pose of holding hearings to take testimony and receive evi13 dence. 

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

15 resolution, the select committee may sit and act during 

16 the present Congress at any time and place within the 

17 United States or elsewhere, whether the House is in ses18 sion, has recessed, or has adjourned and hold such hear19 ings as it considers necessary and to require, by subpoena 

20 or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such wit21 nesses, the furnishing of information by interrogatory, and 

22 the production of such books, records, correspondence, 

23 memoranda, papers, documents, and other things and in24 formation of any kind as it deems necessary, including 

25 classified materials. 
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1 (c) ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS.—A subpoena may be 

2 authorized and issued by the select committee in the con3 duct of any investigation or series of investigations or ac4 tivities, only when authorized by a majority of the mem5 bers voting, a majority being present. Authorized sub6 poenas shall be signed by the chairman or by any member 

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

8 any person designated by the chairman or such member. 

9 Subpoenas shall be issued under the seal of the House 

10 and attested by the Clerk. The select committee may re11 quest investigations, reports, and other assistance from 

12 any agency of the executive, legislative, and judicial 

13 branches of the Government. 

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

15 member designated by the chairman, shall preside at all 

16 meetings and hearings of the select committee. All meet17 ings and hearings of the select committee shall be con18 ducted in open session, unless a majority of members of 

19 the select committee voting, there being in attendance the 

20 requisite number required for the purpose of hearings to 

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

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

23 The Rules of the House of Representatives applicable to 

24 standing committees shall govern the select committee 

25 where not inconsistent with this resolution. 
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1 (f) WRITTEN COMMITEE RULES.—The select com2 mittee shall adopt additional written rules, which shall be 

3 public, to govern its procedures, which shall not be incon4 sistent with this resolution or the Rules of the House of 

5 Representatives. 

6 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

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

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

9 by the chairman and shall work under the general super10 vision and direction of the chairman. 

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

12 staff provided to the minority party members of the select 

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

14 ranking minority member of the committee, and shall 

15 work under the general supervision and direction of such 

16 member. 

17 (c) COMPENSATION.—The chairman shall fix the 

18 compensation of all staff of the select committee, after 

19 consultation with the ranking minority member regarding 

20 any minority party staff, within the budget approved for 

21 such purposes for the select committee. 

22 (d) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.—The select 

23 committee may reimburse the members of its staff for 

24 travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 

25 by them in the performance of their functions for the se26 lect committee. 
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1 (e) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.—There shall be paid 

2 out of the applicable accounts of the House such sums 

3 as may be necessary for the expenses of the select com4 mittee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed 

5 by the chairman of the select committee and approved in 

6 the manner directed by the Committee on House Adminis7 tration. Amounts made available under this subsection 

8 shall be expended in accordance with regulations pre9 scribed by the Committee on House Administration. 

10 REPORTS

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

12 report to the House the results of its study and investiga13 tion, with its recommendations. Any report made by the 

14 select committee when the House is not in session shall 

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

16 by the select committee shall be referred to the committee 

17 or committees that have jurisdiction over the subject mat18 ter of the report. 

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