H. Res. 437
In the House of Representatives, U.S., 
September 15, 2005.
Resolved, 
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is hereby established the Select Bipartisan Com-
mittee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to 
Hurricane Katrina (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘select 
committee’’). 
SEC. 2. COMPOSITION. 
(a) The select committee shall be composed of 20 mem-
bers appointed by the Speaker, of whom 9 shall be appointed 
after consultation with the Minority Leader. The Speaker 
shall designate one Member as chairman. 
(b)(1) The Speaker and the Minority Leader shall be ex 
officio members of the select committee but shall have no vote 
in the select committee and may not be counted for purposes 
of determining a quorum. 
(2) The Speaker and the Minority Leader each may des-
ignate a leadership staff member to assist in their capacity 
as ex officio members, with the same access to select com-
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mittee meetings, hearings, briefings, and materials as employ-
ees of the select committee and subject to the same security 
clearance and confidentiality requirements as staff of the se-
lect committee. 
SEC. 3. INVESTIGATION AND REPORT. 
The select committee is authorized and directed to con-
duct a full and complete investigation and study and to re-
port its findings to the House not later than February 15, 
2006, regarding—
(1) the development, coordination, and execution by 
local, State, and Federal authorities of emergency re-
sponse plans and other activities in preparation for Hur-
ricane Katrina; and 
(2) the local, State, and Federal government re-
sponse to Hurricane Katrina. 
SEC. 4. PROCEDURE. 
Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
including the items referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), 
shall apply to the select committee: 
(1) Clause 2(j)(1) of rule XI (guaranteeing the mi-
nority additional witnesses). 
(2) Clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI (providing for the au-
thority to subpoena witnesses and documents).
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SEC. 5. JOINT OPERATIONS. 
The chairman of the select committee, in conducting the 
investigation and study described in section 3, shall consult 
with the chairman of a Senate committee conducting a par-
allel investigation and study regarding meeting jointly to re-
ceive testimony, the scheduling of hearings or issuance of 
subpoenas, and joint staff interviews of key witnesses. 
SEC. 6. STAFF; FUNDING. 
(a)(1) To the greatest extent practicable, the select com-
mittee shall utilize the services of staff of employing entities 
of the House. At the request of the chairman in consultation 
with the ranking minority member, staff of employing entities 
of the House or a joint committee may be detailed to the se-
lect committee to carry out this resolution and shall be 
deemed to be staff of the select committee. 
(2) The chairman, upon consultation with the ranking 
minority member, may employ and fix the compensation of 
such staff as the chairman considers necessary to carry out 
this resolution. 
(b) There shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of 
the House $500,000 for the expenses of the select committee. 
Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed by the 
chairman and approved in the manner directed by the Com-
mittee on House Administration. Amounts made available 
under this subsection shall be expended in accordance with
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regulations prescribed by the Committee on House Adminis-
tration. 
SEC. 7. DISSOLUTION AND DISPOSITION OF RECORDS. 
(a) The select committee shall cease to exist 30 days 
after filing the report required under section 3. 
(b) Upon dissolution of the select committee, the records 
of the select committee shall become the records of any com-
mittee designated by the Speaker. 
Attest:
Clerk.