IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 437 
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 Admin-
istration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
To establish the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate 
the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina. 
Resolved, 
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is hereby established the Select Bipartisan 
Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Re-
sponse to Hurricane Katrina (hereinafter referred to as 
the ‘‘select committee’’). 
SEC. 2. COMPOSITION. 
(a) The select committee shall be composed of 20 
members appointed by the Speaker, of whom 9 shall be
•HRES 437 IH 
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 
designate a leadership staff member to assist in their ca-
pacity as ex officio members, with the same access to se-
lect committee meetings, hearings, briefings, and mate-
rials as employees of the select committee and subject to 
the same security clearance and confidentiality require-
ments as staff of the select committee. 
SEC. 3. INVESTIGATION AND REPORT. 
The select committee is authorized and directed to 
conduct a full and complete investigation and study and 
to report its findings to the House not later than February 
15, 2006, regarding— 
(1) the development, coordination, and execu-
tion by local, State, and Federal authorities of emer-
gency response plans and other activities in prepara-
tion for Hurricane Katrina; and 
(2) the local, State, and Federal government re-
sponse to Hurricane Katrina.
•HRES 437 IH 
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 
minority additional witnesses). 
(2) Clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI (providing for the 
authority to subpoena witnesses and documents). 
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 con-
ducting a parallel investigation and study regarding meet-
ing jointly to receive 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 
committee 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 select committee to carry out this resolu-
tion and shall be deemed to be staff of the select com-
mittee.
•HRES 437 IH 
(2) The chairman, upon consultation with the rank-
ing minority member, may employ and fix the compensa-
tion 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 com-
mittee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed 
by the chairman and approved in the manner directed by 
the Committee on House Administration. Amounts made 
available under this subsection shall be expended in ac-
cordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on 
House Administration. 
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 committee designated by the Speaker. 
Æ