IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 435 
Establishment of a select committee to investigate and oversee the awarding 
and execution of contracts for relief and reconstruction activities in 
areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2005 
Mr. TANCREDO submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Rules 
RESOLUTION 
Establishment of a select committee to investigate and over-
see the awarding and execution of contracts for relief 
and reconstruction activities in areas affected by Hurri-
cane Katrina. 
Resolved, That there is established a select committee 
to investigate and oversee the awarding and execution of 
contracts for relief and reconstruction activities in areas 
affected by Hurricane Katrina. 
SEC. 2. FUNCTIONS. 
The select committee shall conduct an ongoing study 
and investigation of the awarding and carrying out of con-
tracts by the Government for relief and reconstruction ac-
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tivities in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, and to 
make such recommendations to the House as the select 
committee deems appropriate regarding the following mat-
ters— 
(1) oversight procedures for the awarding of 
contracts and distribution of appropriated funds; 
(2) bidding, contracting, and auditing stand-
ards in the issuance of government contracts; 
(3) accountability of contractors and Federal, 
State, and local government officials involved in pro-
curement; 
(4) penalties for violations of law, official cor-
ruption, and abuses in the awarding or carrying out 
of government contracts; and 
(5) such other matters as the select committee 
deems appropriate. 
SEC. 3. APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP. 
The select committee shall be composed of 15 individ-
uals, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House (of 
whom 7 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of 
the minority leader), one of whom shall be designated as 
chairman. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of 
the select committee shall be filled in the same manner 
in which the original appointment was made.
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SEC. 4. RULES AND PROCEDURE. 
(a) POWERS.—For the purpose of carrying out this 
resolution, the select committee may sit and act during 
the present Congress at any time and place within the 
United States or elsewhere, whether the House is in ses-
sion, has recessed, or has adjourned and hold such hear-
ings as it considers necessary and to require, by subpoena 
or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such wit-
nesses, the furnishing of information by interrogatory, and 
the production of such books, records, correspondence, 
memoranda, papers, documents, and other things and in-
formation of any kind as it deems necessary, including 
classified materials. 
(b) QUORUM.—One-third of the members of the se-
lect committee shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business except for the reporting of the results 
of its study and investigation (with its recommendations) 
or the authorization of subpoenas, which shall require a 
majority of the committee to be actually present. 
(c) ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS.—A subpoena may be 
authorized and issued by the select committee in the con-
duct of any investigation or series of investigations or ac-
tivities only when authorized by 8 members of the select 
committee. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the 
chairman or by any member designated by the select com-
mittee, and may be served by any person designated by
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the chairman or such member. Subpoenas shall be issued 
under the seal of the House and attested by the Clerk. 
The select committee may request investigations, reports, 
and other assistance from any agency of the executive, leg-
islative, or judicial branch of the Government. 
(d) MEETINGS.—The chairman, or in his absence a 
member designated by the chairman, shall preside at all 
meetings and hearings of the select committee. All meet-
ings and hearings of the select committee shall be con-
ducted in open session, unless 8 members of the select 
committee vote to close a meeting or hearing. 
(e) APPLICABILITY OF RULES OF THE HOUSE.—The 
Rules of the House of Representatives applicable to stand-
ing committees shall govern the select committee where 
not inconsistent with this resolution. 
(f) WRITTEN COMMITTEE RULES.—The select com-
mittee shall adopt additional written rules, which shall be 
public, to govern its procedures, which shall not be incon-
sistent with this resolution or the Rules of the House of 
Representatives. 
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) APPOINTMENT OF STAFF.—The select committee 
staff shall be appointed, and may be removed, by the 
chairman and shall work under the general supervision 
and direction of the chairman.
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(b) COMPENSATION.—The chairman shall fix the 
compensation of all staff of the select committee within 
the budget approved for such purposes for the select com-
mittee. 
(c) REIMBURSEMENT
OF EXPENSES.—The select 
committee may reimburse the members of its staff for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 
by them in the performance of the their functions for the 
select committee. 
(d) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.—There shall be paid 
out of the applicable accounts of the House such sums 
as may be necessary for the expenses of the select com-
mittee. Such payments shall be made on vouchers signed 
by the chairman of the select committee and approved in 
the manner directed by the Committee on House Adminis-
tration. Amounts made available under this subsection 
shall be expended in accordance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Committee on House Administration. 
(e) EXPIRATION.—The select committee shall cease 
to exist at the close of the 109th Congress. 
SEC. 6. REPORTS. 
(a) REPORTS.—The select committee shall provide 
quarterly reports to the House containing the results of 
its study and investigation, with its recommendations. Any 
report made by the select committee when the House is
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not in session shall be filed with the Clerk of the House. 
Any report made by the select committee shall be referred 
to the committee or committees that have jurisdiction over 
the subject matter of the report. 
(b) RECORDS.—Upon the dissolution of the select 
committee, the records, files, and materials of the select 
committee shall be transferred to the Clerk of the House. 
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