IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 116
Creating a select committee to investigate the awarding and carrying out 
of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight 
the war on terrorism. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2005
Mr. LEACH (for himself and Mr. TIERNEY) 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 conduct activities in Afghani-
stan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism.
Whereas challenges to the national security have forced 
America to commit very large sums of Government funds 
to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and im-
prove the security for the homeland; 
Whereas Congress has a responsibility to ensure comprehen-
sive oversight when Government funds are at issue; 
Whereas the great size of the funds involved, together with 
the necessary speed with which these funds are com-
mitted, presents a challenge to the traditional oversight 
function of Congress;
•HRES 116 IH 
Whereas conflicts of interest and Government overcharging 
are a danger whenever large sums of money are at stake, 
and are particularly unseemly in times of war; 
Whereas in this age of global economic interdependence, the 
Administration has made a commitment to let contracts 
to foreign as well as domestic companies; 
Whereas oversight should not be considered a partisan activ-
ity but viewed solely in the context of preserving public 
resources and bolstering people’s confidence in the Gov-
ernment; 
Whereas the Truman Committee in World War II stands as 
a constructive precedent for bipartisan oversight of war-
time contracting; 
Whereas the Truman Committee was established within a 
Congress controlled by the same party as the Executive; 
Whereas in times marked by corporate abuses and cheating, 
the integrity of the procurement process is of paramount 
importance to sustain the public’s support for govern-
ment programs; and 
Whereas whatever the merits of Government policy, the pub-
lic has a right to expect that war profiteering does not 
occur and that its resources are carefully disbursed and 
honestly spent: Now therefore be it
Resolved, That, until otherwise provided by law, there 
is hereby created a select committee to investigate the 
awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activi-
ties in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on ter-
rorism (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘select committee’’).
•HRES 116 IH 
MEMBERSHIP AND FUNCTIONS 
SEC. 2. The select committee is to be composed of 
15 Members of the House, to be appointed by the Speaker 
(of whom 7 shall be appointed upon the recommendation 
of the minority leader), one of whom shall be designated 
as chairman from the majority party and one of whom 
shall be designated ranking member from the minority 
party. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the 
select committee shall be filled in the same manner in 
which the original appointment was made. The select com-
mittee shall conduct an ongoing study and investigation 
of the awarding and carrying out of contracts by the Gov-
ernment to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and 
to fight the war on terrorism and make such recommenda-
tions to the House as the select committee deems appro-
priate regarding the following matters—
(1) bidding, contracting, and auditing stand-
ards in the issuance of Government contracts; 
(2) oversight procedures; 
(3) forms of payment and safeguards against 
money laundering; 
(4) accountability of contractors and Govern-
ment officials involved in procurement;