HCON 22 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Establishing the Joint Select Committee on Reorganization and Reform of Foreign Assistance Agencies and Programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 15, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, and Mr. MACK) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on RulesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Establishing the Joint Select Committee on Reorganization and Reform of Foreign Assistance Agencies and Programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is hereby established in the Senate and the House of Representatives a joint select committee to be known as the ‘Joint Select Committee on Reorganization and Reform of Foreign Assistance Agencies and Programs’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Joint Select Committee’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FUNCTIONS.

The Joint Select Committee is authorized and directed to conduct a full and complete investigation of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the organization of the various Federal agencies and departments that oversee and implement United States foreign assistance programs, and the interaction and coordination of such agencies and departments with respect to such programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the objectives of United States foreign assistance programs, including the relationship between development goals and United States national security goals;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the staffing levels and funding levels of United States foreign assistance programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the performance of United States foreign assistance programs in meeting United States national interests; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) legislative procedures, practices, and organization related to the authorization and appropriation of funding for and oversight of United States foreign assistance programs and agencies and departments which implement such programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. REPORT.

(a) Report on Results of Investigation- The Joint Select Committee shall submit a report to the Senate and House as soon as practicable, but not later than January 20, 2010, on the results of its investigation under section 2, and may include in the report such recommendations, including proposed legislation to carry out such recommendations, as it deems advisable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Expedited Consideration of Proposed Legislation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The provisions of section 2908 (other than subsection (a)) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 shall apply to the consideration of a bill described in paragraph (2) in the same manner as such provisions apply to a joint resolution described in section 2908(a) of such Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) SPECIAL RULES- For purposes of applying subparagraph (A) with respect to such provisions, the following rules shall apply:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Any reference to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives shall be deemed a reference to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and any reference to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate shall be deemed a reference to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) Any reference to the date on which the President transmits a report shall be deemed a reference to the date on which a bill described in paragraph (2) is introduced in the House of Representatives or Senate (as the case may be).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BILL DESCRIBED- For purposes of paragraph (1), a bill described in this paragraph is a bill--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) which is introduced in the House of Representatives by the designated House member described in paragraph (3)(A) or which is introduced in the Senate by the designated Senate member described in paragraph (3)(B);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) which is introduced during the 30-day period which begins on the date the Joint Select Committee submits the report required under subsection (a);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) which consists solely of the proposed legislation which is included in such report to carry out the recommendations made by the Joint Select Committee in the report; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the title of which is as follows: ‘A bill to carry out the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Reorganization and Reform of Foreign Assistance Agencies and Programs.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) DESIGNATED MEMBERS DESCRIBED- For purposes of paragraph (2)(A), the ‘designated House member’ and ‘designated Senate member’ shall be determined as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) If the chair of the Joint Select Committee is a Member of the House of Representatives, the chair shall be the designated House member. If the vice chair of the Joint Select Committee is a Member of the House of Representatives and the chair is not a Member of the House of Representatives, the vice chair shall be the designated House member. If neither the chair or vice chair is a Member of the House of Representatives, a member of the Joint Select Committee who is a Member of the House of Representatives shall be selected jointly by the chair and vice chair as the designated House member.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) If the chair of the Joint Select Committee is a Member of the Senate, the chair shall be the designated Senate member. If the vice chair of the Joint Select Committee is a Member of the Senate and the chair is not a Member of the Senate, the vice chair shall be the designated Senate member. If neither the chair or vice chair is a Member of the Senate, a member of the Joint Select Committee who is a Member of the Senate shall be selected jointly by the chair and vice chair as the designated Senate member.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Composition and Appointment-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to subsection (b), the Joint Select Committee shall be composed of 60 Members of the House of Representatives and Senate, of whom--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 30 shall be Members of the House of Representatives (of whom 15 shall represent the majority political party and 15 shall represent the minority political party) and shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives with the concurrence of the minority leader of the House of Representatives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 30 shall be Members of the Senate (of whom 15 shall represent the majority political party and 15 shall represent the minority political party) and shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate with the concurrence of the minority leader of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TREATMENT OF DELEGATE AND RESIDENT COMMISSIONER- For purposes of this subsection, a ‘Member’ of the House of Representatives includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Priority of Appointment- Each of the following individuals shall be appointed by the Speaker or the President pro Tempore (as the case may be) to serve as one of the 60 Members of the Joint Select Committee:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives (or the Speaker’s designee).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The majority leader and minority leader of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The majority leader and minority leader of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(16) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(17) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(18) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(19) The chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate (or their designees).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Leadership-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CHAIR- The members of the Joint Select Committee who represent the majority political party shall designate one of those members to serve as chair of the Joint Select Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) VICE CHAIR- The members of the Joint Select Committee who represent the minority political party shall designate one of those members to serve as vice-chair of the Joint Select Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Vacancies- A vacancy in the membership of the Joint Select Committee shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of the Joint Select Committee, and shall be filled in the same manner as in the case of the original appointment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. POWERS.

(a) Hearings and Other Activities- For the purpose of carrying out its duties, the Joint Select Committee may hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as the Joint Select Committee determines to be necessary to carry out its duties, whether the Congress is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Obtaining Information-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) AUTHORITY TO USE SUBPOENAS- The Joint Select Committee may require by subpoena the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, as it considers appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PROCEDURES- Subpoenas may be issued over the signature of the chair of the Joint Select Committee or of any member designated by the chair or by the Joint Select Committee to the extent the chairman or such member is authorized by a majority of the joint committee to issue such subpoenas, and may be served by any person designated by such chairman or member.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Access to Legislative Branch Services- The Joint Select Committee shall have access to the services of the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as any standing committee of the House of Representatives or Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Adoption of Rules- Not later than 30 days after all of its members have been appointed, the Joint Select Committee shall adopt rules governing its operations and shall submit such rules to the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate for publication in the Congressional Record.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. STAFF; TRAVEL.

(a) Appointment of Staff-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Joint Select Committee may appoint, prescribe the duties and responsibilities of, and fix the pay of such personnel as the chair and vice chair consider appropriate to assist the Joint Select Committee in carrying out its duties, except that no individual appointed under this authority may receive pay at a rate greater than the highest annual rate of pay which may be paid under level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ALLOCATION OF APPOINTMENTS- Of the full-time equivalent personnel positions appointed under this subsection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 50 percent shall be appointed by the chair (with the concurrence of the vice chair); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 50 percent shall be appointed by the vice chair (with the concurrence of the chair).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES- Upon the joint request of the chair and vice chair, the head of any Federal agency or of any office in the legislative branch is authorized to detail, without reimbursement, any of the personnel of such agency or office to the Joint Select Committee to assist the Joint Select Committee in carrying out its duties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Reimbursement of Travel Expenses- Subject to the rules adopted by the Joint Select Committee pursuant to section 5(d), the chair and vice chair may reimburse members and staff of the Joint Select Committee for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and responsibilities for the Joint Select Committee, other than expenses in connection with any meeting of the Joint Select Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, held in the District of Columbia.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. FUNDING.

(a) Vouchers- Payments for expenses of the Joint Select Committee shall be made using vouchers authorized by the Joint Select Committee, signed by the chair and vice chair of the Joint Select Committee, and approved in a manner directed by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Source of Funds- There are authorized to be appropriated not more than $7,000,000 for the operation of the Joint Select Committee, of which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) 50 percent shall be derived from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) 50 percent shall be derived from the contingent fund of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

(a) Termination Date- The Joint Select Committee shall terminate 30 days after filing the report required under section 3 or upon the expiration of the 1-year period which begins on the date of the adoption of this resolution, whichever occurs earlier.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Transfer of Records- Upon termination of the Joint Select Committee, the records of the Joint Select Committee shall be transferred jointly to, and held jointly by, the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink