SRES 165 IS

107th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 165

Establishing a Select Committee on Homeland Security and Terrorism.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 2, 2001

Mr. ROBERTS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

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RESOLUTION

Establishing a Select Committee on Homeland Security and Terrorism.

Resolved,

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND TERRORISM.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established a select committee of the Senate, to be known as the Select Committee on Homeland Security and Terrorism (in this resolution referred to as the `Select Committee').

(b) PURPOSES-

(1) IN GENERAL- The purposes of the Select Committee are--

(A) to assist the Senate in coordinating and prioritizing Federal reforms, initiatives, and proposals to detect, deter, and manage the consequences of terrorism and incidents of terrorism in the United States;

(B) to consult with and receive testimony from the President's Office of Homeland Security and other appropriate Federal agencies;

(C) to make such findings of fact as are warranted and appropriate; and

(D) to make such recommendations, including recommendations for new legislation and amendments to existing laws and any administrative or other actions, as the Select Committee may determine to be necessary or desirable.

(2) LEGISLATIVE JURISDICTION- There shall be referred to the Select Committee all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to Federal reforms, initiatives, and proposals to detect, deter, and manage the consequences of terrorism and incidents of terrorism in the United States.

(c) COMPOSITION-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Select Committee shall be composed, as follows:

(A) The Majority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(B) The chairman and ranking minority member of each of the committees designated by the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, acting jointly, as having primary and preeminent jurisdiction over homeland security and terrorism.

(C) Two Members of the Senate who do not serve on any committee designated under subparagraph (B), appointed by the Majority Leader.

(D) Two Members of the Senate who do not serve on any committee designated under subparagraph (B), appointed by the Minority Leader.

(E) Two Members with expertise and experience in homeland security and terrorism, appointed by the Majority Leader.

(F) Two Members with expertise and experience in homeland security and terrorism, appointed by the Minority Leader.

(2) COCHAIRMEN- The Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate shall serve as cochairmen of the Select Committee.

(3) CO-VICE CHAIRMEN- The Majority Leader of the Senate shall designate one of the Members of the Senate appointed under paragraph (1)(C) to serve as co-vice chairman. The Minority Leader of the Senate shall designate one of the Members of the Senate appointed under paragraph (1)(D) to serve as co-vice chairman.

(4) SERVICE- For the purpose of paragraph 4 or rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a member, chairman, or vice chairman of the Select Committee shall not be taken into account.

SEC. 2. POWERS.

(a) IN GENERAL- For the purposes of this resolution, the Select Committee is authorized--

(1) to make investigations into any matter within its jurisdiction;

(2) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the Senate;

(3) to employ personnel;

(4) to hold hearings;

(5) to sit and act at any time or place during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate;

(6) to procure the service of individual consultants or organizations thereof, in accordance with the provisions of section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946;

(7) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, papers, and documents; and

(8) to take depositions and other testimony.

(b) ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS- The chairman of the Select Committee or any member thereof may administer oaths to witnesses.

(c) SUBPOENAS- Subpoenas authorized by the Select Committee may be issued over the signature of the chairman, the vice chairman or any member of the Select Committee designated by the chairman, and may be served by any person designated by the chairman or any member signing the subpoenas.

SEC. 3. REPORTS.

(a) TO THE SENATE- The Select Committee, for the purposes of accountability to the Senate, shall make regular and periodic reports to the Senate on the nature and extent of the homeland security and antiterrorism activities of the various departments and agencies of the United States. Such committee shall promptly call to the attention of the Senate or to any other appropriate committee or committees of the Senate any matters requiring the attention of the Senate or such other committee or committees.

(b) FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH- The Select Committee shall obtain an annual report from the President. The report shall review the activities of the agencies or departments concerned to detect, deter, and manage the consequences of terrorism and incidents of terrorism in the United States. An unclassified version of the report may be made available to the public at the discretion of the Select Committee.

SEC. 4. INFORMATION SHARING.

It is the sense of the Senate that the head of each department and agency of the United States should keep the Select Committee fully and currently informed with respect to homeland security and antiterrorism activities, including any significant anticipated activities, which are the responsibility of or engaged in by such department or agency, except that this does not constitute a condition precedent to the implementation of any such activity.

SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as prohibiting or otherwise restricting the authority of any other committee to study and review any homeland security or antiterrorism matter to the extent that such matter directly affects a matter otherwise within the jurisdiction of such committee.