To establish a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism.

SA 4292. Mr. DORGAN (for himself, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Harkin)
proposed an amendment to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of
Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the
Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal
year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the end of division A, add the following:

TITLE XV--SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF SENATE ON WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTING

SEC. 1501. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have exerted very
large demands on the Treasury of the United States and
required tremendous sacrifice by the members of the Armed
Forces of the United States.
(2) Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure
comprehensive oversight of the expenditure of United States
Government funds.
(3) Waste and corporate abuse of United States Government
resources are particularly unacceptable and reprehensible
during times of war.
(4) The magnitude of the funds involved in the
reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq and the war on
terrorism, together with the speed with which these funds
have been committed, presents a challenge to the effective
performance of the traditional oversight function of Congress
and the auditing functions of the executive branch.
(5) The Senate Special Committee to Investigate the
National Defense Program, popularly know as the Truman
Committee, which was established during World War II, offers
a constructive precedent for bipartisan oversight of wartime
contracting that can also be extended to wartime and postwar
reconstruction activities.
(6) The Truman Committee is credited with an extremely
successful investigative effort, performance of a significant
public education role, and achievement of fiscal savings
measured in the billions of dollars.
(7) The public has a right to expect that taxpayer
resources will be carefully disbursed and honestly spent.

SEC. 1502. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTING.

There is established a special committee of the Senate to
be known as the Special Committee on War and Reconstruction
Contracting (hereafter in this title referred to as the
``Special Committee'').

SEC. 1503. PURPOSE AND DUTIES.

(a) Purpose.--The purpose of the Special Committee is to
investigate the awarding and performance of contracts to
conduct military, security, and reconstruction activities in
Afghanistan and Iraq and to support the prosecution of the
war on terrorism.
(b) Duties.--The Special Committee shall examine the
contracting actions described in subsection (a) and report on
such actions, in accordance with this section, regarding--
(1) bidding, contracting, accounting, and auditing
standards for Federal Government contracts;
(2) methods of contracting, including sole-source contracts
and limited competition or noncompetitive contracts;
(3) subcontracting under large, comprehensive contracts;
(4) oversight procedures;
(5) consequences of cost-plus and fixed price contracting;
(6) allegations of wasteful and fraudulent practices;
(7) accountability of contractors and Government officials
involved in procurement and contracting;
(8) penalties for violations of law and abuses in the
awarding and performance of Government contracts; and
(9) lessons learned from the contracting process used in
Iraq and Afghanistan and in connection with the war on
terrorism with respect to the structure, coordination,
management policies, and procedures of the Federal
Government.
(c) Investigation of Wasteful and Fraudulent Practices.--
The investigation by the Special Committee of allegations of
wasteful and fraudulent practices under subsection (b)(6)
shall include investigation of allegations regarding any
contract or spending entered into, supervised by, or
otherwise involving the Coalition Provisional Authority,
regardless of whether or not such contract or spending
involved appropriated funds of the United States.
(d) Evidence Considered.--In carrying out its duties, the
Special Committee shall ascertain and evaluate the evidence
developed by all relevant governmental agencies regarding the
facts and circumstances relevant to contracts described in
subsection (a) and any contract or spending covered by
subsection (c).

SEC. 1504. COMPOSITION OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

(a) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Special Committee shall consist of 7
members of the Senate of whom--
(A) 4 members shall be appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate, in consultation with the majority
leader of the Senate; and
(B) 3 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the Senate.
(2) Date.--The appointments of the members of the Special
Committee shall be made not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Special Committee shall
not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment.
(c) Service.--Service of a Senator as a member, chairman,
or ranking member of the Special Committee shall not be taken
into account for the purposes of paragraph (4) of rule XXV of
the Standing Rules of the Senate.
(d) Chairman and Ranking Member.--The chairman of the
Special Committee shall be designated by the majority leader
of the Senate, and the ranking member of the Special
Committee shall be designated by the minority leader of the
Senate.
(e) Quorum.--
(1) Reports and recommendations.--A majority of the members
of the Special Committee shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of reporting a matter or recommendation to the
Senate.
(2) Testimony.--One member of the Special Committee shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking testimony.
(3) Other business.--A majority of the members of the
Special Committee, or \1/3\ of the members of the Special
Committee if at least one member of the minority party is
present, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of
conducting any other business of the Special Committee.

SEC. 1505. RULES AND PROCEDURES.

(a) Governance Under Standing Rules of Senate.--Except as
otherwise specifically provided in this resolution, the
investigation, study, and hearings conducted by the Special
Committee shall be governed by the Standing Rules of the
Senate.
(b) Additional Rules and Procedures.--The Special Committee
may adopt additional rules or procedures if the chairman and
ranking member agree that such additional rules or procedures
are necessary to enable the Special Committee to conduct the
investigation, study, and hearings authorized by this
resolution. Any such additional rules and procedures--
(1) shall not be inconsistent with this resolution or the
Standing Rules of the Senate; and
(2) shall become effective upon publication in the
Congressional Record.

SEC. 1506. AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

(a) In General.--The Special Committee may exercise all of
the powers and responsibilities of a committee under rule
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate.
(b) Hearings.--The Special Committee or, at its direction,
any subcommittee or member of the Special Committee, may, for
the purpose of carrying out this resolution--
(1) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and
administer such oaths as the Special Committee or such
subcommittee or member considers advisable; and
(2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and
testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books,
records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes,
and materials as the Special Committee considers advisable.
(c) Issuance and Enforcement of Subpoenas.--
(1) Issuance.--Subpoenas issued under subsection (b) shall
bear the signature of the Chairman of the Special Committee
and shall be served by any person or class of persons
designated by the Chairman for that purpose.

[[Page S6017]]

(2) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or failure to
obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a), the United
States district court for the judicial district in which the
subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may
issue an order requiring such person to appear at any
designated place to testify or to produce documentary or
other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the court
may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court.
(d) Meetings.--The Special Committee may sit and act at any
time or place during sessions, recesses, and adjournment
periods of the Senate.

SEC. 1507. REPORTS.

(a) Initial Report.--The Special Committee shall submit to
the Senate a report on the investigation conducted pursuant
to section 1503 not later than 270 days after the appointment
of the Special Committee members.
(b) Updated Report.--The Special Committee shall submit an
updated report on such investigation not later than 180 days
after the submission of the report under subsection (a).
(c) Additional Reports.--The Special Committee may submit
any additional report or reports that the Special Committee
considers appropriate.
(d) Findings and Recommendations.--The reports under this
section shall include findings and recommendations of the
Special Committee regarding the matters considered under
section 1503.
(e) Disposition of Reports.--Any report made by the Special
Committee when the Senate is not in session shall be
submitted to the Clerk of the Senate. Any report made by the
Special Committee shall be referred to the committee or
committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter of
the report.

SEC. 1508. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

(a) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Special Committee may employ in
accordance with paragraph (2) a staff composed of such
clerical, investigatory, legal, technical, and other
personnel as the Special Committee, or the chairman or the
ranking member, considers necessary or appropriate.
(2) Appointment of staff.--
(A) In general.--The Special Committee shall appoint a
staff for the majority, a staff for the minority, and a
nondesignated staff.
(B) Majority staff.--The majority staff shall be appointed,
and may be removed, by the chairman and shall work under the
general supervision and direction of the chairman.
(C) Minority staff.--The minority staff shall be appointed,
and may be removed, by the ranking member of the Special
Committee, and shall work under the general supervision and
direction of such member.
(D) Nondesignated staff.--Nondesignated staff shall be
appointed, and may be removed, jointly by the chairman and
the ranking member, and shall work under the joint general
supervision and direction of the chairman and ranking member.
(b) Compensation.--
(1) Majority staff.--The chairman shall fix the
compensation of all personnel of the majority staff of the
Special Committee.
(2) Minority staff.--The ranking member shall fix the
compensation of all personnel of the minority staff of the
Special Committee.
(3) Nondesignated staff.--The chairman and ranking member
shall jointly fix the compensation of all nondesignated staff
of the Special Committee, within the budget approved for such
purposes for the Special Committee.
(c) Reimbursement of Expenses.--The Special Committee may
reimburse the members of its staff for travel, subsistence,
and other necessary expenses incurred by such staff members
in the performance of their functions for the Special
Committee.
(d) Payment of Expenses.--There shall be paid out of the
applicable accounts of the Senate such sums as may be
necessary for the expenses of the Special Committee. Such
payments shall be made on vouchers signed by the chairman of
the Special Committee and approved in the manner directed by
the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
Amounts made available under this subsection shall be
expended in accordance with regulations prescribed by the
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.

SEC. 1509. TERMINATION.

The Special Committee shall terminate on July 1, 2008.

SEC. 1510. SENSE OF SENATE ON CERTAIN CLAIMS REGARDING THE
COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY.

It is the sense of the Senate that any claim of fraud,
waste, or abuse under the False Claims Act that involves any
contract or spending by the Coalition Provisional Authority
should be considered a claim against the United States
Government.
______