III
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 93
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 7, 2011
Mr. Hatch (for himself and Mr. Udall of Colorado) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
RESOLUTION
Establishing the Committee to Reduce Government Waste.
Establishment
There shall be a Senate committee known as the Committee to Reduce Government Waste (referred to in this resolution as the Committee).
Membership
Composition
The Committee shall be composed of 12 members as follows:
Four members from the Committee on Finance, 2 selected by the majority leader and 2 selected by the minority leader.
Four members from the Committee on Appropriations, 2 selected by the majority leader and 2 selected by the minority leader.
Four members from the Committee on the Budget, 2 selected by the majority leader and 2 selected by the minority leader.
Tenure of Office
Period of Appointment
Members shall be appointed for a period of not to exceed 6 years.
Exceptions
No person shall continue to serve as a member of the Committee after the person has ceased to be a member of the Committee from which the member was chosen.
Vacancies
Any vacancy in the Committee shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Chairman and Vice Chairman
The Committee shall select a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members.
Quorum
A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. The powers conferred upon them by section 4 may be exercised by a majority vote.
Duties
In general
The Committee shall have the following duties:
Study
The Committee shall—
research, review, and study Federal programs that are underperforming or nonessential; and
determine which Federal programs should be modified or eliminated.
Recommend
The Committee shall develop recommendations to the Senate for action designed to modify or eliminate underperforming or nonessential Federal programs.
Report and legislation
The Committee shall submit to the Senate—
at least once a year, reports including—
a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Committee; and
a list of underperforming or nonessential Federal programs; and
such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate.
Consideration of legislation
Any legislation submitted to the Senate by the Committee shall be considered under the provisions of section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 641).
Powers
Hearings
The Committee or, at its direction, any subcommittee or member of the Committee, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 3—
sit and act, at any time, during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of Congress;
require as the Committee considers necessary, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents;
administer oaths and take testimony; and
procure necessary printing and binding.
Witness Allowances and Fees
The provisions of section 1821 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to witnesses requested to appear at any hearing of the Committee. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses of the Committee.
Expenditures
The Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to make such expenditures as it deems advisable.
Appointment and Compensation of Staff
Except as otherwise provided by law, the Committee shall have power to appoint and fix the compensation of the Chief of Staff of the Committee and such experts and clerical, stenographic, and other assistants as it deems advisable.
Payment of Expenses
The expenses of the Committee shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate.