What This Bill Does
This resolution authorizes the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to spend money and hire staff to do its work. The committee can hold hearings, investigate issues and file reports related to veterans' affairs from March 1, 2023 through February 28, 2025.
Who It Affects
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs is directly affected. Senate staff and consultants hired by the committee may also be impacted.
Key Provisions
• The committee can spend money from the Senate's contingent fund (emergency money set aside for unexpected expenses) and hire personnel to carry out its duties (Sec. 1).
• The committee can use employees from other government departments or agencies to help with its work, if those departments agree and the Senate's Rules Committee approves (Sec. 1).
• The committee has a budget cap of $2,430,843 for the period March 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023, with limited amounts for hiring outside consultants and training staff (Sec. 2(a)).
• The committee has a budget cap of $4,167,160 for October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 (Sec. 2(b)).
• The committee has a budget cap of $1,736,317 for October 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025 (Sec. 2(c)).
What Changes
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs gains official permission and set spending limits to operate over the two-year period. The committee can now use the contingent fund for expenses without requiring approval paperwork for certain routine costs like employee salaries and mail services.
Important Definitions
Contingent fund: Money the Senate has set aside for emergency or unforeseen expenses.
Effective Date
The authorization begins March 1, 2023 and ends February 28, 2025.
III
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. RES. 39
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Mr. TESTER, from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, reported the following
original resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and
Administration
RESOLUTION
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Veterans’
Affairs.
Resolved,
1
SECTION 1. GENERAL AUTHORITY.
2
In carrying out its powers, duties, and functions
3
under the Standing Rules of the Senate, in accordance
4
with its jurisdiction under rule XXV of the Standing Rules
5
of the Senate, including holding hearings, reporting such
6
hearings, and making investigations as authorized by
7
paragraphs 1 and 8 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
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of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (in this
9
resolution referred to as the ‘‘committee’’) is authorized
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•SRES 39 IS
from March 1, 2023, through February 28, 2025, in its
1
discretion, to—
2
(1) make expenditures from the contingent fund
3
of the Senate;
4
(2) employ personnel; and
5
(3) with the prior consent of the Government
6
department or agency concerned and the Committee
7
on Rules and Administration, use on a reimbursable
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or nonreimbursable basis the services of personnel of
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any such department or agency.
10
SEC. 2. EXPENSES.
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(a) EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
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2023.—The expenses of the committee for the period
13
March 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023, under this
14
resolution shall not exceed $2,430,843, of which amount—
15
(1) not to exceed $58,000 may be expended for
16
the procurement of the services of individual consult-
17
ants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by sec-
18
tion 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
19
1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
20
(2) not to exceed $40,000 may be expended for
21
the training of the professional staff of the com-
22
mittee (under procedures specified by section 202(j)
23
of that Act).
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•SRES 39 IS
(b) EXPENSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 PERIOD.—
1
The expenses of the committee for the period October 1,
2
2023, through September 30, 2024, under this resolution
3
shall not exceed $4,167,160, of which amount—
4
(1) not to exceed $100,000 may be expended
5
for the procurement of the services of individual con-
6
sultants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by
7
section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act
8
of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
9
(2) not to exceed $70,000 may be expended for
10
the training of the professional staff of the com-
11
mittee (under procedures specified by section 202(j)
12
of that Act).
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(c) EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28,
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2025.—The expenses of the committee for the period Oc-
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tober 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025, under this res-
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olution shall not exceed $1,736,317, of which amount—
17
(1) not to exceed $42,000 may be expended for
18
the procurement of the services of individual consult-
19
ants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by sec-
20
tion 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
21
1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
22
(2) not to exceed $30,000 may be expended for
23
the training of the professional staff of the com-
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•SRES 39 IS
mittee (under procedures specified by section 202(j)
1
of that Act).
2
SEC. 3. EXPENSES AND AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS.
3
(a) EXPENSES OF THE COMMITTEE.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
5
graph (2), expenses of the committee under this res-
6
olution shall be paid from the contingent fund of the
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Senate upon vouchers approved by the chairman of
8
the committee.
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(2) VOUCHERS NOT REQUIRED.—Vouchers shall
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not be required for—
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(A) the disbursement of salaries of employ-
12
ees paid at an annual rate;
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(B) the payment of telecommunications
14
provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms
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and Doorkeeper;
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(C) the payment of stationery supplies pur-
17
chased through the Keeper of the Stationery;
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(D) payments to the Postmaster of the
19
Senate;
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(E) the payment of metered charges on
21
copying equipment provided by the Office of the
22
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper;
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(F) the payment of Senate Recording and
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Photographic Services; or
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•SRES 39 IS
(G) the payment of franked and mass mail
1
costs by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper.
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(b) AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS.—There are authorized
3
to be paid from the appropriations account for ‘‘Expenses
4
of Inquiries and Investigations’’ of the Senate such sums
5
as may be necessary for agency contributions related to
6
the compensation of employees of the committee—
7
(1) for the period March 1, 2023, through Sep-
8
tember 30, 2023;
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(2) for the period October 1, 2023, through
10
September 30, 2024; and
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(3) for the period October 1, 2024, through
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February 28, 2025.
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Æ
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