What This Bill Does
This resolution authorizes the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to spend money on its operations. The committee can hire staff, hold hearings, and conduct investigations during a specific time period. The resolution sets spending limits for different time periods between March 2023 and February 2025.
Who It Affects
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is directly affected. Senate employees and departments that may provide services to the committee are also affected.
Key Provisions
• The committee can spend money from the Senate's contingent fund (a backup fund for unexpected expenses), hire employees, and use services from other government departments with permission (Sec. 1).
• The committee's spending is limited to specific amounts for three different time periods: up to $5,837,726 from March 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023; up to $10,134,183 from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; and up to $4,236,948 from October 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025 (Sec. 2).
• The committee can spend up to $50,000 on consultant services and up to $50,000 on staff training during each time period (Sec. 2).
• Most committee expenses require approval from the committee's chairman, but salaries, telecommunications, supplies, and mail costs do not require this approval (Sec. 3).
What Changes
If this becomes law, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will be officially authorized to spend the specified amounts on its operations through February 28, 2025.
Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
Effective Date
March 1, 2023.
III
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. RES. 51
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Ms. CANTWELL, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation, reported the following original resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Rules and Administration
RESOLUTION
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation.
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
8
of the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
9
Transportation (in this resolution referred to as the ‘‘com-
10
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•SRES 51 IS
mittee’’) is authorized from March 1, 2023, through Feb-
1
ruary 28, 2025, in its 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
8
or nonreimbursable basis the services of personnel of
9
any such department or agency.
10
SEC. 2. EXPENSES.
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(a) EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
12
2023.—The expenses of the committee for the period
13
March 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023, under this
14
resolution shall not exceed $5,837,726, of which amount—
15
(1) not to exceed $50,000 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 $50,000 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 51 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 $10,134,183, of which amount—
4
(1) not to exceed $50,000 may be expended for
5
the procurement of the services of individual consult-
6
ants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by sec-
7
tion 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
8
1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
9
(2) not to exceed $50,000 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).
13
(c) EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28,
14
2025.—The expenses of the committee for the period Oc-
15
tober 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025, under this res-
16
olution shall not exceed $4,236,948, of which amount—
17
(1) not to exceed $50,000 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 $50,000 may be expended for
23
the training of the professional staff of the com-
24
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•SRES 51 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.—
4
(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
7
Senate upon vouchers approved by the chairman of
8
the committee.
9
(2) VOUCHERS NOT REQUIRED.—Vouchers shall
10
not be required for—
11
(A) the disbursement of salaries of employ-
12
ees paid at an annual rate;
13
(B) the payment of telecommunications
14
provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms
15
and Doorkeeper;
16
(C) the payment of stationery supplies pur-
17
chased through the Keeper of the Stationery;
18
(D) payments to the Postmaster of the
19
Senate;
20
(E) the payment of metered charges on
21
copying equipment provided by the Office of the
22
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper;
23
(F) the payment of Senate Recording and
24
Photographic Services; or
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•SRES 51 IS
(G) the payment of franked and mass mail
1
costs by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper.
2
(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;
9
(2) for the period October 1, 2023, through
10
September 30, 2024; and
11
(3) for the period October 1, 2024, through
12
February 28, 2025.
13
Æ
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