What This Bill Does
This resolution gives the Senate Foreign Relations Committee permission to spend money and hire staff to do its work. The committee can hold hearings, report on those hearings and conduct investigations between March 1, 2023 and February 28, 2025.
Who It Affects
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its staff members are directly affected by this resolution.
Key Provisions
• The committee can spend money from the Senate's contingent fund (a reserve account set aside for unexpected expenses) and hire personnel as needed (Sec. 1)
• The committee can use workers from other government departments or agencies if those departments agree and the Senate Rules Committee approves, either with repayment or without repayment (Sec. 1)
• From March 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023, the committee's total spending cannot exceed a set amount, with limits on consultant services and staff training (Sec. 2(a))
• From October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, the committee's total spending cannot exceed a different set amount, with the same limits on consultant services and staff training (Sec. 2(b))
• From October 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025, the committee's total spending cannot exceed another set amount, with the same limits on consultant services and staff training (Sec. 2(c))
What Changes
If this resolution becomes law, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have official authority to spend money and hire staff during the stated time periods to carry out its duties.
Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
Effective Date
March 1, 2023.
III
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. RES. 55
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Foreign Relations.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 13, 2023
Mr. MENENDEZ, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported the fol-
lowing original resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
and Administration
RESOLUTION
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
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 Foreign Relations (in this
9
resolution referred to as the ‘‘committee’’) is authorized
10
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•SRES 55 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
8
or nonreimbursable basis the services of personnel of
9
any such department or agency.
10
SEC. 2. EXPENSES.
11
(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 $5,779,323, of which amount—
15
(1) not to exceed $200,000 may be expended
16
for the procurement of the services of individual con-
17
sultants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by
18
section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act
19
of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
20
(2) not to exceed $30,000 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 55 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 $9,907,410, of which amount—
4
(1) not to exceed $200,000 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 $30,000 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 $4,128,088, of which amount—
17
(1) not to exceed $200,000 may be expended
18
for the procurement of the services of individual con-
19
sultants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by
20
section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act
21
of 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-
24
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•SRES 55 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
25
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•SRES 55 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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