An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
This Senate resolution authorizes the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to incur expenditures and hire staff for a two-year period (March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2027). It allows spending from the Senate’s contingent fund, hiring personnel, and using the services of other government departments or agencies on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis with prior approval. The resolution sets specific spending caps for three segments of the period (early 2025 through September 2025; fiscal year 2026; and October 2026 through February 2027) and includes modest allowances for consultants and staff training. It also outlines how expenses are paid (with vouchers required in most cases, but not for certain routine expenses) and authorizes agency contributions to cover the compensation of committee employees for the stated periods.
Key Points
- 1General authority and scope: The committee may spend from the contingent fund, hire personnel, and use the services of personnel from other government departments or agencies with prior consent, for the period March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2027.
- 2Budget caps by period:
- 3- March 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025: up to $6,259,693, including up to $100,000 for consultants and up to $100,000 for staff training.
- 4- October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026: up to $10,730,903, including up to $100,000 for consultants and up to $100,000 for staff training.
- 5- October 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027: up to $4,471,210, including up to $100,000 for consultants and up to $100,000 for staff training.
- 6Interagency staffing and reimbursement: The committee can use personnel from other departments or agencies on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, with prior consent from the committee and the Rules and Administration Committee.
- 7Payment mechanics and exceptions: Most expenses are paid from the contingent fund upon vouchers approved by the committee chair, but certain routine expenditures do not require vouchers, including salaries paid annually, telecommunications, stationery, Postmaster payments, copying charges, Senate Recording and Photographic Services, and franked/mass mail costs.
- 8Agency contributions: There is authorization for agency contributions (drawn from the Senate’s “Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations” appropriation) to cover compensation for committee employees for the three periods listed above.