An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
This Senate resolution authorizes the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) to spend money from the Senate’s contingent fund and to hire staff for the period March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2027. It sets specific spending caps for three sub-periods, allows the committee to obtain services from other government agencies on reimbursable or nonreimbursable terms with the consent of the relevant agency and the Rules and Administration Committee, and covers agency contributions to salaries. Most routine expenses can be paid with vouchers approved by the committee chair, while certain payments (like salaries, telecom services, stationery, and some other standard Senate services) do not require vouchers. The purpose is to furnish the committee with the resources needed to conduct hearings, investigations, and other duties under its legislative jurisdiction.
Key Points
- 1General authority to spend and hire: The HELP Committee may use the contingent fund, employ personnel, and obtain interdepartmental services (with prior consent) through March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2027.
- 2Spending caps by period:
- 3- March 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025: up to $7,767,027
- 4- October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026: up to $13,314,904
- 5- October 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027: up to $5,547,877
- 6Sub-limits for consultants and staff training: Up to $75,000 may be spent on consultants; up to $25,000 may be spent on training professional staff, in each period.
- 7Payment mechanics and exemptions: Expenses generally paid from the contingent fund on vouchers approved by the committee chair. No vouchers are required for certain routine expenses, including salaries paid at an annual rate, telecommunications, stationery, Postmaster payments, copying charges, Senate Recording and Photographic Services, and franked/mass mail costs.
- 8Agency contributions: The bill authorizes payments from the Senate’s appropriations for Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations to cover agency contributions related to the compensation of committee employees for the specified periods (three funding windows described above).