An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Armed Services.
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 69) authorizes the Senate Committee on Armed Services to spend money and hire staff for a two-year period, from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2027. It allows expenditures from the Senate’s contingent fund, hiring of personnel, and, with the prior consent of the relevant government department or agency and the Rules and Administration Committee, use of personnel from other agencies on reimbursable or nonreimbursable bases. The resolution also sets explicit spending caps for three defined periods, outlines which expenses can be paid without voucher requirements, and allows agency contributions to cover certain staff compensation costs. In short, the measure provides a structured, multi-year funding framework to support the Armed Services Committee’s hearings, investigations, and staff activities, while detailing administrative controls and interagency coordination requirements.
Key Points
- 1General authority: The Armed Services Committee may use the Senate contingent fund, hire staff, and, with prior consent from the relevant government department/agency and the Rules and Administration Committee, obtain services of personnel from those agencies on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis for March 1, 2025–Feb 28, 2027.
- 2Spending caps by period:
- 3- March 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2025: up to $6,092,832 (includes up to $37,000 for consultants and up to $12,000 for professional staff training).
- 4- Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026: up to $10,444,856 (includes up to $65,000 for consultants and up to $20,000 for training).
- 5- Oct. 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027: up to $4,352,323 (includes up to $27,000 for consultants and up to $8,500 for training).
- 6Eligible expenses and streamlined vouchers: Most expenses are paid from the contingent fund upon vouchers approved by the committee chair, but certain items (salaries, telecommunications, stationery, postmaster services, copying costs, Senate Recording and Photographic Services, and franked/mass mail costs) are exempt from voucher requirements.
- 7Agency contributions: The bill allows agency-paid contributions from the Senate’s “Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations” appropriation to cover the compensation of committee employees for the specified periods.