Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote on a motion to suspend paragraph 4, Rule XVI in order to consider an amendment that establishes a commission to examine the government's response to Hurricane Katrina and to suggest changes for the handling of future disasters.

Highlights:

• Establishes an independent ten-person commission to report to Congress on the response to Hurricane Katrina within six months of enactment (Secs. 1, 10).

• Mandates that the Chairman of the Commission shall be appointed by the President (Sec. 2).

• Allows the Senate and House Democratic Leaders to appoint the Vice-Chair (Sec. 2).

• Allows each party in the Senate to appoint two members (Sec. 2).

• Allows each party's House Leadership to appoint two members (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that no more than five members of the Commission may be from the same party (Sec. 2).

• Clarifies that Commission members must not be officers or employees of Federal, State or local governments (Sec. 2).

• Grants the Commission the power to subpoena a witness if they have the affirmative vote of six members of the Commission or the Chair and the Vice Chair are in agreement (Sec. 5).

This is not a vote on the passage of the amendment, but rather a vote to determine if the amendment violates senate rule XVI, #4. The rule requires that amendments to appropriation bills are relevant to the appropriation topic at hand and do not propose new general legislation.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text