Text of Senate Amendment 4498

Text of Senate Amendment 4498

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S1233] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 4498. Mr. SCHIFF submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ___. SELECT COMMITTEE ON JEFFREY EPSTEIN, GHISLAINE MAXWELL, AND DISCLOSURES OF RELATED INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, AND MATERIALS. (a) Establishment; Composition.-- (1) Establishment.--There is hereby established a select committee of the Senate, to be known as the ``Select Committee on Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Disclosures of Related Information, Documents, and Materials'' (in this section referred to as the ``Select Committee''). (2) Composition.-- (A) In general.--The Select Committee shall be composed of 7 Senators, who shall be appointed in accordance with subparagraph (B). (B) Appointment.--Not later than 14 days after the date of enactment of this Act-- (i) the majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 4 members from among Members of the Senate; and (ii) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 3 members from among Members of the Senate. (C) Co-chairpersons.-- (i) In general.--There shall be 2 Co-Chairpersons of the joint committee. (ii) Appointment.--Not later than 14 days after the date of enactment of this Act-- (I) the majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 1 Co- Chairperson from among the members of the Select Committee; and (II) the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 1 Co- Chairperson from among the members of the Select Committee. (D) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the Select Committee shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (b) Duties.--The Select Committee shall-- (1) conduct an investigation and study of the extent, if any, to which illegal, improper, or unethical activities were engaged in by any persons, acting either individually or in combination with others, in-- (A) conspiring with, aiding, or abetting Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell in sexual assault or human trafficking; or (B) any decision by an officer or employee of the Federal Government to release, redact, or fail to disclose documents subject to the Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38; 139 Stat. 656); and (2) determine whether, in the judgment of the Select Committee, any occurrences which may be revealed by the investigation and study under paragraph (1) indicate the necessity or desirability of the enactment of legislation to safeguard against similar abuses in the future. (c) Authorities.-- (1) In general.--For the purposes of carrying out its duties under this section, the Select Committee is authorized in its discretion-- (A) to make investigations into any matter within the scope of its duties under subsection (b); (B) to employ personnel; (C) to hold hearings; (D) to sit and act at any time or place during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate; (E) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses and the production of memoranda, documents, records, or any other materials; (F) to take depositions and other testimony and authorize employees of the Select Committee to take depositions and other testimony; (G) to procure the services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof, in accordance with section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i)); (H) with the prior consent of the department or agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and Administration, to use on a reimbursable basis the services of personnel of any such department or agency; and (I) to make recommendations and report on matters within its jurisdiction. (2) Oaths.--Each Co-Chairperson of the Select Committee or any member thereof may administer oaths to witnesses. (3) Subpoenas.-- (A) In general.--A subpoena for the attendance of witnesses at a hearing or deposition or the productions of memoranda, documents, records, or any other materials may be authorized by either Co-Chairperson of the Select Committee or upon the affirmative vote of 4 members of the Select Committee. (B) Notice.--A written notice of the intent to issue a subpoena shall be provided to both Co-Chairpersons of the Select Committee immediately upon the authorization of the subpoena. (C) Timing.--A subpoena shall not be issued by the Select Committee until after the time that is 48 hours after the time notice is provided under subparagraph (B), excluding any time occurring on a Saturday or Sunday, unless waived jointly by the Co-Chairpersons. (d) Personnel.-- (1) Staff director.--The Co-Chairpersons of the Select Committee, acting jointly, shall appoint the staff director of the Select Committee. (2) Other staff.--The Co-Chairpersons of the Select Committee may jointly appoint and fix the compensation of such other staff as the Co-Chairpersons determine necessary. (3) Limitations.--Appointments under this subsection shall be made within the guidelines for employees of the Senate and following all applicable rules and employment requirements of the Senate. (e) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Select Committee shall report to the Senate the results of its investigations and studies, together with such detailed findings, policy recommendations, and legislative proposals as the Select Committee determines advisable. (f) Funding.--Funding for the Select Committee shall be derived from the contingent fund of the Senate from the appropriations account ``Miscellaneous Items'', subject to the rules and regulations of the Senate. (g) Termination.--The Select Committee shall terminate 60 days after submitting the report required under subsection (e). ______