Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-04

Text of Senate Amendment 5699

ImmigrationEnvironment

Context

On 2026-06-04, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5699" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 5699

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2609] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5699. Mr. BLUMENTHAL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33.; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ___. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OVERSIGHT PANEL. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a federally funded construction, renovation, or demolition project with a cost of not less than $1,000,000 undertaken in Washington, D.C., on or after January 21, 2025. (2) Oversight panel.--The term ``Oversight Panel'' means the District of Columbia Oversight Panel established under subsection (b). (b) Establishment.--There is established in the legislative branch the District of Columbia Oversight Panel. (c) Duties.-- (1) In general.--The Oversight Panel shall review the status of each covered project and submit reports to Congress in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Reports.-- (A) Regular reports.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 30 days thereafter, the Oversight Panel shall submit to Congress a report that includes-- (i) a list and description of each covered project; (ii) a list of each donor to a covered project; (iii) the value of each donation to a covered project; (iv) the terms of each donation to a covered project; (v) a review of the process of solicitation of donors for covered projects; (vi) a list of each contractor for a covered project; (vii) an analysis of the given explanation for any no-bid contract awarded for a covered project; and (viii) an analysis of construction management for each covered project. (B) Special report on white house ballroom.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Oversight Panel shall submit to Congress a special report on the East Wing Modernization Project that analyzes each factor described in clauses (i) through (viii) of subparagraph (A) with respect to that project. (d) Membership.-- (1) In general.--The Oversight Panel shall consist of 5 members, as follows: (A) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (B) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (C) 1 member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. (D) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. (E) 1 member appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia. (2) Pay.--Each member of the Oversight Panel shall each be paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Oversight Panel. (3) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--A member of the Oversight Panel who is a full-time officer or employee of the United States or a Member of Congress may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of the member's service on the Oversight Panel. (4) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Oversight Panel shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions of subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (5) Quorum.--Four members of the Oversight Panel shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. (6) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Oversight Panel shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (7) Chairperson.--The Oversight Panel shall select a Chairperson from among the members of the Oversight Panel. (8) Meetings.--The Oversight Panel shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members of the Oversight Panel. (e) Staff.-- (1) In general.--The Oversight Panel may appoint and fix the pay of any personnel as the Oversight Panel considers appropriate. (2) Experts and consultants.--The Oversight Panel may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Staff of agencies.--Upon request of the Oversight Panel, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Oversight Panel to assist the Oversight Panel in carrying out its duties under this section. (f) Powers.-- (1) Hearings and sessions.--The Oversight Panel may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Oversight Panel considers appropriate, and may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. (2) Powers of members and agents.--Any member or agent of the Oversight Panel may, if authorized by the Oversight Panel, take any action that the Oversight Panel is authorized to take by this section. (3) Obtaining official data.-- (A) In general.--The Oversight Panel may secure directly from any Federal department or agency any information necessary to enable the Oversight Panel to carry out its duties under this section. (B) Furnishing of information.--Upon request of the Chairperson of the Oversight Panel for information under subparagraph (A), the head of the department or agency shall furnish that information to the Oversight Panel. (4) Subpoena authority; reports to congress on lack of cooperation.--Whenever information or assistance requested by the Oversight Panel is, in the judgment of not fewer than 2 members of the Oversight Panel, unreasonably refused or not provided, those members of the Oversight Panel-- (A) may issue a subpoena to compel disclosure of the requested information; and (B) shall report the circumstances to the appropriate committees of Congress without delay. (g) Termination.--The Oversight Panel shall terminate on January 20, 2029. (h) Funding for Expenses.--Notwithstanding section___2, of the amounts made available to the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under that section, $50,000,000 shall be available to the Oversight Panel to carry out its duties under this section, and shall remain available until expended. ______

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Text of Senate Amendment 5699 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2609] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5699. Mr. BLUMENTHAL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33.; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ___. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OVERSIGHT PANEL. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a federally funded construction, renovation, or demolition project with a cost of not less than $1,000,000 undertaken in Washington, D.C., on or after January 21, 2025. (2) Oversight panel.--The term ``Oversight Panel'' means the District of Columbia Oversight Panel established under subsection (b). (b) Establishment.--There is established in the legislative branch the District of Columbia Oversight Panel. (c) Duties.-- (1) In general.--The Oversight Panel shall review the status of each covered project and submit reports to Congress in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Reports.-- (A) Regular reports.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 30 days thereafter, the Oversight Panel shall submit to Congress a report that includes-- (i) a list and description of each covered project; (ii) a list of each donor to a covered project; (iii) the value of each donation to a covered project; (iv) the terms of each donation to a covered project; (v) a review of the process of solicitation of donors for covered projects; (vi) a list of each contractor for a covered project; (vii) an analysis of the given explanation for any no-bid contract awarded for a covered project; and (viii) an analysis of construction management for each covered project. (B) Special report on white house ballroom.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Oversight Panel shall submit to Congress a special report on the East Wing Modernization Project that analyzes each factor described in clauses (i) through (viii) of subparagraph (A) with respect to that project. (d) Membership.-- (1) In general.--The Oversight Panel shall consist of 5 members, as follows: (A) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (B) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (C) 1 member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. (D) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. (E) 1 member appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia. (2) Pay.--Each member of the Oversight Panel shall each be paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Oversight Panel. (3) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--A member of the Oversight Panel who is a full-time officer or employee of the United States or a Member of Congress may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of the member's service on the Oversight Panel. (4) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Oversight Panel shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions of subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (5) Quorum.--Four members of the Oversight Panel shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. (6) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Oversight Panel shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (7) Chairperson.--The Oversight Panel shall select a Chairperson from among the members of the Oversight Panel. (8) Meetings.--The Oversight Panel shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members of the Oversight Panel. (e) Staff.-- (1) In general.--The Oversight Panel may appoint and fix the pay of any personnel as the Oversight Panel considers appropriate. (2) Experts and consultants.--The Oversight Panel may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Staff of agencies.--Upon request of the Oversight Panel, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Oversight Panel to assist the Oversight Panel in carrying out its duties under this section. (f) Powers.-- (1) Hearings and sessions.--The Oversight Panel may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Oversight Panel considers appropriate, and may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. (2) Powers of members and agents.--Any member or agent of the Oversight Panel may, if authorized by the Oversight Panel, take any action that the Oversight Panel is authorized to take by this section. (3) Obtaining official data.-- (A) In general.--The Oversight Panel may secure directly from any Federal department or agency any information necessary to enable the Oversight Panel to carry out its duties under this section. (B) Furnishing of information.--Upon request of the Chairperson of the Oversight Panel for information under subparagraph (A), the head of the department or agency shall furnish that information to the Oversight Panel. (4) Subpoena authority; reports to congress on lack of cooperation.--Whenever information or assistance requested by the Oversight Panel is, in the judgment of not fewer than 2 members of the Oversight Panel, unreasonably refused or not provided, those members of the Oversight Panel-- (A) may issue a subpoena to compel disclosure of the requested information; and (B) shall report the circumstances to the appropriate committees of Congress without delay. (g) Termination.--The Oversight Panel shall terminate on January 20, 2029. (h) Funding for Expenses.--Notwithstanding section___2, of the amounts made available to the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under that section, $50,000,000 shall be available to the Oversight Panel to carry out its duties under this section, and shall remain available until expended. ______