Thomas Daschle: “I will briefly describe the provisions of the resolution. First, it provides that the membership of Senate committees…”

“I will briefly describe the provisions of the resolution. First, it provides that the membership of Senate committees will be equally divided between the two parties, and that, consistent with a separate resolution passed on January 3, 2001, all committees will be chaired by Republican Senators beginning at noon on January 20. Second, the resolution provides that committee budgets and office space will be divided equally, subject to the customary set-asides for administrative expenses and so-called non-designated staff. It is our expectation that the details of those arrangements will be negotiated and agreed to by the respective chairman and ranking members of the committee, in consultation with other members of each committee. It will also be left to the committees, as is customary at the beginning of each new Congress, to agree to committee rules of procedure. Further, the resolution provides that committee administrative expenses may be increased where necessary, but that the total administrative expense allocation for all committees shall not exceed historic levels. I would add that my understanding of this provision is that it will result in little or no net increase in the total amounts spent by committees on administrative expenses.”