An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Foreign Relations.

119th Congress Introduced by Jim Risch

Authorizes two-year funding and staffing for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, enabling operations from the Contingent Fund and interagency personnel with consent.

Introduced in Senate

Purpose and intent

S. Res. 90 is an original Senate resolution that authorizes expenditures by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for a defined period. The resolution enables the committee to fund its operations, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government departments or agencies with proper authorization.

The authorization is intended to support the committee’s powers, duties, and functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, including hearings, reporting, and investigations as provided by the Rules.

Key provisions

Authorization period: March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027.

Expenditures from the Senate Contingent Fund: The committee may make expenditures from the contingent fund to carry out its work.

Staffing authority: The committee may employ personnel.

Interagency personnel use: With the prior consent of the relevant government department or agency and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the committee may use the services of personnel from those departments or agencies on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis.

Scope and impact

Affects:

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (staffing and operational funding needs).
The Senate Contingent Fund (source of expenditures).
Other government departments/agencies from which personnel services may be utilized (subject to prior consent).
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee (needs to approve interagency personnel arrangements).

Purpose is to ensure the committee has the resources to conduct hearings, investigations, and related reporting activities during the two-year authorization window.

Procedural and timeline details

Introduced: February 24, 2025.

Status and actions:

Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration (CR S1314 in the Congressional Record).
Reported out of the Committee on Foreign Relations to the Senate by Senator James E. Risch; reported without a written report.
Original measure reported to the Senate by Senator Risch, with no accompanying written committee report.

Sponsor: James E. Risch (primary sponsor).

Potential implications

Provides explicit funding and staffing flexibility for the Foreign Relations Committee for a two-year period.

Requires oversight and consent mechanisms: prior approval from the relevant government department/agency and the Rules Committee for interagency personnel arrangements.

The authorization is time-bound (2025–2027); future expenditures would require another authorization to continue or modify funding and staffing authority.

Overall, S. Res. 90 clarifies and codifies the Foreign Relations Committee’s capacity to manage its operations and personnel needs through March 2027, leveraging the Senate contingent fund and interagency staff support as appropriate.

Bill