[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 419 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 419

   Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide for 
  certain changes in the bipartisan administrative oversight of House 
                               functions.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 1994

 Mr. Michel (for himself, Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Thomas of California, Mr. 
Roberts, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Barrett of Nebraska, Mr. Boehner, and Ms. 
Dunn) submitted the following resolution; which was referred jointly to 
            the Committees on Rules and House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide for 
  certain changes in the bipartisan administrative oversight of House 
                               functions.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``House Administration Reform 
Resolution of 1994''.

SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS TO THE DIRECTOR OF NON-LEGISLATIVE AND 
              FINANCIAL SERVICES.

    (a) Not later than the thirtieth day beginning after the date of 
adoption of this resolution, the following functions and entities shall 
be transferred to the Director of Non-Legislative and Financial 
Services: Office of Employee Assistance, Finance Office, pay and 
mileage of Members, House Information Systems, Office Furnishings, 
Office Supply Service, Office Systems Management, Placement Office, 
Special Services Office, Telecommunications, Barber Shop, Beauty Shop, 
House Restaurant System, Office of Photography, House Postal 
Operations, Child Care Center, Printing Services, Recording Studio, and 
Records and Registration.
    (b) Not later than the sixtieth day beginning after the date of 
adoption of this resolution, the following functions and entities shall 
be transferred to the Director of Non-Legislative and Financial 
Services: House Parking Facilities, Publication Distribution Services, 
and House Document Room.

SEC. 3. HOUSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS.

    Upon transfer of House Information Systems to the Director of Non-
Legislative and Financial Services, House Information Systems shall be 
responsible for video teleconferencing, INTERNET access, and related 
technology services in the House.

SEC. 4. MAJORITY AND MINORITY PRINTERS.

    The Committee on House Administration shall, not later than the 
thirtieth day beginning after the date of adoption of this resolution, 
provide for implementation of the recommendations contained in the 
report of the members of the House Task Force on Printing dated January 
22, 1992 (regarding review of the majority and minority print 
facilities), except that these operations shall be used only for 
official purposes and shall be eliminated as soon as practicable or as 
otherwise directed by the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight of 
the Committee on House Administration. Not later than the thirtieth day 
beginning after the earlier of:
            (1) the date of compliance with the foregoing provision, or
            (2) the thirtieth day after the date of adoption of this 
        resolution, the Offices of the Majority and Minority Printers 
        shall be transferred by the Subcommittee on Administrative 
        Oversight to the Director of Non-Legislative and Financial 
        Services, to be operated as structured on the date of transfer 
        until further notice by the subcommittee.
The subcommittee shall direct that these operations be eliminated no 
later than January 22, 1997.

SEC. 5. OPERATION OF THE CLOAKROOMS.

    Upon adoption of this resolution, responsibility for operation of 
the Democratic and Republican cloakrooms shall be transferred to the 
Speaker and the Republican leader, respectively.

SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS TO RULE VI RELATING TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE 
              DIRECTOR.

    In House Rule VI, clause 1, strike paragraph (c) and insert in lieu 
thereof the following new paragraph:
    ``(c) The Director shall have operational and financial 
responsibility for functions assigned by resolution of the House, or by 
the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight. The Director shall report 
to the subcommittee on all matters, and shall be responsible for 
simultaneous bipartisan notification of the Members of the subcommittee 
on all matters. The Director may also notify, or respond to inquiries 
from, the Speaker, the majority leader, and the minority leader on any 
matter.''.
    In House Rule VI, clause 1(d), strike paragraph (d) and insert in 
lieu thereof the following new paragraph:
    ``(d) The Director shall develop employment standards that provide 
that all employment decisions for functions under the Director's 
supervision be made in accordance with the duties commensurate with pay 
provision of clause 8 of rule XLIII, and with the nondiscrimination 
provisions of clause 9 of rule XLIII and rule LI, without regard to 
political affiliation, and solely on the basis of fitness to perform 
the duties involved. The Director shall review and study, on a 
continuing basis, the application and implementation of such standards 
and shall immediately report any violation, or potential violation, to 
the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight.''.

SEC. 7. AMENDMENT TO RULE VI RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS BY THE 
              DIRECTOR.

    In House Rule VI, clause 1, add the following new paragraph:
    ``(f) Employment decisions and other administrative decisions made 
by the Director shall be final unless otherwise directed by a majority 
of the members of the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight. The 
Speaker, the majority leader, and the minority leader shall be informed 
by the chairman of the subcommittee of any such action by the 
subcommittee and the explanation or rationale therefore no later than 
seven days after the date of such action.''.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENT TO RULE VI RELATING TO POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE 
              DIRECTOR.

    In House Rule VI, clause 1, add the following new paragraph:
    ``(g) Policy recommendations made by the Director pertaining to the 
operation of the functions assigned to the Director shall become 
effective no later than the thirtieth day after the receipt of 
notification by the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight unless 
otherwise directed by majority vote of the subcommittee.''.

SEC. 9. AMENDMENT TO RULE VI RELATING TO SEMIANNUAL REPORTS OF THE 
              DIRECTOR.

    In House Rule VI, clause 1, add the following new paragraph:
    ``(h) In addition to any other reports required by the Subcommittee 
on Administrative Oversight, the Director shall, commencing with the 
semiannual period beginning on January 1, 1994, and ending on June 30, 
1994, and for each semiannual period thereafter, report not later than 
thirty days following the close of the semiannual period to the 
subcommittee on the financial and operational status of each function 
assigned to the Director. Such reports shall include financial 
statements, a description or explanation of current operations and the 
implementation of policies adopted by the subcommittee or by the 
Director under subparagraph (g), and future goals or plans for each 
function.''.

SEC. 10. AMENDMENTS TO RULE X RELATING TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE 
              COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION.

    In House Rule X, clause 4(d)(3), strike: ``providing for transfers 
of functions and entities with respect to the Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, 
Doorkeeper, and,'' and insert in lieu thereof the following: 
``recommending to the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight 
additional transfers of functions and entities to the.''.
    In House Rule X, clause 4(d), strike subparagraph (4) in its 
entirety.

SEC. 11. REGULATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) The Committee on House Administration shall establish a process 
for bipartisan involvement by members of the Committee in the 
formulation, promulgation, and review of implementation of regulations 
of the Committee, and for making available to the public any exceptions 
to the regulations of the Committee which may be granted thereafter.
    (b) The Committee on House Administration shall, prior to 
adjournment sine die of the current Congress, conduct a comprehensive, 
bipartisan review of the regulations of the Committee and eliminate, to 
the extent possible, ambiguities and obsolete provisions therein.

SEC. 12. AMENDMENTS TO RULE X RELATING TO ROTATING CHAIRMEN OF THE 
              SUBCOMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT.

    In House Rule X, clause 3(j)(1), strike ``by the chairman of the 
Committee on House Administration.'' and insert in lieu thereof the 
following: ``alternately in each succeeding year by the Chairman or the 
ranking minority party member of the Committee on House Administration 
beginning in the year after the year in which this rule is adopted.''.

SEC. 13. AMENDMENTS TO RULE X RELATING TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE 
              SUBCOMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT.

    In House Rule X, clause 3(j), strike subparagraph (3) and insert in 
lieu thereof the following new subparagraphs:
            ``(3) The subcommittee shall review and study, on a 
        continuing basis, the application, administration, execution, 
        and effectiveness of policies within its jurisdiction to 
        determine whether such policies and the programs thereunder are 
        being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent 
        of the subcommittee.
            ``(4) Any matter pertaining to the functions and entities 
        within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Administrative 
        Oversight shall be referred only to that subcommittee for 
        consideration, subsequent referral for policy direction, or 
        final disposition. In no case may any matter pertaining to the 
        functions and entities within the jurisdiction of the 
        subcommittee be acted upon by the full committee, or referred 
        to any other subcommittee, without the affirmative concurrence 
        of a majority of the members of the subcommittee.
            ``(5) The Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight shall 
        provide for transfers of functions and entities to the Director 
        of Non-legislative and Financial Services as may be necessary 
        for the improvement of non-legislative and financial services 
        in the House. Upon failure of the subcommittee, by reason of a 
        tie vote, to adopt such a motion to transfer the Speaker, the 
        majority leader and the minority leader acting jointly may 
        direct the transfer.
            ``(6) Except in the case of a proposal to report to the 
        House, any action taken by the Subcommittee on Administrative 
        Oversight with regard to any matter pertaining to the functions 
        and entities within the jurisdiction of the subcommittee shall 
        be deemed to be taken on behalf of the full committee.
            ``(7) The regular meeting date of the Subcommittee on 
        Administrative Oversight shall be the first Thursday on which 
        the House is in session in each calendar quarter unless 
        otherwise agreed to by a majority of the members of the 
        subcommittee.
            ``(8) The Speaker, the majority leader, the minority 
        leader, and the chairman and ranking minority party member of 
        the Committee on House Administration shall be informed by the 
        chairman of the subcommittee of any matter that, by reason of a 
        tie vote, cannot be resolved by the subcommittee. Such 
        notification shall occur no later than seven days after the 
        date of the tie vote.''.

SEC. 14. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the changes in 
public law necessary to delineate the authorities affected by this 
resolution should be enacted as soon as possible.

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