[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 5 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
January 6, 1999.
Resolved, That the Rules of the House of Representatives of the One Hundred
Fifth Congress, including applicable provisions of law or concurrent resolution
that constituted rules of the House at the end of the One Hundred Fifth
Congress, are adopted as the Rules of the House of Representatives of the One
Hundred Sixth Congress, with amendments to the standing rules, and with other
orders, as follows:
SECTION 1. CHANGES IN STANDING RULES.
Amend the standing rules to read as follows:
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RULE I.
The Speaker.
Approval of the Journal
1. The Speaker shall take the Chair on every legislative day precisely at
the hour to which the House last adjourned and immediately call the House to
order. Having examined and approved the Journal of the last day's proceedings,
the Speaker shall announce to the House his approval thereof. The Speaker's
approval of the Journal shall be deemed agreed to unless a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner demands a vote thereon. If such a vote is decided in the
affirmative, it shall not be subject to a motion to reconsider. If such a vote
is decided in the negative, then one motion that the Journal be read shall be
privileged, shall be decided without debate, and shall not be subject to a
motion to reconsider.
Preservation of order
2. The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum and, in case of disturbance
or disorderly conduct in the galleries or in the lobby, may cause the same to be
cleared.
Control of Capitol facilities
3. Except as otherwise provided by rule or law, the Speaker shall have
general control of the Hall of the House, the corridors and passages in the part
of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House, and the disposal of
unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol.
Signature of documents
4. The Speaker shall sign all acts and joint resolutions passed by the two
Houses and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas of, or issued by order of, the
House. The Speaker may sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions whether or not
the House is in session.
Questions of order
5. The Speaker shall decide all questions of order, subject to appeal by a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. On such an appeal a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not speak more than once without
permission of the House.
Form of a question
6. The Speaker shall rise to put a question but may state it sitting. The
Speaker shall put a question in this form: ``Those in favor (of the question),
say `Aye.'''; and after the affirmative voice is expressed, ``Those opposed, say
`No.'''. After a vote by voice under this clause, the Speaker may use such
voting procedures as may be invoked under rule XX.
Discretion to vote
7. The Speaker is not required to vote in ordinary legislative proceedings,
except when his vote would be decisive or when the House is engaged in voting by
ballot.
Speaker pro tempore
8. (a) The Speaker may appoint a Member to perform the duties of the Chair.
Except as specified in paragraph (b), such an appointment may not extend beyond
three legislative days.
(b)(1) In the case of his illness, the Speaker may appoint a Member to
perform the duties of the Chair for a period not exceeding 10 days, subject to
the approval of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has omitted to make such
an appointment, then the House shall elect a Speaker pro tempore to act during
the absence of the Speaker.
(2) With the approval of the House, the Speaker may appoint a Member to act
as Speaker pro tempore only to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions for a
specified period of time.
Term limit
9. A person may not serve as Speaker for more than four consecutive
Congresses (disregarding for this purpose any service for less than a full
session in any Congress).
Designation of travel
10. The Speaker may designate a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House to travel on the business of the House within
or without the United States, whether the House is meeting, has recessed, or has
adjourned. Expenses for such travel may be paid from applicable accounts of the
House described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule X on vouchers approved and signed
solely by the Speaker.
Committee appointment
11. The Speaker shall appoint all select, joint, and conference committees
ordered by the House. At any time after an original appointment, the Speaker may
remove Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from, or appoint
additional Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner to, a select or
conference committee. In appointing Members, Delegates, or the Resident
Commissioner to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint no less than a
majority who generally supported the House position as determined by the
Speaker, shall name those who are primarily responsible for the legislation, and
shall, to the fullest extent feasible, include the principal proponents of the
major provisions of the bill or resolution passed or adopted by the House.
Declaration of recess
12. To suspend the business of the House for a short time when no question
is pending before the House, the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the
call of the Chair.
Other responsibilities
13. The Speaker, in consultation with the Minority Leader, shall develop
through an appropriate entity of the House a system for drug testing in the
House. The system may provide for the testing of a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, and otherwise shall be
comparable in scope to the system for drug testing in the executive branch
pursuant to Executive Order 12564 (Sept. 15, 1986). The expenses of the system
may be paid from applicable accounts of the House for official expenses.
RULE II.
Other Officers and Officials.
Elections
1. There shall be elected at the commencement of each Congress, to continue
in office until their successors are chosen and qualified, a Clerk, a Sergeant-
at-Arms, a Chief Administrative Officer, and a Chaplain. Each of these officers
shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and for the
true and faithful exercise of the duties of his office to the best of his
knowledge and ability, and to keep the secrets of the House. Each of these
officers shall appoint all of the employees of his department provided for by
law. The Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer may be
removed by the House or by the Speaker.
Clerk
2. (a) At the commencement of the first session of each Congress, the Clerk
shall call the Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioner to order and
proceed to record their presence by States in alphabetical order, either by call
of the roll or by use of the electronic voting system. Pending the election of a
Speaker or Speaker pro tempore, the Clerk shall preserve order and decorum and
decide all questions of order, subject to appeal by a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner.
(b) At the commencement of every regular session of Congress, the Clerk
shall make and cause to be printed and delivered to each Member, Delegate, and
the Resident Commissioner a list of the reports that any officer or Department
is required to make to Congress, citing the law or resolution in which the
requirement may be contained and placing under the name of each officer the list
of reports he is required to make.
(c) The Clerk shall--
(1) note all questions of order, with the decisions thereon, the
record of which shall be appended to the Journal of each session;
(2) enter on the Journal the hour at which the House adjourns;
(3) complete the printing and distribution of the Journal to
Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner, together with an
accurate and complete index, as soon as possible after the close of a
session; and
(4) send a printed copy of the Journal to the executive of and to
each branch of the legislature of every State as may be requested by
such State officials.
(d) The Clerk shall attest and affix the seal of the House to all writs,
warrants, and subpoenas issued by order of the House and certify the passage of
all bills and joint resolutions.
(e) The Clerk shall cause the calendars of the House to be printed and
distributed each legislative day.
(f) The Clerk shall--
(1) retain in the library at the Office of the Clerk for the use of
the Members, Delegates, Resident Commissioner, and officers of the
House, and not to be withdrawn therefrom, two copies of all the books
and printed documents deposited there; and
(2) deliver or mail to any Member, Delegate, or the Resident
Commissioner an extra copy, in binding of good quality, of each document
requested by that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner that has
been printed by order of either House of Congress in any Congress in
which the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner served.
(g) The Clerk shall provide for his temporary absence or disability by
designating an official in the Office of the Clerk to sign all papers that may
require the official signature of the Clerk and to do all other official acts
that the Clerk may be required to do under the rules and practices of the House,
except such official acts as are provided for by statute. Official acts done by
the designated official shall be under the name of the Clerk. The designation
shall be in writing and shall be laid before the House and entered on the
Journal.
(h) The Clerk may receive messages from the President and from the Senate at
any time when the House is not in session.
(i)(1) The Clerk shall supervise the staff and manage the office of a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who has died, resigned, or been
expelled until a successor is elected. The Clerk shall perform similar duties in
the event that a vacancy is declared by the House in any congressional district
because of the incapacity of the person representing such district or other
reason. Whenever the Clerk is acting as a supervisory authority over such staff,
he shall have authority to terminate employees and, with the approval of the
Committee on House Administration, may appoint such staff as is required to
operate the office until a successor is elected.
(2) For 60 days following the death of a former Speaker, the Clerk shall
maintain on the House payroll, and shall supervise in the same manner, staff
appointed under House Resolution 1238, Ninety-first Congress (as enacted into
permanent law by chapter VIII of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1971) (2
U.S.C. 31b-5).
(j) In addition to any other reports required by the Speaker or the
Committee on House Administration, the Clerk shall report to the Committee on
House Administration not later than 45 days following the close of each
semiannual period ending on June 30 or on December 31 on the financial and
operational status of each function under the jurisdiction of the Clerk. Each
report shall include financial statements and a description or explanation of
current operations, the implementation of new policies and procedures, and
future plans for each function.
(k) The Clerk shall fully cooperate with the appropriate offices and persons
in the performance of reviews and audits of financial records and administrative
operations.
Sergeant-at-Arms
3. (a) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall attend the House during its sittings and
maintain order under the direction of the Speaker or other presiding officer.
The Sergeant-at-Arms shall execute the commands of the House, and all processes
issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the Speaker.
(b) The symbol of the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms shall be the mace,
which shall be borne by him while enforcing order on the floor.
(c) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall enforce strictly the rules relating to the
privileges of the Hall of the House and be responsible to the House for the
official conduct of his employees.
(d) The Sergeant-at-Arms may not allow a person to enter the room over the
Hall of the House during its sittings; and from 15 minutes before the hour of
the meeting of the House each day until 10 minutes after adjournment, he shall
see that the floor is cleared of all persons except those privileged to remain.
(e) In addition to any other reports required by the Speaker or the
Committee on House Administration, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall report to the
Committee on House Administration not later than 45 days following the close of
each semiannual period ending on June 30 or on December 31 on the financial and
operational status of each function under the jurisdiction of the Sergeant-at-
Arms. Each report shall include financial statements and a description or
explanation of current operations, the implementation of new policies and
procedures, and future plans for each function.
(f) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall fully cooperate with the appropriate offices
and persons in the performance of reviews and audits of financial records and
administrative operations.
Chief Administrative Officer
4. (a) The Chief Administrative Officer shall have operational and financial
responsibility for functions as assigned by the Committee on House
Administration and shall be subject to the policy direction and oversight of the
Committee on House Administration.
(b) In addition to any other reports required by the Committee on House
Administration, the Chief Administrative Officer shall report to the Committee
on House Administration not later than 45 days following the close of each
semiannual period ending on June 30 or December 31 on the financial and
operational status of each function under the jurisdiction of the Chief
Administrative Officer. Each report shall include financial statements and a
description or explanation of current operations, the implementation of new
policies and procedures, and future plans for each function.
(c) The Chief Administrative Officer shall fully cooperate with the
appropriate offices and persons in the performance of reviews and audits of
financial records and administrative operations.
Chaplain
5. The Chaplain shall offer a prayer at the commencement of each day's
sitting of the House.
Office of Inspector General
6. (a) There is established an Office of Inspector General.
(b) The Inspector General shall be appointed for a Congress by the Speaker,
the Majority Leader, and the Minority Leader, acting jointly.
(c) Subject to the policy direction and oversight of the Committee on House
Administration, the Inspector General shall only--
(1) conduct periodic audits of the financial and administrative
functions of the House and of joint entities;
(2) inform the officers or other officials who are the subject of an
audit of the results of that audit and suggesting appropriate curative
actions;
(3) simultaneously notify the Speaker, the Majority Leader, the
Minority Leader, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on House Administration in the case of any financial
irregularity discovered in the course of carrying out responsibilities
under this clause;
(4) simultaneously submit to the Speaker, the Majority Leader, the
Minority Leader, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on House Administration a report of each audit conducted under
this clause; and
(5) report to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
information involving possible violations by a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House of any rule of
the House or of any law applicable to the performance of official duties
or the discharge of official responsibilities that may require referral
to the appropriate Federal or State authorities under clause 3(a)(3) of
rule XI.
Office of the Historian
7. There is established an Office of the Historian of the House of
Representatives. The Speaker shall appoint and set the annual rate of pay for
employees of the Office of the Historian.
Office of General Counsel
8. There is established an Office of General Counsel for the purpose of
providing legal assistance and representation to the House. Legal assistance and
representation shall be provided without regard to political affiliation. The
Office of General Counsel shall function pursuant to the direction of the
Speaker, who shall consult with a Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, which shall
include the majority and minority leaderships. The Speaker shall appoint and set
the annual rate of pay for employees of the Office of General Counsel.
RULE III.
The Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
Voting
1. Every Member shall be present within the Hall of the House during its
sittings, unless excused or necessarily prevented, and shall vote on each
question put, unless he has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the event
of such question.
2. (a) A Member may not authorize any other person to cast his vote or
record his presence in the House or the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union.
(b) No other person may cast a Member's vote or record a Member's presence
in the House or the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Delegates and the Resident Commissioner
3. (a) Each Delegate and the Resident Commissioner shall be elected to serve
on standing committees in the same manner as Members of the House and shall
possess in such committees the same powers and privileges as the other members
of the committee.
(b) The Delegates and the Resident Commissioner may be appointed to any
select committee and to any conference committee.
RULE IV.
The Hall of the House.
Use and admittance
1. The Hall of the House shall be used only for the legislative business of
the House and for caucus and conference meetings of its Members, except when the
House agrees to take part in any ceremonies to be observed therein. The Speaker
may not entertain a motion for the suspension of this clause.
2. (a) Only the following persons shall be admitted to the Hall of the House
or rooms leading thereto:
(1) Members of Congress, Members-elect, and contestants in election
cases during the pendency of their cases on the floor.
(2) The Delegates and the Resident Commissioner.
(3) The President and Vice President of the United States and their
private secretaries.
(4) Justices of the Supreme Court.
(5) Elected officers and minority employees nominated as elected
officers of the House.
(6) The Parliamentarian.
(7) Staff of committees when business from their committee is under
consideration.
(8) Not more than one person from the staff of a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner when that Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner has an amendment under consideration (subject to clause 5).
(9) The Architect of the Capitol.
(10) The Librarian of Congress and the assistant in charge of the
Law Library.
(11) The Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate.
(12) Heads of departments.
(13) Foreign ministers.
(14) Governors of States.
(15) Former Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners; former
Parliamentarians of the House; and former elected officers and minority
employees nominated as elected officers of the House (subject to clause
4).
(16) One attorney to accompany a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner who is the respondent in an investigation undertaken by the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct when a recommendation of that
committee is under consideration in the House.
(17) Such persons as have, by name, received the thanks of Congress.
(b) The Speaker may not entertain a unanimous consent request or a motion to
suspend this clause.
3. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), all persons not entitled to the
privilege of the floor during the session shall be excluded at all times from
the Hall of the House and the cloakrooms.
(b) Until 15 minutes of the hour of the meeting of the House, persons
employed in its service, accredited members of the press entitled to admission
to the press gallery, and other persons on request of a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner by card or in writing, may be admitted to the Hall of the
House.
4. (a) Former Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners; former
Parliamentarians of the House; and former elected officers and minority
employees nominated as elected officers of the House shall be entitled to the
privilege of admission to the Hall of the House and rooms leading thereto only
if--
(1) they do not have any direct personal or pecuniary interest in
any legislative measure pending before the House or reported by a
committee; and
(2) they are not in the employ of, or do not represent, any party or
organization for the purpose of influencing, directly or indirectly, the
passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative measure pending before
the House, reported by a committee, or under consideration in any of its
committees or subcommittees.
(b) The Speaker shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to
implement this rule and to ensure its enforcement.
5. A person from the staff of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
may be admitted to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto under clause 2
only upon prior notice to the Speaker. Such persons, and persons from the staff
of committees admitted under clause 2, may not engage in efforts in the Hall of
the House or rooms leading thereto to influence Members with regard to the
legislation being amended. Such persons shall remain at the desk and are
admitted only to advise the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or
committee responsible for their admission. A person who violates this clause may
be excluded during the session from the Hall of the House and rooms leading
thereto by the Speaker.
Gallery
6. (a) The Speaker shall set aside a portion of the west gallery for the use
of the President, the members of the Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court,
foreign ministers and suites, and the members of their respective families. The
Speaker shall set aside another portion of the same gallery for the
accommodation of persons to be admitted on the cards of Members, Delegates, or
the Resident Commissioner.
(b) The Speaker shall set aside the southerly half of the east gallery for
the use of the families of Members of Congress. The Speaker shall control one
bench. On the request of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator,
the Speaker shall issue a card of admission to his family, which may include
their visitors. No other person shall be admitted to this section.
Prohibition on campaign contributions
7. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House, or any other person entitled to admission to the Hall of the House or
rooms leading thereto by this rule, may not knowingly distribute a political
campaign contribution in the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto.
RULE V.
Broadcasting the House.
1. The Speaker shall administer a system subject to his direction and
control for closed-circuit viewing of floor proceedings of the House in the
offices of all Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and committees and
in such other places in the Capitol and the House Office Buildings as he
considers appropriate. Such system may include other telecommunications
functions as the Speaker considers appropriate. Any such telecommunications
shall be subject to rules and regulations issued by the Speaker.
2. (a) The Speaker shall administer a system subject to his direction and
control for complete and unedited audio and visual broadcasting and recording of
the proceedings of the House. The Speaker shall provide for the distribution of
such broadcasts and recordings to news media, for the storage of audio and video
recordings of the proceedings, and for the closed-captioning of the proceedings
for hearing-impaired persons.
(b) All television and radio broadcasting stations, networks, services, and
systems (including cable systems) that are accredited to the House Radio and
Television Correspondents' Galleries, and all radio and television
correspondents who are so accredited, shall be provided access to the live
coverage of the House.
(c) Coverage made available under this clause, including any recording
thereof--
(1) may not be used for any political purpose;
(2) may not be used in any commercial advertisement; and
(3) may not be broadcast with commercial sponsorship except as part
of a bona fide news program or public affairs documentary program.
3. The Speaker may delegate any of his responsibilities under this rule to
such legislative entity as he considers appropriate.
RULE VI.
Official Reporters and News Media Galleries.
Official reporters
1. Subject to the direction and control of the Speaker, the Clerk shall
appoint, and may remove for cause, the official reporters of the House,
including stenographers of committees, and shall supervise the execution of
their duties.
News media galleries
2. A portion of the gallery over the Speaker's chair as may be necessary to
accommodate representatives of the press wishing to report debates and
proceedings shall be set aside for their use. Reputable reporters and
correspondents shall be admitted thereto under such regulations as the Speaker
may prescribe from time to time. The Standing Committee of Correspondents for
the Press Gallery, and the Executive Committee of Correspondents for the
Periodical Press Gallery, shall supervise such galleries, including the
designation of its employees, subject to the direction and control of the
Speaker. The Speaker may assign one seat on the floor to Associated Press
reporters and one to United Press International reporters, and may regulate
their occupation. The Speaker may admit to the floor, under such regulations as
he may prescribe, one additional representative of each press association.
3. A portion of the gallery as may be necessary to accommodate reporters of
news to be disseminated by radio, television, and similar means of transmission,
wishing to report debates and proceedings, shall be set aside for their use.
Reputable reporters and correspondents shall be admitted thereto under such
regulations as the Speaker may prescribe. The Executive Committee of the Radio
and Television Correspondents' Galleries shall supervise such gallery, including
the designation of its employees, subject to the direction and control of the
Speaker. The Speaker may admit to the floor, under such regulations as he may
prescribe, one representative of the National Broadcasting Company, one of the
Columbia Broadcasting System, and one of the American Broadcasting Company.
RULE VII.
Records of the House.
Archiving
1. (a) At the end of each Congress, the chairman of each committee shall
transfer to the Clerk any noncurrent records of such committee, including the
subcommittees thereof.
(b) At the end of each Congress, each officer of the House elected under
rule II shall transfer to the Clerk any noncurrent records made or acquired in
the course of the duties of such officer.
2. The Clerk shall deliver the records transferred under clause 1, together
with any other noncurrent records of the House, to the Archivist of the United
States for preservation at the National Archives and Records Administration.
Records so delivered are the permanent property of the House and remain subject
to this rule and any order of the House.
Public availability
3. (a) The Clerk shall authorize the Archivist to make records delivered
under clause 2 available for public use, subject to paragraph (b), clause 4, and
any order of the House.
(b)(1) A record shall immediately be made available if it was previously
made available for public use by the House or a committee or a subcommittee.
(2) An investigative record that contains personal data relating to a
specific living person (the disclosure of which would be an unwarranted invasion
of personal privacy), an administrative record relating to personnel, or a
record relating to a hearing that was closed under clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI
shall be made available if it has been in existence for 50 years.
(3) A record for which a time, schedule, or condition for availability is
specified by order of the House shall be made available in accordance with that
order. Except as otherwise provided by order of the House, a record of a
committee for which a time, schedule, or condition for availability is specified
by order of the committee (entered during the Congress in which the record is
made or acquired by the committee) shall be made available in accordance with
the order of the committee.
(4) A record (other than a record referred to in subparagraph (1), (2), or
(3)) shall be made available if it has been in existence for 30 years.
4. (a) A record may not be made available for public use under clause 3 if
the Clerk determines that such availability would be detrimental to the public
interest or inconsistent with the rights and privileges of the House. The Clerk
shall notify in writing the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on House Administration of any such determination.
(b) A determination of the Clerk under paragraph (a) is subject to later
orders of the House and, in the case of a record of a committee, later orders of
the committee.
5. (a) This rule does not supersede rule VIII or clause 9 of rule X and does
not authorize the public disclosure of any record if such disclosure is
prohibited by law or executive order of the President.
(b) The Committee on House Administration may prescribe guidelines and
regulations governing the applicability and implementation of this rule.
(c) A committee may withdraw from the National Archives and Records
Administration any record of the committee delivered to the Archivist under this
rule. Such a withdrawal shall be on a temporary basis and for official use of
the committee.
Definition of record
6. In this rule the term ``record'' means any official, permanent record of
the House (other than a record of an individual Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner), including--
(a) with respect to a committee, an official, permanent record of
the committee (including any record of a legislative, oversight, or
other activity of such committee or a subcommittee thereof); and
(b) with respect to an officer of the House elected under rule II,
an official, permanent record made or acquired in the course of the
duties of such officer.
Withdrawal of papers
7. A memorial or other paper presented to the House may not be withdrawn
from its files without its leave. If withdrawn certified copies thereof shall be
left in the office of the Clerk. When an act passes for the settlement of a
claim, the Clerk may transmit to the officer charged with the settlement thereof
the papers on file in his office relating to such claim. The Clerk may lend
temporarily to an officer or bureau of the executive departments any papers on
file in his office relating to any matter pending before such officer or bureau,
taking proper receipt therefor.
RULE VIII.
Response to Subpoenas.
1. When a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House is properly served with a subpoena or other judicial order directing
appearance as a witness relating to the official functions of the House or for
the production or disclosure of any document relating to the official functions
of the House, such Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
shall comply, consistently with the privileges and rights of the House, with the
subpoena or other judicial order as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise
determined under this rule.
2. Upon receipt of a properly served subpoena or other judicial order
described in clause 1, a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House shall promptly notify the Speaker of its receipt in
writing. Such notification shall promptly be laid before the House by the
Speaker. During a period of recess or adjournment of longer than three days,
notification to the House is not required until the reconvening of the House,
when the notification shall promptly be laid before the House by the Speaker.
3. Once notification has been laid before the House, the Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall determine whether
the issuance of the subpoena or other judicial order described in clause 1 is a
proper exercise of jurisdiction by the court, is material and relevant, and is
consistent with the privileges and rights of the House. Such Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee shall notify the Speaker before
seeking judicial determination of these matters.
4. Upon determination whether a subpoena or other judicial order described
in clause 1 is a proper exercise of jurisdiction by the court, is material and
relevant, and is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House, the
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall
immediately notify the Speaker of the determination in writing.
5. The Speaker shall inform the House of a determination whether a subpoena
or other judicial order described in clause 1 is a proper exercise of
jurisdiction by the court, is material and relevant, and is consistent with the
privileges and rights of the House. In so informing the House, the Speaker shall
generally describe the records or information sought. During a period of recess
or adjournment of longer than three days, such notification is not required
until the reconvening of the House, when the notification shall promptly be laid
before the House by the Speaker.
6. (a) Except as specified in paragraph (b) or otherwise ordered by the
House, upon notification to the House that a subpoena or other judicial order
described in clause 1 is a proper exercise of jurisdiction by the court, is
material and relevant, and is consistent with the privileges and rights of the
House, the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House shall comply with the subpoena or other judicial order by supplying
certified copies.
(b) Under no circumstances may minutes or transcripts of executive sessions,
or evidence of witnesses in respect thereto, be disclosed or copied. During a
period of recess or adjournment of longer than three days, the Speaker may
authorize compliance or take such other action as he considers appropriate under
the circumstances. Upon the reconvening of the House, all matters that
transpired under this clause shall promptly be laid before the House by
the Speaker.
7. A copy of this rule shall be transmitted by the Clerk to the court when a
subpoena or other judicial order described in clause 1 is issued and served on a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House.
8. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to deprive, condition, or waive
the constitutional or legal privileges or rights applicable or available at any
time to a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House, or of the House itself, or the right of such Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee, or of the House itself, to assert such
privileges or rights before a court in the United States.
RULE IX.
Questions of Privilege.
1. Questions of privilege shall be, first, those affecting the rights of the
House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings;
and second, those affecting the rights, reputation, and conduct of Members,
Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner, individually, in their representative
capacity only.
2. (a)(1) A resolution reported as a question of the privileges of the
House, or offered from the floor by the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader
as a question of the privileges of the House, or offered as privileged under
clause 1, section 7, article I of the Constitution, shall have precedence of all
other questions except motions to adjourn. A resolution offered from the floor
by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner other than the Majority Leader
or the Minority Leader as a question of the privileges of the House shall have
precedence of all other questions except motions to adjourn only at a time or
place, designated by the Speaker, in the legislative schedule within two
legislative days after the day on which the proponent announces to the House his
intention to offer the resolution and the form of the resolution. Oral
announcement of the form of the resolution may be dispensed with by unanimous
consent.
(2) The time allotted for debate on a resolution offered from the floor as a
question of the privileges of the House shall be equally divided between (A) the
proponent of the resolution, and (B) the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader,
or a designee, as determined by the Speaker.
(b) A question of personal privilege shall have precedence of all other
questions except motions to adjourn.
RULE X.
Organization of Committees.
Committees and their legislative jurisdictions
1. There shall be in the House the following standing committees, each of
which shall have the jurisdiction and related functions assigned by this clause
and clauses 2, 3, and 4. All bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to
subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing committees listed in this
clause shall be referred to those committees, in accordance with clause 2 of
rule XII, as follows:
(a) Committee on Agriculture.
(1) Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of
birds and animals in forest reserves.
(2) Agriculture generally.
(3) Agricultural and industrial chemistry.
(4) Agricultural colleges and experiment stations.
(5) Agricultural economics and research.
(6) Agricultural education extension services.
(7) Agricultural production and marketing and stabilization
of prices of agricultural products, and commodities (not
including distribution outside of the United States).
(8) Animal industry and diseases of animals.
(9) Commodity exchanges.
(10) Crop insurance and soil conservation.
(11) Dairy industry.
(12) Entomology and plant quarantine.
(13) Extension of farm credit and farm security.
(14) Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and
seafood and seafood products.
(15) Forestry in general and forest reserves other than
those created from the public domain.
(16) Human nutrition and home economics.
(17) Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering.
(18) Rural electrification.
(19) Rural development.
(20) Water conservation related to activities of the
Department of Agriculture.
(b) Committee on Appropriations.
(1) Appropriation of the revenue for the support of the
Government.
(2) Rescissions of appropriations contained in appropriation
Acts.
(3) Transfers of unexpended balances.
(4) Bills and joint resolutions reported by other committees
that provide new entitlement authority as defined in section
3(9) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and referred to the
committee under clause 4(a)(2).
(c) Committee on Armed Services.
(1) Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals; and Army, Navy, and
Air Force reservations and establishments.
(2) Common defense generally.
(3) Conservation, development, and use of naval petroleum
and oil shale reserves.
(4) The Department of Defense generally, including the
Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, generally.
(5) Interoceanic canals generally, including measures
relating to the maintenance, operation, and administration of
interoceanic canals.
(6) Merchant Marine Academy and State Maritime Academies.
(7) Military applications of nuclear energy.
(8) Tactical intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of the Department of Defense.
(9) National security aspects of merchant marine, including
financial assistance for the construction and operation of
vessels, maintenance of the U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair
industrial base, cabotage, cargo preference, and merchant marine
officers and seamen as these matters relate to the national
security.
(10) Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and
privileges of members of the armed forces.
(11) Scientific research and development in support of the
armed services.
(12) Selective service.
(13) Size and composition of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps,
and Air Force.
(14) Soldiers' and sailors' homes.
(15) Strategic and critical materials necessary for the
common defense.
(d) Committee on Banking and Financial Services.
(1) Banks and banking, including deposit insurance and
Federal monetary policy.
(2) Bank capital markets activities generally.
(3) Depository institutions securities activities generally,
including activities of any affiliates (except for functional
regulation under applicable securities laws not involving safety
and soundness).
(4) Economic stabilization, defense production,
renegotiation, and control of the price of commodities, rents,
and services.
(5) Financial aid to commerce and industry (other than
transportation).
(6) International finance.
(7) International financial and monetary organizations.
(8) Money and credit, including currency and this issuance
of notes and redemption thereof; gold and silver, including the
coinage thereof; valuation and revaluation of the dollar.
(9) Public and private housing.
(10) Urban development.
(e) Committee on the Budget.
(1) Concurrent resolutions on the budget (as defined in
section 3(4) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974), other
matters required to be referred to the committee under titles
III and IV of that Act, and other measures setting forth
appropriate levels of budget totals for the United States
Government.
(2) Budget process generally.
(3) Establishment, extension, and enforcement of special
controls over the Federal budget, including the budgetary
treatment of off-budget Federal agencies and measures providing
exemption from reduction under any order issued under part C of
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(f) Committee on Commerce.
(1) Biomedical research and development.
(2) Consumer affairs and consumer protection.
(3) Health and health facilities (except health care
supported by payroll deductions).
(4) Interstate energy compacts.
(5) Interstate and foreign commerce generally.
(6) Exploration, production, storage, supply, marketing,
pricing, and regulation of energy resources, including all
fossil fuels, solar energy, and other unconventional or
renewable energy resources.
(7) Conservation of energy resources.
(8) Energy information generally.
(9) The generation and marketing of power (except by
federally chartered or Federal regional power marketing
authorities); reliability and interstate transmission of, and
ratemaking for, all power; and siting of generation facilities
(except the installation of interconnections between Government
waterpower projects).
(10) General management of the Department of Energy and
management and all functions of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
(11) National energy policy generally.
(12) Public health and quarantine.
(13) Regulation of the domestic nuclear energy industry,
including regulation of research and development reactors and
nuclear regulatory research.
(14) Regulation of interstate and foreign communications.
(15) Securities and exchanges.
(16) Travel and tourism.
The committee shall have the same jurisdiction with respect to
regulation of nuclear facilities and of use of nuclear energy as it has
with respect to regulation of nonnuclear facilities and of use of
nonnuclear energy.
(g) Committee on Education and the Workforce.
(1) Child labor.
(2) Gallaudet University and Howard University and Hospital.
(3) Convict labor and the entry of goods made by convicts
into interstate commerce.
(4) Food programs for children in schools.
(5) Labor standards and statistics.
(6) Education or labor generally.
(7) Mediation and arbitration of labor disputes.
(8) Regulation or prevention of importation of foreign
laborers under contract.
(9) Workers' compensation.
(10) Vocational rehabilitation.
(11) Wages and hours of labor.
(12) Welfare of miners.
(13) Work incentive programs.
(h) Committee on Government Reform.
(1) Federal civil service, including intergovernmental
personnel; and the status of officers and employees of the
United States, including their compensation, classification, and
retirement.
(2) Municipal affairs of the District of Columbia in general
(other than appropriations).
(3) Federal paperwork reduction.
(4) Government management and accounting measures generally.
(5) Holidays and celebrations.
(6) Overall economy, efficiency, and management of
government operations and activities, including Federal
procurement.
(7) National archives.
(8) Population and demography generally, including the
Census.
(9) Postal service generally, including transportation of
the mails.
(10) Public information and records.
(11) Relationship of the Federal Government to the States
and municipalities generally.
(12) Reorganizations in the executive branch of the
Government.
(i) Committee on House Administration.
(1) Appropriations from accounts for committee salaries and
expenses (except for the Committee on Appropriations); House
Information Resources; and allowance and expenses of Members,
Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and
administrative offices of the House.
(2) Auditing and settling of all accounts described in
subparagraph (1).
(3) Employment of persons by the House, including staff for
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and committees;
and reporters of debates, subject to rule VI.
(4) Except as provided in paragraph (q)(11), the Library of
Congress, including management thereof; the House Library;
statuary and pictures; acceptance or purchase of works of art
for the Capitol; the Botanic Garden; and purchase of books and
manuscripts.
(5) The Smithsonian Institution and the incorporation of
similar institutions (except as provided in paragraph (q)(11)).
(6) Expenditure of accounts described in subparagraph (1).
(7) Franking Commission.
(8) Printing and correction of the Congressional Record.
(9) Accounts of the House generally.
(10) Assignment of office space for Members, Delegates, the
Resident Commissioner, and committees.
(11) Disposition of useless executive papers.
(12) Election of the President, Vice President, Members,
Senators, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner; corrupt
practices; contested elections; credentials and qualifications;
and Federal elections generally.
(13) Services to the House, including the House Restaurant,
parking facilities, and administration of the House Office
Buildings and of the House wing of the Capitol.
(14) Travel of Members, Delegates, and the Resident
Commissioner.
(15) Raising, reporting, and use of campaign contributions
for candidates for office of Representative, of Delegate, and of
Resident Commissioner.
(16) Compensation, retirement, and other benefits of the
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and
employees of Congress.
(j) Committee on International Relations.
(1) Relations of the United States with foreign nations
generally.
(2) Acquisition of land and buildings for embassies and
legations in foreign countries.
(3) Establishment of boundary lines between the United
States and foreign nations.
(4) Export controls, including nonproliferation of nuclear
technology and nuclear hardware.
(5) Foreign loans.
(6) International commodity agreements (other than those
involving sugar), including all agreements for cooperation in
the export of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware.
(7) International conferences and congresses.
(8) International education.
(9) Intervention abroad and declarations of war.
(10) Diplomatic service.
(11) Measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign
nations and to safeguard American business interests abroad.
(12) International economic policy.
(13) Neutrality.
(14) Protection of American citizens abroad and
expatriation.
(15) The American National Red Cross.
(16) Trading with the enemy.
(17) United Nations organizations.
(k) Committee on the Judiciary.
(1) The judiciary and judicial proceedings, civil and
criminal.
(2) Administrative practice and procedure.
(3) Apportionment of Representatives.
(4) Bankruptcy, mutiny, espionage, and counterfeiting.
(5) Civil liberties.
(6) Constitutional amendments.
(7) Federal courts and judges, and local courts in the
Territories and possessions.
(8) Immigration and naturalization.
(9) Interstate compacts generally.
(10) Claims against the United States.
(11) Meetings of Congress; attendance of Members, Delegates,
and the Resident Commissioner; and their acceptance of
incompatible offices.
(12) National penitentiaries.
(13) Patents, the Patent and Trademark Office, copyrights,
and trademarks.
(14) Presidential succession.
(15) Protection of trade and commerce against unlawful
restraints and monopolies.
(16) Revision and codification of the Statutes of the United
States.
(17) State and territorial boundary lines.
(18) Subversive activities affecting the internal security
of the United States.
(l) Committee on Resources.
(1) Fisheries and wildlife, including research, restoration,
refuges, and conservation.
(2) Forest reserves and national parks created from the
public domain.
(3) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership, including
alien ownership of mineral lands.
(4) Geological Survey.
(5) International fishing agreements.
(6) Interstate compacts relating to apportionment of waters
for irrigation purposes.
(7) Irrigation and reclamation, including water supply for
reclamation projects and easements of public lands for
irrigation projects; and acquisition of private lands when
necessary to complete irrigation projects.
(8) Native Americans generally, including the care and
allotment of Native American lands and general and special
measures relating to claims that are paid out of Native American
funds.
(9) Insular possessions of the United States generally
(except those affecting the revenue and appropriations).
(10) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks within the
District of Columbia, and the erection of monuments to the
memory of individuals.
(11) Mineral land laws and claims and entries thereunder.
(12) Mineral resources of public lands.
(13) Mining interests generally.
(14) Mining schools and experimental stations.
(15) Marine affairs, including coastal zone management
(except for measures relating to oil and other pollution of
navigable waters).
(16) Oceanography.
(17) Petroleum conservation on public lands and conservation
of the radium supply in the United States.
(18) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of
interest on the public domain.
(19) Public lands generally, including entry, easements, and
grazing thereon.
(20) Relations of the United States with Native Americans
and Native American tribes.
(21) Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline (except ratemaking).
(m) Committee on Rules.
(1) Rules and joint rules (other than those relating to the
Code of Official Conduct) and the order of business of the
House.
(2) Recesses and final adjournments of Congress.
(n) Committee on Science.
(1) All energy research, development, and demonstration, and
projects therefor, and all federally owned or operated
nonmilitary energy laboratories.
(2) Astronautical research and development, including
resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities.
(3) Civil aviation research and development.
(4) Environmental research and development.
(5) Marine research.
(6) Commercial application of energy technology.
(7) National Institute of Standards and Technology,
standardization of weights and measures, and the metric system.
(8) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(9) National Space Council.
(10) National Science Foundation.
(11) National Weather Service.
(12) Outer space, including exploration and control thereof.
(13) Science scholarships.
(14) Scientific research, development, and demonstration,
and projects therefor.
(o) Committee on Small Business.
(1) Assistance to and protection of small business,
including financial aid, regulatory flexibility, and paperwork
reduction.
(2) Participation of small-business enterprises in Federal
procurement and Government contracts.
(p) Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
The Code of Official Conduct.
(q) Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
(1) Coast Guard, including lifesaving service, lighthouses,
lightships, ocean derelicts, and the Coast Guard Academy.
(2) Federal management of emergencies and natural disasters.
(3) Flood control and improvement of rivers and harbors.
(4) Inland waterways.
(5) Inspection of merchant marine vessels, lights and
signals, lifesaving equipment, and fire protection on such
vessels.
(6) Navigation and laws relating thereto, including
pilotage.
(7) Registering and licensing of vessels and small boats.
(8) Rules and international arrangements to prevent
collisions at sea.
(9) The Capitol Building and the Senate and House Office
Buildings.
(10) Construction or maintenance of roads and post roads
(other than appropriations therefor).
(11) Construction or reconstruction, maintenance, and care
of buildings and grounds of the Botanic Garden, the Library of
Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution.
(12) Merchant marine (except for national security aspects
thereof).
(13) Purchase of sites and construction of post offices,
customhouses, Federal courthouses, and Government buildings
within the District of Columbia.
(14) Oil and other pollution of navigable waters, including
inland, coastal, and ocean waters.
(15) Marine affairs, including coastal zone management, as
they relate to oil and other pollution of navigable waters.
(16) Public buildings and occupied or improved grounds of
the United States generally.
(17) Public works for the benefit of navigation, including
bridges and dams (other than international bridges and dams).
(18) Related transportation regulatory agencies.
(19) Roads and the safety thereof.
(20) Transportation, including civil aviation, railroads,
water transportation, transportation safety (except automobile
safety), transportation infrastructure, transportation labor,
and railroad retirement and unemployment (except revenue
measures related thereto).
(21) Water power.
(r) Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
(1) Veterans' measures generally.
(2) Cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any
war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United
States or abroad (except cemeteries administered by the
Secretary of the Interior).
(3) Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education
of veterans.
(4) Life insurance issued by the Government on account of
service in the Armed Forces.
(5) Pensions of all the wars of the United States, general
and special.
(6) Readjustment of servicemen to civil life.
(7) Soldiers' and sailors' civil relief.
(8) Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of
veterans.
(s) Committee on Ways and Means.
(1) Customs, collection districts, and ports of entry and
delivery.
(2) Reciprocal trade agreements.
(3) Revenue measures generally.
(4) Revenue measures relating to insular possessions.
(5) Bonded debt of the United States, subject to the last
sentence of clause 4(f).
(6) Deposit of public monies.
(7) Transportation of dutiable goods.
(8) Tax exempt foundations and charitable trusts.
(9) National social security (except health care and
facilities programs that are supported from general revenues as
opposed to payroll deductions and except work incentive
programs).
General oversight responsibilities
2. (a) The various standing committees shall have general oversight
responsibilities as provided in paragraph (b) in order to assist the House in--
(1) its analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of--
(A) the application, administration, execution, and
effectiveness of Federal laws; and
(B) conditions and circumstances that may indicate the
necessity or desirability of enacting new or additional
legislation; and
(2) its formulation, consideration, and enactment of changes in
Federal laws, and of such additional legislation as may be necessary or
appropriate.
(b)(1) In order to determine whether laws and programs addressing subjects
within the jurisdiction of a committee are being implemented and carried out in
accordance with the intent of Congress and whether they should be continued,
curtailed, or eliminated, each standing committee (other than the Committee on
Appropriations) shall review and study on a continuing basis--
(A) the application, administration, execution, and effectiveness of
laws and programs addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
(B) the organization and operation of Federal agencies and entities
having responsibilities for the administration and execution of laws and
programs addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
(C) any conditions or circumstances that may indicate the necessity
or desirability of enacting new or additional legislation addressing
subjects within its jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution
has been introduced with respect thereto); and
(D) future research and forecasting on subjects within its
jurisdiction.
(2) Each committee to which subparagraph (1) applies having more than 20
members shall establish an oversight subcommittee, or require its subcommittees
to conduct oversight in their respective jurisdictions, to assist in carrying
out its responsibilities under this clause. The establishment of an oversight
subcommittee does not limit the responsibility of a subcommittee with
legislative jurisdiction in carrying out its oversight responsibilities.
(c) Each standing committee shall review and study on a continuing basis the
impact or probable impact of tax policies affecting subjects within its
jurisdiction as described in clauses 1 and 3.
(d)(1) Not later than February 15 of the first session of a Congress, each
standing committee shall, in a meeting that is open to the public and with a
quorum present, adopt its oversight plan for that Congress. Such plan shall be
submitted simultaneously to the Committee on Government Reform and to the
Committee on House Administration. In developing its plan each committee shall,
to the maximum extent feasible--
(A) consult with other committees that have jurisdiction over the
same or related laws, programs, or agencies within its jurisdiction with
the objective of ensuring maximum coordination and cooperation among
committees when conducting reviews of such laws, programs, or agencies
and include in its plan an explanation of steps that have been or will
be taken to ensure such coordination and cooperation;
(B) give priority consideration to including in its plan the review
of those laws, programs, or agencies operating under permanent budget
authority or permanent statutory authority; and
(C) have a view toward ensuring that all significant laws, programs,
or agencies within its jurisdiction are subject to review every 10
years.
(2) Not later than March 31 in the first session of a Congress, after
consultation with the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the Minority Leader, the
Committee on Government Reform shall report to the House the oversight plans
submitted by committees together with any recommendations that it, or the House
leadership group described above, may make to ensure the most effective
coordination of oversight plans and otherwise to achieve the objectives of this
clause.
(e) The Speaker, with the approval of the House, may appoint special ad hoc
oversight committees for the purpose of reviewing specific matters within the
jurisdiction of two or more standing committees.
Special oversight functions
3. (a) The Committee on Appropriations shall conduct such studies and
examinations of the organization and operation of executive departments and
other executive agencies (including an agency the majority of the stock of which
is owned by the United States) as it considers necessary to assist it in the
determination of matters within its jurisdiction.
(b) The Committee on the Budget shall study on a continuing basis the effect
on budget outlays of relevant existing and proposed legislation and report the
results of such studies to the House on a recurring basis.
(c) The Committee on Commerce shall review and study on a continuing basis
laws, programs, and Government activities relating to nuclear and other energy
and nonmilitary nuclear energy research and development including the disposal
of nuclear waste.
(d) The Committee on Education and the Workforce shall review, study, and
coordinate on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities
relating to domestic educational programs and institutions and programs of
student assistance within the jurisdiction of other committees.
(e) The Committee on Government Reform shall review and study on a
continuing basis the operation of Government activities at all levels with a
view to determining their economy and efficiency.
(f) The Committee on International Relations shall review and study on a
continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to customs
administration, intelligence activities relating to foreign policy,
international financial and monetary organizations, and international fishing
agreements.
(g) The Committee on Armed Services shall review and study on a continuing
basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to international arms
control and disarmament and the education of military dependents in schools.
(h) The Committee on Resources shall review and study on a continuing basis
laws, programs, and Government activities relating to Native Americans.
(i) The Committee on Rules shall review and study on a continuing basis the
congressional budget process, and the committee shall report its findings and
recommendations to the House from time to time.
(j) The Committee on Science shall review and study on a continuing basis
laws, programs, and Government activities relating to nonmilitary research and
development.
(k) The Committee on Small Business shall study and investigate on a
continuing basis the problems of all types of small business.
Additional functions of committees
4. (a)(1)(A) The Committee on Appropriations shall, within 30 days after the
transmittal of the Budget to Congress each year, hold hearings on the Budget as
a whole with particular reference to--
(i) the basic recommendations and budgetary policies of the
President in the presentation of the Budget; and
(ii) the fiscal, financial, and economic assumptions used as bases
in arriving at total estimated expenditures and receipts.
(B) In holding hearings under subdivision (A), the committee shall receive
testimony from the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, and
such other persons as the committee may desire.
(C) A hearing under subdivision (A), or any part thereof, shall be held in
open session, except when the committee, in open session and with a quorum
present, determines by record vote that the testimony to be taken at that
hearing on that day may be related to a matter of national security. The
committee may by the same procedure close one subsequent day of hearing. A
transcript of all such hearings shall be printed and a copy thereof furnished to
each Member, Delegate, and the Resident Commissioner.
(D) A hearing under subdivision (A), or any part thereof, may be held before
a joint meeting of the committee and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate in accordance with such procedures as the two committees jointly may
determine.
(2) Pursuant to section 401(b)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
when a committee reports a bill or joint resolution that provides new
entitlement authority as defined in section 3(9) of that Act, and enactment of
the bill or joint resolution, as reported, would cause a breach of the
committee's pertinent allocation of new budget authority under section
302(a) of that Act, the bill or joint resolution may be referred to the
Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report it with
recommendations (which may include an amendment limiting the total
amount of new entitlement authority provided in the bill or joint
resolution). If the Committee on Appropriations fails to report a bill
or joint resolution so referred within 15 calendar days (not counting
any day on which the House is not in session), the committee
automatically shall be discharged from consideration of the bill or
joint resolution, and the bill or joint resolution shall be placed on
the appropriate calendar.
(3) In addition, the Committee on Appropriations shall study on a continuing
basis those provisions of law that (on the first day of the first fiscal year
for which the congressional budget process is effective) provide spending
authority or permanent budget authority and shall report to the House from time
to time its recommendations for terminating or modifying such provisions.
(4) In the manner provided by section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee on Appropriations (after consulting with the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate) shall subdivide any allocations made to it in the
joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on such
concurrent resolution, and promptly report the subdivisions to the House as soon
as practicable after a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year is
agreed to.
(b) The Committee on the Budget shall--
(1) review on a continuing basis the conduct by the Congressional
Budget Office of its functions and duties;
(2) hold hearings and receive testimony from Members, Senators,
Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and such appropriate
representatives of Federal departments and agencies, the general public,
and national organizations as it considers desirable in developing
concurrent resolutions on the budget for each fiscal year;
(3) make all reports required of it by the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974;
(4) study on a continuing basis those provisions of law that exempt
Federal agencies or any of their activities or outlays from inclusion in
the Budget of the United States Government, and report to the House from
time to time its recommendations for terminating or modifying such
provisions;
(5) study on a continuing basis proposals designed to improve and
facilitate the congressional budget process, and report to the House
from time to time the results of such studies, together with its
recommendations; and
(6) request and evaluate continuing studies of tax expenditures,
devise methods of coordinating tax expenditures, policies, and programs
with direct budget outlays, and report the results of such studies to
the House on a recurring basis.
(c)(1) The Committee on Government Reform shall--
(A) receive and examine reports of the Comptroller General of the
United States and submit to the House such recommendations as it
considers necessary or desirable in connection with the subject matter
of the reports;
(B) evaluate the effects of laws enacted to reorganize the
legislative and executive branches of the Government; and
(C) study intergovernmental relationships between the United States
and the States and municipalities and between the United States and
international organizations of which the United States is a member.
(2) In addition to its duties under subparagraph (1), the Committee on
Government Reform may at any time conduct investigations of any matter without
regard to clause 1, 2, 3, or this clause conferring jurisdiction over the matter
to another standing committee. The findings and recommendations of the committee
in such an investigation shall be made available to any other standing committee
having jurisdiction over the matter involved and shall be included in the report
of any such other committee when required by clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII.
(d)(1) The Committee on House Administration shall--
(A) examine all bills, amendments, and joint resolutions after
passage by the House and, in cooperation with the Senate, examine all
bills and joint resolutions that have passed both Houses to see that
they are correctly enrolled and forthwith present those bills and joint
resolutions that originated in the House to the President in person
after their signature by the Speaker and the President of the Senate,
and report to the House the fact and date of their presentment;
(B) provide policy direction for, and oversight of, the Clerk,
Sergeant-at-Arms, Chief Administrative Officer, and Inspector General;
(C) have the function of accepting on behalf of the House a gift,
except as otherwise provided by law, if the gift does not involve a
duty, burden, or condition, or is not made dependent on some future
performance by the House; and
(D) promulgate regulations to carry out subdivision (C).
(2) An employing office of the House may enter into a settlement of a
complaint under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 that provides for
the payment of funds only after receiving the joint approval of the chairman and
ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration concerning the
amount of such payment.
(e)(1) Each standing committee shall, in its consideration of all public
bills and public joint resolutions within its jurisdiction, ensure that
appropriations for continuing programs and activities of the Federal Government
and the government of the District of Columbia will be made annually to the
maximum extent feasible and consistent with the nature, requirement, and
objective of the programs and activities involved. In this subparagraph programs
and activities of the Federal Government and the government of the District of
Columbia includes programs and activities of any department, agency,
establishment, wholly owned Government corporation, or instrumentality of the
Federal Government or of the government of the District of Columbia.
(2) Each standing committee shall review from time to time each continuing
program within its jurisdiction for which appropriations are not made annually
to ascertain whether the program should be modified to provide for annual
appropriations.
Budget Act responsibilities
(f)(1) Each standing committee shall submit to the Committee on the Budget
not later than six weeks after the President submits his budget, or at such time
as the Committee on the Budget may request--
(A) its views and estimates with respect to all matters to be set
forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget for the ensuing fiscal
year that are within its jurisdiction or functions; and
(B) an estimate of the total amounts of new budget authority, and
budget outlays resulting therefrom, to be provided or authorized in all
bills and resolutions within its jurisdiction that it intends to be
effective during that fiscal year.
(2) The views and estimates submitted by the Committee on Ways and Means
under subparagraph (1) shall include a specific recommendation, made after
holding public hearings, as to the appropriate level of the public debt that
should be set forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget and serve as the
basis for an increase or decrease in the statutory limit on such debt under the
procedures provided by rule XXIII.
Election and membership of standing committees
5. (a)(1) The standing committees specified in clause 1 shall be elected by
the House within seven calendar days after the commencement of each Congress,
from nominations submitted by the respective party caucus or conference. A
resolution proposing to change the composition of a standing committee shall be
privileged if offered by direction of the party caucus or conference concerned.
(2)(A) The Committee on the Budget shall be composed of members as follows:
(i) Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner who are members
of other standing committees, including five who are members of the
Committee on Appropriations and five who are members of the Committee on
Ways and Means;
(ii) one Member from the elected leadership of the majority party;
and
(iii) one Member from the elected leadership of the minority party.
(B) Except as permitted by subdivision (C), a member of the Committee on the
Budget other than one from the elected leadership of a party may not serve on
the committee during more than four Congresses in a period of six successive
Congresses (disregarding for this purpose any service for less than a full
session in a Congress).
(C) A member of the Committee on the Budget who served as either the
chairman or the ranking minority member of the committee in the immediately
previous Congress and who did not serve in that respective capacity in an
earlier Congress may serve as either the chairman or the ranking minority member
of the committee during one additional Congress.
(3)(A) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall be composed of
10 members, five from the majority party and five from the minority party.
(B) Except as permitted by subdivision (C), a member of the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct may not serve on the committee during more than
three Congresses in a period of five successive Congresses (disregarding for
this purpose any service for less than a full session in a Congress).
(C) A member of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct may serve on
the committee during a fourth Congress in a period of five successive Congresses
only as either the chairman or the ranking minority member of the committee.
(4)(A) At the beginning of a Congress, the Speaker or his designee and the
Minority Leader or his designee each shall name 10 Members, Delegates, or the
Resident Commissioner from his respective party who are not members of the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to be available to serve on
investigative subcommittees of that committee during that Congress. The lists of
Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner so named shall be announced to
the House.
(B) Whenever the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct jointly determine that Members, Delegates, or
the Resident Commissioner named under subdivision (A) should be assigned to
serve on an investigative subcommittee of that committee, each of them shall
select an equal number of such Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioner from
his respective party to serve on that subcommittee.
(b)(1) Membership on a standing committee during the course of a Congress
shall be contingent on continuing membership in the party caucus or conference
that nominated the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner concerned for
election to such committee. Should a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
cease to be a member of a particular party caucus or conference, that Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall automatically cease to be a member of
each standing committee to which he was elected on the basis of nomination by
that caucus or conference. The chairman of the relevant party caucus or
conference shall notify the Speaker whenever a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner ceases to be a member of that caucus or conference. The Speaker
shall notify the chairman of each affected committee that the election of such
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to the committee is automatically
vacated under this subparagraph.
(2)(A) Except as specified in subdivision (B), a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner may not serve simultaneously as a member of more than two
standing committees or more than four subcommittees of the standing committees.
(B)(i) Ex officio service by a chairman or ranking minority member of a
committee on each of its subcommittees under a committee rule does not count
against the limitation on subcommittee service.
(ii) Service on an investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct under paragraph (a)(4) does not count against the limitation
on subcommittee service.
(iii) Any other exception to the limitations in subdivision (A) must be
approved by the House on the recommendation of the relevant party caucus or
conference.
(C) In this subparagraph the term "subcommittee" includes a panel (other
than a special oversight panel of the Committee on Armed Services), task force,
special subcommittee, or other subunit of a standing committee that is
established for a cumulative period longer than six months in a Congress.
(c)(1) One of the members of each standing committee shall be elected by the
House, on the nomination of the majority party caucus or conference, as chairman
thereof. In the temporary absence of the chairman, the member next in rank (and
so on, as often as the case shall happen) shall act as chairman. Rank shall be
determined by the order members are named in resolutions electing them to the
committee. In the case of a permanent vacancy in the elected chairmanship of a
committee, the House shall elect another chairman.
(2) A member of a standing committee may not serve as chairman of the same
standing committee, or of the same subcommittee of a standing committee, during
more than three consecutive Congresses (disregarding for this purpose any
service for less than a full session in a Congress).
(d)(1) Except as permitted by subparagraph (2), a committee may have not
more than five subcommittees.
(2) A committee that maintains a subcommittee on oversight may have not more
than six subcommittees. The Committee on Appropriations may have not more than
13 subcommittees. The Committee on Government Reform may have not more than
seven subcommittees.
(e) The House shall fill a vacancy on a standing committee by election on
the nomination of the respective party caucus or conference.
Expense resolutions
6. (a) Whenever a committee, commission, or other entity (other than the
Committee on Appropriations) is granted authorization for the payment of its
expenses (including staff salaries) for a Congress, such authorization initially
shall be procured by one primary expense resolution reported by the Committee on
House Administration. A primary expense resolution may include a reserve fund
for unanticipated expenses of committees. An amount from such a reserve fund may
be allocated to a committee only by the approval of the Committee on House
Administration. A primary expense resolution reported to the House may not be
considered in the House unless a printed report thereon was available on the
previous calendar day. For the information of the House, such report shall--
(1) state the total amount of the funds to be provided to the
committee, commission, or other entity under the primary expense
resolution for all anticipated activities and programs of the committee,
commission, or other entity; and
(2) to the extent practicable, contain such general statements
regarding the estimated foreseeable expenditures for the respective
anticipated activities and programs of the committee, commission, or
other entity as may be appropriate to provide the House with basic
estimates of the expenditures contemplated by the primary expense
resolution.
(b) After the date of adoption by the House of a primary expense resolution
for a committee, commission, or other entity for a Congress, authorization for
the payment of additional expenses (including staff salaries) in that Congress
may be procured by one or more supplemental expense resolutions reported by the
Committee on House Administration, as necessary. A supplemental expense
resolution reported to the House may not be considered in the House unless a
printed report thereon was available on the previous calendar day. For the
information of the House, such report shall--
(1) state the total amount of additional funds to be provided to the
committee, commission, or other entity under the supplemental expense
resolution and the purposes for which those additional funds are
available; and
(2) state the reasons for the failure to procure the additional
funds for the committee, commission, or other entity by means of the
primary expense resolution.
(c) The preceding provisions of this clause do not apply to--
(1) a resolution providing for the payment from committee salary and
expense accounts of the House of sums necessary to pay compensation for
staff services performed for, or to pay other expenses of, a committee,
commission, or other entity at any time after the beginning of an odd-
numbered year and before the date of adoption by the House of the
primary expense resolution described in paragraph (a) for that year; or
(2) a resolution providing each of the standing committees in a
Congress additional office equipment, airmail and special-delivery
postage stamps, supplies, staff personnel, or any other specific item
for the operation of the standing committees, and containing an
authorization for the payment from committee salary and expense accounts
of the House of the expenses of any of the foregoing items provided by
that resolution, subject to and until enactment of the provisions of the
resolution as permanent law.
(d) From the funds made available for the appointment of committee staff by
a primary or additional expense resolution, the chairman of each committee shall
ensure that sufficient staff is made available to each subcommittee to carry out
its responsibilities under the rules of the committee and that the minority
party is treated fairly in the appointment of such staff.
(e) Funds authorized for a committee under this clause and clauses 7 and 8
are for expenses incurred in the activities of the committee.
Interim funding
7. (a) For the period beginning at noon on January 3 and ending at midnight
on March 31 in each odd-numbered year, such sums as may be necessary shall be
paid out of the committee salary and expense accounts of the House for
continuance of necessary investigations and studies by--
(1) each standing and select committee established by these rules;
and
(2) except as specified in paragraph (b), each select committee
established by resolution.
(b) In the case of the first session of a Congress, amounts shall be made
available under this paragraph for a select committee established by resolution
in the preceding Congress only if--
(1) a resolution proposing to reestablish such select committee is
introduced in the present Congress; and
(2) the House has not adopted a resolution of the preceding Congress
providing for termination of funding for investigations and studies by
such select committee.
(c) Each committee described in paragraph (a) shall be entitled for each
month during the period specified in paragraph (a) to 9 percent (or such lesser
percentage as may be determined by the Committee on House Administration) of the
total annualized amount made available under expense resolutions for
such committee in the preceding session of Congress.
(d) Payments under this paragraph shall be made on vouchers authorized by
the committee involved, signed by the chairman of the committee, except as
provided in paragraph (e), and approved by the Committee on House
Administration.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule of the House, or other
authority, from noon on January 3 of the first session of a Congress until the
election by the House of the committee concerned in that Congress, payments
under this paragraph shall be made on vouchers signed by--
(1) the member of the committee who served as chairman of the
committee at the expiration of the preceding Congress; or
(2) if the chairman is not a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner in the present Congress, then the ranking member of the
committee as it was constituted at the expiration of the preceding
Congress who is a member of the majority party in the present Congress.
(f)(1) The authority of a committee to incur expenses under this paragraph
shall expire upon adoption by the House of a primary expense resolution for the
committee.
(2) Amounts made available under this paragraph shall be expended in
accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
(3) This clause shall be effective only insofar as it is not inconsistent
with a resolution reported by the Committee on House Administration and adopted
by the House after the adoption of these rules.
Travel
8. (a) Local currencies owned by the United States shall be made available
to the committee and its employees engaged in carrying out their official duties
outside the United States or its territories or possessions. Appropriated funds,
including those authorized under this clause and clauses 6 and 8, may not be
expended for the purpose of defraying expenses of members of a committee or its
employees in a country where local currencies are available for this purpose.
(b) The following conditions shall apply with respect to travel outside the
United States or its territories or possessions:
(1) A member or employee of a committee may not receive or expend
local currencies for subsistence in a country for a day at a rate in
excess of the maximum per diem set forth in applicable Federal law.
(2) A member or employee shall be reimbursed for his expenses for a
day at the lesser of--
(A) the per diem set forth in applicable Federal law; or
(B) the actual, unreimbursed expenses (other than for
transportation) he incurred during that day.
(3) Each member or employee of a committee shall make to the
chairman of the committee an itemized report showing the dates each
country was visited, the amount of per diem furnished, the cost of
transportation furnished, and funds expended for any other official
purpose and shall summarize in these categories the total foreign
currencies or appropriated funds expended. Each report shall be filed
with the chairman of the committee not later than 60 days following the
completion of travel for use in complying with reporting requirements in
applicable Federal law and shall be open for public inspection.
(c)(1) In carrying out the activities of a committee outside the United
States in a country where local currencies are unavailable, a member or employee
of a committee may not receive reimbursement for expenses (other than for
transportation) in excess of the maximum per diem set forth in applicable
Federal law.
(2) A member or employee shall be reimbursed for his expenses for a day, at
the lesser of--
(A) the per diem set forth in applicable Federal law; or
(B) the actual unreimbursed expenses (other than for transportation)
he incurred during that day.
(3) A member or employee of a committee may not receive reimbursement for
the cost of any transportation in connection with travel outside the United
States unless the member or employee actually paid for the transportation.
(d) The restrictions respecting travel outside the United States set forth
in paragraph (c) also shall apply to travel outside the United States by a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House
authorized under any standing rule.
Committee staffs
9. (a)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2) and paragraph (f), each standing
committee may appoint, by majority vote, not more than 30 professional staff
members to be compensated from the funds provided for the appointment of
committee staff by primary and additional expense resolutions. Each professional
staff member appointed under this subparagraph shall be assigned to the chairman
and the ranking minority member of the committee, as the committee considers
advisable.
(2) Subject to paragraph (f) whenever a majority of the minority party
members of a standing committee (other than the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct or the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence) so request,
not more than 10 persons (or one-third of the total professional committee staff
appointed under this clause, whichever is fewer) may be selected, by majority
vote of the minority party members, for appointment by the committee as
professional staff members under subparagraph (1). The committee shall appoint
persons so selected whose character and qualifications are acceptable to a
majority of the committee. If the committee determines that the character and
qualifications of a person so selected are unacceptable, a majority of the
minority party members may select another person for appointment by the
committee to the professional staff until such appointment is made. Each
professional staff member appointed under this subparagraph shall be assigned to
such committee business as the minority party members of the committee consider
advisable.
(b)(1) The professional staff members of each standing committee--
(A) may not engage in any work other than committee business during
congressional working hours; and
(B) may not be assigned a duty other than one pertaining to
committee business.
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to staff designated by a committee as
``associate'' or ``shared'' staff who are not paid exclusively by the committee,
provided that the chairman certifies that the compensation paid by the committee
for any such staff is commensurate with the work performed for the committee in
accordance with clause 8 of rule XXIV.
(3) The use of any ``associate'' or ``shared'' staff by a committee shall be
subject to the review of, and to any terms, conditions, or limitations
established by, the Committee on House Administration in connection with the
reporting of any primary or additional expense resolution.
(4) This paragraph does not apply to the Committee on Appropriations.
(c) Each employee on the professional or investigative staff of a standing
committee shall be entitled to pay at a single gross per annum rate, to be fixed
by the chairman and that does not exceed the maximum rate of pay as in effect
from time to time under applicable provisions of law.
(d) Subject to appropriations hereby authorized, the Committee on
Appropriations may appoint by majority vote such staff as it determines to be
necessary (in addition to the clerk of the committee and assistants for the
minority). The staff appointed under this paragraph, other than minority
assistants, shall possess such qualifications as the committee may prescribe.
(e) A committee may not appoint to its staff an expert or other personnel
detailed or assigned from a department or agency of the Government except with
the written permission of the Committee on House Administration.
(f) If a request for the appointment of a minority professional staff member
under paragraph (a) is made when no vacancy exists for such an appointment, the
committee nevertheless may appoint under paragraph (a) a person selected by the
minority and acceptable to the committee. A person so appointed shall serve as
an additional member of the professional staff of the committee until such a
vacancy occurs (other than a vacancy in the position of head of the professional
staff, by whatever title designated), at which time that person is considered as
appointed to that vacancy. Such a person shall be paid from the applicable
accounts of the House described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule X. If such a vacancy
occurs on the professional staff when seven or more persons have been so
appointed who are eligible to fill that vacancy, a majority of the minority
party members shall designate which of those persons shall fill the vacancy.
(g) Each staff member appointed pursuant to a request by minority party
members under paragraph (a), and each staff member appointed to assist minority
members of a committee pursuant to an expense resolution described in paragraph
(a) of clause 6, shall be accorded equitable treatment with respect to the
fixing of the rate of pay, the assignment of work facilities, and the
accessibility of committee records.
(h) Paragraph (a) may not be construed to authorize the appointment of
additional professional staff members of a committee pursuant to a request under
paragraph (a) by the minority party members of that committee if 10 or more
professional staff members provided for in paragraph (a)(1) who are satisfactory
to a majority of the minority party members are otherwise assigned to assist the
minority party members.
(i) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2), a committee may employ nonpartisan
staff, in lieu of or in addition to committee staff designated exclusively for
the majority or minority party, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the
members of the majority party and of a majority of the members of the minority
party.
Select and joint committees
10. (a) Membership on a select or joint committee appointed by the Speaker
under clause 11 of rule I during the course of a Congress shall be contingent on
continuing membership in the party caucus or conference of which the Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner concerned was a member at the time of
appointment. Should a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner cease to be a
member of that caucus or conference, that Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner shall automatically cease to be a member of any select or joint
committee to which he is assigned. The chairman of the relevant party caucus or
conference shall notify the Speaker whenever a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner ceases to be a member of a party caucus or conference. The Speaker
shall notify the chairman of each affected select or joint committee that the
appointment of such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to the select or
joint committee is automatically vacated under this paragraph.
(b) Each select or joint committee, other than a conference committee, shall
comply with clause 2(a) of rule XI unless specifically exempted by law.
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
11. (a)(1) There is established a Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
(hereafter in this clause referred to as the ``select committee''). The select
committee shall be composed of not more than 16 Members, Delegates, or the
Resident Commissioner, of whom not more than nine may be from the same party.
The select committee shall include at least one Member, Delegate, or the
Resident Commissioner from each of the following committees:
(A) the Committee on Appropriations;
(B) the Committee on Armed Services;
(C) the Committee on International Relations; and
(D) the Committee on the Judiciary.
(2) The Speaker and the Minority Leader shall be ex officio members of the
select committee but shall have no vote in the select committee and may not be
counted for purposes of determining a quorum thereof.
(3) The Speaker and Minority Leader each may designate a member of his
leadership staff to assist him in his capacity as ex officio member, with the
same access to committee meetings, hearings, briefings, and materials as
employees of the select committee and subject to the same security clearance and
confidentiality requirements as employees of the select committee under this
clause.
(4)(A) Except as permitted by subdivision (B), a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner, other than the Speaker or the Minority Leader, may not
serve as a member of the select committee during more than four Congresses in a
period of six successive Congresses (disregarding for this purpose any service
for less than a full session in a Congress).
(B) A member of the select committee who served as either the chairman or
the ranking minority member of the select committee in the immediately previous
Congress and who did not serve in that respective capacity in an earlier
Congress may serve as either the chairman or the ranking minority member of the
select committee during one additional Congress.
(b)(1) There shall be referred to the select committee proposed legislation,
messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following:
(A) The Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of Central
Intelligence, and the National Foreign Intelligence Program as defined
in section 3(6) of the National Security Act of 1947.
(B) Intelligence and intelligence-related activities of all other
departments and agencies of the Government, including the tactical
intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the Department of
Defense.
(C) The organization or reorganization of a department or agency of
the Government to the extent that the organization or reorganization
relates to a function or activity involving intelligence or
intelligence-related activities.
(D) Authorizations for appropriations, both direct and indirect, for
the following:
(i) The Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of Central
Intelligence, and the National Foreign Intelligence Program as
defined in section 3(6) of the National Security Act of 1947.
(ii) Intelligence and intelligence-related activities of all
other departments and agencies of the Government, including the
tactical intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the
Department of Defense.
(iii) A department, agency, subdivision, or program that is
a successor to an agency or program named or referred to in (i)
or (ii).
(2) Proposed legislation initially reported by the select committee (other
than provisions solely involving matters specified in subparagraph (1)(A) or
subparagraph (1)(D)(i)) containing any matter otherwise within the jurisdiction
of a standing committee shall be referred by the Speaker to that standing
committee. Proposed legislation initially reported by another committee that
contains matter within the jurisdiction of the select committee shall be
referred by the Speaker to the select committee if requested by the chairman of
the select committee.
(3) Nothing in this clause shall be construed as prohibiting or otherwise
restricting the authority of any other committee to study and review an
intelligence or intelligence-related activity to the extent that such activity
directly affects a matter otherwise within the jurisdiction of that committee.
(4) Nothing in this clause shall be construed as amending, limiting, or
otherwise changing the authority of a standing committee to obtain full and
prompt access to the product of the intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of a department or agency of the Government relevant to a matter
otherwise within the jurisdiction of that committee.
(c)(1) For purposes of accountability to the House, the select committee
shall make regular and periodic reports to the House on the nature and extent of
the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the various departments
and agencies of the United States. The select committee shall promptly call to
the attention of the House, or to any other appropriate committee, a matter
requiring the attention of the House or another committee. In making such
report, the select committee shall proceed in a manner consistent with paragraph
(g) to protect national security.
(2) The select committee shall obtain annual reports from the Director of
the Central Intelligence Agency, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
State, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Such reports
shall review the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the agency
or department concerned and the intelligence and intelligence-related activities
of foreign countries directed at the United States or its interests. An
unclassified version of each report may be made available to the public at the
discretion of the select committee. Nothing herein shall be construed as
requiring the public disclosure in such reports of the names of persons engaged
in intelligence or intelligence-related activities for the United States or the
divulging of intelligence methods employed or the sources of information on
which the reports are based or the amount of funds authorized to be appropriated
for intelligence and intelligence-related activities.
(3) Within six weeks after the President submits a budget under section
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, or at such time as the Committee on the
Budget may request, the select committee shall submit to the Committee on the
Budget the views and estimates described in section 301(d) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the select
committee.
(d)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), clauses 6(a), (b), and (c)
and 8(a), (b), and (c) of this rule, and clauses 1, 2, and 4 of rule XI shall
apply to the select committee to the extent not inconsistent with this clause.
(2) Notwithstanding the requirements of the first sentence of clause 2(g)(2)
of rule XI, in the presence of the number of members required under the rules of
the select committee for the purpose of taking testimony or receiving evidence,
the select committee may vote to close a hearing whenever a majority of those
present determines that the testimony or evidence would endanger the national
security.
(e) An employee of the select committee, or a person engaged by contract or
otherwise to perform services for or at the request of the select committee, may
not be given access to any classified information by the select committee unless
such employee or person has--
(1) agreed in writing and under oath to be bound by the Rules of the
House, including the jurisdiction of the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct and of the select committee concerning the security of
classified information during and after the period of his employment or
contractual agreement with the select committee; and
(2) received an appropriate security clearance, as determined by the
select committee in consultation with the Director of Central
Intelligence, that is commensurate with the sensitivity of the
classified information to which such employee or person will be given
access by the select committee.
(f) The select committee shall formulate and carry out such rules and
procedures as it considers necessary to prevent the disclosure, without the
consent of each person concerned, of information in the possession of the select
committee that unduly infringes on the privacy or that violates the
constitutional rights of such person. Nothing herein shall be construed to
prevent the select committee from publicly disclosing classified information in
a case in which it determines that national interest in the disclosure
of classified information clearly outweighs any infringement on the
privacy of a person.
(g)(1) The select committee may disclose publicly any information in its
possession after a determination by the select committee that the public
interest would be served by such disclosure. With respect to the disclosure of
information for which this paragraph requires action by the select committee--
(A) the select committee shall meet to vote on the matter within
five days after a member of the select committee requests a vote; and
(B) a member of the select committee may not make such a disclosure
before a vote by the select committee on the matter, or after a vote by
the select committee on the matter except in accordance with this
paragraph.
(2)(A) In a case in which the select committee votes to disclose publicly
any information that has been classified under established security procedures,
that has been submitted to it by the executive branch, and that the executive
branch requests be kept secret, the select committee shall notify the President
of such vote.
(B) The select committee may disclose publicly such information after the
expiration of a five-day period following the day on which notice of the vote to
disclose is transmitted to the President unless, before the expiration of the
five-day period, the President, personally in writing, notifies the select
committee that he objects to the disclosure of such information, provides his
reasons therefor, and certifies that the threat to the national interest of the
United States posed by the disclosure is of such gravity that it outweighs any
public interest in the disclosure.
(C) If the President, personally in writing, notifies the select committee
of his objections to the disclosure of information as provided in subdivision
(B), the select committee may, by majority vote, refer the question of the
disclosure of such information, with a recommendation thereon, to the House. The
select committee may not publicly disclose such information without leave of the
House.
(D) Whenever the select committee votes to refer the question of disclosure
of any information to the House under subdivision (C), the chairman shall, not
later than the first day on which the House is in session following the day on
which the vote occurs, report the matter to the House for its consideration.
(E) If the chairman of the select committee does not offer in the House a
motion to consider in closed session a matter reported under subdivision (D)
within four calendar days on which the House is in session after the
recommendation described in subdivision (C) is reported, then such a motion
shall be privileged when offered by a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner. In either case such a motion shall be decided without debate or
intervening motion except one that the House adjourn.
(F) Upon adoption by the House of a motion to resolve into closed session as
described in subdivision (E), the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the
call of the Chair. At the expiration of the recess, the pending question, in
closed session, shall be, ``Shall the House approve the recommendation of the
select committee?''.
(G) Debate on the question described in subdivision (F) shall be limited to
two hours equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority
member of the select committee. After such debate the previous question shall be
considered as ordered on the question of approving the recommendation without
intervening motion except one motion that the House adjourn. The House shall
vote on the question in open session but without divulging the information with
respect to which the vote is taken. If the recommendation of the select
committee is not approved, then the question is considered as recommitted to the
select committee for further recommendation.
(3)(A) Information in the possession of the select committee relating to the
lawful intelligence or intelligence-related activities of a department or agency
of the United States that has been classified under established security
procedures, and that the select committee has determined should not be disclosed
under subparagraph (1) or (2), may not be made available to any person by a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House
except as provided in subdivision (B).
(B) The select committee shall, under such regulations as it may prescribe,
make information described in subdivision (A) available to a committee or a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, and permit a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner to attend a hearing of the select committee that is closed
to the public. Whenever the select committee makes such information available,
it shall keep a written record showing, in the case of particular information,
which committee or which Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner received the
information. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who, and a committee
that, receives information under this subdivision may not disclose the
information except in a closed session of the House.
(4) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall investigate any
unauthorized disclosure of intelligence or intelligence-related information by a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House in
violation of subparagraph (3) and report to the House concerning any allegation
that it finds to be substantiated.
(5) Upon the request of a person who is subject to an investigation
described in subparagraph (4), the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
shall release to such person at the conclusion of its investigation a summary of
its investigation, together with its findings. If, at the conclusion of its
investigation, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct determines that
there has been a significant breach of confidentiality or unauthorized
disclosure by a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House, it shall report its findings to the House and recommend appropriate
action. Recommendations may include censure, removal from committee membership,
or expulsion from the House, in the case of a Member, or removal from office or
employment or punishment for contempt, in the case of an officer or employee.
(h) The select committee may permit a personal representative of the
President, designated by the President to serve as a liaison to the select
committee, to attend any closed meeting of the select committee.
(i) Subject to the Rules of the House, funds may not be appropriated for a
fiscal year, with the exception of a bill or joint resolution continuing
appropriations, or an amendment thereto, or a conference report thereon, to, or
for use of, a department or agency of the United States to carry out any of the
following activities, unless the funds shall previously have been authorized by
a bill or joint resolution passed by the House during the same or preceding
fiscal year to carry out such activity for such fiscal year:
(1) The activities of the Central Intelligence Agency and the
Director of Central Intelligence.
(2) The activities of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
(3) The activities of the National Security Agency.
(4) The intelligence and intelligence-related activities of other
agencies and subdivisions of the Department of Defense.
(5) The intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the
Department of State.
(6) The intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, including all activities of the
Intelligence Division.
(j)(1) In this clause the term ``intelligence and intelligence-related
activities'' includes--
(A) the collection, analysis, production, dissemination, or use of
information that relates to a foreign country, or a government,
political group, party, military force, movement, or other association
in a foreign country, and that relates to the defense, foreign policy,
national security, or related policies of the United States and other
activity in support of the collection, analysis, production,
dissemination, or use of such information;
(B) activities taken to counter similar activities directed against
the United States;
(C) covert or clandestine activities affecting the relations of the
United States with a foreign government, political group, party,
military force, movement, or other association;
(D) the collection, analysis, production, dissemination, or use of
information about activities of persons within the United States, its
territories and possessions, or nationals of the United States abroad
whose political and related activities pose, or may be considered by a
department, agency, bureau, office, division, instrumentality, or
employee of the United States to pose, a threat to the internal security
of the United States; and
(E) covert or clandestine activities directed against persons
described in subdivision (D).
(2) In this clause the term ``department or agency'' includes any
organization, committee, council, establishment, or office within the Federal
Government.
(3) For purposes of this clause, reference to a department, agency, bureau,
or subdivision shall include a reference to any successor department, agency,
bureau, or subdivision to the extent that a successor engages in intelligence or
intelligence-related activities now conducted by the department, agency, bureau,
or subdivision referred to in this clause.
(k) Clause 12(a) of rule XXII does not apply to meetings of a conference
committee respecting legislation (or any part thereof) reported by the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence.
RULE XI.
Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business.
In general
1. (a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), the Rules of the House
are the rules of its committees and subcommittees so far as applicable.
(B) A motion to recess from day to day, and a motion to dispense with the
first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed copies are
available, each shall be privileged in committees and subcommittees and shall be
decided without debate.
(2) Each subcommittee is a part of its committee and is subject to the
authority and direction of that committee and to its rules, so far as
applicable.
(b)(1) Each committee may conduct at any time such investigations and
studies as it considers necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its
responsibilities under rule X. Subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as
required by clause 6 of rule X, each committee may incur expenses, including
travel expenses, in connection with such investigations and studies.
(2) A proposed investigative or oversight report shall be considered as read
in committee if it has been available to the members for at least 24 hours
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in
session on such a day).
(3) A report of an investigation or study conducted jointly by more than one
committee may be filed jointly, provided that each of the committees complies
independently with all requirements for approval and filing of the report.
(4) After an adjournment sine die of the last regular session of a Congress,
an investigative or oversight report may be filed with the Clerk at any time,
provided that a member who gives timely notice of intention to file
supplemental, minority, or additional views shall be entitled to not less than
seven calendar days in which to submit such views for inclusion in the report.
(c) Each committee may have printed and bound such testimony and other data
as may be presented at hearings held by the committee or its subcommittees. All
costs of stenographic services and transcripts in connection with a meeting or
hearing of a committee shall be paid from the applicable accounts of the House
described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule X.
(d)(1) Each committee shall submit to the House not later than January 2 of
each odd-numbered year a report on the activities of that committee under this
rule and rule X during the Congress ending at noon on January 3 of such year.
(2) Such report shall include separate sections summarizing the legislative
and oversight activities of that committee during that Congress.
(3) The oversight section of such report shall include a summary of the
oversight plans submitted by the committee under clause 2(d) of rule X, a
summary of the actions taken and recommendations made with respect to each such
plan, a summary of any additional oversight activities undertaken by that
committee, and any recommendations made or actions taken thereon.
(4) After an adjournment sine die of the last regular session of a Congress,
the chairman of a committee may file an activities report under subparagraph (1)
with the Clerk at any time and without approval of the committee, provided
that--
(A) a copy of the report has been available to each member of the
committee for at least seven calendar days; and
(B) the report includes any supplemental, minority, or additional
views submitted by a member of the committee.
Adoption of written rules
2. (a)(1) Each standing committee shall adopt written rules governing its
procedure. Such rules--
(A) shall be adopted in a meeting that is open to the public unless
the committee, in open session and with a quorum present, determines by
record vote that all or part of the meeting on that day shall be closed
to the public;
(B) may not be inconsistent with the Rules of the House or with
those provisions of law having the force and effect of Rules of the
House; and
(C) shall in any event incorporate all of the succeeding provisions
of this clause to the extent applicable.
(2) Each committee shall submit its rules for publication in the
Congressional Record not later than 30 days after the committee is elected in
each odd-numbered year.
Regular meeting days
(b) Each standing committee shall establish regular meeting days for the
conduct of its business, which shall be not less frequent than monthly. Each
such committee shall meet for the consideration of a bill or resolution pending
before the committee or the transaction of other committee business on all
regular meeting days fixed by the committee unless otherwise provided by written
rule adopted by the committee.
Additional and special meetings
(c)(1) The chairman of each standing committee may call and convene, as he
considers necessary, additional and special meetings of the committee for the
consideration of a bill or resolution pending before the committee or for the
conduct of other committee business, subject to such rules as the committee may
adopt. The committee shall meet for such purpose under that call of the
chairman.
(2) Three or more members of a standing committee may file in the offices of
the committee a written request that the chairman call a special meeting of the
committee. Such request shall specify the measure or matter to be considered.
Immediately upon the filing of the request, the clerk of the committee shall
notify the chairman of the filing of the request. If the chairman does not call
the requested special meeting within three calendar days after the filing of the
request (to be held within seven calendar days after the filing of the request)
a majority of the members of the committee may file in the offices of the
committee their written notice that a special meeting of the committee will be
held. The written notice shall specify the date and hour of the special meeting
and the measure or matter to be considered. The committee shall meet on that
date and hour. Immediately upon the filing of the notice, the clerk of the
committee shall notify all members of the committee that such special meeting
will be held and inform them of its date and hour and the measure or matter to
be considered. Only the measure or matter specified in that notice may be
considered at that special meeting.
Temporary absence of chairman
(d) A member of the majority party on each standing committee or
subcommittee thereof shall be designated by the chairman of the full committee
as the vice chairman of the committee or subcommittee, as the case may be, and
shall preside during the absence of the chairman from any meeting. If the
chairman and vice chairman of a committee or subcommittee are not present at any
meeting of the committee or subcommittee, the ranking majority member who is
present shall preside at that meeting.
Committee records
(e)(1)(A) Each committee shall keep a complete record of all committee
action which shall include--
(i) in the case of a meeting or hearing transcript, a substantially
verbatim account of remarks actually made during the proceedings,
subject only to technical, grammatical, and typographical corrections
authorized by the person making the remarks involved; and
(ii) a record of the votes on any question on which a record vote is
demanded.
(B)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (B)(ii) and subject to paragraph
(k)(7), the result of each such record vote shall be made available by the
committee for inspection by the public at reasonable times in its offices.
Information so available for public inspection shall include a description of
the amendment, motion, order, or other proposition, the name of each member
voting for and each member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or
proposition, and the names of those members of the committee present but not
voting.
(ii) The result of any record vote taken in executive session in the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct may not be made available for
inspection by the public without an affirmative vote of a majority of the
members of the committee.
(2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), all committee hearings,
records, data, charts, and files shall be kept separate and distinct from the
congressional office records of the member serving as its chairman. Such records
shall be the property of the House, and each Member, Delegate, and the Resident
Commissioner shall have access thereto.
(B) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, other than members of the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, may not have access to the records
of that committee respecting the conduct of a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House without the specific prior
permission of that committee.
(3) Each committee shall include in its rules standards for availability of
records of the committee delivered to the Archivist of the United States under
rule VII. Such standards shall specify procedures for orders of the committee
under clause 3(b)(3) and clause 4(b) of rule VII, including a requirement that
nonavailability of a record for a period longer than the period otherwise
applicable under that rule shall be approved by vote of the committee.
(4) Each committee shall make its publications available in electronic form
to the maximum extent feasible.
Prohibition against proxy voting
(f) A vote by a member of a committee or subcommittee with respect to any
measure or matter may not be cast by proxy.
Open meetings and hearings
(g)(1) Each meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of
legislation, by a standing committee or subcommittee thereof (other than the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or its subcommittee) shall be open to
the public, including to radio, television, and still photography coverage,
except when the committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority
present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of the
meeting on that day shall be in executive session because disclosure of matters
to be considered would endanger national security, would compromise sensitive
law enforcement information, would tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any
person, or otherwise would violate a law or rule of the House. Persons, other
than members of the committee and such noncommittee Members, Delegates, Resident
Commissioner, congressional staff, or departmental representatives as the
committee may authorize, may not be present at a business or markup session that
is held in executive session. This subparagraph does not apply to open committee
hearings, which are governed by clause 4(a)(1) of rule X or by subparagraph (2).
(2)(A) Each hearing conducted by a committee or subcommittee (other than the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or its subcommittees) shall be open
to the public, including to radio, television, and still photography coverage,
except when the committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority
present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of that
hearing on that day shall be closed to the public because disclosure of
testimony, evidence, or other matters to be considered would endanger national
security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would
violate a law or rule of the House.
(B) Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision (A), in the presence of
the number of members required under the rules of the committee for the purpose
of taking testimony, a majority of those present may--
(i) agree to close the hearing for the sole purpose of discussing
whether testimony or evidence to be received would endanger national
security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or
would violate clause 2(k)(5); or
(ii) agree to close the hearing as provided in clause 2(k)(5).
(C) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not be excluded from
nonparticipatory attendance at a hearing of a committee or subcommittee (other
than the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or its subcommittees) unless
the House by majority vote authorizes a particular committee or subcommittee,
for purposes of a particular series of hearings on a particular article of
legislation or on a particular subject of investigation, to close its hearings
to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner by the same procedures
specified in this subparagraph for closing hearings to the public.
(D) The committee or subcommittee may vote by the same procedure described
in this subparagraph to close one subsequent day of hearing, except that the
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence, and the subcommittees thereof, may vote by the
same procedure to close up to five additional, consecutive days of hearings.
(3) The chairman of each committee (other than the Committee on Rules) shall
make public announcement of the date, place, and subject matter of a committee
hearing at least one week before the commencement of the hearing. If the
chairman of the committee, with the concurrence of the ranking minority member,
determines that there is good cause to begin a hearing sooner, or if the
committee so determines by majority vote in the presence of the number of
members required under the rules of the committee for the transaction of
business, the chairman shall make the announcement at the earliest possible
date. An announcement made under this subparagraph shall be published promptly
in the Daily Digest and made available in electronic form.
(4) Each committee shall, to the greatest extent practicable, require
witnesses who appear before it to submit in advance written statements of
proposed testimony and to limit their initial presentations to the committee to
brief summaries thereof. In the case of a witness appearing in a nongovernmental
capacity, a written statement of proposed testimony shall include a curriculum
vitae and a disclosure of the amount and source (by agency and program) of each
Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof)
received during the current fiscal year or either of the two previous fiscal
years by the witness or by an entity represented by the witness.
(5)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), a point of order does not lie
with respect to a measure reported by a committee on the ground that hearings on
such measure were not conducted in accordance with this clause.
(B) A point of order on the ground described in subdivision (A) may be made
by a member of the committee that reported the measure if such point of order
was timely made and improperly disposed of in the committee.
(6) This paragraph does not apply to hearings of the Committee on
Appropriations under clause 4(a)(1) of rule X.
Quorum requirements
(h)(1) A measure or recommendation may not be reported by a committee unless
a majority of the committee is actually present.
(2) Each committee may fix the number of its members to constitute a quorum
for taking testimony and receiving evidence, which may not be less than two.
(3) Each committee (other than the Committee on Appropriations, the
Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Ways and Means) may fix the number
of its members to constitute a quorum for taking any action other than the
reporting of a measure or recommendation, which may not be less than one-third
of the members.
Limitation on committee sittings
(i) A committee may not sit during a joint session of the House and Senate
or during a recess when a joint meeting of the House and Senate is in progress.
Calling and questioning of witnesses
(j)(1) Whenever a hearing is conducted by a committee on a measure or
matter, the minority members of the committee shall be entitled, upon request to
the chairman by a majority of them before the completion of the hearing, to call
witnesses selected by the minority to testify with respect to that measure or
matter during at least one day of hearing thereon.
(2)(A) Subject to subdivisions (B) and (C), each committee shall apply the
five-minute rule during the questioning of witnesses in a hearing until such
time as each member of the committee who so desires has had an opportunity to
question each witness.
(B) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permitting a specified number of
its members to question a witness for longer than five minutes. The time for
extended questioning of a witness under this subdivision shall be equal for the
majority party and the minority party and may not exceed one hour in the
aggregate.
(C) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permitting committee staff for
its majority and minority party members to question a witness for equal
specified periods. The time for extended questioning of a witness under this
subdivision shall be equal for the majority party and the minority party and may
not exceed one hour in the aggregate.
Investigative hearing procedures
(k)(1) The chairman at an investigative hearing shall announce in an opening
statement the subject of the investigation.
(2) A copy of the committee rules and of this clause shall be made available
to each witness.
(3) Witnesses at investigative hearings may be accompanied by their own
counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their constitutional rights.
(4) The chairman may punish breaches of order and decorum, and of
professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and exclusion from the
hearings; and the committee may cite the offender to the House for contempt.
(5) Whenever it is asserted that the evidence or testimony at an
investigative hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person--
(A) notwithstanding paragraph (g)(2), such testimony or evidence
shall be presented in executive session if, in the presence of the
number of members required under the rules of the committee for the
purpose of taking testimony, the committee determines by vote of a
majority of those present that such evidence or testimony may tend to
defame, degrade, or incriminate any person; and
(B) the committee shall proceed to receive such testimony in open
session only if the committee, a majority being present, determines that
such evidence or testimony will not tend to defame, degrade, or
incriminate any person.
In either case the committee shall afford such person an opportunity voluntarily
to appear as a witness, and receive and dispose of requests from such person to
subpoena additional witnesses.
(6) Except as provided in subparagraph (5), the chairman shall receive and
the committee shall dispose of requests to subpoena additional witnesses.
(7) Evidence or testimony taken in executive session, and proceedings
conducted in executive session, may be released or used in public sessions only
when authorized by the committee, a majority being present.
(8) In the discretion of the committee, witnesses may submit brief and
pertinent sworn statements in writing for inclusion in the record. The committee
is the sole judge of the pertinence of testimony and evidence adduced at its
hearing.
(9) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of his testimony given at a
public session or, if given at an executive session, when authorized by the
committee.
Supplemental, minority, or additional views
(l) If at the time of approval of a measure or matter by a committee (other
than the Committee on Rules) a member of the committee gives notice of intention
to file supplemental, minority, or additional views for inclusion in the report
to the House thereon, that member shall be entitled to not less than two
additional calendar days after the day of such notice (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in session on such a day)
to file such views, in writing and signed by that member, with the clerk of the
committee.
Power to sit and act; subpoena power
(m)(1) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions and duties under
this rule and rule X (including any matters referred to it under clause 2 of
rule XII), a committee or subcommittee is authorized (subject to subparagraph
(2)(A))--
(A) to sit and act at such times and places within the United
States, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned,
and to hold such hearings as it considers necessary; and
(B) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and
testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records,
correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as it considers
necessary.
(2) The chairman of the committee, or a member designated by the chairman,
may administer oaths to witnesses.
(3)(A)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (A)(ii), a subpoena may be
authorized and issued by a committee or subcommittee under subparagraph (1)(B)
in the conduct of an investigation or series of investigations or activities
only when authorized by the committee or subcommittee, a majority being present.
The power to authorize and issue subpoenas under subparagraph (1)(B) may be
delegated to the chairman of the committee under such rules and under such
limitations as the committee may prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed
by the chairman of the committee or by a member designated by the committee.
(ii) In the case of a subcommittee of the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct, a subpoena may be authorized and issued only by an affirmative vote of
a majority of its members.
(B) A subpoena duces tecum may specify terms of return other than at a
meeting or hearing of the committee or subcommittee authorizing the subpoena.
(C) Compliance with a subpoena issued by a committee or subcommittee under
subparagraph (1)(B) may be enforced only as authorized or directed by the House.
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
3. (a) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has the following
functions:
(1) The committee may recommend to the House from time to time such
administrative actions as it may consider appropriate to establish or
enforce standards of official conduct for Members, Delegates, the
Resident Commissioner, officers, and employees of the House. A letter of
reproval or other administrative action of the committee pursuant to an
investigation under subparagraph (2) shall only be issued or implemented
as a part of a report required by such subparagraph.
(2) The committee may investigate, subject to paragraph (b), an
alleged violation by a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer,
or employee of the House of the Code of Official Conduct or of a law,
rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct
of such Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee in
the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities.
After notice and hearing (unless the right to a hearing is waived by the
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer or employee), the
committee shall report to the House its findings of fact and
recommendations, if any, for the final disposition of any such
investigation and such action as the committee may consider appropriate
in the circumstances.
(3) The committee may report to the appropriate Federal or State
authorities, either with the approval of the House or by an affirmative
vote of two-thirds of the members of the committee, any substantial
evidence of a violation by a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House, of a law applicable to the
performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities that
may have been disclosed in a committee investigation.
(4) The committee may consider the request of a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House for an advisory
opinion with respect to the general propriety of any current or proposed
conduct of such Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee. With appropriate deletions to ensure the privacy of the person
concerned, the committee may publish such opinion for the guidance of
other Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and
employees of the House.
(5) The committee may consider the request of a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House for a written
waiver in exceptional circumstances with respect to clause 4 of rule
XXIV.
(b)(1)(A) Unless approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of its
members, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct may not report a
resolution, report, recommendation, or advisory opinion relating to the official
conduct of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer or employee of the
House, or, except as provided in subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation of
such conduct.
(B)(i) Upon the receipt of information offered as a complaint that is in
compliance with this rule and the rules of the committee, the chairman and
ranking minority member jointly may appoint members to serve as an investigative
subcommittee.
(ii) The chairman and ranking minority member of the committee jointly may
gather additional information concerning alleged conduct that is the basis of a
complaint or of information offered as a complaint until they have established
an investigative subcommittee or either of them has placed on the agenda of the
committee the issue of whether to establish an investigative subcommittee.
(2) Except in the case of an investigation undertaken by the committee on
its own initiative, the committee may undertake an investigation relating to the
official conduct of an individual Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House only--
(A) upon receipt of information offered as a complaint, in writing
and under oath, from a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner and
transmitted to the committee by such Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner; or
(B) upon receipt of information offered as a complaint, in writing
and under oath, from a person not a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner provided that a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
certifies in writing to the committee that he believes the information
is submitted in good faith and warrants the review and consideration of
the committee.
If a complaint is not disposed of within the applicable periods set forth in the
rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, the chairman and
ranking minority member shall establish jointly an investigative subcommittee
and forward the complaint, or any portion thereof, to that subcommittee for its
consideration. However, if at any time during those periods either the chairman
or ranking minority member places on the agenda the issue of whether to
establish an investigative subcommittee, then an investigative subcommittee may
be established only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the
committee.
(3) The committee may not undertake an investigation of an alleged violation
of a law, rule, regulation, or standard of conduct that was not in effect at the
time of the alleged violation. The committee may not undertake an investigation
of such an alleged violation that occurred before the third previous Congress
unless the committee determines that the alleged violation is directly related
to an alleged violation that occurred in a more recent Congress.
(4) A member of the committee shall be ineligible to participate as a member
of the committee in a committee proceeding relating to the member's official
conduct. Whenever a member of the committee is ineligible to act as a member of
the committee under the preceding sentence, the Speaker shall designate a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from the same political party as the
ineligible member to act in any proceeding of the committee relating to that
conduct.
(5) A member of the committee may disqualify himself from participating in
an investigation of the conduct of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House upon the submission in writing and under oath
of an affidavit of disqualification stating that the member cannot render an
impartial and unbiased decision in the case in which the member seeks to be
disqualified. If the committee approves and accepts such affidavit of
disqualification, the chairman shall so notify the Speaker and request the
Speaker to designate a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from the same
political party as the disqualifying member to act in any proceeding of
the committee relating to that case.
(6) Information or testimony received, or the contents of a complaint or the
fact of its filing, may not be publicly disclosed by any committee or staff
member unless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the full
committee.
(7) The committee shall have the functions designated in titles I and V of
the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, in sections 7342, 7351, and 7353 of title
5, United States Code, and in clause 11(g)(4) of rule X.
(c)(1) Notwithstanding clause 2(g)(1) of rule XI, each meeting of the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or a subcommittee thereof shall occur
in executive session unless the committee or subcommittee, by an affirmative
vote of a majority of its members, opens the meeting to the public.
(2) Notwithstanding clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI, each hearing of an
adjudicatory subcommittee or sanction hearing of the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct shall be held in open session unless the committee or
subcommittee, in open session by an affirmative vote of a majority of its
members, closes all or part of the remainder of the hearing on that day to the
public.
(d) Before a member, officer, or employee of the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct, including members of a subcommittee of the committee selected
under clause 5(a)(4) of rule X and shared staff, may have access to information
that is confidential under the rules of the committee, the following oath (or
affirmation) shall be executed:
``I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not disclose, to any
person or entity outside the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct,
any information received in the course of my service with the committee,
except as authorized by the committee or in accordance with its rules.''
Copies of the executed oath shall be retained by the Clerk as part of the
records of the House. This paragraph establishes a standard of conduct within
the meaning of paragraph (a)(2). Breaches of confidentiality shall be
investigated by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and appropriate
action shall be taken.
(e)(1) If a complaint or information offered as a complaint is deemed
frivolous by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct, the committee may take such action as it, by
an affirmative vote of a majority of its members, considers appropriate in the
circumstances.
(2) Complaints filed before the One Hundred Fifth Congress may not be deemed
frivolous by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
Audio and visual coverage of committee proceedings
4. (a) The purpose of this clause is to provide a means, in conformity with
acceptable standards of dignity, propriety, and decorum, by which committee
hearings or committee meetings that are open to the public may be covered by
audio and visual means--
(1) for the education, enlightenment, and information of the general
public, on the basis of accurate and impartial news coverage, regarding
the operations, procedures, and practices of the House as a legislative
and representative body, and regarding the measures, public issues, and
other matters before the House and its committees, the consideration
thereof, and the action taken thereon; and
(2) for the development of the perspective and understanding of the
general public with respect to the role and function of the House under
the Constitution as an institution of the Federal Government.
(b) In addition, it is the intent of this clause that radio and television
tapes and television film of any coverage under this clause may not be used, or
made available for use, as partisan political campaign material to promote or
oppose the candidacy of any person for elective public office.
(c) It is, further, the intent of this clause that the general conduct of
each meeting (whether of a hearing or otherwise) covered under authority of this
clause by audio or visual means, and the personal behavior of the committee
members and staff, other Government officials and personnel, witnesses,
television, radio, and press media personnel, and the general public at the
hearing or other meeting, shall be in strict conformity with and observance of
the acceptable standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy, and decorum
traditionally observed by the House in its operations, and may not be such as
to--
(1) distort the objects and purposes of the hearing or other meeting
or the activities of committee members in connection with that hearing
or meeting or in connection with the general work of the committee or of
the House; or
(2) cast discredit or dishonor on the House, the committee, or a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner or bring the House, the
committee, or a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner into
disrepute.
(d) The coverage of committee hearings and meetings by audio and visual
means shall be permitted and conducted only in strict conformity with the
purposes, provisions, and requirements of this clause.
(e) Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by a committee or subcommittee
is open to the public, those proceedings shall be open to coverage by audio and
visual means. A committee or subcommittee chairman may not limit the number of
television or still cameras to fewer than two representatives from each medium
(except for legitimate space or safety considerations, in which case pool
coverage shall be authorized).
(f) Each committee shall adopt written rules to govern its implementation of
this clause. Such rules shall contain provisions to the following effect:
(1) If audio or visual coverage of the hearing or meeting is to be
presented to the public as live coverage, that coverage shall be
conducted and presented without commercial sponsorship.
(2) The allocation among the television media of the positions or
the number of television cameras permitted by a committee or
subcommittee chairman in a hearing or meeting room shall be in
accordance with fair and equitable procedures devised by the Executive
Committee of the Radio and Television Correspondents' Galleries.
(3) Television cameras shall be placed so as not to obstruct in any
way the space between a witness giving evidence or testimony and any
member of the committee or the visibility of that witness and that
member to each other.
(4) Television cameras shall operate from fixed positions but may
not be placed in positions that obstruct unnecessarily the coverage of
the hearing or meeting by the other media.
(5) Equipment necessary for coverage by the television and radio
media may not be installed in, or removed from, the hearing or meeting
room while the committee is in session.
(6)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), floodlights,
spotlights, strobelights, and flashguns may not be used in providing any
method of coverage of the hearing or meeting.
(B) The television media may install additional lighting in a
hearing or meeting room, without cost to the Government, in order to
raise the ambient lighting level in a hearing or meeting room to the
lowest level necessary to provide adequate television coverage of a
hearing or meeting at the current state of the art of television
coverage.
(7) In the allocation of the number of still photographers permitted
by a committee or subcommittee chairman in a hearing or meeting room,
preference shall be given to photographers from Associated Press Photos
and United Press International Newspictures. If requests are made by
more of the media than will be permitted by a committee or subcommittee
chairman for coverage of a hearing or meeting by still photography, that
coverage shall be permitted on the basis of a fair and equitable pool
arrangement devised by the Standing Committee of Press Photographers.
(8) Photographers may not position themselves between the witness
table and the members of the committee at any time during the course of
a hearing or meeting.
(9) Photographers may not place themselves in positions that
obstruct unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing by the other media.
(10) Personnel providing coverage by the television and radio media
shall be currently accredited to the Radio and Television
Correspondents' Galleries.
(11) Personnel providing coverage by still photography shall be
currently accredited to the Press Photographers' Gallery.
(12) Personnel providing coverage by the television and radio media
and by still photography shall conduct themselves and their coverage
activities in an orderly and unobtrusive manner.
Pay of witnesses
5. Witnesses appearing before the House or any of its committees shall be
paid the same per diem rate as established, authorized, and regulated by the
Committee on House Administration for Members, Delegates, the Resident
Commissioner, and employees of the House, plus actual expenses of travel to or
from the place of examination. Such per diem may not be paid when a witness has
been summoned at the place of examination.
Unfinished business of the session
6. All business of the House at the end of one session shall be resumed at
the commencement of the next session of the same Congress in the same manner as
if no adjournment had taken place.
RULE XII.
Receipt and Referral of Measures and Matters.
Messages
1. Messages received from the Senate, or from the President, shall be
entered on the Journal and published in the Congressional Record of the
proceedings of that day.
Referral
2. (a) The Speaker shall refer each bill, resolution, or other matter that
relates to a subject listed under a standing committee named in clause 1 of rule
X in accordance with the provisions of this clause.
(b) The Speaker shall refer matters under paragraph (a) in such manner as to
ensure to the maximum extent feasible that each committee that has jurisdiction
under clause 1 of rule X over the subject matter of a provision thereof may
consider such provision and report to the House thereon. Precedents, rulings, or
procedures in effect before the Ninety-Fourth Congress shall be applied to
referrals under this clause only to the extent that they will contribute to the
achievement of the objectives of this clause.
(c) In carrying out paragraphs (a) and (b) with respect to the referral of a
matter, the Speaker--
(1) shall designate a committee of primary jurisdiction;
(2) may refer the matter to one or more additional committees for
consideration in sequence, either initially or after the matter has been
reported by the committee of primary jurisdiction;
(3) may refer portions of the matter reflecting different subjects
and jurisdictions to one or more additional committees;
(4) may refer the matter to a special, ad hoc committee appointed by
the Speaker with the approval of the House, and including members of the
committees of jurisdiction, for the specific purpose of considering that
matter and reporting to the House thereon;
(5) may subject a referral to appropriate time limitations; and
(6) may make such other provision as may be considered appropriate.
(d) A bill for the payment or adjudication of a private claim against the
Government may not be referred to a committee other than the Committee on
International Relations or the Committee on the Judiciary, except by unanimous
consent.
Petitions, memorials, and private bills
3. If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner has a petition, memorial,
or private bill to present, he shall endorse his name, deliver it to the Clerk,
and may specify the reference or disposition to be made thereof. Such petition,
memorial, or private bill (except when judged by the Speaker to be obscene or
insulting) shall be entered on the Journal with the name of the Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner presenting it and shall be printed in the
Congressional Record.
4. A private bill or private resolution (including an omnibus claim or
pension bill), or amendment thereto, may not be received or considered in the
House if it authorizes or directs--
(a) the payment of money for property damages, for personal injuries
or death for which suit may be instituted under the Tort Claims
Procedure provided in title 28, United States Code, or for a pension
(other than to carry out a provision of law or treaty stipulation);
(b) the construction of a bridge across a navigable stream; or
(c) the correction of a military or naval record.
Prohibition on commemorations
5. (a) A bill or resolution, or an amendment thereto, may not be introduced
or considered in the House if it establishes or expresses a commemoration.
(b) In this clause the term ``commemoration'' means a remembrance,
celebration, or recognition for any purpose through the designation of a
specified period of time.
Excluded matters
6. A petition, memorial, bill, or resolution excluded under this rule shall
be returned to the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from whom it was
received. A petition or private bill that has been inappropriately referred may,
by direction of the committee having possession of it, be properly referred in
the manner originally presented. An erroneous reference of a petition or private
bill under this clause does not confer jurisdiction on a committee to consider
or report it.
Sponsorship
7. (a) All other bills, memorials, petitions, and resolutions, endorsed with
the names of Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner introducing them,
may be delivered to the Speaker to be referred. The titles and references of all
bills, memorials, petitions, resolutions, and other documents referred under
this rule shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the Congressional
Record. An erroneous reference may be corrected by the House in accordance with
rule X on any day immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by
unanimous consent or motion. Such a motion shall be privileged if offered by
direction of a committee to which the bill has been erroneously referred or by
direction of a committee claiming jurisdiction and shall be decided without
debate.
(b)(1) The primary sponsor of a public bill or public resolution may name
cosponsors. The name of a cosponsor added after the initial printing of a bill
or resolution shall appear in the next printing of the bill or resolution on the
written request of the primary sponsor. Such a request may be submitted to the
Speaker at any time until the last committee authorized to consider and report
the bill or resolution reports it to the House or is discharged from its
consideration.
(2) The name of a cosponsor of a bill or resolution may be deleted by
unanimous consent. The Speaker may entertain such a request only by the Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner whose name is to be deleted or by the primary
sponsor of the bill or resolution, and only until the last committee authorized
to consider and report the bill or resolution reports it to the House or is
discharged from its consideration. The Speaker may not entertain a request to
delete the name of the primary sponsor of a bill or resolution. A deletion shall
be indicated by date in the next printing of the bill or resolution.
(3) The addition or deletion of the name of a cosponsor of a bill or
resolution shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the Congressional
Record of that day.
(4) A bill or resolution shall be reprinted on the written request of the
primary sponsor. Such a request may be submitted to the Speaker only when 20 or
more cosponsors have been added since the last printing of the bill or
resolution.
(5) When a bill or resolution is introduced ``by request,'' those words
shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the Congressional Record.
Executive communications
8. Estimates of appropriations and all other communications from the
executive departments intended for the consideration of any committees of the
House shall be addressed to the Speaker for referral as provided in clause 2 of
rule XIV.
RULE XIII.
Calendars and Committee Reports.
Calendars
1. (a) All business reported by committees shall be referred to one of the
following three calendars:
(1) A Calendar of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union, to which shall be referred public bills and public
resolutions raising revenue, involving a tax or charge on the people,
directly or indirectly making appropriations of money or property or
requiring such appropriations to be made, authorizing payments out of
appropriations already made, releasing any liability to the United
States for money or property, or referring a claim to the Court of
Claims.
(2) A House Calendar, to which shall be referred all public bills
and public resolutions not requiring referral to the Calendar of the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
(3) A Private Calendar as provided in clause 5 of rule XV, to which
shall be referred all private bills and private resolutions.
(b) There is established a Corrections Calendar as provided in clause 6 of
rule XV.
(c) There is established a Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees as
provided in clause 2 of rule XV.
Filing and printing of reports
2. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), all reports of committees
(other than those filed from the floor as privileged) shall be delivered to the
Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar under the direction of
the Speaker in accordance with clause 1. The title or subject of each report
shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the Congressional Record.
(2) A bill or resolution reported adversely shall be laid on the table
unless a committee to which the bill or resolution was referred requests at the
time of the report its referral to an appropriate calendar under clause 1 or
unless, within three days thereafter, a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner makes such a request.
(b)(1) It shall be the duty of the chairman of each committee to report or
cause to be reported promptly to the House a measure or matter approved by the
committee and to take or cause to be taken steps necessary to bring the measure
or matter to a vote.
(2) In any event, the report of a committee on a measure that has been
approved by the committee shall be filed within seven calendar days (exclusive
of days on which the House is not in session) after the day on which a written
request for the filing of the report, signed by a majority of the members of the
committee, has been filed with the clerk of the committee. The clerk of
the committee shall immediately notify the chairman of the filing of
such a request. This subparagraph does not apply to a report of the
Committee on Rules with respect to a rule, joint rule, or order of
business of the House, or to the reporting of a resolution of inquiry
addressed to the head of an executive department.
(c) All supplemental, minority, or additional views filed under clause 2(l)
of rule XI by one or more members of a committee shall be included in, and shall
be a part of, the report filed by the committee with respect to a measure or
matter. When time guaranteed by clause 2(l) of rule XI has expired (or, if
sooner, when all separate views have been received), the committee may arrange
to file its report with the Clerk not later than one hour after the expiration
of such time. This clause and provisions of clause 2(l) of rule XI do not
preclude the immediate filing or printing of a committee report in the absence
of a timely request for the opportunity to file supplemental, minority, or
additional views as provided in clause 2(l) of rule XI.
Content of reports
3. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), the report of a committee
on a measure or matter shall be printed in a single volume that--
(A) shall include all supplemental, minority, or additional views
that have been submitted by the time of the filing of the report; and
(B) shall bear on its cover a recital that any such supplemental,
minority, or additional views (and any material submitted under
paragraph (c)(3) or (4)) are included as part of the report.
(2) A committee may file a supplemental report for the correction of a
technical error in its previous report on a measure or matter.
(b) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report a measure or
matter of a public nature, and on any amendment offered to the measure or
matter, the total number of votes cast for and against, and the names of members
voting for and against, shall be included in the committee report. The preceding
sentence does not apply to votes taken in executive session by the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct.
(c) The report of a committee on a measure that has been approved by the
committee shall include, separately set out and clearly identified, the
following:
(1) Oversight findings and recommendations under clause 2(b)(1) of
rule X.
(2) The statement required by section 308(a) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, except that an estimate of new budget authority
shall include, when practicable, a comparison of the total estimated
funding level for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under
current law.
(3) An estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 if timely submitted to the committee before the
filing of the report.
(4) A summary of oversight findings and recommendations by the
Committee on Government Reform under clause 4(c)(2) of rule X if such
findings and recommendations have been submitted to the reporting
committee in time to allow it to consider such findings and
recommendations during its deliberations on the measure.
(d) Each report of a committee on a public bill or public joint resolution
shall contain the following:
(1) A statement citing the specific powers granted to Congress in
the Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint
resolution.
(2)(A) An estimate by the committee of the costs that would be
incurred in carrying out the bill or joint resolution in the fiscal year
in which it is reported and in each of the five fiscal years following
that fiscal year (or for the authorized duration of any program
authorized by the bill or joint resolution if less than five years);
(B) A comparison of the estimate of costs described in subdivision
(A) made by the committee with any estimate of such costs made by a
Government agency and submitted to such committee; and
(C) When practicable, a comparison of the total estimated funding
level for the relevant programs with the appropriate levels under
current law.
(3)(A) In subparagraph (2) the term ``Government agency'' includes
any department, agency, establishment, wholly owned Government
corporation, or instrumentality of the Federal Government or the
government of the District of Columbia.
(B) Subparagraph (2) does not apply to the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on House Administration, the Committee on
Rules, or the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, and does not
apply when a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 has been included in the report under paragraph
(c)(3).
(e)(1) Whenever a committee reports a bill or joint resolution proposing to
repeal or amend a statute or part thereof, it shall include in its report or in
an accompanying document--
(A) the text of a statute or part thereof that is proposed to be
repealed; and
(B) a comparative print of any part of the bill or joint resolution
proposing to amend the statute and of the statute or part thereof
proposed to be amended, showing by appropriate typographical devices the
omissions and insertions proposed.
(2) If a committee reports a bill or joint resolution proposing to repeal or
amend a statute or part thereof with a recommendation that the bill or joint
resolution be amended, the comparative print required by subparagraph (1) shall
reflect the changes in existing law proposed to be made by the bill or joint
resolution as proposed to be amended.
(f)(1) A report of the Committee on Appropriations on a general
appropriation bill shall include--
(A) a concise statement describing the effect of any provision of
the accompanying bill that directly or indirectly changes the
application of existing law; and
(B) a list of all appropriations contained in the bill for
expenditures not previously authorized by law (except classified
intelligence or national security programs, projects, or activities).
(2) Whenever the Committee on Appropriations reports a bill or joint
resolution including matter specified in clause 1(b)(2) or (3) of rule X, it
shall include--
(A) in the bill or joint resolution, separate headings for
``Rescissions'' and ``Transfers of Unexpended Balances''; and
(B) in the report of the committee, a separate section listing such
rescissions and transfers.
(g) Whenever the Committee on Rules reports a resolution proposing to repeal
or amend a standing rule of the House, it shall include in its report or in an
accompanying document--
(1) the text of any rule or part thereof that is proposed to be
repealed; and
(2) a comparative print of any part of the resolution proposing to
amend the rule and of the rule or part thereof proposed to be amended,
showing by appropriate typographical devices the omissions and
insertions proposed.
(h)(1) It shall not be in order to consider a bill or joint resolution
reported by the Committee on Ways and Means that proposes to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 unless--
(A) the report includes a tax complexity analysis prepared by the
Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation in accordance with section
4022(b) of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of
1998; or
(B) the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means causes such a
tax complexity analysis to be printed in the Congressional Record before
consideration of the bill or joint resolution.
(2) A report from the Committee on Ways and Means on a bill or joint
resolution designated by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the
Minority Leader, as major tax legislation may include a dynamic estimate of the
changes in Federal revenues expected to result from enactment of the
legislation. The Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation shall render a
dynamic estimate of such legislation only in response to a timely request from
the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, after consultation with the
ranking minority member. A dynamic estimate under this paragraph may be used
only for informational purposes.
(3) In this paragraph the term ``dynamic estimate'' means a projection based
in any part on assumptions concerning probable effects of macroeconomic
feedback. A dynamic estimate shall include a statement identifying all such
assumptions.
Availability of reports
4. (a)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it shall not be in order
to consider in the House a measure or matter reported by a committee until the
third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays except when
the House is in session on such a day) on which each report of a committee on
that measure or matter has been available to Members, Delegates, and the
Resident Commissioner.
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to--
(A) a resolution providing a rule, joint rule, or order of business
reported by the Committee on Rules considered under clause 6;
(B) a resolution providing amounts from the applicable accounts
described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule X reported by the Committee on House
Administration considered under clause 6 of rule X;
(C) a resolution presenting a question of the privileges of the
House reported by any committee;
(D) a measure for the declaration of war, or the declaration of a
national emergency, by Congress; and
(E) a measure providing for the disapproval of a decision,
determination, or action by a Government agency that would become, or
continue to be, effective unless disapproved or otherwise invalidated by
one or both Houses of Congress. In this subdivision the term
``Government agency'' includes any department, agency, establishment,
wholly owned Government corporation, or instrumentality of the Federal
Government or of the government of the District of Columbia.
(b) A committee that reports a measure or matter shall make every reasonable
effort to have its hearings thereon (if any) printed and available for
distribution to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner before the
consideration of the measure or matter in the House.
(c) A general appropriation bill reported by the Committee on Appropriations
may not be considered in the House until the third calendar day (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in session on
such a day) on which printed hearings of the Committee on Appropriations thereon
have been available to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner.
Privileged reports, generally
5. (a) The following committees shall have leave to report at any time on
the following matters, respectively:
(1) The Committee on Appropriations, on general appropriation bills
and on joint resolutions continuing appropriations for a fiscal year
after September 15 in the preceding fiscal year.
(2) The Committee on the Budget, on the matters required to be
reported by such committee under titles III and IV of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
(3) The Committee on House Administration, on enrolled bills, on
contested elections, on matters referred to it concerning printing for
the use of the House or the two Houses, on expenditure of the applicable
accounts of the House described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule X, and on
matters relating to preservation and availability of noncurrent records
of the House under rule VII.
(4) The Committee on Rules, on rules, joint rules, and the order of
business.
(5) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, on resolutions
recommending action by the House with respect to a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House as a result of
an investigation by the committee relating to the official conduct of
such Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee.
(b) A report filed from the floor as privileged under paragraph (a) may be
called up as a privileged question by direction of the reporting committee,
subject to any requirement concerning its availability to Members, Delegates,
and the Resident Commissioner under clause 4 or concerning the timing of its
consideration under clause 6.
Privileged reports by the Committee on Rules
6. (a) A report by the Committee on Rules on a rule, joint rule, or the
order of business may not be called up for consideration on the same day it is
presented to the House except--
(1) when so determined by a vote of two-thirds of the Members
voting, a quorum being present;
(2) in the case of a resolution proposing only to waive a
requirement of clause 4 or of clause 8 of rule XXII concerning the
availability of reports; or
(3) during the last three days of a session of Congress.
(b) Pending the consideration of a report by the Committee on Rules on a
rule, joint rule, or the order of business, the Speaker may entertain one motion
that the House adjourn. After the result of such a motion is announced, the
Speaker may not entertain any other dilatory motion until the report shall have
been disposed of.
(c) The Committee on Rules may not report--
(1) a rule or order proposing that business under clause 7 of rule
XV be set aside by a vote of less than two-thirds of the Members voting,
a quorum being present;
(2) a rule or order that would prevent the motion to recommit a bill
or joint resolution from being made as provided in clause 2(b) of rule
XIX, including a motion to recommit with instructions to report back an
amendment otherwise in order, if offered by the Minority Leader or a
designee, except with respect to a Senate bill or resolution for which
the text of a House-passed measure has been substituted.
(d) The Committee on Rules shall present to the House reports concerning
rules, joint rules, and the order of business, within three legislative days of
the time when they are ordered. If such a report is not considered immediately,
it shall be referred to the calendar. If such a report on the calendar is not
called up by the member of the committee who filed the report within seven
legislative days, any member of the committee may call it up as a privileged
question on the day after the calendar day on which the member announces to the
House his intention to do so. The Speaker shall recognize a member of the
committee who rises for that purpose.
(e) An adverse report by the Committee on Rules on a resolution proposing a
special order of business for the consideration of a public bill or public joint
resolution may be called up as a privileged question by a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner on a day when it is in order to consider a motion to
discharge committees under clause 2 of rule XV.
(f) If the House has adopted a resolution making in order a motion to
consider a bill or resolution, and such a motion has not been offered within
seven calendar days thereafter, such a motion shall be privileged if offered by
direction of all reporting committees having initial jurisdiction of the bill or
resolution.
(g) Whenever the Committee on Rules reports a resolution providing for the
consideration of a measure, it shall (to the maximum extent possible) specify in
the resolution the object of any waiver of a point of order against the measure
or against its consideration.
Resolutions of inquiry
7. A report on a resolution of inquiry addressed to the head of an executive
department may be filed from the floor as privileged. If such a resolution is
not reported to the House within 14 legislative days after its introduction, a
motion to discharge a committee from its consideration shall be privileged.
RULE XIV.
Order and Priority of Business.
1. The daily order of business (unless varied by the application of other
rules and except for the disposition of matters of higher precedence) shall be
as follows:
First. Prayer by the Chaplain.
Second. Reading and approval of the Journal, unless postponed under
clause 9(a) of rule XX.
Third. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Fourth. Correction of reference of public bills.
Fifth. Disposal of business on the Speaker's table as provided in
clause 2.
Sixth. Unfinished business as provided in clause 3.
Seventh. The morning hour for the consideration of bills called up
by committees as provided in clause 4.
Eighth. Motions that the House resolve into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union subject to clause 5.
Ninth. Orders of the day.
2. Business on the Speaker's table shall be disposed of as follows:
(a) Messages from the President shall be referred to the appropriate
committees without debate.
(b) Communications addressed to the House, including reports and
communications from heads of departments and bills, resolutions, and
messages from the Senate, may be referred to the appropriate committees
in the same manner and with the same right of correction as public bills
and public resolutions presented by Members, Delegates, or the Resident
Commissioner.
(c) Motions to dispose of Senate amendments on the Speaker's table
may be entertained as provided in clauses 1, 2, and 4 of rule XXII.
(d) Senate bills and resolutions substantially the same as House
measures already favorably reported and not required to be considered in
the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union may be
disposed of by motion. Such a motion shall be privileged if offered by
direction of all reporting committees having initial jurisdiction of the
House measure.
3. Consideration of unfinished business in which the House may have been
engaged at an adjournment, except business in the morning hour and proceedings
postponed under clause 9 of rule XX, shall be resumed as soon as the business on
the Speaker's table is finished, and at the same time each day thereafter until
disposed of. The consideration of all other unfinished business shall be resumed
whenever the class of business to which it belongs shall be in order under the
rules.
4. After the unfinished business has been disposed of, the Speaker shall
call each standing committee in regular order and then select committees. Each
committee when named may call up for consideration a bill or resolution reported
by it on a previous day and on the House Calendar. If the Speaker does not
complete the call of the committees before the House passes to other business,
the next call shall resume at the point it left off, giving preference to the
last bill or resolution under consideration. A committee that has occupied the
call for two days may not call up another bill or resolution until the other
committees have been called in their turn.
5. After consideration of bills or resolutions under clause 4 for one hour,
it shall be in order, pending consideration thereof, to entertain a motion that
the House resolve into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union or, when authorized by a committee, that the House resolve into the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to consider a
particular bill. Such a motion shall be subject to only one amendment
designating another bill. If such a motion is decided in the negative,
another such motion may not be considered until the matter that was
pending when such motion was offered is disposed of.
6. All questions relating to the priority of business shall be decided by a
majority without debate.
RULE XV.
Business in Order on Special Days.
Suspensions, Mondays and Tuesdays
1. (a) A rule may not be suspended except by a vote of two-thirds of the
Members voting, a quorum being present. The Speaker may not entertain a motion
that the House suspend the rules except on Mondays and Tuesdays and during the
last six days of a session of Congress.
(b) Pending a motion that the House suspend the rules, the Speaker may
entertain one motion that the House adjourn. After the result of such a motion
is announced, the Speaker may not entertain any other motion until the vote is
taken on the suspension.
(c) A motion that the House suspend the rules is debatable for 40 minutes,
one-half in favor of the motion and one-half in opposition thereto.
Discharge motions, second and fourth Mondays
2. (a) Motions to discharge committees shall be in order on the second and
fourth Mondays of a month.
(b)(1) A Member may present to the Clerk a motion in writing to discharge--
(A) a committee from consideration of a public bill or public
resolution that has been referred to it for 30 legislative days; or
(B) the Committee on Rules from consideration of a resolution that
has been referred to it for seven legislative days and that proposes a
special order of business for the consideration of a public bill or
public resolution that has been reported by a standing committee or has
been referred to a standing committee for 30 legislative days.
(2) Only one motion may be presented for a bill or resolution. A Member may
not file a motion to discharge the Committee on Rules from consideration of a
resolution providing for the consideration of more than one public bill or
public resolution or admitting or effecting a nongermane amendment to a public
bill or public resolution.
(c) A motion presented under paragraph (b) shall be placed in the custody of
the Clerk, who shall arrange a convenient place for the signatures of Members. A
signature may be withdrawn by a Member in writing at any time before a motion is
entered on the Journal. The Clerk shall make signatures a matter of public
record, causing the names of the Members who have signed a discharge motion
during a week to be published in a portion of the Congressional Record
designated for that purpose on the last legislative day of the week and making
cumulative lists of such names available each day for public inspection in an
appropriate office of the House. The Clerk shall devise a means for making such
lists available to offices of the House and to the public in electronic form.
When a majority of the total membership of the House shall have signed the
motion, it shall be entered on the Journal, printed with the signatures thereto
in the Record, and referred to the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees.
(d)(1) On the second and fourth Mondays of a month (except during the last
six days of a session of Congress), immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance
to the Flag, a motion to discharge that has been on the calendar for at least
seven legislative days shall be privileged if called up by a Member whose
signature appears thereon. When such a motion is called up, the House shall
proceed to its consideration under this paragraph without intervening motion
except one motion to adjourn. Privileged motions to discharge shall have
precedence in the order of their entry on the Journal.
(2) When a motion to discharge is called up, the bill or resolution to which
it relates shall be read by title only. The motion is debatable for 20 minutes,
one-half in favor of the motion and one-half in opposition thereto.
(e)(1) If a motion prevails to discharge the Committee on Rules from
consideration of a resolution, the House shall immediately consider the
resolution, pending which the Speaker may entertain one motion that the House
adjourn. After the result of such a motion to adjourn is announced, the Speaker
may not entertain any other dilatory motion until the resolution has been
disposed of. If the resolution is adopted, the House shall immediately proceed
to its execution.
(2) If a motion prevails to discharge a standing committee from
consideration of a public bill or public resolution, a motion that the House
proceed to the immediate consideration of such bill or resolution shall be
privileged if offered by a Member whose signature appeared on the motion to
discharge. The motion to proceed is not debatable. If the motion to proceed is
adopted, the bill or resolution shall be considered immediately under the
general rules of the House. If unfinished before adjournment of the day on which
it is called up, the bill or resolution shall remain the unfinished business
until it is disposed of. If the motion to proceed is rejected, the bill or
resolution shall be referred to the appropriate calendar, where it shall have
the same status as if the committee from which it was discharged had duly
reported it to the House.
(f)(1) When a motion to discharge originated under this clause has once been
acted on by the House, it shall not be in order to entertain during the same
session of Congress--
(A) a motion to discharge a committee from consideration of that
bill or resolution or of any other bill or resolution that, by relating
in substance to or dealing with the same subject matter, is
substantially the same; or
(B) a motion to discharge the Committee on Rules from consideration
of a resolution providing a special order of business for the
consideration of that bill or resolution or of any other bill or
resolution that, by relating in substance to or dealing with the same
subject matter, is substantially the same.
(2) A motion to discharge on the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees
that is rendered out of order under subparagraph (1) shall be stricken from that
calendar.
Adverse report by the Committee on Rules, second and fourth Mondays
3. An adverse report by the Committee on Rules on a resolution proposing a
special order of business for the consideration of a public bill or public joint
resolution may be called up under clause 6(e) of rule XIII as a privileged
question by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner on a day when it is in
order to consider a motion to discharge committees under clause 2.
District of Columbia business, second and fourth Mondays
4. The second and fourth Mondays of a month shall be set apart for the
consideration of such District of Columbia business as may be called up by the
Committee on Government Reform after the disposition of motions to discharge
committees and after the disposal of such business on the Speaker's table as
requires reference only.
Private Calendar, first and third Tuesdays
5. (a) On the first Tuesday of a month, the Speaker shall direct the Clerk
to call the bills and resolutions on the Private Calendar after disposal of such
business on the Speaker's table as requires reference only. If two or more
Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner object to the consideration of
a bill or resolution so called, it shall be recommitted to the committee that
reported it. No other business shall be in order before completion of the call
of the Private Calendar on this day unless two-thirds of the Members voting, a
quorum being present, agree to a motion that the House dispense with the call.
(b)(1) On the third Tuesday of a month, after the disposal of such business
on the Speaker's table as requires reference only, the Speaker may direct the
Clerk to call the bills and resolutions on the Private Calendar. Preference
shall be given to omnibus bills containing the texts of bills or resolutions
that have previously been objected to on a call of the Private Calendar. If two
or more Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner object to the
consideration of a bill or resolution so called (other than an omnibus bill), it
shall be recommitted to the committee that reported it. Two-thirds of the
Members voting, a quorum being present, may adopt a motion that the House
dispense with the call on this day.
(2) Omnibus bills shall be read for amendment by paragraph. No amendment
shall be in order except to strike or to reduce amounts of money or to provide
limitations. An item or matter stricken from an omnibus bill may not thereafter
during the same session of Congress be included in an omnibus bill. Upon passage
such an omnibus bill shall be resolved into the several bills and resolutions of
which it is composed. The several bills and resolutions, with any amendments
adopted by the House, shall be engrossed, when necessary, and otherwise
considered as passed severally by the House as distinct bills and resolutions.
(c) The Speaker may not entertain a reservation of the right to object to
the consideration of a bill or resolution under this clause. A bill or
resolution considered under this clause shall be considered in the House as in
the Committee of the Whole. A motion to dispense with the call of the Private
Calendar under this clause shall be privileged. Debate on such a motion shall be
limited to five minutes in support and five minutes in opposition.
Corrections Calendar, second and fourth Tuesdays
6. (a) After a bill has been favorably reported and placed on either the
Union or House Calendar, the Speaker, after consultation with the Minority
Leader, may direct the Clerk also to place the bill on the ``Corrections
Calendar.'' At any time on the second and fourth Tuesdays of a month,
the Speaker may direct the Clerk to call a bill that has been on the
Corrections Calendar for three legislative days.
(b) A bill called from the Corrections Calendar shall be considered in the
House, is debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman
and ranking minority member of the primary committee of jurisdiction, and shall
not be subject to amendment except those recommended by the primary committee of
jurisdiction or offered by the chairman of the primary committee or a designee.
The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and any
amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion
to recommit with or without instructions.
(c) The approval of three-fifths of the Members voting, a quorum being
present, shall be required to pass a bill called from the Corrections Calendar.
The rejection of a bill so called, or the sustaining of a point of order against
it or against its consideration, does not cause its removal from the Calendar to
which it was originally referred.
Calendar Call of Committees, Wednesdays
7. (a) On Wednesday of each week, business shall not be in order before
completion of the call of the committees (except as provided by clause 4 of rule
XIV) unless two-thirds of the Members voting, a quorum being present, agree to a
motion that the House dispense with the call. Such a motion shall be privileged.
Debate on such a motion shall be limited to five minutes in support and five
minutes in opposition.
(b) A bill or resolution on either the House or the Union Calendar, except
bills or resolutions that are privileged under the Rules of the House, may be
called under this clause. A bill or resolution called up from the Union Calendar
shall be considered in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union without motion, subject to clause 3 of rule XVI. General debate on a
measure considered under this clause shall be confined to the measure and may
not exceed two hours equally divided between a proponent and an opponent.
(c) When a committee has occupied the call under this clause on one
Wednesday, it shall not be in order on a succeeding Wednesday to consider
unfinished business previously called up by that committee until the other
committees have been called in their turn unless--
(1) the previous question has been ordered on such unfinished
business; or
(2) the House adopts a motion to dispense with the call under
paragraph (a).
(d) If any committee has not been called under this clause during a session
of a Congress, then at the next session of that Congress the call shall resume
where it left off at the end of the preceding session.
(e) This rule does not apply during the last two weeks of a session of
Congress.
(f) The Speaker may not entertain a motion for a recess on a Wednesday
except during the last two weeks of a session of Congress.
RULE XVI.
Motions and Amendments.
Motions
1. Every motion entertained by the Speaker shall be reduced to writing on
the demand of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner and, unless it is
withdrawn the same day, shall be entered on the Journal with the name of the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner offering it. A dilatory motion may
not be entertained by the Speaker.
Withdrawal
2. When a motion is entertained, the Speaker shall state it or cause it to
be read aloud by the Clerk before it is debated. The motion then shall be in the
possession of the House but may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or
amendment thereon.
Question of consideration
3. When a motion or proposition is entertained, the question, ``Will the
House now consider it?'' may not be put unless demanded by a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner.
Precedence of motions
4. (a) When a question is under debate, only the following motions may be
entertained (which shall have precedence in the following order):
(1) To adjourn.
(2) To lay on the table.
(3) For the previous question.
(4) To postpone to a day certain.
(5) To refer.
(6) To amend.
(7) To postpone indefinitely.
(b) A motion to adjourn, to lay on the table, or for the previous question
shall be decided without debate. A motion to postpone to a day certain, to
refer, or to postpone indefinitely, being decided, may not be allowed again on
the same day at the same stage of the question.
(c)(1) It shall be in order at any time for the Speaker, in his discretion,
to entertain a motion--
(A) that the Speaker be authorized to declare a recess; or
(B) that when the House adjourns it stand adjourned to a day and
time certain.
(2) Either motion shall be of equal privilege with the motion to adjourn and
shall be decided without debate.
Divisibility
5. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a question shall be divided on
the demand of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner before the question
is put if it includes propositions so distinct in substance that, one being
taken away, a substantive proposition remains.
(b)(1) A motion or resolution to elect members to a standing committee of
the House, or to a joint standing committee, is not divisible.
(2) A resolution or order reported by the Committee on Rules providing a
special order of business is not divisible.
(c) A motion to strike and insert is not divisible, but rejection of a
motion to strike does not preclude another motion to amend.
Amendments
6. When an amendable proposition is under consideration, a motion to amend
and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order, and it also shall be in
order to offer a further amendment by way of substitute for the original motion
to amend, to which one amendment may be offered but which may not be voted on
until the original amendment is perfected. An amendment may be withdrawn in the
House at any time before a decision or amendment thereon. An amendment to the
title of a bill or resolution shall not be in order until after its passage or
adoption and shall be decided without debate.
Germaneness
7. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under
consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.
Readings
8. Bills and joint resolutions are subject to readings as follows:
(a) A first reading is in full when the bill or joint resolution is
first considered.
(b) A second reading occurs only when the bill or joint resolution
is read for amendment in a Committee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union under clause 5 of rule XVIII.
(c) A third reading precedes passage when the Speaker states the
question: ``Shall the bill [or joint resolution] be engrossed [when
applicable] and read a third time?'' If that question is decided in the
affirmative, then the bill or joint resolution shall be read the final
time by title and then the question shall be put on its passage.
RULE XVII.
Decorum and Debate.
Decorum
1. (a) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who desires to speak or
deliver a matter to the House shall rise and respectfully address himself to
``Mr. Speaker'' and, on being recognized, may address the House from any place
on the floor. When invited by the Chair, a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner may speak from the Clerk's desk.
(b)(1) Remarks in debate shall be confined to the question under debate,
avoiding personality.
(2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), debate may not include
characterizations of Senate action or inaction, references to individual Members
of the Senate, or quotations from Senate proceedings.
(B) Debate may include references to actions taken by the Senate or by
committees thereof that are a matter of public record; references to the
pendency or sponsorship in the Senate of bills, resolutions, and amendments;
factual descriptions relating to Senate action or inaction concerning a measure
then under debate in the House; and quotations from Senate proceedings on a
measure then under debate in the House that are relevant to the making of
legislative history establishing the meaning of that measure.
Recognition
2. When two or more Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner rise at
once, the Speaker shall name the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who
is first to speak. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not occupy
more than one hour in debate on a question in the House or in the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union except as otherwise provided in this
rule.
Managing Debate
3. (a) The Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who calls up a measure
may open and close debate thereon. When general debate extends beyond one day,
that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall be entitled to one hour to
close without regard to the time used in opening.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a), a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner may not speak more than once to the same question without leave of
the House.
(c) A manager of a measure who opposes an amendment thereto is entitled to
close controlled debate thereon.
Call to order
4. (a) If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, in speaking or
otherwise, transgresses the Rules of the House, the Speaker shall, or a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may, call to order the offending Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, who shall immediately sit down unless
permitted on motion of another Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner to
explain. If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner is called to order, the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner making the call to order shall
indicate the words excepted to, which shall be taken down in writing at the
Clerk's desk and read aloud to the House.
(b) The Speaker shall decide the validity of a call to order. The House, if
appealed to, shall decide the question without debate. If the decision is in
favor of the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner called to order, the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall be at liberty to proceed, but
not otherwise. If the case requires it, an offending Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner shall be liable to censure or such other punishment as the
House may consider proper. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not
be held to answer a call to order, and may not be subject to the censure of the
House therefor, if further debate or other business has intervened.
Comportment
5. When the Speaker is putting a question or addressing the House, a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not walk out of or across the Hall. When
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner is speaking, a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner may not pass between the person speaking and the Chair.
During the session of the House, a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
may not wear a hat or remain by the Clerk's desk during the call of the roll or
the counting of ballots. A person may not smoke or use any personal, electronic
office equipment, including cellular phones and computers, on the floor of the
House. The Sergeant-at-Arms is charged with the strict enforcement of this
clause.
Exhibits
6. When the use of an exhibit in debate is objected to by a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, its use shall be decided without debate by a
vote of the House.
Galleries
7. During a session of the House, it shall not be in order for a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to introduce to or to bring to the attention
of the House an occupant in the galleries of the House. The Speaker may not
entertain a request for the suspension of this rule by unanimous consent or
otherwise.
Congressional Record
8. (a) The Congressional Record shall be a substantially verbatim account of
remarks made during the proceedings of the House, subject only to technical,
grammatical, and typographical corrections authorized by the Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner making the remarks.
(b) Unparliamentary remarks may be deleted only by permission or order of
the House.
(c) This clause establishes a standard of conduct within the meaning of
clause 3(a)(2) of rule XI.
Secret sessions
9. When confidential communications are received from the President, or when
the Speaker or a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner informs the House
that he has communications that he believes ought to be kept secret for the
present, the House shall be cleared of all persons except the Members,
Delegates, Resident Commissioner, and officers of the House for the reading of
such communications, and debates and proceedings thereon, unless otherwise
ordered by the House.
RULE XVIII.
The Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union.
Resolving into the Committee of the Whole
1. Whenever the House resolves into the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union, the Speaker shall leave the chair after appointing a
Chairman to preside. In case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the
galleries or lobby, the Chairman may cause the same to be cleared.
2. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and in clause 7 of rule XV, the
House resolves into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
by motion. When such a motion is entertained, the Speaker shall put the question
without debate: ``Shall the House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union for consideration of this matter?'', naming it.
(b) After the House has adopted a resolution reported by the Committee on
Rules providing a special order of business for the consideration of a measure
in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, the Speaker may
at any time, when no question is pending before the House, declare the House
resolved into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of that measure
without intervening motion, unless the special order of business provides
otherwise.
Measures requiring initial consideration in the Committee of the Whole
3. All bills, resolutions, or Senate amendments (as provided in clause 3 of
rule XXII) involving a tax or charge on the people, raising revenue, directly or
indirectly making appropriations of money or property or requiring such
appropriations to be made, authorizing payments out of appropriations already
made, releasing any liability to the United States for money or property, or
referring a claim to the Court of Claims, shall be first considered in the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. A bill, resolution, or
Senate amendment that fails to comply with this clause is subject to a point of
order against its consideration.
Order of business
4. (a) Subject to subparagraph (b) business on the calendar of the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union may be taken up in regular order,
or in such order as the Committee may determine, unless the measure to be
considered was determined by the House at the time of resolving into the
Committee of the Whole.
(b) Motions to resolve into the Committee of the Whole for consideration of
bills and joint resolutions making general appropriations have precedence under
this clause.
Reading for amendment
5. (a) Before general debate commences on a measure in the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union, it shall be read in full. When general
debate is concluded or closed by order of the House, the measure under
consideration shall be read for amendment. A Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner who offers an amendment shall be allowed five minutes to explain
it, after which the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who shall first
obtain the floor shall be allowed five minutes to speak in opposition to it.
There shall be no further debate thereon, but the same privilege of debate shall
be allowed in favor of and against any amendment that may be offered to an
amendment. An amendment, or an amendment to an amendment, may be withdrawn by
its proponent only by the unanimous consent of the Committee of the Whole.
(b) When a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner offers an amendment in
the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, the Clerk shall
promptly transmit five copies of the amendment to the majority committee table
and five copies to the minority committee table. The Clerk also shall deliver at
least one copy of the amendment to the majority cloakroom and at least one copy
to the minority cloakroom.
Quorum and voting
6. (a) A quorum of a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
is 100 Members. The first time that a Committee of the Whole finds itself
without a quorum during a day, the Chairman shall invoke the procedure for a
quorum call set forth in clause 2 of rule XX, unless he elects to invoke an
alternate procedure set forth in clause 3 or clause 4(a) of rule XX. If a quorum
appears, the Committee of the Whole shall continue its business. If a quorum
does not appear, the Committee of the Whole shall rise, and the Chairman shall
report the names of absentees to the House.
(b)(1) The Chairman may refuse to entertain a point of order that a quorum
is not present during general debate.
(2) After a quorum has once been established on a day, the Chairman may
entertain a point of order that a quorum is not present only when the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union is operating under the five-minute
rule and the Chairman has put the pending proposition to a vote.
(3) Upon sustaining a point of order that a quorum is not present, the
Chairman may announce that, following a regular quorum call under paragraph (a),
the minimum time for electronic voting on the pending question shall be five
minutes.
(c) When ordering a quorum call in the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union, the Chairman may announce an intention to declare that a
quorum is constituted at any time during the quorum call when he determines that
a quorum has appeared. If the Chairman interrupts the quorum call by declaring
that a quorum is constituted, proceedings under the quorum call shall be
considered as vacated, and the Committee of the Whole shall continue its sitting
and resume its business.
(d) A quorum is not required in the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union for adoption of a motion that the Committee rise.
(e) In the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, the
Chairman shall order a recorded vote on a request supported by at least 25
Members.
(f) In the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, the
Chairman may reduce to five minutes the minimum time for electronic voting
without any intervening business or debate on any or all pending amendments
after a record vote has been taken on the first pending amendment.
Dispensing with the reading of an amendment
7. It shall be in order in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union to move that the Committee of the Whole dispense with the reading of
an amendment that has been printed in the bill or resolution as reported by a
committee, or an amendment that a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner has
caused to be printed in the Congressional Record. Such a motion shall be decided
without debate.
Closing debate
8. (a) Subject to paragraph (b) at any time after the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union has begun five-minute debate on amendments to
any portion of a bill or resolution, it shall be in order to move that the
Committee of the Whole close all debate on that portion of the bill or
resolution or on the pending amendments only. Such a motion shall be decided
without debate. The adoption of such a motion does not preclude further
amendment, to be decided without debate.
(b) If the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union closes
debate on any portion of a bill or resolution before there has been debate on an
amendment that a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner has caused to be
printed in the Congressional Record at least one day before its consideration,
the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who caused the amendment to be
printed in the Record shall be allowed five minutes to explain it, after which
the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who shall first obtain the floor
shall be allowed five minutes to speak in opposition to it. There shall be no
further debate thereon.
(c) Material submitted for printing in the Congressional Record under this
rule shall indicate the full text of the proposed amendment, the name of the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner proposing it, the number of the bill
or resolution to which it will be offered, and the point in the bill or
resolution or amendment thereto where the amendment is intended to be offered.
The amendment shall appear in a portion of the Record designated for that
purpose. Amendments to a specified measure submitted for printing in that
portion of the Record shall be numbered in the order printed.
Striking the enacting clause
9. A motion that the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
rise and report a bill or resolution to the House with the recommendation that
the enacting or resolving clause be stricken shall have precedence of a motion
to amend, and, if carried in the House, shall constitute a rejection of the bill
or resolution. Whenever a bill or resolution is reported from the Committee of
the Whole with such adverse recommendation and the recommendation is rejected by
the House, the bill or resolution shall stand recommitted to the Committee of
the Whole without further action by the House. Before the question of
concurrence is submitted, it shall be in order to move that the House refer the
bill or resolution to a committee, with or without instructions. If a bill or
resolution is so referred, then when it is again reported to the House it shall
be referred to the Committee of the Whole without debate.
Concurrent resolution on the budget
10. (a) At the conclusion of general debate in the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union on a concurrent resolution on the budget under
section 305(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the concurrent
resolution shall be considered as read for amendment.
(b) It shall not be in order in the House or in the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union to consider an amendment to a concurrent
resolution on the budget, or an amendment thereto, unless the concurrent
resolution, as amended by such amendment or amendments--
(1) would be mathematically consistent except as limited by
paragraph (c); and
(2) would contain all the matter set forth in paragraphs (1) through
(5) of section 301(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(c)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it shall not be in order in
the House or in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to
consider an amendment to a concurrent resolution on the budget, or an amendment
thereto, that proposes to change the amount of the appropriate level of the
public debt set forth in the concurrent resolution, as reported.
(2) Amendments to achieve mathematical consistency under section 305(a)(5)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, if offered by direction of the
Committee on the Budget, may propose to adjust the amount of the appropriate
level of the public debt set forth in the concurrent resolution, as reported, to
reflect changes made in other figures contained in the concurrent resolution.
Unfunded mandates
11. (a) In the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, an
amendment proposing only to strike an unfunded mandate from the portion of the
bill then open to amendment, if otherwise in order, may be precluded from
consideration only by specific terms of a special order of the House.
(b) In this clause the term ``unfunded mandate'' means a Federal
intergovernmental mandate the direct costs of which exceed the threshold
otherwise specified for a reported bill or joint resolution in section 424(a)(1)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Applicability of Rules of the House
12. The Rules of the House are the rules of the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union so far as applicable.
RULE XIX.
Motions Following the Amendment Stage.
Previous question
1. (a) There shall be a motion for the previous question, which, being
ordered, shall have the effect of cutting off all debate and bringing the House
to a direct vote on the immediate question or questions on which it has been
ordered. Whenever the previous question has been ordered on an otherwise
debatable question on which there has been no debate, it shall be in order to
debate that question for 40 minutes, equally divided and controlled by a
proponent of the question and an opponent. The previous question may be moved
and ordered on a single question, on a series of questions allowable under the
rules, or on an amendment or amendments, or may embrace all authorized motions
or amendments and include the bill or resolution to its passage, adoption, or
rejection.
(b) Incidental questions of order arising during the pendency of a motion
for the previous question shall be decided, whether on appeal or otherwise,
without debate.
Recommit
2. (a) After the previous question has been ordered on passage or adoption
of a measure, or pending a motion to that end, it shall be in order to move that
the House recommit (or commit, as the case may be) the measure, with or without
instructions, to a standing or select committee. For such a motion to recommit,
the Speaker shall give preference in recognition to a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner who is opposed to the measure.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), if a motion that the House recommit
a bill or joint resolution on which the previous question has been ordered to
passage includes instructions, it shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally
divided between the proponent and an opponent.
(c) On demand of the floor manager for the majority, it shall be in order to
debate the motion for one hour equally divided and controlled by the proponent
and an opponent.
Reconsideration
3. When a motion has been carried or lost, it shall be in order on the same
or succeeding day for a Member on the prevailing side of the question to enter a
motion for the reconsideration thereof. The entry of such a motion shall take
precedence over all other questions except the consideration of a conference
report or a motion to adjourn, and may not be withdrawn after such succeeding
day without the consent of the House. Once entered, a motion may be called up
for consideration by any Member. During the last six days of a session of
Congress, such a motion shall be disposed of when entered.
4. A bill, petition, memorial, or resolution referred to a committee, or
reported therefrom for printing and recommitment, may not be brought back to the
House on a motion to reconsider.
RULE XX.
Voting and Quorum Calls.
1. (a) The House shall divide after the Speaker has put a question to a vote
by voice as provided in clause 6 of rule I if the Speaker is in doubt or
division is demanded. Those in favor of the question shall first rise from their
seats to be counted, and then those opposed.
(b) If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner requests a recorded
vote, and that request is supported by at least one-fifth of a quorum, the vote
shall be taken by electronic device unless the Speaker invokes another procedure
for recording votes provided in this rule. A recorded vote taken in the House
under this paragraph shall be considered a vote by the yeas and nays.
(c) In case of a tie vote, a question shall be lost.
2. (a) Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk shall conduct a
record vote or quorum call by electronic device. In such a case the Clerk shall
enter on the Journal and publish in the Congressional Record, in alphabetical
order in each category, the names of Members recorded as voting in the
affirmative, the names of Members recorded as voting in the negative, and the
names of Members answering present as if they had been called in the manner
provided in clause 3. Except as otherwise permitted under clause 9 or 10 of this
rule or under clause 6 of rule XVIII, the minimum time for a record vote or
quorum call by electronic device shall be 15 minutes.
(b) When the electronic voting system is inoperable or is not used, the
Speaker or Chairman may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call
as provided in clause 3 or 4.
3. The Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call
by call of the roll. In such a case the Clerk shall call the names of Members,
alphabetically by surname. When two or more have the same surname, the name of
the State (and, if necessary to distinguish among Members from the same State,
the given names of the Members) shall be added. After the roll has been called
once, the Clerk shall call the names of those not recorded, alphabetically by
surname. Members appearing after the second call, but before the result is
announced, may vote or announce a pair.
4. (a) The Speaker may direct a record vote or quorum call to be conducted
by tellers. In such a case the tellers named by the Speaker shall record the
names of the Members voting on each side of the question or record their
presence, as the case may be, which the Clerk shall enter on the Journal and
publish in the Congressional Record. Absentees shall be noted, but the doors may
not be closed except when ordered by the Speaker. The minimum time for a record
vote or quorum call by tellers shall be 15 minutes.
(b) On the demand of a Member, or at the suggestion of the Speaker, the
names of Members sufficient to make a quorum in the Hall of the House who do not
vote shall be noted by the Clerk, entered on the Journal, reported to the
Speaker with the names of the Members voting, and be counted and announced in
determining the presence of a quorum to do business.
5. (a) In the absence of a quorum, a majority comprising at least 15
Members, which may include the Speaker, may compel the attendance of absent
Members.
(b) Subject to clause 7(b) a majority of those present may order the
Sergeant-at-Arms to send officers appointed by him to arrest those Members for
whom no sufficient excuse is made and shall secure and retain their attendance.
The House shall determine on what condition they shall be discharged. Unless the
House otherwise directs, the Members who voluntarily appear shall be admitted
immediately to the Hall of the House and shall report their names to the Clerk
to be entered on the Journal as present.
6. (a) When a quorum fails to vote on a question, a quorum is not present,
and objection is made for that cause (unless the House shall adjourn)--
(1) there shall be a call of the House;
(2) the Sergeant-at-Arms shall proceed forthwith to bring in absent
Members; and
(3) the yeas and nays on the pending question shall at the same time
be considered as ordered.
(b) The Clerk shall record Members by the yeas and nays on the pending
question, using such procedure as the Speaker may invoke under clause 2, 3, or
4. Each Member arrested under this clause shall be brought by the Sergeant-at-
Arms before the House, whereupon he shall be noted as present, discharged from
arrest, and given an opportunity to vote; and his vote shall be recorded. If
those voting on the question and those who are present and decline to vote
together make a majority of the House, the Speaker shall declare that a quorum
is constituted, and the pending question shall be decided as the requisite
majority of those voting shall have determined. Thereupon further proceedings
under the call shall be considered as dispensed with.
(c) At any time after Members have had the requisite opportunity to respond
by the yeas and nays, but before a result has been announced, the Speaker may
entertain a motion that the House adjourn if seconded by a majority of those
present, to be ascertained by actual count by the Speaker. If the House adjourns
on such a motion, all proceedings under this clause shall be considered as
vacated.
7. (a) The Speaker may not entertain a point of order that a quorum is not
present unless a question has been put to a vote.
(b) Subject to paragraph (c) the Speaker may recognize a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner to move a call of the House at any time. When a quorum
is established pursuant to a call of the House, further proceedings under the
call shall be considered as dispensed with unless the Speaker recognizes for a
motion to compel attendance of Members under clause 5(b).
(c) A call of the House shall not be in order after the previous question is
ordered unless the Speaker determines by actual count that a quorum is not
present.
Postponement of proceedings
8. (a)(1) When a recorded vote is ordered, or the yeas and nays are ordered,
or a vote is objected to under clause 6 on any of the questions specified in
subparagraph (2), the Speaker may postpone further proceedings on that question
to a designated place in the legislative schedule on that legislative day (in
the case of the question of agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal)
or within two legislative days (in the case of any other question).
(2) The questions described in the subparagraph (1) are as follows:
(A) The question of passing a bill or joint resolution.
(B) The question of adopting a resolution or concurrent resolution.
(C) The question of agreeing to a motion to instruct managers on the
part of the House (except that proceedings may not resume on such a
motion under clause 7(c) of rule XXII if the managers have filed a
report in the House).
(D) The question of agreeing to a conference report.
(E) The question of agreeing to a motion to recommit a bill
considered under clause 6 of rule XV.
(F) The question of ordering the previous question on a question
described in subdivision (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E).
(G) The question of agreeing to an amendment to a bill considered
under clause 6 of rule XV.
(H) The question of agreeing to a motion to suspend the rules.
(b) At the time designated by the Speaker for further proceedings on
questions postponed under paragraph (a), the Speaker shall resume proceedings on
each postponed question in the order in which it was considered.
(c) The Speaker may reduce to five minutes the minimum time for electronic
voting on a question postponed under this clause, or on a question incidental
thereto, that follows another electronic vote without intervening business, so
long as the minimum time for electronic voting on the first in any series of
questions is 15 minutes.
(d) If the House adjourns on a legislative day designated for further
proceedings on questions postponed under this clause without disposing of such
questions, then on the next legislative day the unfinished business is the
disposition of such questions in the order in which they were considered.
Five-minute votes
9. The Speaker may reduce to five minutes the minimum time for electronic
voting--
(a) after a record vote on a motion for the previous question, on
any underlying question that follows without intervening business, or on
a question incidental thereto;
(b) after a record vote on an amendment reported from the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union, on any subsequent
amendment to that bill or resolution reported from the Committee of the
Whole, or on a question incidental thereto;
(c) after a record vote on a motion to recommit a bill, resolution,
or conference report, on the question of passage or adoption, as the
case may be, of such bill, resolution, or conference report, or on a
question incidental thereto, if the question of passage or adoption
follows without intervening business the vote on the motion to recommit;
or
(d) as provided in clause 6(b)(3) of rule XVIII, clause 6(f) of rule
XVIII, or clause 8 of this rule.
Automatic yeas and nays
10. The yeas and nays shall be considered as ordered when the Speaker puts
the question on passage of a bill or joint resolution, or on adoption of a
conference report, making general appropriations, or increasing Federal income
tax rates (within the meaning of clause 5 of rule XXI), or on final
adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget or conference report
thereon.
Ballot votes
11. In a case of ballot for election, a majority of the votes shall be
necessary to an election. When there is not such a majority on the first ballot,
the process shall be repeated until a majority is obtained. In all balloting
blanks shall be rejected, may not be counted in the enumeration of votes, and
may not be reported by the tellers.
RULE XXI.
Restrictions on Certain Bills.
Reservation of certain points of order
1. At the time a general appropriation bill is reported, all points of order
against provisions therein shall be considered as reserved.
General appropriation bills and amendments
2. (a)(1) An appropriation may not be reported in a general appropriation
bill, and may not be in order as an amendment thereto, for an expenditure not
previously authorized by law, except to continue appropriations for public works
and objects that are already in progress.
(2) A reappropriation of unexpended balances of appropriations may not be
reported in a general appropriation bill, and may not be in order as an
amendment thereto, except to continue appropriations for public works and
objects that are already in progress. This subparagraph does not apply to
transfers of unexpended balances within the department or agency for which they
were originally appropriated that are reported by the Committee on
Appropriations.
(b) A provision changing existing law may not be reported in a general
appropriation bill, including a provision making the availability of funds
contingent on the receipt or possession of information not required by existing
law for the period of the appropriation, except germane provisions that retrench
expenditures by the reduction of amounts of money covered by the bill (which may
include those recommended to the Committee on Appropriations by direction of a
legislative committee having jurisdiction over the subject matter) and except
rescissions of appropriations contained in appropriation Acts.
(c) An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if
changing existing law, including an amendment making the availability of funds
contingent on the receipt or possession of information not required by existing
law for the period of the appropriation. Except as provided in paragraph (d), an
amendment proposing a limitation not specifically contained or authorized in
existing law for the period of the limitation shall not be in order during
consideration of a general appropriation bill.
(d) After a general appropriation bill has been read for amendment, a motion
that the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rise and report
the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted shall, if
offered by the Majority Leader or a designee, have precedence over motions to
amend the bill. If such a motion to rise and report is rejected or not offered,
amendments proposing limitations not specifically contained or authorized in
existing law for the period of the limitation or proposing germane amendments
that retrench expenditures by reductions of amounts of money covered by the bill
may be considered.
(e) A provision other than an appropriation designated an emergency under
section 251(b)(2) or section 252(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act, a rescission of budget authority, or a reduction in direct spending
or an amount for a designated emergency may not be reported in an appropriation
bill or joint resolution containing an emergency designation under section
251(b)(2) or section 252(e) of such Act and may not be in order as an amendment
thereto.
(f) During the reading of an appropriation bill for amendment in the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, it shall be in order to
consider en bloc amendments proposing only to transfer appropriations among
objects in the bill without increasing the levels of budget authority or outlays
in the bill. When considered en bloc under this paragraph, such amendments may
amend portions of the bill not yet read for amendment (following disposition of
any points of order against such portions) and is not subject to a demand for
division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
Transportation obligation limitations
3. It shall not be in order to consider a bill, joint resolution, amendment,
or conference report that would cause obligation limitations to be below the
level for any fiscal year set forth in section 8103 of the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century, as adjusted, for the highway category or the mass
transit category, as applicable.
Appropriations on legislative bills
4. A bill or joint resolution carrying an appropriation may not be reported
by a committee not having jurisdiction to report appropriations, and an
amendment proposing an appropriation shall not be in order during the
consideration of a bill or joint resolution reported by a committee not having
that jurisdiction. A point of order against an appropriation in such a bill,
joint resolution, or amendment thereto may be raised at any time during pendency
of that measure for amendment.
Tax and tariff measures and amendments
5. (a) A bill or joint resolution carrying a tax or tariff measure may not
be reported by a committee not having jurisdiction to report tax or tariff
measures, and an amendment in the House or proposed by the Senate carrying a tax
or tariff measure shall not be in order during the consideration of a bill or
joint resolution reported by a committee not having that jurisdiction. A point
of order against a tax or tariff measure in such a bill, joint resolution, or
amendment thereto may be raised at any time during pendency of that measure for
amendment.
Passage of tax rate increases
(b) A bill or joint resolution, amendment, or conference report carrying a
Federal income tax rate increase may not be considered as passed or agreed to
unless so determined by a vote of not less than three-fifths of the Members
voting, a quorum being present. In this paragraph the term ``Federal income tax
rate increase'' means any amendment to subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of
section 1, or to section 11(b) or 55(b), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
that imposes a new percentage as a rate of tax and thereby increases the amount
of tax imposed by any such section.
Consideration of retroactive tax rate increases
(c) It shall not be in order to consider a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, or conference report carrying a retroactive Federal income tax rate
increase. In this paragraph--
(1) the term ``Federal income tax rate increase'' means any
amendment to subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of section 1, or to
section 11(b) or 55(b), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that
imposes a new percentage as a rate of tax and thereby increases the
amount of tax imposed by any such section; and
(2) a Federal income tax rate increase is retroactive if it applies
to a period beginning before the enactment of the provision.
RULE XXII.
House and Senate Relations.
Senate amendments
1. A motion to disagree to Senate amendments to a House bill or resolution
and to request or agree to a conference with the Senate, or a motion to insist
on House amendments to a Senate bill or resolution and to request or agree to a
conference with the Senate, shall be privileged in the discretion of the Speaker
if offered by direction of the primary committee and of all reporting committees
that had initial referral of the bill or resolution.
2. A motion to dispose of House bills with Senate amendments not requiring
consideration in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
shall be privileged.
3. Except as permitted by clause 1, before the stage of disagreement, a
Senate amendment to a House bill or resolution shall be subject to the point of
order that it must first be considered in the Committee of the Whole House on
the state of the Union if, originating in the House, it would be subject to such
a point under clause 3 of rule XVIII.
4. When the stage of disagreement has been reached on a bill or resolution
with House or Senate amendments, a motion to dispose of any amendment shall be
privileged.
5. (a) Managers on the part of the House may not agree to a Senate amendment
described in paragraph (b) unless specific authority to agree to the amendment
first is given by the House by a separate vote with respect thereto. If specific
authority is not granted, the Senate amendment shall be reported in disagreement
by the conference committee back to the two Houses for disposition by separate
motion.
(b) The managers on the part of the House may not agree to a Senate
amendment described in paragraph (a) that--
(1) would violate clause 2(a)(1) or (c) of rule XXI if originating
in the House; or
(2) proposes an appropriation on a bill other than a general
appropriation bill.
6. A Senate amendment carrying a tax or tariff measure in violation of
clause 5(a) of rule XXI may not be agreed to.
Conference reports; amendments reported in disagreement
7. (a) The presentation of a conference report shall be in order at any time
except during a reading of the Journal or the conduct of a record vote, a vote
by division, or a quorum call.
(b)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2) the time allotted for debate on a motion
to instruct managers on the part of the House shall be equally divided between
the majority and minority parties.
(2) If the proponent of a motion to instruct managers on the part of the
House and the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the other party
identified under subparagraph (1) both support the motion, one-third of the time
for debate thereon shall be allotted to a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner who opposes the motion on demand of that Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner.
(c)(1) A motion to instruct managers on the part of the House, or a motion
to discharge all managers on the part of the House and to appoint new conferees,
shall be privileged--
(A) after a conference committee has been appointed for 20 calendar
days without making a report; and
(B) on the first legislative day after the calendar day on which the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner offering the motion announces
to the House his intention to do so and the form of the motion.
(2) The Speaker may designate a time in the legislative schedule on that
legislative day for consideration of a motion described in subparagraph (1).
(3) During the last six days of a session of Congress, the period of time
specified in subparagraph (1)(A) shall be 36 hours.
(d) Each conference report to the House shall be printed as a report of the
House. Each such report shall be accompanied by a joint explanatory statement
prepared jointly by the managers on the part of the House and the managers on
the part of the Senate. The joint explanatory statement shall be sufficiently
detailed and explicit to inform the House of the effects of the report on the
matters committed to conference.
8. (a)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it shall not be in order
to consider a conference report until--
(A) the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal
holidays except when the House is in session on such a day) on which the
conference report and the accompanying joint explanatory statement have
been available to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner in
the Congressional Record; and
(B) copies of the conference report and the accompanying joint
explanatory statement have been available to Members, Delegates, and the
Resident Commissioner for at least two hours.
(2) Subparagraph (1)(A) does not apply during the last six days of a session
of Congress.
(b)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it shall not be in order to
consider a motion to dispose of a Senate amendment reported in disagreement by a
conference committee until--
(A) the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal
holidays except when the House is in session on such a day) on which the
report in disagreement and any accompanying statement have been
available to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner in the
Congressional Record; and
(B) copies of the report in disagreement and any accompanying
statement, together with the text of the Senate amendment, have been
available to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner for at
least two hours.
(2) Subparagraph (1)(A) does not apply during the last six days of a session
of Congress.
(3) During consideration of a Senate amendment reported in disagreement by a
conference committee on a general appropriation bill, a motion to insist on
disagreement to the Senate amendment shall be preferential to any other motion
to dispose of that amendment if the original motion offered by the floor manager
proposes to change existing law and the motion to insist is offered before
debate on the original motion by the chairman of the committee having
jurisdiction of the subject matter of the amendment or a designee. Such a
preferential motion shall be separately debatable for one hour equally divided
between its proponent and the proponent of the original motion. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the preferential motion to its
adoption without intervening motion.
(c) A conference report or a Senate amendment reported in disagreement by a
conference committee that has been available as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
shall be considered as read when called up.
(d)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), the time allotted for debate on a
conference report or on a motion to dispose of a Senate amendment reported in
disagreement by a conference committee shall be equally divided between the
majority and minority parties.
(2) If the floor manager for the majority and the floor manager for the
minority both support the conference report or motion, one-third of the time for
debate thereon shall be allotted to a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
who opposes the conference report or motion on demand of that Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner.
(e) Under clause 6(a)(2) of rule XIII, a resolution proposing only to waive
a requirement of this clause concerning the availability of reports to Members,
Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner may be considered by the House on the
same day it is reported by the Committee on Rules.
9. Whenever a disagreement to an amendment has been committed to a
conference committee, the managers on the part of the House may propose a
substitute that is a germane modification of the matter in disagreement. The
introduction of any language presenting specific additional matter not committed
to the conference committee by either House does not constitute a germane
modification of the matter in disagreement. Moreover, a conference report may
not include matter not committed to the conference committee by either House and
may not include a modification of specific matter committed to the conference
committee by either or both Houses if that modification is beyond the scope of
that specific matter as committed to the conference committee.
10. (a)(1) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may raise a point of
order against nongermane matter, as specified in subparagraph (2), before the
commencement of debate on--
(A) a conference report;
(B) a motion that the House recede from its disagreement to a Senate
amendment reported in disagreement by a conference committee and concur
therein, with or without amendment; or
(C) a motion that the House recede from its disagreement to a Senate
amendment on which the stage of disagreement has been reached and concur
therein, with or without amendment.
(2) A point of order against nongermane matter is one asserting that a
proposition described in subparagraph (1) contains specified matter that would
violate clause 7 of rule XVI if it were offered in the House as an amendment to
the underlying measure in the form it was passed by the House.
(b) If a point of order under paragraph (a) is sustained, a motion that the
House reject the nongermane matter identified by the point of order shall be
privileged. Such a motion is debatable for 40 minutes, one-half in favor of the
motion and one-half in opposition thereto.
(c) After disposition of a point of order under paragraph (a) or a motion to
reject under paragraph (b), any further points of order under paragraph (a) not
covered by a previous point of order, and any consequent motions to reject under
paragraph (b), shall be likewise disposed of.
(d)(1) If a motion to reject under paragraph (b) is adopted, then after
disposition of all points of order under paragraph (a) and any consequent
motions to reject under paragraph (b), the conference report or motion, as the
case may be, shall be considered as rejected and the matter remaining in
disagreement shall be disposed of under subparagraph (2) or (3), as the case may
be.
(2) After the House has adopted one or more motions to reject nongermane
matter contained in a conference report under the preceding provisions of this
clause--
(A) if the conference report accompanied a House measure amended by
the Senate, the pending question shall be whether the House shall recede
and concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment consisting of so
much of the conference report as was not rejected; and
(B) if the conference report accompanied a Senate measure amended by
the House, the pending question shall be whether the House shall insist
further on the House amendment.
(3) After the House has adopted one or more motions to reject nongermane
matter contained in a motion that the House recede and concur in a Senate
amendment, with or without amendment, the following motions shall be privileged
and shall have precedence in the order stated:
(A) A motion that the House recede and concur in the Senate
amendment with an amendment in writing then available on the floor.
(B) A motion that the House insist on its disagreement to the Senate
amendment and request a further conference with the Senate.
(C) A motion that the House insist on its disagreement to the Senate
amendment.
(e) If, on a division of the question on a motion described in paragraph
(a)(1)(B) or (C), the House agrees to recede, then a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner may raise a point of order against nongermane matter, as
specified in paragraph (a)(2), before the commencement of debate on concurring
in the Senate amendment, with or without amendment. A point of order under this
paragraph shall be disposed of according to the preceding provisions of this
clause in the same manner as a point of order under paragraph (a).
-11. It shall not be in order to consider a conference report to accompany a
bill or joint resolution that proposes to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 unless--
-(a) the joint explanatory statement of the managers includes a tax
complexity analysis prepared by the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue
Taxation in accordance with section 4022(b) of the Internal Revenue
Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998; or-
(b) the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means causes such a
tax complexity analysis to be printed in the Congressional Record before
consideration of the conference report.-
12. (a)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), a meeting of each conference
committee shall be open to the public.-
(2) In open session of the House, a motion that managers on the part of the
House be permitted to close to the public a meeting or meetings of their
conference committee shall be privileged, shall be decided without debate, and
shall be decided by a record vote.-
(b) A point of order that a conference committee failed to comply with
paragraph (a) may be raised immediately after the conference report is read or
considered as read. If such a point of order is sustained, the conference report
shall be considered as rejected, the House shall be considered to have insisted
on its amendments or on disagreement to the Senate amendments, as the case may
be, and to have requested a further conference with the Senate, and the Speaker
may appoint new conferees without intervening motion.
RULE XXIII.
Statutory Limit on Public Debt.-
1. Upon adoption by Congress of a concurrent resolution on the budget under
section 301 or 304 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that sets forth, as
the appropriate level of the public debt for the period to which the concurrent
resolution relates, an amount that is different from the amount of the statutory
limit on the public debt that otherwise would be in effect for that period, the
Clerk shall prepare an engrossment of a joint resolution increasing or
decreasing, as the case may be, the statutory limit on the public debt in the
form prescribed in clause 2. Upon engrossment of the joint resolution, the vote
by which the concurrent resolution on the budget was finally agreed to in the
House shall also be considered as a vote on passage of the joint resolution in
the House, and the joint resolution shall be considered as passed by the House
and duly certified and examined. The engrossed copy shall be signed by the Clerk
and transmitted to the Senate for further legislative action.-
2. The matter after the resolving clause in a joint resolution described in
clause 1 shall be as follows: ``That subsection (b) of section 3101 of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking out the dollar limitation contained
in such subsection and inserting in lieu thereof `$____'.'', with the blank
being filled with a dollar limitation equal to the appropriate level of the
public debt set forth pursuant to section 301(a)(5) of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974 in the relevant concurrent resolution described in clause 1. If an
adopted concurrent resolution under clause 1 sets forth different appropriate
levels of the public debt for separate periods, only one engrossed joint
resolution shall be prepared under clause 1; and the blank referred to in the
preceding sentence shall be filled with the limitation that is to apply for each
period.-
3. (a) The report of the Committee on the Budget on a concurrent resolution
described in clause 1 and the joint explanatory statement of the managers on a
conference report to accompany such a concurrent resolution each shall contain a
clear statement of the effect the eventual enactment of a joint resolution
engrossed under this rule would have on the statutory limit on the public debt.-
(b) It shall not be in order for the House to consider a concurrent
resolution described in clause 1, or a conference report thereon, unless the
report of the Committee on the Budget or the joint explanatory statement of the
managers complies with paragraph (a).
4. Nothing in this rule shall be construed as limiting or otherwise
affecting---
(a) the power of the House or the Senate to consider and pass bills
or joint resolutions, without regard to the procedures under clause 1,
that would change the statutory limit on the public debt; or
(b) the rights of Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, or
committees with respect to the introduction, consideration, and
reporting of such bills or joint resolutions.
5. In this rule the term ``statutory limit on the public debt'' means the
maximum face amount of obligations issued under authority of chapter 31 of title
31, United States Code, and obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest
by the United States (except such guaranteed obligations as may be held by the
Secretary of the Treasury), as determined under section 3101(b) of such title
after the application of section 3101(a) of such title, that may be outstanding
at any one time.
RULE XXIV.
Code of Official Conduct.-
There is hereby established by and for the House the following code of
conduct, to be known as the ``Code of Official Conduct'':-
1. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
of the House shall conduct himself at all times in a manner that shall
reflect creditably on the House.-
2. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
of the House shall adhere to the spirit and the letter of the Rules of
the House and to the rules of duly constituted committees thereof.
-3. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
of the House may not receive compensation and may not permit
compensation to accrue to his beneficial interest from any source, the
receipt of which would occur by virtue of influence improperly exerted
from his position in Congress.
4. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
of the House may not accept gifts except as provided by clause 5 of rule
XXVI.-
5. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
of the House may not accept an honorarium for a speech, a writing for
publication, or other similar activity, except as otherwise provided
under rule XXVI.-
6. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner---
(a) shall keep his campaign funds separate from his personal
funds;-
(b) may not convert campaign funds to personal use in excess
of an amount representing reimbursement for legitimate and
verifiable campaign expenditures; and-
(c) may not expend funds from his campaign account that are
not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes.-
7. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall treat as
campaign contributions all proceeds from testimonial dinners or other
fund-raising events.-
8. (a) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or officer of the
House may not retain an employee who does not perform duties for the
offices of the employing authority commensurate with the compensation he
receives.
(b) In the case of a committee employee who works under the direct
supervision of a member of the committee other than a chairman, the
chairman may require that such member affirm in writing that the
employee has complied with clause 8(a) (subject to clause 7 of rule X)
as evidence of compliance by the chairman with this clause and with
clause 7 of rule X.-
9. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
of the House may not discharge and may not refuse to hire an individual,
or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to
compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of
the race, color, religion, sex (including marital or parental status),
disability, age, or national origin of such individual, but may take
into consideration the domicile or political affiliation of such
individual.-
10. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who has been
convicted by a court of record for the commission of a crime for which a
sentence of two or more years' imprisonment may be imposed should
refrain from participation in the business of each committee of which he
is a member, and a Member should refrain from voting on any question at
a meeting of the House or of the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union, unless or until judicial or executive proceedings
result in reinstatement of the presumption of his innocence or until he
is reelected to the House after the date of such conviction.-
11. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not authorize
or otherwise allow an individual, group, or organization not under the
direction and control of the House to use the words ``Congress of the
United States,'' ``House of Representatives,'' or ``Official Business,''
or any combination of words thereof, on any letterhead or envelope.
12. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), an employee of the
House who is required to file a report under rule XXVII may not
participate personally and substantially as an employee of the House in
a contact with an agency of the executive or judicial branches of
Government with respect to nonlegislative matters affecting any
nongovernmental person in which the employee has a significant financial
interest.-
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if an employee first advises his
employing authority of a significant financial interest described in
paragraph (a) and obtains from his employing authority a written waiver
stating that the participation of the employee in the activity
described in paragraph (a) is necessary. A copy of each such waiver
shall be filed with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.-
13. Before a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House may have access to classified information, the
following oath (or affirmation) shall be executed:
``I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not disclose
any classified information received in the course of my service
with the House of Representatives, except as authorized by the
House of Representatives or in accordance with its Rules.''
Copies of the executed oath (or affirmation) shall be retained by the
Clerk as part of the records of the House.-
14. (a) In this Code of Official Conduct, the term ``officer or
employee of the House'' means an individual whose compensation is
disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer.
(b) An individual whose services are compensated by the House
pursuant to a consultant contract shall be considered an employee of the
House for purposes of clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 13 of this rule.
RULE XXV.
Limitations on Use of Official Funds.
Limitations on use of official and unofficial accounts-
1. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not maintain, or have
maintained for his use, an unofficial office account. Funds may not be paid into
an unofficial office account.-
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, if an amount from the
Official Expenses Allowance of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner is
paid into the House Recording Studio revolving fund for telecommunications
satellite services, the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may accept
reimbursement from nonpolitical entities in that amount for transmission to the
Clerk for credit to the Official Expenses Allowance.-
3. In this rule the term ``unofficial office account'' means an account or
repository in which funds are received for the purpose of defraying otherwise
unreimbursed expenses allowable under section 162(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 as ordinary and necessary in the operation of a congressional
office, and includes a newsletter fund referred to in section 527(g) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Limitations on use of the frank-
4. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall mail franked mail
under section 3210(d) of title 39, United States Code at the most economical
rate of postage practicable.-
5. Before making a mass mailing, a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner shall submit a sample or description of the mail matter involved to
the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards for an advisory opinion
as to whether the proposed mailing is in compliance with applicable provisions
of law, rule, or regulation.-
6. A mass mailing that is otherwise frankable by a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner under the provisions of section 3210(e) of title 39,
United States Code, is not frankable unless the cost of preparing and printing
it is defrayed exclusively from funds made available in an appropriation Act.-
7. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not send a mass mailing
outside the congressional district from which he was elected.-
8. In the case of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, a mass
mailing is not frankable under section 3210 of title 39, United States Code,
when it is postmarked less than 60 days before the date of a primary or general
election (whether regular, special, or runoff) in which he is a candidate for
public office. If the mail matter is of a type that is not customarily
postmarked, the date on which it would have been postmarked, if it were of a
type customarily postmarked, applies.
9. In this rule the term ``mass mailing'' means, with respect to a session
of Congress, a mailing of newsletters or other pieces of mail with substantially
identical content (whether such pieces of mail are deposited singly or in bulk,
or at the same time or different times), totaling more than 500 pieces of mail
in that session, except that such term does not include a mailing---
(a) of matter in direct response to a communication from a person to
whom the matter is mailed;-
(b) from a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to other
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, or Senators, or to
Federal, State, or local government officials; or-
(c) of a news release to the communications media.
Prohibition on use of funds by Members not elected to succeeding Congress-
10. Funds from the applicable accounts described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule
X, including funds from committee expense resolutions, and funds in any local
currencies owned by the United States may not be made available for travel by a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator after the date of a general
election in which he was not elected to the succeeding Congress or, in the case
of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who is not a candidate in a
general election, after the earlier of the date of such general election or the
adjournment sine die of the last regular session of the Congress.
RULE XXVI.
Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Acceptance of Gifts.
Outside earned income; honoraria-
1. (a) Except as provided by paragraph (b), a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House may not---
(1) have outside earned income attributable to a calendar year that
exceeds 15 percent of the annual rate of basic pay for level II of the
Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, as
of January 1 of that calendar year; or-
(2) receive any honorarium, except that an officer or employee of
the House who is paid at a rate less than 120 percent of the minimum
rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule may receive an
honorarium unless the subject matter is directly related to the official
duties of the individual, the payment is made because of the status of
the individual with the House, or the person offering the honorarium has
interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or
nonperformance of the official duties of the individual.-
(b) In the case of an individual who becomes a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, such individual may not have
outside earned income attributable to the portion of a calendar year that occurs
after such individual becomes a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee that exceeds 15 percent of the
annual rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule under
section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, as of January 1 of that
calendar year multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days the individual is a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee during that calendar year and the
denominator of which is 365.
(c) A payment in lieu of an honorarium that is made to a charitable
organization on behalf of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House may not be received by that Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee. Such a payment may not exceed $2,000 or be
made to a charitable organization from which the Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee or a parent, sibling, spouse, child, or
dependent relative of the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee, derives a financial benefit.
2. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House may not--
(a) receive compensation for affiliating with or being employed by a
firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity that
provides professional services involving a fiduciary relationship;
(b) permit his name to be used by such a firm, partnership,
association, corporation, or other entity;
(c) receive compensation for practicing a profession that involves a
fiduciary relationship;
(d) serve for compensation as an officer or member of the board of
an association, corporation, or other entity; or
(e) receive compensation for teaching, without the prior
notification and approval of the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct.
Copyright royalties
3. (a) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House may not receive an advance payment on copyright royalties. This
paragraph does not prohibit a literary agent, researcher, or other individual
(other than an individual employed by the House or a relative of a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee) working on behalf of a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee with respect to a
publication from receiving an advance payment of a copyright royalty directly
from a publisher and solely for the benefit of that literary agent, researcher,
or other individual.
(b) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House may not receive copyright royalties under a contract entered into on or
after January 1, 1996, unless that contract is first approved by the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct as complying with the requirement of clause
4(d)(1)(E) (that royalties are received from an established publisher under
usual and customary contractual terms).
Definitions
4. (a)(1) In this rule, except as provided in subparagraph (2), the term
``officer or employee of the House'' means an individual (other than a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner) whose pay is disbursed by the Chief
Administrative Officer, who is paid at a rate equal to or greater than 120
percent of the minimum rate of basic pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule, and
who is so employed for more than 90 days in a calendar year; and
(2) when used with respect to an honorarium, the term ``officer or employee
of the House'' means an individual (other than a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner) whose salary is disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer.
(b) In this rule the term ``honorarium'' means a payment of money or a thing
of value for an appearance, speech, or article (including a series of
appearances, speeches, or articles) by a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, excluding any actual and
necessary travel expenses incurred by that Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee (and one relative) to the extent that such
expenses are paid or reimbursed by any other person. The amount otherwise
determined shall be reduced by the amount of any such expenses to the extent
that such expenses are not so paid or reimbursed.
(c) In this rule the term ``travel expenses'' means, with respect to a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer or, employee of the House, or a
relative of such Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee,
the cost of transportation, and the cost of lodging and meals while away from
his residence or principal place of employment.
(d)(1) In this rule the term ``outside earned income'' means, with respect
to a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House,
wages, salaries, fees, and other amounts received or to be received as
compensation for personal services actually rendered, but does not include --
(A) the salary of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee;
(B) any compensation derived by a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House for personal services
actually rendered before the adoption of this rule or before he became a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee;
(C) any amount paid by, or on behalf of, a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House to a tax-
qualified pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan and received by
him from such a plan;
(D) in the case of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House engaged in a trade or business in
which he or his family holds a controlling interest and in which both
personal services and capital are income-producing factors, any amount
received by the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee, so long as the personal services actually rendered by him in
the trade or business do not generate a significant amount of income; or
(E) copyright royalties received from established publishers under
usual and customary contractual terms; and
(2) outside earned income shall be determined without regard to community
property law.
(e) In this rule the term ``charitable organization'' means an organization
described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Gifts
5. (a)(1) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House may not knowingly accept a gift except as provided in this clause.
(2)(A) In this clause the term ``gift'' means a gratuity, favor, discount,
entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary
value. The term includes gifts of services, training, transportation, lodging,
and meals, whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in
advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.
(B)(i) A gift to a family member of a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, or a gift to any other
individual based on that individual's relationship with the Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee, shall be considered a gift to the
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee if it is given
with the knowledge and acquiescence of the Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee and the Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee has reason to believe the gift was given
because of his official position.
(ii) If food or refreshment is provided at the same time and place to both a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House and
the spouse or dependent thereof, only the food or refreshment provided to the
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee shall be treated
as a gift for purposes of this clause.
(3) The restrictions in subparagraph (1) do not apply to the following:
(A) Anything for which the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House pays the market value, or does not use
and promptly returns to the donor.
(B) A contribution, as defined in section 301(8) of the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) that is lawfully
made under that Act, a lawful contribution for election to a State or
local government office, or attendance at a fundraising event sponsored
by a political organization described in section 527(e) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.
(C) A gift from a relative as described in section 109(16) of title
I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (2 U.S.C. App. 109(16)).
(D)(i) Anything provided by an individual on the basis of a personal
friendship unless the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer,
or employee of the House has reason to believe that, under the
circumstances, the gift was provided because of his official position
and not because of the personal friendship.
(ii) In determining whether a gift is provided on the basis of
personal friendship, the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House shall consider the circumstances under
which the gift was offered, such as:
(I) The history of his relationship with the individual
giving the gift, including any previous exchange of gifts
between them.
(II) Whether to his actual knowledge the individual who gave
the gift personally paid for the gift or sought a tax deduction
or business reimbursement for the gift.
(III) Whether to his actual knowledge the individual who
gave the gift also gave the same or similar gifts to other
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioners, officers, or
employees of the House.
(E) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(3), a contribution or other
payment to a legal expense fund established for the benefit of a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House that
is otherwise lawfully made in accordance with the restrictions and
disclosure requirements of the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct.
(F) A gift from another Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House or Senate.
(G) Food, refreshments, lodging, transportation, and other
benefits--
(i) resulting from the outside business or employment
activities of the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House (or other outside activities
that are not connected to his duties as an officeholder), or of
his spouse, if such benefits have not been offered or enhanced
because of his official position and are customarily provided to
others in similar circumstances;
(ii) customarily provided by a prospective employer in
connection with bona fide employment discussions; or
(iii) provided by a political organization described in
section 527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in
connection with a fundraising or campaign event sponsored by
such organization.
(H) Pension and other benefits resulting from continued
participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan maintained by a
former employer.
(I) Informational materials that are sent to the office of the
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House in the form of books, articles, periodicals, other written
materials, audiotapes, videotapes, or other forms of communication.
(J) Awards or prizes that are given to competitors in contests or
events open to the public, including random drawings.
(K) Honorary degrees (and associated travel, food, refreshments, and
entertainment) and other bona fide, nonmonetary awards presented in
recognition of public service (and associated food, refreshments, and
entertainment provided in the presentation of such degrees and awards).
(L) Training (including food and refreshments furnished to all
attendees as an integral part of the training) if such training is in
the interest of the House.
(M) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at death.
(N) An item, the receipt of which is authorized by the Foreign Gifts
and Decorations Act, the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act,
or any other statute.
(O) Anything that is paid for by the Federal Government, by a State
or local government, or secured by the Government under a Government
contract.
(P) A gift of personal hospitality (as defined in section 109(14) of
the Ethics in Government Act) of an individual other than a registered
lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal.
(Q) Free attendance at a widely attended event permitted under
subparagraph (4).
(R) Opportunities and benefits that are--
(i) available to the public or to a class consisting of all
Federal employees, whether or not restricted on the basis of
geographic consideration;
(ii) offered to members of a group or class in which
membership is unrelated to congressional employment;
(iii) offered to members of an organization, such as an
employees' association or congressional credit union, in which
membership is related to congressional employment and similar
opportunities are available to large segments of the public
through organizations of similar size;
(iv) offered to a group or class that is not defined in a
manner that specifically discriminates among Government
employees on the basis of branch of Government or type of
responsibility, or on a basis that favors those of higher rank
or rate of pay;
(v) in the form of loans from banks and other financial
institutions on terms generally available to the public; or
(vi) in the form of reduced membership or other fees for
participation in organization activities offered to all
Government employees by professional organizations if the only
restrictions on membership relate to professional
qualifications.
(S) A plaque, trophy, or other item that is substantially
commemorative in nature and that is intended for presentation.
(T) Anything for which, in an unusual case, a waiver is granted by
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
(U) Food or refreshments of a nominal value offered other than as a
part of a meal.
(V) Donations of products from the district or State that the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner represents that are intended
primarily for promotional purposes, such as display or free
distribution, and are of minimal value to any single recipient.
(W) An item of nominal value such as a greeting card, baseball cap,
or a T-shirt.
(4)(A) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House may accept an offer of free attendance at a widely attended
convention, conference, symposium, forum, panel discussion, dinner, viewing,
reception, or similar event, provided by the sponsor of the event, if--
(i) the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House participates in the event as a speaker or a panel
participant, by presenting information related to Congress or matters
before Congress, or by performing a ceremonial function appropriate to
his official position; or
(ii) attendance at the event is appropriate to the performance of
the official duties or representative function of the Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House.
(B) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House who attends an event described in subdivision (A) may accept a sponsor's
unsolicited offer of free attendance at the event for an accompanying
individual.
(C) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House, or the spouse or dependent thereof, may accept a sponsor's unsolicited
offer of free attendance at a charity event, except that reimbursement for
transportation and lodging may not be accepted in connection with the event.
(D) In this paragraph the term ``free attendance'' may include waiver of all
or part of a conference or other fee, the provision of local transportation, or
the provision of food, refreshments, entertainment, and instructional materials
furnished to all attendees as an integral part of the event. The term does not
include entertainment collateral to the event, nor does it include food or
refreshments taken other than in a group setting with all or substantially all
other attendees.
(5) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House may not accept a gift the value of which exceeds $250 on the basis of the
personal friendship exception in subparagraph (3)(D) unless the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct issues a written determination that such exception
applies. A determination under this subparagraph is not required for gifts given
on the basis of the family relationship exception in subparagraph (3)(C).
(6) When it is not practicable to return a tangible item because it is
perishable, the item may, at the discretion of the recipient, be given to an
appropriate charity or destroyed.
(b)(1)(A) A reimbursement (including payment in kind) to a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House from a private source
other than a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal for necessary
transportation, lodging, and related expenses for travel to a meeting, speaking
engagement, factfinding trip, or similar event in connection with his duties as
an officeholder shall be considered as a reimbursement to the House and not a
gift prohibited by this clause, if the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee--
(i) in the case of an employee, receives advance authorization, from
the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or officer under whose
direct supervision the employee works, to accept reimbursement; and
(ii) discloses the expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed and the
authorization to the Clerk within 30 days after the travel is completed.
(B) For purposes of subdivision (A), events, the activities of which are
substantially recreational in nature, are not considered to be in connection
with the duties of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House as an officeholder.
(2) Each advance authorization to accept reimbursement shall be signed by
the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or officer of the House under whose
direct supervision the employee works and shall include--
(A) the name of the employee;
(B) the name of the person who will make the reimbursement;
(C) the time, place, and purpose of the travel; and
(D) a determination that the travel is in connection with the duties
of the employee as an officeholder and would not create the appearance
that the employee is using public office for private gain.
(3) Each disclosure made under subparagraph (1)(A) of expenses reimbursed or
to be reimbursed shall be signed by the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
or officer (in the case of travel by that Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, or officer) or by the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or
officer under whose direct supervision the employee works (in the case of travel
by an employee) and shall include--
(A) a good faith estimate of total transportation expenses
reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
(B) a good faith estimate of total lodging expenses reimbursed or to
be reimbursed;
(C) a good faith estimate of total meal expenses reimbursed or to be
reimbursed;
(D) a good faith estimate of the total of other expenses reimbursed
or to be reimbursed;
(E) a determination that all such expenses are necessary
transportation, lodging, and related expenses as defined in subparagraph
(4); and
(F) in the case of a reimbursement to a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, or officer, a determination that the travel was in
connection with his duties as an officeholder and would not create the
appearance that the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or officer
is using public office for private gain.
(4) In this paragraph the term ``necessary transportation, lodging, and
related expenses''--
(A) includes reasonable expenses that are necessary for travel for a
period not exceeding four days within the United States or seven days
exclusive of travel time outside of the United States unless approved in
advance by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct;
(B) is limited to reasonable expenditures for transportation,
lodging, conference fees and materials, and food and refreshments,
including reimbursement for necessary transportation, whether or not
such transportation occurs within the periods described in subdivision
(A);
(C) does not include expenditures for recreational activities, nor
does it include entertainment other than that provided to all attendees
as an integral part of the event, except for activities or entertainment
otherwise permissible under this clause; and
(D) may include travel expenses incurred on behalf of either the
spouse or a child of the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee.
(5) The Clerk shall make available to the public all advance authorizations
and disclosures of reimbursement filed under subparagraph (1) as soon as
possible after they are received.
(c) A gift prohibited by paragraph (a)(1) includes the following:
(1) Anything provided by a registered lobbyist or an agent of a
foreign principal to an entity that is maintained or controlled by a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House.
(2) A charitable contribution (as defined in section 170(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986) made by a registered lobbyist or an agent
of a foreign principal on the basis of a designation, recommendation, or
other specification of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of the House (not including a mass mailing or other
solicitation directed to a broad category of persons or entities), other
than a charitable contribution permitted by paragraph (d).
(3) A contribution or other payment by a registered lobbyist or an
agent of a foreign principal to a legal expense fund established for the
benefit of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House.
(4) A financial contribution or expenditure made by a registered
lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal relating to a conference,
retreat, or similar event, sponsored by or affiliated with an official
congressional organization, for or on behalf of Members, Delegates, the
Resident Commissioner, officers, or employees of the House.
(d)(1) A charitable contribution (as defined in section 170(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986) made by a registered lobbyist or an agent of a
foreign principal in lieu of an honorarium to a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House are not considered a gift under
this clause if it is reported as provided in subparagraph (2).
(2) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee who
designates or recommends a contribution to a charitable organization in lieu of
an honorarium described in subparagraph (1) shall report within 30 days after
such designation or recommendation to the Clerk--
(A) the name and address of the registered lobbyist who is making
the contribution in lieu of an honorarium;
(B) the date and amount of the contribution; and
(C) the name and address of the charitable organization designated
or recommended by the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.
The Clerk shall make public information received under this subparagraph as soon
as possible after it is received.
(e) In this clause--
(1) the term ``registered lobbyist'' means a lobbyist registered
under the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act or any successor statute;
and
(2) the term ``agent of a foreign principal'' means an agent of a
foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
(f) All the provisions of this clause shall be interpreted and enforced
solely by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct is authorized to issue guidance on any matter
contained in this clause.
Claims against the Government
6. A person may not be an officer or employee of the House, or continue in
its employment, if he acts as an agent for the prosecution of a claim against
the Government or if he is interested in such claim, except as an original
claimant or in the proper discharge of official duties.
RULE XXVII.
Financial Disclosure.
1. The Clerk shall send a copy of each report filed with the Clerk under
title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 within the seven-day period
beginning on the date on which the report is filed to the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct. By August 1 of each year, the Clerk shall compile all such
reports sent to him by Members within the period beginning on January 1
and ending on June 15 of each year and have them printed as a House
document, which shall be made available to the public.
2. For the purposes of this rule, the provisions of title I of the Ethics in
Government Act of 1978 shall be considered Rules of the House as they pertain to
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and employees of the
House.
RULE XXVIII.
General Provisions.
1. The provisions of law that constituted the Rules of the House at the end
of the previous Congress shall govern the House in all cases to which they are
applicable, and the rules of parliamentary practice comprised by Jefferson's
Manual shall govern the House in all cases to which they are applicable and in
which they are not inconsistent with the Rules and orders of the House.
2. In these rules words importing the masculine gender include the feminine
as well.
SEC. 2. SEPARATE ORDERS.
(a) Budget Enforcement.--(1) Pending the adoption by the Congress of a
concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 1999--
(A) the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, when elected, shall
publish in the Congressional Record budget totals contemplated by
section 301 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and allocations
contemplated by section 302(a) of that Act for each of the fiscal years
1999 through 2003;
(B) those totals and levels shall be effective in the House as
though established under a concurrent resolution on the budget and
sections 301 and 302 of that Act; and
(C) the publication of those totals and levels shall be considered
as the completion of Congressional action on a concurrent resolution on
the budget for fiscal year 1999.
(2) Pending the adoption by the Congress of a concurrent resolution on the
budget for fiscal year 2000, a provision in a bill or joint resolution, or in an
amendment thereto or a conference report thereon, that establishes prospectively
for a Federal office or position a specified or minimum level of compensation to
be funded by annual discretionary appropriations shall not be considered as
providing new entitlement authority within the meaning of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
(3) In the case of a reported bill or joint resolution considered pursuant
to a special order of business, a point of order under section 303 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 shall be determined on the basis of the text
made in order as an original bill or joint resolution for the purpose of
amendment or to the text on which the previous question is ordered directly to
passage, as the case may be.
(b) Tenure on Budget Committee.--Notwithstanding clause 5(a)(2)(B) of rule
X, during the One Hundred Sixth Congress tenure on the Committee on the Budget
shall not be limited.
(c) Standards Committee Rules.--Each provision of House Resolution 168 of
the One Hundred Fifth Congress that was not executed as a change in the standing
rules is hereby reaffirmed for the One Hundred Sixth Congress.
(d) Census Subcommittee.--Notwithstanding clause 5(d) of rule X, during the
One Hundred Sixth Congress the Committee on Government Reform may have not more
than eight subcommittees.
(e) Explanatory Material Relating to Codification of Rules.--Upon the
adoption of this resolution, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader or
their designees may submit for inclusion in the Congressional Record as part of
the debate hereon such extraneous and tabular matter as they may consider to
constitute legislative history concerning the codification of the standing
rules.
(f) Continuation of Select Committee.--
(1) In general.--Solely for the purpose of completing activities
directly associated with the declassification and public release of its
report, the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/
Commercial Concerns With the People's Republic of China (hereafter
referred to as the ``Select Committee''), created by House Resolution
463, One Hundred Fifth Congress, agreed to June 18, 1998 (hereafter
referred to as the ``Authorizing Resolution''), may sit and act during
the One Hundred Sixth Congress at any time prior to April 1, 1999, as it
may deem appropriate, without regard to whether or not the House of
Representatives is in session at the time.
(2) Continuation of powers and jurisdiction.--Solely for the purpose
described in paragraph (1), the Select Committee's jurisdiction, and all
other powers, authorities, responsibilities, and procedures of the
Select Committee and of other Committees of the House of
Representatives, shall remain as set forth in the Authorizing
Resolution, except as follows:
(A) Section 10 of the Authorizing Resolution shall not be
continued.
(B) Sections 8 and 9 of the Authorizing Resolution shall
apply only to the enforcement of requests for information which
are issued prior to January 3, 1999, and to issuing and
enforcing requests for information directly related to the
declassification and public release of the Select Committee's
report.
(3) Disposition of records.--In addition to the powers and
authorities extended under paragraph (2), upon the termination of the
Select Committee, all records of the Select Committee shall be
transferred to other committees of the House of Representatives, stored
by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, or otherwise disposed of
as the Select Committee may direct, consistent with applicable rules and
laws concerning classified information.
(4) No additional funds.--Funds for the Select Committee for
carrying out activities under this subsection during the One Hundred
Sixth Congress shall be derived solely from amounts provided pursuant to
the Authorizing Resolution which remain unobligated and unexpended as of
the end of the One Hundred Fifth Congress.
(g) Numbering of Bills.--In the One Hundred Sixth Congress, the first 10
numbers for bills (H.R. 1 through H.R. 10) shall be reserved for assignment by
the Speaker to such bills as he may designate when introduced before March 1,
1999.
SEC. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Upon the adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the
House a resolution amending clause 5 of rule XXVI, if offered by the Majority
Leader or his designee. The resolution shall be considered as read for
amendment. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the
resolution to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division
of the question except one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the
Majority Leader and the Minority Leader or their designees.
Attest:
Clerk.