[WPRT 106-1]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


106th Congress                                                    WMCP:
1st Session                 COMMITTEE PRINT                       106-1
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     


                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                               __________

 
          MANUAL OF RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
                                FOR THE
                       ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS

                                     
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] CONGRESS.#13

                                     

                        ADOPTED JANUARY 6, 1999

  Prepared for the use of the Committee on Ways and Means by its staff


                     U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
53-817 cc                    WASHINGTON : 1999






                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                      BILL ARCHER, Texas, Chairman

PHILIP M. CRANE, Illinois            CHARLES B. RANGEL, New York
BILL THOMAS, California              FORTNEY PETE STARK, California
E. CLAY SHAW, Jr., Florida           ROBERT T. MATSUI, California
NANCY L. JOHNSON, Connecticut        WILLIAM J. COYNE, Pennsylvania
AMO HOUGHTON, New York               SANDER M. LEVIN, Michigan
WALLY HERGER, California             BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
JIM McCRERY, Louisiana               JIM McDERMOTT, Washington
DAVE CAMP, Michigan                  GERALD D. KLECZKA, Wisconsin
JIM RAMSTAD, Minnesota               JOHN LEWIS, Georgia
JIM NUSSLE, Iowa                     RICHARD E. NEAL, Massachusetts
SAM JOHNSON, Texas                   MICHAEL R. McNULTY, New York
JENNIFER DUNN, Washington            WILLIAM J. JEFFERSON, Louisiana
MAC COLLINS, Georgia                 JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio                    XAVIER BECERRA, California
PHILIP S. ENGLISH, Pennsylvania      KAREN L. THURMAN, Florida
WES WATKINS, Oklahoma                LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas
J.D. HAYWORTH, Arizona
JERRY WELLER, Illinois
KENNY HULSHOF, Missouri
SCOTT McINNIS, Colorado
RON LEWIS, Kentucky
MARK FOLEY, Florida

                     A.L. Singleton, Chief of Staff

                  Janice Mays, Minority Chief Counsel

                                FOREWORD

    This manual has been prepared to assist Members of the 
Committee on Ways and Means, its staff, and the public. It 
presents in two parts various rules that affect the 
organization and procedures of the Committee on Ways and Means. 
Part I contains rules adopted by the Committee for the 106th 
Congress. Part II contains selected Rules of the House of 
Representatives, which are also a part of the rules of the 
Committee, affecting all standing committees of the House, and 
incorporating the recodification of the Rules of the House 
adopted at the beginning of the 106th Congress.


                            C O N T E N T S

                               __________
                                                                   Page

Foreword.........................................................   iii

            PART I--RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                               a. general

Rule  1. Application of Rules....................................     3
Rule  2. Meeting Date and Quorums................................     3
Rule  3. Committee Budget........................................     4
Rule  4. Publication of Committee Documents......................     4
Rule  5. Official Travel.........................................     4
Rule  6. Availability of Committee Records and Publications......     5

                            b. subcommittees

Rule  7. Subcommittee Ratios and Jurisdiction....................     5
        1. Subcommittee on Trade.................................     6
        2. Subcommittee on Oversight.............................     6
        3. Subcommittee on Health................................     6
        4. Subcommittee on Social Security.......................     7
        5. Subcommittee on Human Resources.......................     7
Rule  8. Ex-Officio Members of Subcommittees.....................     7
Rule  9. Subcommittee Meetings...................................     8
Rule 10. Reference of Legislation and Subcommittee Reports.......     8
Rule 11. Recommendation For Appointment of Conferees.............     8

                              c. hearings

Rule 12. Witnesses...............................................     8
Rule 13. Questioning of Witnesses................................     9
Rule 14. Subpoena Power..........................................     9
Rule 15. Records of Hearings.....................................     9
Rule 16. Broadcasting of Hearings................................    10

                               d. markups

Rule 17. Reconsideration of Previous Vote........................    10
Rule 18. Previous Question.......................................    10
Rule 19. Official Transcripts of Markups and Other Committee 
  Meetings.......................................................    10
Rule 20. Publication of Decisions and Legislative Language.......    11

                                e. staff

Rule 21. Supervision of Committee Staff..........................    11
Rule 22. Staff Honoraria, Speaking Engagements, and Unofficial 
  Travel.........................................................    12

        PART II--SELECTED RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rule VII. Records of the House
    Archiving....................................................    17
    Public Availability..........................................    17
    Definition of Record.........................................    18
Rule X. Organization of Committees
    Committees and Their Legislative Jurisdictions...............    18
    General Oversight Responsibilities...........................    18
    Special Oversight Functions..................................    20
    Additional Functions of Committees...........................    20
    Budget Act Responsibilities..................................    20
    Election and Membership of Standing Committees...............    21
    Expense Resolutions..........................................    21
    Interim Funding..............................................    22
    Travel.......................................................    23
    Committee Staffs.............................................    24
Rule XI. Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business
    In General...................................................    26
    Adoption of Written Rules....................................    27
    Regular Meeting Days.........................................    27
    Additional and Special Meetings..............................    27
    Temporary Absence of Chairman................................    28
    Committee Records............................................    28
    Prohibition Against Proxy Voting.............................    29
    Open Meetings and Hearings...................................    29
    Quorum Requirements..........................................    31
    Limitation on Committee Sittings.............................    31
    Calling and Questioning of Witnesses.........................    31
    Investigative Hearing Procedures.............................    31
    Supplemental, Minority, or Additional Views..................    32
    Power to Sit and Act; Subpoena Power.........................    33
    Audio and Visual Coverage of Committee Proceedings...........    33
    Pay of Witnesses.............................................    35
Rule XIII. Calendars and Committee Reports
    Calendars....................................................    35
    Filing and Printing of Reports...............................    36
    Content of Reports...........................................    37
    Availability of Reports......................................    39
Rule XVI. Motions and Amendments
    Motions......................................................    40
    Withdrawal...................................................    40
    Question of Consideration....................................    40
    Precedence of Motions........................................    40
    Divisibility.................................................    41
    Amendments...................................................    41
    Germaneness..................................................    41
    Readings.....................................................    41
Rule XIX. Motions Following the Amendment Stage
    Previous Question............................................    42
    Recommit.....................................................    42
    Reconsideration..............................................    42
Rule XXI. Restrictions on Certain Bills
    Reservation of Certain Points of Order.......................    43
    General Appropriation Bills and Amendments...................    43
    Transportation Obligation Limitations........................    44
    Appropriations on Legislative Bills..........................    44
    Tax and Tariff Measures and Amendments.......................    44
    Passage of Tax Rate Increases................................    44
    Consideration of Retroactive Tax Rate Increases..............    45
Rule XXII. House and Senate Relations............................    45
Rule XXIII. Statutory Limit on Public Debt.......................    45
      
=======================================================================





                                 Part I



                RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS



                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES



                             106TH CONGRESS

=======================================================================

                                 PART I

    RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS FOR THE 106TH CONGRESS

    Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
provides in part:

    * * * 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. * * *
    * * * 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 * * *.

    In accordance with the foregoing, the Committee on Ways and 
Means, on January 6, 1999, adopted the following as the Rules 
of the Committee for the 106th Congress.

                               A. GENERAL

                      Rule 1. Application of Rules

    Except where the terms ``full Committee'' and 
``Subcommittee'' are specifically referred to, the following 
rules shall apply to the Committee on Ways and Means and its 
Subcommittees as well as to the respective Chairmen.

                    Rule 2. Meeting Date and Quorums

    The regular meeting day of the Committee on Ways and Means 
shall be on the second Wednesday of each month while the House 
is in session. However, the Committee shall not meet on the 
regularly scheduled meeting day if there is no business to be 
considered.
    A majority of the Committee constitutes a quorum for 
business; provided however, that two Members shall constitute a 
quorum at any regularly scheduled hearing called for the 
purpose of taking testimony and receiving evidence. In 
establishing a quorum for purposes of a public hearing, every 
effort shall be made to secure the presence of at least one 
Member each from the majority and the minority.
    The Chairman of the Committee may call and convene, as he 
considers necessary, additional meetings of the Committee for 
the consideration of any bill or resolution pending before the 
Committee or for the conduct of other Committee business. The 
Committee shall meet pursuant to the call of the Chair.

                        Rule 3. Committee Budget

    For each Congress, the Chairman, in consultation with the 
Majority Members of the Committee, shall prepare a preliminary 
budget. Such budget shall include necessary amounts for staff 
personnel, travel, investigation, and other expenses of the 
Committee. After consultation with the Minority Members, the 
Chairman shall include an amount budgeted by Minority Members 
for staff under their direction and supervision. Thereafter, 
the Chairman shall combine such proposals into a consolidated 
Committee budget, and shall present the same to the Committee 
for its approval or other action. The Chairman shall take 
whatever action is necessary to have the budget as finally 
approved by the Committee duly authorized by the House. After 
said budget shall have been adopted, no substantial change 
shall be made in such budget unless approved by the Committee.

               Rule 4. Publication of Committee Documents

    Any Committee or Subcommittee print, document, or similar 
material prepared for public distribution shall either be 
approved by the Committee or Subcommittee prior to distribution 
and opportunity afforded for the inclusion of supplemental, 
minority or additional views, or such document shall contain on 
its cover the following disclaimer:
    Prepared for the use of Members of the Committee on Ways 
and Means by members of its staff. This document has not been 
officially approved by the Committee and may not reflect the 
views of its Members.
    Any such print, document, or other material not officially 
approved by the Committee or Subcommittee shall not include the 
names of its Members, other than the name of the full Committee 
Chairman or Subcommittee Chairman under whose authority the 
document is released. Any such document shall be made available 
to the full Committee Chairman and Ranking Minority Member not 
less than 3 calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and 
legal holidays) prior to its public release.
    The requirements of this rule shall apply only to the 
publication of policy-oriented, analytical documents, and not 
to the publication of public hearings, legislative documents, 
documents which are administrative in nature or reports which 
are required to be submitted to the Committee under public law. 
The appropriate characterization of a document subject to this 
rule shall be determined after consultation with the Minority.

                        Rule 5. Official Travel

    Consistent with the primary expense resolution and such 
additional expense resolution as may have been approved, the 
provisions of this rule shall govern official travel of 
Committee Members and Committee staff. Official travel to be 
reimbursed from funds set aside for the full Committee for any 
Member or any committee staff member shall be paid only upon 
the prior authorization of the Chairman. Official travel may be 
authorized by the Chairman for any Member and any committee 
staff member in connection with the attendance of hearings 
conducted by the Committee, its Subcommittees, or any other 
Committee or Subcommittee of the Congress on matters relevant 
to the general jurisdiction of the Committee, and meetings, 
conferences, facility inspections, and investigations which 
involve activities or subject matter relevant to the general 
jurisdiction of the Committee. Before such authorization is 
given, there shall be submitted to the Chairman in writing the 
following:
          (1) The purpose of the official travel;
          (2) The dates during which the official travel is to 
        be made and the date or dates of the event for which 
        the official travel is being made;
          (3) The location of the event for which the official 
        travel is to be made; and
          (4) The names of Members and Committee staff seeking 
        authorization.
    In the case of official travel of Members and staff of a 
Subcommittee to hearings, meetings, conferences, facility 
inspections and investigations involving activities or subject 
matter under the jurisdiction of such Subcommittee to be paid 
for out of funds allocated to such Subcommittee, prior 
authorization must be obtained from the Subcommittee Chairman 
and the full Committee Chairman. Such prior authorization shall 
be given by the Chairman only upon the representation by the 
applicable Subcommittee Chairman in writing setting forth those 
items enumerated above.
    Within 60 days of the conclusion of any official travel 
authorized under this rule, there shall be submitted to the 
full Committee Chairman a written report covering the 
information gained as a result of the hearing, meeting, 
conference, facility inspection or investigation attended 
pursuant to such official travel.

       Rule 6. Availability of Committee Records and Publications

    The records of the Committee at the National Archives and 
Records Administration shall be made available for public use 
in accordance with Rule VII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking Minority 
Member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 
4(b) of the rule, to withhold a record otherwise available, and 
the matter shall be presented to the Committee for a 
determination on the written request of any Member of the 
Committee. The Committee shall, to the maximum extent feasible, 
make its publications available in electronic form.

                            B. SUBCOMMITTEES

              Rule 7. Subcommittee Ratios and Jurisdiction

    All matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
involving revenue measures, except those revenue measures 
referred to Subcommittees under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, 
shall be considered by the full Committee and not in 
Subcommittee. There shall be five standing Subcommittees as 
follows: a Subcommittee on Trade; a Subcommittee on Oversight; 
a Subcommittee on Health; a Subcommittee on Social Security; 
and a Subcommittee on Human Resources. The ratio of Republicans 
to Democrats on any Subcommittee of the Committee shall be 
consistent with the ratio of Republicans to Democrats on the 
full Committee.
    The jurisdiction of each Subcommittee shall be:
    1. The Subcommittee on Trade shall consist of 15 Members, 9 
of whom shall be Republicans and 6 of whom shall be Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Trade shall include 
bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
which relate to customs and customs administration including 
tariff and import fee structure, classification, valuation of 
and special rules applying to imports, and special tariff 
provisions and procedures which relate to customs operation 
affecting exports and imports; import trade matters, including 
import impact, industry relief from injurious imports, 
adjustment assistance and programs to encourage competitive 
responses to imports, unfair import practices including 
antidumping and countervailing duty provisions, and import 
policy which relates to dependence on foreign sources of 
supply; commodity agreements and reciprocal trade agreements 
including multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations and 
implementation of agreements involving tariff and nontariff 
trade barriers to and distortions of international trade; 
international rules, organizations and institutional aspects of 
international trade agreements; budget authorizations for the 
U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. International Trade Commission, 
and the U.S. Trade Representative; and special trade-related 
problems involving market access, competitive conditions of 
specific industries, export policy and promotion, access to 
materials in short supply, bilateral trade relations including 
trade with developing countries, operations of multinational 
corporations, and trade with nonmarket economies.
    2. The Subcommittee on Oversight shall consist of 13 
Members, 8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall 
include all matters within the scope of the full Committee's 
jurisdiction but shall be limited to existing law. Said 
oversight jurisdiction shall not be exclusive but shall be 
concurrent with that of the other Subcommittees. With respect 
to matters involving the Internal Revenue Code and other 
revenue issues, said concurrent jurisdiction shall be shared 
with the full Committee. Before undertaking any investigation 
or hearing, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall 
confer with the Chairman of the full Committee and the Chairman 
of any other Subcommittee having jurisdiction.
    3. The Subcommittee on Health shall consist of 13 Members, 
8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Health shall 
include bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and 
Means which relate to programs providing payments (from any 
source) for health care, health delivery systems, or health 
research. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee on Health shall include bills and matters which 
relate to the health care programs of the Social Security Act 
(including titles V, XI (Part B), XVIII, and XIX thereof) and, 
concurrent with the full Committee, tax credit and deduction 
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code dealing with health 
insurance premiums and health care costs.
    4. The Subcommittee on Social Security shall consist of 13 
Members, 8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Social Security 
shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on 
Ways and Means which relate to the Federal Old-Age, Survivors' 
and Disability Insurance System, the Railroad Retirement 
System, and employment taxes and trust fund operations relating 
to those systems. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee on Social Security shall include bills and matters 
involving title II of the Social Security Act and Chapter 22 of 
the Internal Revenue Code (the Railroad Retirement Tax Act), as 
well as provisions in title VII and title XI of the Act 
relating to procedure and administration involving the Old-Age, 
Survivors' and Disability Insurance System.
    5. The Subcommittee on Human Resources shall consist of 13 
Members, 8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human Resources 
shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on 
Ways and Means which relate to the public assistance provisions 
of the Social Security Act including welfare reform, 
supplemental security income, aid to families with dependent 
children, social services, child support, eligibility of 
welfare recipients for food stamps, and low-income energy 
assistance. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee on Human Resources shall include bills and matters 
relating to titles I, IV, VI, X, XIV, XVI, XVII, XX and related 
provisions of titles VII and XI of the Social Security Act.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human Resources 
shall also include bills and matters referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means which relate to the Federal-State system of 
unemployment compensation, and the financing thereof, including 
the programs for extended and emergency benefits. More 
specifically, the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human 
Resources shall also include all bills and matters pertaining 
to the programs of unemployment compensation under titles III, 
IX and XII of the Social Security Act, Chapters 23 and 23A of 
the Internal Revenue Code, the Federal-State Extended 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, the Emergency 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 1974, and provisions relating 
thereto.

              Rule 8. Ex-Officio Members of Subcommittees

    The Chairman of the full Committee and the Ranking Minority 
Member may sit as ex-officio Members of all Subcommittees. They 
may be counted for purposes of assisting in the establishment 
of a quorum for a Subcommittee. However, their absence shall 
not count against the establishment of a quorum by the regular 
Members of the Subcommittee. Ex-officio Members shall neither 
vote in the Subcommittee nor be taken into consideration for 
purposes of determining the ratio of the Subcommittee.

                     Rule 9. Subcommittee Meetings

    Insofar as practicable, meetings of the full Committee and 
its Subcommittees shall not conflict. Subcommittee Chairmen 
shall set meeting dates after consultation with the Chairman of 
the full Committee and other Subcommittee Chairmen with a view 
toward avoiding, wherever possible, simultaneous scheduling of 
full Committee and Subcommittee meetings or hearings.

       Rule 10. Reference of Legislation and Subcommittee Reports

    Except for bills or measures retained by the Chairman of 
the full Committee for full Committee consideration, every bill 
or other measure referred to the Committee shall be referred by 
the Chairman of the full Committee to the appropriate 
Subcommittee in a timely manner. A Subcommittee shall, within 3 
legislative days of the referral, acknowledge same to the full 
Committee.
    After a measure has been pending in a Subcommittee for a 
reasonable period of time, the Chairman of the full Committee 
may make a request in writing to the Subcommittee that the 
Subcommittee forthwith report the measure to the full Committee 
with its recommendations. If within 7 legislative days after 
the Chairman's written request, the Subcommittee has not so 
reported the measure, then there shall be in order in the full 
Committee a motion to discharge the Subcommittee from further 
consideration of the measure. If such motion is approved by a 
majority vote of the full Committee, the measure may thereafter 
be considered only by the full Committee.
    No measure reported by a Subcommittee shall be considered 
by the full Committee unless it has been presented to all 
Members of the full Committee at least 2 legislative days prior 
to the full Committee's meeting, together with a comparison 
with present law, a section-by-section analysis of the proposed 
change, a section-by-section justification, and a draft 
statement of the budget effects of the measure that is 
consistent with the requirements for reported measures under 
clause 3(d)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

          Rule 11. Recommendation for Appointment of Conferees

    Whenever in the legislative process it becomes necessary to 
appoint conferees, the Chairman of the full Committee shall 
recommend to the Speaker as conferees the names of those 
Committee Members as the Chairman may designate. In making 
recommendations of Minority Members as conferees, the Chairman 
shall consult with the Ranking Minority Member of the 
Committee.

                              C. HEARINGS

                           Rule 12. Witnesses

    In order to assure the most productive use of the limited 
time available to question hearing witnesses, a witness who is 
scheduled to appear before the full Committee or a Subcommittee 
shall file with the Clerk of the Committee at least 48 hours in 
advance of his appearance a written statement of his proposed 
testimony. In addition, all witnesses shall comply with 
formatting requirements as specified by the Committee and the 
Rules of the House. Failure to comply with the 48-hour rule may 
result in a witness being denied the opportunity to testify in 
person. Failure to comply with the formatting requirements may 
result in a witness' statement being rejected for inclusion in 
the published hearing record. In addition to the requirements 
of clause 2(g)(4) of Rule XI, of the Rules of the House, 
regarding information required of public witnesses, a witness 
shall limit his oral presentation to a summary of his position 
and shall provide sufficient copies of his written statement to 
the Clerk for distribution to Members, staff and news media.
    A witness appearing at a public hearing, or submitting a 
statement for the record of a public hearing, or submitting 
written comments in response to a published request for 
comments by the Committee must include on his statement or 
submission a list of all clients, persons, or organizations on 
whose behalf the witness appears. Oral testimony and statements 
for the record, or written comments in response to a request 
for comments by the Committee, will be accepted only from 
citizens of the United States or corporations or associations 
organized under the laws of one of the 50 States of the United 
States or the District of Columbia, unless otherwise directed 
by the Chairman of the full Committee or Subcommittee involved. 
Written statements from noncitizens may be considered for 
acceptance in the record if transmitted to the Committee in 
writing by Members of Congress.

                   Rule 13. Questioning of Witnesses

    Committee Members may question witnesses only when 
recognized by the Chairman for that purpose. All Members shall 
be limited to 5 minutes on the initial round of questioning. In 
questioning witnesses under the 5-minute rule, the Chairman and 
the Ranking Minority Member shall be recognized first after 
which Members who are in attendance at the beginning of a 
hearing will be recognized in the order of their seniority on 
the Committee. Other Members shall be recognized in the order 
of their appearance at the hearing. In recognizing Members to 
question witnesses, the Chairman may take into consideration 
the ratio of Majority Members to Minority Members and the 
number of Majority and Minority Members present and shall 
apportion the recognition for questioning in such a manner as 
not to disadvantage Members of the majority.

                        Rule 14. Subpoena Power

    The power to authorize and issue subpoenas is delegated to 
the Chairman of the full Committee, as provided for under 
clause 2(m)(3)(A)(i) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

                      Rule 15. Records of Hearings

    An accurate stenographic record shall be kept of all 
testimony taken at a public hearing. The staff shall transmit 
to a witness the transcript of his testimony for correction and 
immediate return to the Committee offices. Only changes in the 
interest of clarity, accuracy and corrections in transcribing 
errors will be permitted. Changes which substantially alter the 
actual testimony will not be permitted. Members shall correct 
their own testimony and return transcripts as soon as possible 
after receipt thereof. The Chairman of the full Committee may 
order the printing of a hearing without the corrections of a 
witness or Member if he determines that a reasonable time has 
been afforded to make corrections and that further delay would 
impede the consideration of the legislation or other measure 
which is the subject of the hearing.

                   Rule 16. Broadcasting of Hearings

    The provisions of clause 4(f) of Rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives are specifically made a part of 
these rules by reference. In addition, the following policy 
shall apply to media coverage of any meeting of the full 
Committee or a Subcommittee:
          1. An appropriate area of the Committee's hearing 
        room will be designated for members of the media and 
        their equipment.
          2. No interviews will be allowed in the Committee 
        room while the Committee is in session. Individual 
        interviews must take place before the gavel falls for 
        the convening of a meeting or after the gavel falls for 
        adjournment.
          3. Day-to-day notification of the next day's 
        electronic coverage shall be provided by the media to 
        the Chairman of the full Committee through the chief 
        counsel or some other appropriate designee.
          4. Still photography during a Committee meeting will 
        not be permitted to disrupt the proceedings or block 
        the vision of Committee Members or witnesses.
          5. Klieg lights will be permitted to illuminate the 
        hearing room only during the first 15 minutes following 
        the Chairman's initial calling of the Committee to 
        order.
          6. Further conditions may be specified by the 
        Chairman.

                               D. MARKUPS

               Rule 17. Reconsideration of Previous Vote

    When an amendment or other matter has been disposed of, it 
shall be in order for any Member of the prevailing side, on the 
same or next day on which a quorum of the Committee is present, 
to move the reconsideration thereof, and such motion shall take 
precedence over all other questions except the consideration of 
a motion to adjourn.

                       Rule 18. Previous Question

    The Chairman shall not recognize a Member for the purpose 
of moving the previous question unless the Member has first 
advised the Chair and the Committee that this is the purpose 
for which recognition is being sought.

 Rule 19. Official Transcripts of Markups and Other Committee Meetings

    An official stenographic transcript shall be kept 
accurately reflecting all markups and other meetings of the 
full Committee and the Subcommittees, whether they be open or 
closed to the public. This official transcript, marked as 
``uncorrected,'' shall be available for inspection by the 
public (except for meetings closed pursuant to clause 2(g)(1) 
of Rule XI of the Rules of the House), by Members of the House, 
or by Members of the Committee together with their staffs, 
during normal business hours in the full Committee or 
Subcommittee office under such controls as the Chairman of the 
full Committee deems necessary. Official transcripts shall not 
be removed from the Committee or Subcommittee office. If, 
however, (1) in the drafting of a Committee or Subcommittee 
decision, the Office of the House Legislative Counsel or (2) in 
the preparation of a Committee report, the Chief of Staff of 
the Joint Committee on Taxation determines (in consultation 
with appropriate majority and minority committee staff) that it 
is necessary to review the official transcript of a markup, 
such transcript may be released upon the signature and to the 
custody of an appropriate committee staff person. Such 
transcript shall be returned immediately after its review in 
the drafting session.
    The official transcript of a markup or Committee meeting 
other than a public hearing shall not be published or 
distributed to the public in any way except by a majority vote 
of the Committee. Before any public release of the uncorrected 
transcript, Members must be given a reasonable opportunity to 
correct their remarks. In instances in which a stenographic 
transcript is kept of a conference committee proceeding, all of 
the requirements of this rule shall likewise be observed.

       Rule 20. Publication of Decisions and Legislative Language

    A press release describing any tentative or final decision 
made by the full Committee or a Subcommittee on legislation 
under consideration shall be made available to each Member of 
the Committee as soon as possible, but no later than the next 
day. However, the legislative draft of any tentative or final 
decision of the full Committee or a Subcommittee shall not be 
publicly released until such draft is made available to each 
Member of the Committee.

                                E. STAFF

                Rule 21. Supervision of Committee Staff

    The staff of the Committee shall be under the general 
supervision and direction of the Chairman of the full Committee 
except as provided in clause 9 of Rule X of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives concerning Committee expenses and 
staff.
    Pursuant to clause 6(d) of Rule X of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the Chairman of the full Committee, from 
the funds made available for the appointment of Committee staff 
pursuant to primary and additional expense resolutions, shall 
ensure that each Subcommittee receives sufficient staff to 
carry out its responsibilities under the rules of the 
Committee, and that the minority party is fairly treated in the 
appointment of such staff.

 Rule 22. Staff Honoraria, Speaking Engagements, and Unofficial Travel

    This rule shall apply to all majority and minority staff of 
the Committee and its Subcommittees.
    a. Honoraria.--Under no circumstances shall a staff person 
accept the offer of an honorarium. This prohibition includes 
the direction of an honorarium to a charity.
    b. Speaking engagements and unofficial travel.--
          (1) Advance approval required.--In the case of all 
        speaking engagements, fact-finding trips, and other 
        unofficial travel, a staff person must receive approval 
        by the full Committee Chairman (or, in the case of the 
        minority staff, from the Ranking Minority Member) at 
        least 7 calendar days prior to the event.
          (2) Request for approval.--A request for approval 
        must be submitted in writing to the full Committee 
        Chairman (or, where appropriate, the Ranking Minority 
        Member) in connection with each speaking engagement, 
        fact-finding trip, or other unofficial travel. Such 
        request must contain the following information:
                  (a) the name of the sponsoring organization 
                and a general description of such organization 
                (nonprofit organization, trade association, 
                etc.);
                  (b) the nature of the event, including any 
                relevant information regarding attendees at 
                such event;
                  (c) in the case of a speaking engagement, the 
                subject of the speech and duration of staff 
                travel, if any; and
                  (d) in the case of a fact-finding trip or 
                international travel, a description of the 
                proposed itinerary and proposed agenda of 
                substantive issues to be discussed, as well as 
                a justification of the relevance and importance 
                of the fact-finding trip or international 
                travel to the staff member's official duties.
          (3) Reasonable travel and lodging expenses.--After 
        receipt of the advance approval described in (1) above, 
        a staff person may accept reimbursement by an 
        appropriate sponsoring organization of reasonable 
        travel and lodging expenses associated with a speaking 
        engagement, fact-finding trip, or international travel 
        related to official duties, provided such reimbursement 
        is consistent with the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives. (In lieu of reimbursement after the 
        event, expenses may be paid directly by an appropriate 
        sponsoring organization.) The reasonable travel and 
        lodging expenses of a spouse (but not children) may be 
        reimbursed (or directly paid) by an appropriate 
        sponsoring organization consistent with the Rules of 
        the House of Representatives.
          (4) Trip summary and report.--In the case of any 
        reimbursement or direct payment associated with a fact-
        finding trip or international travel, a staff person 
        must submit, within 60 days after such trip, a report 
        summarizing the trip and listing all expenses 
        reimbursed or directly paid by the sponsoring 
        organization. This information shall be submitted to 
        the Chairman (or, in the case of the minority staff, to 
        the Ranking Minority Member).
    c. Waiver.--The Chairman (or, where appropriate, the 
Ranking Minority Member) may waive the application of section 
(b) of this rule upon a showing of good cause.


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                                Part II



             SELECTED RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    Part II of the Manual of Rules of the Committee on Ways and 
Means consists of selected Rules of the House of 
Representatives, which are also a part of the Committee's rules 
and which affect its organization, administration, and 
operation. The rules cited herein are not exclusive of other 
rules of the House of Representatives applicable to the 
Committee, but rather are considered to be some of the more 
important rules to which frequent reference is made.

=======================================================================

             SELECTED RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                     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); * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                   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: * * *
    (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. * * *
    (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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

Additional Functions of Committees
    4. * * *
    (b) The Committee on the Budget shall--* * *
    (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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

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. * * *
    (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;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


       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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


               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.

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                    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.

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            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 a 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.

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                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

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    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.

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