[House Prints, 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




 
                         Rules of the Committee
                             on Agriculture

                      U.S. House of Representatives

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#13


                        ADOPTED JANUARY 25, 2011

                             112th CONGRESS
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                         Rules of the Committee

                             on Agriculture

                      U.S. House of Representatives

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#13


                        ADOPTED JANUARY 25, 2011

                             112th CONGRESS
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                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

                   FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma, Chairman
BOB GOODLATTE, Virginia,            COLLIN C. PETERSON, Minnesota, 
    Vice Chairman                   Ranking Minority Member
TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON, Illinois        TIM HOLDEN, Pennsylvania
STEVE KING, Iowa                    MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina
RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas             LEONARD L. BOSWELL, Iowa
K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas           JOE BACA, California
JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska          DENNIS A. CARDOZA, California
JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio                  DAVID SCOTT, Georgia
GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania        HENRY CUELLAR, Texas
THOMAS J. ROONEY, Florida           JIM COSTA, California
MARLIN A. STUTZMAN, Indiana         TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota
BOB GIBBS, Ohio                     KURT SCHRADER, Oregon
AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia               LARRY KISSELL, North Carolina
STEPHEN LEE FINCHER, Tennessee      WILLIAM L. OWENS, New York
SCOTT R. TIPTON, Colorado           CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine
STEVE SOUTHERLAND II, Florida       JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut
ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD,          PETER WELCH, Vermont
  Arkansas                          MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio
MARTHA ROBY, Alabama                GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, 
TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas               Northern Mariana Islands
SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee         TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama
RENEE L. ELLMERS, North Carolina    JAMES P. McGOVERN, Massachusetts
CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON, New York
RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois
VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri
ROBERT T. SCHILLING, Illinois
REID J. RIBBLE, Wisconsin

------------------------------------------------------------------------


                           Professional Staff

                      Nicole Scott, Staff Director
                      Kevin J. Kramp, Chief Counsel
                 Tamara Hinton, Communications Director
                Robert L. Larew, Minority Staff Director


                                  (ii)


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS





                                                                    Page
     General Provisions...............................1...........    I.
     a. Applicability of House Rules..................1
     b. Authority to Conduct Investigations...........1
     c. Authority to Print............................1
     d. Vice Chairman.................................2
     e. Presiding Member..............................2
     f. Publication of Rules..........................2
     g. Joint Committee Reports of Investigation or 
       Study..........................................3
     Committee Business Meetings......................2...........   II.
     a. Regular Meetings..............................2
     b. Additional Meetings...........................3
     c. Special Meetings..............................3
     Open Meetings and Hearings; Broadcasting.........4...........  III.
     a. Open Meetings and Hearings....................4
     b. Broadcasting and Photography..................4
     c. Closed Meetings--Attendees....................5
     d. Addressing the Committee......................5
     e. Meetings to Begin Promptly....................5
     f. Prohibition on Proxy Voting...................5
     g. Location of Persons at Meetings...............5
     h. Consideration of Amendments and Motions.......5
     i Demanding Record Vote..........................6
     j. Submission of Motions or Amendments In Advance 
       of Business Meeting............................6
     k. Points of Order...............................6
     l. Limitation on Committee Sittings..............6
     m. Prohibition of Wireless Telephones............7
     Quorums..........................................7...........   IV.
     a. Working Quorum................................7
     b. Majority Quorum...............................7
     c. Quorum for Taking Testimony...................7
     Records..........................................7...........    V.
     a. Maintenance of Records........................7
     b. Access to and Correction of Records...........8
     c. Property of the House.........................8
     d. Availability of Archived Records..............9
     e. Special Rules for Certain Records and 
       Proceedings....................................9
     f. Electronic Availability of Committee 
       Publications...................................9
     Power to Sit and Act; Subpoena Power.............9...........   VI.
     a. Authority to Sit and Act......................9
     b. Issuance of Subpoenas........................10
     c. Expenses of Subpoenaed Witness...............10
     Hearing Procedures..............................10...........  VII.
     a. Power to Hear................................10
     b. Announcement.................................11
     c. Scheduling of Witnesses......................11
     d. Written Statement; Oral Testimony............11
     e. Questioning of Witnesses.....................12
     f. Extended Questioning for Designated Members..13
     g. Witnesses for the Minority...................13
     h. Summary of Subject Matter....................13
     i. Open Hearings................................13
     j. Hearings and Reports.........................13
     The Reporting of Bills and Resolutions..........15........... VIII.
     a. Filing of Reports............................15
     b. Content of Reports...........................15
     c. Supplemental, Minority, or Additional Views..17
     d. Printing of Reports..........................18
     e. Immediate Printing; Supplemental Reports.....18
     f. Availability of Printed Hearing Records......18
     g. Committee Prints.............................18
     h. Post Adjournment Filing of Committee Reports.19
     Other Committee Activities......................19...........   IX.
     a. Oversight Plan...............................19
     b. Annual Appropriations........................20
     c. Budget Act Compliance: Views and Estimates...20
     d. Budget Act Compliance: Recommended Changes...21
     e. Conference Committees........................21
     Subcommittees...................................23...........    X.
     a. Number and Composition.......................23
     b. Ratios.......................................23
     c. Jurisdiction.................................23
     d. Referral of Legislation......................24
     e. Participation and Service of Committee Members 
       on Subcommittees..............................25
     f. Subcommittee Hearings and Meetings...........26
     g. Subcommittee Action..........................26
     h. Subcommittee Investigations..................27
     Committee Budget, Staff, and Travel.............27...........   XI.
     a. Committee Budget.............................27
     b. Committee Staff..............................27
     c. Committee Travel.............................28
     Amendment of Rules..............................29...........  XII.


                               APPENDIXES

Appendix A--Excerpts of House Rules Pertaining to 
    Committee Functions..............................31
Appendix B--Excerpts of Relevant Provisions of 
    Congressional Budget Act of 1974.................69
                                      

                  RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

                      U.S. House of Representatives
                              112th Congress

                          I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     (a) Applicability of House Rules.--(1) The Rules of the House of 
Representatives shall govern the procedure of the committee and its 
subcommittees, and the Rules of the Committee on Agriculture so far as 
applicable shall be interpreted in accordance with the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, except that 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, are non-debatable privileged 
motions in the committee and its subcommittees. (See Appendix A for the 
applicable Rules of the House of Representatives.)

   (2) As provided in clause 1(a)(2) of House rule XI, each subcommittee 
is part of the committee and is subject to the authority and direction of 
the committee and its rules so far as applicable. (See also committee 
rules III, IV, V, VI, VII and X, infra.)

      (b) Authority to Conduct Investigations.--The committee and its 
subcommittees, after consultation with the chairman of the committee, may 
conduct such investigations and studies as they may consider necessary or 
appropriate in the exercise of their responsibilities under rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives and in accordance with clause 2(m) 
of House rule XI.

   (c) Authority to Print.--The committee is authorized by the Rules of 
the House of Representatives to have printed and bound testimony and 
other data presented at hearings held by the committee and its 
subcommittees. All costs of stenographic services and transcripts in 
connection with any meeting or hearing of the committee and its 
subcommittees shall be paid from applicable accounts of the House 
described in clause 1(i)(1) of House rule X in accordance with clause 
1(c) of House rule XI. (See also paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of committee 
rule VIII.)

   (d) Vice Chairman.--The member of the majority party on the committee 
or subcommittee designated by the chairman of the full committee shall be 
the vice chairman of the committee or subcommittee in accordance with 
clause 2(d) of House rule XI.

  (e) Presiding Member.--If the chairman of the committee or subcommittee 
is not present at any committee or subcommittee meeting or hearing, the 
vice chairman shall preside. If the chairman and vice chairman of the 
committee or subcommittee are not present at a committee or subcommittee 
meeting or hearing the ranking member of the majority party who is 
present shall preside in accordance with clause 2(d), House rule XI.

    (f) Publication of Rules.--The committee's rules shall be publicly 
available in electronic form and published in the Congressional Record 
not later than 30 days after the committee is elected in each odd-
numbered year as provided in clause 2(a) of House rule XI.

  (g) Joint Committee Reports of Investigation or Study.--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.


     II. COMMITTEE BUSINESS MEETINGS--REGULAR, ADDITIONAL AND SPECIAL

     (a) Regular Meetings.--(1) Regular meetings of the committee, in 
accordance with clause 2(b) of House rule XI, shall be held on the first 
Wednesday of every month to transact its business unless such day is a 
holiday, or Congress is in recess or is adjourned, in which case the 
chairman shall determine the regular meeting day of the committee, if 
any, for that month. The chairman shall provide each member of the 
committee, as far in advance of the day of the regular meeting as 
practicable, a written agenda of such meeting. Items may be placed on the 
agenda by the chairman or a majority of the committee. If the chairman 
believes that there will not be any bill, resolution or other matter 
considered before the full committee and there is no other business to be 
transacted at a regular meeting, the meeting may be canceled or it may be 
deferred until such time as, in the judgment of the chairman, there may 
be matters which require the committee's consideration. This paragraph 
shall not apply to meetings of any subcommittee. (See paragraph (f) of 
committee rule X for provisions that apply to meetings of subcommittees.)

  (b) Additional Meetings.--(1) The chairman may call and convene, as he 
or she considers necessary, which may not commence earlier than the third 
day on which members have notice thereof after consultation with the 
Ranking Minority Member of the committee or after concurrence with the 
Ranking Minority Member, 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 for 
such additional meetings pursuant to the notice from the chairman.

  (2) A hearing or meeting may begin sooner than specified in clause (1) 
(in which case the chair shall make the announcement specified at the 
earliest possible time) 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.

   (3) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a meeting for the 
markup of a measure or matter the chair shall cause the text of such 
measure or matter to be made publicly available in electronic form.

     (c) Special Meetings.--If at least three members of the committee 
desire that a special meeting of the committee be called by the chairman, 
those members may file in the offices of the committee their written 
request to the chairman for such special meeting. Such request shall 
specify the measure or matters to be considered. Immediately upon the 
filing of the request, the majority staff director (serving as the clerk 
of the committee for such purpose) shall notify the chairman of the 
filing of the request. If, within 3 calendar days after the filing of the 
request, the chairman does not call the requested special meeting to be 
held within 7 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, specifying the date and hour thereof, and the measures or matter to 
be considered at that special meeting in accordance with clause 2(c)(2) 
of House rule XI. The committee shall meet on that date and hour. 
Immediately upon the filing of the notice, the majority staff director 
(serving as the clerk) of the committee shall notify all members of the 
committee that such meeting will be held and inform them of its date and 
hour and the measure or matter to be considered, and only the measure or 
matter specified in that notice may be considered at that special 
meeting.


              III. OPEN MEETINGS AND HEARINGS; BROADCASTING

   (a) Open Meetings and Hearings.--Each meeting for the transaction of 
business, including the markup of legislation, and each hearing by the 
committee or a subcommittee shall be open to the public unless closed in 
accordance with clause 2(g) of House rule XI. (See Appendix A.)

  (b) Broadcasting and Photography.--Whenever a committee or subcommittee 
meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of 
legislation, or a hearing is open to the public, that meeting or hearing 
                                  shall:

    (1) To the maximum extent practicable the Committee shall provide 
  audio and video coverage of each hearing or meeting for the transaction 
  of business in a manner that allows the public to easily listen to and 
  view the proceedings and shall maintain the recordings of such coverage 
  in a manner that is easily accessible to the public.
    (2) Be open to coverage by television, radio, and still photography 
  in accordance with clause 4 of House rule XI (See Appendix A). When 
  such radio coverage is conducted in the committee or subcommittee, 
  written notice to that effect shall be placed on the desk of each 
  member. The chairman of the committee or subcommittee, shall not limit 
  the number of television or still cameras permitted in a hearing or 
  meeting room to fewer than two representatives from each medium (except 
  for legitimate space or safety considerations, in which case pool 
  coverage shall be authorized).

   (c) Closed Meetings--Attendees.--No person other than members of the 
committee or subcommittee and such congressional staff and departmental 
representatives as the committee or subcommittee may authorize shall be 
present at any business or markup session that has been closed to the 
public as provided in clause 2(g)(1) of House rule XI.

     (d) Addressing the Committee.--A committee member may address the 
committee or a subcommittee on any bill, motion, or other matter under 
consideration. (See committee rule VII (e) relating to questioning a 
witness at a hearing.) The time a Member may address the committee or 
subcommittee for any such purpose shall be limited to 5 minutes, except 
that this time limit may be waived by unanimous consent. A Member shall 
also be limited in his or her remarks to the subject matter under 
consideration, unless the Member receives unanimous consent to extend his 
or her remarks beyond such subject.

   (e) Meetings to Begin Promptly.--Subject to the presence of a quorum, 
each meeting or hearing of the committee and its subcommittees shall 
begin promptly at the time so stipulated in the public announcement of 
the meeting or hearing.

      (f) Prohibition on Proxy Voting.--No vote by any member of the 
committee or subcommittee with respect to any measure or matter may be 
cast by proxy.

      (g) Location of Persons at Meetings.--No person other than the 
committee or subcommittee members and committee or subcommittee staff may 
be seated in the rostrum area during a meeting of the committee or 
subcommittee unless by unanimous consent of the committee or 
subcommittee.

   (h) Consideration of Amendments and Motions.--A Member, upon request, 
shall be recognized by the chairman to address the committee or 
subcommittee at a meeting for a period limited to 5 minutes on behalf of 
an amendment or motion offered by the Member or another Member, or upon 
any other matter under consideration, unless the Member receives 
unanimous consent to extend the time limit. Every amendment or motion 
made in committee or subcommittee shall, upon the demand of any Member 
present, be reduced to writing, and a copy thereof shall be made 
available to all Members present. Such amendment or motion shall not be 
pending before the committee or subcommittee or voted on until the 
requirements of this paragraph have been met.

                        (i) Demanding Record Vote.--

    (1) A record vote of the committee or subcommittee on a question or 
  action shall be ordered on a demand by \1/5\ of the Members present.
    (2) The chairman of the committee or subcommittee may postpone 
  further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the question of 
  approving a measure or matter or adopting an amendment. If the chairman 
  postpones further proceedings:

      (A) the chairman may resume such postponed proceedings, after
  giving Members adequate notice, at a time chosen in consultation
  with the ranking minority member; and
      (B) notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous 
  question,
  the underlying proposition on which proceedings were postponed shall
  remain subject to further debate or amendment to the same extent
  as when the question was postponed.

      (j) Submission of Motions or Amendments In Advance of Business 
Meetings.--The committee and subcommittee chairman may request and 
committee and subcommittee members should, insofar as practicable, 
cooperate in providing copies of proposed amendments or motions to the 
chairman and the ranking minority member of the committee or the 
subcommittee 24 hours before a committee or subcommittee business 
meeting.

  (k) Points of Order.--No point of order against the hearing or meeting 
procedures of the committee or subcommittee shall be entertained unless 
                     it is made in a timely fashion.

   (l) Limitation on Committee Sittings.--The committee or subcommittees 
 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.

    (m) Prohibition of Wireless Telephones.--Use of wireless telephones 
   during a committee or subcommittee hearing or meeting is prohibited.


                               IV. QUORUMS

    (a) Working Quorum.--One-third of the members of the committee or a 
subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for taking any action, other than 
as noted in paragraphs (b) and (c).

    (b) Majority Quorum.--A majority of the members of the committee or 
subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for:

    (1) the reporting of a bill, resolution or other measure. (See clause 
  2(h)(1) of House rule XI, and committee rule VIII);
    (2) the closing of a meeting or hearing to the public pursuant to 
  clauses 2(g), 2(k)(5) and 2(k)(7) of rule XI of the Rules of the House 
  of Representatives; and
    (3) the authorizing of a subpoena as provided in clause 2(m)(3), of 
  House rule XI. (See also committee rule VI.)
    (4) as where required by a rule of the House of Representatives.

     (c) Quorum for Taking Testimony.--Two members of the committee or 
subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking 
testimony and receiving evidence.


                                V. RECORDS

  (a) Maintenance of Records.--The committee shall keep a complete record 
      of all committee and subcommittee action which shall include:

    (1) in the case of any meeting or hearing transcripts, 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
    (2) written minutes shall include a record of all committee and 
  subcommittee action and a record of all votes on any question and a 
  tally on all record votes. The result of each such record vote shall be 
  made available by the committee for inspection by the public at 
  reasonable times in the offices of the committee and by telephone 
  request and also made publicly available in electronic form within 48 
  hours of such record vote. Not later than 24 hours after adoption of an 
  amendment ot a measure or matter, the chair of the committee shall 
  cause the text of such amendment adopted thereto to be made publicly 
  available in electronic form. Information so available for public 
  inspection shall include a description of the amendment, motion, order 
  or other proposition and the name of each member voting for and each 
  member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or proposition, 
  and the names of those members present but not voting.

  (b) Access to and Correction of Records.--Any public witness, or person 
authorized by such witness, during committee office hours in the 
committee offices and within 10 calendar days of the close of hearings, 
may obtain a transcript copy of that public witness's testimony and make 
such technical, grammatical and typographical corrections as authorized 
by the person making the remarks involved as will not alter the nature of 
testimony given. There shall be prompt return of such corrected copy of 
the transcript to the committee. Members of the committee or subcommittee 
shall receive copies of transcripts for their prompt review and 
correction and prompt return to the committee. The committee or 
subcommittee may order the printing of a hearing record without the 
corrections of any Member or witness if it determines that such Member or 
witness has been afforded a reasonable time in which to make such 
corrections and further delay would seriously impede the consideration of 
the legislative action that is subject of the hearing. The record of a 
hearing shall be closed 10 calendar days after the last oral testimony, 
unless the committee or subcommittee determines otherwise. Any person 
requesting to file a statement for the record of a hearing must so 
request before the hearing concludes and must file the statement before 
the record is closed unless the committee or subcommittee determines 
otherwise. The committee or subcommittee may reject any statement in 
light of its length or its tendency to defame, degrade, or incriminate 
any person.

   (c) Property of the House.--All committee and subcommittee hearings, 
records, data, charts, and files shall be kept separate and distinct from 
the congressional office records of the Members serving as chairman and 
such records shall be the property of the House of Representatives and 
all Members of the House of Representatives shall have access thereto. 
The majority staff director shall promptly notify the chairman and the 
ranking minority member of any request for access to such records.

  (d) Availability of Archived Records.--The records of the committee at 
the National Archives and Records Administration shall be made available 
for public use in accordance with House rule VII. The chairman shall 
notify the ranking minority member of the committee of the need for a 
committee order pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of such House 
rule, to withhold a record otherwise available.

  (e) Special Rules for Certain Records and Proceedings.--A stenographic 
record of a business meeting of the committee or subcommittee shall be 
kept and thereafter may be published if the chairman of the committee, 
after consultation with the ranking minority member, determines there is 
need for such a record. The proceedings of the committee or subcommittee 
in a closed meeting, evidence or testimony in such meeting, shall not be 
divulged unless otherwise determined by a majority of the committee or 
subcommittee.

  (f) Electronic Availability of Committee Publications.--To the maximum 
 extent feasible, the committee shall make its publications available in 
                             electronic form.


                VI. POWER TO SIT AND ACT; SUBPOENA POWER.

   (a) Authority to Sit and Act.--For the purpose of carrying out any of 
its function and duties under House rules X and XI, the committee and 
each of its subcommittees is authorized (subject to paragraph (b)(1) of 
this rule)----

    (1) 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, and
    (2) 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 deems necessary. 
  The chairman of the committee or subcommittee, or any Member designated 
  by the chairman, may administer oaths to any witness.

  (b) Issuance of Subpoenas.--(1) A subpoena may be authorized and issued 
by the committee or subcommittee under paragraph (a)(2) in the conduct of 
any investigation or series of investigations or activities, only when 
authorized by a majority of the members voting, a majority being present, 
as provided in clause 2(m)(3)(A) of House rule XI. Such authorized 
subpoenas shall be signed by the chairman of the committee or by any 
member designated by the committee. As soon as practicable after a 
subpoena is issued under this rule, the chairman shall notify all members 
of the committee of such action.

   (2) Notice of a meeting to consider a motion to authorize and issue a 
subpoena should be given to all members of the committee by 5 p.m. of the 
day preceding such meeting.

        (3) Compliance with any subpoena issued by the committee or 
subcommittee under paragraph (a)(2) may be enforced only as authorized or 
directed by the House.

   (4) A subpoena duces tecum may specify terms of return other than at 
meeting or hearing of the committee or subcommittee authorizing the 
subpoena.

     (c) Expenses of Subpoenaed Witnesses.--Each witness who has been 
subpoenaed, upon the completion of his or her testimony before the 
committee or any subcommittee, may report to the offices of the 
committee, and there sign appropriate vouchers for travel allowances and 
attendance fees to which he or she is entitled. If hearings are held in 
cities other than Washington, D.C., the subpoenaed witness may contact 
the majority staff director of the committee, or his or her 
representative, before leaving the hearing room.


                         VII. HEARING PROCEDURES.

      (a) Power to Hear.--For the purpose of carrying out any of its 
functions and duties under House rule X and XI, the committee and its 
subcommittees are authorized to sit and hold hearings at any time or 
place within the United States whether the House is in session, has 
recessed, or has adjourned. (See paragraph (a) of committee rule VI and 
paragraph (f) of committee rule X for provisions relating to subcommittee 
hearings and meetings.)

       (b) Announcement.--The chairman of the committee shall after 
consultation with the ranking minority member of the committee, make a 
public announcement of the date, place and subject matter of any 
committee hearing at least 1 week before the commencement of the hearing. 
The chairman of a subcommittee shall schedule a hearing only after 
consultation with the chairman of the committee and after consultation 
with the ranking minority member of the subcommittee, and the chairmen of 
the other subcommittees after such consultation with the committee 
chairman, and shall request the majority staff director to make a public 
announcement of the date, place, and subject matter of such hearing at 
least 1 week before the hearing. If the chairman of the committee or the 
subcommittee, with concurrence of the ranking minority member of the 
committee or subcommittee, determines there is good cause to begin the 
hearing sooner, or if the committee or subcommittee so determines by 
majority vote, a quorum being present for the transaction of business, 
the chairman of the committee or subcommittee, as appropriate, shall 
request the majority staff director to make such public announcement at 
the earliest possible date. The clerk of the committee shall promptly 
notify the Daily Digest clerk of the Congressional Record, and shall 
promptly enter the appropriate information into the committee scheduling 
service of the House Information Systems as soon as possible after such 
public announcement is made.

    (c) Scheduling of Witnesses.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
rule, the scheduling of witnesses and determination of the time allowed 
for the presentation of testimony at hearings shall be at the discretion 
of the chairman of the committee or subcommittee, unless a majority of 
the committee or subcommittee determines otherwise.

    (d) Written Statement; Oral Testimony.--(1) Each witness who is to 
appear before the committee or a subcommittee, shall insofar as 
practicable file with the majority staff director of the committee, at 
least 2 working days before the day of his or her appearance, a written 
statement of proposed testimony. Witnesses shall provide sufficient 
copies of their statement for distribution to committee or subcommittee 
members, staff, and the news media. Insofar as practicable, the committee 
or subcommittee staff shall distribute such written statements to all 
members of the committee or subcommittee as soon as they are received as 
well as any official reports from departments and agencies on such 
subject matter. All witnesses may be limited in their oral presentations 
to brief summaries of their statements within the time allotted to them, 
at the discretion of the chairman of the committee or subcommittee, in 
light of the nature of the testimony and the length of time available.

  (2) As noted in paragraph (a) of committee rule VI, the chairman of the 
committee or one of its subcommittees, or any Member designated by the 
chairman, may administer an oath to any witness.

    (3) To the greatest extent practicable, each witness appearing in a 
non-governmental capacity shall include with the written statement of 
proposed testimony a curriculum vitae and disclosure of the amount and 
source (by agency and program) of any Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) 
or contract (or subcontract thereof) received during the current fiscal 
year or either of the two preceding fiscal years. Such statements, with 
appropriate redactions to protect the privacy of witnesses, shall be made 
publicly available in electronic form not later than one day after the 
witness appears.

   (e) Questioning of Witnesses.--Committee or subcommittee members may 
question witnesses only when they have been recognized by the chairman of 
the committee or subcommittee for that purpose. Each Member so recognized 
shall be limited to questioning a witness for 5 minutes until such time 
as each Member of the committee or subcommittee who so desires has had an 
opportunity to question the witness for 5 minutes; and thereafter the 
chairman of the committee or subcommittee may limit the time of a further 
round of questioning after giving due consideration to the importance of 
the subject matter and the length of time available. All questions put to 
witnesses shall be germane to the measure or matter under consideration. 
Unless a majority of the committee or subcommittee determines otherwise, 
no committee or subcommittee staff shall interrogate witnesses.

     (f) Extended Questioning for Designated Members.--Notwithstanding 
paragraph (e), the chairman and ranking minority member may designate an 
equal number of members from each party to question a witness for a 
period not longer than 60 minutes.

   (g) Witnesses for the Minority.--When any hearing is conducted by the 
committee or any subcommittee upon any measure or matter, the minority 
party members on the committee or subcommittee shall be entitled, upon 
request to the chairman by a majority of those minority members before 
the completion of such hearing, to call witnesses selected by the 
minority to testify with respect to that measure or matter during at 
least 1 day of hearing thereon as provided in clause 2(j)(1) of House 
rule XI.

  (h) Summary of Subject Matter.--Upon announcement of a hearing, to the 
extent practicable, the committee shall make available immediately to all 
members of the committee a concise summary of the subject matter 
(including legislative reports and other material) under consideration. 
In addition, upon announcement of a hearing and subsequently as they are 
received, the chairman of the committee or subcommittee shall, to the 
extent practicable, make available to the members of the committee any 
official reports from departments and agencies on such matter. (See 
committee rule X(f).)

      (i) Open Hearings.--Each hearing conducted by the committee or 
subcommittee shall be open to the public, including radio, television and 
still photography coverage, except as provided in clause 4 of House rule 
XI (see also committee rule III (b).). In any event, no Member of the 
House of Representatives may be excluded from nonparticipatory attendance 
at any hearing unless the House of Representatives by majority vote shall 
authorize the committee or subcommittee, for purposes of a particular 
series of hearings on a particular bill or resolution or on a particular 
subject of investigation, to close its hearings to Members by means of 
the above procedure.

    (j) Hearings and Reports.--(1)(i) The chairman of the committee or 
subcommittee at a hearing shall announce in an opening statement the 
subject of the investigation. A copy of the committee rules (and the 
applicable provisions of clause 2 of House rule XI, regarding hearing 
procedures, an excerpt of which appears in Appendix A thereto) shall be 
made available to each witness upon request. Witnesses at hearings may be 
accompanied by their own counsel for the purpose of advising them 
concerning their constitutional rights. The chairman of the committee or 
subcommittee may punish breaches of order and decorum, and of 
professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and exclusion from 
the hearings; but only the full committee may cite the offender to the 
House of Representatives for contempt.

    (ii) Whenever it is asserted by a member of the committee that the 
   evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or 
incriminate any person, or it is asserted by a witness that the evidence 
or testimony that the witness would give at a hearing may tend to defame, 
degrade, or incriminate the witness, such testimony or evidence shall be 
presented in executive session, notwithstanding the provisions of 
paragraph (i) of this rule, if by a majority of those present, there 
being in attendance the requisite number required under the rules of the 
committee to be present for the purpose of taking testimony, the 
committee or subcommittee determines that such evidence or testimony may 
tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person. The committee or 
subcommittee shall afford a person an opportunity voluntarily to appear 
as a witness; and the committee or subcommittee shall receive and shall 
dispose of requests from such person to subpoena additional witnesses.

     (iii) No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may be 
released or used in public sessions without the consent of the committee 
or subcommittee. In the discretion of the committee or subcommittee, 
witnesses may submit brief and pertinent statements in writing for 
inclusion in the record. The committee or subcommittee is the sole judge 
of the pertinency of testimony and evidence adduced at its hearings. A 
witness may obtain a transcript copy of his or her testimony given at a 
public session or, if given at an executive session, when authorized by 
the committee or subcommittee. (See paragraph (c) of committee rule V.)

  (2) A proposed investigative or oversight report shall be considered as 
read if it has been available to the members of the committee for at 
least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays except 
when the House of Representatives is in session on such day) in advance 
of their consideration.


               VIII. THE REPORTING OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

     (a) Filing of Reports.--The chairman shall report or cause to be 
reported promptly to the House any bill, resolution, or other measure 
approved by the committee and shall take or cause to be taken all 
necessary steps to bring such bill, resolution, or other measure to a 
vote. No bill, resolution, or measure shall be reported from the 
committee unless a majority of the committee is actually present. A 
committee report on any bill, resolution, or other measure approved by 
the committee shall be filed within 7 calendar days (not counting days on 
which the House of Representatives is not in session) after the day on 
which there has been filed with the majority staff director of the 
committee a written request, signed by a majority of the committee, for 
the reporting of that bill or resolution. The majority staff director of 
the committee shall notify the chairman immediately when such a request 
is filed.

       (b) Content of Reports.--Each committee report on any bill or 
    resolution approved by the committee shall include as separately 
    identified sections:

    (1) a statement of the intent or purpose of the bill or resolution;
    (2) a statement describing the need for such bill or resolution;
    (3) a statement of committee and subcommittee consideration of the 
  measure including a summary of amendments and motions offered and the 
  actions taken thereon;
    (4) the results of the each record vote on any amendment in the 
  committee and subcommittee and on the motion to report the measure or 
  matter, including the names of those Members and the total voting for 
  and the names of those Members and the total voting against such 
  amendment or motion (See clause 3(b) of House rule XIII);
    (5) the oversight findings and recommendations of the committee with 
  respect to the subject matter of the bill or resolution as required 
  pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of House rule XIII and clause 2(b)(1) of 
  House rule X;
    (6) the detailed statement described in section 308(a) of the 
  Congressional Budget Act of 1974 if the bill or resolution provides new 
  budget authority (other than continuing appropriations), new spending 
  authority described in section 401(c)(2) of such Act, new credit 
  authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures, 
  except that the estimates with respect to new budget authority shall 
  include, when practicable, a comparison of the total estimated funding 
  level for the relevant program (or programs) to the appropriate levels 
  under current law;
    (7) the estimate of costs and comparison of such estimates, if any, 
  prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office in 
  connection with such bill or resolution pursuant to section 402 of the 
  Congressional Budget Act of 1974 if submitted in timely fashion to the 
  committee;
    (8) a statement of general performance goals and objectives, 
  including outcome-related goals and objectives, for which the measure 
  authorizes funding;
    (9) a statement citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in 
  the Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint 
  resolution;
    (10) an estimate by the committee of the costs that would be incurred 
  in carrying out such bill or joint resolution in the fiscal year in 
  which it is reported and for its authorized duration or for each of the 
  5 fiscal years following the fiscal year of reporting, whichever period 
  is less (see Rule XIII, clause 3(d)(2), (3) and (h)(2), (3)), together 
  with----

      (i) a comparison of these estimates with those made and submitted
    to the committee by any Government agency when practicable, and
      (ii) a comparison of the total estimated funding level for the 
    relevant
    program (or programs) with appropriate levels under current law
    (The provisions of this clause do not apply if a cost estimate and
    comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
    Office under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
    has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the report and
    included in the report);

    (11) a list of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, and 
limited tariff benefits in the bill or in the report (and the name of 
any Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who submitted a request 
to the committee for each respective item included in such list) or a 
statement that the proposition contains no congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits;
    (12) the changes in existing law (if any) shown in accordance with 
clause 3 of House rule XIII;
    (13) the determination required pursuant to section 5(b) of Public 
Law 92-463, if the legislation reported establishes or authorizes the 
establishment of an advisory committee; and
    (14) the information on Federal and intergovernmental mandates 
required by section 423(c) and (d) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, as added by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-
4).
    (15) a statement regarding the applicability of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act, Public Law 104-1.

   (c) Supplemental, Minority, or Additional Views.--If, at the time of 
approval of any measure or matter by the committee, any Member of the 
committee gives notice of intention to file supplemental, minority, or 
additional views, that Member shall be entitled to not less than 2 
subsequent calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal 
holidays except when the House of Representatives is in session on such 
date) in which to file such views, in writing and signed by that Member, 
with the majority staff director of the committee. When time guaranteed 
by this paragraph has expired (or if sooner, when all separate views have 
been received), the committee may arrange to file its report with the 
Clerk of the House not later than 1 hour after the expiration of such 
time. All such views (in accordance with House rule XI, clause 2(1) and 
House rule XIII, clause 3(a)(1)), as filed by one or more members of the 
committee, shall be included within and made a part of the report filed 
by the committee with respect to that bill or resolution.

  (d) Printing of Reports.--The report of the committee on the measure or 
matter noted in paragraph (a) above shall be printed in a single volume, 
which shall:

    (1) include all supplemental, minority or additional views that have 
  been submitted by the time of the filing of the report; and
    (2) bear on its cover a recital that any such supplemental, minority, 
  or additional views (and any material submitted under House rule XII, 
  clause 3(a)(1)) are included as part of the report.

    (e) Immediate Printing; Supplemental Reports.--Nothing in this rule 
shall preclude----

    (1) the immediate filing or printing of a committee report unless 
  timely request for the opportunity to file supplemental, minority, or 
  additional views has been made as provided by paragraph (c), or
    (2) the filing by the committee of any supplemental report on any 
  bill or resolution that may be required for the correction of any 
  technical error in a previous report made by the committee on that bill 
  or resolution.

    (f) Availability of Printed Hearing Records.--If hearings have been 
held on any reported bill or resolution, the committee shall make every 
reasonable effort to have the record of such hearings printed and 
available for distribution to the Members of the House prior to the 
consideration of such bill or resolution by the House. Each printed 
hearing of the committee or any of its subcommittees shall include a 
record of the attendance of the Members.

   (g) Committee Prints.--All committee or subcommittee prints or other 
committee or subcommittee documents, other than reports or prints of 
bills, that are prepared for public distribution shall be approved by the 
chairman of the committee or the subcommittee prior to public 
distribution.

      (h) Post Adjournment Filing of Committee Reports.--(1) After an 
adjournment of the last regular session of a Congress sine die, an 
investigative or oversight report approved by the committee may be filed 
with the Clerk at any time, provided that if a member gives notice at the 
time of approval of intention to file supplemental, minority, or 
additional views, that member shall be entitled to not less than 7 
calendar days in which to submit such views for inclusion with the 
report.

  (2) After an adjournment of the last regular session of a Congress sine 
die, the chairman of the committee may file at any time with the Clerk of 
the House the committee's activity report for that Congress pursuant to 
clause 1(d)(1) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
without the approval of the committee, provided that a copy of the report 
has been available to each member of the committee for at least 7 
calendar days and the report includes any supplemental, minority, or 
additional views submitted by a member of the committee.

   (i) The chairman is directed to offer a motion under clause 1 of rule 
XXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives whenever the chairman 
considers it appropriate.


                      IX. OTHER COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

  (a) Oversight Plan.--Not later than February 15 of the first session of 
a Congress, the chairman shall convene the committee in a meeting that is 
open to the public and with a quorum present to adopt its oversight plans 
for that Congress. Such plans shall be submitted simultaneously to the 
Committee on Government Reform and to the Committee on House 
Administration. In developing such plans the committee shall, to the 
maximum extent feasible----

    (1) consult with other committees of the House that have jurisdiction 
  over the same or related laws, programs, or agencies within its 
  jurisdiction, with the objective of ensuring that such laws, programs, 
  or agencies are reviewed in the same Congress and that there is a 
  maximum of coordination between such committees in the conduct of such 
  reviews; and such plans shall include an explanation of what steps have 
  been and will be taken to ensure such coordination and cooperation;
    (2) review specific problems with Federal rules, regulations, 
  statutes, and court decisions that are ambiguous, arbitrary, or 
  nonsensical, or that impose severe financial burdens on individuals; 
  and
    (3) give priority consideration to including in its plans the review 
  of those laws, programs, or agencies operating under permanent budget 
  authority or permanent statutory authority;
    (4) have a view toward ensuring that all significant laws, programs, 
  or agencies within its jurisdiction are subject to review at least once 
  every 10 years.
    (5) include proposals to cut or eliminate programs, including 
  mandatory spending programs, that are inefficient, duplicative, 
  outdated, or more appropriately administered by State or local 
  governments.

The committee and its appropriate subcommittees shall review and study, 
on a continuing basis, the impact or probable impact of tax policies 
affecting subjects within its jurisdiction as provided in clause 2(d) of 
House rule X. The committee shall include in the report filed pursuant to 
clause 1(d) of House rule XI a summary of the oversight plans submitted 
by the committee under clause 2(d) of House rule X, a summary of actions 
taken and recommendations made with respect to each such plan, and a 
summary of any additional oversight activities undertaken by the 
committee and any recommendations made or actions taken thereon.

   (b) Annual Appropriations.--The committee shall, in its consideration 
of all bills and joint resolutions of a public character within its 
jurisdiction, ensure that appropriations for continuing programs and 
activities of the Federal government and the District of Columbia 
government will be made annually to the maximum extent feasible and 
consistent with the nature, requirements, and objectives of the programs 
and activities involved. The committee shall review, from time to time, 
each continuing program within its jurisdiction for which appropriations 
are not made annually in order to ascertain whether such program could be 
modified so that appropriations therefore would be made annually.

   (c) Budget Act Compliance: Views and Estimates (See Appendix B).--Not 
later than 6 weeks after the President submits his budget under section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, or at such time as the Committee 
on Budget may request, the committee shall submit to the Committee on the 
Budget (1) 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 (under section 301 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974--see 
Appendix B) that are within its jurisdiction or functions; and (2) 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.

  (d) Budget Act Compliance: Recommended Changes.--Whenever the committee 
is directed in a concurrent resolution on the budget to determine and 
recommend changes in laws, bills, or resolutions under the reconciliation 
process, it shall promptly make such determination and recommendations, 
and report a reconciliation bill or resolution (or both) to the House or 
submit such recommendations to the Committee on the Budget, in accordance 
with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (See Appendix B).

    (e) Conference Committees.--Whenever in the legislative process it 
becomes necessary to appoint conferees, the chairman shall, after 
consultation with the ranking minority member, determine the number of 
conferees the chairman deems most suitable and then recommend to the 
Speaker as conferees, in keeping with the number to be appointed by the 
Speaker as provided in clause House rule I, clause 11, the names of those 
members of the committee of not less than a majority who generally 
supported the House position and who were primarily responsible for the 
legislation. The chairman shall, to the fullest extent feasible, include 
those members of the committee who were the principal proponents of the 
major provisions of the bill as it passed the House of Representatives 
and such other committee members of the majority party as the chairman 
may designate in consultation with the members of the majority party. 
Such recommendations shall provide a ratio of majority party members to 
minority party members no less favorable to the majority party than the 
ratio of majority party members to minority party members on the 
committee. In making recommendations of minority party members as 
conferees, the chairman shall consult with the ranking minority member of 
the committee.

     (f)(1) The committee, or a subcommittee, shall hold at least one 
hearing during each 120-day period following the establishment of the 
committee on the topic of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in 
government programs which the committee may authorize.

   (2) A hearing described in subparagraph (1) shall include a focus on 
the most egregious instances of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement as 
documented by any report the committee has received from a Federal Office 
of the Inspector General or the Comptroller General of the United States.

  (g) The committee or a subcommittee, shall hold at least one hearing in 
any session in which the committee has received disclaimers of agency 
financial statements from auditors of any Federal agency that the 
committee may authorize to hear testimony on such disclaimers from 
representatives of any such agency.

  (h) The committee or a subcommittee, shall hold at least on hearing on 
issues raised by reports issued by the Comptroller General of the United 
States indicating that Federal programs or operations that the committee 
may authorize are at high risk for waste, fraud, and mismanagement, known 
as the `high-risk list' or the `high-risk series'.

    (i)(1) Not later than the 30th day after June 1 and December 1, the 
committee shall submit tot he House a semiannual report on the activities 
of the committee. After adjournment (sine die) of a regular session of 
Congress, or after December 15, whichever occurs first, the Chair may 
file the second or fourth semiannual report, a copy of which shall be 
made available to each Member of the committee for at least 7 calendar 
days, with the Clerk of the House at any time.

      (2) Such report shall include separate sections summarizing the 
    legislatvie and oversight activities of the committee during that 
                                Congress.

  (3) The oversight section of such report shall include a summary of the 
  oversight plans submitted by the committee pursuant to clause 2(d) of 
  House rule X, a summary of the actions taken and recommendations made 
  with respect to each such plan, and a summary of any additional oversight 
  activities underatken by the committee, and any recommendations made or 
  actions taken with respect thereto.


                             X. SUBCOMMITTEES

     (a) Number and Composition.--There shall be such subcommittees as 
specified in paragraph (c) of this rule. Each of such subcommittees shall 
be composed of the number of members set forth in paragraph (c) of this 
rule, including ex officio members.

  The chairman may create additional subcommittees of an ad hoc nature as 
the chairman determines to be appropriate subject to any limitations 
provided for in the House rules.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

  \1\ The chairman and ranking minority member of the committee serve as 
ex officio members of the subcommittees. (See paragraph (e) of this 
rule).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

   (b) Ratios.--On each subcommittee, there shall be a ratio of majority 
party members to minority party members which shall be consistent with 
the ratio on the full committee. In calculating the ratio of majority 
party members to minority party members, there shall be included the ex 
officio members of the subcommittees and ratios below reflect that fact.

   (c) Jurisdiction.--Each subcommittee shall have the following general 
jurisdiction and number of members:

   Conservation, Energy, and Forestry (22 members, 12 majority and 10 
minority).--Soil, water, and resource conservation, small watershed 
program, energy and biobased energy production, rural 
electrification, forestry in general and forest reserves other than 
those created from the public domain.
Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit (10 members, 6 majority and 
        4 minority).--Agency oversight, review and analysis, special 
                   investigations, and agricultural credit.
 General Farm Commodities and Risk Management  (26 members, 15 majority 
    and 11 minority).--Program and markets related to cotton, cottonseed, 
       wheat, feed grains, soybeans, oilseeds, rice, dry beans, peas, 
    lentils, the Commodity Credit Corporation, risk management, including 
          crop insurance, commodity exchanges, and specialty crops.
Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry (20 members, 11 majority and 9 minority).--
       Livestock, dairy, poultry, meat, seafood and seafood products, 
          inspection, marketing, and promotion of such commodities, 
                  aquaculture, animal welfare, and grazing.
Nutrition and Horticulture (10 members, 6 majority and 4 minority).--Food 
    stamps, nutrition and consumer programs, fruit and vegetables, honey 
         and bees, marketing and promotion orders, plant pesticides, 
      quarantine, adulteration of seeds, and insect pests, and organic 
                                 agriculture.
Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture  (14 
        members, 8 majority and 6 minority).--Rural Development, farm 
        security and family farming matters, research, education and 
     extension, biotechnology, foreign agriculture assistance, and trade 
                        promotion programs, generally.

                      (d) Referral of Legislation.----

      (1)(a) In general.--All bills, resolutions, and other matters 
  referred to the committee shall be referred to all subcommittees of 
  appropriate jurisdiction within 2 weeks after being referred to the 
  committee. After consultation with the ranking minority member, the 
  chairman may determine that the committee will consider certain bills, 
  resolutions, or other matters.
      (b) Trade Matters.--Unless action is otherwise taken under 
  subparagraph (3), bills, resolutions, and other matters referred to the 
  committee relating to foreign agriculture, foreign food or commodity 
  assistance, and foreign trade and marketing issues will be considered 
  by the committee.
    (2) The chairman, by a majority vote of the committee, may discharge 
  a subcommittee from further consideration of any bill, resolution, or 
  other matter referred to the subcommittee and have such bill, 
  resolution or other matter considered by the committee. The committee 
  having referred a bill, resolution, or other matter to a subcommittee 
  in accordance with this rule may discharge such subcommittee from 
  further consideration thereof at any time by a vote of the majority 
  members of the committee for the committee's direct consideration or 
  for reference to another subcommittee.
    (3) Unless the committee, a quorum being present, decides otherwise 
  by a majority vote, the chairman may refer bills, resolutions, 
  legislation or other matters not specifically within the jurisdiction 
  of a subcommittee, or that is within the jurisdiction of more than one 
  subcommittee, jointly or exclusively as the chairman deems appropriate, 
  including concurrently to the subcommittees with jurisdiction, 
  sequentially to the subcommittees with jurisdiction (subject to any 
  time limits deemed appropriate), divided by subject matter among the 
  subcommittees with jurisdiction, or to an ad hoc subcommittee appointed 
  by the chairman for the purpose of considering the matter and reporting 
  to the committee thereon, or make such other provisions deemed 
  appropriate.

   (e) Participation and Service of Committee Members on Subcommittees.--
   (1) The chairman and the ranking minority member shall serve as ex 
officio members of all subcommittees and shall have the right to vote on 
   all matters before the subcommittees. The chairman and the ranking 
  minority member may not be counted for the purpose of establishing a 
                                 quorum.

  (2) Any member of the committee who is not a member of the subcommittee 
  may have the privilege of sitting and nonparticipatory attendance at 
  subcommittee hearings or meetings in accordance with clause 2(g)(2) of 
                   House rule XI. Such member may not:

    (i) vote on any matter;
    (ii) be counted for the purpose of a establishing a quorum;
    (iii) participate in questioning a witness under the 5-minute rule, 
  unless permitted to do so by the subcommittee chairman in consultation 
  with the ranking minority member or a majority of the subcommittee, a 
  quorum being present;
    (iv) raise points of order; or
    (v) offer amendments or motions.

     (f) Subcommittee Hearings and Meetings.--(1) Each subcommittee is 
authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence, and make 
recommendations to the committee on all matters referred to it or under 
its jurisdiction after consultation by the subcommittee chairmen with the 
committee chairman. (See committee rule VII.)

     (2) After consultation with the committee chairman, subcommittee 
chairmen shall set dates for hearings and meetings of their subcommittees 
and shall request the majority staff director to make any announcement 
relating thereto. (See committee rule VII(b).) In setting the dates, the 
committee chairman and subcommittee chairman shall consult with other 
subcommittee chairmen and relevant committee and subcommittee ranking 
minority members in an effort to avoid simultaneously scheduling 
committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings to the extent 
practicable.

     (3) Notice of all subcommittee meetings shall be provided to the 
chairman and the ranking minority member of the committee by the majority 
staff director.

  (4) Subcommittees may hold meetings or hearings outside of the House of 
Representatives if the chairman of the committee and other subcommittee 
chairmen and the ranking minority member of the subcommittee is consulted 
in advance to ensure that there is no scheduling problem. However, the 
majority of the committee may authorize such meeting or hearing.

      (5) The provisions regarding notice and the agenda of committee 
meetings under committee rule II(a) and special or additional meetings 
under committee rule II(b) shall apply to subcommittee meetings.

   (6) If a vacancy occurs in a subcommittee chairmanship, the chairman 
may set the dates for hearings and meetings of the subcommittee during 
the period of vacancy. The chairman may also appoint an acting 
subcommittee chairman until the vacancy is filled.

  (g) Subcommittee Action.--(1) Any bill, resolution, recommendation, or 
other matter forwarded to the committee by a subcommittee shall be 
promptly forwarded by the subcommittee chairman or any subcommittee 
member authorized to do so by the subcommittee.

  (2) Upon receipt of such recommendation, the majority staff director of 
the committee shall promptly advise all members of the committee of the 
subcommittee action.

      (3) The committee shall not consider any matters recommended by 
subcommittees until 2 calendar days have elapsed from the date of action, 
unless the chairman or a majority of the committee determines otherwise.

   (h) Subcommittee Investigations.--No investigation shall be initiated 
by a subcommittee without the prior consultation with the chairman of the 
committee or a majority of the committee.


                 XI. COMMITTEE BUDGET, STAFF, AND TRAVEL

  (a) Committee Budget.--The chairman, in consultation with the majority 
members of the committee, and the minority members of the committee, 
shall prepare a preliminary budget for each session of the Congress. Such 
budget shall include necessary amounts for staff personnel, travel, 
investigation, and other expenses of the committee and subcommittees. 
After consultation with the ranking minority member, the chairman shall 
include an amount budgeted to minority members for staff under their 
direction and supervision. Thereafter, the chairman shall combine such 
proposals into a consolidated committee budget, and shall take whatever 
action is necessary to have such budget duly authorized by the House of 
Representatives.

  (b) Committee Staff.--(1) The chairman shall appoint and determine the 
remuneration of, and may remove, the professional and clerical employees 
of the committee not assigned to the minority. The professional and 
clerical staff of the committee not assigned to the minority shall be 
under the general supervision and direction of the chairman, who shall 
establish and assign the duties and responsibilities of such staff 
members and delegate such authority as he or she determines appropriate. 
(See House rule X, clause 9).

    (2) The ranking minority member of the committee shall appoint and 
determine the remuneration of, and may remove, the professional and 
clerical staff assigned to the minority within the budget approved for 
such purposes. The professional and clerical staff assigned to the 
minority shall be under the general supervision and direction of the 
ranking minority member of the committee who may delegate such authority 
as he or she determines appropriate.

    (3) From the funds made available for the appointment of committee 
staff pursuant to any primary or additional expense resolution, the 
chairman shall ensure that each subcommittee is adequately funded and 
staffed to discharge its responsibilities and that the minority party is 
fairly treated in the appointment of such staff (See House rule X, clause 
                                  6(d)).

      (c) Committee Travel.--(1) 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 regarding domestic and foreign 
travel (See House rule XI, clause 2(n) and House rule X, clause 8 
(reprinted in Appendix A)). Official travel 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 
committee Member and any committee staff member in connection with the 
attendance of hearings conducted by the committee and its subcommittees 
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:

    (i) The purpose of the official travel;
    (ii) 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;
    (iii) The location of the event for which the official travel is to 
  be made; and
    (iv) The names of members and committee staff seeking authorization.

       (2) 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 the committee, 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 in clause (1).

  (3) Within 60 days of the conclusion of any official travel authorized 
under this rule, there shall be submitted to the 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.

  (4) 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, its territories or possessions. No 
appropriated funds shall be expended for the purpose of defraying 
expenses of members of the committee or its employees in any country 
where local currencies are available for this purpose; and the following 
   conditions shall apply with respect to their use of such currencies;

    (i) No Member or employee of the committee shall receive or expend 
  local currencies for subsistence in any country at a rate in excess of 
  the maximum per diem rate set forth in applicable Federal law; and
    (ii) Each Member or employee of the committee shall make an itemized 
  report to the chairman within 60 days following the completion of 
  travel showing the dates each country was visited, the amount of per 
  diem furnished, the cost of transportation furnished, and any funds 
  expended for any other official purpose, and shall summarize in these 
  categories the total foreign currencies and appropriated funds 
  expended. All such individual reports shall be filed by the chairman 
  with the Committee on House Administration and shall be open to public 
  inspection.


                         XII. AMENDMENT OF RULES

     These rules may be amended by a majority vote of the committee. A 
proposed change in these rules shall not be considered by the committee 
as provided in clause 2 of House rule XI, unless written notice of the 
proposed change has been provided to each committee Member 2 legislative 
days in advance of the date on which the matter is to be considered. Any 
such change in the rules of the committee shall be published in the 
Congressional Record within 30 calendar days after its approval.

                                      

                                APPENDIX A
                  EXCERPTS OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF
                  REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 112th CONGRESS
                    PERTAINING TO COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
                                 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 11 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

         * * * * *

    (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.

         * * * * *
                                  Rule X
                       Organization of Committees.
              Committees and their legislative jurisdictions

  1. There shall be in the House the following standing committees, each 
of which shall have the jurisdiction and related functions assigned by 
this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 4. All bills, resolutions, and other 
matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing 
committees listed in this clause shall be referred to those committees, 
in accordance with clause 2 of rule XII, as follows:

      (a) Committee on Agriculture.

        (1) Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of birds
      and animals in forest reserves.
        (2) Agriculture generally.
        (3) Agricultural and industrial chemistry.
        (4) Agricultural colleges and experiment stations.
        (5) Agricultural economics and research.
        (6) Agricultural education extension services.
        (7) Agricultural production and marketing and stabilization of
      prices of agricultural products, and commodities (not including
      distribution outside of the United States).
        (8) Animal industry and diseases of animals.
        (9) Commodity exchanges.
        (10) Crop insurance and soil conservation.
        (11) Dairy industry.
        (12) Entomology and plant quarantine.
        (13) Extension of farm credit and farm security.
        (14) Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and seafood
      and seafood products.
        (15) Forestry in general and forest reserves other than those
      created from the public domain.
        (16) Human nutrition and home economics.
        (17) Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering.
        (18) Rural electrification.
        (19) Rural development.
        (20) Water conservation related to activities of the Department
      of Agriculture.

         * * * * *
                    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 enti-
      ties 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 neces-
      sity 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 expla-
      nation of steps that have been or will be taken to ensure such
      coordination and cooperation;
        (B) review specific problems with Federal rules, regulations, 
      statutes, and court decisions that are ambiguous, arbitrary, or 
      nonsensical, or that impose sever financial burdens on individuals.
        (C) 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;
        (D) have a view toward ensuring that all significant laws, pro-
      grams, or agencies within its jurisdiction are subject to review
      every 10 years;
        (E) have a view toward insuring against duplication of Federal
      programs; and
        (F) include proposals to cut or eliminate programs, including
      mandatory spending programs, that are inefficient, duplicative, 
      out-dated, or more appropriately administered by State or local 
      governments.

   (2) Not later than March 31 in the first session of a Congress, after 
  consultation with the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the Minority 
Leader, the Committee on Government Reform shall report to the House the 
oversight plans submitted by committees together with any recommendations 
that it, or the House leadership group described above, may make to 
ensure the most effective coordination of oversight plans and otherwise 
to achieve the objectives of this clause.

  (e) The Speaker, with the approval of the House, may appoint special ad 
hoc oversight committees for the purpose of reviewing specific matters 
within the jurisdiction of two or more standing committees.


                       Special oversight functions

   3. (a) The Committee on Appropriations shall conduct such studies and 
examinations of the organization and operation of executive departments 
and other executive agencies (including an agency the majority of the 
stock of which is owned by the United States) as it considers necessary 
to assist it in the determination of matters within its jurisdiction.

      (b) The Committee on Armed Services shall review and study on a 
continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to 
international arms control and disarmament and the education of military 
dependents in schools.

   (c) The Committee on the Budget shall study on a continuing basis the 
effect on budget outlays of relevant existing and proposed legislation 
and report the results of such studies to the House on a recurring basis.

   (d) The Committee on Education and the Workforce shall review, study, 
and coordinate on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government 
activities relating to domestic educational programs and institutions and 
programs of student assistance within the jurisdiction of other 
committees.

   (e) The Committee on Energy and Commerce shall review and study on a 
continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to 
nuclear and other energy and nonmilitary nuclear energy research and 
development including the disposal of nuclear waste.

     (f) The Committee on Foreign Affairs shall review and study on a 
continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to 
customs administration, intelligence activities relating to foreign 
policy, international financial and monetary organizations, and 
international fishing agreements.

   (g)(1) The Committee on Homeland Security shall review and study on a 
continuing basis all Government activities relating to homeland security, 
including the interaction of all departments and agencies with the 
Department of Homeland Security.

  (2) In addition, the committee shall review and study on a primary and 
continuing basis all Government activities, programs and organizations 
related to homeland security that fall within its primary legislative 
jurisdiction.

    (h) The Committee on Natural Resources shall review and study on a 
continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to 
Native Americans.

   (i) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform shall review and 
study on a continuing basis the operation of Government activities at all 
     levels with a view to determining their economy and efficiency.

  (j) The Committee on Rules shall review and study on a continuing basis 
the congressional budget process, and the committee shall report its 
findings and recommendations to the House from time to time.

   (k) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shall review and 
study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities 
relating to nonmilitary research and development.

   (l) The Committee on Small Business shall study and investigate on a 
continuing basis the problems of all types of small business.

    (m) The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence shall review and 
study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and activities of the 
intelligence community and shall review and study on an exclusive basis 
thesources and methods of entities described in clause l1(b)(1)(A).


                    Additional functions of committees

    4. (a)(1)(A) the Committee on Appropriations shall, within 30 days 
after the transmittal of the Budget to Congress each year, hold hearings 
on the Budget as a whole with particular reference to----

    (i) the basic recommendations and budgetary policies of the President 
in the presentation of the Budget; and
   (ii) the fiscal, financial, and economic assumptions used as bases in 
  arriving at total estimated expenditures and receipts.

         * * * * *

   (2) Pursuant to section 401(b)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, when a committee reports a bill or joint resolution that provides 
new entitlement authority as defined in section 3(9) of that Act, and 
enactment of the bill or joint resolution, as reported, would cause a 
breach of the committee's pertinent allocation of new budget authority 
under section 302(a) of that Act, the bill or joint resolution may be 
referred to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report 
it with recommendations (which may include an amendment limiting the 
total amount of new entitlement authority provided in the bill or joint 
resolution). If the Committee on Appropriations fails to report a bill or 
joint resolution so referred within 15 calendar days (not counting any 
day on which the House is not in session), the committee automatically 
shall be discharged from consideration of the bill or joint resolution, 
and the bill or joint resolution shall be placed on the appropriate 
calendar.

     (3) In addition, the Committee on Appropriations shall study on a 
continuing basis those provisions of law that (on the first day of the 
first fiscal year for which the congressional budget process is 
effective) provide spending authority or permanent budget authority and 
shall report to the House from time to time its recommendations for 
terminating or modifying such provisions.

   (4) In the manner provided by section 302 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974, the Committee on Appropriations (after consulting with the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate) shall subdivide any 
allocations made to it in the joint explanatory statement accompanying 
the conference report on such concurrent resolution, and promptly report 
the subdivisions to the House as soon as practicable after a concurrent 
resolution on the budget for a fiscal year is agreed to.

                 (b) the Committee on the Budget shall----

    (1) review on a continuing basis the conduct by the Congressional 
  Budget Office of its functions and duties;
    (2) hold hearings and receive testimony from Members, Senators, 
  Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and such appropriate 
  representatives of Federal departments and agencies, the general 
  public, and national organizations as it considers desirable in 
  developing concurrent resolutions on the budget for each fiscal year;
    (3) make all reports required of it by the Congressional Budget Act 
  of 1974;
    (4) study on a continuing basis those provisions of law that exempt 
  Federal agencies or any of their activities or outlays from inclusion 
  in the Budget of the United States Government, and report to the House 
  from time to time its recommendations for terminating or modifying such 
  provisions;
    (5) study on a continuing basis proposals designed to improve and 
  facilitate the congressional budget process, and report to the House 
  from time to time the results of such studies, together with its 
  recommendations; and
    (6) request and evaluate continuing studies of tax expenditures, 
  devise methods of coordinating tax expenditures, policies, and programs 
  with direct budget outlays, and report the results of such studies to 
  the House on a recurring basis.

     (c)(1) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform shall----

    (A) receive and examine reports of the Comptroller General of the 
  United States and submit to the House such recommendations as it 
  considers necessary or desirable in connection with the subject matter 
  of the reports;
    (B) evaluate the effects of laws enacted to reorganize the 
  legislative and executive branches of the Government; and
    (C) study intergovernmental relationships between the United States 
  and the States and municipalities and between the United States and 
  international organizations of which the United States is a member.

  (2) In addition to its duties under subparagraph (1), the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform may at any time conduct investigations of 
any matter without regard to clause 1, 2, 3, or this clause conferring 
jurisdiction over the matter to another standing committee. The findings 
and recommendations of the committee in such an investigation shall be 
made available to any other standing committee having jurisdiction over 
the matter involved.

         * * * * *

     (e)(1) Each standing committee shall, in its consideration of all 
public bills and public joint resolutions within its jurisdiction, ensure 
that appropriations for continuing programs and activities of the Federal 
Government and the government of the District of Columbia will be made 
annually to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the nature, 
requirement, and objective of the programs and activities involved. In 
this subparagraph programs and activities of the Federal Government and 
the government of the District of Columbia includes programs and 
activities of any department, agency, establishment, wholly owned 
Government corporation, or instrumentality of the Federal Government or 
of the government of the District of Columbia.

      (2) Each standing committee shall review from time to time each 
continuing program within its jurisdiction for which appropriations are 
not made annually to ascertain whether the program should be modified to 
provide for annual appropriations.


                       Budget Act responsibilities

    (f)(1) Each standing committee shall submit to the Committee on the 
Budget not later than 6 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.

         * * * * *
              Election and membership of standing committees

     5. (a)(1) The standing committees specified in clause 1 shall be 
elected by the House within 7 calendar days after the commencement of 
each Congress, from nominations submitted by the respective party caucus 
or conference. A resolution proposing to change the composition of a 
standing committee shall be privileged if offered by direction of the 
party caucus or conference concerned.

         * * * * *

     (b)(1) Membership on a standing committee during the course of a 
Congress shall be contingent on continuing membership in the party caucus 
or conference that nominated the Member, Delegate, or Resident 
Commissioner concerned for election to such committee. Should a Member, 
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner cease to be a member of a particular 
party caucus or conference, that Member, Delegate, or Resident 
Commissioner shall automatically cease to be a member of each standing 
committee to which he was elected on the basis of nomination by that 
caucus or conference. The chair of the relevant party caucus or 
conference shall notify the Speaker whenever a Member, Delegate, or 
Resident Commissioner ceases to be a member of that caucus or conference. 
The Speaker shall notify the chair of each affected committee that the 
election of such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to the 
committee is automatically vacated under this subparagraph.

   (2)(A) Except as specified in subdivision (B), a Member, Delegate, or 
Resident Commissioner may not serve simultaneously as a member of more 
than two standing committees or more than four subcommittees of the 
standing committees.

   (B)(i) Ex officio service by a chair or ranking minority member of a 
committee on each of its subcommittees under a committee rule does not 
count against the limitation on subcommittee service.

     (ii) Service on an investigative subcommittee of the Committee on 
   Standards of Official Conduct under paragraph (a)(4) does not count 
   against the limitation on subcommittee service.

    (iii) Any other exception to the limitations in subdivision (A) must be 
  approved by the House on the recommendation of the relevant party caucus 
  or conference.

    (C) In this subparagraph the term ``subcommittee'' includes a panel 
(other than a special oversight panel of the Committee on Armed 
Services), task force, special subcommittee, or other subunit of a 
standing committee that is established for a cumulative period longer 
than 6 months in a Congress.

   (c)(1) One of the members of each standing committee shall be elected 
by the House, on the nomination of the majority party caucus or 
conference, as chair thereof. In the absence of the member serving as 
chair, the member next in rank (and so on, as often as the case shall 
happen) shall act as chair. Rank shall be determined by the order members 
are named in resolutions electing them to the committee. In the case of a 
vacancy in the elected chair of a committee, the House shall elect 
another chair.

      (2) Except in the case of the Committee on Rules, a member of a 
standing committee may not serve as chair of the same standing committee, 
or of the same subcommittee of a standing committee, during more than 
three consecutive Congresses (disregarding for this purpose any service 
for less than a full session in a Congress).

   (d)(1) Except as permitted by subparagraph (2), a committee may have 
                    not more than five subcommittees.

  (2) A committee that maintains a subcommittee on oversight may have not 
more than six subcommittees. The Committee on Appropriations may have not 
more than 13 subcommittees. The Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform may have not more than seven subcommittees.

  (e) The House shall fill a vacancy on a standing committee by election 
on the nomination of the respective party caucus or conference.


                           Expense resolutions

   6. (a) Whenever a committee, commission, or other entity (other than 
the Committee on Appropriations) is granted authorization for the payment 
of its expenses (including staff salaries) for a Congress, such 
authorization initially shall be procured by one primary expense 
resolution reported by the Committee on House Administration. A primary 
expense resolution may include a reserve fund for unanticipated expenses 
of committees. An amount from such a reserve fund may be allocated to a 
committee only by the approval of the Committee on House Administration. 
A primary expense resolution reported to the House may not be considered 
in the House unless a printed report thereon was available on the 
previous calendar day. For the information of the House, such report 
                                shall----

    (1) state the total amount of the funds to be provided to the 
  committee, commission, or other entity under the primary expense 
  resolution for all anticipated activities and programs of the 
  committee, commission, or other entity; and
    (2) to the extent practicable, contain such general statements 
  regarding the estimated foreseeable expenditures for the respective 
  anticipated activities and programs of the committee, commission, or 
  other entity as may be appropriate to provide the House with basic 
  estimates of the expenditures contemplated by the primary expense 
  resolution.

     (b) After the date of adoption by the House of a primary expense 
resolution for a committee, commission, or other entity for a Congress, 
authorization for the payment of additional expenses (including staff 
salaries) in that Congress may be procured by one or more supplemental 
expense resolutions reported by the Committee on House Administration, as 
necessary. A supplemental expense resolution reported to the House may 
not be considered in the House unless a printed report thereon was 
available on the previous calendar day. For the information of the House, 
such report shall----

    (1) state the total amount of additional funds to be provided to the 
  committee, commission, or other entity under the supplemental expense 
  resolution and the purposes for which those additional funds are 
  available; and
    (2) state the reasons for the failure to procure the additional funds 
  for the committee, commission, or other entity by means of the primary 
  expense resolution.

      (c) The preceding provisions of this clause do not apply to----

    (1) a resolution providing for the payment from committee salary and 
  expense accounts of the House of sums necessary to pay compensation for 
  staff services performed for, or to pay other expenses of, a committee, 
  commission, or other entity at any time after the beginning of an odd-
  numbered year and before the date of adoption by the House of the 
  primary expense resolution described in paragraph (a) for that year; or
    (2) a resolution providing each of the standing committees in a 
  Congress additional office equipment, airmail and special-delivery 
  postage stamps, supplies, staff personnel, or any other specific item 
  for the operation of the standing committees, and containing an 
  authorization for the payment from committee salary and expense 
  accounts of the House of the expenses of any of the foregoing items 
  provided by that resolution, subject to and until enactment of the 
  provisions of the resolution as permanent law.

    (d) From the funds made available for the appointment of committee 
staff by a primary or additional expense resolution, the chair 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 chair 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 clause shall be made on vouchers signed by 
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 clause 6, 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) incurred during that day.

    (3) Each member or employee of a committee shall make to the chair 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 chair 
  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) 
  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 chair 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 Ethics 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)(A) 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 chair 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 XXIII.

    (B) The use of any ``associate'' or ``shared'' staff by a committee 
other than the Committee on Appropriations shall be subject to the review 
of, and to any terms, conditions, and limitations established by, the 
Committee on House Administration in connection with the reporting of any 
primary or additional expense resolution.

     (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 chair 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(k)(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 clause 6(a), shall be accorded equitable treatment with 
respect to the fixing of the rate of pay, the assignment of work 
facilities, and the accessibility of committee records.

  (h) Paragraph (a) may not be construed to authorize the appointment of 
additional professional staff members of a committee pursuant to a 
request under paragraph (a) by the minority party members of that 
committee if 10 or more professional staff members provided for in 
paragraph (a)(1) who are satisfactory to a majority of the minority party 
members are otherwise assigned to assist the minority party members.

       (i) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2), a committee may employ 
nonpartisan staff, in lieu of or in addition to committee staff 
designated exclusively for the majority or minority party, by an 
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the majority party and 
of a majority of the members of the minority party.


                       Select and joint committees

    10. (a) Membership on a select or joint committee appointed by the 
Speaker under clause 11 of rule I during the course of a Congress shall 
be contingent on continuing membership in the party caucus or conference 
of which the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner concerned was a 
member at the time of appointment. Should a Member, Delegate, or Resident 
Commissioner cease to be a member of that caucus or conference, that 
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall automatically cease to 
be a member of any select or joint committee to which he is assigned. The 
chair of the relevant party caucus or conference shall notify the Speaker 
whenever a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner ceases to be a 
member of a party caucus or conference. The Speaker shall notify the 
chair of each affected select or joint committee that the appointment of 
such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to the select or joint 
committee is automatically vacated under this paragraph.

  (b) Each select or joint committee, other than a conference committee, 
shall comply with clause 2(a) of rule XI unless specifically exempted by 
law.

         * * * * *
                                 RULE XI
            Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business.
                                In general

  1. (a)(1)(A) The Rules of the House of Representatives are the rules of 
its committees and subcommittees so far as applicable.

  (B) 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) In a committee or a subcommittee----

    (i) a motion to recess from day to day, or to recess subject to the 
  call of the Chair (within 24 hours), shall be privileged; and
    (ii) a motion to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill 
  or resolution shall be privileged if printed copies are available

     (B) A motion accorded privilege under this subparagraph shall be 
   decided without debate.

   (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 7 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(k)(1) of rule 
X.

     (d)(1) Not later than the 30th day after June 1 and December 1, a 
committee shall submit to the House a semiannual report on the activities 
of that committee.

                     (2) Such report shall include----

    (A) separate sections summarizing the legislative and oversight 
  activities of that committee under this rule and rule X during the 
  applicable period;
    (B) in the case of the first such report, a summary of the oversight 
  plans submitted by the committee under clause 2(d) of rule X;
    (C) a summary of the actions taken and recommendations made with 
  respect to the oversight plans specified in subdivision (B);
    (D) a summary of any additional oversight activities undertaken by 
  that committee and any recommendations made or actions taken thereon; 
  and
    (E) a delineation of any hearings held pursuant to clauses 2(n), (o), 
  or (p) of this rule.

   (3) After an adjournment sine die of a regular session of a Congress, 
or after December 15, whichever occurs first, the chair of a committee 
may file the second or fourth semiannual report described in 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 of 
  Representatives or with those provisions of law having the force and 
  effect of Rules of the House of Representatives; and
    (C) shall in any event incorporate all of the succeeding provisions 
  of this clause to the extent applicable.

       (2) Each committee shall make its rules publicly available in 
   electronic form and submit such rules for publication in the 
   Congressional Record not later than 30 days after the chair of the 
   committee is elected in each odd-numbered year.

   (3) A committee may adopt a rule providing that the chair be directed 
    to offer a motion under clause 1 of rule XXII whenever the chair 
    considers it appropriate.


                           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 chair of each standing committee may call and convene, as 
the chair 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 chair.

     (2) Three or more members of a standing committee may file in the 
offices of the committee a written request that the chair 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 chair of the filing of the 
request. If the chair does not call the requested special meeting within 
3 calendar days after the filing of the request (to be held within 7 
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 chair

     (d) A member of the majority party on each standing committee or 
subcommittee thereof shall be designated by the chair of the full 
committee as the vice chair of the committee or subcommittee, as the case 
may be, and shall preside during the absence of the chair from any 
meeting. If the chair and vice chair 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 and also made publicly available in electronic form 
within 48 hours of such record vote. Information so available 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.

         * * * * *

   (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 chair. 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 Ethics, 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.

      (5) To the maximum extent practicable, each committee shall----

      (A) provide audio and video coverage of each hearing or meeting
    for the transaction of business in a manner that allows the
    public to easily listen to and view the proceedings; and
      (B) maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner that
    is easily accessible to the public.

   (6) Not later than 24 hours after the adoption of any amendment to a 
measure or matter considered by a committee, the chair of such committee 
shall cause the text of each such amendment to be made publicly available 
in electronic form.


                     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 Ethics 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 Ethics 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 Ethics 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 5 
additional, consecutive days of hearings.

    (3)(A) The chair of a committee shall announce the date, place, and 
subject matter of----

    (i) a committee hearing, which may not commence earlier than one week 
  after such notice; or
    (ii) a committee meeting, which may not commence earlier than the 
  third day on which members have notice thereof.

  (B) A hearing or meeting may begin sooner than specified in subdivision 
  (A) in either of the following circumstances (in which case the chair 
shall make the announcement specified in subdivision (A) at the earliest 
possible time):

    (i) the chair of the committee, with the concurrence of the ranking 
  minority member, determines that there is good cause; or
    (ii) 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.

    (C) An announcement made under this subparagraph shall be published 
promptly in the Daily Digest and made publicly available in electronic 
form.

     (D) This subparagraph and subparagraph (4) shall not apply to the 
Committee on Rules.

   (4) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a meeting for the 
markup of legislation, or at the time of an announcement under 
subparagraph (3)(B) made within 24 hours before such meeting, the chair 
of the committee shall cause the text of such legislation to be made 
publicly available in electronic form.

   (5) 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. Such statements, with 
appropriate redactions to protect the privacy of the witness, shall be 
made publicly available in electronic form not later than one day after 
the witness appears.

  (6)(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.

         * * * * *
                           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 one for which the presence of a majority of the committee is 
otherwise required, which may not be less than one-third of the members.

     (4)(A) Each committee may adopt a rule authorizing the chair of a 
committee or subcommittee----

    (i) to postpone further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on 
  the question of approving a measure or matter or on adopting an 
  amendment; and
    (ii) to resume proceedings on a postponed question at any time after 
  reasonable notice.

    (B) A rule adopted pursuant to this subparagraph shall provide that 
when proceedings resume on a postponed question, notwithstanding any 
intervening order for the previous question, an underlying proposition 
shall remain subject to further debate or amendment to the same extent as 
when the question was postponed.


                     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 chair 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 1 day of hearing 
thereon.

  (2)(A) Subject to subdivisions (B) and (C), each committee shall apply 
the 5-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 5 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.


                            Hearing procedures

   (k)(1) The chair at a 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 on request.

   (3) Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by their own counsel for 
the purpose of advising them concerning their constitutional rights.

      (4) The chair 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 by a member of the committee that the 
evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or 
incriminate any person, or it is asserted by a witness that the evidence 
or testimony that the witness would give at a hearing may tend to defame, 
degrade, or incriminate the witness----

    (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 chair 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 2 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 (3)(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 chair of the committee, or a member designated by the chair, 
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 chair of the committee under 
such rules and under such limitations as the committee may prescribe. 
Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the chair of the committee or by 
a member designated by the committee.

     (ii) In the case of a subcommittee of the Committee on Ethics, 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.

   (n)(1) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof, shall hold 
at least one hearing during each 120-day period following the 
establishment of the committee on the topic of waste, fraud, abuse, or 
mismanagement in government programs which that committee may authorize.

   (2) A hearing described in subparagraph (1) shall include a focus on 
the most egregious instances of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement as 
documented by any report the committee has received from a Federal Office 
of the Inspector General or the Comptroller General of the United States.

  (o) Each committee, or a subcommittee thereof, shall hold at least one 
hearing in any session in which the committee has received disclaimers of 
agency financial statements from auditors of any Federal agency that the 
committee may authorize to hear testimony on such disclaimers from 
representatives of any such agency.

   (p) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof, shall hold at 
least one hearing on issues raised by reports issued by the Comptroller 
General of the United States indicating that Federal programs or 
operations that the committee may authorize are at high risk for waste, 
fraud, and mismanagement, known as the ``high-risk list'' or the ``high-
risk series''.

         * * * * *
            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 chair 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 
  chair 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) If requests are made by more of the media than will be permitted 
  by a committee or subcommittee chair for coverage of a hearing or 
  meeting by still photography, that coverage shall be permitted on the 
  basis of a fair and equitable pool arrangement devised by the Standing 
  Committee of Press Photographers.
    (8) Photographers may not position themselves between the witness 
  table and the members of the committee at any time during the course of 
  a hearing or meeting.
    (9) Photographers may not place themselves in positions that obstruct 
  unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing by the other media.
    (10) Personnel providing coverage by the television and radio media 
  shall be currently accredited to the Radio and Television 
  Correspondents' Galleries.
    (11) Personnel providing coverage by still photography shall be 
  currently accredited to the Press Photographers' Gallery.
    (12) Personnel providing coverage by the television and radio media 
  and by still photography shall conduct themselves and their coverage 
  activities in an orderly and unobtrusive manner.


                             Pay of witnesses

  5. Witnesses appearing before the House or any of its committees shall 
be paid the same per diem rate as established, authorized, and regulated 
by the Committee on House Administration for Members, Delegates, the 
Resident Commissioner, and employees of the House, plus actual expenses 
of travel to or from the place of examination. Such per diem may not be 
paid when a witness has been summoned at the place of examination.


                    Unfinished business of the session

  6. All business of the House at the end of one session shall be resumed 
at the commencement of the next session of the same Congress in the same 
manner as if no adjournment had taken place.


                                APPENDIX B
EXCERPTS RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET 
                    ACT OF 1974 (2 U.S.C. 601 ET SEQ.)
                         Declaration of Purposes

            Sec. 2. The Congress declares that it is essential--

      (1) to assure effective congressional control over the budgetary 
  process;
      (2) to provide for the congressional determination each year of the 
  appropriate level of Federal revenues and expenditures;
      (3) to provide a system of impoundment control;
      (4) to establish national budget priorities; and
      (5) to provide for the furnishing of information by the executive 
  branch in a manner that will assist the Congress in discharging its 
  duties.


                               definitions

              Sec. 3. In General.--For purposes of this Act--

  (1) The terms ``budget outlays'' and ``outlays'' mean, with respect to 
any fiscal year, expenditures and net lending of funds under budget 
authority during such year.

              (2) Budget authority and new budget authority.--

      (A) In general.--The term ``budget authority'' means the authority 
  provided by Federal law to incur financial obligations, as follows:

    (i) provisions of law that make funds available for obligation and 
  expenditure (other than borrowing authority), including the authority 
  to obligate and expend the proceeds of offsetting receipts and 
  collections;
    (ii) borrowing authority, which means authority granted to a Federal 
  entity to borrow and obligate and expend the borrowed funds, including 
  through the issuance of promissory notes or other monetary credits;
    (iii) contract authority, which means the making of funds available 
  for obligation but not for expenditure; and
    (iv) offsetting receipts and collections as negative budget 
  authority, and the reduction thereof as positive budget authority.

        * * * * *

      (B) Limitations on budget authority.--With respect to the Federal 
  Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, the Supplementary Medical Insurance 
  Trust Fund, the Unemployment Trust Fund, and the railroad retirement 
  account, any amount that is precluded from obligation in a fiscal year 
  by a provision of law (such as a limitation or a benefit formula) shall 
  not be budget authority in that year.
      (C) New budget authority.--The term ``new budget authority'' means, 
  with respect to a fiscal year--

    (i) budget authority that first becomes available for obligation in 
  that year, including budget authority that becomes available in that 
  year as a result of a reappropriation; or
    (ii) a change in any account in the availability of unobligated 
  balances of budget authority carried over from a prior year, resulting 
  from a provision of law first effective in that year;

    and includes a change in the estimated level of new budget authority 
  provided in indefinite amounts by existing law.

        * * * * *

        (4) The term ``concurrent resolution on the budget'' means--

      (A) a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget 
  for the United States Government for a fiscal year as provided in 
  section 301; and
      (B) any other concurrent resolution revising the congressional 
  budget for the United States Government for a fiscal year as described 
  in section 304.

  (5) The term ``appropriation Act'' means an Act referred to in section 
                   105 of title 1, United States Code.

    (6) The term ``deficit'' means, with respect to a fiscal year, the 
        amount by which outlays exceeds receipts during that year.

    (7) The term ``surplus'' means, with respect to a fiscal year, the 
        amount by which receipts exceeds outlays during that year.

    (8) The term ``government-sponsored enterprise'' means a corporate 
           entity created by a law of the United States that--

      (A)(i) has a Federal charter authorized by law;
      (ii) is privately owned, as evidenced by capital stock owned by 
  private entities or individuals;
      (iii) is under the direction of a board of directors, a majority of 
  which is elected by private owners;
      (iv) is a financial institution with power to--

    (I) make loans or loan guarantees for limited purposes such as to 
  provide credit for specific borrowers or one sector; and
    (II) raise funds by borrowing (which does not carry the full faith 
  and credit of the Federal Government) or to guarantee the debt of 
  others in unlimited amounts; and

      (B)(i) does not exercise powers that are reserved to the Government 
  as sovereign (such as the power to tax or to regulate interstate 
  commerce);
      (ii) does not have the power to commit the Government financially 
  (but it may be a recipient of a loan guarantee commitment made by the 
  Government); and
      (iii) has employees whose salaries and expenses are paid by the 
  enterprise and are not Federal employees subject to title 5 of the 
  United States Code.

               (9) The term ``entitlement authority'' means--

      (A) the authority to make payments (including loans and grants), 
  the budget authority for which is not provided for in advance by 
  appropriation Acts, to any person or government if, under the 
  provisions of the law containing that authority, the United States is 
  obligated to make such payments to persons or governments who meet the 
  requirements established by that law; and
      (B) the food stamp program.

  (10) The term ``credit authority'' means authority to incur direct loan 
       obligations or to incur primary loan guarantee commitments.

        * * * * *
                 TITLE III--CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET PROCESS
                                timetable

     Sec. 300. The timetable with respect to the congressional budget 
                process for any fiscal year is as follows:




                 On or before:                   Action to be completed:

First Monday in February......................  President submits his
                                                 budget.
February 15...................................  Congressional Budget
                                                 Office submits report
                                                 to Budget Committees.
Not later than 6 weeks after President submits  Committees submit views
 budget.                                         and estimates to Budget
                                                 Committees.
April 1.......................................  Senate Budget Committee
                                                 reports concurrent
                                                 resolution on the
                                                 budget.
April 15......................................  Congress completes
                                                 action on concurrent
                                                 resolution on the
                                                 budget.
May 15........................................  Annual appropriation
                                                 bills may be considered
                                                 in the House.
June 10.......................................  House Appropriations
                                                 Committee reports last
                                                 annual appropriation
                                                 bill.
June 15.......................................  Congress completes
                                                 action on
                                                 reconciliation
                                                 legislation.
June 30.......................................  House completes action
                                                 on annual appropriation
                                                 bills.
October 1.....................................  Fiscal year begins.



      The date for committees' submissions of views and estimates was 
amended by the Budget Enforcement Act of 1997 (sec. 10104, P.L. 105-
33).

          annual adoption of concurrent resolution on the budget

   Sec. 301. (a) Content of Concurrent Resolution on the Budget.--On or 
before April 15 of each year, the Congress shall complete action on a 
concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year beginning on 
October 1 of such year. The concurrent resolution shall set forth 
appropriate levels for the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such 
year and for at least each of the 4 ensuing fiscal years for the 
following--

      (1) totals of new budget authority and outlays;
      (2) total Federal revenues and the amount, if any, by which the 
  aggregate level of Federal revenues should be increased or decreased by 
  bills and resolutions to be reported by the appropriate committees;
      (3) the surplus or deficit in the budget;
      (4) new budget authority and outlays for each major functional 
  category, based on allocations of the total levels set forth pursuant 
  to paragraph (1);
      (5) the public debt;
      (6) for purposes of Senate enforcement under this title, outlays of 
  the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established 
  under title II of the Social Security Act for the fiscal year of the 
  resolution and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years; and
      (7) for purposes of Senate enforcement under this title, revenues 
  of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established 
  under title II of the Social Security Act (and the related provisions 
  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for the fiscal year of the 
  resolution and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

   The concurrent resolution shall not include the outlays and revenue 
totals of the old age, survivors, and disability insurance program 
established under title II of the Social Security Act or the related 
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in the surplus or deficit 
totals required by this subsection or in any other surplus or deficit 
totals required by this title.

        * * * * *

  (d) Views and Estimates of Other Committees.--Within 6 weeks after the 
  President submits a budget under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 
States Code, or at such time as may be requested by the Committee on the 
Budget, each committee of the House of Representatives having legislative 
jurisdiction shall submit to the Committee on the Budget of the House and 
each committee of the Senate having legislative jurisdiction shall submit 
to the Committee on the Budget of the Senate its views and estimates (as 
determined by the committee making such submission) with respect to all 
matters set forth in subsections (a) and (b) which relate to matters 
within the jurisdiction or functions of such committee. The Joint 
Economic Committee shall submit to the Committees on the Budget of both 
Houses its recommendations as to the fiscal policy appropriate to the 
goals of the Employment Act of 1946. Any other committee of the House of 
Representatives or the Senate may submit to the Committee on the Budget 
of its House, and any joint committee of the Congress may submit to the 
Committees on the Budget of both Houses, its views and estimates with 
respect to all matters set forth in subsections (a) and (b) which relate 
to matters within its jurisdiction or functions. Any Committee of the 
House of Representatives or the Senate that anticipates that the 
committee will consider any proposed legislation establishing, amending, 
or reauthorizing any Federal program likely to have a significant 
budgetary impact on any State, local, or tribal government, or likely to 
have a significant financial impact on the private sector, including any 
legislative proposal submitted by the executive branch likely to have 
such a budgetary or financial impact, shall include its views and 
estimates on that proposal to the Committee on the Budget of the 
applicable House.

        * * * * *
                          committee allocations

              Sec. 302. (a) Committee Spending Allocations.--

      (1) Allocation among committees.--The joint explanatory statement 
  accompanying a conference report on a concurrent resolution on the 
  budget shall include an allocation, consistent with the resolution 
  recommended in the conference report, of the levels for the first 
  fiscal year of the resolution, for at least each of the ensuing 4 
  fiscal years, and a total for that period of fiscal years (except in 
  the case of the Committee on Appropriations only for the fiscal year of 
  that resolution) of--

    (A) total new budget authority; and
    (B) total outlays;

    among each committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate 
  that has jurisdiction over legislation providing or creating such 
  amounts.
      (2) No double counting.--In the House of Representatives, any item 
  allocated to one committee may not be allocated to another committee.
      (3) Further division of amounts.--

    (A) In the senate.--In the Senate, the amount allocated to the 
  Committee on Appropriations shall be further divided among the 
  categories specified in section 250(c)(4) of the Balanced Budget and 
  Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and shall not exceed the limits 
  for each category set forth in section 251(c) of that Act.
    (B) In the house.--In the House of Representatives, the amounts 
  allocated to each committee for each fiscal year, other than the 
  Committee on Appropriations, shall be further divided between amounts 
  provided or required by law on the date of filing of that conference 
  report and amounts not so provided or required. The amounts allocated 
  to the Committee on Appropriations shall be further divided--
      (i) between discretionary and mandatory amounts or programs, as 
  appropriate; and
      (ii) consistent with the categories specified in section 250(c)(4) 
  of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

      (4) Amounts not allocated.--In the House of Representatives or the 
  Senate, if a committee receives no allocation of new budget authority 
  or outlays, that committee shall be deemed to have received an 
  allocation equal to zero for new budget authority or outlays.
      (5) Adjusting allocation of discretionary spending in the house of 
  representatives.--(A) If a concurrent resolution on the budget is not 
  adopted by April 15, the chair of the Committee on the Budget of the 
  House of Representatives shall submit to the House, as soon as 
  practicable, an allocation under paragraph (1) to the Committee on 
  Appropriations consistent with the discretionary spending levels in the 
  most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget for the 
  appropriate fiscal year covered by that resolution.
      (B) As soon as practicable after an allocation under paragraph (1) 
  is submitted under this section, the Committee on Appropriations shall 
  make suballocations and report those suballocations to the House of 
  Representatives.

       (b) Suballocations by Appropriations Committees.--As soon as 
practicable after a concurrent resolution on the budget is agreed to, the 
Committee on Appropriations of each House (after consulting with the 
Committee on Appropriations of the other House) shall suballocate each 
amount allocated to it for the budget year under subsection (a) among its 
subcommittees. Each Committee on Appropriations shall promptly report to 
its House suballocations made or revised under this subsection. The 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives shall further 
divide among its subcommittees the divisions made under subsection 
(a)(3)(B) and promptly report those divisions to the House.

  (c) Point of Order.--After the Committee on Appropriations has received 
an allocation pursuant to subsection (a) for a fiscal year, it shall not 
be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any 
bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report within 
the jurisdiction of that committee providing new budget authority for 
that fiscal year, until that committee makes the suballocations required 
by subsection (b).

    (d) Subsequent Concurrent Resolutions.--In the case of a concurrent 
resolution on the budget referred to in section 304, the allocations 
under subsection (a) and the subdivisions under subsection (b) shall be 
required only to the extent necessary to take into account revisions made 
in the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget.

        * * * * *

                (f) Legislation Subject to Point of Order.--

      (1) In the house of representatives.--After the Congress has 
  completed action on a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal 
  year, it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives to 
  consider any bill, joint resolution, or amendment providing new budget 
  authority for any fiscal year, or any conference report on any such 
  bill or joint resolution, if--

    (A) the enactment of such bill or resolution as reported;
    (B) the adoption and enactment of such amendment; or
    (C) the enactment of such bill or resolution in the form recommended 
  in such conference report,

    would cause the applicable allocation of new budget authority made 
  under subsection (a) or (b) for the first fiscal year or the total of 
  fiscal years to be exceeded.

        * * * * *
concurrent resolution on the budget must be adopted before budget-related 
legislation is considered

     Sec. 303. (a) In General.--Until the concurrent resolution on the 
budget for a fiscal year has been agreed to, it shall not be in order in 
the House of Representatives, with respect to the first fiscal year 
covered by that resolution, or the Senate, with respect to any fiscal 
year covered by that resolution, to consider any bill or joint 
resolution, amendment or motion thereto, or conference report thereon 
that--

      (1) first provides new budget authority for that fiscal year;
      (2) first provides an increase or decrease in revenues during that 
  fiscal year;
      (3) provides an increase or decrease in the public debt limit to 
  become effective during that fiscal year;
      (4) in the Senate only, first provides new entitlement authority 
  for that fiscal year; or
      (5) in the Senate only, first provides for an increase or decrease 
  in outlays for that fiscal year.

      (b) Exceptions in the House.--In the House of Representatives, 
                     subsection (a) does not apply--

      (1)(A) to any bill or joint resolution, as reported, providing 
  advance discretionary new budget authority that first becomes available 
  for the first or second fiscal year after the budget year; or
      (B) to any bill or joint resolution, as reported, first increasing 
  or decreasing revenues in a fiscal year following the fiscal year to 
  which the concurrent resolution applies;
      (2) after May 15, to any general appropriation bill or amendment 
  thereto; or
      (3) to any bill or joint resolution unless it is reported by a 
  committee.

        * * * * *

      PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET

  Sec. 304. At any time after the concurrent resolution on the budget for 
a fiscal year has been agreed to pursuant to section 301, and before the 
end of such fiscal year, the two Houses may adopt a concurrent resolution 
on the budget which revises or reaffirms the concurrent resolution on the 
budget for such fiscal year most recently agreed to.

      The Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 (tit. XIII, P.L. 101-508) 
  deleted a subsection (b), relating to maximum deficit amount 
  requirements for revised budget resolutions, that had been added by the 
  Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (tit. II, 
  P.L. 99-177), and redesignated the subsection on economic assumptions, 
  originally added by Public Law 100-119, as (b). The latter subsection 
  (b) was deleted by the Budget Enforcement Act of 1997 (sec. 10108, P.L. 
  105-33).

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE CONSIDERATION OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS ON THE 
                                  BUDGET

    Sec. 305. (a) Procedure in House of Representatives After Report of 
                           Committee; Debate.--

      (1) When a concurrent resolution on the budget has been reported by 
  the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives and has 
  been referred to the appropriate calendar of the House, it shall be in 
  order on any day thereafter, subject to clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI of 
  the Rules of the House of Representatives, to move to proceed to the 
  consideration of the concurrent resolution. The motion is highly 
  privileged and is not debatable. An amendment to the motion is not in 
  order and it is not in order to move to reconsider the vote by which 
  the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.

        * * * * *
HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION ON ALL APPROPRIATION BILLS TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 
                                    10

       Sec. 307. On or before June 10 of each year, the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives shall report annual 
appropriation bills providing new budget authority under the jurisdiction 
of all of its subcommittees for the fiscal year which begins on October 1 
of that year.

      This section was rewritten by the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
  Deficit Control Act of 1985 (tit. II, P.L. 99-177) to establish June 10 
  as the annual target date for completion of House committee action on 
  all regular appropriation bills.


   REPORTS, SUMMARIES, AND PROJECTIONS OF CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACTIONS

  Sec. 308. (a) Reports on Legislation Providing New Budget Authority or 
   Providing an Increase or Decrease in Revenues or Tax Expenditures.--

      (1) Whenever a committee of either House reports to its House a 
  bill or joint resolution, or committee amendment thereto, providing new 
  budget authority (other than continuing appropriations) or providing an 
  increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures for a fiscal year 
  (or fiscal years), the report accompanying that bill or joint 
  resolution shall contain a statement, or the committee shall make 
  available such a statement in the case of an approved committee 
  amendment which is not reported to its House, prepared after 
  consultation with the Director of the Congressional Budget Office--

    (A) comparing the levels in such measure to the appropriate 
  allocations in the reports submitted under section 302(b) for the most 
  recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget for such fiscal 
  year (or fiscal years);
    (B) containing a projection by the Congressional Budget Office of how 
  such measure will affect the levels of such budget authority, budget 
  outlays, revenues, or tax expenditures under existing law for such 
  fiscal year (or fiscal years) and each of the four ensuing fiscal 
  years, if timely submitted before such report is filed; and
    (C) containing an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office of the 
  level of new budget authority for assistance to State and local 
  governments provided by such measure, if timely submitted before such 
  report is filed.

      (2) Whenever a conference report is filed in either House and such 
  conference report or any amendment reported in disagreement or any 
  amendment contained in the joint statement of managers to be proposed 
  by the conferees in the case of technical disagreement on such bill or 
  joint resolution provides new budget authority (other than continuing 
  appropriations) or provides an increase or decrease in revenues for a 
  fiscal year (or fiscal years), the statement of managers accompanying 
  such conference report shall contain the information described in 
  paragraph (1), if available on a timely basis. If such information is 
  not available when the conference report is filed, the committee shall 
  make such information available to Members as soon as practicable prior 
  to the consideration of such conference report.

        * * * * *
                              RECONCILIATION

    Sec. 310. (a) Inclusion of Reconciliation Directives in Concurrent 
Resolutions on the Budget.--A concurrent resolution on the budget for any 
fiscal year, to the extent necessary to effectuate the provisions and 
requirements of such resolution, shall--

      (1) specify the total amount by which--

    (A) new budget authority for such fiscal year;
    (B) budget authority initially provided for prior fiscal years;
    (C) new entitlement authority which is to become effective during 
  such fiscal year; and
    (D) credit authority for such fiscal year,

  contained in laws, bills, and resolutions within the jurisdiction of 
  a committee is to be changed and direct that committee to determine and 
  recommend changes to accomplish a change of such total amount;
      (2) specify the total amount by which revenues are to be changed 
  and direct that the committees having jurisdiction to determine and 
  recommend changes in the revenue laws, bills, and resolutions to 
  accomplish a change of such total amount;
      (3) specify the amounts by which the statutory limit on the public 
  debt is to be changed and direct the committee having jurisdiction to 
  recommend such change; or
      (4) specify and direct any combination of the matters described in 
  paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) (including a direction to achieve deficit 
  reduction).

     (b) Legislative Procedure.--If a concurrent resolution containing 
directives to one or more committees to determine and recommend changes 
in laws, bills, or resolutions is agreed to in accordance with subsection 
                                (a), and--

      (1) only one committee of the House or the Senate is directed to 
  determine and recommend changes, that committee shall promptly make 
  such determination and recommendations and report to its House 
  reconciliation legislation containing such recommendations; or
      (2) more than one committee of the House or the Senate is directed 
  to determine and recommend changes, each such committee so directed 
  shall promptly make such determination and recommendations and submit 
  such recommendations to the Committee on the Budget of its House, which 
  upon receiving all such recommendations, shall report to its House 
  reconciliation legislation carrying out all such recommendations 
  without any substantive revision.

    For purposes of this subsection, a reconciliation resolution is a 
concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
or the Secretary of the Senate, as the case may be, to make specified 
changes in bills and resolutions which have not been enrolled.

   (c) Compliance With Reconciliation Directions.--(1) Any committee of 
the House of Representatives or the Senate that is directed, pursuant to 
a concurrent resolution on the budget, to determine and recommend changes 
of the type described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) with 
respect to laws within its jurisdiction, shall be deemed to have complied 
with such directions--

      (A) if--

    (i) the amount of the changes of the type described in paragraph (1) 
  of such subsection recommended by such committee do not exceed or fall 
  below the amount of the changes such committee was directed by such 
  concurrent resolution to recommend under that paragraph by more than--
      (I) in the Senate, 20 percent of the total of the amounts of the 
  changes such committee was directed to make under paragraphs (1) and 
  (2) of such subsection; or
      (II) in the House of Representatives, 20 percent of the sum of the 
  absolute value of the changes the committee was directed to make under 
  paragraph (1) and the absolute value of the changes the committee was 
  directed to make under paragraph (2); and
    (ii) the amount of the changes of the type described in paragraph (2) 
  of such subsection recommended by such committee do not exceed or fall 
  below the amount of the changes such committee was directed by such 
  concurrent resolution to recommend under that paragraph by more than--
      (I) in the Senate, 20 percent of the total of the amounts of the 
  changes such committee was directed to make under paragraphs (1) and 
  (2) of such subsection; or
      (II) in the House of Representatives, 20 percent of the sum of the 
  absolute value of the changes the committee was directed to make under 
  paragraph (1) and the absolute value of the changes the committee was 
  directed to make under paragraph (2); and

      (B) if the total amount of the changes recommended by such 
  committee is not less than the total of the amounts of the changes such 
  committee was directed to make under paragraphs (1) and (2) of such 
  subsection.
      (2)(A) Upon the reporting to the Committee on the Budget of the 
  Senate of a recommendation that shall be deemed to have complied with 
  such directions solely by virtue of this subsection, the chair of that 
  committee may file with the Senate appropriately revised allocations 
  under section 302(a) and revised functional levels and aggregates to 
  carry out this subsection.

        (B) Upon the submission to the Senate of a conference report 
    recommending a reconciliation bill or resolution in which a committee 
    shall be deemed to have complied with such directions solely by 
    virtue of this subsection, the chair of the Committee on the Budget 
    of the Senate may file with the Senate appropriately revised 
    allocations under section 302(a) and revised functional levels and 
    aggregates to carry out this subsection.

        * * * * *

       BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION MUST BE WITHIN APPROPRIATE LEVELS

            Sec. 311. (a) Enforcement of Budget Aggregates.----

      (1) In the house of representatives.--Except as provided by 
  subsection (c), after the Congress has completed action on a concurrent 
  resolution on the budget for a fiscal year, it shall not be in order in 
  the House of Representatives to consider any bill, joint resolution, 
  amendment, motion, or conference report providing new budget authority 
  or reducing revenues, if--

    (A) the enactment of that bill or resolution as reported;
    (B) the adoption and enactment of that amendment; or
    (C) the enactment of that bill or resolution in the form recommended 
  in that conference report;

  would cause the level of total new budget authority or total outlays 
  set forth in the applicable concurrent resolution on the budget for the 
  first fiscal year to be exceeded, or would cause revenues to be less 
  than the level of total revenues set forth in that concurrent 
  resolution for the first fiscal year or for the total of that first 
  fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years for which allocations are 
  provided under section 302(a), except when a declaration of war by the 
  Congress is in effect.
      (2) In the senate.--After a concurrent resolution on the budget is 
  agreed to, it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, 
  joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that--

    (A) would cause the level of total new budget authority or total 
  outlays set forth for the first fiscal year in the applicable 
  resolution to be exceeded; or
    (B) would cause revenues to be less than the level of total revenues 
  set forth for that first fiscal year or for the total of that first 
  fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years in the applicable resolution 
  for which allocations are provided under section 302(a).

        * * * * *

  (c) Exception in the House of Representatives.--Subsection (a)(1) shall 
not apply in the House of Representatives to any bill, joint resolution, 
or amendment that provides new budget authority for a fiscal year or to 
        any conference report on any such bill or resolution, if--

      (1) the enactment of that bill or resolution as reported;
      (2) the adoption and enactment of that amendment; or
      (3) the enactment of that bill or resolution in the form 
  recommended in that conference report;

would not cause the appropriate allocation of new budget authority made 
pursuant to section 302(a) for that fiscal year to be exceeded.

        * * * * *

                    DETERMINATIONS AND POINTS OF ORDER

   Sec. 312. (a) Budget Committee Determinations.--For purposes of this 
 title and title IV, the levels of new budget authority, outlays, direct 
spending, new entitlement authority, and revenues for a fiscal year shall 
  be determined on the basis of estimates made by the Committee on the 
   Budget of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as applicable.

        * * * * *

       TITLE IV--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS TO IMPROVE FISCAL PROCEDURES
                        Part A--General Provisions

         BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION NOT SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS

     Sec. 401. (a) Controls on Certain Budget-related Legislation Not 
Subject to Appropriations.--It shall not be in order in either the House 
of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint resolution 
(in the House of Representatives only, as reported), amendment, motion, 
or conference report that provides--

      (1) new authority to enter into contracts under which the United 
  States is obligated to make outlays;
      (2) new authority to incur indebtedness (other than indebtedness 
  incurred under chapter 31 of title 31 of the United States Code) for 
  the repayment of which the United States is liable; or
      (3) new credit authority;

unless that bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference 
report also provides that the new authority is to be effective for any 
fiscal year only to the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in 
appropriation Acts.

           (b) Legislation Providing New Entitlement Authority.--

      (1) Point of order.--It shall not be in order in either the House 
  of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint 
  resolution (in the House of Representatives only, as reported), 
  amendment, motion, or conference report that provides new entitlement 
  authority that is to become effective during the current fiscal year.
      (2) If any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate 
  reports any bill or resolution which provides new entitlement authority 
  which is to become effective during a fiscal year and the amount of new 
  budget authority which will be required for such fiscal year if such 
  bill or resolution is enacted as so reported exceeds the appropriate 
  allocation of new budget authority reported under section 302(b) in 
  connection with the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on 
  the budget for such fiscal year, such bill or resolution shall then be 
  referred to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate or may then 
  be referred to the Committee on Appropriations of the House, as the 
  case may be, with instructions to report it, with the committee's 
  recommendations, within 15 calendar days (not counting any day on which 
  that House is not in session) beginning with the day following the day 
  on which it is so referred. If the Committee on Appropriations of 
  either House fails to report a bill or resolution referred to it under 
  this paragraph within such 15-day period, the committee shall 
  automatically be discharged from further consideration of such bill or 
  resolution and such bill or resolution shall be placed on the 
  appropriate calendar.
      (3) The Committee on Appropriations of each House shall have 
  jurisdiction to report any bill or resolution referred to it under 
  paragraph (2) with an amendment which limits the total amount of new 
  spending authority provided in such bill or resolution.

                             (c) Exceptions.--

      (1) Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to new authority 
  described in those subsections if outlays from that new authority 
  [will]\1\ flow--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Paragraph (4)(A) of section 10116(a) of Public Law 105-33 amended 
this provision as shown above. However, the word ``will'' probably should 
have appeared in the matter proposed to be stricken by that public law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (A) from a trust fund established by the Social Security Act (as in 
  effect on the date of the enactment of this Act); or
    (B) from any other trust fund, 90 percent or more of the receipts of 
  which consist or will consist of amounts (transferred from the general 
  fund of the Treasury) equivalent to amounts of taxes (related to the 
  purposes for which such outlays are or will be made) received in the 
  Treasury under specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 
  1954.

      (2) Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to new authority 
  described in those subsections to the extent that--

    (A) the outlays resulting therefrom are made by an organization which 
  is (i) a mixed-ownership Government corporation (as defined in section 
  201 of the Government Corporation Control Act), or (ii) a wholly owned 
  Government corporation (as defined in section 101 of such Act) which is 
  specifically exempted by law from compliance with any or all of the 
  provisions of that Act, as of the date of enactment of the Balanced 
  Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985; or
    (B) the outlays resulting therefrom consist exclusively of the 
  proceeds of gifts or bequests made to the United States for a specific 
  purpose.

        * * * * *

                 ANALYSIS BY CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

  Sec. 402. The Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall, to the 
extent practicable, prepare for each bill or resolution of a public 
character reported by any committee of the House of Representatives or 
the Senate (except the Committee on Appropriations of each House), and 
submit to such committee--

      (1) an estimate of the costs which would be incurred in carrying 
  out such bill or resolution in the fiscal year in which it is to become 
  effective and in each of the 4 fiscal years following such fiscal year, 
  together with the basis for each such estimate;
      (2) a comparison of the estimates of costs described in paragraph 
  (1), with any available estimates of costs made by such committee or by 
  any Federal agency; and
      (3) a description of each method for establishing a Federal 
  financial commitment contained in such bill or resolution.

The estimates, comparison, and description so submitted shall be included 
in the report accompanying such bill or resolution if timely submitted to 
such committee before such report is filed.

        * * * * *

      The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (tit. 
  II, P.L. 99-177) amended this section by adding paragraph (4) to 
  subsection (a), along with a conforming change to the second sentence 
  of that subsection. Public Law 97-108 previously amended section 403 by 
  adding subsections (a)(2), (b), and (c). The Unfunded Mandates Reform 
  Act of 1995 deleted from this section a requirement that the Director 
  estimate costs incurred by State and local governments, in favor of a 
  more particularized requirement in section 424, infra (sec. 104, P.L. 
  104-4; 109 Stat. 62). The Budget Enforcement Act of 1997 (sec. 10116, 
  P.L. 105-33) redesignated this section, formerly section 403, as 
  section 402. A committee cost estimate identifying certain spending 
  authority as recurring annually and indefinitely was held necessarily 
  to address the five-year period required by section 308 (Nov. 20, 1993, 
  p. 31354).


  STUDY BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE OF FORMS OF FEDERAL FINANCIAL 
          COMMITMENT THAT ARE NOT REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY CONGRESS

  Sec. 404. The General Accounting Office shall study those provisions of 
law which provide mandatory spending and report to the Congress its 
recommendations for the appropriate form of financing for activities or 
programs financed by such provisions not later than eighteen months after 
the effective date of this section. Such report shall be revised from 
time to time.

      This section, formerly section 405, was redesignated by the Budget 
  Enforcement Act of 1997 (sec. 10116, P.L. 105-33).


              OFF-BUDGET AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES

     Sec. 405. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, budget 
authority, credit authority, and estimates of outlays and receipts for 
activities of the Federal budget which are off-budget immediately prior 
to the date of enactment of this section, not including activities of the 
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance 
Trust Funds, shall be included in a budget submitted pursuant to section 
1105 of title 31, United States Code, and in a concurrent resolution on 
the budget reported pursuant to section 301 or section 304 of this Act 
and shall be considered, for purposes of this Act, budget authority, 
outlays, and spending authority in accordance with definitions set forth 
in this Act.

   (b) All receipts and disbursements of the Federal Financing Bank with 
respect to any obligations which are issued, sold, or guaranteed by a 
Federal agency shall be treated as a means of financing such agency for 
purposes of section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, and for 
purposes of this Act.

      This section, formerly section 406, was redesignated by the Budget 
Enforcement Act of 1997 (sec. 10116, P.L. 105-33).


                            MEMBER USER GROUP

  Sec. 406. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, after consulting 
with the Minority Leader of the House, may appoint a Member User Group 
for the purpose of reviewing budgetary scorekeeping rules and practices 
of the House and advising the Speaker from time to time on the effect and 
impact of such rules and practices.

      The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (tit. 
  II, P.L. 99-177) added sections 405, 406, and 407 as new sections at 
  the end of title IV. This section, formerly section 407, was 
  redesignated by the Budget Enforcement Act of 1997 (sec. 10116, P.L. 
  105-33).

        * * * * *
                         Part B--Federal Mandates

                           SEC. 421. DEFINITIONS.

                         For purposes of this part:

      (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the same meaning as defined in 
  section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code, but does not include 
  independent regulatory agencies.
      (2) Amount.--The term ``amount'', with respect to an authorization 
  of appropriations for Federal financial assistance, means the amount of 
  budget authority for any Federal grant assistance program or any 
  Federal program providing loan guarantees or direct loans.
      (3) Direct costs.--The term ``direct costs''--

    (A)(i) in the case of a Federal intergovernmental mandate, means the 
  aggregate estimated amounts that all State, local, and tribal 
  governments would be required to spend or would be prohibited from 
  raising in revenues in order to comply with the Federal 
  intergovernmental mandate; or
    (ii) in the case of a provision referred to in paragraph (5)(A)(ii), 
  means the amount of Federal financial assistance eliminated or reduced;
    (B) in the case of a Federal private sector mandate, means the 
  aggregate estimated amounts that the private sector will be required to 
  spend in order to comply with the Federal private sector mandate;
    (C) shall be determined on the assumption that--
      (i) State, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector 
  will take all reasonable steps necessary to mitigate the costs 
  resulting from the Federal mandate, and will comply with applicable 
  standards of practice and conduct established by recognized 
  professional or trade associations; and
      (ii) reasonable steps to mitigate the costs shall not include 
  increases in State, local, or tribal taxes or fees; and
    (D) shall not include--
      (i) estimated amounts that the State, local, and tribal governments 
  (in the case of a Federal intergovernmental mandate) or the private 
  sector (in the case of a Federal private sector mandate) would spend--
      (I) to comply with or carry out all applicable Federal, State, 
  local, and tribal laws and regulations in effect at the time of the 
  adoption of the Federal mandate for the same activity as is affected by 
  that Federal mandate; or
      (II) to comply with or carry out State, local, and tribal 
  governmental programs, or private-sector business or other activities 
  in effect at the time of the adoption of the Federal mandate for the 
  same activity as is affected by that mandate; or
      (ii) expenditures to the extent that such expenditures will be 
  offset by any direct savings to the State, local, and tribal 
  governments, or by the private sector, as a result of--
      (I) compliance with the Federal mandate; or
      (II) other changes in Federal law or regulation that are enacted or 
  adopted in the same bill or joint resolution or proposed or final 
  Federal regulation and that govern the same activity as is affected by 
  the Federal mandate.

      (4) Direct savings.--The term ``direct savings'', when used with 
  respect to the result of compliance with the Federal mandate--

    (A) in the case of a Federal intergovernmental mandate, means the 
  aggregate estimated reduction in costs to any State, local, or tribal 
  government as a result of compliance with the Federal intergovernmental 
  mandate; and
    (B) in the case of a Federal private sector mandate, means the 
  aggregate estimated reduction in costs to the private sector as a 
  result of compliance with the Federal private sector mandate.

      (5) Federal intergovernmental mandate.--The term ``Federal 
  intergovernmental mandate'' means--

    (A) any provision in legislation, statute, or regulation that--
      (i) would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or tribal 
  governments, except--
      (I) a condition of Federal assistance; or
      (II) a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal 
  program, except as provided in subparagraph (B); or
      (ii) would reduce or eliminate the amount of authorization of 
  appropriations for--
      (I) Federal financial assistance that would be provided to State, 
  local, or tribal governments for the purpose of complying with any such 
  previously imposed duty unless such duty is reduced or eliminated by a 
  corresponding amount; or
      (II) the control of borders by the Federal Government; or 
  reimbursement to State, local, or tribal governments for the net cost 
  associated with illegal, deportable, and excludable aliens, including 
  court-mandated expenses related to emergency health care, education or 
  criminal justice; when such a reduction or elimination would result in 
  increased net costs to State, local, or tribal governments in providing 
  education or emergency health care to, or incarceration of, illegal 
  aliens; except that this subclause shall not be in effect with respect 
  to a State, local, or tribal government, to the extent that such 
  government has not fully cooperated in the efforts of the Federal 
  Government to locate, apprehend, and deport illegal aliens;
    (B) any provision in legislation, statute, or regulation that relates 
  to a then-existing Federal program under which $500,000,000 or more is 
  provided annually to State, local, and tribal governments under 
  entitlement authority, if the provision--
      (i)(I) would increase the stringency of conditions of assistance to 
  State, local, or tribal governments under the program; or
      (II) would place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, the Federal 
  Government's responsibility to provide funding to State, local, or 
  tribal governments under the program; and
      (ii) the State, local, or tribal governments that participate in 
  the Federal program lack authority under that program to amend their 
  financial or programmatic responsibilities to continue providing 
  required services that are affected by the legislation, statute, or 
  regulation.

      (6) Federal mandate.--The term ``Federal mandate'' means a Federal 
  intergovernmental mandate or a Federal private sector mandate, as 
  defined in paragraphs (5) and (7).
      (7) Federal private sector mandate.--The term ``Federal private 
  sector mandate'' means any provision in legislation, statute, or 
  regulation that--

    (A) would impose an enforceable duty upon the private sector except--
      (i) a condition of Federal assistance; or
      (ii) a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal 
  program; or
    (B) would reduce or eliminate the amount of authorization of 
  appropriations for Federal financial assistance that will be provided 
  to the private sector for the purposes of ensuring compliance with such 
  duty.

      (8) Local government.--The term ``local government'' has the same 
  meaning as defined in section 6501(6) of title 31, United States Code.
      (9) Private sector.--The term ``private sector'' means all persons 
  or entities in the United States, including individuals, partnerships, 
  associations, corporations, and educational and nonprofit institutions, 
  but shall not include State, local, or tribal governments.
      (10) Regulation; rule.--The term ``regulation'' or ``rule'' (except 
  with respect to a rule of either House of the Congress) has the meaning 
  of ``rule'' as defined in section 601(2) of title 5, United States 
  Code.
      (11) Small government.--The term ``small government'' means any 
  small governmental jurisdictions defined in section 601(5) of title 5, 
  United States Code, and any tribal government.
      (12) State.--The term ``State'' has the same meaning as defined in 
  section 6501(9) of title 31, United States Code.
      (13) Tribal government.--The term ``tribal government'' means any 
  Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, 
  including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation 
  as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 
  Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688; 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) which is 
  recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided 
  by the United States to Indians because of their special status as 
  Indians.

                           SEC. 422. EXCLUSIONS.

  This part shall not apply to any provision in a bill, joint resolution, 
      amendment, motion, or conference report before Congress that--

      (1) enforces constitutional rights of individuals;
      (2) establishes or enforces any statutory rights that prohibit 
  discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national 
  origin, age, handicap, or disability;
      (3) requires compliance with accounting and auditing procedures 
  with respect to grants or other money or property provided by the 
  Federal Government;
      (4) provides for emergency assistance or relief at the request of 
  any State, local, or tribal government or any official of a State, 
  local, or tribal government;
      (5) is necessary for the national security or the ratification or 
  implementation of international treaty obligations;
      (6) the President designates as emergency legislation and that the 
  Congress so designates in statute; or
      (7) relates to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance 
  program under title II of the Social Security Act (including taxes 
  imposed by sections 3101(a) and 3111(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
  1986 (relating to old-age, survivors, and disability insurance).

               SEC. 423. DUTIES OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

  (a) In General.--When a committee of authorization of the Senate or the 
  House of Representatives reports a bill or joint resolution of public 
character that includes any Federal mandate, the report of the committee 
accompanying the bill or joint resolution shall contain the information 
required by subsections (c) and (d).

       (b) Submission of Bills to the Director.--When a committee of 
authorization of the Senate or the House of Representatives orders 
reported a bill or joint resolution of a public character, the committee 
shall promptly provide the bill or joint resolution to the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office and shall identify to the Director any 
Federal mandates contained in the bill or resolution.

       (c) Reports on Federal Mandates.--Each report described under 
                      subsection (a) shall contain--

      (1) an identification and description of any Federal mandates in 
  the bill or joint resolution, including the direct costs to State, 
  local, and tribal governments, and to the private sector, required to 
  comply with the Federal mandates;
      (2) a qualitative, and if practicable, a quantitative assessment of 
  costs and benefits anticipated from the Federal mandates (including the 
  effects on health and safety and the protection of the natural 
  environment); and
      (3) a statement of the degree to which a Federal mandate affects 
  both the public and private sectors and the extent to which Federal 
  payment of public sector costs or the modification or termination of 
  the Federal mandate as provided under section 425(a)(2) would affect 
  the competitive balance between State, local, or tribal governments and 
  the private sector including a description of the actions, if any, 
  taken by the committee to avoid any adverse impact on the private 
  sector or the competitive balance between the public sector and the 
  private sector.

  (d) Intergovernmental Mandates.--If any of the Federal mandates in the 
bill or joint resolution are Federal intergovernmental mandates, the 
report required under subsection (a) shall also contain--

      (1)(A) a statement of the amount, if any, of increase or decrease 
  in authorization of appropriations under existing Federal financial 
  assistance programs, or of authorization of appropriations for new 
  Federal financial assistance, provided by the bill or joint resolution 
  and usable for activities of State, local, or tribal governments 
  subject to the Federal intergovernmental mandates;
      (B) a statement of whether the committee intends that the Federal 
  intergovernmental mandates be partly or entirely unfunded, and if so, 
  the reasons for that intention; and
      (C) if funded in whole or in part, a statement of whether and how 
  the committee has created a mechanism to allocate the funding in a 
  manner that is reasonably consistent with the expected direct costs 
  among and between the respective levels of State, local, and tribal 
  government; and
      (2) any existing sources of Federal assistance in addition to those 
  identified in paragraph (1) that may assist State, local, and tribal 
  governments in meeting the direct costs of the Federal 
  intergovernmental mandates.

    (e) Preemption Clarification and Information.--When a committee of 
authorization of the Senate or the House of Representatives reports a 
bill or joint resolution of public character, the committee report 
accompanying the bill or joint resolution shall contain, if relevant to 
the bill or joint resolution, an explicit statement on the extent to 
which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt any State, 
local, or tribal law, and, if so, an explanation of the effect of such 
preemption.

             (f) Publication of Statement From the Director.--

      (1) In general.--Upon receiving a statement from the Director under 
  section 424, a committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives 
  shall publish the statement in the committee report accompanying the 
  bill or joint resolution to which the statement relates if the 
  statement is available at the time the report is printed.
      (2) Other publication of statement of director.--If the statement 
  is not published in the report, or if the bill or joint resolution to 
  which the statement relates is expected to be considered by the Senate 
  or the House of Representatives before the report is published, the 
  committee shall cause the statement, or a summary thereof, to be 
  published in the Congressional Record in advance of floor consideration 
  of the bill or joint resolution.

      SEC. 424. DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR; STATEMENTS ON BILLS AND JOINT 
    RESOLUTIONS OTHER THAN APPROPRIATIONS BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

       (a) Federal Intergovernmental Mandates in Reported Bills and 
  Resolutions.--For each bill or joint resolution of a public character 
reported by any committee of authorization of the Senate or the House of 
Representatives, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall 
prepare and submit to the committee a statement as follows:

      (1) Contents.--If the Director estimates that the direct cost of 
  all Federal intergovernmental mandates in the bill or joint resolution 
  will equal or exceed $50,000,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) in 
  the fiscal year in which any Federal intergovernmental mandate in the 
  bill or joint resolution (or in any necessary implementing regulation) 
  would first be effective or in any of the 4 fiscal years following such 
  fiscal year, the Director shall so state, specify the estimate, and 
  briefly explain the basis of the estimate.
      (2) Estimates.--Estimates required under paragraph (1) shall 
  include estimates (and brief explanations of the basis of the 
  estimates) of--

    (A) the total amount of direct cost of complying with the Federal 
  intergovernmental mandates in the bill or joint resolution;
    (B) if the bill or resolution contains an authorization of 
  appropriations under section 425(a)(2)(B), the amount of new budget 
  authority for each fiscal year for a period not to exceed 10 years 
  beyond the effective date necessary for the direct cost of the 
  intergovernmental mandate; and
    (C) the amount, if any, of increase in authorization of 
  appropriations under existing Federal financial assistance programs, or 
  of authorization of appropriations for new Federal financial 
  assistance, provided by the bill or joint resolution and usable by 
  State, local, or tribal governments for activities subject to the 
  Federal intergovernmental mandates.

      (3) Estimate not feasible.--If the Director determines that it is 
  not feasible to make a reasonable estimate that would be required under 
  paragraphs (1) and (2), the Director shall not make the estimate, but 
  shall report in the statement that the reasonable estimate cannot be 
  made and shall include the reasons for that determination in the 
  statement. If such determination is made by the Director, a point of 
  order under this part shall lie only under section 425(a)(1) and as if 
  the requirement of section 425(a)(1) had not been met.

      (b) Federal Private Sector Mandates in Reported Bills and Joint 
Resolutions.--For each bill or joint resolution of a public character 
reported by any committee of authorization of the Senate or the House of 
Representatives, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall 
prepare and submit to the committee a statement as follows:

      (1) Contents.--If the Director estimates that the direct cost of 
  all Federal private sector mandates in the bill or joint resolution 
  will equal or exceed $100,000,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) in 
  the fiscal year in which any Federal private sector mandate in the bill 
  or joint resolution (or in any necessary implementing regulation) would 
  first be effective or in any of the 4 fiscal years following such 
  fiscal year, the Director shall so state, specify the estimate, and 
  briefly explain the basis of the estimate.
      (2) Estimates.--Estimates required under paragraph (1) shall 
  include estimates (and a brief explanation of the basis of the 
  estimates) of--

    (A) the total amount of direct costs of complying with the Federal 
  private sector mandates in the bill or joint resolution; and
    (B) the amount, if any, of increase in authorization of 
  appropriations under existing Federal financial assistance programs, or 
  of authorization of appropriations for new Federal financial 
  assistance, provided by the bill or joint resolution usable by the 
  private sector for the activities subject to the Federal private sector 
  mandates.

      (3) Estimate not feasible.--If the Director determines that it is 
  not feasible to make a reasonable estimate that would be required under 
  paragraphs (1) and (2), the Director shall not make the estimate, but 
  shall report in the statement that the reasonable estimate cannot be 
  made and shall include the reasons for that determination in the 
  statement.

    (c) Legislation Falling Below the Direct Costs Thresholds.--If the 
Director estimates that the direct costs of a Federal mandate will not 
equal or exceed the thresholds specified in subsections (a) and (b), the 
Director shall so state and shall briefly explain the basis of the 
estimate.

  (d) Amended Bills and Joint Resolutions; Conference Reports.--If a bill 
or joint resolution is passed in an amended form (including if passed by 
one House as an amendment in the nature of a substitute for the text of a 
bill or joint resolution from the other House) or is reported by a 
committee of conference in amended form, and the amended form contains a 
Federal mandate not previously considered by either House or which 
contains an increase in the direct cost of a previously considered 
Federal mandate, then the committee of conference shall ensure, to the 
greatest extent practicable, that the Director shall prepare a statement 
as provided in this subsection or a supplemental statement for the bill 
or joint resolution in that amended form.

              SEC. 425. LEGISLATION SUBJECT TO POINT OF ORDER.

  (a) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of 
                      Representatives to consider--

      (1) any bill or joint resolution that is reported by a committee 
  unless the committee has published a statement of the Director on the 
  direct costs of Federal mandates in accordance with section 423(f) 
  before such consideration, except this paragraph shall not apply to any 
  supplemental statement prepared by the Director under section 424(d); 
  and
      (2) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference 
  report that would increase the direct costs of Federal 
  intergovernmental mandates by an amount that causes the thresholds 
  specified in section 424(a)(1) to be exceeded, unless--

    (A) the bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference 
  report provides new budget authority or new entitlement authority in 
  the House of Representatives or direct spending authority in the Senate 
  for each fiscal year for such mandates included in the bill, joint 
  resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report in an amount equal 
  to or exceeding the direct costs of such mandate; or
    (B) the bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference 
  report includes an authorization for appropriations in an amount equal 
  to or exceeding the direct costs of such mandate, and--
      (i) identifies a specific dollar amount of the direct costs of such 
  mandate for each year up to 10 years during which such mandate shall be 
  in effect under the bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion or 
  conference report, and such estimate is consistent with the estimate 
  determined under subsection (e) for each fiscal year;
      (ii) identifies any appropriation bill that is expected to provide 
  for Federal funding of the direct cost referred to under clause (i); 
  and
      (iii)(I) provides that for any fiscal year the responsible Federal 
  agency shall determine whether there are insufficient appropriations 
  for that fiscal year to provide for the direct costs under clause (i) 
  of such mandate, and shall (no later than 30 days after the beginning 
  of the fiscal year) notify the appropriate authorizing committees of 
  Congress of the determination and submit either--
      (aa) a statement that the agency has determined, based on a re-
  estimate of the direct costs of such mandate, after consultation with 
  State, local, and tribal governments, that the amount appropriated is 
  sufficient to pay for the direct costs of such mandate; or
      (bb) legislative recommendations for either implementing a less 
  costly mandate or making such mandate ineffective for the fiscal year;
      (II) provides for expedited procedures for the consideration of the 
  statement or legislative recommendations referred to in subclause (I) 
  by Congress no later than 30 days after the statement or 
  recommendations are submitted to Congress; and
      (III) provides that such mandate shall--
      (aa) in the case of a statement referred to in subclause (I)(aa), 
  cease to be effective 60 days after the statement is submitted unless 
  Congress has approved the agency's determination by joint resolution 
  during the 60-day period;
      (bb) cease to be effective 60 days after the date the legislative 
  recommendations of the responsible Federal agency are submitted to 
  Congress under subclause (I)(bb) unless Congress provides otherwise by 
  law; or
      (cc) in the case that such mandate that has not yet taken effect, 
  continue not to be effective unless Congress provides otherwise by law.

  (b) Rule of Construction.--The provisions of subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii) 
shall not be construed to prohibit or otherwise restrict a State, local, 
 or tribal government from voluntarily electing to remain subject to the 
     original Federal intergovernmental mandate, complying with the 
   programmatic or financial responsibilities of the original Federal 
intergovernmental mandate and providing the funding necessary consistent 
with the costs of Federal agency assistance, monitoring, and enforcement.

        * * * * *

       SEC. 426. PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

   (a) Enforcement in the House of Representatives.--It shall not be in 
 order in the House of Representatives to consider a rule or order that 
                  waives the application of section 425.

                   (b) Disposition of Points of Order.--

      (1) Application to the house of representatives.--This subsection 
  shall apply only to the House of Representatives.
      (2) Threshold burden.--In order to be cognizable by the Chair, a 
  point of order under section 425 or subsection (a) of this section must 
  specify the precise language on which it is premised.
      (3) Question of consideration.--As disposition of points of order 
  under section 425 or subsection (a) of this section, the Chair shall 
  put the question of consideration with respect to the proposition that 
  is the subject of the points of order.
      (4) Debate and intervening motions.--A question of consideration 
  under this section shall be debatable for 10 minutes by each Member 
  initiating a point of order and for 10 minutes by an opponent on each 
  point of order, but shall otherwise be decided without intervening 
  motion except one that the House adjourn or that the Committee of the 
  Whole rise, as the case may be.
      (5) Effect on amendment in order as original text.--The disposition 
  of the question of consideration under this subsection with respect to 
  a bill or joint resolution shall be considered also to determine the 
  question of consideration under this subsection with respect to an 
  amendment made in order as original text.

        * * * * *

                  SEC. 428. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICATION.

     (a) In General.--This part applies to any bill, joint resolution, 
amendment, motion, or conference report that reauthorizes appropriations, 
 or that amends existing authorizations of appropriations, to carry out 
 any statute, or that otherwise amends any statute, only if enactment of 
  the bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report--

      (1) would result in a net reduction in or elimination of 
  authorization of appropriations for Federal financial assistance that 
  would be provided to State, local, or tribal governments for use for 
  the purpose of complying with any Federal intergovernmental mandate, or 
  to the private sector for use to comply with any Federal private sector 
  mandate, and would not eliminate or reduce duties established by the 
  Federal mandate by a corresponding amount; or
      (2) would result in a net increase in the aggregate amount of 
  direct costs of Federal intergovernmental mandates or Federal private 
  sector mandates other than as described in paragraph (1).

                            (b) Direct Costs.--

      (1) In general.--For purposes of this part, the direct cost of the 
  Federal mandates in a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or 
  conference report that reauthorizes appropriations, or that amends 
  existing authorizations of appropriations, to carry out a statute, or 
  that otherwise amends any statute, means the net increase, resulting 
  from enactment of the bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or 
  conference report, in the amount described under paragraph (2)(A) over 
  the amount described under paragraph (2)(B).
      (2) Amounts.--The amounts referred to under paragraph (1) are--

    (A) the aggregate amount of direct costs of Federal mandates that 
  would result under the statute if the bill, joint resolution, 
  amendment, motion, or conference report is enacted; and
    (B) the aggregate amount of direct costs of Federal mandates that 
  would result under the statute if the bill, joint resolution, 
  amendment, motion, or conference report were not enacted.

      (3) Extension of authorization of appropriations.--For purposes of 
  this section, in the case of legislation to extend authorization of 
  appropriations, the authorization level that would be provided by the 
  extension shall be compared to the authorization level for the last 
  year in which authorization of appropriations is already provided.

        * * * * *
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