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




  112th Congress 1st  
       Session         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
_______________________________________________________________________
 
                                 RULES

                                 of the

                       COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND

                           GOVERNMENT REFORM

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             together with

                         SELECTED RULES OF THE

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                 (Including Clause 2 of House Rule XI)

                                  and

                     SELECTED STATUTES OF INTEREST

                                     
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] CONGRESS.#13

                                     
                               MARCH 2011

Printed for the use of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform




                  U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
68-229                    WASHINGTON : 2011
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing 
Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC 
area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2104  Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 
20402-0001



              COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

                  DARRELL E. ISSA, California Chairman
DAN BURTON, Indiana                  ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland, 
JOHN L. MICA, Florida                    Ranking Minority Member
TODD RUSSELL PLATTS, Pennsylvania    EDOLPHUS TOWNS, New York
MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio              CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York
PATRICK T. McHENRY, North Carolina   ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of 
JIM JORDAN, Ohio                         Columbia
JASON CHAFFETZ, Utah                 DENNIS J. KUCINICH, Ohio
CONNIE MACK, Florida                 JOHN F. TIERNEY, Massachusetts
TIM WALBERG, Michigan                WM. LACY CLAY, Missouri
JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma             STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts
JUSTIN AMASH, Michigan               JIM COOPER, Tennessee
ANN MARIE BUERKLE, New York          GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
PAUL A. GOSAR, Arizona               MIKE QUIGLEY, Illinois
RAUL R. LABRADOR, Idaho              DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois
PATRICK MEEHAN, Pennsylvania         BRUCE L. BRALEY, Iowa
SCOTT DESJARLAIS, Tennessee          PETER WELCH, Vermont
JOE WALSH, Illinois                  JOHN A. YARMUTH, Kentucky
TREY GOWDY, South Carolina           CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, Connecticut
DENNIS A. ROSS, Florida              JACKIE SPEIER, California
FRANK C. GUINTA, New Hampshire
BLAKE FARENTHOLD, Texas
MIKE KELLY, Pennsylvania

                   Lawrence J. Brady, Staff Director
                  John Cuaderes, Deputy Staff Director
                     Robert Borden, General Counsel
                        Linda Good, Chief Clerk
                 Dave Rapallo, Minority Staff Director

                                  (ii)


                            C O N T E N T S



                               __________
                                                                   Page
 I. Rules of the Committee on Government Reform.......................1
        Rule 1.--Application of rules............................     1
        Rule 2.--Meetings........................................     1
        Rule 3.--Quorums.........................................     1
        Rule 4.--Committee reports...............................     2
        Rule 5.--Record votes....................................     2
        Rule 6.--Subcommittees; referrals........................     2
        Rule 7.--Subcommittee scheduling.........................     4
        Rule 8.--Staff...........................................     4
        Rule 9.--Hearings........................................     4
        Rule 10.--Committee records, open meetings, transparency.     5
        Rule 11.--Audio and visual coverage of committee 
            proceedings..........................................     6
        Rule 12.--Additional duties of chairman..................     6
        Rule 13.--Consideration of certain bills and resolutions.     7
        Rule 14.--Panels and task forces.........................     7
        Rule 15.--Deposition authority...........................     7
II. Selected Rules of the House of Representatives...................11
        A. 1. Powers and duties of the committee--Rule X of the 
            House................................................    11
           2. General oversight responsibilities--Rule X, Clause 
              2 of the House.....................................    12
           3. Additional functions of committees--Rule X, Clause 
              4 of the House.....................................    14
        B. Procedures of committees and unfinished business--Rule 
            XI of the House......................................    16
        C. Filing and printing of reports--Rule XIII of the House    29
III.Selected matters of interest.....................................33

        A. 2 U.S.C. sec. 191. Oaths to witnesses.................    33
        B. 2 U.S.C. sec. 192. Refusal of witness to testify or 
            produce papers.......................................    33
        C. 2 U.S.C. sec. 193. Privilege of witnesses.............    33
        D. 2 U.S.C. sec. 194. Certification of failure to testify 
            or produce; grand jury action........................    33
        E. 5 U.S.C. sec. 2954. Information to committees of 
            Congress on request..................................    34
        F. 18 U.S.C. sec. 1001. Statements or Entries Generally..    34
        G. 18 U.S.C. sec. 1505. Obstruction of proceedings before 
            departments, agencies, and committees................    35
        H. 18 U.S.C. sec. 6005. Congressional proceedings........    35
        I. 31 U.S.C. sec. 712. Investigating the use of public 
            money................................................    36
        J. 31 U.S.C. sec. 717. Evaluating programs and activities 
            of the United States Government......................    36
        K. 31 U.S.C. sec. 719. Comptroller General reports.......    36
        L. 31 U.S.C. sec. 1113. Congressional information........    37

                                 (iii)


      I. RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

                     U.S. House of Representatives

                             112th Congress

                              ----------                              

    The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, on 
January 25, 2011, adopted the rules of the committee:

                     Rule 1.--Application of Rules

    Except where the terms ``full committee'' and 
``subcommittee'' are specifically referred to, the following 
rules shall apply to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform and its subcommittees as well as to the respective 
chairs and ranking minority members.

                           Rule 2.--Meetings

    The regular meetings of the full committee shall be held on 
the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m., when the House is 
in session. The chairman is authorized to dispense with a 
regular meeting or to change the date thereof, and to call and 
convene additional meetings, when circumstances warrant. A 
special meeting of the committee may be requested by members of 
the committee pursuant to the provisions of House Rule XI, 
clause 2(c)(2). Subcommittees shall meet at the call of the 
subcommittee chairs. Every member of the committee, unless 
prevented by unusual circumstances, shall be provided with a 
memorandum at least three calendar days before each meeting or 
hearing explaining: (1) the purpose of the meeting or hearing; 
and (2) the names, titles, background and reasons for 
appearance of any witnesses. The ranking minority member shall 
be responsible for providing the same information on witnesses 
whom the minority may request.

                            Rule 3.--Quorums

    (a) A majority of the members of the committee shall form a 
quorum, except that two members shall constitute a quorum for 
taking testimony and receiving evidence, and one third of the 
members shall form a quorum for taking any action other than 
for which the presence of a majority of the committee is 
otherwise required. If the chairman is not present at any 
meeting of the committee or subcommittee, the ranking member of 
the majority party on the committee who is present shall 
preside at that meeting.
    (b) The chairman of the full committee may, at the request 
of a subcommittee chair, make a temporary assignment of any 
member of the full committee to such subcommittee for the 
purpose of constituting a quorum at and participating in any 
public hearing by such subcommittee to be held outside of 
Washington, DC. Members appointed to such temporary positions 
shall not be voting members. The chairman shall give reasonable 
notice of such temporary assignment to the ranking minority 
members of the committee.

                       Rule 4.--Committee Reports

    (a) Bills and resolutions approved by the full committee 
shall be reported by the chairman pursuant to House Rule XIII, 
clauses 2-4.
    (b) A proposed investigative or oversight report shall not 
be considered in the committee unless the proposed report has 
been available to the members of the committee for at least 
three calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal 
holidays, unless the House is in session on such days) before 
consideration of such proposed report in the committee. If 
hearings have been held on the matter reported upon, every 
reasonable effort shall be made to have such hearings printed 
and available to the members of the committee before the 
consideration of the proposed report in the committee.
    (c) Every investigative or oversight report shall be 
approved by a majority vote of the committee at a meeting at 
which a quorum is present. If at the time of approval of such a 
report a member of the committee gives notice of intent to file 
supplemental, minority, or additional views that member shall 
be entitled to file such views following House Rule XI, clause 
2(l) and Rule XIII, clause 3(a)(1).
    (d) Only those investigative or oversight reports approved 
by a majority vote of the committee may be ordered printed, 
unless otherwise required by the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

                         Rule 5.--Record Votes

    (a) A record vote of the members may be had upon the 
request of any member upon approval of a one-fifth vote of the 
members present.
    (b) Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 2(h)(4), the chairman 
is authorized 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 to resume proceedings on 
a postponed question at any time after reasonable notice. 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. After 
consultation with the ranking minority member, the chairman 
shall take reasonable steps to notify members on the resumption 
of proceedings on any postponed record vote.

                   Rule 6.--Subcommittees; Referrals

    (a) There shall be seven standing subcommittees with 
appropriate party ratios. The chairman shall assign members to 
the subcommittees. Minority party assignments shall be made 
only with the concurrence of the ranking minority member. The 
subcommittees shall have the following fixed jurisdictions:
    (1) The Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal 
Service and Labor Policy.--Legislative jurisdiction over the 
Federal civil service and the U.S. Postal Service. The 
subcommittee also has oversight jurisdiction over labor policy;
    (2) The Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency 
and Financial Management.--Legislative jurisdiction over 
government management and accounting measures, the economy, 
efficiency, and management of government operations and 
activities (other than procurement and data standards), Federal 
property, and reorganizations of the executive branch;
    (3) The Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, 
Census and the National Archives.--Legislative jurisdiction 
over drug policy, the District of Columbia, the Census Bureau, 
and Federal records (including the National Archives and 
Records Administration and the Presidential Records Act). The 
subcommittee also has oversight jurisdiction over Federal 
health care policy, food and drug safety, public support for 
the arts, libraries and museums, criminal justice, and 
transportation;
    (4) The Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense 
and Foreign Operations.--Oversight jurisdiction over national 
security, homeland security, foreign operations, immigration, 
and emergency management;
    (5) The Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus 
Oversight and Government Spending.--Legislative jurisdiction 
over Federal paperwork reduction, data quality, and the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The subcommittee also 
has oversight jurisdiction over regulatory affairs, stimulus 
policy, Federal spending, education, agriculture, and 
communications policy;
    (6) The Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and 
Bailouts of Public and Private Programs.--Oversight 
jurisdiction over financial and monetary policy, banking, 
housing, and insurance regulation, financial crisis and 
rescues, and tax policy; and
    (7) The Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, 
Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform.--
Legislative jurisdiction over public information, including the 
Freedom of Information Act and Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
Federal information technology and data standards, procurement 
and grant reform, the relationship between the Federal 
Government and States and municipalities, including unfunded 
mandates. The subcommittee also has oversight jurisdiction over 
public broadcasting.
    (b) Bills, resolutions, and other matters shall be 
expeditiously referred by the chairman to subcommittees for 
consideration or investigation in accordance with their fixed 
jurisdictions. Where the subject matter of the referral 
involves the jurisdiction of more than one subcommittee or does 
not fall within any previously assigned jurisdiction, the 
chairman shall refer the matter as he may deem advisable. 
Bills, resolutions, and other matters referred to subcommittees 
may be re-referred or discharged by the chairman when, in his 
judgment, the subcommittee is not able to complete its work or 
cannot reach agreement therein.
    (c) The chairman and the ranking minority member of the 
full committee shall be ex officio members of all 
subcommittees. They are authorized to vote on subcommittee 
matters; but, unless they are regular members of the 
subcommittee, they shall not be counted in determining a 
subcommittee quorum other than a quorum for taking testimony.

                    Rule 7.--Subcommittee Scheduling

    (a) Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, 
receive testimony, mark up legislation, and report to the full 
committee on any measure or matter referred to it.
    (b) No subcommittee may meet or hold a hearing at the same 
time as a meeting or hearing of the full committee.
    (c) The chair of each subcommittee shall set hearing and 
meeting dates only with the approval of the full committee 
chairman with a view toward assuring the availability of 
meeting rooms and avoiding simultaneous scheduling of committee 
meetings or hearings.
    (d) Each subcommittee chair shall notify the chairman of 
any hearing plans at least two weeks before the date of 
commencement of the hearings, including the date, place, 
subject matter, and the names of witnesses, willing and 
unwilling, who would be called to testify, including, to the 
extent the chair is advised thereof, witnesses whom the 
minority members may request.

                             Rule 8.--Staff

    (a) Except as otherwise provided by House Rule X, clauses 
6, 7 and 9, the chairman of the full committee shall have the 
authority to hire and discharge employees of the professional 
and clerical staff of the committee.
    (b) Except as otherwise provided by House Rule X, clauses 
6, 7 and 9, the staff of the committee shall be subject to the 
direction of the chairman of the full committee and shall 
perform such duties as he or she may assign.

                           Rule 9.--Hearings

    (a) A committee member may question witnesses only when 
recognized by the chairman for that purpose. In accordance with 
House Rule XI, clause 2(j)(2), the five-minute rule shall apply 
during the questioning of witnesses in a hearing. The chairman 
shall, so far as practicable, recognize alternately based on 
seniority of those majority and minority members present at the 
time the hearing was called to order and others based on their 
arrival at the hearing. After that, additional time may be 
extended at the direction of the chairman.
    (b) The chairman, with the concurrence of the ranking 
minority member, or the committee by motion, may permit an 
equal number of majority and minority members to question a 
witness for a specified, total period that is equal for each 
side and not longer than thirty minutes for each side.
    (c) The chairman, with the concurrence of the ranking 
minority member, or the committee by motion, may permit 
committee staff of the majority and minority to question a 
witness for a specified, total period that is equal for each 
side and not longer than thirty minutes for each side.
    (d) Nothing in paragraph (b) or (c) affects the rights of a 
member (other than a member designated under paragraph (b)) to 
question a witness for 5 minutes in accordance with paragraph 
(a) after the questioning permitted under paragraph (b) or (c). 
In any extended questioning permitted under paragraph (b) or 
(c), the chairman shall determine how to allocate the time 
permitted for extended questioning by majority members or 
majority committee staff, and the ranking minority member shall 
determine how to allocate the time permitted for extended 
questioning by minority members or minority committee staff. 
The chairman or the ranking minority member, as applicable, may 
allocate the time for any extended questioning permitted to 
staff under paragraph (c) to members.
    (e) Hearings shall be conducted according to the procedures 
in House Rule XI, clause 2(k). All questions put to witnesses 
before the committee shall be relevant to the subject matter 
before the committee for consideration, and the chairman shall 
rule on the relevance of any questions put to the witnesses.
    (f) Witnesses appearing before the committee shall so far 
as practicable, submit written statements at least 24 hours 
before their appearance. Witnesses appearing in a non-
governmental capacity 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.
    (g) The chairman or any member designated by the chairman 
may administer oaths to any witness before the committee. All 
witnesses appearing in hearings may be administered the 
following oath by the chairman or his designee prior to 
receiving the testimony: ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm that 
the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?''.

        Rule 10.--Committee Records, Open Meetings, Transparency

    (a) The committee staff shall maintain in the committee 
offices a complete record of committee actions from the current 
Congress including a record of the roll call votes taken at 
committee business meetings. The original records, or true 
copies thereof, as appropriate, shall be available for public 
inspection whenever the committee offices are open for public 
business. The staff shall assure that such original records are 
preserved with no unauthorized alteration, additions, or 
defacement.
    (b) A stenographic record of all testimony shall be kept of 
public hearings and shall be made available on such conditions 
as the chairman may prescribe.
    (c) Meetings for the transaction of business and hearings 
of the committee shall be open to the public or closed in 
accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives.
    (d) The chairman of the full committee shall maintain an 
official website on behalf of the committee for the purpose of 
furthering the committee's legislative and oversight 
responsibilities, including communicating information about the 
committee's activities to committee members and other members 
of the House. To the greatest extent practicable, the chairman 
shall ensure that committee records are made available on the 
committee's official website in appropriate formats.
    (e) The ranking minority member of the full committee is 
authorized to maintain a similar official website on behalf of 
the committee minority for the same purpose, including 
communicating information about the activities of the minority 
to committee members and other members of the House.

      Rule 11.--Audio and Visual Coverage of Committee Proceedings

    (a) An open meeting or hearing of the committee may be 
covered, in whole or in part, by television broadcast, radio 
broadcast, internet broadcast, and still photography, unless 
closed subject to the provisions of House Rules. Any such 
coverage shall conform to the provisions of House Rule XI, 
clause 4.
    (b) Use of the Committee Broadcast System shall be fair and 
nonpartisan, and in accordance with House Rule XI, clause 4(b), 
and all other applicable rules of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Members 
of the committee shall have prompt access to a copy of coverage 
by the Committee Broadcast System, to the extent that such 
coverage is maintained.
    (c) Personnel providing coverage of an open meeting or 
hearing of the committee by internet broadcast, other than 
through the Committee Broadcast System shall be currently 
accredited to the Radio and Television Correspondents' 
Galleries. If the Committee Broadcast System is not available, 
the chairman may, with the concurrence of the ranking minority 
member, direct staff to provide coverage in a manner that is 
fair and nonpartisan and in accordance with House Rule XI, 
clause 4.

                Rule 12.--Additional Duties of Chairman

    The chairman of the full committee shall:
    (a) Make available to other committees the findings and 
recommendations resulting from the investigations of the 
committee as required by House Rule X, clause 4(c)(2);
    (b) Direct such review and studies on the impact or 
probable impact of tax policies affecting subjects within the 
committee's jurisdiction as required by House Rule X, clause 
2(c);
    (c) Submit to the Committee on the Budget views and 
estimates required by House Rule X, clause 4(f), and to file 
reports with the House as required by the Congressional Budget 
Act;
    (d) Authorize and issue subpoenas as provided in House Rule 
XI, clause 2(m), in the conduct of any investigation or 
activity or series of investigations or activities within the 
jurisdiction of the committee;
    (e) Prepare, after consultation with the ranking minority 
member, a budget for the committee;
    (f) Make any necessary technical and conforming changes to 
legislation reported by the committee upon unanimous consent; 
and
    (g) Offer motions under clause 1 of Rule XXII of the Rules 
of the House (motion to request or agree to a conference) 
whenever the chairman considers it appropriate.

        Rule 13.--Consideration of Certain Bills and Resolutions

    (a) The determination of the subject matter of 
commemorative stamps and new semi-postal issues is properly for 
consideration by the Postmaster General and the committee will 
not give consideration to legislative proposals specifying the 
subject matter of commemorative stamps and new semi-postal 
issues. It is suggested that recommendations for the subject 
matter of stamps be submitted to the Postmaster General.
    (b) The consideration of bills designating facilities of 
the United States Postal Service shall be conducted so as to 
minimize the time spent on such matters by the committee and 
the House of Representatives.
    (c) The chairman shall not request to have scheduled any 
resolution for consideration under suspension of the Rules, 
which expresses appreciation, commends, congratulates, 
celebrates, recognizes the accomplishments of, or celebrates 
the anniversary of, an entity, event, group, individual, 
institution, team or government program; or acknowledges or 
recognizes a period of time for such purposes.

                    Rule 14.--Panels and Task Forces

    (a) The chairman of the full committee is authorized to 
appoint panels or task forces to carry out the duties and 
functions of the committee.
    (b) The chairman and ranking minority member of the full 
committee may serve as ex-officio members of each panel or task 
force.
    (c) The chairman of any panel or task force shall be 
appointed by the chairman of the full committee. The ranking 
minority member of the full committee shall select a ranking 
minority member for each panel or task force.
    (d) The House and committee rules applicable to 
subcommittee meetings, hearings, recommendations, and reports 
shall apply to the meetings, hearings, recommendations, and 
reports of panels and task forces.
    (e) No panel or task force so appointed shall continue in 
existence for more than six months. A panel or task force so 
appointed may, upon the expiration of six months, be 
reappointed by the chairman.

                     Rule 15.--Deposition Authority

    (a) The chairman of the full committee, upon consultation 
with the ranking minority member of the full committee, may 
order the taking of depositions, under oath and pursuant to 
notice or subpoena.
    (b) Notices for the taking of depositions shall specify the 
date, time, and place of examination (if other than within the 
committee offices). Depositions shall be taken under oath 
administered by a member or a person otherwise authorized to 
administer oaths.
    (c) Consultation with the ranking minority member shall 
include three business days notice before any deposition is 
taken. All members shall also receive three business days 
notice that a deposition has been scheduled.
    (d) Witnesses may be accompanied at a deposition by counsel 
to advise them of their rights. No one may be present at 
depositions except members, committee staff designated by the 
chairman or ranking minority member of the full committee, an 
official reporter, the witness, and the witness's counsel. 
Observers or counsel for other persons, or for agencies under 
investigation, may not attend.
    (e) At least one member of the committee shall be present 
at each deposition taken by the committee, unless the witness 
to be deposed agrees in writing to waive this requirement.
    (f) A deposition shall be conducted by any member or staff 
attorney designated by the chairman or ranking minority member. 
When depositions are conducted by committee staff attorneys, 
there shall be no more than two committee staff attorneys 
permitted to question a witness per round. One of the committee 
staff attorneys shall be designated by the chairman and the 
other by the ranking minority member. Other committee staff 
members designated by the chairman or ranking minority member 
may attend, but may not pose questions to the witness.
    (g) Questions in the deposition shall be propounded in 
rounds, alternating between the majority and minority. A single 
round shall not exceed 60 minutes per side, unless the members 
or staff attorneys conducting the deposition agree to a 
different length of questioning. In each round, a member or 
committee staff attorney designated by the chairman shall ask 
questions first, and the member or committee staff attorney 
designated by the ranking minority member shall ask questions 
second.
    (h) Any objection made during a deposition must be stated 
concisely and in a non-argumentative and non-suggestive manner. 
The witness may refuse to answer a question only to preserve a 
privilege. When the witness has objected and refused to answer 
a question to preserve a privilege, the full committee chairman 
may rule on any such objection after the deposition has 
adjourned. If the chairman overrules any such objection and 
thereby orders a witness to answer any question to which a 
privilege objection was lodged, such ruling shall be filed with 
the clerk of the committee and shall be provided to the members 
and the witness no less than three days before the reconvened 
deposition. If a member of the committee appeals in writing the 
ruling of the chairman, the appeal shall be preserved for 
committee consideration. A deponent who refuses to answer a 
question after being directed to answer by the chairman in 
writing may be subject to sanction, except that no sanctions 
may be imposed if the ruling of the chairman is reversed on 
appeal.
    (i) Committee staff shall ensure that the testimony is 
either transcribed or electronically recorded or both. If a 
witness's testimony is transcribed, the witness or the 
witness's counsel shall be afforded an opportunity to review a 
copy. No later than five days thereafter, the witness may 
submit suggested changes to the chairman. Committee staff may 
make any typographical and technical changes requested by the 
witness. Substantive changes, modifications, clarifications, or 
amendments to the deposition transcript submitted by the 
witness must be accompanied by a letter signed by the witness 
requesting the changes and a statement of the witness's reasons 
for each proposed change. Any substantive changes, 
modifications, clarifications, or amendments shall be included 
as an appendix to the transcript conditioned upon the witness 
signing the transcript.
    (j) The individual administering the oath, if other than a 
member, shall certify on the transcript that the witness was 
duly sworn. The transcriber shall certify that the transcript 
is a true record of the testimony, and the transcript shall be 
filed, together with any electronic recording, with the clerk 
of the committee in Washington, DC. Depositions shall be 
considered to have been taken in Washington, DC, as well as the 
location actually taken once filed there with the clerk of the 
committee for the committee's use. The chairman and the ranking 
minority member of the full committee shall be provided with a 
copy of the transcripts of the deposition at the same time.
    (k) The chairman and ranking minority member of the full 
committee shall consult regarding the release of depositions. 
If either objects in writing to a proposed release of a 
deposition or a portion thereof, the matter shall be promptly 
referred to the full committee for resolution.
    (l) A witness shall not be required to testify unless the 
witness has been provided with a copy of the committee's rules.
           II. SELECTED RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              ----------                              


     A. 1. Powers and Duties of the Committee--Rule X of the House

    House Rule X provides for the organization of standing 
committees. The first paragraph of clause 1 of Rule X and 
subdivision (n) thereof reads as follows:

                       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:

                     *      *      *      *      *

    (n) Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
          (1) Federal civil service, including 
        intergovernmental personnel; and the status of officers 
        and employees of the United States, including their 
        compensation, classification, and retirement.
          (2) Municipal affairs of the District of Columbia in 
        general (other than appropriations).
          (3) Federal paperwork reduction.
          (4) Government management and accounting measures 
        generally.
          (5) Holidays and celebrations.
          (6) Overall economy, efficiency, and management of 
        government operations and activities, including Federal 
        procurement.
          (7) National archives.
          (8) Population and demography generally, including 
        the Census.
          (9) Postal Service generally, including 
        transportation of the mails.
          (10) Public information and records.
          (11) Relationship of the Federal Government to the 
        States and municipalities generally.
          (12) Reorganizations in the executive branch of the 
        Government.

 2. General Oversight Responsibilities--Rule X, Clauses 2 and 3 of the 
                                 House

    Clause 2 of Rule X relates to general oversight 
responsibilities. Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) of 
clause 2 read as follows:

    2. (a) The various standing committees shall have general 
oversight responsibilities as provided in paragraph (b) in 
order to assist the House in--
          (1) its analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of--
                  (A) the application, administration, 
                execution, and effectiveness of Federal laws; 
                and
                  (B) conditions and circumstances that may 
                indicate the necessity or desirability of 
                enacting new or additional legislation; and
          (2) its formulation, consideration, and enactment of 
        changes in Federal laws, and of such additional 
        legislation as may be necessary or appropriate.
    (b)(1) In order to determine whether laws and programs 
addressing subjects within the jurisdiction of a committee are 
being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent 
of Congress and whether they should be continued, curtailed, or 
eliminated, each standing committee (other than the Committee 
on Appropriations) shall review and study on a continuing 
basis--
          (A) the application, administration, execution, and 
        effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects 
        within its jurisdiction;
          (B) the organization and operation of Federal 
        agencies and entities having responsibilities for the 
        administration and execution of laws and programs 
        addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
          (C) any conditions or circumstances that may indicate 
        the necessity or desirability of enacting new or 
        additional legislation addressing subjects within its 
        jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution has 
        been introduced with respect thereto); and
          (D) future research and forecasting on subjects 
        within its jurisdiction.
    (2) Each committee to which subparagraph (1) applies having 
more than 20 members shall establish an oversight subcommittee, 
or require its subcommittees to conduct oversight in their 
respective jurisdictions, to assist in carrying out its 
responsibilities under this clause. The establishment of an 
oversight subcommittee does not limit the responsibility of a 
subcommittee with legislative jurisdiction in carrying out its 
oversight responsibilities.
    (c) Each standing committee shall review and study on a 
continuing basis the impact or probable impact of tax policies 
affecting subjects within its jurisdiction as described in 
clauses 1 and 3.
    (d)(1) Not later than February 15 of the first session of a 
Congress, each standing committee shall, in a meeting that is 
open to the public and with a quorum present, adopt its 
oversight plan for that Congress. Such plan shall be submitted 
simultaneously to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform and to the Committee on House Administration. In 
developing its plan each committee shall, to the maximum extent 
feasible--
          (A) consult with other committees that have 
        jurisdiction over the same or related laws, programs, 
        or agencies within its jurisdiction with the objective 
        of ensuring maximum coordination and cooperation among 
        committees when conducting reviews of such laws, 
        programs, or agencies and include in its plan an 
        explanation of steps that have been or will be taken to 
        ensure such coordination and cooperation;
          (B) 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;
          (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, programs, 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, outdated, 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 Oversight and 
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.
Special oversight functions
    Clause 3 of Rule X also relates to oversight functions. 
Paragraph (i) reads as follows:

                     *      *      *      *      *

    (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.

        3. Additional Functions of Committees--Rule X, Clause 4

    Clause 4 of Rule X relates to additional functions of 
committees. Paragraph (c) of clause 4 reads as follows:

    (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.
    (3)(A) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform may 
adopt a rule authorizing and regulating the taking of 
depositions by a member or counsel of the committee, including 
pursuant to subpoena under clause 2(m) of rule XI (which hereby 
is made applicable for such purpose). [See Committee Rule 15]
    (B) A rule adopted by the committee pursuant to this 
subparagraph--
          (i) may provide that a deponent be directed to 
        subscribe an oath or affirmation before a person 
        authorized by law to administer the same;
          (ii) shall ensure that the minority members and staff 
        of the committee are accorded equitable treatment with 
        respect to notice of and a reasonable opportunity to 
        participate in any proceeding conducted thereunder; and
          (iii) shall, unless waived by the deponent, require 
        the attendance of a member of the committee.
    (C) Information secured pursuant to the authority described 
in subdivision (A) shall retain the character of discovery 
until offered for admission in evidence before the committee, 
at which time any proper objection shall be timely.

  B. Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business--Rule XI of the 
                                 House

    Clauses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of Rule XI are set out below.

In general
    1. (a)(1)(A) The Rules of the House 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 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 seven calendar days in which to submit such views for 
inclusion in the report.
    (c) Each committee may have printed and bound such 
testimony and other data as may be presented at hearings held 
by the committee or its subcommittees. All costs of 
stenographic services and transcripts in connection with a 
meeting or hearing of a committee shall be paid from the 
applicable accounts of the House described in clause 1(j)(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 uncer 
        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 or with those provisions of law having the force 
        and effect of Rules of the House; and
          (C) shall in any event incorporate all of the 
        succeeding provisions of this clause to the extent 
        applicable.
    (2) Each committee shall 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 
three calendar days after the filing of the request (to be held 
within seven calendar days after the filing of the request) a 
majority of the members of the committee may file in the 
offices of the committee their written notice that a special 
meeting of the committee will be held. The written notice shall 
specify the date and hour of the special meeting and the 
measure or matter to be considered. The committee shall meet on 
that date and hour. Immediately upon the filing of the notice, 
the clerk of the committee shall notify all members of the 
committee that such special meeting will be held and inform 
them of its date and hour and the measure or matter to be 
considered. Only the measure or matter specified in that notice 
may be considered at that special meeting.
Temporary absence of 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 
publically available in electronic form within 48 hours of such 
record vote. Information so available for public inspection 
shall include a description of the amendment, motion, order, or 
other proposition, the name of each member voting for and each 
member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or 
proposition, and the names of those members of the committee 
present but not voting.
    (ii) The result of any record vote taken in executive 
session in the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct may 
not be made available for inspection by the public without an 
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the committee.
    (2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), all committee 
hearings, records, data, charts, and files shall be kept 
separate and distinct from the congressional office records of 
the member serving as its 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 Standards of Official Conduct, 
may not have access to the records of that committee respecting 
the conduct of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, 
officer, or employee of the House without the specific prior 
permission of that committee.
    (3) Each committee shall include in its rules standards for 
availability of records of the committee delivered to the 
Archivist of the United States under rule VII. Such standards 
shall specify procedures for orders of the committee under 
clause 3(b)(3) and clause 4(b) of rule VII, including a 
requirement that nonavailability of a record for a period 
longer than the period otherwise applicable under that rule 
shall be approved by vote of the committee.
    (4) Each committee shall make its publications available in 
electronic form to the maximum extent feasible.
    (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 publically 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 Standards of 
Official Conduct or its subcommittees) shall be open to the 
public, including to radio, television, and still photography 
coverage, except when the committee or subcommittee, in open 
session and with a majority present, determines by record vote 
that all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day 
shall be in executive session because disclosure of matters to 
be considered would endanger national security, would 
compromise sensitive law enforcement information, would tend to 
defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, or otherwise would 
violate a law or rule of the House. Persons, other than members 
of the committee and such noncommittee Members, Delegates, 
Resident Commissioner, congressional staff, or departmental 
representatives as the committee may authorize, may not be 
present at a business or markup session that is held in 
executive session. This subparagraph does not apply to open 
committee hearings, which are governed by clause 4(a)(1) of 
rule X or by subparagraph (2).
    (2)(A) Each hearing conducted by a committee or 
subcommittee (other than the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct or its subcommittees) shall be open to the public, 
including to radio, television, and still photography coverage, 
except when the committee or subcommittee, in open session and 
with a majority present, determines by record vote that all or 
part of the remainder of that hearing on that day shall be 
closed to the public because disclosure of testimony, evidence, 
or other matters to be considered would endanger national 
security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement 
information, or would violate a law or rule of the House.
    (B) Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision (A), in 
the presence of the number of members required under the rules 
of the committee for the purpose of taking testimony, a 
majority of those present may--
          (i) agree to close the hearing for the sole purpose 
        of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be 
        received would endanger national security, would 
        compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or 
        would violate clause 2(k)(5); or
          (ii) agree to close the hearing as provided in clause 
        2(k)(5).
    (C) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not be 
excluded from nonparticipatory attendance at a hearing of a 
committee or subcommittee (other than the Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct or its subcommittees) unless the 
House by majority vote authorizes a particular committee or 
subcommittee, for purposes of a particular series of hearings 
on a particular article of legislation or on a particular 
subject of investigation, to close its hearings to Members, 
Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner by the same procedures 
specified in this subparagraph for closing hearings to the 
public.
    (D) The committee or subcommittee may vote by the same 
procedure described in this subparagraph to close one 
subsequent day of hearing, except that the Committee on 
Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the 
subcommittees thereof, may vote by the same procedure to close 
up to five additional, consecutive days of hearings.
    (3)(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 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 publically 
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.
    (7) This paragraph does not apply to hearings of the 
Committee on Appropriations under clause 4(a)(1) of rule X.
Quorum requirements
    (h)(1) A measure or recommendation may not be reported by a 
committee unless a majority of the committee is actually 
present.
    (2) Each committee may fix the number of its members to 
constitute a quorum for taking testimony and receiving 
evidence, which may not be less than two.
    (3) Each committee (other than the Committee on 
Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee 
on Ways and Means) may fix the number of its members to 
constitute a quorum for taking any action other than 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 one day of hearing thereon.
    (2)(A) Subject to subdivisions (B) and (C), each committee 
shall apply the five-minute rule during the questioning of 
witnesses in a hearing until such time as each member of the 
committee who so desires has had an opportunity to question 
each witness.
    (B) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permitting a 
specified number of its members to question a witness for 
longer than five minutes. The time for extended questioning of 
a witness under this subdivision shall be equal for the 
majority party and the minority party and may not exceed one 
hour in the aggregate.
    (C) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permitting 
committee staff for its majority and minority party members to 
question a witness for equal specified periods. The time for 
extended questioning of a witness under this subdivision shall 
be equal for the majority party and the minority party and may 
not exceed one hour in the aggregate.
Hearing procedures
    (k)(1) The chair at a hearing shall announce in an opening 
statement the subject of the hearing.
    (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 the testimony 
of such witness given at a public session or, if given at an 
executive session, when authorized by the committee.
Supplemental, minority, or additional views
    (l) If at the time of approval of a measure or matter by a 
committee (other than the Committee on Rules) a member of the 
committee gives notice of intention to file supplemental, 
minority, or additional views for inclusion in the report to 
the House thereon, that member shall be entitled to not less 
than two additional calendar days after the day of such notice 
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when 
the House is in session on such a day) to file such views, in 
writing and signed by that member, with the clerk of the 
committee.
Power to sit and act; subpoena power
    (m)(1) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions 
and duties under this rule and rule X (including any matters 
referred to it under clause 2 of rule XII), a committee or 
subcommittee is authorized (subject to subparagraph (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.

         C. Reports--Rule XIII, Clauses 2, 3 and 4 of the House

Filing and printing of reports
    2. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), all 
reports of committees (other than those filed from the floor) 
shall be delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to 
the proper calendar under the direction of the Speaker in 
accordance with clause 1. The title or subject of each report 
shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the 
Congressional Record.
    (2) A bill or resolution reported adversely (other than 
those filed as privileged) shall be laid on the table unless a 
committee to which the bill or resolution was referred requests 
at the time of the report its referral to an appropriate 
calendar under clause 1 or unless, within three days 
thereafter, a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner makes 
such a request.
    (b)(1) It shall be the duty of the chair of each committee 
to report or cause to be reported promptly to the House a 
measure or matter approved by the committee and to take or 
cause to be taken steps necessary to bring the measure or 
matter to a vote.
    (2) In any event, the report of a committee on a measure 
that has been approved by the committee shall be filed within 
seven calendar days (exclusive of days on which the House is 
not in session) after the day on which a written request for 
the filing of the report, signed by a majority of the members 
of the committee, has been filed with the clerk of the 
committee. The clerk of the committee shall immediately notify 
the chair of the filing of such a request. This subparagraph 
does not apply to a report of the Committee on Rules with 
respect to a rule, joint rule, or order of business of the 
House, or to the reporting of a resolution of inquiry addressed 
to the head of an executive department.
    (c) All supplemental, minority, or additional views filed 
under clause 2(l) of rule XI by one or more members of a 
committee shall be included in, and shall be a part of, the 
report filed by the committee with respect to a measure or 
matter. When time guaranteed by clause 2(l) of rule XI has 
expired (or, if sooner, when all separate views have been 
received), the committee may arrange to file its report with 
the Clerk not later than one hour after the expiration of such 
time. This clause and provisions of clause 2(l) of rule XI do 
not preclude the immediate filing or printing of a committee 
report in the absence of a timely request for the opportunity 
to file supplemental, minority, or additional views as provided 
in clause 2(l) of rule XI.
Content of reports
    3. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), the 
report of a committee on a measure or matter shall be printed 
in a single volume that--
          (A) shall include all supplemental, minority, or 
        additional views that have been submitted by the time 
        of the filing of the report; and
          (B) shall bear on its cover a recital that any such 
        supplemental, minority, or additional views (and any 
        material submitted under paragraph (c)(3)) are included 
        as part of the report.
    (2) A committee may file a supplemental report for the 
correction of a technical error in its previous report on a 
measure or matter. A supplemental report only correcting errors 
in the depiction of record votes under paragraph (b) may be 
filed under this subparagraph and shall not be subject to the 
requirement in clause 4 or clause 6 concerning the availability 
of reports.
    (b) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report 
a measure or matter of a public nature, and on any amendment 
offered to the measure or matter, the total number of votes 
cast for and against, and the names of members voting for and 
against, shall be included in the committee report. The 
preceding sentence does not apply to votes taken in executive 
session by the Committee on Ethics.
    (c) The report of a committee on a measure that has been 
approved by the committee shall include, separately set out and 
clearly identified, the following:
          (1) Oversight findings and recommendations under 
        clause 2(b)(1) of rule X.
          (2) The statement required by section 308(a) of the 
        Congressional Budget Act of 1974, except that an 
        estimate of new budget authority shall include, when 
        practicable, a comparison of the total estimated 
        funding level for the relevant programs to the 
        appropriate levels under current law.
          (3) An estimate and comparison prepared by the 
        Director of the Congressional Budget Office under 
        section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 if 
        timely submitted to the committee before the filing of 
        the report.
          (4) A statement of general performance goals and 
        objectives, including outcome-related goals and 
        objectives, for which the measure authorizes funding.
    (d) Each report of a committee on a public bill or public 
joint resolution shall contain the following:
          (1)(A) An estimate by the committee of the costs that 
        would be incurred in carrying out the bill or joint 
        resolution in the fiscal year in which it is reported 
        and in each of the five fiscal years following that 
        fiscal year (or for the authorized duration of any 
        program authorized by the bill or joint resolution if 
        less than five years);
          (B) a comparison of the estimate of costs described 
        in subdivision (A) made by the committee with any 
        estimate of such costs made by a Government agency and 
        submitted to such committee; and
          (C) when practicable, a comparison of the total 
        estimated funding level for the relevant programs with 
        the appropriate levels under current law.
    (2)(A) In subparagraph (1) the term ``Government agency'' 
includes any department, agency, establishment, wholly owned 
Government corporation, or instrumentality of the Federal 
Government or the government of the District of Columbia.
    (B) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to the Committee on 
Appropriations, the Committee on House Administration, the 
Committee on Rules, or the Committee on Ethics, and does not 
apply when a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been included in 
the report under paragraph (c)(3).
    (e)(1) Whenever a committee reports a bill or joint 
resolution proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part 
thereof, it shall include in its report or in an accompanying 
document--
          (A) the text of a statute or part thereof that is 
        proposed to be repealed; and
          (B) a comparative print of any part of the bill or 
        joint resolution proposing to amend the statute and of 
        the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended, 
        showing by appropriate typographical devices the 
        omissions and insertions proposed.
    (2) If a committee reports a bill or joint resolution 
proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part thereof with a 
recommendation that the bill or joint resolution be amended, 
the comparative print required by subparagraph (1) shall 
reflect the changes in existing law proposed to be made by the 
bill or joint resolution as proposed to be amended.
                   III. SELECTED MATTERS OF INTEREST

                A. 2 U.S.C. Sec. 191. Oaths to witnesses

    The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, or a chairman of any joint committee 
established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two 
Houses of Congress, or of a committee of the whole, or of any 
committee of either House of Congress, is empowered to 
administer oaths to witnesses in any case under their 
examination.
    Any member of either House of Congress may administer oaths 
to witnesses in any matter depending in either House of 
Congress of which he is a Member, or any committee thereof.

 B. 2 U.S.C. Sec. 192. Refusal of witness to testify or produce papers

    Every person who having been summoned as a witness by the 
authority of either House of Congress to give testimony or to 
produce papers upon any matter under inquiry before either 
House, or any joint committee established by a joint or 
concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or any 
committee of either House of Congress, willfully makes default, 
or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question 
pertinent to the question under inquiry, shall be deemed guilty 
of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 
nor less than $100 and imprisonment in a common jail for not 
less than one month nor more than twelve months.

              C. 2 U.S.C. Sec. 193. Privilege of witnesses

    No witness is privileged to refuse to testify to any fact, 
or to produce any paper, respecting which he shall be examined 
by either House of Congress, or by any joint committee 
established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two 
Houses of Congress, or by any committee of either House, upon 
the ground that his testimony to such fact or his production of 
such paper may tend to disgrace him or otherwise render him 
infamous.

 D. 2 U.S.C. Sec. 194. Certification of failure to testify or produce; 
                           grand jury action

    Whenever a witness summoned as mentioned in section 192 of 
this title fails to appear to testify or fails to produce any 
books, papers, records, or documents, as required, or whenever 
any witness so summoned refuses to answer any question 
pertinent to the subject under inquiry before either House, or 
any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent 
resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or any committee or 
subcommittee of either House of Congress, and the fact of such 
failure or failures is reported to either House while Congress 
is in session or when Congress is not in session, a statement 
of fact constituting such failure is reported to and filed with 
the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House, it 
shall be the duty of the said President of the Senate or 
Speaker of the House, as the case may be, to certify, and he 
shall so certify, the statement of facts aforesaid under the 
seal of the Senate or House, as the case may be, to the 
appropriate United States attorney, whose duty it shall be to 
bring the matter before the grand jury for its action.

E. 5 U.S.C. Sec. 2954. Information to Committees of Congress on Request

    An Executive agency, on request of the Committee on 
Government Operations of the House of Representatives, or of 
any seven members thereof, or on request of the Committee on 
Government Operations of the Senate, or any five members 
thereof, shall submit any information requested of it relating 
to any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.

        F. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001. Statements or Entries Generally

    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, 
in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, 
legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United 
States, knowingly and willfully--
          (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, 
        scheme, or device a material fact;
          (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or 
        fraudulent statement or representation; or
          (3) makes or uses any false writing or document 
        knowing the same to contain any materially false, 
        fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 
years or, if the offense involves international or domestic 
terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more 
than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense 
under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then 
the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be 
not more than 8 years.
    (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial 
proceeding, or that party's counsel, for statements, 
representations, writings or documents submitted by such party 
or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding.
    (c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of 
the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to--
          (1) administrative matters, including a claim for 
        payment, a matter related to the procurement of 
        property or services, personnel or employment 
        practices, or support services, or a document required 
        by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the 
        Congress or any office or officer within the 
        legislative branch; or
          (2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant 
        to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, 
        commission or office of the Congress, consistent with 
        applicable rules of the House or Senate.

G. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1505. Obstruction of Proceedings Before Departments, 
                        Agencies, and Committees

    Whoever, with intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct 
compliance, in whole or in part, with any civil investigative 
demand duly and properly made under the Antitrust Civil Process 
Act, willfully withholds, misrepresents, removes from any 
place, conceals, covers up, destroys, mutilates, alters, or by 
other means falsifies any documentary material, answers to 
written interrogatories, or oral testimony, which is the 
subject of such demand; or attempts to do so or solicits 
another to do so; or
    Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any 
threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or 
impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due 
and proper administration of the law under which any pending 
proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the 
United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of 
inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had 
by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint 
committee of the Congress--
    Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 
years or, if the offense involves international or domestic 
terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more 
than 8 years, or both.

           H. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 6005. Congressional proceedings

    (a) In the case of any individual who has been or may be 
called to testify or provide other information at any 
proceeding before or ancillary to either House of Congress, or 
any committee, or any subcommittee of either House, or any 
joint committee of the two Houses, a United States district 
court shall issue, in accordance with subsection (b) of this 
section, upon the request of a duly authorized representative 
of the House of Congress or the committee concerned, an order 
requiring such individual to give testimony or provide other 
information which he refuses to give or provide on the basis of 
his privilege against self-incrimination, such order to become 
effective as provided in section 6002 of this title.
    (b) Before issuing an order under subsection (a) of this 
section, a United States district court shall find that--
          (1) in the case of a proceeding before or ancillary 
        to either House of Congress, the request for such an 
        order has been approved by an affirmative vote of a 
        majority of the Members present of that House;
          (2) in the case of a proceeding before or ancillary 
        to a committee or a subcommittee of either House of 
        Congress or a joint committee of both Houses, the 
        request for such an order has been approved by an 
        affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the 
        full committee; and
          (3) ten days or more prior to the day on which the 
        request for such an order was made, the Attorney 
        General was served with notice of an intention to 
        request the order.
    (c) Upon application of the Attorney General, the United 
States district court shall defer the issuance of any order 
under subsection (a) of this section for such period, not 
longer than twenty days from the date of the request for such 
order, as the Attorney General may specify.

      I. 31 U.S.C. Sec. 712. Investigating the Use of Public Money

    The Comptroller General shall--

              *      *      *      *      *      *      *

    (3) analyze expenditures of each executive agency the 
Comptroller General believes will help Congress decide whether 
public money has been used and expended economically and 
efficiently;
    (4) make an investigation and report ordered by either 
House of Congress or a committee of Congress having 
jurisdiction over revenue, appropriations, or expenditures; and
    (5) give a committee of Congress having jurisdiction over 
revenue, appropriations, or expenditures the help and 
information the committee requests.

J. 31 U.S.C. Sec. 717. Evaluating Programs and Activities of the United 
                           States Government

              *      *      *      *      *      *      *

    (d)(1) On request of a committee of Congress, the 
Comptroller General shall help the committee to--
          (A) develop a statement of legislative goals and ways 
        to assess and report program performance related to the 
        goals, including recommended ways to assess 
        performance, information to be reported, responsibility 
        for reporting, frequency of reports, and feasibility of 
        pilot testing; and
          (B) assess program evaluations prepared by and for an 
        agency.
    (2) On request of a member of Congress, the Comptroller 
General shall give the member a copy of the material the 
Comptroller General compiles in carrying out this subsection 
that has been released by the committee for which the material 
was compiled.

           K. 31 U.S.C. Sec. 719. Comptroller General Reports

              *      *      *      *      *      *      *

    (d) The Comptroller General shall report on analyses 
carried out under section 712(3) of this title to the 
Committees on Governmental Affairs and Appropriations of the 
Senate, the Committees on Government Operations and 
Appropriations of the House, and the committees with 
jurisdiction over legislation related to the operation of each 
executive agency.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ For other requirements which relate to Government 
Accountability Office reports to Congress and which affect the 
committee, see secs. 232 and 236 of the Legislative Reorganization Act 
of 1970 (Public Law 91-150).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

              *      *      *      *      *      *      *

    (h) On request of a committee of Congress, the Comptroller 
General shall explain to and discuss with the committee or 
committee staff a report the Comptroller General makes that 
would help the committee--
          (1) evaluate a program or activity of an agency 
        within the jurisdiction of the committee; or
          (2) in its consideration of proposed legislation.

           L. 31 U.S.C. Sec. 1113. Congressional Information

    (a)(1) When requested by a committee of Congress having 
jurisdiction over receipts or appropriations, the President 
shall provide the committee with assistance and information.
    (2) When requested by a committee of Congress, additional 
information related to the amount of an appropriation 
originally requested by an Office of Inspector General shall be 
submitted to the committee.
    (b) When requested by a committee of Congress, by the 
Comptroller General, or by the Director of the Congressional 
Budget Office, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of 
the Office of Management and Budget, and the head of each 
executive agency shall--
          (1) provide information on the location and kind of 
        available fiscal, budget, and program information;
          (2) to the extent practicable, prepare summary tables 
        of that fiscal, budget, and program information and 
        related information of the committee, the Comptroller 
        General, or the Director of the Congressional Budget 
        Office considers necessary; and
          (3) provide a program evaluation carried out or 
        commissioned by an executive agency.
    (c) In cooperation with the Director of the Congressional 
Budget Office, the Secretary, and the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, the Comptroller General shall--
          (1) establish and maintain a current directory of 
        sources of, and information systems for, fiscal, 
        budget, and program information and a brief description 
        of the contents of each source and system;
          (2) when requested, provide assistance to committees 
        of Congress and members of Congress in obtaining 
        information from the sources in the directory; and
          (3) when requested, provide assistance to committees 
        and, to the extent practicable, to members of Congress 
        in evaluating the information obtained from the sources 
        in the directory.
    (d) To the extent they consider necessary, the Comptroller 
General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
individually or jointly shall establish and maintain a file of 
information to meet recurring needs of Congress for fiscal, 
budget, and program information to carry out this section and 
sections 717 and 1112 of this title. The file shall include 
information on budget requests, congressional authorizations to 
obligate and expend, apportionment and reserve actions, and 
obligations and expenditures. The Comptroller General and the 
Director shall maintain the file and an index to the file so 
that it is easier for the committees and agencies of Congress 
to use the file and index through data processing and 
communications techniques.
    (e)(1) The Comptroller General shall--
          (A) carry out a continuing program to identify the 
        needs of committees and members of Congress for fiscal, 
        budget, and program information to carry out this 
        section and section 1112 of this title;
          (B) assist committees of Congress in developing their 
        information needs;
          (C) monitor recurring reporting requirements of 
        Congress and committees; and
          (D) make recommendations to Congress and committees 
        for changes and improvements in those reporting 
        requirements to meet information needs identified by 
        the Comptroller General, to improve their usefulness to 
        congressional users, and to eliminate unnecessary 
        reporting.
    (2) Before September 2 of each year, the Comptroller 
General shall report to Congress on--
          (A) the needs identified under paragraph (1)(A) of 
        this subsection;
          (B) the relationship of those needs to existing 
        reporting requirements;
          (C) the extent to which reporting by the executive 
        branch of the United States Government currently meets 
        the identified needs;
          (D) the changes to standard classifications necessary 
        to meet congressional needs;
          (E) activities, progress, and results of the program 
        of the Comptroller General under paragraph (1)(B)-(D) 
        of this subsection; and
          (F) progress of the executive branch in the prior 
        year.
    (3) Before March 2 of each year, the Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget and the Secretary shall report to 
Congress on plans for meeting the needs identified under 
paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, including--
          (A) plans for carrying out changes to classifications 
        to meet information needs of Congress;
          (B) the status of information systems in the prior 
        year; and
          (C) the use of standard classifications.
(Public Law 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 914; Public Law 
97-452, Sec. 1(3), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2467.)

                                 
