[WPRT 112-1]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


112th Congress 
 1st Session                COMMITTEE PRINT                       WMCP:
                                                                  112-1
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     


                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                               __________

                            MANUAL OF RULES

                                 of the

                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                               during the

                      ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#13


                        Adopted January 7, 2011

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


                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                     DAVE CAMP, Michigan, Chairman
WALLY HERGER, California             SANDER M. LEVIN, Michigan
SAM JOHNSON, Texas                   CHARLES B. RANGEL, New York
KEVIN BRADY, Texas                   FORTNEY PETE STARK, California
PAUL RYAN, Wisconsin                 JIM McDERMOTT, Washington
DEVIN NUNES, California              JOHN LEWIS, Georgia
PATRICK J. TIBERI, Ohio              RICHARD E. NEAL, Massachusetts
GEOFF DAVIS, Kentucky                XAVIER BECERRA, California
DAVID G. REICHERT, Washington        LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas
CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, Jr., Louisiana  MIKE THOMPSON, California
DEAN HELLER, Nevada                  JOHN B. LARSON, Connecticut
PETER J. ROSKAM, Illinois            EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon
JIM GERLACH, Pennsylvania            RON KIND, Wisconsin
TOM PRICE, Georgia                   BILL PASCRELL, Jr., New Jersey
VERN BUCHANAN, Florida               SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada
ADRIAN SMITH, Nebraska               JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York
AARON SCHOCK, Illinois
LYNN JENKINS, Kansas
ERIK PAULSEN, Minnesota
KENNY MARCHANT, Texas
RICK BERG, North Dakota
DIANE BLACK, Tennessee

                       Jon Traub, Staff Director
                  Janice Mays, Minority Chief Counsel
                                FOREWORD

    This manual has been prepared to assist Members of the 
Committee on Ways and Means, its staff, and the public. It 
presents various rules that affect the organization and 
procedures of the Committee on Ways and Means. These rules were 
adopted by the Committee for the 112th Congress.


                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
Foreword.........................................................   III

                RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAY AND MEANS
                               A. General

Rule 1. Application of House Rules...............................     3
Rule 2. Meeting Date and Quorums.................................     3
Rule 3. Committee Budget.........................................     3
Rule 4. Publication of Committee Documents.......................     4
Rule 5. Official Travel..........................................     4
Rule 6. Availability of Committee Records and Publications.......     5
Rule 7. Committee Website........................................     5

                            B. Subcommittees

Rule 8. Subcommittee Ratios and Jurisdiction.....................     5
    1. The Subcommittee on Trade.................................     6
    2. The Subcommittee on Oversight.............................     6
    3. The Subcommittee on Health................................     6
    4. The Subcommittee on Social Security.......................     7
    5. The Subcommittee on Human Resources.......................     7
    6. The Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures...............     7
Rule 9. Ex-Officio Members of Subcommittees......................     8
Rule 10. Subcommittee Meetings...................................     8
Rule 11. Reference of Legislation and Subcommittee Reports.......     8
Rule 12. Recommendation for Appointment of Conferees.............     8

                              C. Hearings

Rule 13. Witnesses...............................................     9
Rule 14. Questioning of Witnesses................................     9
Rule 15. Subpoena Power..........................................    10
Rule 16. Records of Hearings.....................................    10
Rule 17. Broadcasting of Hearings................................    10

                               D. Markups

Rule 18. Previous Question.......................................    10
Rule 19. Postponement of Proceedings.............................    10
Rule 20. Motion to go to Conference..............................    11
Rule 21. Official Transcripts of Markups and Other Committee 
  Meetings.......................................................    11
Rule 22. Publication of Decisions and Legislative Language.......    11

                                E. Staff

Rule 23. Supervision of Committee Staff..........................    12
=======================================================================

 
                RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             112th CONGRESS

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

    Rules of the Committee on Ways and Means for the 112th Congress

                               A. GENERAL

                   Rule 1. Application of House Rules

    The rules of the House are the rules of the Committee on 
Ways and Means and its Subcommittees so far as applicable, 
except that a motion to recess from day to day, and a motion to 
dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or 
resolution, if printed copies are available, is a non-debatable 
motion of high privilege in the Committee.
    Each Subcommittee of the Committee is part of the Committee 
and is subject to the authority and direction of the Committee 
and to its rules so far as applicable. Written rules adopted by 
the Committee, not inconsistent with the Rules of the House, 
shall be binding on each subcommittee of the Committee.
    The provisions of rule XI of the Rules of the House are 
incorporated by reference as the rules of the Committee to the 
extent applicable.

                    Rule 2. Meeting Date and Quorums

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

                        Rule 3. Committee Budget

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

               Rule 4. Publication of Committee Documents

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

                        Rule 5. Official Travel

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

       Rule 6. Availability of Committee Records and Publications

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

                       Rule 7. Committee Website

    The Chairman shall maintain an official Committee website 
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. The Ranking Minority Member may maintain 
a similar website for the same purpose, including communicating 
information about the activities of the minority to Committee 
Members and other Members of the House.

                            B. SUBCOMMITTEES


              Rule 8. Subcommittee Ratios and Jurisdiction

    All matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
involving revenue measures, except those revenue measures 
referred to Subcommittees under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 
shall be considered by the full Committee and not in 
Subcommittee. There shall be six standing Subcommittees as 
follows: a Subcommittee on Trade; a Subcommittee on Oversight; 
a Subcommittee on Health; a Subcommittee on Social Security; a 
Subcommittee on Human Resources; and a Subcommittee on Select 
Revenue Measures. The ratio of Republicans to Democrats on any 
Subcommittee of the Committee shall be consistent with the 
ratio of Republicans to Democrats on the full Committee.
    1. The Subcommittee on Trade shall consist of 14 Members, 9 
of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall be Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Trade shall include 
bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
that relate to customs and customs administration including 
tariff and import fee structure, classification, valuation of 
and special rules applying to imports, and special tariff 
provisions and procedures which relate to customs operation 
affecting exports and imports; import trade matters, including 
import impact, industry relief from injurious imports, 
adjustment assistance and programs to encourage competitive 
responses to imports, unfair import practices including 
antidumping and countervailing duty provisions, and import 
policy which relates to dependence on foreign sources of 
supply; commodity agreements and reciprocal trade agreements 
involving multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations and 
implementation of agreements involving tariff and non-tariff 
trade barriers to and distortions of international trade; 
international rules, organizations and institutional aspects of 
international trade agreements; budget authorizations for the 
customs revenue functions of the Department of Homeland 
Security, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. 
Trade Representative; and special trade-related problems 
involving market access, competitive conditions of specific 
industries, export policy and promotion, access to materials in 
short supply, bilateral trade relations including trade with 
developing countries, operations of multinational corporations, 
and trade with non-market economies.
    2. The Subcommittee on Oversight shall consist of 11 
Members, 7 of whom shall be Republicans and 4 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall 
include all matters within the scope of the full Committee's 
jurisdiction but shall be limited to existing law. Said 
oversight jurisdiction shall not be exclusive but shall be 
concurrent with that of the other Subcommittees. With respect 
to matters involving the Internal Revenue Code and other 
revenue issues, said concurrent jurisdiction shall be shared 
with the full Committee. Before undertaking any investigation 
or hearing, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall 
confer with the Chairman of the full Committee and the Chairman 
of any other Subcommittee having jurisdiction.
    3. The Subcommittee on Health shall consist of 14 Members, 
9 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Health shall 
include bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and 
Means that relate to programs providing payments (from any 
source) for health care, health delivery systems, or health 
research. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee on Health shall include bills and matters that 
relate to the health care programs of the Social Security Act 
(including titles V, XI (Part B), XVIII, and XIX thereof) and, 
concurrent with the full Committee, tax credit and deduction 
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code dealing with health 
insurance premiums and health care costs.
    4. The Subcommittee on Social Security shall consist of 11 
Members, 7 of whom shall be Republicans and 4 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Social Security 
shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on 
Ways and Means that relate to the Federal Old Age, Survivors' 
and Disability Insurance System, the Railroad Retirement 
System, and employment taxes and trust fund operations relating 
to those systems. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee on Social Security shall include bills and matters 
involving title II of the Social Security Act and Chapter 22 of 
the Internal Revenue Code (the Railroad Retirement Tax Act), as 
well as provisions in title VII and title XI of the Act 
relating to procedure and administration involving the Old Age, 
Survivors' and Disability Insurance System.
    5. The Subcommittee on Human Resources shall consist of 11 
Members, 7 of whom shall be Republicans and 4 of whom shall be 
Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human Resources 
shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on 
Ways and Means that relate to the public assistance provisions 
of the Social Security Act, including temporary assistance for 
needy families, child care, child and family services, child 
support, foster care, adoption, supplemental security income, 
social services, eligibility of welfare recipients for food 
stamps, and low-income energy assistance. More specifically, 
the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human Resources shall 
include bills and matters relating to titles I, IV, VI, X, XIV, 
XVI, XVII, XX and related provisions of titles VII and XI of 
the Social Security Act.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human Resources 
shall also include bills and matters referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means that relate to the Federal-State system of 
unemployment compensation, and the financing thereof, including 
the programs for extended and emergency benefits. More 
specifically, the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human 
Resources shall also include all bills and matters pertaining 
to the programs of unemployment compensation under titles III, 
IX and XII of the Social Security Act, Chapters 23 and 23A of 
the Internal Revenue Code, and the Federal-State Extended 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, and provisions relating 
thereto.
    6. The Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures shall 
consist of 11 Members, 7 of whom shall be Republicans and 4 of 
whom shall be Democrats.
    The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Select Revenue 
Measures shall consist of those revenue measures that, from 
time to time, shall be referred to it specifically by the 
Chairman of the full Committee.

              Rule 9. Ex-Officio Members of Subcommittees

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

                     Rule 10. Subcommittee Meetings

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

       Rule 11. Reference of Legislation and Subcommittee Reports

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

          Rule 12. Recommendation for Appointment of Conferees

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

                              C. HEARINGS


                           Rule 13. Witnesses

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

                   Rule 14. Questioning of Witnesses

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

                        Rule 15. Subpoena Power

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

                      Rule 16. Records of Hearings

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

                   Rule 17. Broadcasting of Hearings

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

                               D. MARKUPS


                       Rule 18. Previous Question

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

                  Rule 19. Postponement of Proceedings

    The Chairman may postpone further proceedings when a record 
vote is ordered on the question of approving any measure or 
matter or adopting an amendment.
    The Chairman may resume proceedings on a postponed request 
at any time. In exercising postponement authority the Chairman 
shall take reasonable steps to notify Members on the resumption 
of proceedings on any postponed record vote.
    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.

                  Rule 20. Motion to go to Conference

    The Chairman is authorized to offer a motion under clause 1 
of rule XXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
whenever the Chairman considers it appropriate.

 Rule 21. Official Transcripts of Markups and Other Committee Meetings

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

       Rule 22. Publication of Decisions and Legislative Language

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

                                E. STAFF


                Rule 23. Supervision of Committee Staff

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

                                  
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