[House Prints, 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                     

                           [COMMITTEE PRINT]
 
                                 RULES

                                 OF THE

              COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                FOR THE

                     ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS


[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                    

                             MARCH 20, 2017


 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology







                                     

                           [COMMITTEE PRINT]

                                 RULES

                                 OF THE

              COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                FOR THE

                     ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                    

                             MARCH 20, 2017


 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
 
                                  ______

                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

24-535                         WASHINGTON : 2017 
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              COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

                  HON. LAMAR S. SMITH, TEXAS, Chairman
FRANK D. LUCAS, OKLAHOMA,            EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, TEXAS, 
    Vice Chair                           Ranking Member
DANA ROHRABACHER, CALIFORNIA         ZOE LOFGREN, CALIFORNIA
MO BROOKS, ALABAMA                   DANIEL LIPINSKI, ILLINOIS
RANDY HULTGREN, ILLINOIS             SUZANNE BONAMICI, OREGON
BILL POSEY, FLORIDA                  AMI BERA, CALIFORNIA
THOMAS MASSIE, KENTUCKY              ELIZABETH ESTY, CONNECTICUT
JIM BRIDENSTINE, OKLAHOMA            MARC VEASEY, TEXAS
RANDY K. WEBER, TEXAS                DONALD S. BEYER, JR., VIRGINIA
STEVE KNIGHT, CALIFORNIA             JACKY ROSEN, NEVADA
BRIAN BABIN, TEXAS                   JERRY McNERNEY, CALIFORNIA
BARBARA COMSTOCK, VIRGINIA           ED PERLMUTTER, COLORADO
GARY PALMER, ALABAMA                 PAUL TONKO, NEW YORK
BARRY LOUDERMILK, GEORGIA            BILL FOSTER, ILLINOIS
RALPH LEE ABRAHAM, LOUISIANA         MARK TAKANO, CALIFORNIA
DARIN LaHOOD, ILLINOIS               COLLEEN HANABUSA, HAWAII
DANIEL WEBSTER, FLORIDA              CHARLIE CRIST, FLORIDA
JIM BANKS, INDIANA                   VACANCY
ANDY BIGGS, ARIZONA
ROGER W. MARSHALL, KANSAS
NEAL P. DUNN, FLORIDA
CLAY HIGGINS, LOUISIANA



                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

Rule I. General..................................................     1

  (a) GApplication of Rules......................................     1

  (b) GOther Procedures..........................................     1

  (c) GUse of Hearing Rooms......................................     1

Rule II. Regular, Additional, and Special Meetings...............     1

  (a) GRegular Meetings..........................................     1

  (b) GBills and Subjects to be Considered.......................     1

  (c) GOpen Meetings.............................................     2

  (d) GQuorums...................................................     2

  (e) GPostponement of Proceedings...............................     2

  (f) GTime for Statements and Debate............................     3

  (g) GRequests for Recorded Vote................................     3

  (h) GTranscripts...............................................     3

  (i) GMotion to Go to Conference................................     3

Rule III. Hearings...............................................     3

  (a) GNotice of Hearings........................................     3

  (b) GWitnesses.................................................     4

  (c) GQuestioning of Witnesses..................................     4

  (d) GClaims of Privilege.......................................     5

  (e) GPublication of Transcripts................................     5

  (f) GPertinence of Testimony...................................     5

Rule IV. Reports.................................................     5

Rule V. Broadcasting.............................................     6

Rule VI. Subcommittees...........................................     6

  (a) GCommittee Jurisdiction....................................     6

  (b) GSubcommittees and Jurisdiction............................     6

    (1) GSubcommittee on Energy..................................     6

    (2) GSubcommittee on Environment.............................     7

    (3) GSubcommittee on Research and Technology.................     7

    (4) GSubcommittee on Space...................................     8

    (5) GSubcommittee on Oversight...............................     8

  (c) Composition of Subcommittees...............................     8

  (d) Referral to Subcommittees..................................     9

  (e) Subcommittee Procedures and Reports........................     9

Rule VII. Vice Chairs............................................     9

Rule VIII. Oversight and Investigations..........................    10

Rule IX. Subpoenas...............................................    10

Rule X. Deposition Authority.....................................    10

Rule XI. Committee Records.......................................    10

Rule XII. Official Committee Website.............................    10

Rule XIII. Committee Budget......................................    11

Rule XIV. Amendments to Committee Rules..........................    11







Rule I. GENERAL

        (a) LAPPLICATION OF RULES.--

                (1) LThe Rules of the House of Representatives 
                (``House Rules'') are the rules of the 
                Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and 
                its Subcommittees with the specific additions 
                thereto contained in these rules.

                (2) LExcept where the term ``Subcommittee'' is 
                specifically referred to, the following rules 
                shall apply to the Committee and its 
                Subcommittees as well as to the respective 
                Chairs and Ranking Minority Members.

        (b) LOTHER PROCEDURES.--The Chair may establish such 
        other procedures and take such actions as may be 
        necessary to carry out these rules or to facilitate the 
        effective operation of the Committee.

        (c) LUSE OF HEARING ROOMS.--In consultation with the 
        Ranking Minority Member, the Chair of the Committee 
        shall establish guidelines for the use of Committee 
        hearing rooms.

Rule II. REGULAR, ADDITIONAL, AND SPECIAL MEETINGS

        (a) LREGULAR MEETINGS.--The regular meeting day of the 
        Committee for the conduct of its business shall be on 
        the first Thursday of each month, if the House is in 
        session. If the House is not in session on that day, 
        then the Committee shall meet on the next Thursday of 
        such month on which the House is in session, or at 
        another practicable time as determined by the Chair.

                (1) LA regular meeting of the Committee may be 
                dispensed with if, in the judgment of the 
                Chair, there is no need for the meeting.

                (2) LThe Chair may call and convene, as he 
                considers necessary and in accordance with the 
                notice requirements contained in these rules, 
                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.

        (b) LBILLS AND SUBJECTS TO BE CONSIDERED.--

                (1) LThe Chair shall announce the date, place, 
                and subject matter of any Committee meeting, 
                which may not commence earlier than the third 
                day on which Members have notice thereof, 
                unless the Chair, with the concurrence of the 
                Ranking Minority Member, or the Committee by 
                majority vote with a quorum present for the 
                transaction of business, determines there is 
                good cause to begin the meeting sooner, in 
                which case the Chair shall make the 
                announcement at the earliest possible date.

                (2) LAt least 48 hours prior to the 
                commencement of a meeting for the markup of 
                legislation, the Chair shall cause the text of 
                such legislation to be made publicly available 
                in electronic form.

                (3) LTo the maximum extent practicable, 
                amendments to a measure or matter shall be 
                submitted in writing or electronically to the 
                designee of both the Chair and Ranking Minority 
                Member at least 24 hours prior to the 
                consideration of the measure or matter, and the 
                Chair may oppose any amendment not so 
                submitted.

        (c) LOPEN MEETINGS.--

                (1) LMeetings for the transaction of business 
                and hearings of the Committee shall be open to 
                the public or closed in accordance with the 
                House Rules.

                (2) LAny Member who is not a Member of the 
                Committee (or any Committee Member who is not a 
                Member of the Subcommittee) may have the 
                privilege of nonparticipatory attendance at 
                Committee or Subcommittee hearings or meetings 
                in accordance with clause 2(g)(2) of House Rule 
                XI. Such Member may not:

                        (i) Lvote on any matter;

                        (ii) Lbe counted for the purpose of 
                        establishing a quorum;

                        (iii) Lparticipate in questioning a 
                        witness under the 5-Minute Rule, unless 
                        permitted to do so by the Chair;

                        (iv) Lraise points of order; or

                        (v) Loffer amendments or motions.

        (d) LQUORUMS.--A majority 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 
        Chair is not present at any meeting of the Committee or 
        Subcommittee, the Vice Chair on the Committee who is 
        present shall preside at the meeting, unless another 
        Member of the Committee is designated by the Chair.

        (e) LPOSTPONEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS.--

                (1) LPursuant to clause 2(h)(4) of House Rule 
                XI, the Chair may postpone further proceedings 
                when a record vote is ordered on the question 
                of approving a measure or matter or on adopting 
                an amendment. The Chair may resume proceedings 
                on a postponed vote at any time after 
                reasonable notice.

                (2) LWhen 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.

        (f) LTIME FOR STATEMENTS AND DEBATE.--

                (1) LInsofar as is practicable, the Chair, 
                after consultation with the Ranking Minority 
                Member, shall limit the total time of opening 
                statements by Members at a Committee meeting to 
                no more than ten minutes, the time to be 
                divided equally between the Chair and Ranking 
                Minority Member. When requested, ex officio 
                Members of any Subcommittee shall also be 
                recognized at a Subcommittee hearing for five 
                minutes each to present an opening statement.

                (2) LThe time any one Member may address the 
                Committee on any bill, amendment, motion, or 
                other matter under consideration by the 
                Committee will be limited to five minutes, and 
                then only when the Member has been recognized 
                by the Chair. This time limit may be waived by 
                the Chair pursuant to unanimous consent.

        (g) LREQUESTS FOR RECORDED VOTE.--A record vote of the 
        Committee shall be provided on any question before the 
        Committee upon the request of one-fifth of the Members 
        present.

        (h) LTRANSCRIPTS.--Transcripts of markups shall be 
        recorded and may be published in the same manner as 
        hearings before the Committee.

        (i) LMOTION TO GO TO CONFERENCE.--Without further 
        action of the Committee, the Chair is authorized to 
        offer a motion under clause 1 of House Rule XXII 
        whenever the Chair considers it appropriate.

Rule III. HEARINGS

        (a) LNOTICE OF HEARINGS.--

                (1) LThe Chair shall publicly announce the 
                date, place, and subject matter of any hearing 
                to be conducted by the Committee on any measure 
                or matter at least one week before the 
                commencement of that hearing. If the Chair, 
                with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority 
                Member, determines there is good cause to begin 
                the hearing sooner, or if the Committee so 
                determines by majority vote, a quorum being 
                present for the transaction of business, the 
                Chair shall make the announcement at the 
                earliest possible date.

                (2) LThe Chair shall publicly announce a list 
                of witnesses to testify at a hearing as soon as 
                a complete list of witnesses, including those 
                to be called by the minority, is compiled. When 
                practicable, the Chair and the Ranking Minority 
                Member will seek to have a complete list of 
                witnesses compiled at or as soon as practicable 
                after the time that the hearing is publicly 
                announced.

        (b) LWITNESSES.--

                (1) LInsofar as is practicable, no later than 
                48 hours in advance of his or her appearance, 
                each witness who is to appear before the 
                Committee shall file, in printed copy and in 
                electronic form, a written statement of his or 
                her proposed testimony and a curriculum vitae.

                (2) LEach witness shall limit his or her 
                presentation to a five minute summary, however 
                additional time may be granted by the Chair 
                when appropriate.

                (3) LThe Chair, or any Member of the Committee 
                designated by the Chair, may administer oaths 
                to witnesses before the Committee.

                (4) LWhenever any hearing is conducted by the 
                Committee on any 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 the measure 
                or matter during at least one day of hearing 
                thereon.

                (5) LIn 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 any 
                Federal grants, cooperative agreements, or 
                contracts, or contracts or payments originating 
                with a foreign government, received during the 
                current calendar year or either of the two 
                previous calendar years by the witness or by an 
                entity represented by the witness and related 
                to the subject matter of the hearing. The 
                disclosure shall include the amount and source 
                of each Federal grant (or subgrant thereof), 
                cooperative agreement, or contract (or 
                subcontract thereof) related to the subject 
                matter of the hearing; and the amount and 
                country of origin of any payment or contract 
                related to the subject matter of the hearing 
                originating with a foreign government. Such 
                statements, with appropriate redactions to 
                protect the privacy or security of the witness, 
                shall be made publicly available in electronic 
                form not later than one day after the witness 
                appears.

        (c) LQUESTIONING OF WITNESSES.--

                (1) LThe right to interrogate a witness before 
                the Committee shall alternate between Majority 
                and Minority Members of the Committee. Each 
                Member shall be limited to five minutes in the 
                interrogation of witnesses. No Member may be 
                recognized for a second period of interrogation 
                until each Member present, who wishes to be 
                recognized, has been recognized at least once.

                (2) LNotwithstanding clause 1, upon a motion 
                the Chair, in consultation with the Ranking 
                Minority Member, may:

                        (i) LDesignate a specified number of 
                        Members of the Committee from each 
                        party to question a witness for a 
                        period of time equally divided between 
                        the majority party and the minority 
                        party, not to exceed one hour in the 
                        aggregate; or

                        (ii) LDesignate staff from each party 
                        to question a witness for a period of 
                        time equally divided between the 
                        majority party and the minority party, 
                        not to exceed one hour in the 
                        aggregate.

                (3) LMembers of the Committee have two weeks 
                from the date of a hearing to submit additional 
                questions in writing for the record to be 
                answered by witnesses who have appeared before 
                the Committee. The letters of transmittal and 
                any responses thereto shall be included in the 
                hearing record.

        (d) LCLAIMS OF PRIVILEGE.--Claims of common-law 
        privileges made by witnesses in hearings, or by 
        interviewees or deponents in investigations or 
        inquiries, are applicable only at the discretion of the 
        Chair, subject to appeal to the Committee.

        (e) LPUBLICATION OF TRANSCRIPTS.--The transcripts of 
        those hearings conducted by the Committee, when it is 
        decided they will be printed, shall be published in 
        substantially verbatim form, with the material 
        requested for the record inserted at that place 
        requested, or at the end of the record, as appropriate. 
        Individuals, including Members, whose comments are to 
        be published as part of a Committee document shall be 
        given the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the 
        transcription in advance of publication. Any requests 
        by those Members, staff, or witnesses to correct any 
        errors other than errors in the transcript, or disputed 
        errors in transcription, shall be appended to the 
        record, and the appropriate place where the change is 
        requested will be footnoted. Prior to approval by the 
        Chair of hearings conducted jointly with another 
        Congressional Committee, a memorandum of understanding 
        shall be prepared which incorporates an agreement for 
        the publication of the transcript.

        (f) LPERTINENCE OF TESTIMONY.--At the discretion of the 
        Committee, brief and pertinent statements may be 
        submitted in writing for inclusion in the record. The 
        Committee is the sole judge of the pertinence of 
        testimony and evidence adduced at its hearing.

Rule IV. REPORTS

        (a) LBills and resolutions approved by the Committee 
        shall be reported by the Chair pursuant to clauses 2-4 
        of House Rule XIII.

        (b) LA proposed investigative or oversight report shall 
        be considered as read if it has been available to the 
        Members of the Committee for at least 24 hours 
        (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays except 
        when the House is in session on such days).

        (c) LEvery 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, 
        additional, or dissenting views that Member shall be 
        entitled to file such views.

        (d) LOnly those investigative or oversight reports 
        approved by a majority vote of the Committee may be 
        ordered printed, unless otherwise required by House 
        Rules.

Rule V. BROADCASTING

        (a) LWhenever a meeting for the transaction of 
        business, including the markup of legislation or a 
        hearing is open to the public, that meeting or hearing 
        shall be open to coverage by television, radio, and 
        still photography in accordance with clause 4 of House 
        Rule XI.

        (b) LTo the maximum extent practicable, the Committee 
        shall provide audio and visual 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 maintain the recordings of such 
        coverage in a manner that is easily accessible to the 
        public. Operation and use of any Committee internet 
        broadcast system shall be fair and nonpartisan, and in 
        accordance with clauses 4 (b) and (f) of House Rule XI 
        and all other applicable rules of the Committee and the 
        House.

Rule VI. SUBCOMMITTEES

        (a) LCOMMITTEE JURISDICTION.--The Committee shall have 
        jurisdiction over such matters as determined by the 
        Chair.

        (b) LSUBCOMMITTEES AND JURISDICTION.--There shall be 
        five standing Subcommittees of the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology, with jurisdictions as 
        follows:

                (1) LSubcommittee on Energy. Shall have 
                jurisdiction over the following subject 
                matters: all matters relating to energy 
                research, development, and demonstration 
                projects therefor; commercial application of 
                energy technology; Department of Energy 
                research, development, and demonstration 
                programs; Department of Energy laboratories; 
                Department of Energy science activities; energy 
                supply activities; nuclear, solar, and 
                renewable energy, and other advanced energy 
                technologies; uranium supply and enrichment, 
                and Department of Energy waste management; 
                fossil energy research and development; clean 
                coal technology; energy conservation research 
                and development, including building 
                performance, alternate fuels, distributed power 
                systems, and industrial process improvements; 
                pipeline research, development, and 
                demonstration projects; energy standards; other 
                appropriate matters as referred by the Chair; 
                and relevant oversight.

                (2) LSubcommittee on Environment. Shall have 
                jurisdiction over the following subject 
                matters: all matters relating to environmental 
                research; Environmental Protection Agency 
                research and development; environmental 
                standards; climate change research and 
                development; the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration, including all 
                activities related to weather, weather 
                services, climate, the atmosphere, marine 
                fisheries, and oceanic research; risk 
                assessment activities; scientific issues 
                related to environmental policy, including 
                climate change; remote sensing data related to 
                climate change at the National Aeronautics and 
                Space Administration (NASA); earth science 
                activities conducted by NASA; other appropriate 
                matters as referred by the Chair; and relevant 
                oversight.

                (3) LSubcommittee on Research and Technology. 
                Shall have jurisdiction over the following 
                subject matters: all matters relating to 
                science policy and science education; the 
                Office of Science and Technology Policy; all 
                scientific research, and scientific and 
                engineering resources (including human 
                resources); all matters relating to science, 
                technology, engineering and mathematics 
                education; intergovernmental mechanisms for 
                research, development, and demonstration and 
                cross-cutting programs; international 
                scientific cooperation; National Science 
                Foundation; university research policy, 
                including infrastructure and overhead; 
                university research partnerships, including 
                those with industry; science scholarships; 
                computing, communications, networking, and 
                information technology; research and 
                development relating to health, biomedical, and 
                nutritional programs; research, development, 
                and demonstration relating to nanoscience, 
                nanoengineering, and nanotechnology; 
                agricultural, geological, biological and life 
                sciences research; materials research, 
                development, demonstration, and policy; all 
                matters relating to competitiveness, 
                technology, standards, and innovation; 
                standardization of weights and measures, 
                including technical standards, standardization, 
                and conformity assessment; measurement, 
                including the metric system of measurement; the 
                Technology Administration of the Department of 
                Commerce; the National Institute of Standards 
                and Technology; the National Technical 
                Information Service; competitiveness, including 
                small business competitiveness; tax, antitrust, 
                regulatory and other legal and governmental 
                policies related to technological development 
                and commercialization; technology transfer, 
                including civilian use of defense technologies; 
                patent and intellectual property policy; 
                international technology trade; research, 
                development, and demonstration activities of 
                the Department of Transportation; surface and 
                water transportation research, development, and 
                demonstration programs; earthquake programs and 
                fire research programs, including those related 
                to wildfire proliferation research and 
                prevention; biotechnology policy; research, 
                development, demonstration, and standards-
                related activities of the Department of 
                Homeland Security; Small Business Innovation 
                Research and Technology Transfer; voting 
                technologies and standards; other appropriate 
                matters as referred by the Chair; and relevant 
                oversight.

                (4) LSubcommittee on Space. Shall have 
                jurisdiction over the following subject 
                matters: all matters relating to astronautical 
                and aeronautical research and development; 
                national space policy, including access to 
                space; sub-orbital access and applications; 
                National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
                and its contractor and government-operated 
                labs; space commercialization, including 
                commercial space activities relating to the 
                Department of Transportation and the Department 
                of Commerce; exploration and use of outer 
                space; international space cooperation; the 
                National Space Council; space applications, 
                space communications and related matters; Earth 
                remote sensing policy; civil aviation research, 
                development, and demonstration; research, 
                development, and demonstration programs of the 
                Federal Aviation Administration; space law; 
                other appropriate matters as referred by the 
                Chair; and relevant oversight.

                (5) LSubcommittee on Oversight. Shall have 
                general and special investigative authority on 
                all matters within the jurisdiction of the 
                Committee.

        (c) LCOMPOSITION OF SUBCOMMITTEES.--

                (1) LThe Chair shall assign Members to the 
                Subcommittees. Minority party assignments shall 
                be made only with the concurrence of the 
                Ranking Minority Member. The Chair shall 
                determine the ratio of Majority Members to 
                Minority Members of each Subcommittee; provided 
                that the ratio of Majority Members to Minority 
                Members on each Subcommittee (excluding any ex 
                officio Member) shall be no less favorable to 
                the majority party than the ratio for the 
                Committee.

                (2) LThe Chair and Ranking Minority Member of 
                the Committee shall be ex officio Members of 
                each Subcommittee to which such Chair or 
                Ranking Minority Member has not been assigned 
                by the Chair. They are not authorized to vote 
                on Subcommittee matters. 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.

        (d) LREFERRAL TO SUBCOMMITTEES.--The Chair shall 
        expeditiously refer all legislation and other matters 
        referred to the Committee to the Subcommittee or 
        Subcommittees of appropriate jurisdiction, unless the 
        Chair deems consideration is to be by the Committee. 
        Subcommittee Chairs may make requests for referral of 
        specific matters to their Subcommittee if they believe 
        Subcommittee jurisdictions so warrant.

        (e) LSUBCOMMITTEE PROCEDURES AND REPORTS.--

                (1) LSubcommittee Chairs shall set meeting 
                dates with the concurrence of the Chair and 
                after consultation with the other Subcommittee 
                Chairs with a view toward avoiding simultaneous 
                scheduling of Subcommittee meetings or hearings 
                wherever possible. No Subcommittee may meet or 
                hold a hearing at the same time as a meeting or 
                hearing of the Committee without authorization 
                from the Chair.

                (2) LEach Subcommittee is authorized to meet, 
                hold hearings, receive testimony or evidence, 
                mark up legislation, and report to the 
                Committee on all matters referred to it. For 
                matters within its jurisdiction, each 
                Subcommittee is authorized to conduct 
                legislative, investigative, forecasting, and 
                general oversight hearings; to conduct 
                inquiries into the future; and to undertake 
                budget impact studies.

                (3) LEach Subcommittee shall provide the 
                Committee with copies of such records of votes 
                taken in the Subcommittee and such other 
                records with respect to the Subcommittee as the 
                Chair of the Committee deems necessary to 
                ensure compliance with the House Rules.

                (4) LAfter ordering a measure or matter 
                reported, a Subcommittee shall issue a report 
                in such form as the Chair shall specify. To the 
                maximum extent practicable, reports and 
                recommendations of a Subcommittee shall not be 
                considered by the Committee until after the 
                intervention of 48 hours from the time the 
                report is submitted and made available to the 
                Committee. Printed hearings thereon shall be 
                made available, if feasible, to the Committee, 
                except that this Rule may be waived at the 
                discretion of the Chair after consultation with 
                the Ranking Minority Member.

Rule VII. VICE CHAIRS

        (a) LThe Chair of the Committee shall designate a 
        Member of the majority party to serve as Vice Chair of 
        the Committee, and shall designate a Majority Member of 
        each Subcommittee to serve as Vice Chair of the 
        Subcommittee. Vice Chairs of the Committee and each 
        Subcommittee serve at the pleasure of the Chair, who 
        may at any time terminate his designation of a Member 
        as Vice Chair and designate a different Member of the 
        majority party to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee 
        or relevant Subcommittee.

        (b) LThe Chair may assign duties, privileges, and 
        responsibilities to the Vice Chairs of the Committee or 
        the various Subcommittees.

Rule VIII. OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS

        (a) LThe Committee shall review and study, on a 
        continuing basis, the application, administration, 
        execution, and effectiveness of those laws, or parts of 
        laws, the subject matter of which is within its 
        jurisdiction, including all laws, programs, and 
        Government activities relating to nonmilitary research 
        and development in accordance with House 
        Rule X.

        (b) LNot later than February 15th of the first session 
        of the 115th Congress, the Committee shall meet in open 
        session, with a quorum present, to adopt its 
        authorization and oversight plan for submission to the 
        Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the 
        Committee on House Administration in accordance with 
        the provisions of clause 2(d) of House Rule X.

        (c) LAny investigation undertaken in the name of the 
        Committee shall be approved by the Chair. Nothing in 
        this subsection shall be interpreted to infringe on a 
        Subcommittee's authority to conduct general oversight 
        of matters within its jurisdiction, short of 
        undertaking an investigation.

Rule IX. SUBPOENAS

    The power to authorize and issue subpoenas is delegated to 
the Chair as provided for under clause 2(m)(3)(A)(i) of House 
Rule XI.

RULE X. DEPOSITION AUTHORITY

    The Chair may authorize the staff of the Committee to 
conduct depositions pursuant to section 3(b) of House 
Resolution 5, 115th Congress, and subject to any regulations 
issued pursuant thereto.

RULE XI. COMMITTEE RECORDS

        (a) LThe records of the Committee at the National 
        Archives and Records Administration shall be made 
        available for public use in accordance with House Rule 
        VII.

        (b) LThe Chair shall notify the Ranking Minority Member 
        of the Committee of any decision, pursuant to clauses 
        3(b)(3) or 4(b) of House 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.

RULE XII. OFFICIAL COMMITTEE WEBSITE

    The Chair 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 of the 
Committee 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.

RULE XIII. COMMITTEE BUDGET

    From the amount provided to the Committee in the primary 
expense resolution adopted by the House of Representatives in 
the 115th Congress, the Chair shall designate one-third of the 
budget, after adjustment for the salaries of the shared 
administrative functions for the Clerk, Printer and Financial 
Administrator, under the direction of the Ranking Minority 
Member for the purposes of minority staff, travel expenses of 
minority staff and Members, and all other minority office 
expenses.

RULE XIV. AMENDMENTS TO COMMITTEE RULES

    The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended, or 
repealed, in the same manner and method as prescribed for the 
adoption of committee rules in clause 2 of House Rule XI, but 
only if written notice of the proposed change has been provided 
to each such Member at least 3 days before the time of the 
meeting at which the vote on the change occurs. Any such change 
in the rules of the Committee shall be published in the 
Congressional Record within 30 calendar days after their 
approval.

                                   [all]