[House Prints, 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                         Rules for the Committee

                                    on

                            Natural Resources

                               __________

                      U.S. House of Representatives

                               __________

                                 
                              116th Congress
                                 
                               __________


[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]                               


                         Adopted January 30, 2019

                        Printed for the use of the
                      Committee on Natural Resources
                      
                      
                      
    

                      U.S. House of Representatives

                      Committee on Natural Resources

                                116 Congress

                   1324 Longworth House Office Building

                          Washington, D.C. 20515

                        Telephone: (202) 225-2761

                               __________

                              (Ratio: 26-19)

                       RAUL M. GRIJALVA, AZ, Chair

                     DEBRA A. HAALAND, NM, Vice Chair

    GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, CNMI, Vice Chair, Insular Affairs

                ROB BISHOP, UT, Ranking Republican Member

Grace F. Napolitano, CA              Don Young, AK
Jim Costa, CA                        Louie Gohmert, TX
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,      Doug Lamborn, CO
CNMI                                 Robert J. Wittman, VA
Jared Huffman, CA                    Tom McClintock, CA
Alan S. Lowenthal, CA                Paul A. Gosar, AZ
Ruben Gallego, AZ                    Paul Cook, CA
TJ Cox, CA                           Bruce Westerman, AR
Joe Neguse, CO                       Garret Graves, LA
Mike Levin, CA                       Jody B. Hice, GA
Debra A. Haaland, NM                 Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, AS
Jefferson Van Drew, NJ               Daniel Webster, FL
Joe Cunningham, SC                   Liz Cheney, WY
Nydia M. Velazquez, NY               Mike Johnson, LA
Diana DeGette, CO                    Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, PR
Wm. Lacy Clay, MO                    John R. Curtis, UT
Debbie Dingell, MI                   Kevin Hern, OK
Anthony G. Brown, MD                 Russ Fulcher, ID
A. Donald McEachin, VA
Darren Soto, FL
Ed Case, HI
Steven Horsford, NV
Michael F. Q. San Nicolas, GU
Vacancy
Vacancy
Vacancy

                      David Watkins, Chief of Staff
                         Sarah Lim, Chief Counsel
                 Parish Braden, Republican Staff Director
                    http://naturalresources.house.gov
                                      
 
RULE 1. RULES OF THE HOUSE; VICE CHAIRS
  (a) Applicability of House Rules.

(1) The Rules of the House of Representatives, so far as they are 
applicable, are the rules of the Committee on Natural Resources 
(hereinafter in these rules referred to as the ``Committee'') and its 
Subcommittees.

(2) Each Subcommittee is part of the Committee and is subject to the 
authority, direction and rules of the Committee. References in these rules 
to ``Committee'' and ``Chair'' shall apply to each Subcommittee and its 
Chair wherever applicable.

(3) House Rule XI is incorporated and made a part of the rules of the 
Committee to the extent applicable.

  (b) Vice Chair.--Unless inconsistent with other rules, the Chair shall 
designate a Vice Chair of the Committee and appoint Vice Chairs of the 
Subcommittees. If the Chair of the Committee or Subcommittee is not 
present at any meeting of the Committee or Subcommittee, as the case may 
be, the Vice Chair shall preside. If the Vice Chair is not present, the 
Ranking Member of the Majority party on the Committee or Subcommittee who 
is present, or the Chair's designee, shall preside at that meeting.

RULE 2. MEETINGS IN GENERAL
  (a) Scheduled Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at 10 a.m. the first 
Wednesday of each month when the House is in session if so noticed by the 
Chair under Committee Rule 3(a). The Committee shall also meet at the 
call of the Chair subject to advance notice to all Members of the 
Committee. Special meetings shall be called and convened by the Chair as 
provided in clause 2(c)(1) of House Rule XI. Any Committee meeting or 
hearing that conflicts with a party caucus, conference, or similar party 
meeting shall be rescheduled at the discretion of the Chair, in 
consultation with the Ranking Minority Member. The 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.
  (b) Open Meetings.--Each meeting for the transaction of business, 
including the markup of legislation, and each hearing of the Committee or 
a Subcommittee shall be open to the public, except as provided by clause 
2(g) and clause 2(k) of House Rule XI.
  (c) Broadcasting.--Whenever 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 clauses 2(a)(1) and 4 of House 
Rule XI. The provisions of clause 4(f) of House Rule XI are specifically 
made part of these rules by reference. To 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 clause 4(b) of 
House Rule XI and all other applicable rules of the Committee and the 
House.
  (d) Oversight Plan.--No later than March 1 of the first session of each 
Congress, the Committee shall prepare and submit its oversight plan for 
that Congress in accordance with clause 2(d) of House Rule X.

RULE 3. MEETING AND HEARING PROCEDURES IN GENERAL
  (a) Notice and Information for Members and the Public.

(1) The Chair shall publicly announce the date, place and subject matter of 
a Committee hearing or meeting in accordance with clause 2(g)(3) of House 
Rule XI.

(2) A hearing or meeting may begin sooner if the Chair, with the 
concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, determines that there is good 
cause to begin the meeting or hearing sooner, or if the Committee so 
determines by majority vote. In these cases, the Chair shall publicly 
announce the meeting or hearing at the earliest possible time. The 
Committee shall promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the Congressional 
Record and shall promptly make publicly available in electronic form the 
appropriate information as soon as possible after the public announcement 
is made.

(3) To the extent practicable, a background memorandum prepared by the 
Majority staff summarizing the major provisions of any bill being 
considered by the Committee, including the need for the bill and its effect 
on current law, will be available for the Members of the Committee and the 
public no later than 48 hours before the meeting.

  (b) Public Availability of Markup Text.--At least 24 hours prior to the 
markup of any legislation (or at the time of an announcement under 
paragraph (a)(2) above made within 24 hours before such meeting), the 
Chair shall cause the text of such legislation to be made publicly 
available in electronic form.
  (c) Meetings and Hearings to Begin Promptly.--Each meeting or hearing 
of the Committee shall begin promptly at the time stipulated in the 
public announcement of the meeting or hearing.
  (d) Addressing the Committee.--A Committee Member may address the 
Committee or a Subcommittee on any bill, motion, or other matter under 
consideration or may question a witness at a hearing only when recognized 
by the Chair for that purpose. The time a Member may address the 
Committee or Subcommittee for any purpose or to question a witness shall 
be limited to five minutes, except as provided in Committee Rule 4(f). 
Members shall limit remarks to the subject matter under consideration.
  (e) Quorums.

(1) A majority of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum 
for the reporting of any measure or recommendation, the authorizing of a 
subpoena, the closing of any meeting or hearing to the public under clause 
2(g)(1), clause 2(g)(2)(A) and clause 2(k)(5)(B) of House Rule XI, and the 
releasing of executive session materials under clause 2(k)(7) of House Rule 
X. Testimony and evidence may be received at any hearing at which there are 
at least two Members of the Committee present. For the purpose of 
transacting all other business of the Committee, one-third of the Members 
shall constitute a quorum.

(2) When a call of the roll is required to ascertain the presence of a 
quorum, the offices of all Members shall be notified and the Members shall 
have not less than 15 minutes to prove their attendance. The Chair shall 
have the discretion to waive this requirement when a quorum is actually 
present or whenever a quorum is secured and may direct the relevant 
Committee staff to note the names of all Members present within the 15-
minute period.

  (f) Participation of Members in Committee and Subcommittees.--Any 
Member of the Committee may sit with any Subcommittee during any meeting 
or hearing, and by unanimous consent of the Members of the Subcommittee, 
may participate in such meeting or hearing. However, a Member who is not 
a Member of the Subcommittee may not vote on any matter before the 
Subcommittee, be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum, or raise 
points of order.
  (g) Proxies.--No vote in the Committee or its Subcommittees may be cast 
by proxy.
  (h) Record Votes.--Record votes shall be ordered on the demand of one-
fifth of the Members present, or by any Member in the apparent absence of 
a quorum.
  (i) Postponed Record Votes.

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Chair may, after consultation with the 
Ranking Minority Member, postpone further proceedings when a record vote is 
ordered on the question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an 
amendment. The Chair shall resume proceedings on a postponed request at any 
time after reasonable notice, but no later than the next meeting day.

(2) Notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous question, when 
proceedings resume on a postponed question under paragraph (1), an 
underlying proposition shall remain subject to further debate or amendment 
to the same extent as when the question was postponed.

(3) This rule shall apply to Subcommittee proceedings.

  (j) Privileged Motions.--A motion to recess from day to day, a motion 
to recess subject to the call of the Chair (within 24 hours), and a 
motion to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or 
resolution if printed copies are available, are nondebatable motions of 
high privilege.
  (k) Layover and Copy of Bill.--No measure or recommendation reported by 
a Subcommittee shall be considered by the Committee until two calendar 
days from the time of Subcommittee action. No bill shall be considered by 
the Committee unless a copy has been delivered to the office of each 
Member of the Committee requesting a copy. These requirements may be 
waived by a majority vote of the Committee at the time of consideration 
of the measure or recommendation.
  (l) Access to Dais and Conference Room.--Access to the hearing rooms' 
daises (and to the conference rooms adjacent to the Committee hearing 
rooms) shall be limited to Members of Congress and employees of the 
Committee during a meeting or hearing of the Committee, except that 
Committee Members' personal staff may be present on the daises if their 
employing Member is the author of a bill or amendment under consideration 
by the Committee, but only during the time that the bill or amendment is 
under active consideration by the Committee. Access to the conference 
rooms adjacent to the Committee hearing rooms shall be limited to Members 
of Congress and employees of Congress during a meeting or hearing of the 
Committee.
  (m) Cellular Telephones and other Electronic Devices.--During a meeting 
of the Committee, ringing or audible sounds or conversational use of 
cellular telephones or other electronic devices is prohibited on the 
Committee dais or in the Committee hearing rooms.
  (n) Motion to go to Conference with the Senate.--The Chair may offer a 
motion under clause 1 of House Rule XXII whenever the Chair considers it 
appropriate.
  (o) Materials for Record.--Other than witness questions for the hearing 
record, materials must be submitted within 10 business days following the 
last day of the hearing or meeting. Witness questions for the hearing 
record must be submitted to the relevant Full Committee staff or 
Subcommittee Clerk within 3 business days following the last day of the 
hearing. The materials submitted must address the subject matter of the 
hearing or meeting. Only a Member of the Committee or an invited witness 
may submit materials for inclusion in the hearing or meeting record.

RULE 4. HEARING PROCEDURES
  (a) Written Statement; Oral Testimony.--Witnesses who are to appear 
before the Committee or a Subcommittee shall file with the relevant Full 
Committee staff or Subcommittee Clerk, at least two business days before 
the day of their appearance, a written statement of their proposed 
testimony. Witnesses shall limit their oral presentation to a five-minute 
summary of the written statement, unless the Chair, in consultation with 
the Ranking Minority Member, extends this time period. Subject to the 
approval of the Committee, the Chair may waive oral testimony of any 
witness who has submitted written testimony for the record.
  In addition, a witness appearing in a nongovernmental capacity shall 
include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure of any Federal grants or 
contracts, or contracts or payments originating with a foreign 
government, received during the current calendar year or either of the 
previous two calendar years by the witness or by the 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) 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. Failure to comply with these 
disclosure requirements may result in the exclusion of the written 
testimony from the hearing record and/or the barring of an oral 
presentation of the testimony.
  (b) Minority Witnesses.--When any hearing is conducted by the Committee 
or any Subcommittee upon any measure or matter, the Minority party 
Members on the Committee or Subcommittee shall be entitled, upon request 
to the Chair by a majority of those Minority Members 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 
hearings thereon.
  (c) Information for Members.--After announcement of a hearing, the 
Committee shall make available as soon as practicable to all Members of 
the Committee a tentative witness list and to the extent practicable the 
Majority staff shall make publicly available a memorandum explaining the 
subject matter of the hearing (including relevant legislative reports and 
other necessary material). In addition, the Chair shall make available to 
the Members of the Committee any official reports from departments and 
agencies on the subject matter as they are received.
  (d) Subpoenas.--The Committee or a Subcommittee may authorize and issue 
a subpoena under clause 2(m) of House Rule XI if authorized by a majority 
of the Members voting. In addition, the Chair of the Committee may 
authorize and issue subpoenas during any period of time in which the 
House of Representatives has adjourned for more than three days and, as 
soon as practicable, the Chair shall notify all Members of the Committee 
of such action. Subpoenas shall be signed only by the Chair of the 
Committee, or any Member of the Committee authorized by the Committee, 
and may be served by any person designated by the Chair or Member.
  (e) Oaths.--The Chair of the Committee, the Chairs of the Subcommittees 
or any Member designated by the Chair may administer oaths to any witness 
before the Committee. All witnesses appearing in hearings may be 
administered the following oath by the Chair or his designee prior to 
receiving the testimony: ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm, under penalty 
of law, that the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?''

  (f) Opening Statements; Questioning of Witnesses.

(1) Opening Statements may be made by the Chair and the Ranking Member or 
their designee. If a witness scheduled to testify at any hearing of the 
Committee is a constituent of a Member of the Committee, that Member may be 
recognized for up to 30 seconds to briefly introduce the witness at the 
hearing.

(2) The questioning of witnesses in Committee and Subcommittee hearings may 
be initiated by the Chair, followed by the Ranking Minority Member and all 
other Members alternating between the Majority and Minority parties. In 
recognizing Members to question witnesses, the Chair shall take into 
consideration the ratio of the Majority to Minority Members present and 
shall establish the order of recognition for questioning in a manner so as 
not to disadvantage the Members of the Majority or the Members of the 
Minority. A motion is in order to allow designated Majority and Minority 
party Members to question a witness for a specified period to be equally 
divided between the Majority and Minority parties. This period shall not 
exceed one hour in the aggregate.

  (g) Claims 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.

RULE 5. FILING OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
  (a) Duty of Chair.--Whenever the Committee authorizes the favorable 
reporting of a measure from the Committee, the Chair or the Chair's 
designee shall report the same to the House of Representatives and shall 
take all steps necessary to secure its passage without any additional 
authority needing to be set forth in the motion to report each individual 
measure. In appropriate cases, the authority set forth in this rule shall 
extend to moving in accordance with the Rules of the House of 
Representatives that the House be resolved into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the 
measure; and to moving in accordance with the Rules of the House of 
Representatives for the disposition of a Senate measure that is 
substantially the same as the House measure as reported.
  (b) Filing.--A report on a measure which has been approved by the 
Committee shall be filed within seven calendar days (exclusive of days on 
which the House of Representatives is not in session) after the day on 
which there has been filed with the relevant Full Committee staff a 
written request, signed by a majority of the Members of the Committee, 
for the reporting of that measure. Upon the filing with the relevant Full 
Committee staff of this request, the staff shall transmit immediately to 
the Chair notice of the filing of that request.
  (c) Supplemental, Additional, Dissenting or Minority Views.--Any Member 
may, if notice is given by any Member at the time a measure or matter is 
approved by the Committee, file supplemental, additional, dissenting or 
minority views. These views must be in writing and signed by each Member 
joining therein and be filed with the Committee Chief Counsel not less 
than two additional calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal 
holidays except when the House is in session on those days) of the time 
the bill or resolution is approved by the Committee. This paragraph shall 
not preclude the filing of any supplemental report on any measure or 
matter that may be required for the correction of any technical error in 
a previous report made by the Committee on that bill or resolution.
  (d) Review by Members.--Each Member of the Committee shall be given an 
opportunity to review each proposed Committee report before it is filed 
with the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Nothing in this paragraph 
extends the time allowed for filing supplemental, additional, dissenting 
or minority views under paragraph (c).
  (e) Disclaimer.--All Committee or Subcommittee reports printed and not 
approved by a majority vote of the Committee or Subcommittee, as 
appropriate, shall contain the following disclaimer on the cover of the 
report: ``This report has not been officially adopted by the (Committee 
on Natural Resources) (Subcommittee) and may not therefore necessarily 
reflect the views of its Members.''

RULE 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEES; FULL COMMITTEE JURISDICTION; BILL 
REFERRALS

  (a) Subcommittees.--There shall be five standing Subcommittees of the 
Committee, with the following jurisdiction and responsibilities:

        Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands

   (1) Measures and matters related to the National Park System and its 
units, including Federal reserved water rights.
   (2) The National Wilderness Preservation System.
   (3) Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System, national 
heritage areas and other national units established for protection, 
conservation, preservation or recreational development, other than 
coastal barriers.
   (4) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries administered 
by the Secretary of the Interior, parks in and within the vicinity of the 
District of Columbia and the erection of monuments to the memory of 
individuals.
   (5) Federal and non-Federal outdoor recreation plans, programs and 
administration including the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 
and the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963.
   (6) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of interest on the 
public domain and other historic preservation programs and activities, 
including national monuments, historic sites and programs for 
international cooperation in the field of historic preservation.
   (7) Matters concerning the following agencies and programs: Urban 
Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, Historic American Buildings 
Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and U.S. Holocaust 
Memorial.
   (8) Public lands generally, including measures or matters relating to 
entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing and Federal reserved water rights.
   (9) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership, including alien 
ownership of mineral lands.
  (10) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
international programs for the protection of the environment and the 
conservation of natural resources otherwise within the jurisdiction of 
the Subcommittee.
  (11) Forest reservations, including management thereof, created from 
the public domain.
  (12) Public forest lands generally, including measures or matters 
related to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing and Federal reserved 
water rights.
  (13) General and continuing oversight and investigative authority over 
activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee.

               Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife

   (1) All measures and matters concerning water resources planning 
conducted pursuant to the Water Resources Planning Act, water resource 
research and development programs and saline water research and 
development.
   (2) Compacts relating to the use and apportionment of interstate 
waters, water rights and major interbasin water or power movement 
programs.
   (3) All measures and matters pertaining to irrigation and reclamation 
projects and other water resources development and recycling programs, 
including policies and procedures.
   (4) Indian water rights and settlements.
   (5) Activities and programs of the Water Resources Division or its 
successor within the U.S. Geological Survey.
   (6) The Endangered Species Act.
   (7) Fisheries management and fisheries research generally, including 
the management of all commercial and recreational fisheries (including 
the reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act), interjurisdictional fisheries, international fisheries 
agreements, aquaculture, seafood safety, and fisheries promotion.
   (8) All matters pertaining to the protection of coastal and marine 
environments, estuarine protection, and coastal barriers.
   (9) Oceanography.
  (10) Ocean engineering, including materials, technology and systems.
  (11) Marine sanctuaries.
  (12) U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
  (13) All matters regarding Antarctica within the Committee's 
jurisdiction.
  (14) Sea Grant programs and marine extension services.
  (15) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
international programs for the protection of the environment and the 
conservation of natural resources otherwise within the jurisdiction of 
the Subcommittee.
  (16) Coastal zone management.
  (17) Wildlife resources, including research, restoration, and 
conservation.
  (18) Measures and matters related to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, including ecological services, fish and aquatic conservation, 
international affairs, migratory birds, national wildlife refuge system, 
wildlife and sport fish restoration, and the Lacey Act.
  (19) General and continuing oversight and investigative authority over 
activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee.

               Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

   (1) Planning for and development of energy from solar and wind 
resources on land belonging to the United States, including the outer 
Continental Shelf.
   (2) All matters and measures affecting geothermal resources.
   (3) Marine hydrokinetic energy development on the outer Continental 
Shelf.
   (4) All matters related to the leasing, development, and conservation 
of fossil fuel resources belonging to the United States, including on the 
outer Continental Shelf and land where the surface is owned by entities 
other than the United States, including decommissioning of relevant 
facilities and reclamation of affected areas.
   (5) Mitigation of energy and mining related impacts on Federal lands 
and resources.
   (6) Terrestrial and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide, except 
for matters involving implementation of land or forestry management 
strategies.
   (7) All measures and matters concerning the Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement.
   (8) All measures and matters concerning the U.S. Geological Survey, 
except for the activities and programs of the Water Resources Division or 
its successor.
   (9) Collection and management of energy and mineral revenues.
  (10) Mining interests generally, including all matters involving mining 
regulation and enforcement, including the reclamation of mined lands, the 
environmental effects of mining, mineral land laws and claims, long-range 
mineral programs, and seabed mining.
  (11) Conservation of United States uranium supply.
  (12) Geospatial data collection and management, except for nautical 
charts (or data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration).
  (13) Helium supply and management of the Federal helium program.
  (14) Rights-of-way over public lands for pipeline transportation of 
oil, natural gas, carbon dioxide, and helium.
  (15) Measures and matters concerning the transportation of natural gas 
from or within Alaska and disposition of oil transported by the trans-
Alaska oil pipeline.
  (16) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
international programs for the protection of the environment and the 
conservation of natural resources otherwise within the jurisdiction of 
the Subcommittee.
  (17) Generation and marketing of electric power from Federal water 
projects by Federally chartered or Federal regional power marketing 
authorities.
  (18) Rights-of-way over public lands for energy-related transmission.
  (19) General and continuing oversight and investigative authority over 
activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee.

         Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States

   (1) All matters related to the Federal trust responsibility to Native 
Americans and the sovereignty of Native Americans.
   (2) Measures relating to the welfare of Native Americans, including 
management of Indian lands in general and special measures relating to 
claims which are paid out of Indian funds.
   (3) All matters regarding Native Alaskans.
   (4) All matters regarding the relations of the United States with 
Native Americans and Native American tribes, including special oversight 
functions under House Rule X.
   (5) All matters regarding Native Hawaiians.
   (6) General and continuing oversight and investigative authority over 
activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee.

               Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

   (1) Primary and general oversight and investigative authority on all 
activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of the 
Committee under House Rule X.

  (b) Full Committee.--The following measures and matters shall be 
retained at the Full Committee:

(1) Environmental and habitat measures of general applicability, including 
the National Environmental Policy Act.

(2) All matters regarding insular areas of the United States.

(3) All measures or matters regarding the Freely Associated States.

(4) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve international 
programs for the protection of the environment and the conservation of 
natural resources otherwise within the jurisdiction of the Full Committee.

(5) All other measures and matters retained by the Full Committee, 
including those retained under Committee Rule 6(e).

(6) General and continuing oversight and investigative authority over 
activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of the Full 
Committee.

  (c) Ex-officio Members.--The Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the 
Committee may serve as ex-officio Members of each standing Subcommittee 
to which the Chair or the Ranking Minority Member have not been assigned. 
Ex-officio Members shall have the right to fully participate in 
Subcommittee activities but may not vote and may not be counted in 
establishing a quorum.
  (d) Powers and Duties of Subcommittees.--Each Subcommittee is 
authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence and report to the 
Committee on all matters within its jurisdiction. Each Subcommittee shall 
review and study on a continuing basis the application, administration, 
execution and effectiveness of those statutes, or parts of statutes, the 
subject matter of which is within that Subcommittee's jurisdiction; and 
the organization, operation, and regulations of any Federal agency or 
entity having responsibilities in or for the administration of such 
statutes, to determine whether these statutes are being implemented and 
carried out in accordance with the intent of Congress. Each Subcommittee 
shall review and study any conditions or circumstances indicating the 
need for enacting new or supplemental legislation within the jurisdiction 
of the Subcommittee. Each Subcommittee shall have general and continuing 
oversight and investigative authority over activities, policies and 
programs within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
  (e) Referral to Subcommittees; Recall.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and for those measures or matters 
retained at the Full Committee, every legislative measure or other matter 
referred to the Committee shall be referred to the maximum extent possible 
to the Subcommittee of jurisdiction within two weeks of the date of its 
referral to the Committee. If any measure or matter is within or affects 
the jurisdiction of one or more Subcommittees, the Chair may refer that 
measure or matter simultaneously to two or more Subcommittees for 
concurrent consideration or for consideration in sequence subject to 
appropriate time limits, or divide the matter into two or more parts and 
refer each part to a Subcommittee.

(2) The Chair, with the approval of a majority of the Majority Members of 
the Committee, may refer a legislative measure or other matter to a select 
or special Subcommittee. A legislative measure or other matter referred by 
the Chair to a Subcommittee may be recalled from the Subcommittee for 
direct consideration by the Full Committee, or for referral to another 
Subcommittee, provided Members of the Committee receive one week written 
notice of the recall and a majority of the Members of the Committee do not 
object. In addition, a legislative measure or other matter referred by the 
Chair to a Subcommittee may be recalled from the Subcommittee at any time 
by majority vote of the Committee for direct consideration by the Full 
Committee or for referral to another Subcommittee.

  (f) Consultation.--Each Subcommittee Chair shall consult with the Chair 
of the Full Committee prior to setting dates for Subcommittee meetings 
and hearings with a view toward avoiding whenever possible conflicting 
Committee and Subcommittee meetings and hearings.
  (g) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the membership of a Subcommittee shall not 
affect the power of the remaining Members to execute the functions of the 
Subcommittee.

RULE 7. TASK FORCES, SPECIAL OR SELECT SUBCOMMITTEES
  (a) Appointment.--The Chair of the Committee is authorized, after 
consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, to appoint Task Forces, or 
special or select Subcommittees, to carry out the duties and functions of 
the Committee.
  (b) Ex-officio Members.--The Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the 
Committee may serve as ex-officio Members of each Task Force, or special 
or select Subcommittee if they are not otherwise Members. Ex-officio 
Members shall have the right to fully participate in activities but may 
not vote and may not be counted in establishing a quorum.
  (c) Party Ratios.--The ratio of Majority Members to Minority Members, 
excluding ex-officio Members, on each Task Force, special or select 
Subcommittee shall be as close as practicable to the ratio on the Full 
Committee.
  (d) Temporary Resignation.--Members can temporarily resign their 
position on a Subcommittee to serve on a Task Force, special or select 
Subcommittee without prejudice to the Member's seniority on the 
Subcommittee.
  (e) Chair and Ranking Minority Member.--The Chair of any Task Force, or 
special or select Subcommittee shall be appointed by the Chair of the 
Committee. The Ranking Minority Member shall select a Ranking Minority 
Member for each Task Force, or standing, special or select Subcommittee.

RULE 8. RECOMMENDATION OF CONFEREES
  Whenever it becomes necessary to appoint conferees on a particular 
measure, the Chair shall recommend to the Speaker as conferees those 
Majority Members primarily responsible for the measure. Similarly, the 
Ranking Member shall recommend to the Minority Leader as conferees those 
Minority Members primarily responsible for the measure. The ratio of 
Majority Members to Minority Members recommended for conferences shall be 
no greater than the ratio on the Committee.

RULE 9. COMMITTEE RECORDS
  (a) Segregation of Records.--All Committee records shall be kept 
separate and distinct from the office records of individual Committee 
Members serving as Chairs or Ranking Minority Members. These records 
shall be the property of the House and all Members shall have access to 
them in accordance with clause 2(e)(2) of House Rule XI.
  (b) Availability.--The Committee shall make available to the public for 
review at reasonable times in the Committee office transcripts of public 
meetings and hearings, except those that are unrevised or unedited and 
intended solely for the use of the Committee.
  (c) Archived Records.--Records of the Committee which are deposited 
with the National Archives shall be made available for public use 
pursuant to House Rule VII. The Chair shall notify the Ranking Minority 
Member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of 
House Rule VII, to withhold, or to provide a time, schedule or condition 
for availability of any record otherwise available. At the written 
request of any Member of the Committee, the matter shall be presented to 
the Committee for a determination and shall be subject to the same notice 
and quorum requirements for the conduct of business under Committee Rule 
3.
  (d) Records of Closed Meetings.--Notwithstanding the other provisions 
of this rule, no records of Committee meetings or hearings which were 
closed to the public pursuant to the Rules of the House of 
Representatives shall be released to the public unless the Committee 
votes to release those records in accordance with the procedure used to 
close the Committee meeting.
  (e) Classified Materials.--All classified materials shall be maintained 
in an appropriately secured location and shall be released only to 
authorized persons for review, who shall not remove the material from the 
Committee offices without the written permission of the Chair.
  (f) Committee Information Available for the Public.--In addition to any 
other requirement of these rules or the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Chair shall cause to be made available publicly in 
electronic form the following:

(1) a record of the votes on any question on which a recorded vote is taken 
which shall be posted no later than 24 hours after the vote is taken that 
shall include:

L  (i) a copy of the amendment or a detailed description of the motion, 
order or other proposition; and

L  (ii) the name of each Member voting for and each Member voting against 
such amendment, motion, order, or proposition, the names of those Members 
voting present, and the names of any Member not present.

(2) copies of all amendments adopted in Committee by voice vote or 
unanimous consent within 24 hours of the adoption of the amendment.

(3) the rules of the Committee, once adopted, and any amendments thereto, 
in accordance with clause 2(a)(2) of House Rule XI.

(4) the statements required under the second sentence of clause 2(g)(5) of 
House Rule XI, with appropriate redactions to protect the privacy of the 
witness, which shall be posted no later than one day after the witness 
appears before the Committee.

RULE 10. COMMITTEE BUDGET AND EXPENSES
  (a) Budget.--At the beginning of each Congress, after consultation with 
the Chair of each Subcommittee and the Ranking Minority Member, the Chair 
shall present to the Committee for its approval a budget covering the 
funding required for staff, travel, and miscellaneous expenses.
  (b) Expense Resolution.--Upon approval by the Committee of each budget, 
the Chair, acting pursuant to clause 6 of House Rule X, shall prepare and 
introduce in the House a supporting expense resolution, and take all 
action necessary to bring about its approval by the Committee on House 
Administration and by the House of Representatives.
  (c) Amendments.--The Chair shall report to the Committee any amendments 
to each expense resolution and any related changes in the budget.
  (d) Additional Expenses.--Authorization for the payment of additional 
or unforeseen Committee expenses may be procured by one or more 
additional expense resolutions processed in the same manner as set out 
under this rule.
  (e) Monthly Reports.--Copies of each monthly report prepared by the 
Chair for the Committee on House Administration which shows expenditures 
made during the reporting period and cumulative for the year, anticipated 
expenditures for the projected Committee program, and detailed 
information on travel, shall be available to each Member.

RULE 11. COMMITTEE STAFF
  (a) Rules and Policies.--Committee staff are subject to the provisions 
of clause 9 of House Rule X, as well as any written personnel policies 
the Committee may from time to time adopt.
  (b) Majority and Nonpartisan Staff.--The Chair shall appoint, determine 
the remuneration of, and may remove, the legislative and administrative 
employees of the Committee not assigned to the Minority. The legislative 
and administrative staff of the Committee not assigned to the Minority 
shall be under the general supervision and direction of the Chair, who 
shall establish and assign the duties and responsibilities of Committee 
staff and delegate any authority the Chair determines appropriate.
  (c) Minority Staff.--The Ranking Minority Member of the Committee shall 
appoint, determine the remuneration of, and may remove, the legislative 
and administrative staff assigned to the Minority within the budget 
approved for those purposes. The legislative and administrative staff 
assigned to the Minority shall be under the general supervision and 
direction of the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee who may 
delegate any authority the Ranking Member determines appropriate.
  (d) Availability.--The skills and services of all Committee staff shall 
be available to all Members of the Committee.

RULE 12. COMMITTEE TRAVEL
  In addition to any written travel policies the Committee may from time 
to time adopt, all travel of Members and staff of the Committee or its 
Subcommittees to hearings, meetings, conferences and investigations, 
including all foreign travel, must be authorized by the Full Committee 
Chair prior to any public notice of the travel and prior to the actual 
travel. In the case of Minority staff, all travel shall first be approved 
by the Ranking Minority Member. Funds authorized for the Committee under 
clauses 6 and 7 of House Rule X are for expenses incurred in the 
Committee's activities within the United States.

RULE 13. CHANGES TO COMMITTEE RULES
  The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended, or repealed by a 
majority vote of the Committee provided that written notice of the 
proposed change has been provided to each Member of the Committee prior 
to the meeting date on which the changes are to be discussed and voted on 
consistent with Committee Rule 3(a). A change to the rules of the 
Committee shall be published in the Congressional Record no later than 30 
days after its approval and made publicly available in electronic form.

RULE 14. OTHER PROCEDURES
  The Chair may establish procedures and take actions as may be necessary 
to carry out the rules of the Committee or to facilitate the effective 
administration of the Committee, in accordance with the rules of the 
Committee and the Rules of the House of Representatives.

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