[House Prints, 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Rules for the Committee
on
Natural Resources
__________
U.S. House of Representatives
__________
117th Congress
__________
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Adopted February 18, 2021
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Natural Resources
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Natural Resources
117th Congress
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: (202) 225-6065
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(Ratio: 26-22)
RAUL M. GRIJALVA, AZ, Chair
JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA, Vice Chair
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, CNMI, Vice Chair, Insular Affairs
BRUCE WESTERMAN, AR, Ranking 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 Garret Graves, LA
Joe Neguse, CO Jody B. Hice, GA
Mike Levin, CA Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, AS
Katie Porter, CA Daniel Webster, FL
Teresa Leger Fernandez, NM Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, PR
Nydia M. Velazquez, NY Russ Fulcher, ID
Diana DeGette, CO Pete Stauber, MN
Julia Brownley, CA Thomas P. Tiffany, WI
Debbie Dingell, MI Jerry L. Carl, AL
A. Donald McEachin, VA Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr., MT
Darren Soto, FL Blake D. Moore, UT
Michael F. Q. San Nicolas, GU Yvette Herrell, NM
Jesus G. ``Chuy'' Garcia, IL Lauren Boebert, CO
Ed Case, HI Jay Obernolte, CA
Betty McCollum, MN Cliff Bentz, OR
Steve Cohen, TN
Paul Tonko, NY
Rashida Tlaib, MI
Doris O. Matsui, CA
Lori Trahan, MA
David Watkins, Chief of Staff
Sarah Lim, Chief Counsel
Vivian Moeglein, 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 audio and visual
recordings 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),
and except that the Chair may extend this time period equally for the
majority and minority party for the purpose of Members questioning a
witness who requires an interpreter. 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. 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 under Committee Rule 4(d)(1); 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 XI. 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.
(1) 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.
(2) Any Member of the House who is not a Member of the Committee may sit
with the full Committee or any Subcommittee during any meeting or hearing,
and by unanimous consent of the Members of the Committee or Subcommittee
may participate in such meeting or hearing. Unless otherwise provided by
unanimous consent, such participation includes but is not limited to the
right to seek recognition, to submit materials for the record as described
in Committee Rule 3(o), and to introduce a constituent witness as described
in Committee Rule 4(f)(1). However, a Member of the House who is not a
Member of the Committee may not vote on any matter, be counted for purposes
of establishing a quorum, raise points of order, or offer motions.
(g) Proxies.--No vote in the Committee or its Subcommittees may be cast
by proxy.
(h) Recorded Votes.--Recorded 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 Recorded Votes.
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Chair may, after consultation with the
Ranking Minority Member, postpone further proceedings when a recorded 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 or electronic copies are available and have been
properly circulated by the Chief Clerk or their designee, 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.
During any contagious public health emergency ``covered period''
designated by the Speaker pursuant to H. Res. 965 (116th), as readopted
by subsection 3(s) of H. Res. 8 (117th), each individual physically
present at an official Committee hearing, meeting, or activity must
properly wear a protective face mask in the hearing rooms and conference
rooms.
Carrying or having readily accessible any firearm, dangerous weapon,
explosive, or incendiary device is prohibited within the hearing rooms
and conference rooms, subject only to the U.S. Capitol Police Board's
narrow exceptions for (i) unloaded and secured exhibits by invitation of
the Full Committee Chair, (ii) law enforcement and servicemembers while
engaged in the performance of their duties, and (iii) construction or
demolition work upon written approval of the Capitol Police Board and
certification by the Architect of the Capitol.
(m) Cellular Telephones and other Electronic Devices.--During a meeting
or hearing 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 staff 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 (including a Member
participating as provided in Committee Rule 3(f)) or an invited witness
may submit materials for inclusion in the hearing or meeting record.
(p) Remote Participation.--The Chair may authorize invited witnesses to
appear at Committee or Subcommittee proceedings remotely. The Chair may
authorize Members to participate in Committee or Subcommittee proceedings
remotely: (1) as explicitly authorized by the House, or (2) in the
absence of such House-level provision, with the concurrence of the
Ranking Minority Member. Members and witnesses participating remotely
should appear before a nonpolitical, professionally appropriate
background that is minimally distracting to other Members and witnesses,
to the greatest extent possible.
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 staff, at least two business days before
the day of their appearance, a written statement of their proposed
testimony, including to the extent practicable English translations of
any portions not in English. 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. The Chair may thereby extend this time period for witnesses
who require an interpreter. 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
file such disclosure materials required by clause 2(g)(5) of House Rule
XI. 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. Disclosure materials
may be signed electronically.
(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.
(1) 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.
(2) In addition, the Chair of the Full Committee may authorize and
issue a subpoena subject to the following conditions:
(i) No subpoena shall issue under authority of this Committee Rule 4(d)(2)
until seven calendar days have elapsed after the Chair of the Committee has
consulted with the Ranking Member regarding such subpoena. Such
consultation shall be in writing and shall include a justification for the
proposed subpoena, a copy of the subpoena, and any production schedules.
(ii) No subpoena shall issue under authority of this Committee Rule 4(d)(2)
if a majority of the Members of the Committee, within the seven-day
consultation period, request of the Chair in writing a special meeting of
the Committee to consider the proposed subpoena under Committee Rule
4(d)(1).
(3) Subpoenas shall be signed only by the Chair of the Committee or any
Member of the Committee authorized by the Committee. Subpoenas may be
served by any person designated by the Chair or the authorized signing
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 (including a Member
participating under Committee Rule 3(f)), 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. Subject to the
approval of the Chair and the Ranking Minority Member, staff may make
necessary technical and conforming changes to measures that the Committee
has authorized to be reported favorably.
(b) Filing.--A report on a measure that 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 therefore may not 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 that 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's 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 that 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 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 that 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.--As required by 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.
(2) copies of all amendments adopted, voted down, or withdrawn.
(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.
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 that 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.
RULE 15. DEPOSITION AUTHORITY
(a) Generally.--The Chair of the Committee, upon consultation with the
Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, may order the taking of
depositions, under oath and pursuant to notice or subpoena. Depositions
taken under the authority prescribed in this section shall not be
inconsistent with House Rules, resolutions, and orders, including any
applicable deposition regulations issued by the Chair of the House Rules
Committee and printed in the Congressional Record.
(b) Notices.--Notices for the taking of depositions shall specify the
date, time, and place of examination. All Members shall also receive
three calendar days' written notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
legal holidays, unless the House is in session on such days) that a
deposition has been scheduled, except in exigent circumstances.
Depositions may continue from day to day.
(c) Oaths.--Depositions shall be taken under oath administered by a
Member or a person otherwise authorized to administer oaths.
(d) Consultation.--Consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the
Committee shall include three calendar days' notice (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays, unless the House is in session on such
days), and a copy of a proposed deposition subpoena, if applicable,
before any deposition is taken. Any such subpoena must be authorized
pursuant to Committee Rule 4(d) to be issued.
(e) Attendance.--Witnesses may be accompanied at a deposition by
counsel to advise them of their rights. No one may be present at
depositions except Members, Committee staff designated by the Chair of
the Committee or the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, an
official reporter, the witness, and the witness's counsel. Observers or
counsel for other persons, or for agencies under investigation, may not
attend.
(f) Joint Depositions.--The Chair of the Committee may designate a
deposition as part of a joint investigation between committees, and in
that case, provide notice to Members of both committees.
(g) Who May Question.--A deposition shall be conducted by any Member or
counsel designated by the Chair of the Committee or Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee. When depositions are conducted by Committee
counsel, there shall be no more than two Committee counsel permitted to
question a witness per round. One of the Committee counsel shall be
designated by the Chair of the Committee and the other by the Ranking
Minority Member of the Committee. Other Committee staff members
designated by the Chair of the Committee or Ranking Minority Member of
the Committee may attend but may not pose questions to the witness.
(h) Order of Questions.--Questions in the deposition shall be
propounded in rounds, alternating between the majority and minority. A
single round shall not exceed 60 minutes per side, unless the Members or
counsel conducting the deposition agree to a different length of
questioning. In each round, the Member(s) or Committee counsel designated
by the Chair of the Committee shall ask questions first, and the
Member(s) or Committee counsel designated by the Ranking Minority Member
of the Committee shall ask questions second.
(i) Objections.--Any objection made during a deposition must be stated
concisely and in a non-argumentative and non-suggestive manner. The
witness may refuse to answer a question only to preserve a privilege.
When the witness has refused to answer a question to preserve a
privilege, Members or staff may (i) proceed with the deposition, or (ii)
either at that time or at a subsequent time, seek a ruling from the Chair
either by telephone or otherwise. If the Chair of the Committee overrules
any such objection during the deposition, the witness shall be ordered to
answer. If following the deposition's recess, the Chair of the Committee
overrules any such objection and thereby orders a witness to answer any
question to which a privilege objection was lodged, such ruling shall be
filed with the clerk of the Committee and shall be provided to the
Members and the witness no less than three days before the reconvened
deposition. If a Member of the Committee appeals in writing the ruling of
the Chair, the appeal shall be preserved for Committee consideration. A
deponent who refuses to answer a question after being directed by the
Chair in writing, or orally during the proceeding as reflected in the
record, may be subject to sanction, except that no sanctions may be
imposed if the ruling of the Chair is reversed by the Committee on
appeal.
(j) Record of Testimony.--Committee staff shall ensure that the
testimony is either transcribed or electronically recorded or both. If a
witness's testimony is transcribed, the witness or the witness's counsel
shall be afforded an opportunity to review a copy. No later than five
days after the witness has been notified of the opportunity to review the
transcript, the witness may submit suggested changes to the Chair of the
Committee. Committee staff may make any typographical and technical
changes. Substantive changes, modifications, clarifications, or
amendments to the deposition transcript submitted by the witness must be
accompanied by a letter signed by the witness requesting the changes and
a statement of the witness's reasons for each proposed change. Any
substantive changes, modifications, clarifications, or amendments shall
be included as an appendix to the transcript conditioned upon the witness
signing the transcript.
(k) Transcription Requirements.-- The individual administering the
oath, if other than a Member, shall certify on the transcript that the
witness was duly sworn. The transcriber shall certify that the transcript
is a true record of the testimony, and the transcript shall be filed,
together with any electronic recording, with the clerk of the Committee
in Washington, D.C. Depositions shall be considered to have been taken in
Washington, D.C., as well as the location actually taken once filed there
with the clerk of the Committee for the Committee's use. The Chair of the
Committee and the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee shall be
provided with a copy of the transcripts of the deposition at the same
time.
(l) Release.--The Chair of the Committee and Ranking Minority Member of
the Committee shall consult in advance regarding the release of
deposition testimony, transcripts, or recordings, and portions thereof.
If either objects in writing to a proposed release of a deposition
testimony, transcript or recording, or a portion thereof, the matter
shall be promptly referred to the Committee for resolution.
(m) Provision of Rules to Witnesses.--A witness shall not be required
to testify unless the witness has been provided with a copy of the
Committee's rules.
RULE 16. FORUMS AND ROUNDTABLES
(a) Generally.--At the beginning of each forum or roundtable hosted by
the Committee, the Member convening the forum or roundtable shall make
the following statement: ``This event is not an official hearing or
meeting of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Documents produced
to support this forum may not necessarily reflect the views of the
Committee or its Members.''
(b) Disclaimer.--All documents generated for the purpose of a Committee
forum or roundtable shall contain the following disclaimer on the cover
of the document: ``This document has not been officially adopted by the
(Committee on Natural Resources) (Subcommittee) and therefore may not
necessarily reflect the views of its Members.''
RULE 17. MEMBER DAY HEARING REQUIREMENT
To the extent required by House Rules, the Committee or each
Subcommittee thereof (other than the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations) shall hold a hearing at which it receives testimony from
Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner on proposed legislation
within its jurisdiction.
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