[House Prints 118-1]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



118th Congress }
 1st Session   }       HOUSE COMMITTEE PRINT NO. 1

_______________________________________________________________________

                                     

 
                      COMMITTEE RULES OF PROCEDURE

                                FOR THE

                             118TH CONGRESS

                                 OF THE

                            HOUSE COMMITTEE

                                   ON

                           VETERANS' AFFAIRS


                            FEBRUARY 8, 2023

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


 February 8, 2023.--Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' 
                Affairs of the House of Representatives              
                
                
                
                
                             ______

             U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
  51-183                WASHINGTON : 2023
 
                
                
                
                
                
                
                     COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                     MIKE BOST, Illinois, Chairman

AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN,       MARK TAKANO, California, Ranking 
    American Samoa, Vice-Chairwoman      Member
JACK BERGMAN, Michigan               JULIA BROWNLEY, California
NANCY MACE, South Carolina           MIKE LEVIN, California
MATTHEW M. ROSENDALE, Montana        CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire
MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa       FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana
GREGORY F. MURPHY, North Carolina    SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, 
C. SCOTT FRANKLIN, Florida               Florida
DERRICK VAN ORDEN, Wisconsin         CHRISTOPHER R. DELUZIO, 
MORGAN LUTTRELL, Texas                   Pennsylvania
JUAN CISCOMANI, Arizona              MORGAN MCGARVEY, Kentucky
ELIJAH CRANE, Arizona                DELIA C. RAMIREZ, Illinois
KEITH SELF, Texas                    GREG LANDSMAN, Ohio
JENNIFER KIGGANS, Virginia           NIKKI BUDZINSKI, Illinois

                  Jon Clark, Republican Staff Director
                  Matt Reel, Democratic Staff Director
                         RULES OF THE COMMITTEE

                          ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS

                       RULE 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS


    (a) Applicability of the Rules of the U.S. House of 
Representatives.--

    In General.--The rules of the U.S. House of Representatives 
(the House) are the rules of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
(Committee) and its subcommittees so far as applicable.

    (b) Rules of the Subcommittees.--Each subcommittee of the 
Committee is a part of the Committee and is subject to the 
authority and direction of the Committee and to its rules so 
far as applicable. Written rules of the Committee, not 
inconsistent with the Rules of the House, shall be binding on 
each subcommittee of the Committee.

    (c) Incorporation of House Rule on Committee Procedure.--
Clause 2 of House rule XI, which pertains entirely to Committee 
procedure, is incorporated, and made part of the rules of the 
Committee so far as applicable.

    (d) Privileged Motions.--In the Committee, a motion to 
recess from day to day, a motion to recess subject to the call 
of the Chair (within 1 day), and a motion to dispense with the 
first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution if printed 
copies are available, shall be privileged and decided without 
debate.

    (e) Conferences.--Pursuant to clause 2(a)(3) of House rule 
XI, the Chair is authorized to offer a motion under clause 1 of 
House rule XXII whenever the Chair considers it appropriate.

    (f) Vice Chair.--Pursuant to clause 2(d) of House rule XI, 
the Chair of the Committee shall designate the Vice Chair of 
the Committee.

    (g) Taking of Depositions.--Pursuant to section 3(k) of 
House Resolution 5 of the 118th Congress, the Chair upon 
consultation with the Ranking Minority Member may order the 
taking of depositions, including pursuant to subpoena, by a 
member or counsel of the Committee. Depositions taken by a 
member or counsel of the Committee shall be subject to 
regulations issued by the Committee on Rules and printed in the 
Congressional Record.

    (h) Subpoenas.--Pursuant to clause 2(m) of House rule XI, 
subpoenas may be authorized and issued by the Chairman in the 
conduct of any investigation or series of investigations or 
activities, only when authorized by a majority of the members 
voting, a majority being present.

    (i) Open Meetings and Hearings.--Meetings and hearings of 
the Committee shall be open to the public unless closed in 
accordance with clause 2(g) of House rule XI.

    (j) Motions, Reduced to Writing.--Every motion made to the 
Committee and entertained by the Chair shall be reduced to 
writing upon demand of any member, and a copy made available to 
each member present.

    (k) Decorum.--The Chair shall enforce decorum including 
with regard to actions that impact the health and safety of 
Members, staff, and anyone else present, or impedes the 
business of the Committee.

                       RULE 2--COMMITTEE MEETINGS


    (a) Notice Requirements for Meetings.--The Chair shall 
furnish each member of the Committee with the date, place, and 
a list of measures and subjects to be considered at a Committee 
meeting, which may not commence earlier than the third calendar 
day on which members have notice thereof (excluding Saturdays, 
Sundays and legal holidays except when the House is in session 
on such a day).

    (b) Availability of Texts.--At least two days (excluding 
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is 
in session on such a day) prior to the commencement of a 
meeting for the markup of legislation, including any amendment 
in the nature of a substitute to such bills or resolutions that 
shall first be recognized by the Chair, the text of such 
legislation shall be made publicly available in electronic 
form.

    (c) In an emergency that does not reasonably allow for the 
notice as required in paragraph (a), the Chair may waive the 
notice requirement with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority 
Member; or if the Committee so determines by majority vote of 
the quorum required under Committee Rule 4(a). An announcement 
made under this subparagraph shall be published promptly in the 
Daily Digest and made publicly available in electronic form.

    (d) Amendments.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
amendments to a measure or matter noticed under paragraph (b) 
shall be submitted in writing or electronically to the designee 
of both the Chair and Ranking Member and made available 
electronically to each member of the Committee at least one day 
prior to the consideration of the measure or matter. The Chair 
may use his or her discretion to give priority to amendments 
submitted in advance.

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

    (f) Additional Meetings.--The Chair of the Committee may 
call and convene, as the Chair considers necessary, additional 
meetings of the Committee for the consideration of any bill or 
resolution pending before the Committee or for the conduct of 
other Committee business. The Committee shall meet for such 
purpose pursuant to the call of the Chair.

    (g) Congressional Budget Office Scoring.--The Committee 
shall not include any bill or resolution for consideration 
during a Committee markup which is not accompanied by an 
accounting from the Congressional Budget Office of the 
mandatory and discretionary costs or savings associated with 
such bill or resolution.

    The accounting from the Congressional Budget Office need 
not be official and may be a preliminary score but is expected 
to provide Committee members with an approximation of the 
budgetary impact a bill or resolution may have prior to any 
vote to favorably forward or report such bill or resolution. A 
majority of Committee members may waive the requirements of 
this paragraph with a quorum present.

    (h) Notice and Approval of Committee Investigative Reports 
or Studies.--A proposed investigative or oversight report shall 
be considered as read in committee if it has been available to 
the members for at least one day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, 
or legal holidays except when the House is in session on such a 
day).

    A proposed investigative report or study shall not be 
considered in the Committee unless the report has been 
available to the members of the Committee for at least seven 
calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays 
except when the House is in session on such a day) before 
consideration of such proposed report or study in the 
Committee. Only those investigative reports or studies approved 
by a majority vote of the committee at a meeting which a quorum 
is present may be ordered reported.

                            RULE 3--HEARINGS


    (a) Notice.--(1) The Chair, in the case of a hearing to be 
conducted by the Committee, shall publicly announce the date, 
place, and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted on any 
measure or matter at least one week before the commencement of 
that hearing, unless in accordance with clause 2(g)(3)(B) of 
House rule XI----

            (A) the Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking 
        Minority Member, determines that there is good cause to 
        begin the hearing at an earlier date, or

            (B) the Committee determines by majority vote of 
        the quorum required under Committee rule 4(a) that a 
        hearing may begin earlier than one week after 
        announcement of the hearing as required under this 
        subsection. An announcement made under this 
        subparagraph shall be published promptly in the Daily 
        Digest and made publicly available in electronic form.

    (b) Requirements for Testimony.--

          (1) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(5) of House rule XI, each 
        witness who is to appear before the Committee shall 
        file with the clerk of the Committee, at least 2 days 
        (exclusive of weekends and holidays) in advance of his 
        or her appearance, or at such other time as designated 
        by the Chair after consultation with the Ranking 
        Minority Member, a written statement of his or her 
        proposed testimony. Each witness shall, to the greatest 
        extent practicable, provide a copy of such written 
        testimony in an electronic format prescribed by the 
        Chair. Each witness shall limit initial presentations 
        to a brief summary of the written statement.

            (2)(A) Truth in Testimony Disclosure: In accordance 
        with Rule XI, clause 2(g)(5) of the Rules of the House 
        of Representatives, in the case of a witness appearing 
        in a non-governmental capacity, a written statement of 
        proposed testimony shall include a curriculum vitae and 
        a disclosure of any Federal grants or contracts, or 
        contracts, grants, or payments originating with a 
        foreign government, received during the past 36 months 
        by the witness or by an entity represented by the 
        witness and related to the subject matter of the 
        hearing, and a disclosure of whether the witnesses is a 
        fiduciary (including, but not limited to, a director, 
        officer, advisor, or resident agent) of any 
        organization or entity that has an interest in the 
        subject matter of the hearing

            (B) Pursuant to Rule XI., clause 2(g)(5), the 
        witness is required to 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.

    (C) Calling and Questioning Witnesses.--

          (1) Committee members may question witnesses only 
        when they have been recognized by the Chair of the 
        Committee for that purpose, and only for a 5-minute 
        period until all members present have had an 
        opportunity to question a witness. The questioning of 
        witnesses in Committee hearings shall be initiated by 
        the Chair, followed by the Ranking Minority Member and 
        all other members alternating between the majority and 
        minority. Except as otherwise announced by the Chair at 
        the beginning of a hearing, members who are present at 
        the start of the hearing will be recognized before 
        other members who arrive after the hearing has begun. 
        In recognizing members to question witnesses in this 
        fashion, 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 such a manner as not to disadvantage the 
        members of the majority.

          (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) 
        regarding the 5-minute rule, and pursuant to clause 
        2(j) of House rule XI, the Chair after consultation 
        with the Ranking Minority Member, may permit a 
        specified number of Committee members to question a 
        witness for longer than 5 minutes. The time for 
        extended questioning of a witness under this paragraph 
        shall be equal for the majority party and the minority 
        party and may not exceed one hour in the aggregate. In 
        no event shall the Chair allow a member to question a 
        witness for an extended period under this rule until 
        all members present have had the opportunity to ask 
        questions under the 5-minute rule. The Chair after 
        consultation with the Ranking Minority Member may 
        permit Committee staff for its majority and minority 
        party members to question a witness for equal specified 
        periods. The time for extended questioning of witnesses 
        by staff shall be equal for the majority party and the 
        minority party and may not exceed one hour in the 
        aggregate.

          (3) Pursuant to clause 2(k) of House rule XI, the 
        Chair at a hearing shall announce in an opening 
        statement the subject of the hearing, and a copy of the 
        committee rules and of clause 2 of House rule XI shall 
        be made available to each witness on request.

            (A) Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by 
        their own counsel for the purpose of advising them 
        concerning their constitutional rights. The Chair may 
        punish breaches of order and decorum, and of 
        professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure 
        and exclusion from the hearings; and the Committee may 
        cite the offender to the House for contempt.

            (B) Whenever it is asserted by a member of the 
        Committee that the evidence or testimony at a hearing 
        may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, 
        or it is asserted by a witness that the evidence or 
        testimony that the witness would give at a hearing may 
        tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate the witness----

              (i) notwithstanding clause 2(g)(2) of House rule 
        XI, such testimony or evidence shall be presented in 
        executive session if, in the presence of the number of 
        members required under Committee rule 4(a), the 
        Committee determines by vote of a majority of those 
        present that such evidence or testimony may tend to 
        defame, degrade, or incriminate any person; and

              (ii) the Committee shall proceed to receive such 
        testimony in open session only if the Committee, a 
        majority being present, determines that such evidence 
        or testimony will not tend to defame, degrade, or 
        incriminate any person.

    In either case the Committee shall afford such person an 
opportunity voluntarily to appear as a witness and receive and 
dispose of requests from such person to subpoena additional 
witnesses.

            (C) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
        Chair shall receive, and the Committee shall dispose of 
        requests to subpoena additional witnesses.

            (D) Evidence or testimony taken in executive 
        session, and proceedings conducted in executive 
        session, may be released or used in public sessions 
        only when authorized by the Committee, a majority being 
        present.

            (E) In the discretion of the Committee, witnesses 
        may submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in 
        writing for inclusion in the record. The Committee is 
        the sole judge of the pertinence of testimony and 
        evidence adduced at its hearing.

            (F) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of the 
        testimony of such witness given at a public session or, 
        if given at an executive session, when authorized by 
        the Committee.

          (4) Any witness appearing before the Committee shall 
        remain available for questioning by the Committee 
        unless excused by the Chair.

          (5) Non-Committee members may be invited to sit at 
        the dais for and participate in Committee hearings with 
        the unanimous consent of the members present. Further, 
        non-Committee members may be recognized for questioning 
        of witnesses but only after all Committee members have 
        first been recognized.

          (6) Pursuant to House rule XI clause 2(j)(1), when a 
        hearing is conducted by the Committee on any measure or 
        matter, the minority members of the Committee shall be 
        entitled, upon request to the Chair of 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 the hearing thereon.

          (7) At the discretion of the chair and in accordance 
        with regulations submitted for printing in the 
        Congressional Record by the chair of the Committee on 
        Rules----

            (A) witnesses at committee or subcommittee 
        proceedings may appear remotely;

            (B) counsel shall be permitted to accompany 
        witnesses appearing remotely; and

            (C) an oath may be administered to a witness 
        remotely for purposes of clause 2(m)(2) of rule XI.

          (8) Member Day Hearing: During the first session of 
        the 118th Congress, the Chair shall hold a hearing at 
        which it receives testimony from Members, Delegates, 
        and the Resident Commissioner on proposed legislation 
        within its jurisdiction.

      RULE 4--QUORUM AND RECORD VOTES; POSTPONEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS


    (a) Working Quorum.--A majority of the members of the 
Committee shall constitute a quorum for business, except that 
two members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking 
testimony and receiving evidence.

    (b) Quorum for Reporting.--No measure, or recommendation 
shall be reported unless a majority of the members of the 
Committee or Subcommittee are present.

    (c) Record Votes.--A record vote may be demanded by one-
fifth of the members present or, in the apparent absence of a 
quorum, by any one member. With respect to any record vote on 
any motion to amend or report, the total number of votes cast 
for and against, and the names of those members voting for and 
against, shall be included in the report of the Committee on 
the bill or resolution.

    (d) Prohibition Against Proxy Voting.--No vote by any 
member of the Committee with respect to any measure or matter 
may be cast by proxy.

    (e) Postponing Proceedings.--The Chair may postpone further 
proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the question of 
approving a measure or matter or on adopting an amendment; and 
may resume proceedings on a postponed question after reasonable 
notice. When proceedings resume on a postponed question, 
notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous 
question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to 
further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the 
question was postponed.

                         RULE 5--SUBCOMMITTEES


    (a) Establishment and Jurisdiction--

          (1) There shall be five subcommittees of the 
        Committee with jurisdictions as follows:

            (A) Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and 
        Memorial Affairs, which shall have legislative, 
        oversight, and investigative jurisdiction over 
        compensation; general and special pensions of all the 
        wars of the United States; life insurance issued by the 
        Government on account of service in the Armed Forces; 
        cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of 
        any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in 
        the United States or abroad, except cemeteries 
        administered by the Secretary of the Interior; burial 
        benefits; the Board of Veterans' Appeals; and the 
        United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

            (B) Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, which 
        shall have legislative, oversight, and investigative 
        jurisdiction over education of veterans, employment and 
        training of veterans, vocational rehabilitation, 
        veterans' housing programs (including homeless veterans 
        housing), transition of servicemembers to civilian 
        life, veteran-owned business concerns, and 
        servicemembers civil relief.

            (C) Subcommittee on Health, which shall have 
        legislative, oversight, and investigative jurisdiction 
        over the Veterans Health Administration including 
        medical care, medical services, community care, medical 
        support and compliance, medical and prosthetic 
        research, health care for homeless veterans, medical 
        education, major and minor construction, medical 
        facilities including leases and recurring and non-
        recurring maintenance, and the Fourth Mission of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs.

            (D) Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, 
        which shall have oversight and investigative 
        jurisdiction over veterans' matters generally. The 
        subcommittee shall have legislative jurisdiction over 
        VA Central Office organizations, enterprise human 
        capital management, information technology, 
        cybersecurity, data management, financial management, 
        supply chain and procurement, whistleblower matters, 
        the Office of Inspector General, and over such matters 
        as may be referred to the Subcommittee by the Chair of 
        the full Committee.

            (E) Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, which 
        shall have oversight and investigative jurisdiction 
        over the Department of Veterans Affairs' enterprise 
        technology modernization programs and projects, 
        including the Electronic Health Record Modernization 
        program, the Office of Information and Technology, 
        information technology, enterprise information 
        technology governance, cybersecurity, and data 
        management.

          (2) Each subcommittee shall have responsibility for 
        such other measures or matters as the Chair refers to 
        it.

    (b) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of a 
subcommittee shall not affect the power of the remaining 
members to execute the functions of that subcommittee.

    (c) Ratios.--On each subcommittee, there shall be a ratio 
of majority party members to minority party members, which 
shall be consistent with the ratio on the full Committee.

    (d) Referral to Subcommittees.--The Chair of the Committee 
may refer a measure or matter, which is within the general 
responsibility of more than one of the subcommittees of the 
Committee, as the Chair deems appropriate. In referring any 
measure or matter to a subcommittee, the Chair of the Committee 
may specify a date by which the subcommittee shall report 
thereon to the Committee.

    (e) Powers and Duties--

          (1) Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold 
        hearings, receive evidence, and report to the full 
        Committee on all matters referred to it or under its 
        jurisdiction. Subcommittee Chairs shall set dates for 
        hearings and meetings of their respective subcommittees 
        after consultation with the Chair of the Committee and 
        other subcommittee chairs with a view toward avoiding 
        simultaneous scheduling of Committee and subcommittee 
        meetings or hearings whenever possible.

          (2) Whenever a subcommittee has ordered a bill, 
        resolution, or other matter to be reported to the 
        Committee, the Chair of the subcommittee reporting the 
        bill, resolution, or matter to the full Committee, or 
        any member authorized by the subcommittee to do so, 
        shall notify the Chair and the Ranking Minority Member 
        of the Committee of the subcommittee's action.

          (3) A member of the Committee who is not a member of 
        a subcommittee may sit with the subcommittee during any 
        of its meetings and hearings, but shall not have 
        authority to vote, cannot be counted for a quorum, and 
        cannot raise a point of order at the meeting or 
        hearing.

          (4) The Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the 
        Committee shall be ex-officio members of each standing 
        subcommittee to which the Chair or 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.

          (5) Non-Committee members may be invited to sit at 
        the dais for and participate in subcommittee hearings 
        with the unanimous consent of all Members present. 
        Further, non-Committee members may be recognized for 
        questioning of witnesses but only after all 
        subcommittee members have first been recognized for 
        questioning.

          (6) Each subcommittee shall provide the full 
        Committee with copies of such record votes taken in 
        subcommittee and such other records with respect to the 
        subcommittee as the Chair of the Committee deems 
        necessary for the Committee to comply with the House 
        rules.

                           RULE 6--TASK FORCE


          (a) Establishment.--The Committee may establish a 
        task force to perform specific oversight functions for 
        time limited purposes. A task force does not have 
        legislative or hearing jurisdiction.

          (b) Authorization.--The Committee shall adopt a 
        resolution authorizing a task force. The resolution 
        shall set forth the specific purpose and objectives of 
        the task force.

          (c) Membership and Ratios.--The Task Force shall be 
        led by a Chair and Co-Chair. It shall include committee 
        majority and minority members, on a volunteer basis.

          (d) Duration.--No task force shall exist for a 
        cumulative period longer than 6 months in a Congress.

          (e) Powers and Duties.--

            (1) A task force is authorized to meet, hold 
        roundtables, and report to the full Committee on all 
        matters set forth in the resolution authorizing the 
        task force.

            (2) The task force shall submit the findings and 
        recommendations of the task force to the full Committee 
        within 30 days of completion of the task force.

            (3) The rules of the Committee are the rules of a 
        task force.

                RULE 7--GENERAL OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY


    (a) Purpose.--Pursuant to House Rule X clause 2, the 
Committee shall carry out oversight responsibilities consistent 
with clause 1(s) of House rule X and Committee rule 5.

    (b) Oversight Plan.--Not later than March 1 of the first 
session of a Congress, the Chair shall prepare, in a meeting 
that is open to the public, adopt its authorization and 
oversight plan for that Congress. The plan shall be submitted 
simultaneously to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 
and the Committee on House Administration.

    (c) Each such plan shall include, with respect to programs 
and agencies within the committee's jurisdiction, and to the 
maximum extent practicable----

          (A) a list of such programs or agencies with lapsed 
        authorizations that received funding in the prior 
        Fiscal Year or, in the case of a program or agency with 
        a permanent authorization, which has not been subject 
        to a comprehensive review by the committee in the prior 
        three Congresses;

          (B) a description of each such program or agency to 
        be authorized in the current Congress;

          (C) a description of each such program or agency to 
        be authorized in the next Congress, if applicable;

          (D) a description of any oversight to support the 
        authorization of each such program or agency in the 
        current Congress; and

          (E) recommendations for changes to existing law for 
        moving such programs or agencies from mandatory funding 
        to discretionary appropriations, where appropriate.

    (d) Each such plan may include, with respect to the 
programs and agencies within the committee's jurisdiction----

          (A) recommendations for the consolidation or 
        termination of such programs or agencies that are 
        duplicative, unnecessary, or inconsistent with the 
        appropriate roles and responsibilities of the Federal 
        Government;

          (B) recommendations for changes to existing law 
        related to Federal rules, regulations, statutes, and 
        court decisions affecting such programs and agencies 
        that are inconsistent with the authorities of the 
        Congress under Article I of the Constitution;

          (C) a description of such other oversight activities 
        as the committee may consider necessary.

          (e) In the development of such plan, the chair of 
        each committee shall coordinate with other committees 
        of jurisdiction to ensure that programs and agencies 
        are subject to routine, comprehensive authorization 
        efforts.

          (f) Oversight by Subcommittees.--The existence and 
        activities of the Subcommittee on Oversight and 
        Investigations shall in no way limit the responsibility 
        of the other subcommittees of the Committee for 
        carrying out oversight or investigative duties.

          (g) Pursuant to House rule XI clause 1(b), the 
        Committee may conduct at any time such investigations 
        and studies as it considers necessary or appropriate in 
        the exercise of its responsibilities under rule X. 
        Prior to initiating an investigation or study, the 
        Chair shall, in consultation with the Ranking Member, 
        set forth the objectives and scope of the 
        investigation. Upon initiating an investigation or 
        study, the Chair shall inform members in writing of the 
        objectives and scope of the investigation or study. No 
        changes to objectives or scope shall be made unless the 
        consultation and notice requirements are met. All 
        witness interviews--formal and informal--conducted in 
        connection with a report or study shall be open to 
        majority and minority staff.

                  RULE 8--BUDGET ACT RESPONSIBILITIES


    (a) Budget Act Responsibilities.--Pursuant to clause 
4(f)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House, the Committee 
shall submit to the Committee on the Budget not later than 6 
weeks after submission of the budget by the President, or at 
such time as the Committee on the Budget may request----

          (1) Its views and estimates with respect to all 
        matters to be set forth in the concurrent resolution on 
        the budget for the ensuing Fiscal Year that are within 
        its jurisdiction or functions; and

          (2) An estimate of the total amounts of new budget 
        authority, and budget outlays resulting therefrom, to 
        be provided or authorized in all bills and resolutions 
        within its jurisdiction that it intends to be effective 
        during that fiscal year.

                   RULE 9--RECORDS AND OTHER MATTERS


    (a) Transcripts.--There shall be a transcript made of each 
meeting and hearing of the Committee. Any such transcript shall 
be a substantially verbatim account of remarks actually made 
during the proceedings, subject only to technical, grammatical, 
and typographical corrections authorized by the person making 
the remarks involved. These transcripts shall be maintained in 
electronic format on a repository operated by the House Clerk.

    (b) Records.--(1) The Committee shall keep a record of all 
Committee action. The record shall contain all information 
required by clause 2(e)(1) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House 
and shall be available for public inspection at reasonable 
times in the offices of the Committee.

          (2) There shall be kept in writing a record of the 
        proceedings of the Committee, including a record of the 
        votes on any question on which a record vote is taken. 
        The result of each such record vote shall be made 
        publicly available by the Committee in electronic form 
        within 2 days of such record vote. Information so 
        available shall include a description of the amendment, 
        motion, order, or other proposition, the name of each 
        member voting for and each member voting against such 
        amendment, motion, order, or proposition, and the names 
        of those members present but not voting.

    (c) Availability of Archived Records.--The records of the 
Committee at the National Archives and Records Administration 
shall be made available for public use in accordance with House 
rule VII. The Chair shall notify the Ranking Minority Member of 
any decision made by the Clerk of the House, pursuant to clause 
4 of House rule VII, to withhold a record otherwise available, 
and the matter shall be presented to the Committee for a vote 
on written request of any member of the Committee.

    (d) Availability of Amendments.--Not later than 1 day after 
the adoption of any amendment, or 2 days after the disposition 
or withdrawal of any other amendment, to a measure or matter 
considered by the Committee, the Chair shall cause the text of 
each such amendment to be made publicly available in electronic 
form on a repository operated by the House Clerk.

    (e) Availability of Publications.--Pursuant to clause 
2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, the Committee 
shall make its publications available in electronic form to the 
maximum extent feasible.

                            RULE 10--TRAVEL


    (a) Requirements for Travel.--All requests for travel, 
funded by the Committee, for members and staff in connection 
with activities or subject matters under the general 
jurisdiction of the Committee, shall be submitted to the Chair 
for approval or disapproval. All travel requests should be 
submitted to the Chair at least five working days in advance of 
the proposed travel. For all travel funded by any other source, 
notice shall be given to the Chair at least five working days 
in advance of the proposed travel. All travel requests shall be 
submitted to the Chair in writing and include----

          (1) The purpose of the travel.

          (2) The dates during which the travel is to occur.

          (3) The names of the locations to be visited and the 
        length of time to be spent in each.

          (4) The names of members and staff of the Committee 
        for whom the authorization is sought. Travel by the 
        minority shall be submitted to the Chair via the 
        Ranking Member.

    (b) Trip Reports.--Members and staff shall make a written 
report to the Chair within 15 working days on all travel 
approved under this subsection. Reports shall include a 
description of their itinerary, expenses, and activities, and 
pertinent information gained as a result of such travel.

    When travel involves majority and minority members or 
staff, the majority shall submit the report to the Chair on 
behalf of the majority and minority. The minority may append 
additional remarks to the report at their discretion.

    (c) Applicability of House Rules.--Members and staff of the 
Committee performing authorized travel on official business 
shall be governed by applicable laws, resolutions, and rules of 
the House and of the Committee on House Administration.

                  RULE 11--FACILITY OR PROPERTY NAMING


    (a) Facility or property Naming.--No Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) facility or property shall be named after any 
individual by the Committee unless----

          (1) Such individual is deceased and was----

            (A) A veteran who (i) was instrumental in the 
        construction or the operation of the facility or 
        property to be named, or (ii) was a recipient of the 
        Medal of Honor or, as determined by the Chair and 
        Ranking Minority Member, otherwise performed military 
        service of an extraordinarily distinguished character;

            (B) A member of the U.S. House of Representatives 
        or Senate who had a direct association with such 
        facility or property;

            (C) An Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, a 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a Secretary of Defense 
        or of a service branch, or a military or other Federal 
        civilian official of comparable or higher rank; or

            (D) An individual who, as determined by the Chair 
        and Ranking Minority Member, performed outstanding 
        service for veterans.

          (2) Each member of the congressional delegation 
        representing the State in which the designated facility 
        or property is located must indicate in writing such 
        member's support of the proposal to name such facility 
        or property after such individual. Evidence of a 
        member's support in writing must be in the form of a 
        letter to the Chair and Ranking Member proposing to 
        name the particular VA facility or property in 
        question.

          (3) The pertinent State department or chapter of each 
        congressionally chartered veterans' organization having 
        a national membership of at least 500,000 must indicate 
        in writing its support of such proposal. Under certain 
        circumstances, the Committee may grant a waiver to 
        accept written support from pertinent chapters or posts 
        of chartered veterans' organizations in lieu of the 
        State department.

    (b) The above criteria for naming a VA facility or property 
may be waived by unanimous consent.

                        RULE 12--MEDIA COVERAGE


    (a) Media Coverage.--Any meeting of the Committee that is 
open to the public shall be open to coverage by radio, 
television, and still photography in accordance with the 
provisions of clause 4(f) of House rule XI as follows:

          (1) If audio or visual coverage of the hearing or 
        meeting is to be presented to the public as live 
        coverage, that coverage shall be conducted and 
        presented without commercial sponsorship.

          (2) The allocation among the television media of the 
        positions or the number of television cameras permitted 
        by a Committee Chair in a hearing or meeting room shall 
        be in accordance with fair and equitable procedures 
        devised by the Executive Committee of the Radio and 
        Television Correspondents' Galleries.

          (3) Television cameras shall be placed so as not to 
        obstruct in any way the space between a witness giving 
        evidence or testimony and any member of the Committee 
        or the visibility of that witness and that member to 
        each other.

          (4) Television cameras shall operate from fixed 
        positions but may not be placed in positions that 
        obstruct unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing or 
        meeting by the other media.

          (5) Equipment necessary for coverage by the 
        television and radio media may not be installed in, or 
        removed from, the hearing or meeting room while the 
        Committee is in session.

          (6)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), 
        floodlights, spotlights, strobe lights, and flashguns 
        may not be used in providing any method of coverage of 
        the hearing or meeting.

            (B) The television media may install additional 
        lighting in a hearing or meeting room, without cost to 
        the Government, in order to raise the ambient lighting 
        level in a hearing or meeting room to the lowest level 
        necessary to provide adequate television coverage of a 
        hearing or meeting at the current state-of-the-art of 
        television coverage.

          (7) If requests are made by more of the media than 
        will be permitted by the Committee Chair for coverage 
        of a hearing or meeting by still photography, that 
        coverage shall be permitted on the basis of a fair and 
        equitable pool arrangement devised by the Standing 
        Committee of Press Photographers.

          (8) Photographers may not position themselves between 
        the witness table and the members of the Committee at 
        any time during the course of a hearing or meeting.

          (9) Photographers may not place themselves in 
        positions that obstruct unnecessarily the coverage of 
        the hearing by the other media.

          (10) Personnel providing coverage by the television 
        and radio media shall be currently accredited to the 
        Radio and Television Correspondents' Galleries.

          (11) Personnel providing coverage by still 
        photography shall be currently accredited to the Press 
        Photographers' Gallery.

          (12) Personnel providing coverage by the television 
        and radio media and by still photography shall conduct 
        themselves and their coverage activities in an orderly 
        and unobtrusive manner.

          (13) Majority Committee staff shall be required to 
        notify the Minority Committee staff if a hearing will 
        be streamed by an outside media outlet in addition to 
        the House Recording Studio.

          (14) Personnel providing coverage by the television 
        and radio media shall be currently accredited to the 
        Radio and Television Correspondents Galleries.