[House Prints, 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
RULES
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
____________________________________________________________
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
119th Congress
____________________________________________________________
Adopted January 15, 2025
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Published for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
govinfo.gov/committee/house-energy
energycommerce.house.gov
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE: 2025 58-504
____________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
BRETT GUTHRIE, Kentucky, Chairman
ROBERT E. LATTA, Ohio FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey
H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, Virginia Ranking Member
GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida DIANA DeGETTE, Colorado
RICHARD HUDSON, North Carolina JAN SCHAKOWSKY, Illinois
EARL L. ``BUDDY'' CARTER, Georgia DORIS O. MATSUI, California
GARY J. PALMER, Alabama KATHY CASTOR, Florida
NEAL P. DUNN, Florida PAUL TONKO, New York
DAN CRENSHAW, Texas YVETTE D. CLARKE, New York
JOHN JOYCE, Pennsylvania, Vice RAUL RUIZ, California
Chairman SCOTT H. PETERS, California
RANDY K. WEBER, Sr., Texas DEBBIE DINGELL, Michigan
RICK W. ALLEN, Georgia MARC A. VEASEY, Texas
TROY BALDERSON, Ohio ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
RUSS FULCHER, Idaho NANETTE DIAZ BARRAGAN, California
AUGUST PFLUGER, Texas DARREN SOTO, Florida
DIANA HARSHBARGER, Tennessee KIM SCHRIER, Washington
MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa LORI TRAHAN, Massachusetts
KAT CAMMACK, Florida LIZZIE FLETCHER, Texas
JAY OBERNOLTE, California ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, New York
JOHN JAMES, Michigan JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, Massachusetts
CLIFF BENTZ, Oregon TROY A. CARTER, Louisiana
ERIN HOUCHIN, Indiana ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
RUSSELL FRY, South Carolina KEVIN MULLIN, California
LAUREL M. LEE, Florida GREG LANDSMAN, Ohio
NICHOLAS A. LANGWORTHY, New York JENNIFER L. McCLELLAN, Virginia
THOMAS H. KEAN, Jr., New Jersey
MICHAEL A. RULLI, Ohio
GABE EVANS, Colorado
CRAIG A. GOLDMAN, Texas
JULIE FEDORCHAK, North Dakota
MEGAN JACKSON, Staff Director
SOPHIE KHANAHMADI, Deputy Staff Director
TIFFANY GUARASCIO, Minority Staff Director
C O N T E N T S
Page
Membership of the Committee on Energy and Commerce,
January 2023....................................................... ii
Rules of the House of Representatives: Rule X.
Organization of Committees, clause 1(f) Committee on
Energy and Commerce ................................................. 1
Rule 1. General Provisions ............................................ 3
Rule 2. Business Meetings/Markups .................................... 3
Rule 3. Hearings ...................................................... 4
Rule 4. Vice Chair; Presiding Member ...................................6
Rule 5. Open Proceedings .............................................. 6
Rule 6. Quorum ........................................................ 6
Rule 7. Official Committee Records .................................... 7
Rule 8. Subcommittees ................................................. 8
Rule 9. Opening Statements ............................................ 8
Rule 10. Reference of Legislation and Other Matters ................... 9
Rule 11. Managing Legislation on the House Floor ...................... 9
Rule 12. Committee Professional and Clerical Staff
Appointments ...................................................... 10
Rule 13. Supervision, Duties of Staff ................................ 11
Rule 14. Committee Budget ............................................ 11
Rule 15. Broadcasting of Committee Hearings .......................... 12
Rule 16. Subpoena Power .............................................. 12
Rule 17. Travel of Members and Staff ................................. 12
Rule 18. Website ......................................................13
Rule 19. Conferences ................................................. 13
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rule X. Organization of Committees
Committees and their legislative jurisdictions
1. There shall be in the House the following standing committees, each
of which shall have the jurisdiction and related functions assigned by
this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 4. All bills, resolutions, and other
matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing
committees listed in this clause shall be referred to those committees,
in accordance with clause 2 of rule XII, as follows:
* * * * *
(f) Committee on Energy and Commerce.
(1) Biomedical research and development.
(2) Consumer affairs and consumer protection.
(3) Health and health facilities (except health care supported by
payroll deductions).
(4) Interstate energy compacts.
(5) Interstate and foreign commerce generally.
(6) Exploration, production, storage, supply, marketing, pricing, and
regulation of energy resources, including all fossil fuels, solar energy,
and other unconventional or renewable energy resources.
(7) Conservation of energy resources.
(8) Energy information generally.
(9) The generation and marketing of power (except by federally
chartered or Federal regional power marketing authorities); reliability
and interstate transmission of, and ratemaking for, all power; and siting
of generation facilities (except the installation of interconnections
between Government waterpower projects).
(10) General management of the Department of Energy and management and
all functions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
(11) National energy policy generally.
(12) Public health and quarantine.
(13) Regulation of the domestic nuclear energy industry, including
regulation of research and development reactors and nuclear regulatory
research.
(14) Regulation of interstate and foreign communications.
(15) Travel and tourism.
The committee shall have the same jurisdiction with respect to
regulation of nuclear facilities and of use of nuclear energy as it has
with respect to regulation of nonnuclear facilities and of use of
nonnuclear energy.
RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
(Adopted January 15, 2025)
Rule 1. General Provisions
(a) Rules of the Committee. The Rules of the House are the rules of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce (the ``Committee'') and its
subcommittees so far as is applicable.
(b) Rules of the Subcommittees. Each subcommittee of the Committee is
part of the Committee and is subject to the authority and direction of
the Committee and to its rules so far as is applicable. Written rules
adopted by the Committee, not inconsistent with the Rules of the House,
shall be binding on each subcommittee of the Committee.
Rule 2. Business Meetings/Markups
(a) Regular Meeting Days. The Committee shall meet on the fourth
Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m., for the consideration of bills,
resolutions, and other business, if the House is in session on that day.
If the House is not in session on that day and the Committee has not met
during such month, the Committee shall meet at the earliest practicable
opportunity when the House is again in session. The chair of the
Committee may, at his or her discretion, cancel, delay, or defer any
meeting required under this section, after consultation with the ranking
minority member.
(b) Additional Meetings. The chair may call and convene, as he or she
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 purposes pursuant to that call of the chair.
(c) Notice. The date, time, place, and subject matter of any meeting of
the Committee (other than a hearing) shall be announced at least 36 hours
(exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when the
House is in session on such days) in advance of the commencement of such
meeting. In no event shall such meeting commence earlier than the third
calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays except when
the House is in session on such a day) on which members have notice
thereof.
(d) Agenda. The agenda for each Committee meeting, setting out all
items of business to be considered, shall be provided to each member of
the Committee at least 36 hours in advance of such meeting.
(e) Availability of Texts. No bill, recommendation, or other matter
shall be considered by the Committee unless the text of the matter,
together with an explanation, has been available to members of the
Committee for three days (or 24 hours in the case of a substitute for
introduced legislation). Such explanation shall include a summary of the
major provisions of the legislation, an explanation of the relationship
of the matter to present law, and a summary of the need for the
legislation.
(f) Waiver. The requirements of subsections (c), (d), and (e) may be
waived by a majority of those present and voting (a majority being
present) of the Committee or by the chair with the concurrence of the
ranking member, as the case may be.
Rule 3. Hearings
(a) Notice. The date, time, place, and subject matter of any hearing of
the Committee shall be announced at least one week in advance of the
commencement of such hearing, unless a determination is made in
accordance with clause 2(g)(3) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House that
there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner.
(b) Memorandum. Each member of the Committee shall be provided, except
in the case of unusual circumstances, with a memorandum at least 48 hours
before each hearing explaining (1) the purpose of the hearing and (2) the
names of any witnesses.
(c) Witnesses.----
(1) Each witness who is to appear before the Committee shall file
with the clerk of the Committee, at least two working days in advance
of his or her appearance, sufficient copies, as determined by the chair
of the Committee, of a written statement of his or her proposed
testimony to provide to members and staff of the Committee, the news
media, and the general public. Each witness shall, to the greatest
extent practicable, also provide a copy of such written testimony in an
electronic format prescribed by the chair. Each witness shall limit his
or her oral presentation to a brief summary of the argument. The chair
of the Committee or the presiding member may waive the requirements of
this paragraph or any part thereof.
(2) To the greatest extent practicable, the written testimony of
each witness appearing in a nongovernmental capacity shall include a
curriculum vitae and a disclosure of any Federal grants or contracts or
foreign government contracts and payments related to the subject matter
of the hearing received during the current calendar year or either of
the two preceding calendar years by the witness or by an entity
represented by the witness. The disclosure shall include (i) 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
(ii) the amount and country of origin of any payment or contract
related to the subject matter of the hearing originating with a foreign
government.
(d) Questioning.----
(1) The right to question the witnesses before the Committee shall
alternate between majority and minority members. Each member shall be
limited to 5 minutes for the questioning of witnesses until such time
as each member who so desires has had an opportunity to question
witnesses. No member shall be recognized for a second period of 5
minutes to question a witness until each member of the Committee
present has been recognized once for that purpose. The chair shall
recognize in order of appearance members who were not present when the
meeting was called to order after all members who were present when the
meeting was called to order have been recognized in the order of
seniority on the Committee or relevant subcommittee, as the case may
be.
(2) The chair, with the concurrence of the ranking minority member,
or the Committee by motion, may permit an equal number of majority and
minority members to question a witness for a specified, total period
that is equal for each side and not longer than 30 minutes for each
side. The chair, with the concurrence of the ranking minority member,
or the Committee by motion, may also permit committee staff of the
majority and minority to question a witness for a specified, total
period that is equal for each side and not longer than 30 minutes for
each side.
(3) Each member may submit to the chair of the Committee additional
questions for the record, to be answered by the witnesses who have
appeared. Each member shall provide a copy of the questions in an
electronic format to the clerk of the Committee no later than 10
business days following a hearing. The chair shall transmit all
questions received from members of the Committee to the appropriate
witnesses and include the transmittal letter and the responses from the
witnesses in the hearing record. After consultation with the ranking
minority member, the chair is authorized to close the hearing record no
earlier than 120 days from the date the questions were transmitted to
the appropriate witnesses.
Rule 4. Vice Chair; Presiding Member
The chair shall designate a member of the majority party to serve as
vice chair of the Committee, and shall designate a majority member of
each subcommittee to serve as vice chair of each subcommittee. The vice
chair of the Committee or subcommittee, as the case may be, shall preside
at any meeting or hearing during the temporary absence of the chair. If
the chair and vice chair of the Committee or subcommittee are not present
at any meeting or hearing, the most senior ranking member of the majority
party who is present shall preside at the meeting or hearing.
Rule 5. Open Proceedings
Except as provided by the Rules of the House, each meeting and hearing
of the Committee for the transaction of business, including the markup of
legislation, and each hearing, shall be open to the public, including to
radio, television, and still photography coverage, consistent with the
provisions of Rule XI of the Rules of the House.
Rule 6. Quorum
Testimony may be taken and evidence received at any hearing at which
there are present not fewer than two members of the Committee or
subcommittee in question. A majority of the members of the Committee or
subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for those actions for which the
House Rules require a majority quorum. For the purposes of taking any
other action, one-third of the members of the Committee shall constitute
a quorum.
Rule 7. Official Committee Records
(a)(1) Documents reflecting the proceedings of the Committee shall be
made publicly available in electronic form on the Committee's website and
in the Committee office for inspection by the public, as provided in Rule
XI, clause 2(e) of the Rules of the House not more than 24 hours after
each meeting has adjourned, including a record showing those present at
each meeting; and a record of the vote on any question on which a record
vote is demanded, including 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 of the committee present but not voting.
(2) 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. No demand for a record vote shall be made or obtained except
for the purpose of procuring a record vote or in the apparent absence
of a quorum.
(b) Postponement of Votes. In accordance with clause 2(h)(4) of Rule XI
of the Rules of the House, the chair of the Committee or a subcommittee,
after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee or
subcommittee, may (A) postpone further proceedings when a record vote is
ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter or on adopting
an amendment; and (B) resume proceedings on a postponed question at any
time 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.
(c) Archived Records. The records of the Committee at the National
Archives and Records Administration shall be made available for public
use in accordance with Rule VII of the Rules of the House. The chair
shall notify the ranking minority member of any decision, pursuant to
clause 3 (b)(3) or clause 4 of the Rule, to withhold a record otherwise
available, and the matter shall be presented to the Committee for a
determination on the written request of any member of the Committee. The
chair shall consult with the ranking minority member on any communication
from the Archivist of the United States or the Clerk of the House
concerning the disposition of noncurrent records pursuant to clause 3(b)
of the Rule.
Rule 8. Subcommittees
(a) Establishment. There shall be such standing subcommittees with such
jurisdiction and size as determined by the majority party caucus of the
Committee. The jurisdiction, number, and size of the subcommittees shall
be determined by the majority party caucus prior to the start of the
process for establishing subcommittee chairs and assignments.
(b) Powers and Duties. Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold
hearings, receive testimony, mark up legislation, and report to the
Committee on all matters referred to it. Subcommittee chairs shall set
hearing and meeting dates only with the approval of the chair of the
Committee with a view toward assuring the availability of meeting rooms
and avoiding simultaneous scheduling of Committee and subcommittee
meetings or hearings whenever possible.
(c) Ratio of Subcommittees. Thee majority caucus of the Committee shall
determine an appropriate ratio of majority to minority party members for
each subcommittee and the chair shall negotiate that ratio with the
minority party, provided that the ratio of party members on each
subcommittee shall be no less favorable to the majority than that of the
full Committee, nor shall such ratio provide for a majority of less than
two majority members.
(d) Selection of Subcommittee Members. Prior to any organizational
meeting held by the Committee, the majority and minority caucuses shall
select their respective members of the standing subcommittees.
(e) Ex Officio Members. The chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee shall be ex officio members with voting privileges of each
subcommittee of which they are not assigned as members and may be counted
for purposes of establishing a quorum in such subcommittees.
Rule 9. Opening Statements
(a) Written Statements. All written opening statements at hearings and
business meetings conducted by the Committee shall be made part of the
permanent record.
(b) Length.----
(1) At full committee hearings, the chair and ranking minority
member shall be limited to 5 minutes each for an opening statement, and
may designate another member to give an opening statement of not more
than 5 minutes. At subcommittee hearings, the subcommittee chair and
ranking minority member of the subcommittee shall be limited to 5
minutes each for an opening statement. In addition, the full committee
chair and ranking minority member shall each be allocated 5 minutes for
an opening statement for themselves or their designees at subcommittee
hearings.
(2) At any business meeting of the Committee, statements shall be
limited to 5 minutes each for the chair and ranking minority member (or
their respective designee) of the Committee or subcommittee, as
applicable, and 3 minutes each for all other members. The chair may
further limit opening statements for Members (including, at the
discretion of the chair, the chair and ranking minority member) to one
minute.
Rule 10. Reference of Legislation and Other Matters
All legislation and other matters referred to the Committee shall be
referred to the subcommittee of appropriate jurisdiction within two weeks
of the date of receipt by the Committee unless: (1) action is taken by
the full Committee within those two weeks, or (2) by majority vote of the
members of the Committee, consideration is to be by the full Committee.
In the case of legislation or other matters within the jurisdiction of
more than one subcommittee, the chair of the Committee may, in his or her
discretion, refer the matter simultaneously to two or more subcommittees
for concurrent consideration, or may designate a subcommittee of primary
jurisdiction and also refer the matter to one or more additional
subcommittees for consideration in sequence (subject to appropriate time
limitations), either on its initial referral or after the matter has been
reported by the subcommittee of primary jurisdiction. Such authority
shall include the authority to refer such legislation or matter to an ad
hoc subcommittee appointed by the chair, with the approval of the
Committee, from the members of the subcommittees having legislative or
oversight jurisdiction.
Rule 11. Managing Legislation on the House Floor
The chair, in his or her discretion, shall designate which member shall
manage legislation reported by the Committee to the House.
Rule 12. Committee Professional and Clerical Staff Appointments
(a) Delegation of Staff. Whenever the chair of the Committee
determines that any professional staff member appointed pursuant to the
provisions of clause 9 of Rule X of the House of Representatives, who is
assigned to such chair and not to the ranking minority member, by reason
of such professional staff member's expertise or qualifications will be
of assistance to one or more subcommittees in carrying out their assigned
responsibilities, he or she may delegate such staff member to such
subcommittees for such purpose. A delegation of a member of the
professional staff pursuant to this subsection shall be made after
consultation with subcommittee chairs and with the approval of the
subcommittee chair or chairs involved.
(b) Minority Professional Staff. Professional staff members
appointed pursuant to clause 9 of Rule X of the House of
Representatives, who are assigned to the ranking minority member of the
Committee and not to the chair of the Committee, shall be assigned to
such Committee business as the minority party members of the Committee
consider advisable.
(c) Additional Staff Appointments. In addition to the professional
staff appointed pursuant to clause 9 of Rule X of the House of
Representatives, the chair of the Committee shall be entitled to make
such appointments to the professional and clerical staff of the
Committee as may be provided within the budget approved for such
purposes by the Committee. Such appointee shall be assigned to such
business of the full Committee as the chair of the Committee considers
advisable.
(d) Sufficient Staff. The chair shall ensure that sufficient staff
is made available to each subcommittee to carry out its
responsibilities under the rules of the Committee.
(e) Fair Treatment of Minority Members in Appointment of Committee
Staff. The chair shall ensure that the minority members of the
Committee are treated fairly in appointment of Committee staff.
(f) Contracts for Temporary or Intermittent Services. Any contract
for the temporary services or intermittent service of individual
consultants or organizations to make studies or advise the Committee or
its subcommittees with respect to any matter within their jurisdiction
shall be deemed to have been approved by a majority of the members of
the Committee if approved by the chair and ranking minority member of
the Committee. Such approval shall not be deemed to have been given if
at least one-third of the members of the Committee request in writing
that the Committee formally act on such a contract, if the request is
made within 10 days after the latest date on which such chair or
chairs, and such ranking minority member or members, approve such
contract.
Rule 13. Supervision, Duties of Staff
(a) Supervision of Majority Staff. The professional and clerical staff
of the Committee not assigned to the minority shall be under the
supervision and direction of the chair who, in consultation with the
chairs of the subcommittees, shall establish and assign the duties and
responsibilities of such staff members and delegate such authority as
they determine is appropriate.
(b) Supervision of Minority Staff. The professional and clerical staff
assigned to the minority shall be under the supervision and direction of
the minority members of the Committee, who may delegate such authority as
they determine appropriate.
Rule 14. Committee Budget
(a) Administration of Committee Budget. The chair of the Committee, in
consultation with the ranking minority member, shall for the 119th
Congress attempt to ensure that the Committee receives necessary amounts
for professional and clerical staff, travel, investigations, equipment,
and miscellaneous expenses of the Committee and the subcommittees, which
shall be adequate to fully discharge the Committee's responsibilities for
legislation and oversight.
(b) Monthly Expenditures Report. Committee members shall be furnished
a copy of each monthly report, prepared by the chair for the Committee on
House Administration, which shows expenditures made during the reporting
period and cumulative for the year by the Committee and subcommittees,
anticipated expenditures for the projected Committee program, and
detailed information on travel.
Rule 15. Broadcasting of Committee Hearings
Any meeting or hearing that is open to the public may be covered in
whole or in part by radio or television or still photography, subject to
the requirements of clause 4 of Rule XI of the Rules of the House. The
coverage of any hearing or other proceeding of the Committee or any
subcommittee thereof by television, radio, or still photography shall be
under the direct supervision of the chair of the Committee, the
subcommittee chair, or other member of the Committee presiding at such
hearing or other proceeding and may be terminated by such member in
accordance with the Rules of the House.
Rule 16. Subpoena Power
The power to authorize and issue subpoenas is delegated to the chair of
the full Committee, as provided for under clause 2(m)(3)(A)(i) of Rule XI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives. The chair shall notify the
ranking minority member prior to issuing any subpoena under such
authority. To the extent practicable, the chair shall consult with the
ranking minority member at least 72 hours in advance of a subpoena being
issued under such authority. The chair shall report to the members of the
Committee on the issuance of a subpoena as soon as practicable but in no
event later than one week after issuance of such subpoena.
Rule 17. Travel of Members and Staff
(a) Approval of Travel. Consistent with the primary expense resolution
and such additional expense resolutions as may have been approved, travel
to be reimbursed from funds set aside for the Committee for any member or
any staff member shall be paid only upon the prior authorization of the
chair. Travel may be authorized by the chair for any member and any staff
member in connection with the attendance of hearings conducted by the
Committee or any subcommittee thereof and meetings, conferences, and
investigations that involve activities or subject matter under the
general jurisdiction of the Committee. Before such authorization is
given, there shall be submitted to the chair in writing the following:
(1) the purpose of the travel; (2) the dates during which the travel is
to be made and the date or dates of the event for which the travel is
being made; (3) the location of the event for which the travel is to be
made; and (4) the names of members and staff seeking authorization.
(b) Approval of Travel by Minority Members and Staff. In the case of
travel by minority party members and minority party staff members for the
purpose set out in (a), the prior approval, not only of the chair but
also of the ranking minority member, shall be required. Such prior
authorization shall be given by the chair only upon the representation by
the ranking minority member in writing setting forth those items
enumerated in (1), (2), (3), and (4) of paragraph (a).
Rule 18. Website
The chair shall maintain an official Committee website for the purposes
of furthering the Committee's legislative and oversight responsibilities,
including communicating information about the Committee's activities to
Committee members and other members of the House. The ranking minority
member may maintain an official website for the purpose of carrying out
official responsibilities, including communicating information about the
activities of the minority members of the Committee to Committee members
and other members of the House.
Rule 19. Conferences
The chair of the Committee is directed to offer a motion under clause 1
of Rule XXII of the Rules of the House whenever the chair considers it
appropriate.
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