[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 4 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H153-H157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN CHECHNYA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, though the Congress is 
naturally focused and preoccupied with the historic process of reform, 
we should not ignore what is going on in the world. As you all know, 
President Yeltsin has sent the Russian Army to subdue the self-
proclaimed Chechen Republic, which declared independence in 1991 under 
the leadership of former Soviet Air Force Gen. Djokar Dudaev.
  Last Thursday, I had a meeting with Dr. Elena Bonner, widow of Andrei 
Sakharov and president of the Sakharov Foundation. She recently 
resigned from President Yeltsin's Human Rights Commission to protest 
the military campaign in Chechnya, which she has described as a step on 
the road back to totalitarianism. Dr. Bonner urged the U.S. Congress to 
do whatever it can to help resolve the Chechen crisis peacefully.
  Mr. Speaker, Chechnya's desire for independence from Russia raises 
questions that are indeed difficult and troubling. The international 
community [[Page H154]] has not defined the limits and framework of 
self-determination, and has, in fact, shied away from this vexing 
issue, which many Governments view as threatening. Moreover, there is 
reason for concern about the potential breakup of the Russian 
Federation, which could follow a successful Chechen bid for 
independence. But, whatever one thinks about self-determination and its 
possible consequences, the Russian military action has been 
characterized by indiscriminate shelling and bombing of civilian 
targets, including apartment buildings, hotels, a chemical plant, 
stores, and even a hospital and an orphanage. By all accounts, 
thousands of men, women, and children have been killed or mutilated.

  Mr. Speaker, the massive killing and maiming of noncombatants are a 
gross violation of human rights, as even most Russian political leaders 
have recognized, and can hardly be considered an ``internal matter,'' 
as the Clinton administration has characterized it. John Maresca, 
former U.S. Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
Europe, succinctly summed up the dire situation in a recent Wall Street 
Journal article:

       The Russians' use of brutal force in Chechnya, such as 
     massive bombing of a population center, has no place in 
     today's world, whether used against an enemy or on a segment 
     of a state's own population * * *. Moreover, Russia's 
     military actions are unlikely to resolve the problem. More 
     likely is that these actions will prompt a long and bitter 
     guerrilla war which will be a further drain on Russia's 
     limited finances and political energies.

  Mr. Speaker, General Dudaev has stated his willingness to negotiate 
with Moscow, though President Yeltsin seems determined to wipe out all 
resistance by force. As Chairman of the Commission on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, I urge the Russian Government to stop the 
killing, and initiate serious, meaningful negotiations with the Chechen 
authorities. On Thursday, January 12, the Permanent Council of the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will meet in 
Vienna. I urge Moscow to follow through on the willingness it has 
indicated to let the OSCE help resolve this crisis, to use the OSCE as 
a framework for political dialog, and to accept an OSCE mission in 
Chechnya.
  The U.S. Government, for its part, should convey to Moscow that the 
eradication of a people and its territory is not an ``internal 
matter,'' and that pursuing a military solution in Chechnya--which has 
shown little evidence or prospect of success--could well lead to an 
immitigated regional disaster.

                              {time}  1440

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Archer] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the requirement of clause 2(a) 
of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I submit 
herewith the rules of the Committee on Ways and Means for the 104th 
Congress and ask that they be printed in the Record at this point. 
These rules were adopted by the committee in open session on January 5, 
1995.

    Rules of the Committee on Ways and Means for the 104th Congress

       Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
     provides in part:
       ``* * * The Rules of the House are the rules of its 
     committees and subcommittees so far as applicable, except 
     that a motion to recess from day to day and a motion to 
     dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or 
     resolution, if printed copies are available, are nondebatable 
     motions of high privilege in committees and subcommittees.
       ``* * * Each subcommittee of a committee is a part of that 
     committee, and is subject to the authority and direction of 
     that committee and to its rules as far as applicable.
       ``* * * Each standing committees of the House shall adopt 
     written rules governing its procedure. Such rules * * *
       ``(1) shall be adopted in a meeting which is open to the 
     public * * *
       ``(2) shall be not inconsistent with the Rules of the House 
     or with those provisions of law having the force and effect 
     of Rules of the House * * *.''
       In accordance with the foregoing, the Committee on Ways and 
     Means, on January 5, 1995, adopted the following as the Rules 
     of the Committee for the 104th Congress.


                               a. general

                      Rule 1. Application of Rules

       Except where the terms ``full Committee'' and 
     ``subcommittee'' are specifically referred to, the following 
     rules shall apply to the Committee on Ways and Means and its 
     subcommittees as well as to the respective chairmen.

                    Rule 2. Meeting Date and Quorums

       The regular meeting day of the Committee on Ways and Means 
     shall be on the second Wednesday of each month while the 
     House is in session. However, the Committee shall not meet on 
     the regularly scheduled meeting day if there is no business 
     to be considered.
       A majority of the Committee constitutes a quorum for 
     business; provided however, the two members shall constitute 
     a quorum at any regularly scheduled hearing called for the 
     purpose of taking testimony and receiving evidence. In 
     establishing a quorum for purposes of a public hearing, every 
     effort shall be made to secure the presence of at least one 
     member each from the majority and the minority.
       The Chairman of the Committee may call and convene, as he 
     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 pursuant to the call of the Chair.

                        Rule 3. Committee Budget

       For each Congress, the Chairman, in consultation with the 
     majority members of the Committee, shall prepare a 
     preliminary budget. Such budget shall include necessary 
     amounts for staff personnel, travel, investigation, and other 
     expenses of the Committee. After consultation with the 
     minority members, the Chairman shall include an amount 
     budgeted by minority members for staff under their direction 
     and supervision. Therefore, the Chairman shall combine such 
     proposals into a consolidated Committee budget, and shall 
     present the same to the Committee for its approval or other 
     action. The Chairman shall take whatever action is necessary 
     to have the budget as finally approved by the Committee duly 
     authorized by the House. After said budget shall have been 
     adopted, no substantial change shall be made in such budget 
     unless approved by the Committee.

               Rule 4. Publication of Committee Documents

       Any committee or subcommittee print, document, or similar 
     material prepared for public distribution shall either be 
     approved by the Committee or subcommittee prior to 
     distribution and opportunity afforded for the inclusion of 
     supplemental, minority or additional views, or such document 
     shall contain on its cover the following disclaimer:
       ``Prepared for the use of Members of the Committee on Ways 
     and Means by members of its staff. This document has not been 
     officially approved by the Committee and may not reflect the 
     views of its members.''
       Any such print, document, or other material not officially 
     approved by the Committee or subcommittee shall not include 
     the names of its members, other than the name of the full 
     Committee Chairman or subcommittee chairman under whose 
     authority the document is released. Any such document shall 
     be made available to the full Committee Chairman and Ranking 
     Minority Member not less than three calendar days (excluding 
     Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) prior to its public 
     release.
       The requirements of this rule shall apply only to the 
     publication of policy-oriented, analytical documents, and not 
     to the publication of public hearings, legislative documents, 
     documents which are administrative in nature or reports which 
     are required to be submitted to the Committee under public 
     law. The appropriate characterization of a document subject 
     to this rule shall be determined after consultation with the 
     Minority.

                        Rule 5. Official Travel

       Consistent with the primary expense resolution and such 
     additional expense resolution as may have been approved, the 
     provisions of this rule shall govern official travel of 
     Committee members and Committee staff. Official travel to be 
     reimbursed from funds set aside for the full Committee for 
     any Member or any Committee staff member shall be paid only 
     upon the prior authorization of the Chairman. Official travel 
     may be authorized by the Chairman for any Member and any 
     Committee staff member in connection with the attendance of 
     hearings conducted by the Committee, its subcommittees, or 
     any other committee or subcommittee of the Congress on 
     matters relevant to the general jurisdiction of the 
     Committee, and meetings, conferences, facility inspections, 
     and investigations which involve activities or subject matter 
     relevant to the general jurisdiction of the Committee. Before 
     such authorization is given, there shall be submitted to the 
     Chairman in writing the following:
       (1) The purpose of the official travel;
       (2) The dates during which the official travel is to be 
     made and the date or dates of the event for which the 
     official travel is being made;
       (3) The location of the event for which the official travel 
     is to be made; and
       (4) The names of Members and Committee staff seeking 
     authorization.
       In the case of official travel of Members and staff of a 
     subcommittee to hearings, meetings, conferences, facility 
     inspections and investigations involving activities or 
     subject matter under the jurisdiction of such subcommittee to 
     be paid for out of funds allocated to such subcommittee, 
     prior authorization must be obtained from the subcommittee 
     chairman and the full Committee Chairman. Such prior 
     authorization shall be given by the Chairman only upon the 
     representation by the applicable subcommittee 
     [[Page H155]] chairman in writing setting forth those items 
     enumerated above.
       Within 60 days of the conclusion of any official travel 
     authorized under this rule, there shall be submitted to the 
     full Committee Chairman a written report covering the 
     information gained as a result of the hearing, meeting, 
     conference, facility inspection or investigation attended 
     pursuant to such official travel.

               Rule 6. Availability of Committee Records

       The records of the Committee at the National Archives and 
     Records Administration shall be made available for public use 
     in accordance with Rule XXXVI of the Rules of the House of 
     Representatives. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking 
     Minority Member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) 
     or clause 4(b) 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.


                            b. subcommittees

              Rule 7. Subcommittee Ratios and Jurisdiction

       All matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
     involving revenue measures, except those revenue measures 
     referred to subcommittees under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, 
     shall be considered by the full Committee and not in 
     subcommittee. There shall be five standing subcommittees as 
     follows: a Subcommittee on Trade; a Subcommittee on 
     Oversight; a Subcommittee on Health; a Subcommittee on Social 
     Security; and a Subcommittee on Human Resources. The ratio of 
     Republicans to Democrats on any subcommittee of the Committee 
     shall be consistent with the ratio of Republicans to 
     Democrats on the full Committee.
       The jurisdiction of each subcommittee shall be:
       1. The Subcommittee on Trade shall consist of 15 Members, 9 
     of whom shall be Republicans and 6 of whom shall be 
     Democrats.
       The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Trade shall include 
     bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
     which relate to customs and customs administration including 
     tariff and import fee structure, classification, valuation of 
     and special rules applying to imports, and special tariff 
     provisions and procedures which relate to customs operation 
     affecting exports and imports: import trade matters, 
     including import impact, industry relief from injurious 
     imports, adjustment assistance and programs to encourage 
     competitive responses to imports, unfair import practices 
     including antidumping and countervailing duty provisions, and 
     import policy which relates to dependence on foreign sources 
     of supply; commodity agreements and reciprocal trade 
     agreements including multilateral and bilateral trade 
     negotiations and implementation of agreements involving 
     tariff and nontariff trade barriers to and distortions of 
     international trade; international rules, organizations and 
     institutional aspects of international trade agreements; 
     budget authorizations for the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. 
     International Trade Commission, and U.S. Trade 
     Representative; and special trade-related problems involving 
     market access, competitive condition of specific industries, 
     export policy and promotion, access to materials in short 
     supply, bilateral trade relations including trade with 
     developing countries, operations of multinational 
     corporations, and trade with non-market economies.
       2. The Subcommittee on Oversight shall consist of 11 
     Members, 7 of whom shall be Republicans and 4 of whom shall 
     be Democrats.
       The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall 
     include all matters within the scope of the full Committee's 
     jurisdiction but shall be limited to existing law. Said 
     oversight jurisdiction shall not be exclusive but shall be 
     concurrent with that of the other subcommittees. With respect 
     to matters involving the Internal Revenue Code and other 
     revenue issues, said concurrent jurisdiction shall be shared 
     with full Committee. Before undertaking any investigation or 
     hearing, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight shall 
     confer with the Chairman of the full Committee and the 
     chairman of any other subcommittee having jurisdiction.
       3. The Subcommittee on Health shall consist of 13 Members, 
     8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall be 
     Democrats.
       The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Health shall 
     include bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways 
     and Means which relate to programs providing payments (from 
     any source) for health care, health delivery systems, or 
     health research. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the 
     Subcommittee on Health shall include bills and matters which 
     relate to the health care programs of the Social Security Act 
     (including titles V, XI (Part B), XVIII, and XIX thereof) 
     and, concurrent with the full Committee, tax credit and 
     deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code dealing 
     with health insurance premiums and health care costs.
       4. The Subcommittee on Social Security shall consist of 11 
     Members, 7 of whom shall be Republicans and 4 of whom shall 
     be Democrats.
       The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Social Security 
     shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on 
     Ways and Means which relate to the Federal Old-Age, 
     Survivors' and Disability Insurance System, the Railroad 
     Retirement System, and employment taxes and trust fund 
     operations relating to those systems. More specifically, the 
     jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Social Security shall 
     include bills and matters involving title II of the Social 
     Security Act and Chapter 22 of the Internal Revenue Code (the 
     Railroad Retirement Tax Act), as well as provisions in title 
     VII and title XI of the Act relating to procedure and 
     administration involving the Old-Age, Survivors' and 
     Disability Insurance System.
       5. The Subcommittee on Human Resources shall consist of 13 
     Members, 8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 of whom shall 
     be Democrats.
       The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human Resources 
     shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on 
     Ways and Means which relate to the public assistance 
     provisions of the Social Security Act including welfare 
     reform, supplemental security income, aid to families with 
     dependent children, social services, child support, 
     eligibility of welfare recipients for food stamps, and low-
     income energy assistance. More specifically, the jurisdiction 
     of the Subcommittee on Human Resources shall include bills 
     and matters relating to titles I, IV, VI, X, XIV, XVI, XVII, 
     XX and related provisions of titles VII and XI of the Social 
     Security Act.
       The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Human Resources 
     shall also include bills and matters referred to the 
     Committee on Ways and Means which relate to the Federal-State 
     system of unemployment compensation, and the financing 
     thereof, including the programs for extended and emergency 
     benefits. More specifically, the jurisdiction of the 
     Subcommittee on Human Resources shall also include all bills 
     and matters pertaining to the programs of unemployment 
     compensation under titles III, IX and XII of the Social 
     Security Act, Chapters 23 and 23A of the Internal Revenue 
     Code, the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation 
     Act of 1970, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 
     1974, and provisions relating thereto.

              Rule 8. Ex-Officio Members of Subcommittees

       The Chairman of the full Committee and the Ranking Minority 
     Member may sit as ex-officio members of all subcommittees. 
     They may be counted for purposes of assisting in the 
     establishment of a quorum for a subcommittee. However, their 
     absence shall not count against the establishment of a quorum 
     by the regular members of the subcommittee. Ex-officio 
     members shall neither vote in the subcommittee nor be taken 
     into consideration for purposes of determining the ratio of 
     the subcommittee.

                     Rule 9. Subcommittee Meetings

       Insofar as practicable, meetings of the full Committee and 
     its subcommittees shall not conflict. Subcommittee chairmen 
     shall set meeting dates after consultation with the Chairman 
     of the full Committee and other subcommittee chairmen with a 
     view toward avoiding, wherever possible, simultaneous 
     scheduling of full Committee and subcommittee meetings or 
     hearings.

       Rule 10. Reference of Legislation and Subcommittee Reports

       Except for bills or measures retained by the Chairman of 
     the full Committee for full Committee consideration, every 
     bill or other measure referred to the Committee shall be 
     referred by the Chairman of the full Committee to the 
     appropriate subcommittee in a timely manner. A subcommittee 
     shall, within 3 legislative days of the referral, acknowledge 
     same to the full Committee.
       After a measure has been pending in a subcommittee for a 
     reasonable period of time, the Chairman of the full Committee 
     may make a request in writing to the subcommittee that the 
     subcommittee forthwith report the measure to the full 
     Committee with its recommendations. If within 7 legislative 
     days after the Chairman's written request, the subcommittee 
     has not so reported the measure, then there shall be in order 
     in the full Committee a motion to discharge the subcommittee 
     from further consideration of the measure. If such motion is 
     approved by a majority vote of the full Committee, the 
     measure may thereafter be considered only by the full 
     Committee.
       No measure reported by a subcommittee shall be considered 
     by the full Committee unless it has been presented to all 
     Members of the full Committee at least 2 legislative days 
     prior to the full Committee's meeting, together with a 
     comparison with present law, a section-by-section analysis of 
     the proposed change, a section-by-section justification, and 
     a draft statement of the budget effects of the measure that 
     is consistent with the requirements for reported measures 
     under clause 7 of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
     Representatives.

          Rule 11. Recommendation for Appointment of Conferees

       Whenever in the legislative process it becomes necessary to 
     appoint conferees, the Chairman of the full Committee shall 
     recommend to the Speaker as conferees the names of those 
     Committee members as the Chairman may designate. In making 
     recommendations of minority members as conferees, the 
     Chairman shall consult with the Ranking Minority Member of 
     the Committee.


                              c. hearings

                           Rule 12. Witnesses

       In order to assure the most productive use of the limited 
     time available to question hearing witnesses, a witness who 
     is scheduled to appear before the full Committee or a 
     subcommittee shall file with the clerk of [[Page H156]] the 
     Committee at least 48 hours in advance of his appearance a 
     written statement of his proposed testimony. In addition, all 
     witnesses shall comply with formatting requirements as 
     specified by the Committee. Failure to comply with the 48-
     hour rule may result in a witness being denied the 
     opportunity to testify in person. Failure to comply with the 
     formatting requirements may result in a witness' statement 
     being rejected for inclusion in the published hearing record. 
     A witness shall limit his oral presentation to a summary of 
     his position and shall provide sufficient copies of his 
     written statement to the clerk for distribution to members, 
     staff and news media.
       A witness appearing at a public hearing, or submitting a 
     statement for the record of a public hearing, or submitting 
     written comments in response to a published request for 
     comments by the Committee must include on his statement or 
     submission a list of all clients, persons, or organizations 
     on whose behalf the witness appears. Oral testimony and 
     statements for the record, or written comments in response to 
     a request for comments by the Committee, will be accepted 
     only from citizens of the United States or corporations or 
     associations organized under the laws of one of the 50 States 
     of the United States or the District of Columbia, unless 
     otherwise directed by the Chairman of the full Committee or 
     subcommittee involved. Written statements from noncitizens 
     may be considered for acceptance in the record if transmitted 
     to the Committee in writing by Members of Congress.

                   Rule 13. Questioning of Witnesses

       Committee members may question witnesses only when 
     recognized by the Chairman for that purpose. All members 
     shall be limited to five minutes on the initial round of 
     questioning. In questioning witnesses under the five-minute 
     rule, the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member shall be 
     recognized first after which members who are in attendance at 
     the beginning of a hearing will be recognized in the order of 
     their seniority on the Committee. Other members shall be 
     recognized in the order of their appearance at the hearing. 
     In recognizing members to question witnesses, the Chairman 
     may take into consideration the ratio of majority members to 
     minority members and the number of majority and minority 
     members present and shall apportion the recognition for 
     questioning in such a manner as not to disadvantage members 
     of the majority.

                        Rule 14. Subpoena Power

       The power to authorize and issue subpoenas is delegated to 
     the Chairman of the full Committee, as provided for under 
     clause 2(m)(2)(A) of Rule XI of the House of Representatives.

                      Rule 15. Records of Hearings

       An accurate stenographic record shall be kept of all 
     testimony taken at a public hearing. The staff shall transmit 
     to a witness the transcript of his testimony for correction 
     and immediate return to the Committee offices. Only changes 
     in the interest of clarity, accuracy and corrections in 
     transcribing errors will be permitted. Changes which 
     substantially alter the actual testimony will not be 
     permitted. Members shall correct their own testimony and 
     return transcripts as soon as possible after receipt thereof. 
     The Chairman of the full Committee may order the printing of 
     a hearing without the corrections of a witness or Member if 
     he determines that a reasonable time has been afforded to 
     make corrections and that further delay would impede the 
     consideration of the legislation or other measure which is 
     the subject of the hearing.

                   Rule 16. Broadcasting of Hearings

       The provisions of clause 3(f) of Rule XI of the Rules of 
     the House of Representatives are specifically made a part of 
     these rules by reference. In addition, the following policy 
     shall apply to media coverage of any meeting of the full 
     Committee or a subcommittee:
       1, An appropriate area of the Committee's hearing room will 
     be designated for members of the media and their equipment.
       2. No interviews will be allowed in the Committee room 
     while the Committee is in session. Individual interviews must 
     take place before the gavel falls for the convening of a 
     meeting or after the gavel falls for adjournment.
       3. Day-to-day notification of the next day's electronic 
     coverage shall be provided by the media to the Chairman of 
     the full Committee through the chief counsel or some other 
     appropriate designee.
       4. Still photography during a Committee meeting will not be 
     permitted to disrupt the proceedings or block the vision of 
     Committee members or witnesses.
       5. Klieg lights will be permitted to illuminate the hearing 
     room only during the first fifteen minutes following the 
     Chairman's initial calling of the Committee to order.
       6. Further conditions may be specified by the Chairman.


                               d. markups

               Rule 17. Reconsideration of Previous Vote

       When an amendment or other matter has been disposed of, it 
     shall be in order for any member of the prevailing side, on 
     the same or next day on which a quorum of the Committee is 
     present, to move the reconsideration thereof, and such motion 
     shall take precedence over all other questions except the 
     consideration of a motion to adjourn.
       When a paragraph or section of a bill being considered for 
     purpose of amendment has been adopted, it shall not be in 
     order to return thereto except by majority vote of the 
     Committee.

                       Rule 18. Previous Question

       The Chairman shall not recognize a member for the purpose 
     of moving the previous question unless the member has first 
     advised the Chair and the Committee that this is the purpose 
     for which recognition is being sought.

 Rule 19. Official Transcripts of Markups and Other Committee Meetings

       An official stenographic transcript shall be kept 
     accurately reflecting all markups and other meetings of the 
     full Committee and the subcommittees, whether they be open or 
     closed to the public. This official transcript, marked as 
     ``uncorrected,'' shall be available for inspection by the 
     public (except for meetings closed pursuant to clause 2(g)(1) 
     of Rule XI of the Rules of the House), by Members of the 
     House, or by Members of the Committee together with their 
     staffs, during normal business hours in the full Committee or 
     subcommittee office under such controls as the Chairman of 
     the full Committee deems necessary. Official transcripts 
     shall not be removed from the Committee or subcommittee 
     office. If, however, (1) in the drafting of a Committee or 
     subcommittee decision, the Office of the House Legislative 
     Counsel or (2) in the preparation of a Committee report, the 
     Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation determines 
     (in consultation with appropriate majority and minority 
     Committee staff) that it is necessary to review the official 
     transcript of a markup, such transcript may be released upon 
     the signature and to the custody of an appropriate Committee 
     staff person. Such transcript shall be returned immediately 
     after its review in the drafting session.
       The official transcript of a markup or Committee meeting 
     other than a public hearing shall not be published or 
     distributed to the public in any way except by a majority 
     vote of the Committee. Before any public release of the 
     uncorrected transcript, members must be given a reasonable 
     opportunity to correct their remarks. In instances in which a 
     stenographic transcript is kept of a conference committee 
     proceeding, all of the requirements of this rule shall 
     likewise be observed.

       Rule 20. Publication of Decisions and Legislative Language

       A press release describing any tentative or final decision 
     made by the full Committee or a subcommittee on legislation 
     under consideration shall be made available to each member of 
     the Committee as soon as possible, but no later than the next 
     day. However, the legislative draft of any tentative or final 
     decision of the full Committee or a subcommittee shall not be 
     publicly released until such draft is made available to each 
     member of the Committee.


                                e. staff

                Rule 21. Supervision of Committee Staff

       The staff of the Committee shall be under the general 
     supervision and direction of the Chairman of the full 
     Committee except as provided in clause 6 of Rule XI of the 
     Rules of the House of Representatives concerning committee 
     expenses and staff.
       Pursuant to clause 5(d) of Rule XI of the Rules of the 
     House of Representatives, the Chairman of the full Committee, 
     from the funds made available for the appointment of 
     committee staff pursuant to primary and additional expense 
     resolutions, shall ensure that each subcommittee receives 
     sufficient staff to carry out its responsibilities under the 
     rules of the Committee, and that the minority party is fairly 
     treated in the appointment of such staff.

 Rule 22. Staff Honoraria, Speaking Engagements, and Unofficial Travel

       This rule shall apply to all majority and minority staff of 
     the Committee and its subcommittees.
       a. Honoraria.--Under no circumstances shall a staff person 
     accept the offer of an honorarium. This prohibition includes 
     the direction of an honorarium to a charity.
       b. Speaking engagements and unofficial travel.--
       (1) Advance approval required.--In the case of all speaking 
     engagements, fact-finding trips, and other unofficial travel, 
     a staff person must receive approval by the full Committee 
     Chairman (or, in the case of the minority staff, from the 
     Ranking Minority Member) at least seven calendar days prior 
     to the event.
       (2) Request for approval.--A request for approval must be 
     submitted in writing to the full Committee Chairman (or, 
     where appropriate, the Ranking Minority Member) in connection 
     with each speaking engagement, fact-finding trip, or other 
     unofficial travel. Such request must contain the following 
     information:
       (a) the name of the sponsoring organization and a general 
     description of such organization (nonprofit organization, 
     trade association, etc.);
       (b) the nature of the event, including any relevant 
     information regarding attendees at such event;
       (c) in the case of a speaking engagement, the subject of 
     the speech and duration of staff travel, if any; 
     and [[Page H157]] 
       (d) in the case of a fact-finding trip or international 
     travel, a description of the proposed itinerary and proposed 
     agenda of substantive issues to be discussed, as well as a 
     justification of the relevance and importance of the fact-
     finding trip or international travel to the staff member's 
     official duties.
       (3) Reasonable travel and lodging expenses,--After receipt 
     of the advance approval described in (1) above, a staff 
     person may accept reimbursement by an appropriate sponsoring 
     organization of reasonable travel and lodging expenses 
     associated with a speaking engagement, fact-finding trip, or 
     international travel related to official duties, provided 
     such reimbursement is consistent with the Rules of the House 
     of Representatives. (In lieu of reimbursement after the 
     event, expenses may be paid directly by an appropriate 
     sponsoring organization.) The reasonable travel and lodging 
     expenses of a spouse (but not children) may be reimbursed (or 
     directly paid) by an appropriate sponsoring organization 
     consistent with the Rule of the House of Representatives.
       (4) Trip summary and report.--In the case of any 
     reimbursement or direct payment associated with a fact-
     finding trip or international travel, a staff person must 
     submit, within 60 days after such trip, a report summarizing 
     the trip and listing all expenses reimbursed or directly paid 
     by the sponsoring organization. This information shall be 
     submitted to the Chairman (or, in the case of the minority 
     staff, to the Ranking Minority Member).
       c. Waiver.--The Chairman (or, where appropriate, the 
     Ranking Minority Member) may waive the application of section 
     (b) of this rule upon a showing of good cause.

                          ____________________