Congressional Record, Volume 141 Issue 4 (Monday, January 9, 1995)

[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.

____________________