[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H530-H534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE FOR THE 104th 
                                CONGRESS

  (Mr. ROBERTS asked and was given permission to extend his remarks at 
this point in the Record and to include extraneous matter.)
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit for printing in the 
Congressional Record, pursuant to rule XI, clause 2(a) of the Rules of 
the House, a copy of the Rules of the Committee on Agriculture, which 
were adopted at the organizational meeting of the committee on January 
11, 1995.
  Appendix A of the committee rules includes excerpts from the rules of 
the House relevant to the operation of the committee. Appendix B 
includes relevant excerpts from the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 
In the interests of minimizing printing costs, Appendices A and B are 
omitted from this submission.
                 Rules of the Committee on Agriculture


                         I. General Provisions

       a. Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.--The Rules 
     of the House shall govern the procedure of the Committee so 
     far as applicable, and the rules of the Committee shall be 
     interpreted in accordance with the Rules of the House, 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. 
     (See Appendix A for the applicable rules of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives.)
       b. Applicability to Subcommittees.--The following rules 
     shall apply to meetings, hearings, and other activities of 
     Subcommittees, which are part of the Committee and subject to 
     its authority and direction, only when specifically so 
     stated.


            II. COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE BUSINESS MEETINGS

       a. Regular and Additional Meetings.--The Committee shall 
     meet on the first Tuesday of each month while Congress is in 
     session. The Committee also shall meet at the call of the 
     Chairman at such other times as the Chairman considers to be 
     necessary, subject to advance notice to all Committee 
     Members. Insofar as practicable, an agenda for all regular 
     and additional Committee meetings, setting forth all the 
     measures and matters to be considered, shall be furnished 
     each Committee Member prior to the meeting. Items may be 
     placed on the agenda by the Chairman or a majority of the 
     Committee. If the Chairman determines that any meeting 
     convened by the chairman need not be held, the Chairman shall 
     give all Members of the Committee notice to that effect as 
     far in advance of the meeting day as practicable, and no 
     meeting shall be held on such day. See Rule VI. e. for 
     provisions which apply to meetings of Subcommittees.
       b. Special Meetings.--If at least three Members of the 
     Committee file a written request in the Committee offices 
     that a special meeting be called by the Chairman to consider 
     a specific measure or matter, the Chief of Staff shall 
     immediately notify the Chairman of the filing of such 
     request. If, within three calendar days after the filing of 
     such request, the Chairman does not call the requested 
     special meeting to be held at a time within seven calendar 
     days after the filing of such request, a majority of the 
     Members of the Committee may file in the Committee offices 
     their written notice that a special meeting will be held at a 
     specified date and hour to consider a specified measure or 
     matter. If such a notice is filed, the Committee shall meet 
     on that date and hour. Immediately upon the filing of such a 
     notice, the Chief of Staff shall notify all Members of the 
     Committee that such special meeting will be held at the 
     specified date and hour to consider the specified measure or 
     matter. Only the measure or matter so specified in the 
     meeting notice as filed by the majority of Committee Members 
     and transmitted to all Committee Members may be considered at 
     a special meeting.
       c. Vice Chairman.--The Member of the majority party on the 
     Committee ranking immediately after the Chairman of the 
     Committee shall be the Vice Chairman of the Committee, and 
     the Member of the majority party on each Subcommittee ranking 
     immediately after the Chairman of the Subcommittee shall be 
     the Vice Chairman of that Subcommittee.
       d. Presiding Member.--If the Chairman is not present at any 
     Committee meeting or hearing, the Vice Chairman or, in the 
     absence of the Vice Chairman, the ranking Member of the 
     majority party on the Committee who is present shall preside. 
     If the Chairman is not present at any Subcommittee meeting or 
     hearing, the Vice Chairman or, in the absence of the Vice 
     Chairman, the ranking Member of the majority party who is 
     present shall preside.
       e. Open Business Meetings.--Each Committee or Subcommittee 
     meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup 
     of legislation, shall be open to the public including to 
     radio, television and still photography coverage, except as 
     provided by House Rule XI, clause 3(f)(2), except when the 
     Committee or Subcommittee, in open session and with a 
     majority present, determines by roll call vote that all or 
     part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall be 
     closed to the public because disclosure of matters to be 
     considered would endanger national security would compromise 
     sensitive law enforcement information, or would tend to 
     defame, degrade or incriminate any person, or otherwise would 
     violate any law or rule of the House. No person other than 
     Members of the Committee or Subcommittee and such 
     congressional staff and departmental representatives as the 
     Committee or Subcommittee may authorize shall be present at 
     any business or markup session that has been closed to the 
     public. This clause does not apply to Committee or 
     Subcommittee hearings or to any meeting that, as announced by 
     the Chairman of the Committee or Subcommittee, relates solely 
     to internal budget or personnel matters.
       f. Records and Roll Calls.--A complete record of all 
     Committee or Subcommittee action shall be kept in the form of 
     written minutes, including a record of the votes on any 
     question as to which a roll call is demanded. A roll call 
     vote shall be ordered on demand by one-fifth of the Members 
     present. The record of such action and the results of the 
     roll call votes during each session of Congress shall be made 
     available by the Committee, on request, for public inspection 
     during regular office hours in the Committee offices and on 
     telephone request. The information so available on roll call 
     votes shall include a brief 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 other proposition; and the names of those 
     Members present but not voting. A stenographic record of a 
     business meeting of the Committee or Subcommittee may be kept 
     and thereafter may be published if the Chairman of the 
     Committee determines there is need for such a record. The 
     proceedings of the Committee or Subcommittee in a closed 
     meeting, other than roll call votes, shall not be divulged 
     unless otherwise determined by a majority of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee.
       g. Quorum For Reporting Measures.--No measure or 
     recommendation shall be reported from the Committee or 
     Subcommittee unless a majority of the committee is actually 
     present.
       h. Quorums--General.--A majority of the Members of the 
     Committee or Subcommittee shall constitute a quorum of the 
     Committee or Subcommittee for the purpose of convening 
     meetings, conducting business, and voting on any matter: 
     Provided, That the Chairman of the Committee may determine 
     that one-third of the Members of the Committee shall 
     constitute a quorum of the Committee at any meeting for such 
     purpose (other than for the reporting of any measure or 
     recommendation, and voting on the authorization of subpoenas 
     and on the closing of hearings and business meetings to the 
     public) if the Chairman gives written notice to that effect 
     to the Members prior to the meeting.
       i. Prohibition on Certain Committee Meetings.--Without 
     special leave, neither the Committee nor any Subcommittee may 
     sit while the House is reading a measure for amendment under 
     the five-minute rule. (See Appendix A, House Rule XI clause 
     2(i).)
       The Committee or Subcommittees may not sit during a joint 
     session of the House and Senate or during a recess when a 
     joint meeting of the House and Senate is in progress.
       j. Prohibition on Proxy Voting.--No vote by any Member of 
     the Committee or Subcommittee with respect to any measure or 
     matter may be cast by proxy.
       k. Location of Persons at Meetings.--No person other than a 
     Member of Congress or Committee or Subcommittee staff may 
     walk in or be seated at the rostrum area during a meeting of 
     the Committee or Subcommittee unless the Chairman or a 
     majority of the 
     [[Page H531]] Committee or
      Subcommittee determines otherwise.
       l. Consideration of Amendments and Motions.--A Member, upon 
     request, may be recognized by the Chairman to address the 
     Committee or Subcommittee at a meeting for not more than five 
     minutes on behalf of an amendment or motion offered by the 
     Member or another Member, or upon any other matter under 
     consideration, unless the Member receives unanimous consent 
     to extend the time limit. Every amendment, substitute 
     amendment, amendment to an amendment, or amendment in the 
     nature of a substitute made in Committee or Subcommittee that 
     is substantial as determined by the Chairman shall, upon the 
     demand of any Member present, be reduced to writing, and a 
     copy thereof shall be made available to all Members present: 
     Provided. That such amendment shall remain pending before the 
     Committee or Subcommittee and may not be voted on until the 
     requirements of this section have been met.
       m. Submission of Motions or Amendments in Advance of 
     Business Meetings.--The Committee and Subcommittee Chairman 
     may request and Committee and Subcommittee members should, 
     insofar as practicable, cooperate in providing copies of 
     proposed amendments or motions to the Chairman and the 
     Ranking Minority Member twenty-four hours before a Committee 
     or Subcommittee business meeting.
       n. Points of Order.--No point of order against the hearing 
     or meeting procedures of the Committee or Subcommittee shall 
     be sustained unless it is made in a timely fashion.


                III. COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS

       a. Power to Hear.--For the purpose of carrying out any of 
     its functions and duties under House Rules X and XI, the 
     Committee is authorized to sit and hold hearings at any time 
     or place within the United States whether the House is in 
     session, has recessed, or has adjourned. See Rule VI. e. for 
     provisions relating to Subcommittee hearings and meetings.
       b. Announcement of Hearings.--The Chairman of the Committee 
     or Subcommittee shall publicly announce the date, place, and 
     subject matter of any hearing to be conducted on any measure 
     or matter at least one week before the commencement of that 
     hearing unless the Committee or Subcommittee or the Chairman 
     of the Committee or Subcommittee, after consultation with the 
     Ranking Minority member of the Committee or Subcommittee, as 
     applicable, determines that there is good cause to begin such 
     hearing at an earlier date, in which case the announcement of 
     the hearing shall be made by the Chairman of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee at the earliest possible date. The Chief of 
     Staff shall notify the office of the House Daily Digest for 
     publication of the notice of the hearing in the Congressional 
     Record, and the office of the Official Reports to the House 
     Committees relating to such notice as soon as possible after 
     such public announcement has been made and enter the 
     announcement onto the Committee scheduling service of the 
     House Information systems.
       c. Power to Subpoena.--For the purpose of carrying out any 
     of its functions and duties under House Rules X and XI, the 
     Committee is authorized to require, by subpoena or otherwise, 
     the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the 
     production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
     papers, and documents as it deems necessary. A subpoena may 
     be authorized and issued in the conduct of any investigation 
     or series of investigations or activities by the Committee or 
     by a Subcommittee when authorized by a roll call vote of the 
     majority of the Members of the Committee, a majority being 
     present. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the Chairman 
     of the Committee or by any other member of the Committee may 
     designate. Notice of a meeting to consider a motion to 
     authorize and issue a subpoena shall be given to all Members 
     of the full Committee by 5 p.m. of the day preceding the day 
     of such meeting. Compliance with a
      Committee or Subcommittee issued subpoena may be enforced 
     only as authorized or directed by the House.
       d. Scheduling of Hearings and Witnesses.--Except as 
     otherwise provided in this clause, the scheduling of hearings 
     and witnesses and determination of the time allowed for the 
     presentation of testimony and interrogation shall be at the 
     discretion of the Chairman or a majority of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee. Whenever any hearing is conducted by the 
     Committee or Subcommittee on any measure or matter, the 
     Committee's or Subcommittee's minority party Members shall be 
     entitled, on request by a majority of them to the Chairman of 
     the Committee or Subcommittee before the completion of the 
     hearing, to call witnesses selected by them to testify with 
     respect to that measure or matter during at least one day of 
     the hearing.
       e. Witnesses' Statements in Advance.--Each witness who is 
     to appear before the Committee or Subcommittee shall, insofar 
     as practicable, file with the Chief of Staff a written 
     statement of the witness's prepared testimony at least two 
     working days in advance of the witness's appearance in order 
     to permit the testimony to be distributed to and reviewed in 
     advance by Committee or Subcommittee Members. Witnesses shall 
     provide sufficient copies of their statement for distribution 
     to Committee or Subcommittee Members, staff, and the news 
     media. The Committee or Subcommittee staff shall distribute 
     such written statements to all Members of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee as soon as they are received as well as any 
     official reports from departments and agencies on such 
     subject matter.
       f. Testimony of Witnesses.--The Chairman of the Committee 
     or Subcommittee or any Member designated by the Chairman may 
     administer an oath to any witness. Each witness who has been 
     subpoenaed, on the completion of the witness's testimony, may 
     report in person or in writing to the Chief of Staff and sign 
     appropriate vouchers, if any, for the cost of travel-related 
     expenses as authorized by the Rules of the House and other 
     relevant laws. All witnesses may be limited in their oral 
     presentations to brief summaries of their statements within 
     the time allotted to them, at the discretion of the Chairman 
     of the Committee or Subcommittee in light of the nature of 
     the testimony and the length of time available.
       g. Questioning of Witnesses.--Committee or Subcommittee 
     Members may question witnesses only when they have been 
     recognized by the Chairman of the Committee or Subcommittee 
     for that purpose. Each Member so recognized shall be limited 
     to questioning a witness (or panel of witnesses) for five 
     minutes until such time as each Member of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee who so desires has had an opportunity to 
     question the witness (or panel of witnesses) for five 
     minutes, and, thereafter, the Chairman of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee may limit the time of further questioning after 
     giving due consideration to the importance of the subject 
     matter and the length of time available. All questions put to 
     witnesses shall be germane to the measure or matter under 
     consideration. Unless the Chairman or a majority of the 
     Committee or Subcommittee determines otherwise, no person 
     shall interrogate witnesses other than Members and Committee 
     or Subcommittee staff.
       h. Open Hearings.--Each hearing conducted by the Committee 
     or Subcommittee shall be open to the public including to 
     radio, television and still photography coverage except when 
     the Committee or Subcommittee, in open session and with a 
     majority present, determines by roll call vote that all or 
     part of the remainder of that hearing on that day shall be 
     closed to the public, because disclosure of testimony, 
     evidence, or other matters to be considered would endanger 
     the national security, would compromise sensitive law 
     enforcement information, or would violate any law or rule of 
     the House of Representatives: Provided, That the Committee or 
     Subcommittee may, by the same procedure, vote to close one 
     subsequent day of hearing. Notwithstanding the
      requirements of the preceding sentence, a majority of those 
     present, there being in attendance the requisite number 
     required under the rules of the Committee to be present 
     for the purpose of taking testimony (1) may vote to close 
     the hearing for the sole purpose of discussing whether 
     testimony or evidence to be received would endanger the 
     national security, would compromise sensitive law 
     enforcement information, or violate Rule III. k., or (2) 
     may vote to close the hearing, as provided in Rule III. k. 
     In any event, no Member of the House may be excluded from 
     nonparticipatory attendance at any hearing unless the 
     House by majority vote shall authorize the Committee or 
     Subcommittee, for purposes of a particular series of 
     hearings on a particular article of legislation or on a 
     particular subject of investigation, to close its meetings 
     to Members by means of the above procedure.
       i. Quorum.--The quorum for taking testimony and receiving 
     evidence shall be two members of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee.
       j. Record of Hearing.--The Committee shall keep a complete 
     record of all committee action which shall include--
       (A) in the case of any meeting or hearing transcripts, a 
     substantially verbatim account of remarks actually made 
     during the proceedings, subject only to technical, 
     grammatical, and typographical corrections authorized by the 
     person making the remarks involved; and
       (B) a record of the votes on any question on which a roll 
     call vote is demanded. Any public witness, during Committee 
     office hours in the Committee offices and within two weeks of 
     the close of hearings, may examine the transcript of his or 
     her own testimony and make such technical, grammatical and 
     typographical corrections as authorized by the person making 
     the remarks involved as will not alter the nature of 
     testimony given. Members of the Committee or Subcommittee 
     shall receive copies of transcripts for their prompt review 
     and correction for return to the Committee. The Chairman of 
     the Committee may order the printing of a hearing record 
     without the corrections of any Member or witness if the 
     Chairman determines that such Member or witness has been 
     afforded a reasonable time in which to make such corrections 
     and further delay would seriously impede the consideration of 
     the legislative action that is the subject of the hearing. 
     The record of a hearing closes ten calendar days after the 
     last oral testimony, unless the Chairman of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee otherwise determines. Any person requesting to 
     file a statement for the record of a hearing must so request 
     before the hearing concludes and must file the statement 
     before the record closes. No written statement becomes part 
     of the record and thus publicly available until such time as 
     it has been approved by the Chairman of the Committee or any 
     Committee staff the 
     [[Page H532]] Chairman designates, and the Chairman of the 
     Committee or Subcommittee or the Chairman's designee may 
     reject any statement in light of its length or its tendency 
     to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person.
       k. Investigative Hearings.--The Chairman of the Committee 
     or Subcommittee at an investigative hearing shall announce in 
     an opening statement the subject of the investigation. A copy 
     of the Committee rules (and the applicable provisions of 
     Clause 2 of Rule XI of the house Rules, regarding 
     investigative hearing procedures, a copy of which appears in 
     Appendix A) shall be made available to each witness. 
     Witnesses at investigative hearings may be accompanied by 
     their own counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning 
     their constitutional rights. The Chairman of the Committee or 
     Subcommittee may punish breaches of order and decorum, and of 
     profressional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and 
     exclusion from the hearings; but only the full Committee may 
     cite the offender to the House for contempt. Whenever it is 
     asserted that the evidence or testimony at an investigatory 
     hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any 
     person--
       (1) such testimony or evidence shall be presented in 
     executive session, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 
     III. h., if by a majority of those present, there being in 
     attendance the requisite number required under the rules of 
     the Committee to be present for the purpose of taking 
     testimony, the Committee or Subcommittee determines that such 
     evidence or testimony may tend to defame, degrade, or 
     incriminate any person; or
       (2) the Committee or Subcommittee shall proceed to receive 
     such testimony in open session only if a majority of the 
     Members of the Committee or Subcommittee, a majority begin 
     present, determine that such evidence or testimony will not 
     tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person.
       In either case the Committee or Subcommittee shall afford 
     such person any opportunity voluntarily to appear as a 
     witness; and the Committee or Subcommittee shall receive and 
     the Committee shall dispose of requests from such person to 
     subpoena additional witnesses.
       Except as provided above, the Chairman shall receive and 
     the Committee shall dispose of requests to subpoena 
     additional witnesses. No evidence or testimony taken in 
     executive session may be released or used in public sessions 
     without the consent of the Committee or Subcommittee. In the 
     discretion of the Committee or Subcommittee, witnesses may 
     submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in writing for 
     inclusion in the record. The Committee or Subcommittee is the 
     sole judge of the pertinency of testimony and evidence 
     adduced at its hearings. A witness may obtain a transcript 
     copy of his or her testimony given at a public session or, if 
     given at an executive session, when authorized by the 
     Committee or Subcommittee.
       1. Broadcasting and Photography.--Television, radio and 
     still photography coverage of all or part of any Committee or 
     Subcommittee hearing or meeting shall be permitted, except as 
     provided in House Rule XI clause 3(f)(2): Provided, That when 
     such radio coverage is conducted, written notice to that 
     effect shall be placed on the desk of each Member. No 
     Committee or Subcommittee Chairman shall limit the number of 
     television or still cameras permitted in a hearing or meeting 
     room to fewer than two representatives from each medium 
     (except for legitimate space or safety considerations, in 
     which case pool coverage shall be authorized). Any 
     television, radio, or sill photography coverage of all or 
     part of a hearing or meeting shall be subject to the 
     provisions of House Rule XI, clause 3(f), which appear in 
     Appendix A.


               IV. THE REPORTING OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

       a. Filing of Reports.--The Chairman shall report or cause 
     to be reported promptly to the House any bill or resolution 
     approved by the Committee and shall take or cause to be taken 
     all necessary steps to bring such bill or resolution to a 
     vote. A Committee report on any bill or resolution approved 
     by the Committee shall be filed within seven calendar days 
     (not counting days on which the House is not in session) 
     after the day on which there has been filed with the Chief of 
     Staff of the Committee a written request, signed by a 
     majority of the Committee, for the reporting of that bill or 
     resolution. The Chief of Staff of the Committee shall notify 
     the Chairman immediately when such a request is filed.
       b. Content of Reports.--Each Committee report on any bill 
     or resolution approved by the Committee shall include as 
     separately identified sections:
       (1) a statement of the intent or purpose of the bill or 
     resolution;
       (2) a statement describing the need for such bill or 
     resolution;
       (3) the results of each roll call vote on any amendment in 
     the Committee or Subcommittee and on the motion to report 
     such bill or resolution, including the total number of votes 
     cast for and the total number of votes cast against such 
     amendment or motion;
       (4) the detailed statement described in section 308(a)(1) 
     of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 if the bill or 
     resolution provides new budget authority (other than 
     continuing appropriations), new spending authority described 
     in section 401(c)(2) of such Act, new credit authority, or an 
     increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures, except 
     that the estimates with respect to new budget authority shall 
     include, when practicable, a comparison of the total 
     estimated funding level for the relevant program (or 
     programs) to the appropriate levels under current law;
       (5) the estimate of costs and comparison such estimates, if 
     any, prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
     Office in connection with such bill or resolution pursuant to 
     section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and 
     submitted in timely fashion to the Committee;
       (6) any oversight findings and recommendations made by the 
     Committee or the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight 
     or both to the extent such were available during the 
     Committee's deliberations on the bill or resolution;
       (7) a detailed analytical statement as to whether the 
     enactment of such bill or joint resolution into law may have 
     an inflationary impact on prices and costs in the operation 
     of the national economy;
       (8) an estimate of the costs that would be incurred in 
     carrying out such bill or joint resolution in the fiscal year 
     in which it is reported and for its authorized duration or 
     for each of the five fiscal years following the fiscal year 
     or reporting, whichever period is less, together with a 
     comparison these estimates with those made and submitted to 
     the Committee by any Government agency (the provisions of 
     this clause do not apply if a cost estimate and comparison 
     prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
     under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has 
     been timely submitted prior to the filing of the report and 
     included in the report);
       (9) the changes in existing law (if any) shown in 
     accordance with Rule XIII, clause 3, of the House Rules;
       (10) the determination required pursuant to section 5(b) of 
     Public Law 92-463, if the legislation reported establishes or 
     authorizes the establishment of an advisory committee; and
       (11) such other matter as the Chairman of the Committee 
     determines to be useful for public understanding of the 
     intent and effect of the bill or resolution.
       c. Supplemental, Minority, or Additional Views.--If, at the 
     time of approval of any measure or matter by the Committee, 
     any Member of the Committee gives notice of intention to file 
     supplemental, minority, or additional views, that Member 
     shall be entitled to not less than three calendar days 
     (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) in which 
     to file such views, in writing and signed by that member, 
     with the Chief of Staff of the Committee. All such views so 
     filed by one or more Members of the Committee shall be 
     included within, and shall be a part of, the report filed by 
     the Committee with respect to that measure or matter. The 
     report of the Committee on that measure or matter shall be 
     printed in a single volume, which shall:
       (1) include all supplemental, minority or additional views 
     that have been submitted by the time of the filing of the 
     report; and
       (2) bear on its cover a recital that any such supplemental, 
     minority, or additional views (and any material submitted 
     under subdivisions (C) and (D) of clause 2(l)(3) of House 
     Rule XI are included as part of the report.
       This clause shall not preclude the immediate filing or 
     printing of a Committee report unless timely request for the 
     opportunity to file supplemental, minority, or additional 
     views has been made as provided by this clause or the filing 
     by the Committee of any supplemental report on any bill or 
     resolution that may be required for the correction of any 
     technical error in a previous report made by the Committee on 
     that bill or resolution.
       d. Availability of Printed Hearing Records.--If hearings 
     have been held on any reported bill or resolution, the 
     Committee shall make every reasonable effort to have the 
     record of such hearing printed and available for distribution 
     to the Members of the House prior to the consideration of 
     such bill or resolution by the House. Each printed hearing of 
     the Committee or any of its Subcommittees shall include a 
     record of the attendance of the Members.
       e. Committee Prints.--All Committee or Subcommittee prints 
     or other Committee or Subcommittee documents, other than 
     reports or prints of bills, that are prepared for public 
     distribution shall be approved by the Chairman of the 
     Committee or the Committee prior to public distribution.


                     v. other committee activities

       a. Oversight Reform.--Not later than February 15 of the 
     first session of a Congress, the Chairman shall convene the 
     Committee in a meeting that is open to the public and with a 
     quorum present to adopt its oversight plans for that 
     Congress. Such plans shall be submitted simultaneously to the 
     Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and to the 
     Committee on House Oversight. In developing such plans the 
     Committee shall, to the maximum extent feasible--
       (A) consult with other committees of the House that have 
     jurisdiction over the same or related laws, programs, or 
     agencies within its jurisdiction, with the objective of 
     ensuring that such laws, programs, or agencies are reviewed 
     in the same Congress and that there is a maximum of 
     coordination between such committee in the conduct of such 
     reviews; and such plans shall include an explanation of what 
     steps have been and will be taken to ensure such coordination 
     and cooperation;

[[Page H533]]

       (B) give priority consideration to including in its plans 
     the review of those laws, programs, or agencies operating 
     under permanent budget authority or permanent statutory 
     authority;
       (C) have a view toward ensuring that all significant laws, 
     programs, or agencies within its jurisdiction are subject to 
     review at least once every ten years.
       The Committee shall include in the report filed pursuant to 
     House Rule XI clause 1(d) a summary of the oversight plans 
     submitted by the Committee under House Rule X clause 2(d), a 
     summary of actions taken and recommendations made with 
     respect to each such plan, and a summary of any additional 
     oversight activities undertaken by the Committee and any 
     recommendation made or actions taken thereon.
       b. Annual Appropriations.--The Committee shall, in its 
     consideration of all bills and joint resolutions of a public 
     character within its jurisdiction, ensure that appropriations 
     for continuing programs and activities of the Federal 
     government and the District of Columbia government will be 
     made annually to the maximum extent feasible and consistent 
     with the nature, requirements, and objectives of the programs 
     and activities involved. The Committee shall review, from 
     time to time, each continuing program within its jurisdiction 
     for which appropriations are not made annually in order to 
     ascertain whether such program could be modified so that 
     appropriations therefore would be made annually.
       c. Budget Act Compliance: Views and Estimates (See Appendix 
     B).--The Committee shall, within 6 weeks after the President 
     submits a budget under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 
     States Code, submit to the Committee on the Budget (1) its 
     views and estimates with respect to all matters to be set 
     forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget for the 
     ensuing fiscal year (under section 301 of the Congressional 
     Budget Act of 1974) that are within its jurisdiction or 
     functions, and (2) an estimate of the total amounts of new 
     budget authority, and budget outlays resulting therefrom, to 
     be provided or authorized in all bills and resolutions within 
     its jurisdiction that it intends to be effective during that 
     fiscal year.
       d. Budget Act Compliance: Recommended Changes (See Appendix 
     B).--Whenever the Committee is directed in a concurrent 
     resolution on the budget to determine and recommend changes 
     in laws, bills, or resolutions under the reconciliation 
     process, it shall promptly make such determination and 
     recommendations, and report a reconciliation bill or 
     resolution (or both) to the House or submit such 
     recommendations to the Committee on the Budget, in accordance 
     with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
       e. Conference Committees.--Whenever in the legislative 
     process it becomes necessary to appoint conferees, the 
     Chairman shall determine the number of conferees the Chairman 
     deems most suitable and then recommend to the Speaker as 
     conferees, in keeping with the number to be chosen, the names 
     of those Members of the Committee who were primarily 
     responsible for the legislation and, to the fullest extent 
     feasible, those Members of the Committee who were the 
     principal proponents of the major provisions of the bill as 
     it passed the House and such other Committee Members of the 
     majority party as the Chairman may designate in consultation 
     with the Members of the majority party. Such recommendations 
     shall provide a ratio of majority party Members to minority 
     party Members no less favorable to the majority party than 
     the ratio of majority Members to minority party Members on 
     the Committee. In making recommendations of minority party 
     Members as conferees, the Chairman shall consult with the 
     Ranking Minority Member of the Committee.
       f. Committee Records.--All Committee or Subcommittee 
     hearing materials, records, data, charts, and files shall be 
     kept separate and distinct from the congressional office 
     records of the Member serving as Chairman, and such records 
     shall be the property of the House with all Members of the 
     House having access thereto. The Chief of Staff shall 
     promptly notify the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of 
     any request for access to such records.
       g. Archiving 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 
     decisions, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of the 
     Rule XXXVI, 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.


                           vi. subcommittees

       a. Number and Composition.--There shall be such 
     Subcommittees as specified in clause b. of this rule. Each of 
     such Subcommittees shall be composed of the number of Members 
     set forth in clause b., including ex officio Members.\1\ The 
     Chairman may create additional Subcommittees of an ad hoc 
     nature as the Chairman determines to be appropriate.
     \1\The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee 
     serve as ex officio Members of the Subcommittees. (See clause 
     d. of this Rule).
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       b. Jurisdiction.--The Subcommittees shall have the 
     following general jurisdiction and number of Members.


                        commodity subcommittees

       General Farm Commodities (20 Members, 11 majority and 9 
     minority):
       Wheat, feed grains, soybeans, oilseeds, cotton, cottonseed, 
     rice, dry beans, peas, and lentils, Commodity Credit 
     Corporation, and trade matters related to such commodities, 
     generally.
       Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry (14 Members, 8 majority and 6 
     minority):
       General livestock, dairy, poultry, meat, seafood, and 
     seafood products, and the inspection of those commodities, 
     aquaculture, animal welfare, and domestic and foreign 
     marketing related to assigned commodities, including dairy 
     marketing orders and trade matters related to such 
     commodities, generally.
       Risk Management and Specialty Crops (18 Members, 10 
     majority and 8 minority):
       Commodity futures, crop insurance, peanuts, tobacco, sugar, 
     honey and bees, family farming, fruits and vegetables, 
     domestic and foreign marketing related to assigned 
     commodities, and related marketing orders, generally.


                       operational subcommittees

       Department Operations, Nutrition, and Foreign Agriculture 
     (24 Members, 13 majority and 11 minority):
       Agency review and analysis, special investigations, 
     pesticides, nutrition, food stamps, hunger, consumer 
     programs, and trade matters not otherwise assigned, including 
     foreign agriculture assistance programs, generally.
       Resource Conservation, Research, and Forestry (24 Members, 
     13 majority and 11 minority):
       Water, soil and natural resource conservation, small 
     watershed program, research, agriculture credit, rural 
     development, forestry and energy matters, generally.
       c. Referral of Legislation.--In the case of any measure or 
     matter not specifically described above, or that includes the 
     jurisdiction of two or more Subcommittees, the Chairman may, 
     unless the Committee by a majority vote decides otherwise, 
     refer such measure or matter simultaneously to two or more 
     Subcommittees for concurrent consideration or for 
     consideration in sequence (subject to appropriate time 
     limitations in the case of any Subcommittee), or divide the 
     matter into two or more parts reflecting different subjects 
     and jurisdiction and refer each part to a different 
     Subcommittee, or refer the matter to an ad hoc Subcommittee 
     appointed by the Chairman for the specific purpose of 
     considering that matter and reporting to the Committee 
     thereon, or make such other provisions as may be appropriate. 
     The Chairman, with the approval of a majority of the 
     Committee, shall have authority to discharge a Subcommittee 
     from further consideration of any bill, resolution, or other 
     matter referred thereto and have such bill, resolution, or 
     other matter considered by the Committee. All legislation and 
     other matters referred to the Committee shall be referred to 
     all Subcommittees of appropriate jurisdiction within two 
     weeks, except that the Chairman of the Committee, after 
     consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the 
     Committee, may determine that consideration of the 
     legislation or other matter is to be by the Committee.
       d. Service on Subcommittees.--The Chairman and the Ranking 
     Minority Member shall serve as ex officio Members of all 
     Subcommittees and shall have the right to vote on all matters 
     before such Subcommittees, but shall not be counted for the 
     purpose of establishing a quorum. Any Member of the Committee 
     may have the privilege of sitting with any Subcommittee 
     during its hearing or deliberations and participate therein, 
     but shall not have authority to vote on any matter, nor be 
     counted present for the purpose of a quorum for any 
     Subcommittee action, nor, except as the Subcommittee Chairman 
     or a majority of the Subcommittee may permit, participate in 
     questioning of witnesses under the five-minute rule, nor 
     raise points of order unless such Member is a Member of such 
     Subcommittee.
       e. Subcommittee Hearings and Meetings.--Each Subcommittee 
     is authorized to meet, hold
      hearings, receive evidence, and report to the Committee on 
     all matters referred to it or under its jurisdiction. 
     Subcommittee Chairmen shall set dates for hearings and 
     meetings of their Subcommittees, after consultation with 
     the Chairman of the Committee and one another, with a view 
     toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of Committee and 
     Subcommittee meetings or hearings whenever possible. 
     Notice of all such meetings shall be given to the Chairman 
     and the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee by the 
     Chief of Staff. No Subcommittee shall hold meetings or 
     hearings outside of the House unless permission to do so 
     is granted by the Chairman, or a majority, of the 
     Committee. If a vacancy should occur in a Subcommittee 
     chairmanship, the Chairman of the Committee may set the 
     dates for hearings and meetings of the Subcommittee during 
     the period between the date of vacancy and the date the 
     vacancy is filled. The provisions of Rule II. a. regarding 
     notice and agenda of Committee meetings and of Rule II. b. 
     regarding special meetings shall apply as well to 
     Subcommittee meetings.
       f. Subcommittee Action.--Any bill, resolution, 
     recommendation, or other matter ordered reported to the 
     Committee by a Subcommittee shall be promptly reported by the 
     Subcommittee Chairman or any Subcommittee Member authorized 
     to do so by the Subcommittee. Upon receipt of such report, 
     the Chief of Staff shall promptly advise all Members of the 
     Committee of the Subcommittee 
     [[Page H534]] action. The Committee shall not consider any 
     matters reported by Subcommittees until two calendar days 
     have elapsed from the date of reporting, unless the Chairman 
     or a majority of the Committee determines otherwise.
       g. Subcommittee Investigations.--No investigation shall be 
     initiated by a Subcommittee without the approval of the 
     Chairman of the Committee or a majority of the Committee.


                VII. COMMITTEE BUDGET, STAFF, AND TRAVEL

       a. Committee Budget.--The Chairman, in consultation with 
     the majority Members of the Committee, shall for each session 
     of the Congress prepare a preliminary budget. Such budget 
     shall include necessary amounts for staff personnel, travel, 
     investigation, and other expenses of the Committee and 
     Subcommittees thereof. After consultation with the Ranking 
     Minority Member, the Chairman shall include an amount 
     budgeted to minority Members for staff under their direction 
     and supervision. Thereafter, the Chairman shall combine such 
     proposals into a consolidated Committee budget, and shall 
     take whatever action is necessary to have such budget duly 
     authorized by the House.
       b. Committee Staff.--The staff of the Committee shall 
     perform such duties as are authorized by law and shall be 
     under the general supervision and direction of the Chairman. 
     Staff assigned to each Subcommittee shall perform such duties 
     as are authorized by law and shall be under the general 
     supervision and direction of the Chairman of the Committee 
     and the Chairman of the Subcommittee. Committee Members 
     seeking assistance from the staff shall make their request 
     through the Chairman or Ranking Minority Member. The chairman 
     shall ensure that each Subcommittee is adequately funded and 
     staffed to discharge its responsibilities.
       c. Committee Travel.--Funds authorized for the Committee 
     under clause 5 of House Rule XI are for expenses incurred in 
     the Committee's activities within the United States; however, 
     local currencies owned by the United States shall be made 
     available to the Committee and its employees engaged in 
     carrying out their official duties outside the United States, 
     its territories or possessions. No appropriated funds shall 
     be expended for the purposes of defraying expenses of Members 
     of the Committee or its employees in any country where local 
     currencies are available for this purpose; and the following 
     conditions shall apply with respect to their use of such 
     currencies:
       (1) No Member or employee of the Committee shall receive or 
     expend local currencies for subsistence in any country at a 
     rate in excess of the maximum per diem rate set forth in 
     applicable Federal law; and
       (2) Each Member or employee of the Committee shall make an 
     itemized report to the Chairman within 60 days following the 
     completion of travel showing the dates each country was 
     visited, the amount of per diem furnished, the cost of 
     transportation furnished, and any funds expended for any 
     other official purpose, and shall summarize in these 
     categories the total foreign currencies and appropriated 
     funds expended. All such individual reports shall be filed by 
     the Chairman with the Committee on House Administration and 
     shall be open to public inspection.


                        viii. amendment of rules

       These rules may be modified, amended, or repealed, by a 
     majority vote of the Committee, provided that two legislative 
     days written notice of the proposed change has been provided 
     each Member of the Committee prior to the meeting date on 
     which such changes are to be discussed and voted upon.
     

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