[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 10 (Thursday, January 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S849-S850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, today I am reporting to the Senate the

[[Page S850]]

rules of procedure for the Committee on Armed Services as provided for 
in rule 26.2 of the Standing Rules of the Senate. These rules were 
unanimously adopted by the committee today, January 30, 1997, and I ask 
unanimous consent that they be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the rules were ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

              Armed Services Committee Rules of Procedure

                       (Adopted January 30, 1997)

       1. Regular Meeting Day. The Committee shall meet at least 
     once a month when Congress is in session. The regular meeting 
     days of the Committee shall be Tuesday and Thursday, unless 
     the Chairman directs otherwise.
       2. Additional Meetings. The Chairman may call such 
     additional meetings as he deems necessary.
       3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Committee may 
     be called by a majority of the members of the Committee in 
     accordance with paragraph 3 of Rule XXVI of the Standing 
     Rules of the Senate.
       4. Open Meetings. Each meeting of the Committee, or any 
     subcommittee thereof, including meetings to conduct hearings, 
     shall be open to the public, except that a meeting or series 
     of meetings by the committee or a subcommittee thereof on the 
     same subject for a period of no more than fourteen (14) 
     calendar days may be closed to the public on a motion made 
     and seconded to go into close session to discuss only whether 
     the matters enumerated below in clauses (a) through (f) would 
     require the meeting to be closed, followed immediately by a 
     record vote in open session by a majority of the members of 
     the Committee or subcommittee when it is determined that the 
     matters to be discussed or the testimony to be taken at such 
     meeting or meetings--
       (a) will disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in 
     the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct 
     of the foreign relations of the United States;
       (b) will relate solely to matters of committee staff 
     personnel or internal staff management or procedure;
       (c) will tend to charge an individual with a crime or 
     misconduct, to disgrace or injure the professional standing 
     of an individual, or otherwise to expose an individual to 
     public contempt or obloquy or will represent a clearly 
     unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual;
       (d) will disclose the identity or any informer or law 
     enforcement agent or will disclose any information relating 
     to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense 
     that is required to be kept secret in the interests of 
     effective law enforcement;
       (e) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets 
     or financial or commercial information pertaining 
     specifically to a given person if--
       (1) an Act of Congress requires the information to be kept 
     confidential by Government officers and employees; or
       (2) the information has been obtained by the Government on 
     a confidential basis, other than through an application by 
     such person for a specific Government financial or other 
     benefit, and is required to be kept secret in order to 
     prevent undue injury to the competitive position of such 
     person; or
       (f) may divulge matters required to be kept confidential 
     under other provisions of law or Government regulations.
       5. Presiding Officer. The Chairman shall preside at all 
     meetings and hearings of the committee except that in his 
     absence the ranking majority member present at the meeting or 
     hearing shall preside unless by majority vote the Committee 
     provides otherwise.
       6. Quorum.
       (a) A majority of the members of the Committee are required 
     to be actually present to report a matter or measure from the 
     Committee. (See Standing Rules of the Senate 26.7(a)(1)).
       (b) Except as provided in subsections (a) and (c), and 
     other than for the conduct of hearings, six members of the 
     Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
     such business as may be considered by the Committee.
       (c) Three members of the Committee, one of whom shall be a 
     member of the minority party, shall constitute a quorum for 
     the purpose of taking sworn testimony, unless otherwise 
     ordered by a majority of the full Committee.
       (d) Proxy votes may not be considered for the purpose of 
     establishing a quorum.
       7. Proxy Voting. Proxy voting shall be allowed on all 
     measures and matters before the Committee. The vote by proxy 
     of any member of the Committee may be counted for the purpose 
     of reporting any measure or matter to the Senate if the 
     absent member casting such vote has been informed of the 
     matter on which he is being recorded and has affirmatively 
     requested that he be so recorded. Proxy must be given in 
     writing.
       8. Announcement of Votes. The results of all roll call 
     votes taken in any meeting of the Committee on any measure, 
     or amendment thereto, shall be announced in the committee 
     report, unless previously announced by the Committee. The 
     announcement shall include a tabulation of the votes cast in 
     favor and votes cast in opposition to each such measure and 
     amendment by each member of the Committee who was present at 
     such meeting. The chairman may hold open a roll call vote on 
     any measure or matter which is before the Committee until no 
     later than midnight of the day on which the Committee votes 
     on such measure or matter.
       9. Subpoenas. Subpoenas for attendance of witnesses and for 
     the production of memoranda, documents, records, and the like 
     may be issued by the Chairman or any other member designated 
     by him, but only when authorized by a majority of the members 
     of the Committee. The Subpoena shall briefly state the matter 
     to which the witness is expected to testify or the documents 
     to be produced.
       10. Hearings.
       (a) Public notice shall be given of the date, place, and 
     subject matter of any hearing to be held by the Committee, or 
     any subcommittee thereof, at least 1 week in advance of such 
     hearing, unless the Committee or subcommittee determines that 
     good cause exists for beginning such hearings at an earlier 
     time.
       (b) Hearings may be initiated only by the specified 
     authorization of the Committee or subcommittee.
       (c) Hearings shall be held only in the District of Columbia 
     unless specifically authorized to be held elsewhere by a 
     majority vote of the Committee or subcommittee conducting 
     such hearings.
       (d) Witnesses appearing before the Committee shall file 
     with the clerk of the Committee a written statement of their 
     proposed testimony prior to the hearing at which they are to 
     appear unless the chairman and the ranking minority member 
     determine that there is good cause not to file such a 
     statement. Witnesses testifying on behalf of the 
     Administration shall furnish an additional 50 copies of their 
     statement to the Committee. All statements must be received 
     by the Committee at least 48 hours (not including weekends or 
     holidays) before the hearing.
       (e) Confidential testimony taken or confidential material 
     presented in a closed hearing of the Committee or 
     subcommittee or any report of the proceedings of such hearing 
     shall not be made public in whole or in part or by way of 
     summary unless authorized by a majority vote of the Committee 
     or subcommittee.
       (f) Any witness summoned to give testimony or evidence at a 
     public or closed hearing of the Committee or subcommittee may 
     be accompanied by counsel of his own choosing who shall be 
     permitted at all times during such hearing to advise such 
     witness of his legal rights.
       (g) Witnesses providing unsworn testimony to the Committee 
     may be given a transcript of such testimony for the purpose 
     of making minor grammatical corrections. Such witnesses will 
     not, however, be permitted to alter the substance of their 
     testimony. Any question involving such corrections shall be 
     decided by the Chairman.
       11. Nominations. Unless otherwise ordered by the Committee, 
     nominations referred to the Committee shall be held for at 
     least seven (7) days before being voted on by the Committee. 
     Each member of the Committee shall be furnished a copy of all 
     nominations referred to the Committee.
       12. Real Property Transactions. Each member of the 
     Committee shall be furnished with a copy of the proposals of 
     the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, submitted 
     pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2662 and with a copy of the proposals 
     of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
     submitted pursuant to 50 U.S.C. App. 2285, regarding the 
     proposed acquisition or disposition of property of an 
     estimated price or rental of more than $50,000. Any member of 
     the Committee objecting to or requesting information on a 
     proposed acquisition or disposal shall communicate his 
     objection or request to the Chairman of the Committee within 
     thirty (30) days from the date of submission.
       13. Legislative Calendar.
       (a) The clerk of the Committee shall keep a printed 
     calendar for the information of each committee member showing 
     the bills introduced and referred to the Committee and the 
     status of such bills. Such calendar shall be revised from 
     time to time to show pertinent changes in such bills, the 
     current status thereof, and new bills introduced and referred 
     to the Committee. A copy of each new revision shall be 
     furnished to each member of the Committee.
       (b) Unless otherwise ordered, measures referred to the 
     Committee shall be referred by the clerk of the Committee to 
     the appropriate department or agency of the Government for 
     reports thereon.
       14. Except as otherwise specified herein, the Standing 
     Rules of the Senate shall govern the actions of the 
     Committee. Each subcommittee of the Committee is part of the 
     Committee, and is therefore subject to the Committee's rules 
     so far as applicable.
       15. Powers and Duties of Subcommittees. Each subcommittee 
     is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence, and 
     report to the full Committee on all matters referred to it. 
     Subcommittee chairmen shall set dates for hearings and 
     meetings of their respective subcommittees after consultation 
     with the Chairman and other subcommittee chairmen with a view 
     toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of full Committee and 
     subcommittee meetings or hearings whenever possible.

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