[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1765-S1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, in accordance with Senate Rule 
XXVI, I hereby submit a copy of the Rules of the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation for publication in the Congressional 
Record.
  The rules follow:

                           [January 17, 1997]

    Rules of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation


                      i. meetings of the committee

       1. The regular meeting dates of the Committee shall be the 
     first and third Tuesdays of each month. Additional meetings 
     may be called by the Chairman as he may deem necessary or 
     pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 3 of rule XXVI of the 
     Standing Rules of the Senate.
       2. Meetings of the Committee, or any subcommittee, 
     including meetings to conduct hearings, shall be open to the 
     public, except that a meeting or series of meetings by the 
     Committee, or any subcommittee, on the same subject for a 
     period of no more than 14 calendar days may be closed to the 
     public on a motion made and seconded to go into closed 
     session to discuss only whether the matters enumerated in 
     subparagraphs (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 any 
     subcommittee, when it is determined that the matter 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 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 of 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 interest of 
     effective law enforcement;
       (E) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets 
     of, 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.
       3. Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or 
     any subcommittee shall file with the Committee, at least 24 
     hours in advance of the hearing, a written statement of his 
     testimony in as many copies as the Chairman of the Committee 
     or Subcommittee prescribes.
       4. Field hearings of the full Committee, and any 
     subcommittee thereof, shall be scheduled only when authorized 
     by the Chairman and ranking minority member of the full 
     Committee.


                              II. QUORUMS

       1. Eleven members shall constitute a quorum for official 
     action of the Committee when reporting a bill, resolution, or 
     nomination. Proxies shall not be counted in making a quorum.
       2. Seven members shall constitute a quorum for the 
     transaction of all business as may be considered by the 
     Committee, except for the reporting of a bill, resolution, or 
     nomination. Proxies shall not be counted in making a quorum.
       3. For the purpose of taking sworn testimony a quorum of 
     the Committee and each subcommittee thereof, now or hereafter 
     appointed, shall consist of one Senator.


                              iii. proxies

       When a record vote is taken in the Committee on any bill, 
     resolution, amendment, or any other question, a majority of 
     the members being present, a member who is unable to attend 
     the meeting may submit his vote by proxy, in writing or by 
     telephone, or through personal instructions.


                      iv. broadcasting of hearings

       Public hearings of the full Committee, or any subcommittee 
     thereof, shall be televised or broadcast only when authorized 
     by the Chairman and the ranking minority member of the full 
     Committee.


                            v. subcommittees

       1. Any member of the Committee may sit with any 
     subcommittee during its hearings or any other meeting but 
     shall not have the authority to vote on any matter before the 
     subcommittee unless he is a Member of such subcommittee.
       2. Subcommittees shall be considered de novo whenever there 
     is a change in the

[[Page S1766]]

     chairmanship, and seniority on the particular subcommittee 
     shall not necessarily apply.


               vi. consideration of bills and resolutions

       It shall not be in order during a meeting of the Committee 
     to move to proceed to the consideration of any bill or 
     resolution unless the bill or resolution has been filed with 
     the Clerk of the Committee not less than 48 hours in advance 
     of the Committee meeting, in as many copies as the Chairman 
     of the Committee prescribes. This rule may be waived with the 
     concurrence of the Chairman and the Ranking Member.

                          ____________________