[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 66 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5349-S5350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RULES FOR SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON YEAR 2000

 Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I rise today to submit for the 
Record, in accordance with Senate Rule 26.2, the Rules for the Special 
Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem which were adopted by a 
unanimous vote of the Committee on Wednesday, May 20, 1998.
  Also, I want to express my gratitude to the leadership on both sides 
of the aisle for their support, without which we could not have created 
this very important Committee. I also want to take a moment to mention 
that the Sergeant at Arms' great help in assisting us in the set up of 
our offices. Finally, I would be remiss not to mention that the hard 
work and patience of the staff of the Rules Committee has also aided us 
in moving forward in a more expeditious fashion.

                           Rules of Procedure


                 i. convening of meetings and hearings

       1. Meetings. The Committee shall meet to conduct Committee 
     business at the call of the Chairman.
       2. Special Meetings. The Members of the Committee may call 
     additional meetings as provided in Senate Rule XXVI(3).
       3. Notice and Agenda:
       (a) Hearings. The Committee shall make public announcement 
     of the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing at 
     least one week before its commencement.
       (b) Meetings. The Chairman shall give the Members written 
     notice of any Committee meeting, accompanied by an agenda 
     enumerating the items of business to be considered, at least 
     5 days in advance of such meeting.
       (c) Shortened Notice. A hearing or meeting may be called on 
     not less than 24 hours notice if the Chairman, with the 
     concurrence of the Vice Chairman, determines that there is 
     good cause to begin the hearing or meeting on an expedited 
     basis. An agenda will be furnished prior to such a meeting.
       4. Presiding Officer. The Chairman shall preside when 
     present. If the Chairman is not present at any meeting or 
     hearing, the Ranking Majority Member present shall preside. 
     Any Member of the Committee may preside over the conduct of a 
     hearing.


             ii. closed sessions and confidential materials

       1. Procedure. All meetings and hearings shall be open to 
     the public unless closed pursuant to paragraph 3 of this 
     section. To close a meeting or hearing or portion thereof, a 
     motion shall be made and seconded to go into closed 
     discussion of whether the meeting or hearing will concern the 
     matters enumerated in Rule II.3. Immediately after such 
     discussion, the meeting or hearing may be closed by a vote in 
     open session of a majority of the Members of the Committee 
     present.
       2. Witness Request. Any witness called for a hearing may 
     submit a written request to the Chairman no later than 
     twenty-four hours in advance for his examination to be in 
     closed or open session. The Chairman shall inform the 
     Committee of any such request.
       3. Closed Session Subjects. A meeting or hearing or portion 
     thereof may be closed if the matters are consistent with 
     Senate Rule XXVI(5)(b).
       4. Confidential Matter. No record made of a closed session, 
     or material declared confidential by the Chairman and Vice 
     Chairman, or report of the proceedings of a closed session, 
     shall be made public, in whole or in part or by way of 
     summary, unless specifically authorized by the Chairman and 
     Vice Chairman.

[[Page S5350]]

       5. Radio, Television, and Photography. The Committee may 
     permit the proceedings of hearings which are open to the 
     public to be photographed and broadcast by radio, television, 
     or both, subject to such conditions as the Committee may 
     impose.


                         iii. quorum and voting

       1. Reporting. A majority of voting members shall constitute 
     a quorum for reporting a resolution, recommendation, or 
     report to the Senate.
       2. Committee Business. Three voting members shall 
     constitute a quorum for the conduct of Committee business, 
     other than a final vote on reporting, providing a minority 
     Member is present. One Member shall constitute a quorum for 
     the receipt of evidence, the swearing of witnesses, and the 
     taking of testimony at hearings.
       3. Polling.
       (a) Subjects. The Committee may poll (1) internal Committee 
     matters including those concerning the Committee's staff, 
     records, and budget; (2) authorizing subpoenas; and (3) other 
     Committee business which has been designated for polling at a 
     meeting.
       (b) Procedure. The Chairman shall circulate polling sheets 
     to each Member specifying the matter being polled and the 
     time limit for completion of the poll. If any Member so 
     requests in advance of the meeting, the matter shall be held 
     for meeting rather than being polled. The clerk shall keep a 
     record of polls. If the Chairman determines that the polled 
     matter is one of the areas enumerated in Rule II.3, the 
     record of the poll shall be confidential. Any Member may move 
     at the Committee meeting following a poll for a vote on the 
     polled decision.


                             iv. subpoenas

       1. Subpoenas. Subpoenas may be authorized by the Committee 
     at a meeting of the Committee or pursuant to Rule III.3.a 
     (above). Subpoenas authorized by the Committee may be issued 
     over the signature of the Chairman after consultation with 
     the Vice Chairman, or any member of the special committee 
     designated by the Chairman after consultation with the Vice 
     Chairman, and may be served by any person designated by the 
     Chairman or the member signing the subpoena.


                              v. hearings

       1. Notice. Witnesses called before the Committee shall be 
     given, absent extraordinary circumstances, at least forty-
     eight hours notice, and all witnesses called shall be 
     furnished with a copy of these rules upon request.
       2. Oath. All witnesses who testify to matters of fact shall 
     be sworn. The Chairman or any Member may administer the oath.
       3. Statement. Any witness desiring to make an introductory 
     statement shall file 50 copies of such statement with the 
     clerk of the Committee 24 hours in advance of his appearance, 
     unless the Chairman and Vice Chairman determine that there is 
     good cause for a witness's failure to do so.
       4. Counsel:
       (a) A witness's counsel shall be permitted to be present 
     during his testimony at any public or closed hearing, or 
     staff interview to advise the witness of his rights, 
     provided, however, that in the case of any witness who is an 
     officer or employee of the government, or of a corporation or 
     association, the Chairman may rule that representation by 
     counsel from the government, corporation, or association 
     creates a conflict of interest, and that the witness shall be 
     represented by personal counsel not associated with the 
     government, corporation, or association.
       (b) A witness who is unable for economic reasons to obtain 
     counsel may inform the Committee of this circumstance at 
     least 48 hours prior to his appearance, and the Committee 
     will endeavor to obtain volunteer counsel for the witness. 
     Such counsel shall be subject solely to the control of the 
     witness and not the Committee. Failure to obtain counsel 
     shall not excuse the witness from appearing and testifying.
       5. Transcript. An accurate electronic or stenographic 
     record shall be kept of the testimony of all witnesses in 
     closed and public hearings. Any witness shall be afforded, 
     upon request, the right to review that portion of such 
     record, and for this purpose, a copy of a witness's testimony 
     in public or closed session shall be provided to the witness. 
     Upon inspecting his transcript, within a time limit set by 
     the committee clerk, a witness may request changes in 
     testimony to correct errors of transcription, grammatical 
     errors, and obvious errors in fact. The Chairman or a 
     designated staff officer shall rule on such requests.
       6. Minority Witnesses. Whenever any hearing is conducted by 
     the Committee, the minority on the Committee shall be 
     entitled, upon request made by a majority of the minority 
     Members to the Chairman, to call witnesses selected by the 
     minority to testify or produce documents with respect to the 
     measure or matter under consideration during at least one day 
     of the hearing. Such request must be made before the 
     completion of the hearing.
       7. Conduct of Witnesses, Counsel and Members of the 
     Audience. If, during public or executive sessions, a witness, 
     his counsel, or any spectator conducts himself in such a 
     manner as to prevent, impede, disrupt, obstruct, or interfere 
     with the orderly administration of such hearing, the Chairman 
     or presiding Member of the Committee present during such 
     hearing may request the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, his 
     representative, or any law enforcement official to eject said 
     person from the hearing room.


                         vi. amendment of rules

       The rules of the Committee may be amended or revised at any 
     time, by a majority vote of the Committee, provided that no 
     less than 3 days notice of the amendments or revisions 
     proposed was provided to all members of the 
     committee.

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