[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H681-H684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PUBLICATION OF THE RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, 108th 
                                CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Clause 2 of Rule XI of 
the Rules of the House, I respectfully submit the rules of the 
Committee on Ways and Means for printing in the Congressional Record. 
On January 29, 2003, the Committee on Ways and Means adopted by voice 
vote, a quorum being present, the following committee rules.

    Rules of the Committee on Ways and Means for the 108th Congress

       Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
     provides in part:
       * * * 1. (a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), 
     the Rules of the House are the rules of its committees and 
     subcommittees so far as applicable.
       (B) 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, each shall be 
     privileged in committees and subcommittees and shall be 
     decided without debate.
       (2) Each subcommittee is a part of its committee and is 
     subject to the authority and direction of that committee and 
     to its rules, so far as applicable. * * *
       * * * 2. (a)(1) Each standing shall adopt written rules 
     governing its procedure. Such rules--
       (A) shall be adopted in a meeting that is open to the 
     public unless the committee, in open session and with a 
     quorum present, determines by record vote that all or part of 
     the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public;
       (B) may not be 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 February 7, 2001 adopted the following as the Rules 
     of the Committee for the 107th 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, that 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. Thereafter, 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 follow 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 3 calendar days (excluding 
     Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) prior to its public 
     release.
       The requirements of this rule shall apply 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.

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                        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 
     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 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 and Publications

       The records of the Committee at the National Archives and 
     Records Administration shall be made available for public use 
     in accordance with Rule VII 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 Rule VII, 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. The Committee shall, to 
     the maximum extent feasible, make its publications 
     available in electronic form.


                            Rule 7. Websites

       The minority shall be entitled to a separate website that 
     is linked to an accessible only from the full Committee's 
     website. For any website created under this policy, the 
     Ranking Minority Member is responsible for its content and 
     must be identified on the introductory page.
       All Committee websites must comply with House Regulations.
       The content of a committee website may not:
       (1) Include personal, political, or campaign information.
       (2) Be directly linked or refer to websites created or 
     operated by campaign or any campaign related entity, 
     including political parties and campaign committees.
       (3) Include grassroots lobbying or solicit support for a 
     Member's position.
       (4) Generate, circulate, solicit or encourage signing 
     petitions.
       (5) Include any advertisement for any private individual, 
     firm, or corporation, or imply in any manner that the 
     Government endorses or favors any specific commercial 
     product, commodity, or service.

                            B. SUBCOMMITTEES


              Rule 8. 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, 5, or 
     6 shall be considered by the full Committee and not in 
     Subcommittee. There shall be six standing Subcommittees as 
     follows: a Subcommittee on Trade; a Subcommittee on 
     Oversight; a Subcommittee on Health; a Subcommittee on Social 
     Security; a Subcommittee on Human Resources; and a 
     Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. 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.
       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 
     that 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 the U.S. Trade 
     Representative; and special trade-related problems involving 
     market access, competitive conditions 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 nonmarket economies.
       2. The Subcommittee on Oversight shall consist of 13 
     Members, 8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 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 the 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 that 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 that 
     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 13 
     Members, 8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 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 that 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 that relate to 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 that 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.
       6. The Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures shall 
     consist of 13 Members, 8 of whom shall be Republicans and 5 
     of whom shall be Democrats.
       The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Select Revenue 
     Measures shall consist of those revenue measures that, from 
     time to time, shall be referred to it specifically by the 
     Chairman of the full Committee.


               Rule 9. Ex-Officio Members of Subcommittee

       The Chairman of the full Committee and the Ranking Minority 
     Member may sit as ex-

[[Page H683]]

     officio Members of all Subcommittee. 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 10. 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 11. 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 3(d)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House 
     of Representatives.


          rule 12. 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 13. 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 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 and the Rules of the House. 
     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. In addition to the requirements of 
     clause 2(g)(4) of Rule XI, of the Rules of the House, 
     regarding information required of public witnesses, 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 involve. Written statements from non-citizens 
     may be considered for acceptance in the record if transmitted 
     to the Committee in writing by Members of Congress.


                    Rule 14. Questioning of Witnesses

       Committee Members may question witnesses only when 
     recognized by the Chairman for that purpose. All Members 
     shall be limited to 5 minutes on the initial round of 
     questioning. In questioning witnesses under the 5-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 15. 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)(3)(A)(i) of Rule XI of the House of 
     Representatives.


                      rule 16. 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 that 
     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 that is the 
     subject of the hearing.


                   Rule 17, Broadcasting of Hearings

       The provisions of clause 4(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 an 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) Further conditions may be specified by the Chairman.

                               D. MARKUPS


               Rule 18. 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.


                       Rule 19. 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 20. Postponement of proceedings

       The Chairman may postpone further proceedings when a record 
     vote is ordered on the question of approving any measure or 
     matter or adopting an amendment.
       The Chairman may resume proceeding on a postponed request 
     at any time.
       In exercising postponement authority the Chairman shall 
     take reasonable steps to notify members on the resumption of 
     proceedings on any postponed record vote.
       When proceedings resume on a postponed question, 
     notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous 
     question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to 
     further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the 
     question was postponed.


 Rule 21. 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 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

[[Page H684]]

     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 22. 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 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 23. 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 9 of Rule X of the 
     Rules of the House of Representatives concerning Committee 
     expenses and staff.
       Pursuant to clause 6(d) of Rule X 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 24. 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 7 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
       (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 Rules 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.

                          ____________________