[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2688-S2689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, pursuant to Rule 26 of the Standing Rules 
of the Senate, I submit the rules for the Committee on Small Business 
and Entrepreneurship to be printed in the Congressional Record. The 
Committee rules for the 108th Congress are identical to the rules 
adopted by the Committee for the 107th Congress.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 Rules of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 108th 
                                Congress


                               1. general

       All applicable provisions of the Standing Rules of the 
     Senate and of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as 
     amended, shall govern the Committee.


                         2. meeting and quorums

       (a) The regular meeting day of the Committee shall be the 
     first Wednesday of each month unless otherwise directed by 
     the Chairman. All other meetings may be called by the 
     Chairman as he deems necessary, on 5 business days notice 
     where practicable. If at least three Members of the Committee 
     desire the Chairman to call a special meeting, they may file 
     in the office of the Committee a written request therefor, 
     addressed to the Chairman. Immediately thereafter, the Clerk 
     of the Committee shall notify the Chairman of such request. 
     If, within 3 calendar days after the filing of such request, 
     the Chairman fails to call the requested special meeting, 
     which is to be held within 7 calendar days after the filing 
     of such request, a majority of the Committee Members may file 
     in the Office of the Committee their written notice that a 
     notice that a special Committee meeting will be held, 
     specifying the date, hour and place thereof, and the 
     Committee shall meet at that time and place. Immediately upon 
     the filing of such notice, the Clerk of the Committee shall 
     notify all Committee Members that such special meeting will 
     be held and inform them of its date, hour and place. If the 
     Chairman is not present at any regular, additional or special 
     meeting, such member of the Committee as the Chairman shall 
     designate shall preside.
       (b)(1) A majority of the Members of the Committee shall 
     constitute a quorum for reporting any legislative measure or 
     nomination.
       (2) One-third of the Members of the Committee shall 
     constitute a quorum for the transaction of routine business, 
     provided that one Minority Member is present. The term 
     ``routine business'' includes, but is not limited to, the 
     consideration of legislation pending before the Committee and 
     any amendments thereto, and voting on such amendments. 132 
     Congressional Record Sec. 3231 (daily edition March 21, 1986)
       (3) In hearings, whether in public or closed session a 
     quorum for the asking of testimony, including sworn 
     testimony, shall consist of one Member of the Committee.
       (c) Proxies will be permitted in voting upon the business 
     of the Committee by Members who are unable to be present. To 
     be valid, proxies must be signed and assign the right to vote 
     on the date of the meeting to one of the Members who will be 
     present. Proxies shall in no case be counted for establishing 
     a quorum.
       (d) It shall not be in order for the Committee to consider 
     any amendment in the first degree proposed to any measure 
     under consideration by the Committee unless thirty written 
     copies of such amendment have been delivered to the Offices 
     of the Chairman and the Ranking Member at least 2 business 
     days prior to the meeting. This subsection may be waived 
     by the agreement of the Chairman and Ranking Member or by 
     a majority vote of the members of the Committee.


                              3. hearings

       (a)(1) The Chairman of the Committee may initiate a hearing 
     of the Committee on his authority or upon his approval of a 
     request by any Member of the Committee. If such request is by 
     the Ranking Member, a decision shall be communicated to the 
     Ranking Member within 7 business days. Written notice of all 
     hearings, including the title, a description of the hearing, 
     and a tentative witness list shall be given at least 5 
     business days in advance, where practicable, to Members of 
     the Committee.
       (2) Hearings of the Committee shall not be scheduled 
     outside the District of Columbia unless specifically 
     authorized by the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member or 
     by consent of a majority of the Committee. Such consent may 
     be given informally, without a meeting, but must be in 
     writing.
       (b)(1) Any Member of the Committee shall be empowered to 
     administer the oath to any witness testifying as to fact if a 
     quorum be present as specified in Rule 2(b).
       (2) The Chairman and Ranking Member shall be empowered to 
     call an equal number of witnesses to a Committee hearing. 
     Such number shall exclude an Administration witness unless 
     such witness would be sole hearing witness, in which case the 
     Ranking Member shall be entitled to invite one witness. 
     Interrogation of witnesses at hearings shall be conducted on 
     behalf of the Committee by Members of the Committee or such 
     Committee staff as is authorized by the Chairman or Ranking 
     Minority Member.
       (3) Witnesses appearing before the Committee shall file 
     with the Clerk of the Committee a written statement of the 
     prepared testimony at least 2 business days in advance of the 
     hearing at which the witness is to appear unless this 
     requirement is waived by the Chairman and the Ranking 
     Minority Member.
       (c) Witnesses may be subpoenaed by the Chairman with the 
     agreement of the Ranking Minority Member or by consent of a 
     majority of the Members of the Committee. Such consent may be 
     given informally, without a meeting but must be in writing. 
     Subpoenas shall be issued by the Chairman or by the Member of 
     the Committee designated by him. A subpoena for the 
     attendance of a witness shall state briefly the purpose of 
     the hearing and the matter or matters to which the witness is 
     expected to testify. A subpoena for the production of 
     memoranda, documents and records shall identify the papers 
     required to be produced with as much particularity as is 
     practicable.
       (d) Any witness summoned to a public or closed hearing may 
     be accompanied by counsel of his own choosing, who shall be 
     permitted while witness is testifying to advise him of his 
     legal rights.
       (e) No confidential testimony taken, or confidential 
     material presented to the Committee, or any report of the 
     proceedings of a closed hearing, or confidential testimony or 
     material submitted voluntarily or pursuant to a subpoena, 
     shall be made public, either in whole or in part or by way of 
     summary, unless authorized by a majority of the Members of 
     the Committee.


                            4. subcommittees

       The Committee shall not have standing subcommittees.


                         5. amendment of rules

       The foregoing rules may be added to, modified or amended; 
     provided, however, that not less than a majority of the 
     entire Membership so determined at a regular meeting with due 
     notice, or at a meeting specifically called for that purpose.

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