[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 31, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1127-H1130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PUBLICATION OF THE RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, 110TH 
                                CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, in accordance with clause 
2(a) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I 
respectfully submit the rules of the Committee on Homeland Security for 
printing in the Congressional Record. The Committee on Homeland 
Security adopted these rules by voice vote, a quorum being present, at 
our organizational meeting on January 23, 2007.

 Committee on Homeland Security, Committee Rules, Adopted January 23, 
                                  2007


                      Rule L.--GENERAL PROVISIONS.

       (A) Applicability of the Rules of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives.--The Rules of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives (the ``House'') are the rules of the 
     Committee on Homeland Security (the ``Committee'') and its 
     subcommittees insofar as applicable.
       (B) Applicability to Subcommittees.--Except where the terms 
     ``Full Committee'' and ``subcommittee'' are specifically 
     mentioned, the following rules shall apply to the Committee's 
     subcommittees and their respective Chairmen and Ranking 
     Minority Members to the same extent as they apply to the Full 
     Committee and its Chairman and Ranking Minority Member.
       (C) Appointments by the Chairman.--The Chairman shall 
     designate a Member of the Majority party to serve as Vice 
     Chairman of the Full Committee. The Vice Chairman of the Full 
     Committee shall preside at any meeting or hearing of the Full 
     Committee during the temporary absence of the Chairman. In 
     the absence of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman, the 
     Chairman's designee shall preside.
       (D) Recommendation of Conferees.--Whenever the Speaker of 
     the House is to appoint a conference committee on a matter 
     within the jurisdiction of the Full Committee, the Chairman 
     shall recommend to the Speaker of the House conferees from 
     the Full Committee. In making recommendations of Minority 
     Members as conferees, the Chairman shall do so with the 
     concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee.
       (E) Motions To Disagree.--The Chairman is directed to offer 
     a motion under clause 1 of Rule XXII of the Rules of the 
     House whenever the Chairman considers it appropriate.
       (F) Committee Website.--The Chairman shai1 maintain an 
     official Committee web site for the purposes of furthering 
     the Committee's legislative and oversight responsibilities, 
     including communicating information about the Committee's 
     activities to Committee Members, other Members and the public 
     at large. The Ranking Minority Member may maintain a similar 
     website for the same purposes.


                       Rule II.--TIME OF MEETINGS

       (A) Regular Meeting Date.--The regular meeting date and 
     time for the transaction of business of the Full Committee 
     shall be on the first Wednesday that the House is in Session 
     each month, unless otherwise directed by the Chairman.
       (B) Additional Meetings.--At the discretion of the 
     Chairman, additional meetings of the Committee may be 
     scheduled for the consideration of any bill or other matters 
     pending before the Committee or to conduct other Committee 
     business. The Committee shall meet for such purposes pursuant 
     to the call of the Chairman.
       (C) Consideration.--Except in the case of a special meeting 
     held under clause 2(c)(2) of House Rule XI, the determination 
     of the business to be considered at each meeting of the 
     Committee shall be made by the Chairman.


                   Rule III.--NOTICE AND PUBLICATION

       (A) Notice.--
       (1) Hearings.--The date, time, place and subject matter of 
     any hearing of the Committee shall, except as provided in the 
     Committee rules, be announced by notice at least one week in 
     advance of the commencement of such hearing. The names of all 
     witnesses scheduled to appear at such hearing shall be 
     provided to Members no later than 48 hours prior to the 
     commencement of such hearing. These notice requirements may 
     be waived by the Chairman with the concurrence of the Ranking 
     Minority Member.
       (2) Meetings.--The date, time, place and subject matter of 
     any meeting, other than a hearing or a regularly scheduled 
     meeting, shall be announced at least 36 hours in advance of a 
     meeting to take place on a day the House is in session, and 
     72 hours in advance of a meeting to take place on a day the 
     House is not in session, except in the case of a special 
     meeting called under clause 2(c)(2) of House Rule XI. These 
     notice requirements may be waived by the Chairman with the 
     Concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member.
       (a) Copies of any measure to be considered for approval by 
     the Committee at any meeting, including any mark, print or 
     amendment in the of a substitute shall be provided to the 
     Members at least 24 hours in advance.
       (b) The requirement in subsection (a) may be waived or 
     abridged by the Chairman, with advance notice to the Ranking 
     Minority Member.

[[Page H1128]]

       (3) Publication.--The meeting or hearing announcement shall 
     be promptly published in the Daily Digest portion of the 
     Congressional Record. To the greatest extent practicable, 
     meeting announcements shall be entered into the Committee 
     scheduling service of the House Information Resources.


           Rule IV.--OPEN MEETINGS AND HEARINGS; BROADCASTING

       (A) Open Meetings.--All meetings and hearings of the 
     Committee shall be open to the public including to radio, 
     television and still photography coverage, except as provided 
     by Rule XI of the Rules of the House or when the Committee, 
     in open session and with a Majority present, determines by 
     recorded vote that all or part of the remainder of that 
     hearing on that day shall be closed to the public because 
     disclosure of testimony, evidence, or other matters to be 
     considered would endanger the national security, compromise 
     sensitive law enforcement information, tend to defame, 
     degrade or incriminate a witness, or violate any law or role 
     of the House of Representatives.
       (B) Broadcasting.--Whenever any hearing or meeting 
     conducted by the Committee is open to the public, the 
     Committee shall permit that hearing or meeting to be covered 
     by television broadcast, internet broadcast, print media, and 
     still photography, or by any of such methods of coverage. in 
     accordance with the provisions of clause 4 of Rule XI of the 
     Rules of the House. Operation and use of any Committee 
     operated broadcast system shall be fair and nonpartisan and 
     in accordance with clause 4(b) of Rule XI and all other 
     applicable rules of the Committee and the House. Priority 
     shall be given by the Committee to members of the Press 
     Galleries.
       (C) Transcripts.--A transcript shall be made of the 
     testimony of each witness appearing before the Committee 
     during a Committee hearing. All transcripts of meetings or 
     hearings that are open to the public shall be made available.


             Rule V.--PROCEDURES FOR MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

       (A) Opening Statements.--At any meeting of the Committee, 
     the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member shall be entitled to 
     present oral opening statements of five minutes each. Other 
     Members may submit written opening statements for the record. 
     The Chairman presiding over the meeting may permit additional 
     opening statements by other Members of the Full Committee or 
     of that subcommittee, with the concurrence of the Ranking 
     Minority Member.
       (B) The Five-Minute Rule.--The time anyone Member may 
     address the Committee on any bill, motion, or other matter 
     under consideration by the Committee shall not exceed five 
     minutes, and then only when the Member bas been recognized by 
     the Chairman, except that this time limit may be extended 
     when permitted by unanimous consent.
       (C) Postponement of Vote.--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 proceedings on a postponed 
     vote at any time, provided that all reasonable steps have 
     been taken to notify Members of the resumption of such 
     proceedings. 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.
       (D) Contempt Procedures.--No recommendation that a person 
     cited for contempt of Congress shall be forwarded to the 
     House unless and until the Full Committee has, upon notice to 
     all its Members, met and considered the alleged contempt. The 
     person to be cited for contempt shall be afforded, upon 
     notice of at least 72 hours, an opportunity to state why he 
     or she should not be held in contempt prior to a vote of the 
     Full Committee, with a quorum being present, on the question 
     whether to forward such recommendation to the House. Such 
     statement shall be, in the discretion of the Chairman, either 
     in writing or in person before the Full Committee.


                          Rule VI.--WITNESSES

       (A) Questioning of Witnesses.--
       (1) Questioning of witnesses by-Members will be conducted 
     under the five-minute rule unless the Committee adopts a 
     motion permitted by House Rule XI (2)(j)(2).
       (2) In questioning witnesses under the 5-minute rule, the 
     Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member shall first be 
     recognized. In a subcommittee meeting or hearing, the 
     Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Full Committee 
     are then recognized. All other Members that arrive before the 
     commencement of the meeting or hearing will be recognized in 
     the order of seniority on the Committee, alternating between 
     Majority and Minority Members. Committee Members arriving 
     after the commencement of the hearing shall be recognized in 
     order of appearance, alternating between Majority and 
     Minority Members, after all Members present at the beginning 
     of the hearing have been recognized. Each Member shall be 
     recognized at least once before any Member is given a second 
     opportunity to question a witness.
       (3) The Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority 
     Member, or the Committee by motion may permit an extension of 
     the period of questioning of a witness beyond five minutes 
     but the time allotted must be equally apportioned to the 
     Majority party and the Minority and may not exceed one hour 
     in the aggregate.
       (4) The Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority 
     Member, or the Committee by motion may permit Committee staff 
     of the Majority and Minority to question a witness for a 
     specified, total period that is equal for each side and not 
     longer than 30 minutes for each side.
       (B) Minority Witnesses.--Whenever a hearing is conducted by 
     the Committee upon any measure or matter, the Minority party 
     Members on the Committee shall be entitled, upon request to 
     the Chairman by a Majority of those Minority Members before 
     the completion of such hearing, to call witnesses selected by 
     the Minority to testify with respect to that measure or 
     matter during at least one day of hearing thereon.
       (C) Oath or Affirmation.--The Chairman of the Committee or 
     any Member designated by the Chairman, may administer an path 
     to any witness.
       (D) Statements by Witnesses.--
       (1) Consistent with the notice given, witnesses shall 
     submit a prepared or written statement for the record of the 
     proceedings (including, where practicable, an electronic 
     copy) with the Clerk of the Committee no less than 48 hours 
     in advance of the witness's appearance before the Committee. 
     Unless the 48 hour requirement is waived or otherwise 
     modified by the Chairman after consultation with the Ranking 
     Minority Member, the failure to comply with this requirement 
     may result in the exclusion of the written testimony from the 
     hearing record and/or the baring of an oral presentation of 
     the testimony.
       (2) To the greatest extent practicable, the written 
     testimony of each witness appearing in a non-governmental 
     capacity shall include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure of 
     the amount and source (by agency and program) of any Federal 
     grant (or thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof) 
     received during the current fiscal year or either of the two 
     preceding fiscal years by the witness or by an entity 
     represented by the witness to the extent that such 
     information is relevant to the subject matter of, and the 
     witness' representational capacity at, the hearing.


                           Rule VII.--QUORUM

       Quorum Requirements.--Two Members shall constitute a quorum 
     for purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence. One-
     third of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a 
     quorum for conducting business, except for (1) reporting a 
     measure or recommendation; (2) closing Committee meetings to 
     the public, pursuant to Committee Rule IV; (3) authorizing 
     the issuance of subpoenas; and (4) any other action for which 
     actual majority quorum is required by any rule of the House 
     of Representatives or by law. The Chairman shall make 
     reasonable efforts, including consultation with the Ranking 
     Minority Member when scheduling meetings and hearings, to 
     ensure that a quorum for any purpose will include at least 
     one minority Member of the Committee.


                          Rule VIII.--DECORUM

       (A) Breaches of Decorum.--The Chairman may punish breaches 
     of order and decorum, by censure and exclusion from the 
     hearing; and the Committee may cite the offender to the House 
     for contempt.
       (B) Access to Dais.--Access to the dais before, during and 
     after a hearing, markup, or other meeting of the Committee 
     shall be limited to Members and staff of the Committee. 
     Subject to availability of space on the dais, a Member may 
     have a personal staff present on the dais during periods when 
     the Member is seated on the dais at the hearing.
       (C) Wireless Communications Use Prohibited.--During a 
     hearing, markup, or other meeting of the Committee, ringing 
     or audible sounds or conversational use of cellular 
     telephones or other electronic devices is prohibited in the 
     Committee room.


                        RULE IX.--SUBCOMMITTEES

       (A) Generally.--The Full Committee shall be organized into 
     the following six standing subcommittees:
       (1) Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global 
     counterterrorism;
       (2) Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, 
     and Response;
       (3) Subcommittee on Transportation Security and 
     Infrastructure Protection;
       (4) Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and 
     Terrorism Risk Assessment;
       (5) Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and 
     Science and Technology; and
       (6) Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and 
     Oversight.
       (B) Selection and Ratio of Subcommittee Members.--The 
     Chairman and Ranking Member of the Full Committee shall 
     select their respective Members of each subcommittee. The 
     ratio of Majority to Minority Members shall be comparable to 
     the ratio of Majority to Minority Members on the Full 
     Committee, except that each subcommittee shall have at least 
     two more Majority Members than Minority Members.
       (C) Ex Officio Members.--The Chairman and Ranking Minority 
     Member of the Full Committee shall be ex officio members of 
     each subcommittee but are not authorized to vote on matters 
     that arise before each subcommittee. The Chairman and Ranking 
     Minority Member of the Full Committee shall not be counted to 
     satisfy the quorum requirement for any purpose other than 
     taking testimony unless they are regular members of that 
     subcommittee.

[[Page H1129]]

       (D) Powers and Duties of Subcommittees.--Except as 
     otherwise directed by the Chairman of the Full Committee, 
     each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, 
     receive testimony, mark up legislation, and report to the 
     Full Committee on all matters within its purview. 
     Subcommittee Chairmen shall set hearing and meeting dates 
     only with the approval of the Chairman of the Full Committee. 
     To the greatest extent practicable, no more than one meeting 
     and hearing should be scheduled for a given time.
       (E) Special Voting Provision.--If a tie vote occurs in a 
     subcommittee on the question of reporting any measure to the 
     Full Committee, the measure shall be placed on the agenda for 
     Full Committee consideration as if it had been ordered 
     reported by the subcommittee without recommendation.
       (F) Task Force or Select Subcommittees.--The Chairman, with 
     the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, may create 
     task forces of limited duration to carry out specifically 
     enumerated duties and functions within the jurisdiction of 
     the Committee subject to any limitations provided for in the 
     House Rules or other Caucus or Conference Rules. Any task 
     force created under this rule shall be subject to all 
     applicable Committee and House rules and other laws in the 
     conduct of its duties and functions.


                  RULE X.--REFERRALS TO SUBCOMMITTEES

       Referral of Bills and Other Matters by Chairman.--Except 
     for bills and other matters retained by the Chairman for Full 
     Committee consideration, each bill or other matters referred 
     to the Full Committee shall be referred by the Chairman to 
     one or more subcommittees. In referring any measure or matter 
     to a subcommittee, the Chair may specify a date by which the 
     subcommittee shall report thereon to the Full Committee. 
     Bills or other matters referred to subcommittees may be 
     reassigned or discharged by the Chairman.


                          RULE XI.--SUBPOENAS

       (A) Authorization.--Pursuant to clause 2(m) of Rule XI of 
     the House, a subpoena may be authorized and issued under the 
     seal of the House and attested by the Clerk of the House, and 
     may be served by any person designated by the Full Committee 
     for the furtherance of an investigation with authorization 
     by--
       (1) a majority of the Full Committee, a quorum being 
     present; or
       (2) the Chairman of the Full Committee, after consultation 
     with the Ranking Minority Member of the Full Committee, 
     during any period for which the House has adjourned for a 
     period in excess of 3 days when, in the opinion of the 
     Chairman of the Full Committee authorization and issuance of 
     the subpoena is necessary to obtain the material or testimony 
     set forth in the subpoena. The Chairman of the Full Committee 
     shall notify Members of the Committee of the authorization 
     and issuance of a subpoena under this rule as soon as 
     practicable, but in no event later than one week after 
     service of such subpoena
       (B) Disclosure.--Provisions may be included in a subpoena 
     with the concurrence of the Chairman and the Ranking Minority 
     Member of the Full Committee, or by the Committee, to prevent 
     the disclosure of the Full Committee's demands for 
     information when deemed necessary for the security of 
     information or the progress of an investigation, including 
     but not limited to prohibiting the revelation by witnesses 
     and their counsel of Full Committee's inquiries.
       (C) Subpoena duces tecum.--A subpoena duces tecum may be 
     issued whose return to the Committee Clerk shall occur at a 
     time and place other than that of a regularly scheduled 
     meeting.
       (D) Affidavits and Depositions.--The Chairman of the Full 
     Committee, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member 
     of the Full Committee, or the Committee may authorize the 
     taking of an affidavit or deposition with respect to any 
     person who is subpoenaed under these rules but who is unable 
     to appear in person to testify as a witness at any hearing or 
     meeting. Notices for the taking of depositions shall specify 
     the date, time and place of examination. Depositions shall be 
     taken under oath administered by a Member or a person 
     otherwise authorized by law to administer oaths. Prior 
     consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the Full 
     Committee shall include written notice three business days 
     before any deposition is scheduled to provide an opportunity 
     for Minority staff to be present during the questioning.


                       rule xii.--committee staff

       (A) Generally.-- Committee staff members are subject to the 
     provisions of clause 9 of House Rule X and must be eligible 
     to be considered for routine access to classified 
     information.
       (B) Staff Assignments.--For purposes of these rules, 
     Committee staff means the employees of the Committee, 
     detailees, fellows or any other person engaged by contract or 
     otherwise to perform services for, or at the request of, the 
     Committee. All such persons shall be either Majority, 
     Minority, or shared staff. The Chairman shall appoint, 
     determine remuneration of, supervise and may remove Majority 
     staff. The Ranking Minority Member shall appoint, determine 
     remuneration of, supervise and may remove Minority staff. In 
     consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, the Chairman 
     may appoint, determine remuneration of, supervise and may 
     remove shared staff that is assigned to service of the 
     Committee. The Chairman shall certify Committee staff 
     appointments, including appointments by the Ranking Minority 
     Member, as required.
       (C) Divulgence of Information.--Prior to the public 
     acknowledgement by the Chairman or the Committee of a 
     decision to initiate an investigation of a particular person, 
     entity, or subject, no member of the Committee staff shall 
     knowingly divulge to any person any information, including 
     non-classified information, which comes into his or her 
     possession by virtue of his or her status as a member of the 
     Committee staff, if the member of the Committee staff has a 
     reasonable expectation that such information may alert the 
     subject of a Committee investigation to the existence, 
     nature, or substance of such investigation, unless authorized 
     to do so by the Chairman or the Committee.


                  rule xiii.--member and staff travel

       (A) Approval of Travel.--Consistent with the primary 
     expense resolution and such additional expense resolutions as 
     may have been approved, travel to be reimbursed from funds 
     set aside for the Committee for any Member or any Committee 
     staff shall be paid only upon the prior authorization of the 
     Chairman. Travel may be authorized by the Chairman for any 
     Member and any Committee staff only in connection with 
     official Committee business, such as the attendance of 
     hearings conducted by the Committee and meetings, 
     conferences, site visits, and investigations that involve 
     activities or subject matter under the general jurisdiction 
     of the Full Committee.
       (1) Proposed Travel by Majority Party Members and Staff.--
     In the case of proposed travel by Majority party Members or 
     Committee staff, before such authorization is given, there 
     shall be submitted to the Chairman in writing the following: 
     (a) the purpose of the travel; (b) the dates during which the 
     travel is to be made and the date or dates of the event for 
     which the travel is being made; (c) the location of the event 
     for which the travel is to be made; and (d) the names of 
     Members and staff seeking authorization. On the basis of that 
     information, the Chairman shall determine whether the 
     proposed travel is for official Committee business, concerns 
     subject matter within the jurisdiction of the Full Committee, 
     and is not excessively costly in view of the Committee 
     business proposed to be conducted.
       (2) Proposed Travel by Minority Party Members and Staff.--
     In the case of proposed travel by Minority party Members or 
     Committee staff, the Ranking Minority Member shall provide to 
     the Chairman a written representation setting forth the 
     information specified in items (a), (b), (c), and (d) of 
     subparagraph (1) and his or her determination that such 
     travel complies with the other requirements of subparagraph 
     (1).
       (B) Foreign Travel.--All Committee Member and staff 
     requests for Committee-funded foreign travel must be 
     submitted to the Chairman, through the Chief Financial 
     Officer of the Committee, not less than seven business days 
     prior to the start of the travel. Within 60 days of the 
     conclusion of any such foreign travel authorized under this 
     rule, there shall be submitted to the Chairman a written 
     report summarizing the information gained as a result of the 
     travel in question, or other Committee objectives served by 
     such travel.


        rule xiv.--classified and other confidential information

       (A) Security Precautions.--Committee staff offices, 
     including Majority and Minority offices, shall operate under 
     strict security precautions administered by the Security 
     Officer of the Committee. A security officer shall be on duty 
     at all times during normal office hours. Classified documents 
     and sensitive but unclassified (SBU) documents (including 
     but not limited to those marked with dissemination 
     restrictions such as Sensitive Security Information (SSI), 
     Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES), For Official Use Only 
     (FOUO), or Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) may 
     be examined only in an appropriately secure manner. Such 
     documents may be removed from the Committee's offices in 
     furtherance of official Committee business. Appropriate 
     security procedures shall govern the handing of such 
     documents removed from the Committee's offices.
       (B) Temporary Custody of Executive Branch Material.--
     Executive branch documents or other materials containing 
     classified information in any form that were not made part of 
     the record of a Committee hearing, did not originate in the 
     Committee or the House, and are not otherwise records of the 
     Committee shall, while in the custody of the Committee, be 
     segregated and maintained by the Committee in the same manner 
     as Committee records that are classified. Such documents and 
     other materials shall be returned to the Executive branch 
     agency from which they were obtained at the earliest 
     practicable time.
       (C) Access by Committee Staff.--Access to classified 
     information supplied to the Committee shall be limited to 
     Committee staff members with appropriate security clearance 
     and a need-to-know, as determined by the Chairman and Ranking 
     Minority Member and under their direction of the Majority and 
     Minority Staff Directors.
       (D) Maintaining Confidentiality.--No Member of the 
     Committee or Committee staff shall disclose, in whole or in 
     part or by way of summary, to any person who is not a Member 
     of the Committee or an authorized member of Committee staff 
     for any purpose or in connection with any proceeding, 
     judicial or otherwise, any testimony given before

[[Page H1130]]

     the Committee in executive session. Classified information 
     and sensitive but unclassified (SBU) information (including 
     but not limited to documents marked with dissemination 
     restrictions such as Sensitive Security Information (SSI), 
     Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES), For Official Use Only 
     (FOUO), or Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) shall be 
     handled in accordance with all applicable provisions of law 
     and consistent with the provisions of these rules.
       (E) Oath.--Before a Member or Committee staff member may 
     have access to classified information, the following oath (or 
     affirmation) shall be executed: ``I do solemnly swear (or 
     affirm) that I will not disclose any classified information 
     received in the course of my service on the Committee on 
     Homeland Security, except as authorized by the Committee or 
     the House of Representatives or in accordance with the Rules 
     of such Committee or the Rules of the House.''
       Copies of the executed oath (or affirmation) shall be 
     retained by the Clerk as part of the records of the 
     Committee.
       (F) Disciplinary Action.--The Chairman shall immediately 
     consider disciplinary action in the event any Committee 
     Member or member of the Committee staff fails to conform to 
     the provisions of these rules governing the disclosure of 
     classified or unclassified information. Such disciplinary 
     action may include, but shall not be limited to, immediate 
     dismissal from the Committee staff, criminal referral to 
     the Justice Department, and notification of the Speaker of 
     the House. With respect to Minority party staff, the 
     Chairman shall consider such disciplinary action in 
     consultation with the Ranking Minority Member.


                      RULE XV.--COMMITTEE RECORDS

       (A) Committee Records.--Committee Records shall constitute 
     all data, charts and files in possession of the Committee and 
     shall be maintained in accordance with House Rule XI, clause 
     2(e).
       (B) Legislative Calendar.--The Clerk of the Committee shall 
     maintain a printed calendar for the information of each 
     Committee Member showing any procedural or legislative 
     measures considered or scheduled to be considered by the 
     Committee, and the status of such measures and such other 
     matters as the Committee determines shall be included. The 
     calendar shall be revised from time to time to show pertinent 
     changes. A copy of such revisions shall be made available to 
     each Member of the Committee upon request.
       (C) Members Right To Access.--Members of the Committee and 
     of the House shall have access to all official Committee 
     Records. Access to Committee files shall be limited to 
     examination within the Committee offices at reasonable times. 
     Access to Committee Records that contain classified 
     information shall be provided in a manner consistent with 
     these rules.
       (D) Removal of Committee Records.--Files and records of the 
     Committee are not to be removed from the Committee offices. 
     No Committee files or records that are not made publicly 
     available shall be photocopied by any Member.
       (E) Executive Session Records.--Evidence or testimony 
     received by the Committee in executive session shall not be 
     released or made available to the public unless agreed to by 
     the Committee. Members may examine the Committee's executive 
     session records, but may not make copies of, or take personal 
     notes from, such records.
       (F) Public Inspection.--The Committee shall keep a complete 
     record of all Committee action including recorded votes. 
     Information so available for public inspection shall include 
     a description of each amendment, motion, order or other 
     proposition and the name of each Member voting for and each 
     Member voting against each such amendment, motion, order, or 
     proposition, as well as the names of those Members present 
     but not voting. Such record shall be made available to the 
     public at reasonable times within the Committee offices.
       (G) Separate and Distinct.--All Committee records and files 
     must be kept separate and distinct from the office records of 
     the Members serving as Chairman and Ranking Minority Member. 
     Records and files of Members' personal offices shall not be 
     considered records or files of the Committee.
       (H) Disposition of Committee Records.--At the conclusion of 
     each Congress, non-current records of the Committee shall be 
     delivered to the Archivist of the United States in accordance 
     with Rule VII of the Rules of the House.
       (l) Archived Records.--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. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking 
     Minority Member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) 
     or clause 4(b) of the Rule, 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 Chairman shall consult with the Ranking 
     Minority Member on any communication from the Archivist of 
     the United States or the Clerk of the House concerning the 
     disposition of noncurrent records pursuant to clause 3(b) of 
     the Rule.


                 RULE XVI.--CHANGES TO COMMITTEE RULES

       These rules may be modified, amended, or repealed by the 
     Full Committee provided that a notice in writing of the 
     proposed change has been given to each Member at least 48 
     hours prior to the meeting at which action thereon is to be 
     taken.

                          ____________________