[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1178-H1180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PUBLICATION OF THE RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS, 110TH 
                                CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, in accordance with clause 2(a)(2) of Rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I respectfully submit 
the rules of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for printing in the 
Congressional Record. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs adopted these 
Rules by voice vote, with a quorum being present, at our organizational 
meeting on January 30, 2007.

      Rules of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. House of 
   Representatives, for the 110th Congress (Adopted January 30, 2007)


                       RULE 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS

       (a) Applicability of House Rules--The Rules of the House 
     are the rules of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and its 
     subcommittees so far as applicable, except that 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, are non-debatable privileged motions in 
     Committees and subcommittees.
       (b) Subcommittees--Each subcommittee of the Committee is a 
     part of the Committee and is subject to the authority and 
     direction of the Committee and to its rules so far as 
     applicable.
       (c) Incorporation of House Rule on Committee Procedure--
     Rule XI of the Rules of the House, which pertains entirely to 
     Committee procedure, is incorporated and made part of the 
     rules of the Committee to the extent applicable. Pursuant to 
     clause 2(a)(3) of

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     Rule XI of the Rules of the House, the Chairman of the full 
     Committee is directed to offer a motion under clause 1 of 
     Rule XXII of the Rules of the House whenever the Chairman 
     considers it appropriate.
       (d) Vice Chairman--Pursuant to clause 2(d) of Rule XI of 
     the Rules of the House, the Chairman of the full Committee 
     shall designate the Vice Chairman of the Committee and a Vice 
     Chairman of each subcommittee established under Rule 5(a)(1).


                RULE 2--REGULAR AND ADDITIONAL MEETINGS

       (a) Regular Meetings--The regular meeting day for the 
     Committee shall be at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each 
     month in such place as the Chairman may designate. However, 
     the Chairman may dispense with a regular Wednesday meeting of 
     the Committee.
       (b) Additional Meetings--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 for 
     such purpose pursuant to the call of the Chairman.
       (c) Notice--The Chairman shall notify each member of the 
     Committee of the agenda of each regular and additional 
     meeting of the Committee at least 24 hours before the time of 
     the meeting, except under circumstances the Chairman 
     determines to be of an emergency nature. Under such 
     circumstances, the Chairman shall make an effort to consult 
     the ranking minority member, or in such member's absence, the 
     next ranking minority party member of the Committee.


                Rule 3--MEETINGS AND HEARINGS GENERALLY

       (a) Open Meetings and Hearings--Meetings and hearings of 
     the Committee and each of its subcommittees shall be open to 
     the public unless closed in accordance with clause 2(g) of 
     Rule XI of the Rules of the House.
       (b) Announcement of Hearing--The Chairman, in the case of a 
     hearing to be conducted by the Committee, and the 
     subcommittee Chairman, in the case of a hearing to be 
     conducted by a subcommittee, shall make public announcement 
     of the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing to be 
     conducted on any measure or matter at least one week before 
     the commencement of that hearing unless the Committee or the 
     subcommittee determines that there is good cause to begin the 
     hearing at an earlier date. In the latter event, the Chairman 
     or the subcommittee Chairman, as the case may be, shall 
     consult with the ranking minority member and make such public 
     announcement at the earliest possible date. The clerk of the 
     Committee shall promptly notify the Daily Clerk of the 
     Congressional Record and the Committee scheduling service of 
     the House Information Resources as soon as possible after 
     such public announcement is made.
       (c) Wireless Telephone Use Prohibited--No person may use a 
     wireless telephone during a Committee or subcommittee meeting 
     or hearing.
       (d) Media Coverage--Any meeting of the Committee or its 
     subcommittees that is open to the public shall be open to 
     coverage by radio, television, and still photography in 
     accordance with the provisions of clause 4 of House rule XI.
       (e) Requirements for Testimony--
       (1) Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or a 
     subcommittee shall file with the clerk of the Committee, at 
     least 48 hours in advance of his or her appearance, a written 
     statement of his or her proposed testimony. Each witness 
     shall, to the greatest extent practicable, also provide a 
     copy of such written testimony in an electronic format 
     prescribed by the Chairman. Each witness shall limit any oral 
     presentation to a summary of the written statement.
       (2) Pursuant to clause 4 of Rule XI of the Rules of the 
     House, in the case of a witness appearing in a non-
     governmental capacity a written statement of proposed 
     testimony shall include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure 
     of the amount and source (by agency and program) of any 
     Federal grant (or subgrant 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.
       (f) Calling and Questioning Witnesses
       (1) Committee and subcommittee members may question 
     witnesses only when they have been recognized by the Chairman 
     of the Committee or subcommittee for that purpose, and only 
     for a 5-minute period until all members present have had an 
     opportunity to question a witness. The 5-minute period for 
     questioning a witness by any one member may be extended only 
     with the unanimous consent of all members present. The 
     questioning of witnesses in both Committee and subcommittee 
     hearings shall be initiated by the Chairman, followed by the 
     ranking minority party member and all other members 
     alternating between the majority and minority. Except as 
     otherwise announced by the Chairman at the beginning of a 
     hearing, members who are present at the start of the hearing 
     will be recognized before other members who arrive after the 
     hearing has begun. In recognizing members to question 
     witnesses in this fashion, the Chairman shall take into 
     consideration the ratio of the majority to minority members 
     present and shall establish the order of recognition for 
     questioning in such a manner as not to disadvantage the 
     members of the majority.
       (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) 
     regarding the 5-minute rule, the Chairman after consultation 
     with the ranking minority member may designate an equal 
     number of members of the Committee or subcommittee majority 
     and minority party to question a witness for a period not 
     longer than 30 minutes. In no event shall the Chairman allow 
     a member to question a witness for an extended period under 
     this rule until all members present have had the opportunity 
     to ask questions under the 5-minute rule. The Chairman after 
     consultation with the ranking minority member may permit 
     Committee staff for its majority and minority party members 
     to question a witness for equal specified periods of time.
       (3) When a hearing is conducted by the Committee or a 
     subcommittee on any measure or matter, the minority party 
     members on the Committee shall be entitled, upon request to 
     the Chairman of a majority of those minority members before 
     the completion of the hearing, to call witnesses selected by 
     the minority to testify with respect to that measure or 
     matter during at least one day of the hearing thereon.
       (g) Subpoenas--Pursuant to clause 2(m) of Rule XI of the 
     Rules of the House, a subpoena may be authorized and issued 
     by the Committee or a subcommittee in the conduct of any 
     investigation or series of investigations or activities, only 
     when authorized by a majority of the members voting, a 
     majority being present.


      RULE 4--QUORUM AND RECORD VOTES; POSTPONEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS

       (a) Working Quorum--A majority of the members of the 
     Committee shall constitute a quorum for business and a 
     majority of the members of any subcommittee shall constitute 
     a quorum thereof for business, except that two members shall 
     constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking testimony and 
     receiving evidence.
       (b) Quorum for Reporting--No measure or recommendation 
     shall be reported to the House of Representatives unless a 
     majority of the Committee was actually present.
       (c) Record Votes--A record vote may be demanded by one-
     fifth of the members present or, in the apparent absence of a 
     quorum, by any one member. With respect to any record vote on 
     any motion to amend or report, the total number of votes cast 
     for and against, and the names of those members voting for 
     and against, shall be included in the report of the Committee 
     on the bill or resolution.
       (d) Prohibition Against Proxy Voting--No vote by any member 
     of the Committee or a subcommittee with respect to any 
     measure or matter may be cast by proxy.
       (e) Postponing Proceedings--Committee and subcommittee 
     chairmen may postpone further proceedings when a record vote 
     is ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter 
     or on adopting an amendment, and may resume proceedings 
     within two legislative days on a postponed question after 
     reasonable notice. 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 5--SUBCOMMITTEES

       (a) Establishment and Jurisdiction--
       (1) There shall be four subcommittees of the Committee as 
     follows:
       (A) Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial 
     Affairs, which shall have legislative, oversight and 
     investigative jurisdiction over compensation; general and 
     special pensions of all the wars of the United States; life 
     insurance issued by the Government on account of service in 
     the Armed Forces; cemeteries of the United States in which 
     veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether 
     in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries 
     administered by the Secretary of the Interior; burial 
     benefits; the Board of Veterans' Appeals; and the United 
     States Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims.
       (B) Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, which shall have 
     legislative, oversight and investigative jurisdiction over 
     education of veterans, employment and training of veterans, 
     vocational rehabilitation, veterans' housing programs, 
     readjustment of servicemembers to civilian life, and 
     servicemembers civil relief.
       (C) Subcommittee on Health, which shall have legislative, 
     oversight and investigative jurisdiction over veterans' 
     hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.
       (D) Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which 
     shall have oversight and investigative jurisdiction over 
     veterans' matters generally, and over such matters as may be 
     referred to the subcommittee by the Chairman of the full 
     Committee for its oversight or investigation and for its 
     appropriate recommendations. The subcommittee shall only have 
     legislative jurisdiction over such bills or resolutions as 
     may be referred to it by the Chairman of the full Committee.
       (2) Each subcommittee shall have responsibility for such 
     other measures or matters as the Chairman refers to it.
       (b) Vacancies--Any vacancy in the membership of a 
     subcommittee shall not affect the power of the remaining 
     members to execute the functions of that subcommittee.
       (c) Ratios--On each subcommittee, there shall be a ratio of 
     majority party members to minority party members which shall 
     be consistent with the ratio on the full Committee.
       (d) Referral to Subcommittees--The Chairman of the 
     Committee may refer a measure or matter, which is within the 
     general responsibility of more than one of the subcommittees 
     of the Committee, as the Chairman deems appropriate. In 
     referring any

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     measure or matter to a subcommittee, the Chairman of the 
     Committee may specify a date by which the subcommittee shall 
     report thereon to the Committee.
       (e) Powers and Duties--
       (1) Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, 
     receive evidence, and report to the full Committee on all 
     matters referred to it or under its jurisdiction. 
     Subcommittee chairmen shall set dates for hearings and 
     meetings of their respective subcommittees after consultation 
     with the Chairman of the Committee and other subcommittee 
     chairmen with a view toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling 
     of Committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings whenever 
     possible.
       (2) Whenever a subcommittee has ordered a bill, resolution, 
     or other matter to be reported to the Committee, the Chairman 
     of the subcommittee reporting the bill, resolution, or matter 
     to the full Committee, or any member authorized by the 
     subcommittee to do so shall notify the Chairman and the 
     ranking minority party member of the Committee of the 
     Subcommittee's action.
       (3) A member of the Committee who is not a member of a 
     particular subcommittee may sit with the subcommittee during 
     any of its meetings and hearings, but shall not have 
     authority to vote, cannot be counted for a quorum, and cannot 
     raise a point of order at the meeting or hearing.
       (4) Each subcommittee shall provide the Committee with 
     copies of such record votes taken in subcommittee and such 
     other records with respect to the subcommittee as the 
     Chairman of the Committee deems necessary for the Committee 
     to comply with all rules and regulations of the House.


                RULE 6--GENERAL OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY

       (a) Purpose--Pursuant to clause 2 of Rule X of the Rules of 
     the House, the Committee shall carry out oversight 
     responsibilities. In order to assist the House in--
       (1) Its analysis, appraisal, evaluation of--
       (A) The application, administration, execution, and 
     effectiveness of the laws enacted by the Congress, or
       (B) Conditions and circumstances which may indicate the 
     necessity or desirability of enacting new or additional 
     legislation, and
       (2) Its formulation, consideration and enactment of such 
     modifications or changes in those laws, and of such 
     additional legislation, as may be necessary or appropriate, 
     the Committee and its various subcommittees, consistent with 
     their jurisdiction as set forth in Rule 5, shall have 
     oversight responsibilities as provided in subsection (b).
       (b) Review of Laws and Programs--The Committee and its 
     subcommittees shall review and study, on a continuing basis, 
     the applications, administration, execution, and 
     effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws, the subject 
     matter of which is within the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     or subcommittee, and the organization and operation of the 
     Federal agencies and entities having responsibilities in or 
     for the administration and execution thereof, in order to 
     determine whether such laws and the programs thereunder are 
     being implemented and carried out in accordance with the 
     intent of the Congress and whether such programs should be 
     continued, curtailed, or eliminated. In addition, the 
     Committee and its subcommittees shall review and study any 
     conditions or circumstances which may indicate the necessity 
     or desirability of enacting new or additional legislation 
     within the jurisdiction of the Committee or subcommittee 
     (whether or not any bill or resolution has been introduced 
     with respect thereto), and shall on a continuing basis 
     undertake future research and forecasting on matters within 
     the jurisdiction of the Committee or subcommittee.
       (c) Oversight Plan--Not later than February 15 of the first 
     session of a Congress, the Committee shall meet in open 
     session, with a quorum present, to adopt its oversight plans 
     for that Congress for submission to the Committee on House 
     Administration and the Committee on Oversight and Government 
     Reform, in accordance with the provisions of clause 2(d) of 
     Rule X of the Rules of the House.
       (d) Oversight by Subcommittees--The existence and 
     activities of the Subcommittee on Oversight and 
     Investigations shall in no way limit the responsibility of 
     the other subcommittees of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     for carrying out oversight duties.


                  RULE 7--BUDGET ACT RESPONSIBILITIES

       (a) Budget Act Responsibilities--Pursuant to clause 4(f)(1) 
     of Rule X of the Rules of the House, the Committee shall 
     submit to the Committee on the Budget not later than six 
     weeks after the President submits his budget, or at such time 
     as the Committee on the Budget may request--
       (1) Its views and estimates with respect to all matters to 
     be set forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget for 
     the ensuing fiscal year that are within its jurisdiction or 
     functions; and
       (2) An estimate of the total amounts of new budget 
     authority, and budget outlays resulting therefrom, to be 
     provided or authorized in all bills and resolutions within 
     its jurisdiction that it intends to be effective during that 
     fiscal year.


                   RULE 8--RECORDS AND OTHER MATTERS

       (a) Transcripts--There shall be a transcript made of each 
     regular and additional meeting and hearing of the Committee 
     and its subcommittees. Any such transcript shall be a 
     substantially verbatim account of remarks actually made 
     during the proceedings, subject only to technical, 
     grammatical, and typographical corrections authorized by the 
     person making the remarks involved.
       (b) Records--
       (1) The Committee shall keep a record of all actions of the 
     Committee and each of its subcommittees. The record shall 
     contain all information required by clause 2(e)(I) of Rule XI 
     of the Rules of the House and shall be available for public 
     inspection at reasonable times in the offices of the 
     Committee.
       (2) There shall be kept in writing a record of the 
     proceedings of the Committee and each of its subcommittees, 
     including a record of the votes on any question on which a 
     recorded vote is demanded. The result of each such record 
     vote shall be made available by the Committee for inspection 
     by the public at reasonable times in the offices of the 
     Committee. Information so available for public inspection 
     shall include a description of the amendment, motion, order 
     or other proposition and the name of each member voting for 
     and each member voting against such amendment, motion, order, 
     or proposition, and the names of those members present but 
     not voting.
       (c) Availability of 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 or clause 4 of Rule VII of the Rules of the House, 
     to withhold a record otherwise available, and the matter 
     shall be presented to the Committee for a determination on 
     written request of any member of the Committee.
       (d) Availability of Publications--Pursuant to clause 
     2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, the Committee 
     shall make its publications available in electronic form to 
     the maximum extent feasible.

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