[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 24 (Thursday, February 8, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1394-H1398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PUBLICATION OF THE RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, 110TH 
                                CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall,) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to submit for printing in the 
Congressional Record, pursuant to rule XI, clause

[[Page H1395]]

2(a) of the Rules of the House, a copy of the Rules of the Committee on 
Natural Resources, which were adopted at the organizational meeting of 
the committee on February 7, 2007.

      Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of 
                    Representatives, 110th Congress


               RULE 1. RULES OF THE HOUSE; VICE CHAIRMEN.

       (a) Applicability of House Rules.
       (1) The Rules of the House of Representatives, so far as 
     they are applicable, are the rules of the Committee and its 
     Subcommittees.
       (2) Each Subcommittee is part of the Committee and is 
     subject to the authority, direction and rules of the 
     Committee. References in these rules to ``Committee'' and 
     ``Chairman'' shall apply to each Subcommittee and its 
     Chairman wherever applicable.
       (3) House Rule XI is incorporated and made a part of the 
     rules of the Committee to the extent applicable.
       (b) Vice Chairmen.--Unless inconsistent with other rules, 
     the Chairman shall appoint a Vice Chairman of the Committee 
     and the Subcommittee Chairmen will appoint Vice Chairmen of 
     each of the Subcommittees. If the Chairman of the Committee 
     or Subcommittee is not present at any meeting of the 
     Committee or Subcommittee, as the case may be, the Vice 
     Chairman shall preside. If the Vice Chairman is not present, 
     the ranking Member of the Majority party on the Committee or 
     Subcommittee who is present shall preside at that meeting.


                      RULE 2. MEETINGS IN GENERAL.

       (a) Scheduled Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at 10 
     a.m. every Wednesday when the House is in session, unless 
     canceled by the Chairman. The Committee shall also meet at 
     the call of the Chairman subject to advance notice to all 
     Members of the Committee. Special meetings shall be called 
     and convened by the Chairman as provided in clause 2(c)(1) of 
     House Rule XI. Any Committee meeting or hearing that 
     conflicts with a party caucus, conference, or similar party 
     meeting shall be rescheduled at the discretion of the 
     Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member. 
     The Committee may not sit during a joint session of the House 
     and Senate or during a recess when a joint meeting of the 
     House and Senate is in progress.
       (b) Open Meetings.--Each meeting for the transaction of 
     business, including the markup of legislation, and each 
     hearing of the Committee or a Subcommittee shall be open to 
     the public, except as provided by clause 2(g) and clause 2(k) 
     of House Rule XI.
       (c) Broadcasting.-- Whenever a meeting for the transaction 
     of business, including the markup of legislation, or a 
     hearing is open to the public, that meeting or hearing shall 
     be open to coverage by television, radio, and still 
     photography in accordance with clause 4 of House Rule XI. The 
     provisions of clause 4(f) of House Rule XI are specifically 
     made part of these rules by reference. Operation and use of 
     any Committee Internet broadcast system shall be fair and 
     nonpartisan and in accordance with clause 4(b) of House Rule 
     XI and all other applicable rules of the Committee and the 
     House.
       (d) Oversight Plan.--No later than February 15 of the first 
     session of each Congress, the Committee shall adopt its 
     oversight plans for that Congress in accordance with clause 
     2(d)(1) of House Rule X.


                     RULE 3. PROCEDURES IN GENERAL.

       (a) Agenda of Meetings; Information for Members.--An agenda 
     of the business to be considered at meetings shall be 
     delivered to the office of each Member of the Committee no 
     later than 48 hours before the meeting. This requirement may 
     be waived by a majority vote of the Committee at the time of 
     the consideration of the measure or matter. To the extent 
     practicable, a summary of the major provisions of any bill 
     being considered by the Committee, including the need for the 
     bill and its effect on current law, will be available for the 
     Members of the Committee no later than 48 hours before the 
     meeting.
       (b) Meetings and Hearings to Begin Promptly.--Each meeting 
     or hearing of the Committee shall begin promptly at the time 
     stipulated in the public announcement of the meeting or 
     hearing.
       (c) Addressing the Committee.--A Committee Member may 
     address the Committee or a Subcommittee on any bill, motion, 
     or other matter under consideration or may question a witness 
     at a hearing only when recognized by the Chairman for that 
     purpose. The time a Member may address the Committee or 
     Subcommittee for any purpose or to question a witness shall 
     be limited to five minutes, except as provided in Committee 
     Rule 4(g). A Member shall limit his remarks to the subject 
     matter under consideration. The Chairman shall enforce the 
     preceding provision.
       (d) Quorums.
       (1) A majority of the Members shall constitute a quorum for 
     the reporting of any measure or recommendation, the 
     authorizing of a subpoena, the closing of any meeting or 
     hearing to the public under clause 2(g)(1), clause 2(g)(2)(A) 
     and clause 2(k)(5)(B) of House Rule XI, and the releasing of 
     executive session materials under clause 2(k)(7) of House 
     Rule X. Testimony and evidence may be received at any hearing 
     at which there are at least two Members of the Committee 
     present. For the purpose of transacting all other business of 
     the Committee, one third of the Members shall constitute a 
     quorum.
       (2) When a call of the roll is required to ascertain the 
     presence of a quorum, the offices of all Members shall be 
     notified and the Members shall have not less than 15 minutes 
     to prove their attendance. The Chairman shall have the 
     discretion to waive this requirement when a quorum is 
     actually present or whenever a quorum is secured and may 
     direct the Chief Clerk to note the names of all Members 
     present within the IS-minute period.
       (e) Participation of Members in Committee and 
     Subcommittees.--All Members of the Committee may sit with any 
     Subcommittee during any hearing, and by unanimous consent of 
     the Members of the Subcommittee may participate in any 
     meeting or hearing. However, a Member who is not a Member of 
     the Subcommittee may not vote on any matter before the 
     Subcommittee; be counted for purposes of establishing a 
     quorum or raise points of order.
       (f) Proxies.--No vote in the Committee or its Subcommittees 
     may be cast by proxy.
       (g) Record Votes.--Record votes shall be ordered on the 
     demand of one-fifth of the Members present, or by any Member 
     in the apparent absence of a quorum.
       (h) Postponed Record Votes.
       (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Chairman may, after 
     consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, postpone 
     further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the 
     question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an 
     amendment. The Chairman shall resume proceedings on a 
     postponed request at any time after reasonable notice, but no 
     later than the next meeting day.
       (2) Notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous 
     question, when proceedings resume on a postponed question 
     under paragraph (1), an underlying proposition shall remain 
     subject to further debate or amendment to the same extent as 
     when the question was postponed.
       (3) This rule shall apply to Subcommittee proceedings.
       (i) Privileged Motions.--A motion to recess from day to 
     day, a motion to recess subject to the call of the Chairman 
     (within 24 hours), and a motion to dispense with the first 
     reading (in full) of a bill or resolution if printed copies 
     are available, are nondebatable motions of high privilege.
       (j) Layover and Copy of Bill.--No measure or recommendation 
     reported by a Subcommittee shall be considered by the 
     Committee until two calendar days from the time of 
     Subcommittee action. No bill shall be considered by the 
     Committee unless a copy has been delivered to the office of 
     each Member of the Committee requesting a copy. These 
     requirements may be waived by a majority vote of the 
     Committee at the time of consideration of the measure or 
     recommendation.
       (k) Access to Dais and Conference Room.--Access to the 
     hearing rooms' daises [and to the conference rooms adjacent 
     to the Committee hearing rooms] shall be limited to Members 
     of Congress and employees of the Committee during a meeting 
     of the Committee, except that Committee Members' personal 
     staff may be present on the daises if their employing Member 
     is the author of a bill or amendment under consideration by 
     the Committee, but only during the time that the bill or 
     amendment is under active consideration by the Committee. 
     Access to the conference rooms adjacent to the Committee 
     hearing rooms shall be limited to Members of Congress and 
     employees of Congress during a meeting of the Committee.
       (l) Cellular Telephones.-- The use of cellular telephones 
     is prohibited on the Committee dais or in the Committee 
     hearing rooms during a meeting of the Committee.
       (m) Motion to go to Conference with the Senate.--The 
     Chairman may offer a motion under clause 1 of Rule XXII 
     whenever the Chairman considers it appropriate.


                      RULE 4. HEARING PROCEDURES.

       (a) Announcement.-- The Chairman shall publicly announce 
     the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing at least 
     one week before the hearing unless the Chairman, with the 
     concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, determines that 
     there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the 
     Committee so determines by majority vote. In these cases, the 
     Chairman shall publicly announce the hearing at the earliest 
     possible date. The Chief Clerk of the Committee shall 
     promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the Congressional 
     Record and shall promptly enter the appropriate information 
     on the Committee's web site as soon as possible after the 
     public announcement is made.
       (b) Written Statement; Oral Testimony.--Each witness who is 
     to appear before the Committee or a Subcommittee shall file 
     with the Chief Clerk of the Committee or Subcommittee Clerk, 
     at least two working days before the day of his or her 
     appearance, a written statement of proposed testimony. 
     Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the 
     exclusion of the written testimony from the hearing record 
     and/or the barring of an oral presentation of the testimony. 
     Each witness shall limit his or her oral presentation to a 
     five-minute summary of the written statement, unless the 
     Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, 
     extends this time period. In addition, all witnesses shall be 
     required to submit with their testimony a resume or other 
     statement describing their education, employment, 
     professional affiliations and other background information 
     pertinent to their testimony.
       (c) Minority Witnesses.--When any hearing is conducted by 
     the Committee or any Subcommittee upon any measure or matter, 
     the

[[Page H1396]]

     Minority party Members on the Committee or Subcommittee shall 
     be entitled, upon request to the Chairman by 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 
     hearings thereon.
       (d) Information for Members.--After announcement of a 
     hearing, the Committee shall make available as soon as 
     practicable to all Members of the Committee a tentative 
     witness list and to the extent practicable a memorandum 
     explaining the subject matter of the hearing (including 
     relevant legislative reports and other necessary material). 
     In addition, the Chairman shall make available to the Members 
     of the Committee any official reports from departments and 
     agencies on the subject matter as they are received.
       (e) Subpoenas.--The Committee or a Subcommittee may 
     authorize and issue a subpoena under clause 2(m) of House 
     Rule XI if authorized by a majority of the Members voting. In 
     addition, the Chairman of the Committee may authorize and 
     issue subpoenas during any period of time in which the House 
     of Representatives has adjourned for more than three days. 
     Subpoenas shall be signed only by the Chairman of the 
     Committee, or any Member of the Committee authorized by the 
     Committee, and may be served by any person designated by the 
     Chairman or Member.
       (f) Oaths.--The Chairman of the Committee or any Member 
     designated by the Chairman may administer oaths to any 
     witness before the Committee. All witnesses appearing in 
     hearings may be administered the following oath by the 
     Chairman or his designee prior to receiving the testimony: 
     ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony that you 
     are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing 
     but the truth, so help you God?''.
       (g) Opening Statements; Questioning of Witnesses.
       (1) Opening statements by Members may not be presented 
     orally, unless the Chairman or his designee makes a 
     statement, in which case the Ranking Minority Member or his 
     designee may also make a statement. If a witness scheduled to 
     testify at any hearing of the Committee is a constituent of a 
     Member of the Committee, that Member shall be entitled to 
     introduce the witness at the hearing.
       (2) The questioning of witnesses in Committee and 
     Subcommittee hearings shall be initiated by the Chairman, 
     followed by the Ranking Minority Member and all other Members 
     alternating between the Majority and Minority parties. In 
     recognizing Members to question witnesses, 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 a manner so as not to disadvantage the 
     Members of the Majority or the Members of the Minority. A 
     motion is in order to allow designated Majority and Minority 
     party Members to question a witness for a specified period to 
     be equally divided between the Majority and Minority parties. 
     This period shall not exceed one hour in the aggregate.
       (h) Materials for Hearing Record.--Any materials submitted 
     specifically for inclusion in the hearing record must address 
     the announced subject matter of the hearing and be submitted 
     to the relevant Subcommittee Clerk or Chief Clerk no later 
     than 10 business days following the last day of the hearing.
       (i) Claims of Privilege.--Claims of common-law privileges 
     made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees or 
     deponents in investigations or inquiries, are applicable only 
     at the discretion of the Chairman, subject to appeal to the 
     Committee.


                  RULE 5. FILING OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

       (a) Duty of Chairman.--Whenever the Committee authorizes 
     the favorable reporting of a measure from the Committee, the 
     Chairman or his designee shall report the same to the House 
     of Representatives and shall take all steps necessary to 
     secure its passage without any additional authority needing 
     to be set forth in the motion to report each individual 
     measure. In appropriate cases, the authority set forth in 
     this rule shall extend to moving in accordance with the Rules 
     of the House of Representatives that the House be resolved 
     into the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the 
     Union for the consideration of the measure; and to moving in 
     accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives for 
     the disposition of a Senate measure that is substantially the 
     same as the House measure as reported.
       (b) Filing.--A report on a measure which has been approved 
     by the Committee shall be filed within seven calendar days 
     (exclusive of days on which the House of Representatives is 
     not in session) after the day on which there has been filed 
     with the Committee Chief Clerk a written request, signed by a 
     majority of the Members of the Committee, for the reporting 
     of that measure. Upon the filing with the Committee Chief 
     Clerk of this request, the Chief Clerk shall transmit 
     immediately to the Chairman notice of the filing of that 
     request.
       (c) Supplemental, Additional or Minority Views.--Any Member 
     may, if notice is given at the time a bill or resolution is 
     approved by the Committee, file supplemental, additional, or 
     minority views. These views must be in writing and signed by 
     each Member joining therein and be filed with the Committee 
     Chief Clerk not less than two additional calendar days 
     (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays except when 
     the House is in session on those days) of the time the bill 
     or resolution is approved by the Committee. This paragraph 
     shall not preclude the filing of any supplemental report on 
     any bill or resolution that may be required for the 
     correction of any technical error in a previous report made 
     by the Committee on that bill or resolution.
       (d) Review by Members.--Each Member of the Committee shall 
     be given an opportunity to review each proposed Committee 
     report before it is filed with the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives. Nothing in this paragraph extends the time 
     allowed for filing supplemental, additional or minority views 
     under paragraph (c).
       (e) Disclaimer.--All Committee or Subcommittee reports 
     printed and not approved by a majority vote of the Committee 
     or Subcommittee, as appropriate, shall contain the following 
     disclaimer on the cover of the report:
       ``This report has not been officially adopted by the 
     (Committee on Natural Resources) (Subcommittee) and may not 
     therefore necessarily reflect the views of its Members.''.


 RULE 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEES; FULL COMMITTEE JURISDICTION; 
                            BILL REFERRALS.

       (a) Subcommittees.--There shall be five standing 
     Subcommittees of the Committee, with the following 
     jurisdiction and responsibilities:
     Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
       (1) Measures and matters related to the National Park 
     System and its units, including Federal reserved water 
     rights.
       (2) The National Wilderness Preservation System.
       (3) Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System, 
     national heritage areas and other national units established 
     for protection, conservation, preservation or recreational 
     development, other than coastal barriers.
       (4) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries 
     administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks in and 
     within the vicinity of the District of Columbia and the 
     erection of monuments to the memory of individuals.
       (5) Federal outdoor recreation plans, programs and 
     administration including the Land and Water Conservation 
     Fund.
       (6) Plans and programs concerning non-Federal outdoor 
     recreation and land use, including related plans and programs 
     authorized by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 
     1965 and the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963.
       (7) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of 
     interest on the public domain and other historic preservation 
     programs and activities, including national monuments, 
     historic sites and programs for international cooperation in 
     the field of historic preservation.
       (8) Matters concerning the following agencies and programs: 
     Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, Historic 
     American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering 
     Record, and U.S. Holocaust Memorial.
       (9) Public lands generally, including measures or matters 
     relating to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing and 
     Federal reserved water rights.
       (10) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership, 
     including alien ownership of mineral lands.
       (11) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (12) Forest reservations, including management thereof, 
     created from the public domain.
       (13) Public forest lands generally, including measures or 
     matters related to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing and 
     Federal reserved water rights.
       (14) General and continuing oversight and investigative 
     authority over activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
     Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
       (1) Fisheries management and fisheries research generally, 
     including the management of all commercial and recreational 
     fisheries, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
     Management Act, interjurisdictional fisheries, international 
     fisheries agreements, aquaculture, seafood safety and 
     fisheries promotion.
       (2) Wildlife resources, including research, restoration, 
     refuges and conservation.
       (3) All matters pertaining to the protection of coastal and 
     marine environments, including estuarine protection.
       (4) Coastal barriers.
       (5) Oceanography.
       (6) Ocean engineering, including materials, technology and 
     systems.
       (7) Coastal zone management.
       (8) Marine sanctuaries.
       (9) U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
       (10) Sea Grant programs and marine extension services.
       (11) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (12) General and continuing oversight and investigative 
     authority over activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.

[[Page H1397]]

     Subcommittee on Water and Power
       (1) Generation and marketing of electric power from Federal 
     water projects by Federally chartered or Federal regional 
     power marketing authorities.
       (2) All measures and matters concerning water resources 
     planning conducted pursuant to the Water Resources Planning 
     Act, water resource research and development programs and 
     saline water research and development.
       (3) Compacts relating to the use and apportionment of 
     interstate waters, water rights and major interbasin water or 
     power movement programs.
       (4) All measures and matters pertaining to irrigation and 
     reclamation projects and other water resources development 
     and recycling programs, including policies and procedures.
       (5) Indian water rights and settlements.
       (6) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (7) General and continuing oversight and investigative 
     authority over activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
     Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
       (1) All measures and matters concerning the U.S. Geological 
     Survey, except for the activities and programs of the Water 
     Resources Division or its successor.
       (2) All measures and matters affecting geothermal 
     resources.
       (3) Conservation of United States uranium supply.
       (4) Mining interests generally, including all matters 
     involving mining regulation and enforcement, including the 
     reclamation of mined lands, the environmental effects of 
     mining, and the management of mineral receipts, mineral land 
     laws and claims, long-range mineral programs and deep seabed 
     mining.
       (5) Mining schools, experimental stations and long-range 
     mineral programs.
       (6) Mineral resources on public lands.
       (7) Conservation and development of oil and gas resources 
     of the Outer Continental Shelf.
       (8) Petroleum conservation on the public lands and 
     conservation of the radium supply in the United States.
       (9) Measures and matters concerning the transportation of 
     natural gas from or within Alaska and disposition of oil 
     transported by the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
       (10) Rights of way over public lands for underground 
     energy-related transportation.
       (11) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (12) General and continuing oversight and investigative 
     authority over activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
     Subcommittee on Insular Affairs
       (1) All matters regarding insular areas of the United 
     States.
       (2) All measures or matters regarding the Freely Associated 
     States and Antarctica.
       (3) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (4) General and continuing oversight and investigative 
     authority over activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (b) Full Committee.--The Full Committee shall have the 
     following jurisdiction and responsibilities:
       (1) Environmental and habitat measures of general 
     applicability.
       (2) Measures relating to the welfare of Native Americans, 
     including management of Indian lands in general and special 
     measures relating to claims which are paid out of Indian 
     funds.
       (3) All matters regarding the relations of the United 
     States with Native Americans and Native American tribes, 
     including special oversight functions under Rule X of the 
     Rules of the House of Representatives.
       (4) All matters regarding Native Alaskans and Native 
     Hawaiians.
       (5) All matters related to the Federal trust responsibility 
     to Native Americans and the sovereignty of Native Americans.
       (6) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Full Committee under this paragraph.
       (7) All measures and matters retained by the Full 
     Committee, including those retained under Committee Rule 
     6(e).
       (8) General and continuing oversight and investigative 
     authority over activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee under House Rule X.
       (c) Ex-officio Members.--The Chairman and Ranking Minority 
     Member of the Committee may serve as ex-officio Members of 
     each standing Subcommittee to which the Chairman or the 
     Ranking Minority Member have not been assigned. Ex-officio 
     Members shall have the right to fully participate in 
     Subcommittee activities but may not vote and may not be 
     counted in establishing a quorum.
       (d) Powers and Duties of Subcommittees.--Each Subcommittee 
     is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence and 
     report to the Committee on all matters within its 
     jurisdiction. Each Subcommittee shall review and study, on a 
     continuing basis, the application, administration, execution 
     and effectiveness of those statutes, or parts of statutes, 
     the subject matter of which is within that Subcommittee's 
     jurisdiction; and the organization, operation, and 
     regulations of any Federal agency or entity having 
     responsibilities in or for the administration of such 
     statutes, to determine whether these statutes are being 
     implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of 
     Congress. Each Subcommittee shall review and study any 
     conditions or circumstances indicating the need of enacting 
     new or supplemental legislation within the jurisdiction of 
     the Subcommittee. Each Subcommittee shall have general and 
     continuing oversight and investigative authority over 
     activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of 
     the Subcommittee.
       (e) Referral to Subcommittees; Recall.
       (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and for those 
     matters within the jurisdiction of the Full Committee, every 
     legislative measure or other matter referred to the Committee 
     shall be referred to the Subcommittee of jurisdiction within 
     two weeks of the date of its referral to the Committee. If 
     any measure or matter is within or affects the jurisdiction 
     of one or more Subcommittees, the Chairman may refer that 
     measure or matter simultaneously to two or more Subcommittees 
     for concurrent consideration or for consideration in sequence 
     subject to appropriate time limits, or divide the matter into 
     two or more parts and refer each part to a Subcommittee.
       (2) The Chairman, with the approval of a majority of the 
     Majority Members of the Committee, may refer a legislative 
     measure or other matter to a select or special Subcommittee. 
     A legislative measure or other matter referred by the 
     Chairman to a Subcommittee may be recalled from the 
     Subcommittee for direct consideration by the Full Committee, 
     or for referral to another Subcommittee, provided Members of 
     the Committee receive one week written notice of the recall 
     and a majority of the Members of the Committee do not object. 
     In addition, a legislative measure or other matter referred 
     by the Chairman to a Subcommittee may be recalled from the 
     Subcommittee at any time by majority vote of the Committee 
     for direct consideration by the Full Committee or for 
     referral to another Subcommittee.
       (f) Consultation.--Each Subcommittee Chairman shall consult 
     with the Chairman of the Full Committee prior to setting 
     dates for Subcommittee meetings with a view towards avoiding 
     whenever possible conflicting Committee and Subcommittee 
     meetings.
       (g) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the membership of a Subcommittee 
     shall not affect the power of the remaining Members to 
     execute the functions of the Subcommittee.


         RULE 7. TASK FORCES, SPECIAL OR SELECT SUBCOMMITTEES.

       (a) Appointment.--The Chairman of the Committee is 
     authorized, after consultation with the Ranking Minority 
     Member, to appoint Task Forces, or special or select 
     Subcommittees, to carry out the duties and functions of the 
     Committee.
       (b) Ex-Officio Members.--The Chairman and Ranking Minority 
     Member of the Committee may serve as ex-officio Members of 
     each Task Force, or special or select Subcommittee if they 
     are not otherwise members. Ex-officio Members shall have the 
     right to fully participate in activities but may not vote and 
     may not be counted in establishing a quorum.
       (c) Party Ratios.--The ratio of Majority Members to 
     Minority Members, excluding ex-officio Members, on each Task 
     Force, special or select Subcommittee shall be as close as 
     practicable to the ratio on the Full Committee.
       (d) Temporary Resignation.--A Member can temporarily resign 
     his or her position on a Subcommittee to serve on a Task 
     Force, special or select Subcommittee without prejudice to 
     the Member's seniority on the Subcommittee.
       (e) Chairman and Ranking Minority Member.--The Chairman of 
     any Task Force, or special or select Subcommittee shall be 
     appointed by the Chairman of the Committee. The Ranking 
     Minority Member shall select a Ranking Minority Member for 
     each Task Force, or standing, special or select Subcommittee.


                  RULE 8. RECOMMENDATION OF CONFEREES

       Whenever it becomes necessary to appoint conferees on a 
     particular measure, the Chairman shall recommend to the 
     Speaker as conferees those Majority Members, as well as those 
     Minority Members recommended to the Chairman by the Ranking 
     Minority Member, primarily responsible for the measure. The 
     ratio of Majority Members to Minority Members recommended for 
     conferences shall be no greater than the ratio on the 
     Committee.


                       RULE 9. COMMITTEE RECORDS

       (a) Segregation of Records.--All Committee records shall be 
     kept separate and distinct from the office records of 
     individual Committee Members serving as Chairmen or Ranking 
     Minority Members. These records shall be the property of the 
     House and all Members shall have access to them in accordance 
     with clause 2(e)(2) of House Rule XI.

[[Page H1398]]

       (b) Availability.--The Committee shall make available to 
     the public for review at reasonable times in the Committee 
     office the following records:
       (1) transcripts of public meetings and hearings, except 
     those that are unrevised or unedited and intended solely for 
     the use of the Committee; and
       (2) the result of each rollcall vote taken in the 
     Committee, including a description of the amendment, motion, 
     order or other proposition voted on, the name of each 
     Committee Member voting for or against a proposition, and the 
     name of each Member present but not voting.
       (c) Archived Records.--Records of the Committee which are 
     deposited with the National Archives shall be made available 
     for public use pursuant to House Rule VII. The Chairman of 
     the Committee shall notify the Ranking Minority Member of any 
     decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of House 
     Rule VII, to withhold, or to provide a time, schedule or 
     condition for availability of any record otherwise available. 
     At the written request of any Member of the Committee, the 
     matter shall be presented to the Committee for a 
     determination and shall be subject to the same notice and 
     quorum requirements for the conduct of business under 
     Committee Rule 3.
       (d) Records of Closed Meetings.--Notwithstanding the other 
     provisions of this rule, no records of Committee meetings or 
     hearings which were closed to the public pursuant to the 
     Rules of the House of Representatives shall be released to 
     the public unless the Committee votes to release those 
     records in accordance with the procedure used to close the 
     Committee meeting.
       (e) Classified Materials.--All classified materials shall 
     be maintained in an appropriately secured location and shall 
     be released only to authorized persons for review, who shall 
     not remove the material from the Committee offices without 
     the written permission of the Chairman.


                 RULE 10. COMMITTEE BUDGET AND EXPENSES

       (a) Budget.--At the beginning of each Congress, after 
     consultation with the Chairman of each Subcommittee and the 
     Ranking Minority Member, the Chairman shall present to the 
     Committee for its approval a budget covering the funding 
     required for staff, travel, and miscellaneous expenses.
       (b) Expense Resolution.--Upon approval by the Committee of 
     each budget, the Chairman, acting pursuant to clause 6 of 
     House Rule X, shall prepare and introduce in the House a 
     supporting expense resolution, and take all action necessary 
     to bring about its approval by the Committee on House 
     Administration and by the House of Representatives.
       (c) Amendments.--The Chairman shall report to the Committee 
     any amendments to each expense resolution and any related 
     changes in the budget.
       (d) Additional Expenses.--Authorization for the payment of 
     additional or unforeseen Committee expenses may be procured 
     by one or more additional expense resolutions processed in 
     the same manner as set out under this rule.
       (e) Monthly Reports.--Copies of each monthly report, 
     prepared by the Chairman for the Committee on House 
     Administration, which shows expenditures made during the 
     reporting period and cumulative for the year, anticipated 
     expenditures for the projected Committee program, and 
     detailed information on travel, shall be available to each 
     Member.


                        RULE 11. COMMITTEE STAFF

       (a) Rules and Policies.--Committee staff members are 
     subject to the provisions of clause 9 of House Rule X, as 
     well as any written personnel policies the Committee may from 
     time to time adopt.
       (b) Majority and Nonpartisan Staff.--The Chairman shall 
     appoint, determine the remuneration of, and may remove, the 
     legislative and administrative employees of the Committee not 
     assigned to the Minority. The legislative and administrative 
     staff of the Committee not assigned to the Minority shall be 
     under the general supervision and direction of the Chairman, 
     who shall establish and assign the duties and 
     responsibilities of these staff members and delegate any 
     authority he determines appropriate.
       (c) Minority Staff.--The Ranking Minority Member of the 
     Committee shall appoint, determine the remuneration of, and 
     may remove, the legislative and administrative staff assigned 
     to the Minority within the budget approved for those 
     purposes. The legislative and administrative staff assigned 
     to the Minority shall be under the general supervision and 
     direction of the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee who 
     may delegate any authority he determines appropriate.
       (d) Availability.--The skills and services of all Committee 
     staff shall be available to all Members of the Committee.


                       RULE 12. COMMITTEE TRAVEL

       In addition to any written travel policies the Committee 
     may from time to time adopt, all travel of Members and staff 
     of the Committee or its Subcommittees, to hearings, meetings, 
     conferences and investigations, including all foreign travel, 
     must be authorized by the Full Committee Chairman prior to 
     any public notice of the travel and prior to the actual 
     travel. In the case of Minority staff, all travel shall first 
     be approved by the Ranking Minority Member. Funds authorized 
     for the Committee under clauses 6 and 7 of House Rule X are 
     for expenses incurred in the Committee's activities within 
     the United States.


                  RULE 13. CHANGES TO COMMITTEE RULES

       The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended, or 
     repealed, by a majority vote of the Committee, provided that 
     48 hours' written notice of the proposed change has been 
     provided each Member of the Committee prior to the meeting 
     date on which the changes are to be discussed and voted on. A 
     change to the rules of the Committee shall be published in 
     the Congressional Record no later than 30 days after its 
     approval.


                       RULE 14. OTHER PROCEDURES

       The Chairman may establish procedures and take actions as 
     may be necessary to carry out the rules of the Committee or 
     to facilitate the effective administration of the Committee, 
     in accordance with the rules of the Committee and the Rules 
     of the House of Representatives.

     

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