[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S784-S785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET RULES OF PROCEDURE
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the rules of
the Committee on the Budget for the 112th Congress be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET
I. MEETINGS
(1) The committee shall hold its regular meeting on the
first Thursday of each month. Additional meetings may be
called by the chair as the chair deems necessary to expedite
committee business.
(2) Each meeting of the committee, including meetings to
conduct hearings, shall be open to the public, except that a
portion or portions of any such meeting may be closed to the
public if the committee determines by record vote in open
session of a majority of the members of the committee present
that the matters to be discussed or the testimony to be taken
at such portion or portions--
(a) will disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in
the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct
of the foreign relations of the United States;
(b) will relate solely to matters of the committee staff
personnel or internal staff management or procedure;
(c) will tend to charge an individual with crime or
misconduct, to disgrace or injure the professional standing
of an individual, or otherwise to expose an individual to
public contempt or obloquy, or will represent a clearly
unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual;
(d) will disclose the identity of any informer or law
enforcement agent or will disclose any information relating
to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense
that is required to be kept secret in the interests of
effective law enforcement; or
(e) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets
or financial or commercial information pertaining
specifically to a given person if--
(i) an act of Congress requires the information to be kept
confidential by Government officers and employees; or
(ii) the information has been obtained by the Government on
a confidential basis, other than through an application by
such person for a specific Government financial or other
benefit, and is required to be kept secret in order to
prevent undue injury to the competitive position of such
person.
(f) may divulge matters required to be kept confidential
under other provisions of law or Government regulations.
(3) Notice of, and the agenda for, any business meeting or
markup shall be provided to each member and made available to
the public at least 48 hours prior to such meeting or markup.
II. QUORUMS AND VOTING
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this
section, a quorum for the transaction of committee business
shall consist of not less than one-third of the membership of
the entire committee: Provided, that proxies shall not be
counted in making a quorum.
(2) A majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum
for reporting budget resolutions, legislative measures or
recommendations: Provided, that proxies shall not be counted
in making a quorum.
(3) For the purpose of taking sworn or unsworn testimony, a
quorum of the committee shall consist of one Senator.
(4)(a) The committee may poll--
(i) internal committee matters including those concerning
the committee's staff, records, and budget;
(ii) steps in an investigation, including issuance of
subpoenas, applications for immunity orders, and requests for
documents from agencies; and
(iii) other committee business that the committee has
designated for polling at a meeting, except that the
committee may not vote by poll on reporting to the Senate any
measure, matter, or recommendation, and may not vote by poll
on closing a meeting or hearing to the public.
(b) To conduct a poll, the chair shall circulate polling
sheets to each member specifying the matter being polled and
the time limit for completion of the poll. If any member
requests, the matter shall be held for a meeting rather than
being polled. The chief clerk shall keep a record of polls;
if the committee determines by record vote in open session of
a majority of the members of the committee present that the
polled matter is one of those enumerated in rule I(2)(a)-(e),
then the record of the poll shall be confidential. Any member
may move at the committee meeting following a poll for a vote
on the polled decision.
III. PROXIES
When a record vote is taken in the committee on any bill,
resolution, amendment, or any other question, a quorum being
present, a member who is unable to attend the meeting may
vote by proxy if the absent member has been informed of the
matter on which the vote is being recorded and has
affirmatively requested to be so recorded; except that no
member may vote by proxy during the deliberations on Budget
Resolutions.
IV. HEARINGS AND HEARING PROCEDURES
(1) The committee shall make public announcement of the
date, place, time, and subject matter of any hearing to be
conducted on any measure or matter at least 1 week in advance
of such hearing, unless the chair and ranking member
determine that there is good cause to begin such hearing at
an earlier date.
(2) In the event that the membership of the Senate is
equally divided between the two parties, the ranking member
is authorized to call witnesses to testify at any hearing in
an amount equal to the number called by the chair. The
previous sentence shall not apply in the case of a hearing at
which the committee intends to call an official of the
Federal government as the sole witness.
(3) A witness appearing before the committee shall file a
written statement of proposed testimony at least 1 calendar
day prior to appearance, unless the requirement is waived by
the chair and the ranking member, following their
determination that there is good cause for the failure of
compliance.
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS
(1) When the committee has ordered a measure or
recommendation reported, following final action, the report
thereon shall be filed in the Senate at the earliest
practicable time.
(2) A member of the committee, who gives notice of an
intention to file supplemental, minority, or additional views
at the time of final committee approval of a measure or
matter, shall be entitled to not less than 3 calendar days in
which to file such views, in writing, with the chief clerk of
the committee. Such views shall then be included in the
committee report and printed in the same volume, as a part
thereof, and their inclusions shall be noted on the cover of
the report. In the absence of timely notice, the committee
report may be filed and printed immediately without such
views.
VI. USE OF DISPLAY MATERIALS IN COMMITTEE
Graphic displays used during any meetings or hearings of
the committee are limited to the following:
Charts, photographs, or renderings:
Size: no larger than 36 inches by 48 inches.
Where: on an easel stand next to the member's seat or at
the rear of the committee room.
When: only at the time the member is speaking.
Number: no more than two may be displayed at a time.
[[Page S785]]
VII. CONFIRMATION STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES
(1) Standards. In considering a nomination, the committee
shall inquire into the nominee's experience, qualifications,
suitability, and integrity to serve in the position to which
he or she has been nominated. The committee shall recommend
confirmation if it finds that the nominee has the necessary
integrity and is affirmatively qualified by reason of
training, education, or experience to carry out the functions
of the office to which he or she was nominated.
(2) Information Concerning the Nominee. Each nominee shall
submit the following information to the committee:
(a) A detailed biographical resume which contains
information concerning education, employment, and background
which generally relates to the position to which the
individual is nominated, and which is to be made public;
(b) Information concerning financial and other background
of the nominee which is to be made public; provided, that
financial information that does not relate to the nominee's
qualifications to hold the position to which the individual
is nominated, tax returns or reports prepared by federal
agencies that may be submitted by the nominee shall, after
review by the chair, ranking member, or any other member of
the committee upon request, be maintained in a manner to
ensure confidentiality; and,
(c) Copies of other relevant documents and responses to
questions as the committee may so request, such as responses
to questions concerning the policies and programs the nominee
intends to pursue upon taking office.
(3) Report on the Nominee. After a review of all
information pertinent to the nomination, a confidential
report on the nominee may be prepared by the committee staff
for the chair, the ranking member and, upon request, for any
other member of the committee. The report shall summarize the
steps taken and the results of the committee inquiry,
including any unresolved matters that have been raised during
the course of the inquiry.
(4) Hearings. The committee shall conduct a hearing during
which the nominee shall be called to testify under oath on
all matters relating to his or her suitability for office,
including the policies and programs which he or she would
pursue while in that position. No hearing or meeting to
consider the confirmation shall be held until at least 72
hours after the following events have occurred: the nominee
has responded to the requirements set forth in subsection
(2), and, if a report described in subsection (3) has been
prepared, it has been presented to the chairman and ranking
member, and is available to other members of the committee,
upon request.
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