[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 25 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H578-H586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES
Rules of the Committee on Financial Services for the 113th Congress
Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I submit for publication the attached
copy of the rules of the Committee on Financial Services for the 113th
Congress:
Rule 1
general provisions
(a) The rules of the House are the rules of the Committee
on Financial Services (hereinafter in these rules referred to
as the
[[Page H579]]
``Committee'') 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 privileged
motions in the Committee and shall be considered without
debate. A proposed investigative or oversight report shall be
considered as read if it has been available to the members of
the Committee for at least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in
session on such day).
(b) Each subcommittee 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) The provisions of clause 2 of rule XI of the Rules of
the House are incorporated by reference as the rules of the
Committee to the extent applicable.
Rule 2
MEETINGS
Calling of Meetings
(a)(1) The Committee shall regularly meet on the first
Tuesday of each month when the House is in session.
(2) A regular meeting of the Committee may be dispensed
with if, in the judgment of the Chairman of the Committee
(hereinafter in these rules referred to as the ``Chair''),
there is no need for the meeting.
(3) Additional regular meetings and hearings of the
Committee may be called by the Chair, in accordance with
clause 2(g)(3) of rule XI of the rules of the House.
(4) Special meetings shall be called and convened by the
Chair as provided in clause 2(c)(2) of rule XI of the Rules
of the House.
Notice for Meetings
(b)(1) The Chair shall notify each member of the Committee
of the agenda of each regular meeting of the Committee at
least three calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
legal holidays except when the House is in session on any
such day) before the time of the meeting.
(2) The Chair shall provide to each member of the
Committee, at least three calendar days (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in
session on any such day) before the time of each regular
meeting for each measure or matter on the agenda a copy of--
(A) the measure or materials relating to the matter in
question; and
(B) an explanation of the measure or matter to be
considered, which, in the case of an explanation of a bill,
resolution, or similar measure, shall include a summary of
the major provisions of the legislation, an explanation of
the relationship of the measure to present law, and a summary
of the need for the legislation.
(3) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a
meeting for the markup of legislation, the Chair shall cause
the text of such legislation to be made publicly available in
electronic form.
(4) The provisions of this subsection may be waived by a
two-thirds vote of the Committee or by the Chair with the
concurrence of the ranking minority member.
Rule 3
MEETING AND HEARING PROCEDURES
In General
(a)(1) Meetings and hearings of the Committee shall be
called to order and presided over by the Chair or, in the
Chair's absence, by the member designated by the Chair as the
Vice Chair of the Committee, or by the ranking majority
member of the Committee present as Acting Chair.
(2) Meetings and hearings of the committee shall be open to
the public unless closed in accordance with clause 2(g) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House.
(3) Any meeting or hearing of the Committee that is open to
the public shall be open to coverage by television broadcast,
radio broadcast, and still photography in accordance with the
provisions of clause 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House
(which are incorporated by reference as part of these rules).
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.
(4) To the extent feasible, members and witnesses may use
the Committee equipment for the purpose of presenting
information electronically during a meeting or hearing,
provided the information is transmitted to the appropriate
Committee staff in an appropriate electronic format at least
one business day before the meeting or hearing so as to
ensure display capacity and quality. The content of all
materials must relate to the pending business of the
Committee and conform to the rules of the House. The
confidentiality of the material will be maintained by the
technical staff until its official presentation to the
Committee members. For the purposes of maintaining the
official records of the committee, printed copies of all
materials presented, to the extent practicable, must
accompany the presentations.
(5) No person, other than a Member of Congress, Committee
staff, or an employee of a Member when that Member has an
amendment under consideration, may stand in or be seated at
the rostrum area of the Committee rooms unless the Chair
determines otherwise.
Quorum
(b)(1) For the purpose of taking testimony and receiving
evidence, two members of the Committee shall constitute a
quorum.
(2) A majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum for the purposes of reporting any measure
or matter, of authorizing a subpoena, of closing a meeting or
hearing pursuant to clause 2(g) of rule XI of the rules of
the House (except as provided in clause 2(g)(2)(A) and (B))
or of releasing executive session material pursuant to clause
2(k)(7) of rule XI of the rules of the House.
(3) For the purpose of taking any action other than those
specified in paragraph (2) one-third of the members of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Voting
(c)(1) No vote may be conducted on any measure or matter
pending before the Committee unless the requisite number of
members of the Committee is actually present for such
purpose,
(2) A record vote of the Committee shall be provided on any
question before the Committee upon the request of one-fifth
of the members present.
(3) No vote by any member of the Committee on any measure
or matter may be cast by proxy.
(4) In addition to any other requirement of these rules or
the Rules of the House, including clause 2(e)(1)(B) of rule
XI, the Chair shall make the record of the votes on any
question on which a record vote is demanded publicly
available for inspection at the offices of the Committee and
in electronic form on the Committee's Web site not later than
one business day after such vote is taken. Such record shall
include in electronic form the text of the amendment, motion,
order, or other proposition, the name of each member voting
for and each member voting against such amendment, motion,
order, or proposition, and the names of those members of the
committee present but not voting. With respect to any record
vote on any motion to report or record vote on any amendment,
a record of such votes shall be included in the report of the
Committee showing the total number of votes cast for and
against and the names of those members of the committee
present but not voting.
(5) Postponed Record Votes.--(A) Subject to subparagraph
(B), 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 request at any time, but no
later than the next meeting day.
(B) In exercising postponement authority under subparagraph
(A), the Chairman shall take all reasonable steps necessary
to notify members on the resumption of proceedings on any
postponed record vote.
(C) When proceedings resume on a postponed question, not
withstanding 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.
Hearing Procedures
(d)(1)(A) The Chair shall make public announcement of the
date, place, and subject matter of any committee hearing at
least one week before the commencement of the hearing, unless
the Chair, with the concurrence of the ranking minority
member, or the Committee by majority vote with a quorum
present for the transaction of business, determines there is
good cause to begin the hearing sooner, in which case the
Chair shall make the announcement at the earliest possible
date.
(B) Not less than three days before the commencement of a
hearing announced under this paragraph, the Chair shall
provide to the members of the Committee a concise summary of
the subject of the hearing, or, in the case of a hearing on a
measure or matter, a copy of the measure or materials
relating to the matter in question and a concise explanation
of the measure or matter to be considered. At the same time
the Chair provides the information required by the preceding
sentence, the Chair shall also provide to the members of the
Committee a final list consisting of the names of each
witness who is to appear before the Committee at that
hearing. The witness list may not be modified within 24 hours
of a hearing, unless the Chair, with the concurrence of the
ranking minority member, determines there is good cause for
such modification.
(2) To the greatest extent practicable--
(A) each witness who is to appear before the Committee
shall file with the Committee two business days in advance of
the appearance sufficient copies (including a copy in
electronic form), as determined by the Chair, of a written
statement of proposed testimony and shall limit the oral
presentation to the Committee to brief summary thereof; and
(B) each witness appearing in a non-governmental capacity
shall include with the written statement of proposed
testimony 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. Such disclosure statements, with
appropriate redactions to protect the privacy of the witness,
shall be made publicly available in electronic form not later
than one day after the witness appears.
(3) The requirements of paragraph (2)(A) may be modified or
waived by the Chair when the Chair determines it to be in the
best interest of the Committee.
[[Page H580]]
(4) The five-minute rule shall be observed in the
interrogation of witnesses before the Committee until each
member of the Committee has had an opportunity to question
the witnesses. No member shall be recognized for a second
period of five minutes to interrogate witnesses until each
member of the Committee present has been recognized once for
that purpose.
(5) Whenever any hearing is conducted by the Committee on
any measure or matter, the minority party members of the
Committee shall be entitled, upon the request of a majority
of them before the completion of the hearing, to call
witnesses with respect to that measure or matter during at
least one day of hearing thereon.
(6) At any hearing of the Committee for the purpose of
receiving testimony (other than testimony described in
clauses (i) or (ii) of subsection (f)(2)(A)), the Chair may,
after consultation with the ranking minority member, limit
the duration of opening statements to 20 minutes to be
divided equally between and controlled by the Chair and the
ranking minority member or their respective designees. At any
hearing of the Committee for the purpose of receiving
testimony described in clauses (i) or (ii) of subsection
(f)(2)(A), the Chair may, after consultation with the ranking
minority member, limit the duration of opening statements to
16 minutes to be divided equally between and controlled by
the Chair and the ranking minority member or their respective
designees. The duration for all opening statements provided
in this subsection for any hearing may be extended by
agreement between the Chair and ranking minority member
provided that any such extended time be equally divided
between and controlled by the Chair and ranking minority
member or their designees.
(7) Notwithstanding any member's oral delivery of an
opening statement, written opening statements by any member
of the Committee submitted to the Chair within 5 legislative
days after the adjournment of a hearing shall be made a part
of the official hearing record thereof.
(8) Subsections (6) and (7) shall apply with equal force to
hearings held by the subcommittees of the Committee.
Subpoenas and Oaths
(e)(1) 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, or pursuant to paragraph (2).
(2) The Chair, with the concurrence of the ranking minority
member, may authorize and issue subpoenas under such clause
during any period for which the House has adjourned for a
period in excess of three days when, in the opinion of the
Chair, authorization and issuance of the subpoena is
necessary to obtain the material or testimony set forth in
the subpoena. The Chair shall report to the members of the
Committee on the authorization and issuance of a subpoena
during the recess period as soon as practicable, but in no
event later than one week after service of such subpoena.
(3) Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the Chair or by
any member designated by the Committee, and may be served by
any person designated by the Chair or such member.
(4) The Chair, or any member of the Committee designated by
the Chair, may administer oaths to witnesses before the
Committee.
Special Procedures
(f)(1)(A) Commemorative Medals and Coins.--It shall not be
in order for the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and
Technology to hold a hearing on any commemorative medal or
commemorative coin legislation unless the legislation is
cosponsored by at least two-thirds of the members of the
House.
(B) It shall not be in order for the subcommittee to
approve a bill or measure authorizing commemorative coins for
consideration by the full Committee which does not conform
with the mintage restrictions established by section 5112 of
title 31, United States Code.
(C) In considering legislation authorizing Congressional
gold medals, the subcommittee shall apply the following
standards--
(i) the recipient shall be a natural person;
(ii) the recipient shall have performed an achievement that
has an impact on American history and culture that is likely
to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's
field long after the achievement;
(iii) the recipient shall not have received a medal
previously for the same or substantially the same
achievement;
(iv) the recipient shall be living or, if deceased, shall
have been deceased for not less than five years and not more
than twenty five years;
(v) the achievements were performed in the recipient's
field of endeavor, and represent either a lifetime of
continuous superior achievements or a single achievement so
significant that the recipient is recognized and acclaimed by
others in the same field, as evidenced by the recipient
having received the highest honors in the field.
(2) Testimony of Certain Officials.--
(A) When the Chair announces a hearing of the Committee for
the purpose of receiving--
(i) testimony from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Board pursuant to section 2B of the Federal Reserve Act (12
U.S.C. 221 et seq.), or
(ii) testimony from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Board or a member of the President's cabinet at the
invitation of the Chair,
the Chair may, in consultation with the ranking minority
member, limit the number and duration of opening statements
to be delivered at such hearing. The limitation shall be
included in the announcement made pursuant to subsection
(d)(1)(A), and shall provide that the opening statements of
all members of the Committee shall be made a part of the
hearing record.
Rule 4
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING MEASURES OR MATTERS
(a) No measure or matter shall be reported from the
Committee unless a majority of the Committee is actually
present.
(b) The Chair of the Committee shall report or cause to be
reported promptly to the House any measure approved by the
Committee and take necessary steps to bring a matter to a
vote.
(c) The report of the Committee on a measure which has been
approved by the Committee shall be filed within seven
calendar days (exclusive of days on which the House is not in
session) after the day on which there has been filed with the
clerk of the Committee a written request, signed by a
majority of the members of the Committee, for the reporting
of that measure pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(b)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House.
(d) All reports printed by the Committee pursuant to a
legislative study or investigation and not approved by a
majority vote of the Committee shall contain the following
disclaimer on the cover of such report: ``This report has not
been officially adopted by the Committee on Financial
Services and may not necessarily reflect the views of its
Members.''
(e) The Chair is directed to offer a motion under clause 1
of rule XXII of the Rules of the House whenever the Chair
considers it appropriate.
Rule 5
SUBCOMMITTEES
Establishment and Responsibilities of Subcommittees
(a)(1) There shall be five subcommittees of the Committee
as follows:
(A) Subcommittee on capital markets and government
sponsored enterprises.--The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee
on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises
includes--
(i) securities, exchanges, and finance;
(ii) capital markets activities, including business capital
formation and venture capital;
(iii) activities involving futures, forwards, options, and
other types of derivative instruments;
(iv) the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(v) secondary market organizations for home mortgages,
including the Federal National Mortgage Association, the
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Federal
Agricultural Mortgage Corporation;
(vi) the Federal Housing Finance Agency; and
(vii) the Federal Home Loan Banks.
(B) Subcommittee on financial institutions and consumer
credit.--The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions and Consumer Credit includes--
(i) all agencies, including the Office of the Comptroller
of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the
Federal Reserve System, and the National Credit Union
Administration, which directly or indirectly exercise
supervisory or regulatory authority in connection with, or
provide deposit insurance for, financial institutions, and
the establishment of interest rate ceilings on deposits;
(ii) all matters related to the Bureau of Consumer
Financial Protection;
(iii) the chartering, branching, merger, acquisition,
consolidation, or conversion of financial institutions;
(iv) consumer credit, including the provision of consumer
credit by insurance companies, and further including those
matters in the Consumer Credit Protection Act dealing with
truth in lending, extortionate credit transactions,
restrictions on garnishments, fair credit reporting and the
use of credit information by credit bureaus and credit
providers, equal credit opportunity, debt collection
practices, and electronic funds transfers, including consumer
transactions using mobile devices;
(v) creditor remedies and debtor defenses, Federal aspects
of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code, credit and debit cards,
and the preemption of State usury laws;
(vi) consumer access to financial services, including the
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and the Community Reinvestment
Act;
(vii) the terms and rules of disclosure of financial
services, including the advertisement, promotion and pricing
of financial services, and availability of government check
cashing services;
(viii) deposit insurance; and
(ix) consumer access to savings accounts and checking
accounts in financial institutions, including lifeline
banking and other consumer accounts.
(C) Subcommittee on housing and insurance.--The
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
includes--
(i) insurance generally; terrorism risk insurance; private
mortgage insurance; government sponsored insurance programs,
including those offering protection against crime,
[[Page H581]]
fire, flood (and related land use controls), earthquake and
other natural hazards; the Federal Insurance Office;
(ii) housing (except programs administered by the
Department of Veterans Affairs), including mortgage and loan
insurance pursuant to the National Housing Act; rural
housing; housing and homeless assistance programs; all
activities of the Government National Mortgage Association;
housing construction and design and safety standards;
housing-related energy conservation; housing research and
demonstration programs; financial and technical assistance
for nonprofit housing sponsors; housing counseling and
technical assistance; regulation of the housing industry
(including landlord/tenant relations); and real estate
lending including regulation of settlement procedures;
(iii) community development and community and neighborhood
planning, training and research; national urban growth
policies; urban/rural research and technologies; and
regulation of interstate land sales; and,
(iv) the qualifications for and designation of Empowerment
Zones and Enterprise Communities (other than matters relating
to tax benefits).
(D) Subcommittee on monetary policy and trade.--The
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade
includes--
(i) financial aid to all sectors and elements within the
economy;
(ii) economic growth and stabilization;
(iii) defense production matters as contained in the
Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended;
(iv) domestic monetary policy, and agencies which directly
or indirectly affect domestic monetary policy, including the
effect of such policy and other financial actions on interest
rates, the allocation of credit, and the structure and
functioning of domestic financial institutions;
(v) coins, coinage, currency, and medals, including
commemorative coins and medals, proof and mint sets and other
special coins, the Coinage Act of 1965, gold and silver,
including the coinage thereof (but not the par value of
gold), gold medals, counterfeiting, currency denominations
and design, the distribution of coins, and the operations of
the Bureau of the Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing;
(vi) development of new or alternative forms of currency;
(vii) multilateral development lending institutions,
including activities of the National Advisory Council on
International Monetary and Financial Policies as related
thereto, and monetary and financial developments as they
relate to the activities and objectives of such institutions;
(viii) international trade, including but not limited to
the activities of the Export-Import Bank;
(ix) the International Monetary Fund, its permanent and
temporary agencies, and all matters related thereto; and
(x) international investment policies, both as they relate
to United States investments for trade purposes by citizens
of the United States and investments made by all foreign
entities in the United States.
(E) Subcommittee on oversight and investigations.--The
jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations includes--
(i) the oversight of all agencies, departments, programs,
and matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee,
including the development of recommendations with regard to
the necessity or desirability of enacting, changing, or
repealing any legislation within the jurisdiction of the
Committee, and for conducting investigations within such
jurisdiction; and
(ii) research and analysis regarding matters within the
jurisdiction of the Committee, including the impact or
probable impact of tax policies affecting matters within the
jurisdiction of the Committee.
(2) In addition, each such subcommittee shall have specific
responsibility for such other measures or matters as the
Chair refers to it.
(3) Each subcommittee of the Committee shall review and
study, on a continuing basis, the application,
administration, execution, and effectiveness of those laws,
or parts of laws, the subject matter of which is within its
general responsibility.
Referral of Measures and Matters to Subcommittees
(b)(1) The Chair shall regularly refer to one or more
subcommittees such measures and matters as the Chair deems
appropriate given its jurisdiction and responsibilities. In
making such a referral, the Chair may designate a
subcommittee of primary jurisdiction and subcommittees of
additional or sequential jurisdiction.
(2) All other measures or matters shall be subject to
consideration by the full Committee.
(3) In referring any measure or matter to a subcommittee,
the Chair may specify a date by which the subcommittee shall
report thereon to the Committee.
(4) The Committee by motion may discharge a subcommittee
from consideration of any measure or matter referred to a
subcommittee of the Committee.
Composition of Subcommittees
(c)(1) Members shall be elected to each subcommittee and to
the positions of chair and ranking minority member thereof,
in accordance with the rules of the respective party
caucuses. The Chair of the Committee shall designate a member
of the majority party on each subcommittee as its vice chair.
The Chair may designate one member of the Committee who
previously has served as the chairman of the Committee as the
Chairman Emeritus.
(2) The Chair and ranking minority member of the Committee
shall be ex officio members with voting privileges of each
subcommittee of which they are not assigned as members and
may be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum in such
subcommittees. The Chairman Emeritus shall be an ex officio
member without voting privileges of each subcommittee to
which he or she is not assigned and shall not count for
purposes of establishing a quorum in such subcommittees.
(3) The subcommittees shall be comprised as follows:
(A) The Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government
Sponsored Enterprises shall be comprised of 33 members, 18
elected by the majority caucus and 15 elected by the minority
caucus.
(B) The Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer
Credit shall be comprised of 31 members, 17 elected by the
majority caucus and 14 elected by the minority caucus.
(C) The Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance shall be
comprised of 20 members, 11 elected by the majority caucus
and 9 elected by the minority caucus.
(D) The Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade shall be
comprised of 20 members, 11 elected by the majority caucus
and 9 elected by the minority caucus.
(E) The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations shall
be comprised of 20 members, 11 elected by the majority caucus
and 9 elected by the minority caucus.
Subcommittee Meetings and Hearings
(d)(1) Each subcommittee of the Committee is authorized to
meet, hold hearings, receive testimony, mark up legislation,
and report to the full Committee on any measure or matter
referred to it, consistent with subsection (a).
(2) No subcommittee of the Committee may meet or hold a
hearing at the same time as a meeting or hearing of the
Committee.
(3) The chair of each subcommittee shall set hearing and
meeting dates only with the approval of the Chair with a view
toward assuring the availability of meeting rooms and
avoiding simultaneous scheduling of Committee and
subcommittee meetings or hearings.
Effect of a Vacancy
(e) Any vacancy in the membership of a subcommittee shall
not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the
functions of the subcommittee as long as the required quorum
is present.
Records
(f) Each subcommittee of the Committee shall provide the
full Committee with copies of such records of votes taken in
the subcommittee and such other records with respect to the
subcommittee as the Chair deems necessary for the Committee
to comply with all rules and regulations of the House.
Rule 6
STAFF
In General
(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
professional and other staff of the Committee shall be
appointed, and may be removed by the Chair, and shall work
under the general supervision and direction of the Chair.
(2) All professional and other staff provided to the
minority party members of the Committee shall be appointed,
and may be removed, by the ranking minority member of the
Committee, and shall work under the general supervision and
direction of such member.
(3) It is intended that the skills and experience of all
members of the Committee staff be available to all members of
the Committee.
Subcommittee Staff
(b) From funds made available for the appointment of staff,
the Chair of the Committee shall, pursuant to clause 6(d) of
rule X of the Rules of the House, ensure that sufficient
staff is made available so that each subcommittee can carry
out its responsibilities under the rules of the Committee and
that the minority party is treated fairly in the appointment
of such staff.
Compensation of Staff
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Chair shall
fix the compensation of all professional and other staff of
the Committee.
(2) The ranking minority member shall fix the compensation
of all professional and other staff provided to the minority
party members of the Committee.
Rule 7
BUDGET AND TRAVEL
Budget
(a)(1) The Chair, in consultation with other members of the
Committee, shall prepare for each Congress a budget providing
amounts for staff, necessary travel, investigation, and other
expenses of the Committee and its subcommittees.
(2) From the amount provided to the Committee in the
primary expense resolution adopted by the House of
Representatives, the Chair, after consultation with the
ranking minority member, shall designate an amount to be
under the direction of the ranking minority member for the
compensation of the
[[Page H582]]
minority staff, travel expenses of minority members and
staff, and minority office expenses. All expenses of minority
members and staff shall be paid for out of the amount so set
aside.
Travel
(b)(1) The Chair may authorize travel for any member and
any staff member of the Committee in connection with
activities or subject matters under the general jurisdiction
of the Committee. Before such authorization is granted, there
shall be submitted to the Chair in writing the following:
(A) The purpose of the travel.
(B) The dates during which the travel is to occur.
(C) The names of the States or countries to be visited and
the length of time to be spent in each.
(D) The names of members and staff of the Committee for
whom the authorization is sought.
(2) Members and staff of the Committee shall make a written
report to the Chair on any travel they have conducted under
this subsection, including a description of their itinerary,
expenses, and activities, and of pertinent information gained
as a result of such travel.
(3) Members and staff of the Committee performing
authorized travel on official business shall be governed by
applicable laws, resolutions, and regulations of the House
and of the Committee on House Administration.
Rule 8
COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATION
Records
(a)(1) There shall be a transcript made of each regular
meeting and hearing of the Committee, and the transcript may
be printed if the Chair decides it is appropriate or if a
majority of the members of the Committee requests such
printing. Any such transcripts 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. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
require that all such transcripts be subject to correction
and publication.
(2) The Committee shall keep a record of all actions of the
Committee and of its subcommittees. The record shall contain
all information required by clause 2(e)(1) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House and shall be available in electronic form
and for public inspection at reasonable times in the offices
of the Committee.
(3) All Committee hearings, records, data, charts, and
files shall be kept separate and distinct from the
congressional office records of the Chair, shall be the
property of the House, and all Members of the House shall
have access thereto as provided in clause 2(e)(2) of rule XI
of the Rules of the House.
(4) 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 of
Representatives. The Chair 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 written request of any member of the
Committee.
Committee Publications on the Internet
(b) The Chair shall maintain an official Committee website
for the purpose of carrying out the official responsibilities
of the Committee, including communicating information about
the Committee's activities. The ranking minority member may
maintain an official website. To the maximum extent feasible,
the Committee shall make its publications available in
electronic form on the official Committee website maintained
by the Chair.
Audio and Video Coverage of Committee Hearings and Meetings
(c)(1) To the maximum extent feasible, the Committee shall
provide audio and video coverage of each hearing or meeting
for the transaction of business in a manner that allows the
public to easily listen to and view the proceedings; and,
(2) maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner
that is easily accessible to the public.
APPENDIX 1
Applicable Provisions of Clauses 1, 2, and 4 of Rule XI and Clauses 2
and 3 of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives for the
113th Congress
January 3, 2013
Rule XI: Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business
Clauses 1 and 2: Rules for Standing Committees
In general
1. (a)(1)(A) The Rules of the House are the rules of its
committees and subcommittees so far as applicable.
(B) Each subcommittee is a part of its committee and is
subject to the authority and direction of that committee and
to its rules, so far as applicable.
(2)(A) In a committee or subcommittee--
(i) a motion to recess from day to day, or to recess
subject to the call of the Chair (within 24 hours), shall be
privileged; and
(ii) a motion to dispense with the first reading (in full)
of a bill or resolution shall be privileged if printed copies
are available.
(B) A motion accorded privilege under this subparagraph
shall be decided without debate.
(b)(1) Each committee may conduct at any time such
investigations and studies as it considers necessary or
appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under
rule X. Subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as
required by clause 6 of rule X, each committee may incur
expenses, including travel expenses, in connection with such
investigations and studies.
(2) A proposed investigative or oversight report shall be
considered as read in committee if it has been available to
the members for at least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in
session on such a day).
(3) A report of an investigation or study conducted jointly
by more than one committee may be filed jointly, provided
that each of the committees complies independently with all
requirements for approval and filing of the report.
(4) After an adjournment sine die of the last regular
session of a Congress, an investigative or oversight report
may be filed with the Clerk at any time, provided that a
member who gives timely notice of intention to file
supplemental, minority, or additional views shall be entitled
to not less than seven calendar days in which to submit such
views for inclusion in the report.
(c) Each committee may have printed and bound such
testimony and other data as may be presented at hearings held
by the committee or its subcommittees. All costs of
stenographic services and transcripts in connection with a
meeting or hearing of a committee shall be paid from the
applicable accounts of the House described in clause 1(k)(1)
of rule X.
(d)(1) Not later than January 2 of each year, a committee
shall submit to the House a report on the activities of that
committee.
(2) Such report shall include--
(A) separate sections summarizing the legislative and
oversight activities of that committee under this rule and
rule X during the applicable period;
(B) in the case of the first such report in each Congress,
a summary of the oversight plans submitted by the committee
under clause 2(d) of rule X;
(C) a summary of the actions taken and recommendations made
with respect to the oversight plans specified in subdivision
(B);
(D) a summary of any additional oversight activities
undertaken by that committee and any recommendations made or
actions taken thereon; and
(E) a delineation of any hearings held pursuant to clauses
2(n), (o), or (p) of this rule.
(3) After an adjournment sine die of a regular session of a
Congress, or after December 15, whichever occurs first, the
chair of a committee may file the report described in
subparagraph (1) with the Clerk at any time and without
approval of the committee, provided that--
(A) a copy of the report has been available to each member
of the committee for at least seven calendar days; and
(B) the report includes any supplemental, minority, or
additional views submitted by a member of the committee.
Adoption of written rules
2. (a)(1) Each standing committee shall adopt written rules
governing its procedure. Such rules--
(A) shall be adopted in a meeting that is open to the
public unless the committee, in open session and with a
quorum present, determines by record vote that all or part of
the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public;
(B) may not be inconsistent with the Rules of the House or
with those provisions of law having the force and effect of
Rules of the House; and
(C) shall in any event incorporate all of the succeeding
provisions of this clause to the extent applicable.
(2) Each committee shall make its rules publicly available
in electronic form and submit such rules for publication in
the Congressional Record not later than 30 days after the
chair of the committee is elected in each odd-numbered year.
(3) A committee may adopt a rule providing that the chair
be directed to offer a motion under clause 1 of rule XXII
whenever the chair considers it appropriate.
Regular meeting days
(b) Each standing committee shall establish regular meeting
days for the conduct of its business, which shall be not less
frequent than monthly. Each such committee shall meet for the
consideration of a bill or resolution pending before the
committee or the transaction of other committee business on
all regular meeting days fixed by the committee if notice is
given pursuant to paragraph (g)(3).
Additional and special meetings
(c)(1) The chair of each standing committee may call and
convene, as the chair considers necessary, additional and
special meetings of the committee for the consideration of a
bill or resolution pending before the committee or for the
conduct of other committee business, subject to such rules as
the committee may adopt. The committee shall meet for such
purpose under that call of the chair.
(2) Three or more members of a standing committee may file
in the offices of the committee a written request that the
chair call a special meeting of the committee. Such request
shall specify the measure or matter to be considered.
Immediately upon the filing of the request, the clerk of the
committee shall notify the chair of the filing of the
request. If the chair does not call the requested
[[Page H583]]
special meeting within three calendar days after the filing
of the request (to be held within seven calendar days after
the filing of the request) a majority of the members of the
committee may file in the offices of the committee their
written notice that a special meeting of the committee will
be held. The written notice shall specify the date and hour
of the special meeting and the measure or matter to be
considered. The committee shall meet on that date and hour.
Immediately upon the filing of the notice, the clerk of the
committee shall notify all members of the committee that such
special meeting will be held and inform them of its date and
hour and the measure or matter to be considered. Such notice
shall also be made publicly available in electronic form and
shall be deemed to satisfy paragraph (g)(3)(A)(ii). Only the
measure or matter specified in that notice may be considered
at that special meeting.
Temporary absence of chair
(d) A member of the majority party on each standing
committee or subcommittee thereof shall be designated by the
chair of the full committee as the vice chair of the
committee or subcommittee, as the case may be, and shall
preside during the absence of the chair from any meeting. If
the chair and vice chair of a committee or subcommittee are
not present at any meeting of the committee or subcommittee,
the ranking majority member who is present shall preside at
that meeting.
Committee records
(e)(1)(A) Each committee shall keep a complete record of
all committee action which shall include--
(i) in the case of a meeting or hearing transcript, 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; and
(ii) a record of the votes on any question on which a
record vote is taken.
(B)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (B)(ii) and
subject to paragraph (k)(7), the result of each such record
vote shall be made available by the committee for inspection
by the public at reasonable times in its offices and also
made publicly available in electronic form within 48 hours of
such record vote. Information so available shall include a
description of the amendment, motion, order, or other
proposition, the name of each member voting for and each
member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or
proposition, and the names of those members of the committee
present but not voting.
(ii) The result of any record vote taken in executive
session in the Committee on Ethics may not be made available
for inspection by the public without an affirmative vote of a
majority of the members of the committee.
(2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), all committee
records (including hearings, data, charts, and files) shall
be kept separate and distinct from the congressional office
records of the member serving as its chair. Such records
shall be the property of the House, and each Member,
Delegate, and the Resident Commissioner shall have access
thereto.
(B) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, other
than members of the Committee on Ethics, may not have access
to the records of that committee respecting the conduct of a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee
of the House without the specific prior permission of that
committee.
(3) Each committee shall include in its rules standards for
availability of records of the committee delivered to the
Archivist of the United States under rule VII. Such standards
shall specify procedures for orders of the committee under
clause 3(b)(3) and clause 4(b) of rule VII, including a
requirement that nonavailability of a record for a period
longer than the period otherwise applicable under that rule
shall be approved by vote of the committee.
(4) Each committee shall make its publications available in
electronic form to the maximum extent feasible.
(5) To the maximum extent practicable, each committee
shall--
(A) provide audio and video coverage of each hearing or
meeting for the transaction of business in a manner that
allows the public to easily listen to and view the
proceedings; and
(B) maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner
that is easily accessible to the public.
(6) Not later than 24 hours after the adoption of any
amendment to a measure or matter considered by a committee,
the chair of such committee shall cause the text of each such
amendment to be made publicly available in electronic form.
Prohibition against proxy voting
(f) A vote by a member of a committee or subcommittee with
respect to any measure or matter may not be cast by proxy.
Open meetings and hearings
(g)(1) Each meeting for the transaction of business,
including the markup of legislation, by a standing committee
or subcommittee thereof (other than the Committee on Ethics
or its subcommittees) shall be open to the public, including
to radio, television, and still photography coverage, except
when the committee or subcommittee, in open session and with
a majority present, determines by record vote that all or
part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall be in
executive session because disclosure of matters to be
considered would endanger national security, would compromise
sensitive law enforcement information, would tend to defame,
degrade, or incriminate any person, or otherwise would
violate a law or rule of the House. Persons, other than
members of the committee and such noncommittee Members,
Delegates, Resident Commissioner, congressional staff, or
departmental representatives as the committee may authorize,
may not be present at a business or markup session that is
held in executive session. This subparagraph does not apply
to open committee hearings, which are governed by clause
4(a)(1) of rule X or by subparagraph (2).
(2)(A) Each hearing conducted by a committee or
subcommittee (other than the Committee on Ethics or its
subcommittees) shall be open to the public, including to
radio, television, and still photography coverage, except
when the committee or subcommittee, in open session and with
a majority present, determines by record 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
national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement
information, or would violate a law or rule of the House.
(B) Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision (A), in
the presence of the number of members required under the
rules of the committee for the purpose of taking testimony, a
majority of those present may--
(i) agree to close the hearing for the sole purpose of
discussing whether testimony or evidence to be received would
endanger national security, would compromise sensitive law
enforcement information, or would violate clause 2(k)(5); or
(ii) agree to close the hearing as provided in clause
2(k)(5).
(C) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not be
excluded from nonparticipatory attendance at a hearing of a
committee or subcommittee (other than the Committee on Ethics
or its subcommittees) unless the House by majority vote
authorizes a particular committee or subcommittee, for
purposes of a particular series of hearings on a particular
article of legislation or on a particular subject of
investigation, to close its hearings to Members, Delegates,
and the Resident Commissioner by the same procedures
specified in this subparagraph for closing hearings to the
public.
(D) The committee or subcommittee may vote by the same
procedure described in this subparagraph to close one
subsequent day of hearing, except that the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the
subcommittees thereof, may vote by the same procedure to
close up to five additional, consecutive days of hearings.
(3)(A) The chair of a committee shall announce the date,
place, and subject matter of--
(i) a committee hearing, which may not commence earlier
than one week after such notice; or
(ii) a committee meeting, which may not commence earlier
than the third day on which members have notice thereof.
(B) A hearing or meeting may begin sooner than specified in
subdivision (A) in either of the following circumstances (in
which case the chair shall make the announcement specified in
subdivision (A) at the earliest possible time):
(i) the chair of the committee, with the concurrence of the
ranking minority member, determines that there is good cause;
or
(ii) the committee so determines by majority vote in the
presence of the number of members required under the rules of
the committee for the transaction of business.
(C) An announcement made under this subparagraph shall be
published promptly in the Daily Digest and made publicly
available in electronic form.
(D) This subparagraph and subparagraph (4) shall not apply
to the Committee on Rules.
(4) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a
meeting for the markup of legislation, or at the time of an
announcement under subparagraph (3)(B) made within 24 hours
before such meeting, the chair of the committee shall cause
the text of such legislation to be made publicly available in
electronic form.
(5) Each committee shall, to the greatest extent
practicable, require witnesses who appear before it to submit
in advance written statements of proposed testimony and to
limit their initial presentations to the committee to brief
summaries thereof. In the case of a witness appearing in a
nongovernmental 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 each
Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or contract (or
subcontract thereof) received during the current fiscal year
or either of the two previous fiscal years by the witness or
by an entity represented by the witness. Such statements,
with appropriate redactions to protect the privacy of the
witness, shall be made publicly available in electronic
form not later than one day after the witness appears.
(6)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), a point of
order does not lie with respect to a measure reported by a
committee on the ground that hearings on such measure were
not conducted in accordance with this clause.
[[Page H584]]
(B) A point of order on the ground described in subdivision
(A) may be made by a member of the committee that reported
the measure if such point of order was timely made and
improperly disposed of in the committee.
(7) This paragraph does not apply to hearings of the
Committee on Appropriations under clause 4(a)(1) of rule X.
Quorum requirements
(h)(1) A measure or recommendation may not be reported by a
committee unless a majority of the committee is actually
present.
(2) Each committee may fix the number of its members to
constitute a quorum for taking testimony and receiving
evidence, which may not be less than two.
(3) Each committee (other than the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the
Committee on Ways and Means) may fix the number of its
members to constitute a quorum for taking any action other
than one for which the presence of a majority of the
committee is otherwise required, which may not be less than
one-third of the members.
(4)(A) Each committee may adopt a rule authorizing the
chair of a committee or subcommittee--
(i) to postpone further proceedings when a record vote is
ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter or
on adopting an amendment; and
(ii) to resume proceedings on a postponed question at any
time after reasonable notice.
(B) A rule adopted pursuant to this subparagraph shall
provide that 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.
Limitation on committee sittings
(i) A 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.
Calling and questioning of witnesses
(j)(1) Whenever a hearing is conducted by a committee on a
measure or matter, the minority members of the committee
shall be entitled, upon request to the chair by a majority of
them 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 hearing thereon.
(2)(A) Subject to subdivisions (B) and (C), each committee
shall apply the five-minute rule during the questioning of
witnesses in a hearing until such time as each member of the
committee who so desires has had an opportunity to question
each witness.
(B) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permitting a
specified number of its members to question a witness for
longer than five minutes. The time for extended questioning
of a witness under this subdivision shall be equal for the
majority party and the minority party and may not exceed one
hour in the aggregate.
(C) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permitting
committee staff for its majority and minority party members
to question a witness for equal specified periods. The time
for extended questioning of a witness under this subdivision
shall be equal for the majority party and the minority party
and may not exceed one hour in the aggregate.
Hearing procedures
(k)(1) The chair at a hearing shall announce in an opening
statement the subject of the hearing.
(2) A copy of the committee rules and of this clause shall
be made available to each witness on request.
(3) Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by their own
counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their
constitutional rights.
(4) The chair may punish breaches of order and decorum, and
of professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and
exclusion from the hearings; and the committee may cite the
offender to the House for contempt.
(5) Whenever it is asserted by a member of the committee
that the evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to
defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, or it is asserted
by a witness that the evidence or testimony that the witness
would give at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or
incriminate the witness--
(A) notwithstanding paragraph (g)(2), such testimony or
evidence shall be presented in executive session if, in the
presence of the number of members required under the rules of
the committee for the purpose of taking testimony, the
committee determines by vote of a majority of those present
that such evidence or testimony may tend to defame, degrade,
or incriminate any person; and
(B) the committee shall proceed to receive such testimony
in open session only if the committee, a majority being
present, determines that such evidence or testimony will not
tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person.
In either case the committee shall afford such person an
opportunity voluntarily to appear as a witness, and receive
and dispose of requests from such person to subpoena
additional witnesses.
(6) Except as provided in subparagraph (5), the chair shall
receive and the committee shall dispose of requests to
subpoena additional witnesses.
(7) Evidence or testimony taken in executive session, and
proceedings conducted in executive session, may be released
or used in public sessions only when authorized by the
committee, a majority being present.
(8) In the discretion of the committee, witnesses may
submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in writing for
inclusion in the record. The committee is the sole judge of
the pertinence of testimony and evidence adduced at its
hearing.
(9) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of the testimony
of such witness given at a public session or, if given at an
executive session, when authorized by the committee.
Supplemental, minority, or additional views
(1) If at the time of approval of a measure or matter by a
committee (other than the Committee on Rules) a member of the
committee gives notice of intention to file supplemental,
minority, or additional views for inclusion in the report to
the House thereon, all members shall be entitled to not less
than two additional calendar days after the day of such
notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays
except when the House is in session on such a day) to file
such written and signed views with the clerk of the
committee.
Power to sit and act; subpoena power
(m)(1) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions
and duties under this rule and rule X (including any matters
referred to it under clause 2 of rule XII), a committee or
subcommittee is authorized (subject to subparagraph (3)(A))--
(A) to sit and act at such times and places within the
United States, whether the House is in session, has recessed,
or has adjourned, and to hold such hearings as it considers
necessary; and
(B) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance
and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such
books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and
documents as it considers necessary.
(2) The chair of the committee, or a member designated by
the chair, may administer oaths to witnesses.
(3)(A)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (A)(ii), a
subpoena may be authorized and issued by a committee or
subcommittee under subparagraph (1)(B) in the conduct of an
investigation or series of investigations or activities only
when authorized by the committee or subcommittee, a majority
being present. The power to authorize and issue subpoenas
under subparagraph (1)(B) may be delegated to the chair of
the committee under such rules and under such limitations as
the committee may prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be
signed by the chair of the committee or by a member
designated by the committee.
(ii) In the case of a subcommittee of the Committee on
Ethics, a subpoena may be authorized and issued only by an
affirmative vote of a majority of its members.
(B) A subpoena duces tecum may specify terms of return
other than at a meeting or hearing of the committee or
subcommittee authorizing the subpoena.
(C) Compliance with a subpoena issued by a committee or
subcommittee under subparagraph (1)(B) may be enforced only
as authorized or directed by the House.
(n)(1) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof,
shall hold at least one hearing during each 120-day period
following the establishment of the committee on the topic of
waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs
which that committee may authorize.
(2) A hearing described in subparagraph (1) shall include a
focus on the most egregious instances of waste, fraud, abuse,
or mismanagement as documented by any report the committee
has received from a Federal Office of the Inspector General
or the Comptroller General of the United States.
(o) Each committee, or a subcommittee thereof, shall hold
at least one hearing in any session in which the committee
has received disclaimers of agency financial statements from
auditors of any Federal agency that the committee may
authorize to hear testimony on such disclaimers from
representatives of any such agency.
(p) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof,
shall hold at least one hearing on issues raised by reports
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States
indicating that Federal programs or operations that the
committee may authorize are at high risk for waste, fraud,
and mismanagement, known as the high-risk list'' or the high-
risk series.''
Clause 4: Audio and visual coverage of committee proceedings
4. (a) The purpose of this clause is to provide a means, in
conformity with acceptable standards of dignity, propriety,
and decorum, by which committee hearings or committee
meetings that are open to the public may be covered by audio
and visual means--
(1) for the education, enlightenment, and information of
the general public, on the basis of accurate and impartial
news coverage, regarding the operations, procedures, and
practices of the House as a legislative and representative
body, and regarding the measures, public issues, and other
matters before the House and its committees, the
consideration thereof, and the action taken thereon; and
(2) for the development of the perspective and
understanding of the general public with respect to the role
and function of the House under the Constitution as an
institution of the Federal Government.
(b) In addition, it is the intent of this clause that radio
and television tapes and television film of any coverage
under this
[[Page H585]]
clause may not be used, or made available for use, as
partisan political campaign material to promote or oppose the
candidacy of any person for elective public office.
(c) It is, further, the intent of this clause that the
general conduct of each meeting (whether of a hearing or
otherwise) covered under authority of this clause by audio or
visual means, and the personal behavior of the committee
members and staff, other Government officials and personnel,
witnesses, television, radio, and press media personnel, and
the general public at the hearing or other meeting, shall be
in strict conformity with and observance of the acceptable
standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy, and decorum
traditionally observed by the House in its operations, and
may not be such as to--
(1) distort the objects and purposes of the hearing or
other meeting or the activities of committee members in
connection with that hearing or meeting or in connection with
the general work of the committee or of the House; Or
(2) cast discredit or dishonor on the House, the committee,
or a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner or bring the
House, the committee, or a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner into disrepute.
(d) The coverage of committee hearings and meetings by
audio and visual means shall be permitted and conducted only
in strict conformity with the purposes, provisions, and
requirements of this clause.
(e) Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by a committee
or subcommittee is open to the public, those proceedings
shall be open to coverage by audio and visual means. A
committee or subcommittee chair may not limit the number of
television or still cameras to fewer than two representatives
from each medium (except for legitimate space or safety
considerations, in which case pool coverage shall be
authorized).
(f) Each committee shall adopt written rules to govern its
implementation of this clause. Such rules shall contain
provisions to the following effect:
(1) If audio or visual coverage of the hearing or meeting
is to be presented to the public as live coverage, that
coverage shall be conducted and presented without commercial
sponsorship.
(2) The allocation among the television media of the
positions or the number of television cameras permitted by a
committee or subcommittee chair in a hearing or meeting room
shall be in accordance with fair and equitable procedures
devised by the Executive Committee of the Radio and
Television Correspondents' Galleries.
(3) Television cameras shall be placed so as not to
obstruct in any way the space between a witness giving
evidence or testimony and any member of the committee or the
visibility of that witness and that member to each other.
(4) Television cameras shall operate from fixed positions
but may not be placed in positions that obstruct
unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing or meeting by the
other media.
(5) Equipment necessary for coverage by the television and
radio media may not be installed in, or removed from, the
hearing or meeting room while the committee is in session.
(6)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), floodlights,
spotlights, strobelights, and flashguns may not be used in
providing any method of coverage of the hearing or meeting.
(B) The television media may install additional lighting in
a hearing or meeting room, without cost to the Government, in
order to raise the ambient lighting level in a hearing or
meeting room to the lowest level necessary to provide
adequate television coverage of a hearing or meeting at the
current state of the art of television coverage.
(7) If requests are made by more of the media than will be
permitted by a committee or subcommittee chair for coverage
of a hearing or meeting by still photography, that coverage
shall be permitted on the basis of a fair and equitable pool
arrangement devised by the Standing Committee of Press
Photographers.
(8) Photographers may not position themselves between the
witness table and the members of the committee at any time
during the course of a hearing or meeting.
(9) Photographers may not place themselves in positions
that obstruct unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing by
the other media.
(10) Personnel providing coverage by the television and
radio media shall be currently accredited to the Radio and
Television Correspondents' Galleries.
(11) Personnel providing coverage by still photography
shall be currently accredited to the Press Photographers'
Gallery.
(12) Personnel providing coverage by the television and
radio media and by still photography shall conduct themselves
and their coverage activities in an orderly and unobtrusive
manner.
Rule XIII: Calendars and Committee Reports
Clause 2: Filing and Printing of Reports
Filing and printing of reports
2. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), all
reports of committees (other than those filed from the floor)
shall be delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to
the proper calendar under the direction of the Speaker in
accordance with clause 1. The title or subject of each report
shall be entered on the Journal and printed in the
Congressional Record.
(2) A bill or resolution reported adversely (other than
those filed as privileged) shall be laid on the table unless
a committee to which the bill or resolution was referred
requests at the time of the report its referral to an
appropriate calendar under clause 1 or unless, within three
days thereafter, a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
makes such a request.
(b)(1) It shall be the duty of the chair of each committee
to report or cause to be reported promptly to the House a
measure or matter approved by the committee and to take or
cause to be taken steps necessary to bring the measure or
matter to a vote.
(2) In any event, the report of a committee on a measure
that has been approved by the committee shall be filed within
seven calendar days (exclusive of days on which the House is
not in session) after the day on which a written request for
the filing of the report, signed by a majority of the members
of the committee, has been filed with the clerk of the
committee. The clerk of the committee shall immediately
notify the chair of the filing of such a request. This
subparagraph does not apply to a report of the Committee on
Rules with respect to a rule, joint rule, or order of
business of the House, or to the reporting of a resolution of
inquiry addressed to the head of an executive department.
(c) All supplemental, minority, or additional views filed
under clause 2(1) of rule XI by one or more members of a
committee shall be included in, and shall be a part of, the
report filed by the committee with respect to a measure or
matter. When time guaranteed by clause 2(1) of rule XI has
expired (or, if sooner, when all separate views have been
received), the committee may arrange to file its report with
the Clerk not later than one hour after the expiration of
such time. This clause and provisions of clause 2(1) of rule
XI do not preclude the immediate filing or printing of a
committee report in the absence of a timely request for the
opportunity to file supplemental, minority, or additional
views as provided in clause 2(1) of rule XI.
Clause 3: Content of Reports
3. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), the
report of a committee on a measure or matter shall be printed
in a single volume that--
(A) shall include all supplemental, minority, or additional
views that have been submitted by the time of the filing of
the report; and
(B) shall bear on its cover a recital that any such
supplemental, minority, or additional views (and any material
submitted under paragraph (c)(3)) are included as part of the
report.
(2) A committee may file a supplemental report for the
correction of a technical error in its previous report on a
measure or matter. A supplemental report only correcting
errors in the depiction of record votes under paragraph (b)
may be filed under this subparagraph and shall not be subject
to the requirement in clause 4 or clause 6 concerning the
availability of reports.
(b) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report
a measure or matter of a public nature, and on any amendment
offered to the measure or matter, the total number of votes
cast for and against, and the names of members voting for and
against, shall be included in the committee report. The
preceding sentence does not apply to votes taken in executive
session by the Committee on Ethics.
(c) The report of a committee on a measure that has been
approved by the committee shall include, separately set out
and clearly identified, the following:
(1) Oversight findings and recommendations under clause
2(b)(1) of rule X.
(2) The statement required by section 308(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, except that an estimate of
new budget authority shall include, when practicable, a
comparison of the total estimated funding level for the
relevant programs to the appropriate levels under current
law.
(3) An estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 if timely submitted to the
committee before the filing of the report.
(4) A statement of general performance goals and
objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives,
for which the measure authorizes funding.
(d) Each report of a committee on a public bill or public
joint resolution shall contain the following:
(1)(A) An estimate by the committee of the costs that would
be incurred in carrying out the bill or joint resolution in
the fiscal year in which it is reported and in each of the
five fiscal years following that fiscal year (or for the
authorized duration of any program authorized by the bill or
joint resolution if less than five years);
(B) a comparison of the estimate of costs described in
subdivision (A) made by the committee with any estimate of
such costs made by a Government agency and submitted to such
committee; and
(C) when practicable, a comparison of the total estimated
funding level for the relevant programs with the appropriate
levels under current law.
(2)(A) In subparagraph (1) the term ``Government agency''
includes any department, agency, establishment, wholly owned
Government corporation, or instrumentality of the Federal
Government or the government of the District of Columbia.
[[Page H586]]
(B) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on House Administration, the
Committee on Rules, or the Committee on Ethics, and does not
apply when a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been included in
the report under paragraph (c)(3).
(e)(1) Whenever a committee reports a bill or joint
resolution proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part
thereof, it shall include in its report or in an accompanying
document--
(A) the text of a statute or part thereof that is proposed
to be repealed; and
(B) a comparative print of any part of the bill or joint
resolution proposing to amend the statute and of the statute
or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by
appropriate typographical devices the omissions and
insertions proposed.
(2) If a committee reports a bill or joint resolution
proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part thereof with a
recommendation that the bill or joint resolution be amended,
the comparative print required by subparagraph (1) shall
reflect the changes in existing law proposed to be made by
the bill or joint resolution as proposed to be amended.
(f)(1) A report of the Committee on Appropriations on a
general appropriation bill shall include--
(A) a concise statement describing the effect of any
provision of the accompanying bill that directly or
indirectly changes the application of existing law; and
(B) a list of all appropriations contained in the bill for
expenditures not currently authorized by law for the period
concerned (excepting classified intelligence or national
security programs, projects, or activities), along with a
statement of the last year for which such expenditures were
authorized, the level of expenditures authorized for that
year, the actual level of expenditures for that year, and the
level of appropriations in the bill for such expenditures.
(2) Whenever the Committee on Appropriations reports a bill
or joint resolution including matter specified in clause
1(b)(2) or (3) of rule X, it shall include--
(A) in the bill or joint resolution, separate headings for
``Rescissions'' and ``Transfers of Unexpended Balances''; and
(B) in the report of the committee, a separate section
listing such rescissions and transfers.
(g) Whenever the Committee on Rules reports a resolution
proposing to repeal or amend a standing rule of the House, it
shall include in its report or in an accompanying document--
(1) the text of any rule or part thereof that is proposed
to be repealed; and
(2) a comparative print of any part of the resolution
proposing to amend the rule and of the rule or part thereof
proposed to be amended, showing by appropriate typographical
devices the omissions and insertions proposed.
(h)(1) It shall not be in order to consider a bill or joint
resolution reported by the Committee on Ways and Means that
proposes to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 unless--
(A) the report includes a tax complexity analysis prepared
by the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation in
accordance with section 4022(b) of the Internal Revenue
Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998; or
(B) the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means causes
such a tax complexity analysis to be printed in the
Congressional Record before consideration of the bill or
joint resolution.
(2)(A) It shall not be in order to consider a bill or joint
resolution reported by the Committee on Ways and Means that
proposes to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
unless--
(i) the report includes a macroeconomic impact analysis;
(ii) the report includes a statement from the Joint
Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation explaining why a
macroeconomic impact analysis is not calculable; or
(iii) the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means causes a
macroeconomic impact analysis to be printed in the
Congressional Record before consideration of the bill or
joint resolution.
(B) In subdivision (A), the term ``macroeconomic impact
analysis'' means--
(i) an estimate prepared by the Joint Committee on Internal
Revenue Taxation of the changes in economic output,
employment, capital stock, and tax revenues expected to
result from enactment of the proposal; and
(ii) a statement from the Joint Committee on Internal
Revenue Taxation identifying the critical assumptions and the
source of data underlying that estimate.
APPENDIX 2
Chair's Policy Regarding Postponed Votes
January 23, 2013
Rule 3(c)(5) of the Rules of the Committee on Financial
Services for the 113th Congress (adopted pursuant to clause
2(h)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives for the 113th Congress) authorizes the
Chairman to postpone ordered record votes on the question of
approving any measure or matter or adopting an amendment
under certain circumstances. The Committee rule further
provides that the Chairman may resume proceedings on a
postponed vote at any time, but not later than the next
meeting day.
The following policy was first announced by the Chair at
the Committee's organizational meeting on February 5, 2003
and circulated to the Members of the Committee in a
memorandum dated February 11, 2003. The policy has been
continued since that time and is reprinted here for easy
reference.
__________
In General
Members are advised that this policy applies equally to
meetings of the full Committee and subcommittees, and will be
printed in the Committee's rules pamphlet. The Chair has
consulted with the ranking minority member in the formulation
of this policy and will continue to consult with him
regarding its application.
As announced at the Committee's organizational meeting, the
purpose of this rule is to improve the efficiency of the
Committee's meetings, and will not be used to advantage or
disadvantage any member seeking to offer an amendment. In
order to ensure that the Chair can effectively administer the
rule and provide for orderly markups, it is essential that
Members inform the Chair of their intention to offer a
particular amendment as soon as possible. The Chair cannot
protect Members if he does not know of their amendment.
Members are further advised that the Chair intends for this
rule to be used sparingly, in cases where the Committee faces
a long markup on a series of bills or amendments. It does not
substitute for the active attendance and participation of
Members in Committee meetings.
In Particular
1. In the application of the rule, the Chair will consult
regularly with the ranking minority member regarding the
postponement of votes, including the decision on whether to
postpone a particular vote and on when proceedings will
resume.
2. A record vote on an amendment will not be postponed if
doing so would prejudice a member with regard to the offering
of another amendment.
3. The Chair will make every reasonable effort to group the
consideration of amendments and the resumption of proceedings
on postponed votes so as to permit the offering of all known
amendments.
4. No more than 6 record votes will be postponed before the
resumption of proceedings on the series, except with the
specific agreement of the ranking minority member.
5. When proceedings resume on postponed record votes, the
first vote in any series (or in the case of a single
postponed vote, that vote), will remain open for 15 minutes,
or until all members of the Committee or subcommittee are
recorded. Subsequent votes in a series will not be held open.
6. The Chair will make every reasonable effort to notify
members regarding the resumption of proceedings on postponed
record votes, both prior to and at the time that proceedings
resume on any postponed record vote, which includes
notification through electronic means.
7. Members are strongly encouraged to attend all committee
meetings. However, if members cannot attend the Committee
meeting, they are advised to monitor the proceedings through
the Committee broadcasts on the House cable system or the
Committee's webcast, and to have staff present at the
meeting.
The Chair believes that this policy will result in the fair
application of the rule, the protection of Members' rights to
offer amendments, and an improvement in the efficiency of
Committee meetings.
____________________