[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 12 (Monday, January 26, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H569-H573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES
RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES FOR THE 114th CONGRESS
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully submit the Rules of the
Committee on Armed Services for the 114th Congress, as adopted by the
committee on January 14, 2015.
RULE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) The Rules of the House of Representatives are the rules
of the Committee on Armed Services (hereinafter referred to
in these rules as the ``Committee'') and its subcommittees so
far as applicable.
(b) Pursuant to clause 2(a)(2) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee's rules shall be
publicly available in electronic form and published in the
Congressional Record not later than 30 days after the chair
of the committee is elected in each odd-numbered year.
RULE 2. FULL COMMITTEE MEETING DATE
(a) The Committee shall meet every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.,
when the House of
[[Page H570]]
Representatives is in session, and at such other times as may
be fixed by the Chairman of the Committee (hereinafter
referred to as the ``Chairman''), or by written request of
members of the Committee pursuant to clause 2(c) of rule XI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
(b) A Wednesday meeting of the Committee may be dispensed
with by the Chairman, but such action may be reversed by a
written request of a majority of the members of the
Committee.
RULE 3. SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING DATES
Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings,
receive evidence, and report to the Committee on all matters
referred to it. Insofar as possible, meetings of the
Committee and its subcommittees shall not conflict. A
subcommittee Chairman shall set meeting dates after
consultation with the Chairman, other subcommittee Chairmen,
and the Ranking Minority Member of the subcommittee with a
view toward avoiding, whenever possible, simultaneous
scheduling of Committee and subcommittee meetings or
hearings.
RULE 4. JURISDICTION AND MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEES
(a) Jurisdiction
(1) The Committee retains jurisdiction of all subjects
listed in clause 1(c) and clause 3(b) of rule X of the Rules
of the House of Representatives and retains exclusive
jurisdiction for: defense policy generally, ongoing military
operations, the organization and reform of the Department of
Defense and Department of Energy, counter-drug programs,
security and humanitarian assistance (except special
operations-related activities) of the Department of Defense,
acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer
and export controls, joint interoperability, detainee affairs
and policy, force protection policy and inter-agency reform
as it pertains to the Department of Defense and the nuclear
weapons programs of the Department of Energy. In addition the
committee will be responsible for intelligence policy
(including coordination of military intelligence programs),
national intelligence programs, and Department of Defense
elements that are part of the Intelligence Community. While
subcommittees are provided jurisdictional responsibilities in
subparagraph (2), the Committee retains the right to exercise
oversight and legislative jurisdiction over all subjects
within its purview under rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
(2) The Committee shall be organized to consist of seven
standing subcommittees with the following jurisdictions:
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces: All Army, Air
Force and Marine Corps acquisition programs (except Marine
Corps amphibious assault vehicle programs, strategic
missiles, space, lift programs, special operations, science
and technology programs, and information technology accounts)
and the associated weapons systems sustainment. In addition,
the subcommittee will be responsible for Navy and Marine
Corps aviation programs and the associated weapons systems
sustainment, National Guard and Army, Air Force and Marine
Corps Reserve modernization, and ammunition programs.
Subcommittee on Military Personnel: Military personnel
policy, Reserve Component integration and employment issues,
military health care, military education, and POW/MIA issues.
In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for Morale,
Welfare and Recreation issues and programs.
Subcommittee on Readiness: Military readiness, training,
logistics and maintenance issues and programs. In addition,
the subcommittee will be responsible for all military
construction, depot policy, civilian personnel policy,
environmental policy, installations and family housing
issues, including the base closure process, and energy policy
and programs of the Department of Defense.
Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces: Navy
acquisition programs, Naval Reserve equipment, and Marine
Corps amphibious assault vehicle programs (except strategic
weapons, space, special operations, science and technology
programs, and information technology programs), deep strike
bombers and related systems, lift programs, seaborne unmanned
aerial systems and the associated weapons systems
sustainment. In addition, the subcommittee will be
responsible for Maritime programs under the jurisdiction of
the Committee as delineated in paragraphs 5 and 9 of clause
1(c) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces: Strategic weapons (except
deep strike bombers and related systems), space programs
(including national intelligence space programs), ballistic
missile defense, the associated weapons systems sustainment,
the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, and Department of
Energy national security programs.
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities: Defense-
wide and joint enabling activities and programs to include:
Special Operations Forces; counter-proliferation and counter-
terrorism programs and initiatives; science and technology
policy and programs; information technology programs;
homeland defense and Department of Defense related
consequence management programs; related intelligence
support; and other enabling programs and activities to
include cyber operations, strategic communications, and
information operations.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations: Any matter
within the jurisdiction of the Committee, subject to the
concurrence of the Chairman of the Committee and, as
appropriate, affected subcommittee chairmen. The subcommittee
shall have no legislative jurisdiction.
(b) Membership of the Subcommittees
(1) Subcommittee memberships, with the exception of
membership on the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations, shall be filled in accordance with the rules
of the Majority party's conference and the Minority party's
caucus, respectively.
(2) The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations shall be filled
in accordance with the rules of the Majority party's
conference and the Minority party's caucus, respectively.
Consistent with the party ratios established by the Majority
party, all other Majority members of the subcommittee shall
be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee, and all other
Minority members shall be appointed by the Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee.
(3) The Chairman of the Committee and Ranking Minority
Member thereof may sit as ex officio members of all
subcommittees. Ex officio members shall not vote in
subcommittee hearings or meetings or be taken into
consideration for the purpose of determining the ratio of the
subcommittees or establishing a quorum at subcommittee
hearings or meetings.
(4) A member of the Committee who is not a member of a
particular subcommittee may sit with the subcommittee and
participate during any of its hearings but shall not have
authority to vote, cannot be counted for the purpose of
achieving a quorum, and cannot raise a point of order at the
hearing.
RULE 5. COMMITTEE PANELS AND TASK FORCES
(a) Committee Panels
(1) The Chairman may designate a panel of the Committee
consisting of members of the Committee to inquire into and
take testimony on a matter or matters that fall within the
jurisdiction of more than one subcommittee and to report to
the Committee.
(2) No panel appointed by the Chairman shall continue in
existence for more than six months after the appointment. A
panel so appointed may, upon the expiration of six months, be
reappointed by the Chairman for a period of time which is not
to exceed six months.
(3) Consistent with the party ratios established by the
Majority party, all Majority members of the panels shall be
appointed by the Chairman of the Committee, and all Minority
members shall be appointed by the Ranking Minority Member of
the Committee. The Chairman of the Committee shall choose one
of the Majority members so appointed who does not currently
chair another subcommittee of the Committee to serve as
Chairman of the panel. The Ranking Minority Member of the
Committee shall similarly choose the Ranking Minority Member
of the panel.
(4) No panel shall have legislative jurisdiction.
(b) Committee and Subcommittee Task Forces
(1) The Chairman of the Committee, or a Chairman of a
subcommittee with the concurrence of the Chairman of the
Committee, may designate a task force to inquire into and
take testimony on a matter that falls within the jurisdiction
of the Committee or subcommittee, respectively. The Chairman
and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or subcommittee
shall each appoint an equal number of members to the task
force. The Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee shall
choose one of the members so appointed, who does not
currently chair another subcommittee of the Committee, to
serve as Chairman of the task force. The Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee or subcommittee shall similarly
appoint the Ranking Minority Member of the task force.
(2) No task force appointed by the Chairman of the
Committee or subcommittee shall continue in existence for
more than three months. A task force may only be reappointed
for an additional three months with the written concurrence
of the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee
or subcommittee whose Chairman appointed the task force.
(3) No task force shall have legislative jurisdiction.
Rule 6. Reference and Consideration of legislation
(a) The Chairman shall refer legislation and other matters
to the appropriate subcommittee or to the full Committee.
(b) Legislation shall be taken up for a hearing or markup
only when called by the Chairman of the Committee or
subcommittee, as appropriate, or by a majority of the
Committee or subcommittee, as appropriate.
(c) The Chairman, with approval of a majority vote of a
quorum of the Committee, shall have authority to discharge a
subcommittee from consideration of any measure or matter
referred thereto and have such measure or matter considered
by the Committee.
(d) Reports and recommendations of a subcommittee may not
be considered by the Committee until after the intervention
of three calendar days from the time the report is approved
by the subcommittee and available to the members of the
Committee, except that this rule may be waived by a majority
vote of a quorum of the Committee.
[[Page H571]]
(e) The Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority
Member, shall establish criteria for recommending legislation
and other matters to be considered by the House of
Representatives, pursuant to clause 1 of rule XV of the Rules
of the House of Representatives. Such criteria shall not
conflict with the Rules of the House of Representatives and
other applicable rules.
RULE 7. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF HEARINGS AND MEETINGS
(a) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(3) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Committee,
or of any subcommittee, panel, or task force, shall make a
public announcement of the date, place, and subject matter of
any hearing or meeting before that body at least one week
before the commencement of a hearing and at least three days
before the commencement of a meeting. However, if the
Chairman of the Committee, or of any subcommittee, panel, or
task force, with the concurrence of the respective Ranking
Minority Member, determines that there is good cause to begin
the hearing or meeting sooner, or if the Committee,
subcommittee, panel, or task force so determines by majority
vote, a quorum being present for the transaction of business,
such chairman shall make the announcement at the earliest
possible date. Any announcement made under this rule shall be
promptly published in the Daily Digest, promptly entered into
the committee scheduling service of the House Information
Resources, and promptly made publicly available in electronic
form.
(b) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a
meeting for the markup of legislation, or at the time of an
announcement under paragraph (a) made within 24 hours before
such meeting, the Chairman of the Committee, or of any
subcommittee, panel, or task force shall cause the text of
such measure or matter to be made publicly available in
electronic form as provided in clause 2(g)(4) of rule XI of
the Rules of the House of Representatives.
RULE 8. BROADCASTING OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS
(a) Pursuant to clause 2(e)(5) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, 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. The Committee shall maintain the recordings
of such coverage in a manner that is easily accessible to the
public.
(b) Clause 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives shall apply to the Committee.
RULE 9. MEETINGS AND HEARINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
(a) Each hearing and meeting for the transaction of
business, including the markup of legislation, conducted by
the Committee, or any subcommittee, panel, or task force, to
the extent that the respective body is authorized to conduct
markups, shall be open to the public except when the
Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force in open session
and with a majority being present, determines by record vote
that all or part of the remainder of that hearing or meeting
on that day shall be in executive session because disclosure
of testimony, evidence, or other matters to be considered
would endanger the national security, would compromise
sensitive law enforcement information, or would violate any
law or rule of the House of Representatives. Notwithstanding
the requirements of the preceding sentence, a majority of
those present, there being in attendance no fewer than two
members of the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force
may vote to close a hearing or meeting for the sole purpose
of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be received
would endanger the national security, would compromise
sensitive law enforcement information, or would violate any
law or rule of the House of Representatives. If the decision
is to proceed in executive session, the vote must be by
record vote and in open session, a majority of the Committee,
subcommittee, panel, or task force being present.
(b) Whenever it is asserted by a member of the Committee or
subcommittee 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, notwithstanding the requirements
of (a) and the provisions of clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, such evidence or
testimony shall be presented in executive session, if by a
majority vote of those present, there being in attendance no
fewer than two members of the Committee or subcommittee, the
Committee or subcommittee determines that such evidence may
tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person. A
majority of those present, there being in attendance no fewer
than two members of the Committee or subcommittee may also
vote to close the hearing or meeting for the sole purpose of
discussing whether evidence or testimony to be received would
tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person. The
Committee or subcommittee shall proceed to receive such
testimony in open session only if the Committee or
subcommittee, a majority being present, determines that such
evidence or testimony will not tend to defame, degrade, or
incriminate any person.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, and with the approval of
the Chairman, each member of the Committee may designate by
letter to the Chairman, one member of that member's personal
staff, and an alternate, which may include fellows, with Top
Secret security clearance to attend hearings of the
Committee, or that member's subcommittee(s), panel(s), or
task force(s) (excluding briefings or meetings held under the
provisions of committee rule 9(a)), which have been closed
under the provisions of rule 9(a) above for national security
purposes for the taking of testimony. The attendance of such
a staff member or fellow at such hearings is subject to the
approval of the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force
as dictated by national security requirements at that time.
The attainment of any required security clearances is the
responsibility of individual members of the Committee.
(d) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, no Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner may be excluded from nonparticipatory
attendance at any hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee,
unless the House of Representatives shall by majority vote
authorize the 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 designated in this rule
for closing hearings to the public.
(e) The Committee or the subcommittee may vote, by the same
procedure, to meet in executive session for up to five
additional consecutive days of hearings.
RULE 10. QUORUM
(a) For purposes of taking testimony and receiving
evidence, two members shall constitute a quorum.
(b) One-third of the members of the Committee or
subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for taking any action,
with the following exceptions, in which case a majority of
the Committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum:
(1) Reporting a measure or recommendation;
(2) Closing Committee or subcommittee meetings and hearings
to the public;
(3) Authorizing the issuance of subpoenas;
(4) Authorizing the use of executive session material; and
(5) Voting to proceed in open session after voting to close
to discuss whether evidence or testimony to be received would
tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person.
(c) No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the
House of Representatives unless a majority of the Committee
is actually present.
RULE 11. THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE
(a) Subject to rule 15, the time any one member may address
the Committee or subcommittee on any measure or matter under
consideration shall not exceed five minutes and then only
when the member has been recognized by the Chairman or
subcommittee chairman, as appropriate, except that this time
limit may be exceeded by unanimous consent. Any member, upon
request, shall be recognized for not more than five minutes
to address the Committee or subcommittee on behalf of an
amendment which the member has offered to any pending bill or
resolution. The five-minute limitation shall not apply to the
Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or
subcommittee.
(b)(1) Members who are present at a hearing of the
Committee or subcommittee when a hearing is originally
convened shall be recognized by the Chairman or subcommittee
chairman, as appropriate, in order of seniority. Those
members arriving subsequently shall be recognized in order of
their arrival. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chairman
and the Ranking Minority Member will take precedence upon
their arrival. In recognizing members to question witnesses
in this fashion, the Chairman shall take into consideration
the ratio of the Majority to Minority members present and
shall establish the order of recognition for questioning in
such a manner as not to disadvantage the members of either
party.
(2) Pursuant to rule 4 and subject to rule 15, a member of
the Committee who is not a member of a subcommittee may be
recognized by a subcommittee chairman in order of their
arrival and after all present subcommittee members have been
recognized.
(3) The Chairman of the Committee or a subcommittee, with
the concurrence of the respective Ranking Minority Member,
may depart with the regular order for questioning which is
specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this rule provided
that such a decision is announced prior to the hearing or
prior to the opening statements of the witnesses and that any
such departure applies equally to the Majority and the
Minority.
(c) No person other than a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner of Congress and committee staff may be seated in
or behind the dais area during Committee, subcommittee,
panel, or task force hearings and meetings.
RULE 12. POWER TO SIT AND ACT; SUBPOENA POWER
(a) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions
and duties under rules X and XI
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of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee
and any subcommittee is authorized (subject to subparagraph
(b)(1) of this paragraph):
(1) 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 hearings, and
(2) to require by subpoena, or otherwise, the attendance
and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such
books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers and
documents, including, but not limited to, those in electronic
form, as it considers necessary.
(b)(1) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the
Committee, or any subcommittee with the concurrence of the
full Committee Chairman and after consultation with the
Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, under subparagraph
(a)(2) in the conduct of any investigation, or series of
investigations or activities, only when authorized by a
majority of the members voting, a majority of the Committee
or subcommittee being present. Authorized subpoenas shall be
signed only by the Chairman, or by any member designated by
the Committee.
(2) Pursuant to clause 2(m) of rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, compliance with any subpoena issued
by the Committee or any subcommittee under subparagraph
(a)(2) may be enforced only as authorized or directed by the
House of Representatives.
RULE 13. WITNESS STATEMENTS
(a) Any prepared statement to be presented by a witness to
the Committee or a subcommittee shall be submitted to the
Committee or subcommittee at least 48 hours in advance of
presentation and shall be distributed to all members of the
Committee or subcommittee as soon as practicable but not less
than 24 hours in advance of presentation. A copy of any such
prepared statement shall also be submitted to the Committee
in electronic form. If a prepared statement contains national
security information bearing a classification of Confidential
or higher, the statement shall be made available in the
Committee rooms to all members of the Committee or
subcommittee as soon as practicable but not less than 24
hours in advance of presentation; however, no such statement
shall be removed from the Committee offices. The requirement
of this rule may be waived by a majority vote of the
Committee or subcommittee, a quorum being present. In cases
where a witness does not submit a statement by the time
required under this rule, the Chairman of the Committee or
subcommittee, as appropriate, with the concurrence of the
respective Ranking Minority Member, may elect to exclude the
witness from the hearing.
(b) The Committee and each subcommittee shall require each
witness who is to appear before it to file with the Committee
in advance of his or her appearance a written statement of
the proposed testimony and to limit the oral presentation at
such appearance to a brief summary of the submitted written
statement.
(c) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(5) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, written witness 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.
RULE 14. ADMINISTERING OATHS TO WITNESSES
(a) The Chairman, or any member designated by the Chairman,
may administer oaths to any witness.
(b) Witnesses, when sworn, shall subscribe to the following
oath:
``Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that the testimony you
will give before this Committee (or subcommittee) in the
matters now under consideration will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?''
RULE 15. QUESTIONING OF WITNESSES
(a) When a witness is before the Committee or a
subcommittee, members of the Committee or subcommittee may
put questions to the witness only when recognized by the
Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as appropriate, for that
purpose according to rule 11 of the Committee.
(b) Members of the Committee or subcommittee who so desire
shall have not more than five minutes to question each
witness or panel of witnesses, the responses of the witness
or witnesses being included in the five-minute period, until
such time as each member has had an opportunity to question
each witness or panel of witnesses. Thereafter, additional
rounds for questioning witnesses by members are within the
discretion of the Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as
appropriate.
(c) Questions put to witnesses before the Committee or
subcommittee shall be pertinent to the measure or matter that
may be before the Committee or subcommittee for
consideration.
RULE 16. PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
The transcripts of those hearings conducted by the
Committee, subcommittee, or panel will be published
officially in substantially verbatim form, with the material
requested for the record inserted at that place requested, or
at the end of the record, as appropriate. The transcripts of
markups conducted by the Committee or any subcommittee may be
published officially in verbatim form. Any requests to
correct any errors, other than those in transcription, will
be appended to the record, and the appropriate place where
the change is requested will be footnoted. Any transcript
published under this rule shall include the results of record
votes conducted in the session covered by the transcript and
shall also include materials that have been submitted for the
record and are covered under rule 19. The handling and
safekeeping of these materials shall fully satisfy the
requirements of rule 20. No transcript of an executive
session conducted under rule 9 shall be published under
this rule.
RULE 17. VOTING AND ROLLCALLS
(a) Voting on a measure or matter may be by record vote,
division vote, voice vote, or unanimous consent.
(b) A record vote shall be ordered upon the request of one-
fifth of those members present.
(c) No vote by any member of the Committee or a
subcommittee with respect to any measure or matter shall be
cast by proxy.
(d) In the event of a vote or votes, when a member is in
attendance at any other committee, subcommittee, or
conference committee meeting during that time, the necessary
absence of that member shall be so noted in the record vote
record, upon timely notification to the Chairman by that
member.
(e) The Chairman of the Committee or a subcommittee, as
appropriate, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority
Member or the most senior Minority member who is present at
the time, may elect to postpone requested record votes until
such time or point at a markup as is mutually decided. When
proceedings resume on a postponed question, notwithstanding
any intervening order for the previous question, the
underlying proposition shall remain subject to further debate
or amendment to the same extent as when the question was
postponed.
RULE 18. COMMITTEE REPORTS
(a) If, at the time of approval of any measure or matter by
the Committee, any member of the Committee gives timely
notice of intention to file supplemental, Minority,
additional or dissenting views, all members shall be entitled
to not less than two calendar days (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in
session on such days) in which to file such written and
signed views with the Staff Director of the Committee, or the
Staff Director's designee. All such views so filed by one or
more members of the Committee shall be included within, and
shall be a part of, the report filed by the Committee with
respect to that measure or matter.
(b) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report
any measure or matter, and on any amendment offered to the
measure or matter, the total number of votes cast for and
against, the names of those voting for and against, and a
brief description of the question, shall be included in the
Committee report on the measure or matter.
(c) Not later than 24 hours after the adoption of any
amendment to a measure or matter considered by the Committee,
the Chairman shall cause the text of each such amendment to
be made publicly available in electronic form as provided in
clause 2(e)(6) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
RULE 19. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF COMMITTEE ROLLCALLS
The result of each record vote in any meeting of the
Committee shall be made available by the Committee for
inspection by the public at reasonable times in the offices
of the Committee and also made publicly available in
electronic form within 48 hours of such record vote pursuant
to clause 2(e)(1)B(i) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives. Information so available shall include a
description of the amendment, motion, order, or other
proposition and the name of each member voting for and each
member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or
proposition and the names of those members present but not
voting.
RULE 20. PROTECTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND OTHER INFORMATION
(a) Except as provided in clause 2(g) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, all national security
information bearing a classification of Confidential or
higher which has been received by the Committee or a
subcommittee shall be deemed to have been received in
executive session and shall be given appropriate safekeeping.
(b) The Chairman of the Committee shall, with the approval
of a majority of the Committee, establish such procedures as
in his judgment may be necessary to prevent the unauthorized
disclosure of any national security information that is
received which is classified as Confidential or higher. Such
procedures shall, however, ensure access to this information
by any member of the Committee or any other Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives,
staff of the Committee, or staff designated under rule 9(c)
who have the appropriate security clearances and the need to
know, who has requested the opportunity to review such
material.
(c) The Chairman of the Committee shall, in consultation
with the Ranking Minority Member, establish such procedures
as in his judgment may be necessary to prevent the
unauthorized disclosure of any proprietary information that
is received by the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task
force. Such procedures shall be consistent with the Rules of
the House of Representatives and applicable law.
[[Page H573]]
RULE 21. COMMITTEE STAFFING
The staffing of the Committee, the standing subcommittees,
and any panel or task force designated by the Chairman or
chairmen of the subcommittees shall be subject to the Rules
of the House of Representatives.
RULE 22. COMMITTEE RECORDS
The records of the Committee at the National Archives and
Records Administration shall be made available for public use
in accordance with rule VII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking
Minority Member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3)
or clause 4(b) of rule VII, to withhold a record otherwise
available, and the matter shall be presented to the Committee
for a determination on the written request of any member of
the Committee.
RULE 23. HEARING PROCEDURES
Clause 2(k) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives shall apply to the Committee.
RULE 24. COMMITTEE ACTIVITY REPORTS
Not later than January 2nd of each odd-numbered year the
Committee shall submit to the House a report on its
activities, pursuant to clause 1(d) of rule XI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives.
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