[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 17 (Monday, February 2, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H694-H697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES
rules of the committee on appropriations for the 114th congress
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I submit for publication the
rules of the Committee on Appropriations for the 114th Congress, as
adopted on January 28, 2015.
Resolved, That the rules and practices of the Committee on
Appropriations, House of Representatives, in the One Hundred
Thirteenth Congress, except as otherwise provided
hereinafter, shall be and are hereby adopted as the rules and
practices of the Committee on Appropriations in the One
Hundred Fourteenth Congress.
The foregoing resolution adopts the following rules:
sec. 1: power to sit and act
(a) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions
and duties under Rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee and each of its subcommittees
is authorized:
(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 such hearings as it deems
necessary; and
(2) To require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance
and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such
books, reports, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and
documents as it deems necessary.
(b) The Chairman, or any Member designated by the Chairman,
may administer oaths to any witness.
(c) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the
Committee or its subcommittees under subsection (a)(2) in the
conduct of any investigation or activity or series of
investigations or activities, only when authorized by a
majority of the Members of the Committee voting, a majority
being present. The power to authorize and issue subpoenas
under subsection (a)(2) may be delegated to the Chairman
pursuant to such rules and under such limitations as the
Committee may prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed
by the Chairman or by any Member designated by the Committee.
(d) Compliance with any subpoena issued by the Committee or
its subcommittees may be enforced only as authorized or
directed by the House.
sec. 2: subcommittees
(a) The Majority Caucus of the Committee shall establish
the number of subcommittees and shall determine the
jurisdiction of each subcommittee.
(b) Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings,
receive evidence, and report to the Committee all matters
referred to it.
(c) All legislation and other matters referred to the
Committee shall be referred to the subcommittee of
appropriate jurisdiction within two weeks unless, by majority
vote of the Majority Members of the full Committee,
consideration is to be by the full Committee.
(d) The Majority Caucus of the Committee shall determine an
appropriate ratio of Majority to Minority Members for each
subcommittee. The Chairman is authorized to negotiate that
ratio with the Minority; Provided, however, That party
representation in each subcommittee, including ex-officio
members, shall be no less favorable to the Majority than the
ratio for the full Committee.
(e) The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the full
Committee are each authorized to sit as a member of all
subcommittees and to participate, including voting, in all of
the work of the subcommittees.
sec. 3: staffing
(a) Committee Staff--The Chairman is authorized to appoint
the staff of the Committee, and make adjustments in the job
titles and compensation thereof subject to the maximum rates
and conditions established in Clause 9(c) of Rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives. In addition, he is
authorized, in his discretion, to arrange for their
specialized training. The Chairman is also authorized to
employ additional personnel as necessary.
(b) Assistants to Members:
(1) Each Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of a
Subcommittee or the Full Committee, including a Chairman
Emeritus, may select and designate one staff member who shall
serve at the pleasure of that Member.
(2) Notwithstanding (b)(1), the Chairman may prescribe such
terms and conditions necessary to achieve a reduction in the
number of Assistants to Members previously designated by a
Member of the Committee prior to the adoption of the Rules of
the House establishing the Committee for the 112th Congress.
(3) Staff members designated under this subsection shall be
compensated at a rate, determined by the Member, not to
exceed 75 per centum of the maximum established in Clause
9(c) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
(4) Members designating staff members under this subsection
must specifically certify by letter to the Chairman that the
employees are needed and will be utilized for Committee work.
sec. 4: committee meetings
(a) Regular Meeting Day--The regular meeting day of the
Committee shall be the first Wednesday of each month while
the House is in session if notice is given pursuant to
paragraph (d)(3).
(b) Additional and Special Meetings:
(1) The Chairman may call and convene, as he considers
necessary, additional meetings of the Committee for the
consideration of any bill or resolution pending before the
Committee or for the conduct of other Committee business. The
Committee shall meet for such purpose pursuant to that call
of the Chairman.
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(2) If at least three Committee Members desire that a
special meeting of the Committee be called by the Chairman,
those Members may file in the Committee Offices a written
request to the Chairman for that special meeting. Such
request shall specify the measure or matter to be considered.
Upon the filing of the request, the Committee Clerk shall
notify the Chairman.
(3) If within three calendar days after the filing of the
request, the Chairman does not call the requested special
meeting to be held within seven calendar days after the
filing of the request, a majority of the Committee Members
may file in the Committee Offices their written notice that a
special meeting will be held, specifying the date and hour of
such meeting, and the measure or matter to be considered. The
Committee shall meet on that date and hour.
(4) Immediately upon the filing of the notice, the
Committee Clerk shall notify all Committee Members 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 (d)(3). Only the measure
or matter specified in that notice may be considered at the
special meeting.
(c) Vice Chairman To Preside in Absence of Chairman--A
member of the majority party on the Committee or subcommittee
thereof designated by the Chairman of the full Committee
shall be vice chairman of the Committee or subcommittee, as
the case may be, and shall preside at any meeting during the
temporary absence of the chairman. If the chairman and vice
chairman of the Committee or subcommittee are not present at
any meeting of the Committee or subcommittee, the ranking
member of the majority party who is present shall preside at
that meeting.
(d) Business Meetings:
(1) Each meeting for the transaction of business, including
the markup of legislation, of the Committee and its
subcommittees shall be open to the public except when the
Committee or the subcommittee concerned, in open session and
with a majority present, determines by roll call vote that
all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall
be closed.
(2) No person other than Committee Members and such
congressional staff and departmental representatives as they
may authorize shall be present at any business or markup
session which has been closed.
(3) The Chairman shall announce the date, place, and
subject matter of each committee meeting for the transaction
of business, which may not commence earlier than the third
day on which members have notice thereof, unless the
Chairman, 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 meeting sooner, in which case the
Chairman shall make the announcement at the earliest possible
date. An announcement shall be published promptly in the
Daily Digest and made publicly available in electronic form.
(4) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a
meeting for the markup of a bill or resolution, or at the
time an announcement is made pursuant to the preceding
subparagraph within 24 hours before such meeting, the
Chairman shall cause the text of such bill or resolution to
be made publicly available in electronic form.
(e) Committee Records:
(1) The Committee shall keep a complete record of all
Committee action, including a record of the votes on any
question on which a roll call is taken. The result of each
roll call vote shall be available for inspection by the
public during regular business hours in the Committee Offices
and also made available in electronic form within 48 hours of
such record vote. The information made available for public
inspection shall include a description of the amendment,
motion, or other proposition, and the name of each Member
voting for and each Member voting against, and the names of
those Members present but not voting.
(2) Committee records (including hearings, data, charts,
and files) shall be kept separate and distinct from the
congressional office records of the Chairman of the
Committee. Such records shall be the property of the House,
and all Members of the House shall have access thereto.
(3) The records of the Committee at the National Archives
and Records Administration shall be made available in
accordance with Rule VII of the Rules of the House, except
that the Committee authorizes use of any record to which
Clause 3(b)(4) of Rule VII of the Rules of the House would
otherwise apply after such record has been in existence for
20 years. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking Minority
Member of any decision, pursuant to Clause 3(b)(3) or Clause
4(b) of Rule VII of the Rules of the House, to withhold a
record otherwise available, and the matter shall be presented
to the Committee for a determination upon the written request
of any Member of the Committee.
(f) Availability of Amendments Adopted--Not later than 24
hours after the adoption of an amendment to a bill or
resolution, the Chairman shall cause the text of any
amendment adopted thereto to be made publicly available in
electronic form.
sec. 5: committee and subcommittee hearings
(a) Overall Budget Hearings--Overall budget hearings by the
Committee, including the hearing required by Section 242(c)
of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 and Clause
4(a)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, shall be conducted in open session except
when the Committee in open session and with a majority
present, determines by roll call vote that the testimony to
be taken at that hearing on that day may be related to a
matter of national security; except that the Committee may by
the same procedure close one subsequent day of hearing. A
transcript of all such hearings shall be printed and a copy
furnished to each Member, Delegate, and the Resident
Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
(b) Other Hearings:
(1) All other hearings conducted by the Committee or its
subcommittees shall be open to the public except when the
Committee or subcommittee in open session and with a majority
present determines by roll call 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 the national security
or would violate any law or Rule of the House of
Representatives. Notwithstanding the requirements of the
preceding sentence, a majority of those present at a hearing
conducted by the Committee or any of its subcommittees, there
being in attendance the number required under Section 5(c) of
these Rules to be present for the purpose of taking
testimony, (1) may vote to close the hearing for the sole
purpose of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be
received would endanger the national security or violate
Clause 2(k)(5) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives or (2) may vote to close the hearing, as
provided in Clause 2(k)(5) of such Rule. No Member of the
House of Representatives may be excluded from
nonparticipatory attendance at any hearing of the Committee
or its subcommittees unless the House of Representatives
shall by majority vote authorize the Committee or any of its
subcommittees, 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 by the same procedures designated in this subsection
for closing hearings to the public; Provided, however, That
the Committee or its subcommittees may by the same procedure
vote to close five subsequent days of hearings.
(2) Subcommittee chairmen shall coordinate the development
of schedules for meetings or hearings after consultation with
the Chairman and other subcommittee chairmen with a view
toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of Committee and
subcommittee meetings or hearings.
(3) Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or
any of its subcommittees as the case may be, insofar as is
practicable, shall file in advance of such appearance, a
written statement of the proposed testimony and shall limit
the oral presentation at such appearance to a brief summary,
except that this provision shall not apply to any witness
appearing before the Committee in the overall budget
hearings.
(4) Each witness appearing in a nongovernmental capacity
before the Committee, or any of its subcommittees as the case
may be, shall to the greatest extent practicable, submit a
written statement including 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), or contracts or payments originating
from a foreign government, 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 and
related to the subject matter of the hearing. Such
statements, with appropriate redactions to protect the
privacy of witnesses, shall be made publicly available in
electronic form not later than one day after the witness
appears. The disclosure referred to in this paragraph shall
include the amount and source of each Federal grant (or
subgrant thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof)
related to the subject matter of the hearing, and the amount
and country of origin of any payment or contract related to
the subject matter of the hearing originating with a foreign
government.
(c) Quorum for Taking Testimony--The number of Members of
the Committee which shall constitute a quorum for taking
testimony and receiving evidence in any hearing of the
Committee shall be two.
(d) Calling and Interrogation of Witnesses:
(1) The Minority Members of the Committee or its
subcommittees shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairman
or subcommittee chairman, by a majority of them before
completion of any hearing, to call witnesses selected by the
Minority to testify with respect to the matter under
consideration during at least one day of hearings thereon.
(2) The Committee and its subcommittees shall observe the
five-minute rule during the interrogation of witnesses until
such time as each Member of the Committee or subcommittee who
so desires has had an opportunity to question the witness.
(e) Broadcasting and Photographing of Committee Meetings
and Hearings--Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by the
full Committee or any of its subcommittees is open to the
public, those proceedings shall be open to coverage by
television, radio, and still photography, and shall be
conducted in
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accordance with the requirements set forth in Clause (4)(f)
of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Neither the full Committee Chairman or subcommittee chairman
shall limit the number of television or still cameras to
fewer than two representatives from each medium (except for
legitimate space or safety, in which case pool coverage shall
be authorized). To the maximum practicable, 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 shall maintain the recordings of such
coverage in a manner that is easily accessible to the public.
(f) Subcommittee Meetings--No subcommittee shall sit while
the House is reading an appropriation measure for amendment
under the five-minute rule or while the Committee is in
session.
(g) Public Notice of Committee Hearings--The Chairman of
the Committee shall make public announcement of the date,
place, and subject matter of any Committee or subcommittee
hearing at least one week before the commencement of the
hearing. If the Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee,
with the concurrence of the ranking minority member of the
Committee or respective subcommittee, determines there is
good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the Committee
or subcommittee so determines by majority vote, a quorum
being present for the transaction of business, the Chairman
or subcommittee chairman shall make the announcement at the
earliest possible date. Any announcement made under this
subsection shall be promptly published in the Daily Digest
and made publicly available in electronic form.
Sec. 6: Procedures for Reporting Bills and Resolutions
(a) Prompt Reporting Requirement:
(1) It shall be the duty of the Chairman to report, or
cause to be reported promptly to the House any bill or
resolution approved by the Committee and to take or cause to
be taken necessary steps to bring the matter to a vote.
(2) In any event, a report on a bill or resolution which
the Committee has approved shall be filed within seven
calendar days (exclusive of days in which the House is not in
session) after the day on which there has been filed with the
Committee Clerk a written request, signed by a majority of
Committee Members, for the reporting of such bill or
resolution. Upon the filing of any such request, the
Committee Clerk shall notify the Chairman immediately of the
filing of the request. This subsection does not apply to the
reporting of a regular appropriation bill or to the reporting
of a resolution of inquiry addressed to the head of an
executive department.
(b) Presence of Committee Majority--No measure or
recommendation shall be reported from the Committee unless a
majority of the Committee was actually present.
(c) Roll Call Votes--With respect to each roll call vote on
a motion to report any measure or matter of a public
character, and on any amendment offered to the measure of
matter, the total number of votes cast for and against, and
the names of those Members voting for and against, shall be
included in the Committee report on the measure or matter.
(d) Compliance With Congressional Budget Act--A Committee
report on a bill or resolution which has been approved by the
Committee shall include the statement required by Section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, separately
set out and clearly identified, if the bill or resolution
provides new budget authority.
(e) Changes in Existing Law--Each Committee report on a
general appropriation bill shall contain a concise statement
describing fully the effect of any provision of the bill
which directly or indirectly changes the application of
existing law.
(f) Rescissions and Transfers--Each bill or resolution
reported by the Committee shall include separate headings for
rescissions and transfers of unexpended balances with all
proposed rescissions and transfers listed therein. The report
of the Committee accompanying such a bill or resolution shall
include a separate section with respect to such rescissions
or transfers.
(g) Listing of Unauthorized Appropriations--Each Committee
report on a general appropriation bill shall contain a list
of all appropriations contained in the bill for any
expenditure not currently authorized by law for the period
concerned (except for 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.
(h) Supplemental or Minority Views:
(1) If, at the time the Committee approves any measure or
matter, any Committee Member gives notice of intention to
file supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views,
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) in which to file such
views in writing and signed by the Member, with the Clerk of
the Committee. All such views so filed shall be included in
and shall be a part of the report filed by the Committee with
respect to that measure or matter.
(2) The Committee report on that measure or matter shall be
printed in a single volume which--
(i) shall include all supplemental, minority, additional,
or dissenting views which have been submitted by the time of
the filing of the report, and
(ii) shall have on its cover a recital that any such
supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views are
included as part of the report.
(3) This subsection does not preclude--
(i) the immediate filing or printing of a Committee report
unless timely request for the opportunity to file
supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views has
been made as provided by such subsection; or
(ii) the filing by the Committee of a supplemental report
on a measure or matter which may be required for correction
of any technical error in a previous report made by the
Committee on that measure or matter.
(4) If, at the time a subcommittee approves any measure or
matter for recommendation to the full Committee, any Member
of that subcommittee who gives notice of intention to offer
supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views shall
be entitled, insofar as is practicable and in accordance with
the printing requirements as determined by the subcommittee,
to include such views in the Committee Print with respect to
that measure or matter.
(i) Availability of Reports--A copy of each bill,
resolution, or report shall be made available to each Member
of the Committee at least three calendar days (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) in advance of the
date on which the Committee is to consider each bill,
resolution, or report; Provided, That this subsection may be
waived by agreement between the Chairman and the Ranking
Minority Member of the full Committee.
(j) Performance Goals and Objectives--Each Committee report
shall contain a statement of general performance goals and
objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives,
for which the measure authorizes funding.
(k) Motion to go to Conference--The Chairman is directed to
offer a motion under clause 1 of rule XXII of the Rules of
the House whenever the Chairman considers it appropriate.
sec. 7: voting
(a) No vote by any Member of the Committee or any of its
subcommittees with respect to any measure or matter may be
cast by proxy.
(b) The vote on any question before the Committee shall be
taken by the yeas and nays on the demand of one-fifth of the
Members present.
(c) The Chairman of the Committee or the chairman of any of
its subcommittees may--
(1) postpone further proceedings when a record vote is
ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter or
on adopting an amendment;
(2) resume proceedings on a postponed question at any time
after reasonable notice.
When proceedings resume on a postponed question,
notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous
question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to
further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the
question was postponed.
Sec. 8: Studies and Examinations
The following procedure shall be applicable with respect to
the conduct of studies and examinations of the organization
and operation of Executive Agencies under authority contained
in Section 202(b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
1946 and in Clause (3)(a) of Rule X of the Rules of the House
of Representatives:
(a) The Chairman is authorized to appoint such staff and,
in his discretion, arrange for the procurement of temporary
services of consultants, as from time to time may be
required.
(b) Studies and examinations will be initiated upon the
written request of a subcommittee which shall be reasonably
specific and definite in character, and shall be initiated
only by a majority vote of the subcommittee, with the
chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking minority member
thereof participating as part of such majority vote. When so
initiated such request shall be filed with the Clerk of the
Committee for submission to the Chairman and the Ranking
Minority Member and their approval shall be required to make
the same effective. Notwithstanding any action taken on such
request by the chairman and ranking minority member of the
subcommittee, a request may be approved by a majority of the
Committee.
(c) Any request approved as provided under subsection (b)
shall be immediately turned over to the staff appointed for
action.
(d) Any information obtained by such staff shall be
reported to the chairman of the subcommittee requesting such
study and examination and to the Chairman and Ranking
Minority Member, shall be made available to the members of
the subcommittee concerned, and shall not be released for
publication until the subcommittee so determines.
(e) Any hearings or investigations which may be desired,
aside from the regular hearings on appropriation items, when
approved by the Committee, shall be conducted by the
subcommittee having jurisdiction over the matter.
Sec. 9: Temporary Investigative Task Forces
(a) The Chairman of the Full Committee, in consultation
with the Ranking Member of
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the Full Committee, may establish and appoint members to
serve on task forces of the Committee, to examine specific
activities for a limited period of time in accordance with
clause 5(b)2(C) of Rule X of the Rules of the House.
(b) The Chairman of the Full Committee shall issue a
written directive, in consultation with the Ranking Member of
the Full Committee, delineating the specific activities to be
reviewed by a task force constituted pursuant to the
preceding paragraph.
(c) A task force constituted under this section shall
provide a written report of its findings and recommendations
to the Full Committee Chairman and Ranking Member and members
of the relevant subcommittees having jurisdiction over the
matters reviewed. Such report shall be approved by a majority
vote of the task force and shall include any supplemental,
minority, additional, or dissenting views submitted by a
Member of the task force or a member of a subcommittee having
jurisdiction over the matter reviewed.
(d) Any information obtained during the course of such
investigation, and any report produced by, a task force
pursuant to this section, shall not be released until the
Chairman of the Full Committee has authorized such release.
(e) The Chairman is authorized to appoint such staff, and,
in his discretion, arrange for the procurement of temporary
services, as from time to time may be required.
Sec. 10: Official Travel
(a) The chairman of a subcommittee shall approve requests
for travel by subcommittee members and staff for official
business within the jurisdiction of that subcommittee. The
ranking minority member of a subcommittee shall concur in
such travel requests by minority members of that subcommittee
and the Ranking Minority Member shall concur in such travel
requests for Minority Members of the Committee. Requests in
writing covering the purpose, itinerary, and dates of
proposed travel shall be submitted for final approval to the
Chairman. Specific approval shall be required for each and
every trip.
(b) The Chairman is authorized during the recess of the
Congress to approve travel authorizations for Committee
Members and staff, including travel outside the United
States.
(c) As soon as practicable, the Chairman shall direct the
head of each Government agency concerned to honor requests of
subcommittees, individual Members, or staff for travel, the
direct or indirect expenses of which are to be defrayed from
an executive appropriation, only upon request from the
Chairman.
(d) In accordance with Clause 8 of Rule X of the Rules of
the House of Representatives and Section 502(b) of the Mutual
Security Act of 1954, as amended, local currencies owned by
the United States shall be available to Committee Members and
staff engaged in carrying out their official duties outside
the United States, its territories, or possessions. No
Committee Member or staff member shall receive or expend
local currencies for subsistence in any country at a rate in
excess of the maximum per diem rate set forth in applicable
Federal law.
(e) Travel Reports:
(1) Members or staff shall make a report to the Chairman on
their travel, covering the purpose, results, itinerary,
expenses, and other pertinent comments.
(2) With respect to travel outside the United States or its
territories or possessions, the report shall include: (1) an
itemized list showing the dates each country was visited, the
amount of per diem furnished, the cost of transportation
furnished, and any funds expended for any other official
purpose; and (2) a summary in these categories of the total
foreign currencies and/ or appropriated funds expended. All
such individual reports on foreign travel shall be filed with
the Chairman no later than sixty days following completion of
the travel for use in complying with reporting requirements
in applicable Federal law, and shall be open for public
inspection.
(3) Each Member or employee performing such travel shall be
solely responsible for supporting the amounts reported by the
Member or employee.
(4) No report or statement as to any trip shall be
publicized making any recommendations on behalf of the
Committee without the authorization of a majority of the
Committee.
(f) Members and staff of the Committee performing
authorized travel on official business pertaining to the
jurisdiction of the Committee shall be governed by applicable
laws or regulations of the House and of the Committee on
House Administration pertaining to such travel, and as
promulgated from time to time by the Chairman.
Sec. 11. Activities Reports
(a) Not later than January 2 of each odd-numbered year, the
Committee shall submit to the House a report on the
activities of the Committee.
(b) After adjournment sine die of a regular session of
Congress, or after December 15, whichever occurs first, the
Chairman may file the report with the Clerk of the House at
any time and without the approval of the Committee, provided
that a copy of the report has been available to each Member
of the Committee for at least seven calendar days and the
report includes any supplemental, minority, additional, or
dissenting views submitted by a Member of the Committee.
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