[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 17 (Monday, February 2, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H697-H701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES


  Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources for the 114th Congress


                                Congress of the United States,

                                                   Washington, DC.
     Hon. John A. Boehner,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to clause 2(a)(2) of House of 
     Representatives Rule XI, I am submitting the Committee on 
     Natural Resource's Rules for publication in the Congressional 
     Record. These rules were adopted by a vote of the Committee 
     on January 28, 2015.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
                                  ____


                       (Adopted January 28, 2015)


               RULE 1. RULES OF THE HOUSE; VICE CHAIRMEN

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


                      RULE 2. MEETINGS IN GENERAL

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


           RULE 3. MEETING AND HEARING PROCEDURES IN GENERAL

       (a) Notice and Information for Members and the Public.
       (1) The Chairman shall publicly 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.
       (2) A hearing or meeting may begin sooner if the Chairman, 
     with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, 
     determines that there is good cause to begin the meeting or 
     hearing sooner, or if the Committee so determines by majority 
     vote. In these cases, the Chairman shall publicly announce 
     the meeting or hearing at the earliest possible time. The 
     Committee shall promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the 
     Congressional Record and shall promptly make publicly 
     available in electronic form the appropriate information as 
     soon as possible after the public announcement is made.

[[Page H698]]

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


                       RULE 4. HEARING PROCEDURES

       (a) Written Statement; Oral Testimony.--Each witness who is 
     to appear before the Committee or a Subcommittee shall file 
     with the relevant Full Committee Staff or Subcommittee Clerk, 
     at least two working days before the day of his or her 
     appearance, a written statement of their proposed testimony. 
     Each witness shall limit his or her oral presentation to a 
     five-minute summary of the written statement, unless the 
     Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, 
     extends this time period. Subject to the approval of the 
     Committee, the Chairman may waive oral testimony of any 
     witness who has submitted written testimony for the record. 
     In addition, a witness appearing in a nongovernmental 
     capacity shall include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure of 
     any Federal grants or contracts, or contracts or payments 
     originating with a foreign government, received during the 
     current calendar year or either of the previous calendar 
     years by the witness or by the entity represented by the 
     witness and related to the subject matter of the hearing. The 
     disclosure 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. Failure to comply with 
     these disclosure requirements may result in the exclusion of 
     the written testimony from the hearing record and/or the 
     barring of an oral presentation of the testimony.
       (b) Minority Witnesses.--When any hearing is conducted by 
     the Committee or any Subcommittee upon any measure or matter, 
     the Minority party Members on the Committee or Subcommittee 
     shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairman by a majority 
     of those Minority Members before the completion of the 
     hearing, to call witnesses selected by the Minority to 
     testify with respect to that measure or matter during at 
     least one day of hearings thereon.
       (c) Information for Members.--After announcement of a 
     hearing, the Committee shall make available as soon as 
     practicable to all Members of the Committee a tentative 
     witness list and to the extent practicable the Majority staff 
     shall make publicly available a memorandum explaining the 
     subject matter of the hearing (including relevant legislative 
     reports and other necessary material). In addition, the 
     Chairman shall make available to the Members of the Committee 
     any official reports from departments and agencies on the 
     subject matter as they are received.
       (d) Subpoenas.--The Committee or a Subcommittee may 
     authorize and issue a subpoena under clause 2(m) of House 
     Rule XI if authorized by a majority of the Members voting. In 
     addition, the Chairman of the Committee may authorize and 
     issue subpoenas during any period of time in which the House 
     of Representatives has adjourned for more than three days. 
     Subpoenas shall be signed only by the Chairman of the 
     Committee, or any Member of the Committee authorized by the 
     Committee, and may be served by any person designated by the 
     Chairman or Member.
       (e) Oaths.--The Chairman of the Committee, the Chairmen of 
     the Subcommittees or any Member designated by the Chairman 
     may administer oaths to any witness before the Committee. All 
     witnesses appearing in hearings may be administered the 
     following oath by the Chairman or his designee prior to 
     receiving the testimony: ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm 
     that the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, 
     the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you 
     God?''
       (f) Opening Statements; Questioning of Witnesses.
       (1) Opening statements by Members may not be presented 
     orally, unless the Chairman or his designee makes a 
     statement, in which case the Ranking Minority Member or his 
     designee may also make a statement. In addition, the Vice 
     Chairman may make a statement, in which case, a designee of 
     the Ranking Minority Member may also make a statement. If a 
     witness scheduled to testify at any hearing of the Committee 
     is a constituent of a Member of the Committee, that Member 
     shall be entitled to briefly introduce the witness at the 
     hearing.
       (2) The questioning of witnesses in Committee and 
     Subcommittee hearings shall be initiated by the Chairman, 
     followed by the Ranking Minority Member and all other Members 
     alternating between the Majority and Minority parties. In 
     recognizing Members to question witnesses, the Chairman shall 
     take into consideration the ratio of the Majority to Minority 
     Members present and shall establish the order of recognition 
     for questioning in a manner so as not to disadvantage the 
     Members of the Majority or the Members of the Minority. A 
     motion is in order to allow designated Majority and Minority 
     party Members to question a witness for a specified period to 
     be equally divided

[[Page H699]]

     between the Majority and Minority parties. This period shall 
     not exceed one hour in the aggregate.
       (g) Materials for Hearing Record.--Any materials submitted 
     specifically for inclusion in the hearing record must address 
     the announced subject matter of the hearing and be submitted 
     to the relevant Full Committee Staff or Subcommittee Clerk no 
     later than 10 business days following the last day of the 
     hearing.
       (h) Claims of Privilege.--Claims of common-law privileges 
     made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees or 
     deponents in investigations or inquiries, are applicable only 
     at the discretion of the Chairman, subject to appeal to the 
     Committee.


                  RULE 5. FILING OF COMMITTEE REPORTS

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


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

       (a) Subcommittees.--There shall be five standing 
     Subcommittees of the Committee, with the following 
     jurisdiction and responsibilities:
     Subcommittee on Federal Lands
       (1) Measures and matters related to the National Park 
     System and its units, including Federal reserved water 
     rights.
       (2) The National Wilderness Preservation System.
       (3) Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System, 
     national heritage areas and other national units established 
     for protection, conservation, preservation or recreational 
     development, other than coastal barriers.
       (4) Military parks and battlefields, national cemeteries 
     administered by the Secretary of the Interior, parks in and 
     within the vicinity of the District of Columbia and the 
     erection of monuments to the memory of individuals.
       (5) Federal and non-Federal outdoor recreation plans, 
     programs and administration including the Land and Water 
     Conservation Fund Act of 1965 and the Outdoor Recreation Act 
     of 1963.
       (6) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and objects of 
     interest on the public domain and other historic preservation 
     programs and activities, including national monuments, 
     historic sites and programs for international cooperation in 
     the field of historic preservation.
       (7) Matters concerning the following agencies and programs: 
     Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, Historic 
     American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering 
     Record, and U.S. Holocaust Memorial.
       (8) Public lands generally, including measures or matters 
     relating to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing and 
     Federal reserved water rights.
       (9) Forfeiture of land grants and alien ownership, 
     including alien ownership of mineral lands.
       (10) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (11) Forest reservations, including management thereof, 
     created from the public domain.
       (12) Public forest lands generally, including measures or 
     matters related to entry, easements, withdrawals, grazing and 
     Federal reserved water rights.
       (13) Wildlife resources, including research, restoration, 
     refuges and conservation, and National Wildlife Refuges.
     Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans
       (1) Generation and marketing of electric power from Federal 
     water projects by Federally chartered or Federal regional 
     power marketing authorities.
       (2) All measures and matters concerning water resources 
     planning conducted pursuant to the Water Resources Planning 
     Act, water resource research and development programs and 
     saline water research and development.
       (3) Compacts relating to the use and apportionment of 
     interstate waters, water rights and major interbasin water or 
     power movement programs.
       (4) All measures and matters pertaining to irrigation and 
     reclamation projects and other water resources development 
     and recycling programs, including policies and procedures.
       (5) Indian water rights and settlements.
       (6) Rights of way over public lands for energy-related 
     transmission.
       (7) Fisheries management and fisheries research generally, 
     including the management of all commercial and recreational 
     fisheries (including the reauthorization of the Magnuson 
     Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act), 
     interjurisdictional fisheries, international fisheries 
     agreements, aquaculture, seafood safety, and fisheries 
     promotion.
       (8) All matters pertaining to the protection of coastal and 
     marine environments, estuarine protection, and coastal 
     barriers (except coastal zone management).
       (9) Oceanography.
       (10) Ocean engineering, including materials, technology and 
     systems.
       (11) Marine sanctuaries.
       (12) U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
       (13) All matters regarding Antarctica within the 
     Committee's jurisdiction.
       (14) Sea Grant programs and marine extension services.
       (15) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
     Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
       (1) All measures and matters concerning the U.S. Geological 
     Survey, except for the activities and programs of the Water 
     Resources Division or its successor.
       (2) All measures and matters affecting geothermal 
     resources.
       (3) Conservation of United States uranium supply.
       (4) Mining interests generally, including all matters 
     involving mining regulation and enforcement, including the 
     reclamation of mined lands, the environmental effects of 
     mining, and the management of mineral receipts, mineral land 
     laws and claims, long-range mineral programs and deep seabed 
     mining.
       (5) Mining schools, experimental stations and long-range 
     mineral programs.
       (6) Mineral resources on public lands.
       (7) Conservation and development of oil and gas resources 
     of the Outer Continental Shelf.
       (8) Petroleum conservation on the public lands and 
     conservation of the radium supply in the United States.
       (9) Measures and matters concerning the transportation of 
     natural gas from or within Alaska and disposition of oil 
     transported by the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
       (10) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee.
       (11) Coastal zone management.
     Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs
       (1) Measures relating to the welfare of Native Americans, 
     including management of Indian lands in general and special 
     measures relating to claims which are paid out of Indian 
     funds.
       (2) All matters regarding the relations of the United 
     States with Native Americans and Native American tribes, 
     including special oversight functions under House Rule X.
       (3) All matters regarding Native Alaskans.
       (4) All matters related to the Federal trust responsibility 
     to Native Americans and the sovereignty of Native Americans.
       (5) All matters regarding insular areas of the United 
     States.
       (6) All measures or matters regarding the Freely Associated 
     States.

[[Page H700]]

       (7) All matters regarding Native Hawaiians.
     Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
       (1) Primary and general oversight and investigative 
     authority on all activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee under House Rule X.
       (b) Full Committee.--The following measures and matters 
     shall be retained at the Full Committee:
       (1) Environmental and habitat measures of general 
     applicability, including the National Environmental Policy 
     Act and the Endangered Species Act.
       (2) Cooperative efforts to encourage, enhance and improve 
     international programs for the protection of the environment 
     and the conservation of natural resources otherwise within 
     the jurisdiction of the Full Committee under this paragraph.
       (3) All other measures and matters retained by the Full 
     Committee, including those retained under Committee Rule 
     6(e).
       (4) General and continuing oversight and investigative 
     authority over activities, policies and programs within the 
     jurisdiction of the Full Committee.
       (c) Ex-officio Members.--The Chairman and Ranking Minority 
     Member of the Committee may serve as ex-officio Members of 
     each standing Subcommittee to which the Chairman or the 
     Ranking Minority Member have not been assigned. Ex-officio 
     Members shall have the right to fully participate in 
     Subcommittee activities but may not vote and may not be 
     counted in establishing a quorum.
       (d) Powers and Duties of Subcommittees.--Each Subcommittee 
     is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence and 
     report to the Committee on all matters within its 
     jurisdiction. Each Subcommittee shall review and study, on a 
     continuing basis, the application, administration, execution 
     and effectiveness of those statutes, or parts of statutes, 
     the subject matter of which is within that Subcommittee's 
     jurisdiction; and the organization, operation, and 
     regulations of any Federal agency or entity having 
     responsibilities in or for the administration of such 
     statutes, to determine whether these statutes are being 
     implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of 
     Congress. Each Subcommittee shall review and study any 
     conditions or circumstances indicating the need of enacting 
     new or supplemental legislation within the jurisdiction of 
     the Subcommittee. Each Subcommittee shall have general and 
     continuing oversight and investigative authority over 
     activities, policies and programs within the jurisdiction of 
     the Subcommittee.
       (e) Referral to Subcommittees; Recall.
       (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and for those 
     measures or matters retained at the Full Committee, every 
     legislative measure or other matter referred to the Committee 
     shall be referred to the maximum extent possible to the 
     Subcommittee of jurisdiction within two weeks of the date of 
     its referral to the Committee. If any measure or matter is 
     within or affects the jurisdiction of one or more 
     Subcommittees, the Chairman may refer that measure or matter 
     simultaneously to two or more Subcommittees for concurrent 
     consideration or for consideration in sequence subject to 
     appropriate time limits, or divide the matter into two or 
     more parts and refer each part to a Subcommittee.
       (2) The Chairman, with the approval of a majority of the 
     Majority Members of the Committee, may refer a legislative 
     measure or other matter to a select or special Subcommittee. 
     A legislative measure or other matter referred by the 
     Chairman to a Subcommittee may be recalled from the 
     Subcommittee for direct consideration by the Full Committee, 
     or for referral to another Subcommittee, provided Members of 
     the Committee receive one week written notice of the recall 
     and a majority of the Members of the Committee do not object. 
     In addition, a legislative measure or other matter referred 
     by the Chairman to a Subcommittee may be recalled from the 
     Subcommittee at any time by majority vote of the Committee 
     for direct consideration by the Full Committee or for 
     referral to another Subcommittee.
       (f) Consultation.--Each Subcommittee Chairman shall consult 
     with the Chairman of the Full Committee prior to setting 
     dates for Subcommittee meetings and hearings with a view 
     towards avoiding whenever possible conflicting Committee and 
     Subcommittee meetings and hearings.
       (g) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the membership of a Subcommittee 
     shall not affect the power of the remaining Members to 
     execute the functions of the Subcommittee.


          RULE 7. TASK FORCES, SPECIAL OR SELECT SUBCOMMITTEES

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


                  RULE 8. RECOMMENDATION OF CONFEREES

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


                       RULE 9. COMMITTEE RECORDS

       (a) Segregation of Records.--All Committee records shall be 
     kept separate and distinct from the office records of 
     individual Committee Members serving as Chairmen or Ranking 
     Minority Members. These records shall be the property of the 
     House and all Members shall have access to them in accordance 
     with clause 2(e)(2) of House Rule XI.
       (b) Availability.--The Committee shall make available to 
     the public for review at reasonable times in the Committee 
     office transcripts of public meetings and hearings, except 
     those that are unrevised or unedited and intended solely for 
     the use of the Committee.
       (c) Archived Records.--Records of the Committee which are 
     deposited with the National Archives shall be made available 
     for public use pursuant to House Rule VII. The Chairman of 
     the Committee shall notify the Ranking Minority Member of any 
     decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of House 
     Rule VII, to withhold, or to provide a time, schedule or 
     condition for availability of any record otherwise available. 
     At the written request of any Member of the Committee, the 
     matter shall be presented to the Committee for a 
     determination and shall be subject to the same notice and 
     quorum requirements for the conduct of business under 
     Committee Rule 3.
       (d) Records of Closed Meetings.--Notwithstanding the other 
     provisions of this rule, no records of Committee meetings or 
     hearings which were closed to the public pursuant to the 
     Rules of the House of Representatives shall be released to 
     the public unless the Committee votes to release those 
     records in accordance with the procedure used to close the 
     Committee meeting.
       (e) Classified Materials.--All classified materials shall 
     be maintained in an appropriately secured location and shall 
     be released only to authorized persons for review, who shall 
     not remove the material from the Committee offices without 
     the written permission of the Chairman.
       (f) Committee Information Available for the Public.--In 
     addition to any other requirement of these rules or the Rules 
     of the House of Representatives, the Chairman shall cause to 
     be made available publicly in electronic form the following:
       (1) a record of the votes on any question on which a 
     recorded vote is taken which shall be posted no later than 24 
     hours after the vote is taken that shall include:
       (i) a copy of the amendment or a detailed description of 
     the motion, order or other proposition; and
       (ii) the name of each Member voting for and each Member 
     voting against such amendment, motion, order, or proposition, 
     the names of those Members voting present, and the names of 
     any Member not present.
       (2) copies of all amendments adopted in Committee by voice 
     vote or unanimous consent within 24 hours of the adoption of 
     the amendment.
       (3) the rules of the Committee, once adopted, and any 
     amendments thereto, in accordance with clause 2(a)(2) of 
     House Rule XI.
       (4) the statements required under the second sentence of 
     clause 2(g)(5) of House Rule XI, with appropriate redactions 
     to protect the privacy of the witness, which shall be posted 
     no later than one day after the witness appears before the 
     Committee.


                 RULE 10. COMMITTEE BUDGET AND EXPENSES

       (a) Budget.--At the beginning of each Congress, after 
     consultation with the Chairman of each Subcommittee and the 
     Ranking Minority Member, the Chairman shall present to the 
     Committee for its approval a budget covering the funding 
     required for staff, travel, and miscellaneous expenses.
       (b) Expense Resolution.--Upon approval by the Committee of 
     each budget, the Chairman, acting pursuant to clause 6 of 
     House Rule X, shall prepare and introduce in the House a 
     supporting expense resolution, and take all action necessary 
     to bring about its approval by the Committee on House 
     Administration and by the House of Representatives.
       (c) Amendments.--The Chairman shall report to the Committee 
     any amendments to each expense resolution and any related 
     changes in the budget.

[[Page H701]]

       (d) Additional Expenses.--Authorization for the payment of 
     additional or unforeseen Committee expenses may be procured 
     by one or more additional expense resolutions processed in 
     the same manner as set out under this rule.
       (e) Month Reports.--Copies of each monthly report, prepared 
     by the Chairman for the Committee on House Administration, 
     which shows expenditures made during the reporting period and 
     cumulative for the year, anticipated expenditures for the 
     projected Committee program, and detailed information on 
     travel, shall be available to each Member.


                        RULE 11. COMMITTEE STAFF

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


                       RULE 12. COMMITTEE TRAVEL

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


                  RULE 13. CHANGES TO COMMITTEE RULES

       The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended, or 
     repealed, by a majority vote of the Committee, provided that 
     written notice of the proposed change has been provided each 
     Member of the Committee prior to the meeting date on which 
     the changes are to be discussed and voted on consistent with 
     Committee Rule 3(a). A change to the rules of the Committee 
     shall be published in the Congressional Record no later than 
     30 days after its approval and made publicly available in 
     electronic form.


                       RULE 14. OTHER PROCEDURES

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

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