[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H537-H540]
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 115TH CONGRESS

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully submit the Rules of the 
Committee on Armed Services for the 115th Congress, as adopted by the 
committee on January 12, 2017.


                       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 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, 
     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; and the Cooperative Threat Reduction 
     program.
       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

[[Page H538]]

     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.
       (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:

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       (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 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,

[[Page H540]]

     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.


                      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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