[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 14 (Friday, January 27, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H692-H697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES
RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR THE 115TH CONGRESS
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, as required by clause 2(a) of
House rule XI, I respectfully submit for the Congressional Record the
rules of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which were adopted at a
public meeting of the Committee on January 24, 2017.
1. General Provisions
(a) The Rules of the House of Representatives, and in
particular, the committee rules enumerated in clause 2 of
rule XI, are the rules of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
(hereafter referred to as the ``Committee''), to the extent
applicable.
(b) A motion to recess and a motion to dispense with the
first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed
copies are available, are privileged non-debatable motions in
Committee.
(c) The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs shall
consult the Ranking Minority Member to the extent possible
with respect to the business of the Committee. Each
subcommittee of the Committee is a part of the Committee and
is subject to the authority and direction of the Committee
and to its rules, to the extent applicable.
2. Date of Meeting
The regular meeting date of the Committee shall be the
first Tuesday of every month when the House of
Representatives is in session pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule
XI of the House of Representatives. Additional meetings may
be called by the Chairman as the Chairman may deem necessary
or at the request of a majority of the Members of the
Committee in accordance with clause 2(c) of rule XI of the
House of Representatives. The determination of the business
to be considered at each meeting shall be made by the
Chairman subject to clause 2(c) of rule XI of the House of
Representatives. A regularly scheduled meeting need not be
held if, in the judgment of the Chairman, there is no
business to be considered.
3. Quorum
For purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence,
two Members shall constitute a quorum, and the Chairman of
the full Committee or a subcommittee shall make every effort
to ensure that the relevant Ranking Minority Member or
another Minority Member is present at the time a hearing is
convened. One-third of the Members of the Committee or
subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for taking any action,
except: (1) reporting a measure or recommendation; (2)
closing Committee meetings and hearings to the public; (3)
authorizing the issuance of subpoenas; and (4) any other
action for which an actual majority quorum is required by any
rule of the House of Representatives or by law. No measure or
recommendation shall be reported to the House of
Representatives unless a majority of the Committee is
actually present. No measure or recommendation shall be
reported to the full Committee by a subcommittee unless half
of the subcommittee is actually present. A record vote may be
demanded by one-fifth of the Members present or, in the
apparent absence of a quorum, by any one Member.
4. Meetings and Hearings Open to the Public
(a) Meetings
(1) Each meeting for the transaction of business, including
the markup of legislation, of the Committee or a subcommittee
shall be open to the public except when the Committee or
subcommittee, in open session and with a majority present,
determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder
of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public,
because disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger
national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement
information, or would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate
any person or otherwise violate any labor rule of the House
of Representatives. No person other than Members of the
Committee and such congressional staff and departmental
representatives as the Committee or subcommittee may
authorize shall be present at any business or markup session
which has been closed to the public. This subsection does not
apply to open Committee hearings which are provided for by
subsection (b) of this rule.
(2) The Chairman of the full Committee or a subcommittee
may postpone further proceedings when a record vote is
ordered on the question of approving any measure or matter,
or adopting an amendment. The relevant Chairman may resume
proceedings on a postponed request at any time. When
exercising postponement authority, the relevant Chairman
shall take all reasonable steps necessary to notify Members
on the resumption of proceedings on any postponed record
vote. 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.
(b) Hearings
(1) Each hearing conducted by the Committee or a
subcommittee shall be open to the public except when the
Committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a
majority present, determines by record vote that all or part
of the remainder of that hearing on that day should be closed
to the public because disclosure of testimony, evidence or
other matters to be considered would endanger the national
security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement
information, or otherwise would violate any law or rule of
the House of Representatives. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, a majority of those present, there being in
attendance the requisite number required under the rules of
the Committee to be present for the purpose of taking
testimony--
(A) may vote to close the hearing 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 violate paragraph (2) of this
subsection; or
(B) may vote to close the hearing, as provided in paragraph
(2) of this subsection.
(2) Whenever it is asserted by a Member of the Committee
that the evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to
defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, or it is asserted
by a witness that the evidence or testimony that the witness
would give at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or
incriminate the witness--
(A) such testimony or evidence shall be presented in
executive session, notwithstanding the provisions of
paragraph (1) of this subsection, if by a majority of those
present, there being in attendance the requisite number
required under the rules of the Committee to be present for
the purpose of taking testimony, the Committee or
subcommittee determines that such evidence or testimony may
tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person; and
(B) the Committee or subcommittee shall proceed to receive
such testimony in open session only if the Committee, a
majority being present, determines that such evidence or
testimony will not tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate
any person.
(3) No Member of the House of Representatives may be
excluded from non-participatory attendance at any hearing of
the Committee or a subcommittee unless the House of
Representatives has by majority vote authorized 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 by the same procedures designated in this subsection
for closing hearings to the public.
(4) A Member of the House of Representatives who is not a
Member of the Committee may not be recognized to participate
in a Committee or Subcommittee hearing except by the
unanimous consent of Committee Members present at such
hearing. Participatory recognition of a non-Committee Member
shall occur only after all Committee Members seeking
recognition, both majority and minority, have had their
opportunity to participate and question any witnesses.
(5) The Committee or a subcommittee may by the procedure
designated in this subsection vote to close one (1)
subsequent day of hearing.
(6) No congressional staff shall be present at any meeting
or hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee that has been
closed to the public, and at which classified information
will be involved, unless such person is authorized access to
such classified information in accordance with rule XX of the
House of Representatives.
5. Convening Hearings and Markups
(a) Hearings. Public announcement shall be made of the
date, place, and subject matter of any hearing to be
conducted by the Committee or a subcommittee at the earliest
possible date, and in any event at least one (1) week before
the commencement of that hearing. If the Chairman of the full
Committee or a subcommittee, with the concurrence of the
relevant Ranking Minority Member, determines that there is
good cause to begin a hearing sooner, or if the Committee or
subcommittee so determines by majority vote in the presence
of the number of members required under the rules of the
Committee for the taking of action, the Chairman of the full
Committee, if concurring, shall make the announcement at the
earliest possible date. No change shall be made to a publicly
announced hearing title
[[Page H693]]
until after consultation with the relevant Ranking Minority
Member and notice to previously announced witnesses.
(b) Markups and Other Meetings to Transact Business
(1) Convening. The Chairman of the full Committee or a
subcommittee may call or convene, as the relevant Chairman
considers necessary, meetings of the Committee or
subcommittee for the consideration of a bill or resolution
pending before the Committee or subcommittee, as the case may
be, or for the conduct of other Committee or subcommittee
business.
(2) Notice. Public announcement shall be made by the
Chairman of the full Committee of the date, place, and
subject matter of any markup or other meeting to conduct
business at the earliest possible date, and in any event at
least one (1) week before the commencement of such markup or
meeting, unless the relevant Chairman determines, in
consultation with the relevant Ranking Minority Member, that
there is good cause to begin such a markup or meeting on an
earlier date. If such determination is made, the Chairman of
the full Committee, if concurring in that determination,
shall make the announcement at the earliest possible date.
(3) Agenda and Texts. The relevant Chairman shall provide
to all Committee or subcommittee Members an agenda for each
Committee and subcommittee markup or other meeting to
transact business, setting out all items of business to be
considered, including whenever possible a copy of any measure
scheduled for markup, at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays) before the meeting.
Bills on subjects not listed on such agenda shall be
subject to a point of order unless their consideration is
agreed to by a two-thirds vote of the Committee or
subcommittee, or by the Chairman of the full Committee with
the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member. The text of
any measure to be marked up shall be made publicly available
in electronic form at least 24 hours prior to the
commencement of the markup meeting, or at the time of an
announcement under subparagraph (b)(2) made within 24 hours
before such meeting.
(c) Publication. Public announcement of all hearings and
markups shall be published in the Daily Digest portion of the
Congressional Record and made publicly available in
electronic form, Members shall be notified by the Staff
Director of all meetings (including markups and hearings) and
briefings of subcommittees and of the full Committee.
(d) Member Seating. During Committee and subcommittee
hearings and markups, chairs on the dais are for Members. No
staff member other than a Committee or subcommittee staff
director, counsel, or professional staff member may occupy a
chair on the dais, unless authorized by the Chairman of the
full Committee, after consultation with the Ranking Member of
the Full Committee. Only one staff member each from the
majority and the minority may occupy chairs on the dais at
any time during a hearing or markup.
6. Witnesses
(a) Interrogation of Witnesses
(1) In so far as practicable, witnesses shall be permitted
to present their oral statements without interruption subject
to reasonable time constraints imposed by the Chairman of the
full Committee or a subcommittee, with questioning by the
Committee Members taking place afterward. Members should
refrain from questions until such statements are completed.
(2) In recognizing Members, the relevant Chairman shall, to
the extent practicable, give preference to the Members on the
basis of their arrival at the hearing, taking into
consideration the majority and minority ratio of the Members
actually present. A Member desiring to speak or ask a
question shall address the relevant Chairman and not the
witness.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), each Member may interrogate
the witness for 5 minutes, the reply of the witness being
included in the 5-minute period. After all Members have had
an opportunity to ask questions, the round shall begin again
under the 5-minute rule.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), the relevant Chairman,
with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, may
permit one (1) or more majority Members of the Committee
designated by the relevant Chairman to question a witness for
a specified period of not longer than 30 minutes. On such
occasions, an equal number of minority Members of the
Committee designated by the Ranking Minority Member shall be
permitted to question the same witness for the same period of
time. Committee staff may be permitted to question a witness
for equal specified periods either with the concurrence of
the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the full
Committee or by motion. However, in no case may questioning
by Committee staff proceed before each Member of the
Committee who wishes to speak under the 5-minute rule has had
one opportunity to do so.
(b) Testimony of Witnesses
(1) Advance Filing Requirement. Each witness who is to
appear before the Committee or a subcommittee is required to
file testimony with the Committee or subcommittee at least
two (2) business days in advance of that appearance. For
purposes of this subsection, testimony includes the written
statement of a witness, as well as any video, photographs,
audio-visual matter, posters, or other supporting materials
that the witness intends to present or display before the
Committee. Such testimony should be provided in electronic
form to the extent practicable. The Committee or subcommittee
shall notify Members at least two business days in advance of
a hearing of the availability of testimony submitted by
witnesses. In addition, each witness shall provide sufficient
copies, as determined by the Chairman of the full Committee
or a subcommittee, of his or her proposed written statement
to be provided to Members and staff of the Committee or
subcommittee, the news media, and the general public. The
text of the written statement provided pursuant to this
paragraph shall be considered final, and may not be revised
by the witness after the Committee meeting at which the
witness appears.
(2) Witness Preclusion and Waiver. The requirements of
paragraph (1) or any part thereof may be waived by the
Chairman of the full Committee or a subcommittee, or the
presiding Member, or the Ranking Member of the Committee or
subcommittee as it relates to witnesses who are called by the
minority to testify, provided that the witness or the
relevant Chairman or Ranking Minority Member has submitted,
prior to the witness's appearance, a written explanation to
the reasons testimony has not been made available to the
Committee or subcommittee. If a witness who is not an
official of the U.S. Government has not submitted testimony
as required by paragraph (1) and no such written explanation
has been submitted, the witness shall be released from
testifying unless a majority of the Committee or subcommittee
votes to accept his or her testimony.
(3) Remote Witness Participation. The Chairman of the full
Committee or a subcommittee shall promptly, and not later
than 48 hours beforehand if possible, notify the relevant
Ranking Member of any witness who is likely to present
testimony other than in person, such as by videoconference. A
witness may not testify via telephone or other audio-only
medium without the concurrence of the Chairman and Ranking
Member of the Committee or subcommittee. The relevant
Chairman shall make reasonable efforts to verify the identity
of any witness participating remotely.
(4) `Truth In Testimony' Disclosure. In the case of a
witness appearing in a nongovernmental capacity, a written
statement of proposed testimony shall, to the extent
practicable, include: a curriculum vitae; a disclosure of the
amount and source of any Federal grant (or subgrant thereof)
or contract (or subcontract thereof), or of any contract or
payment originating with 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, to the extent that such information is relevant
to the subject matter of, and the witness' representational
capacity at, the hearing; and a disclosure of whether the
witness is an active registrant under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act (FARA). Such statements, with appropriate
redactions to protect the privacy, safety, or security of the
witness, shall be made publicly available in electronic form
not later than one day after the witness appears.
(5) Witness Presentation. A witness shall limit his or her
oral presentation to a brief summary of his or her written
statement.
(6) Translation. A witness requiring an interpreter or
translator should include in the testimony provided pursuant
to paragraph (1) the identity of the interpreter or
translator that the witness intends to use. Unless properly
noticed as a separate witness, an interpreter or translator
appearing before the Committee should not present views or
statements other than those expressed by the witness.
(c) Oaths. The Chairman of the full Committee or a
subcommittee, or any Member of the Committee designated by
the relevant Chairman, may administer oaths to any witness
appearing before the Committee.
7. Preparation and Maintenance of Committee Records
An accurate stenographic record shall be made of all
hearings and markup sessions. Members of the Committee and
any witness may examine the transcript of his or her own
remarks and may make any grammatical or technical changes
that do not substantively alter the record. Any such Member
or witness shall return the transcript to the Committee
offices within seven (7) calendar days (not including
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after receipt of the
transcript, or as soon thereafter as is practicable.
Any information supplied for the record at the request of a
Member of the Committee shall be provided to the Member when
received by the Committee.
Transcripts of hearings and markup sessions (except for the
record of a meeting or hearing which is closed to the public)
shall be printed as soon as is practicable after receipt of
the corrected versions, except that the Chairman may order
the transcript of a hearing to be printed without the
corrections of a Member or witness if the Chairman determines
that such Member or witness has been afforded a reasonable
time to correct such transcript and such transcript has not
been returned within such time.
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 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
[[Page H694]]
the rule, 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.
The Committee shall, to the maximum extent feasible, make
its publications available in electronic form.
8. Extraneous Materials in Committee Hearings Prints
No extraneous material shall be printed in either the body
or appendices of any Committee or subcommittee hearing,
except matter which has been accepted for inclusion in the
record during the hearing or by agreement of the Chairman of
the full Committee or a subcommittee and Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee or subcommittee within five (5)
calendar days of the hearing. Copies of bills and other
legislation under consideration and responses to written
questions submitted by Members shall not be considered
extraneous material.
Extraneous material in either the body or appendices of any
hearing to be printed which would be in excess of eight (8)
printed pages (for any one submission) shall be accompanied
by a written request to the relevant Chairman. Such written
request shall contain an estimate in writing from the Public
Printer of the probable cost of publishing such material.
9. Information on Committee Action
(a) Record Votes. The result of each record vote in any
meeting of the Committee outside of executive session shall
be made publicly available in electronic form within 48 hours
of such record vote. Such result shall include a description
of the amendment, motion, order, or other proposition, the
name of each Member voting for and against, and the Members
present but not voting.
(b) Adopted Amendments. Not later than 24 hours after the
adoption of any amendment to a measure or matter considered
by the Committee, the text of each such amendment shall be
made publicly available in electronic form.
(c) Hearing and Markup Attendance. Member attendance at
each Committee hearing and markup shall be recorded and
included in the Committee print of the transcript of that
hearing or markup.
10. Proxies
Proxy Voting is not Permitted in the Committee or in
Subcommittees.
11. Reports
(a) Reports on Bills and Resolutions. To the extent
practicable, not later than 24 hours before a report is to be
filed with the Clerk of the House on a measure that has been
ordered reported by the Committee, the Chairman shall make
available for inspection by all Members of the Committee a
copy of the draft Committee report in order to afford Members
adequate information and the opportunity to draft and file
any supplemental, minority or additional views which they may
deem appropriate.
With respect to each record vote on a motion to report any
measure or matter of a public character, and on any amendment
offered to the measure or matter, the total number of votes
cast for and against, and the names of those Members voting
for and against, shall be included in any Committee report on
the measure or matter.
(b) Prior Approval of Certain Reports. No Committee,
subcommittee, or staff report, study, or other document which
purports to express publicly the views, findings,
conclusions, or recommendations of the Committee or a
subcommittee may be released to the public or filed with the
Clerk of the House unless approved by a majority of the
Committee or subcommittee, as appropriate. A proposed
investigative or oversight report shall be considered as read
if it has been available to Members of the Committee for at
least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal
holidays except when the House is in session on such a day).
In any case in which clause 2(1) of rule XI and clause
3(a)(1) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives does not
apply, each Member of the Committee or subcommittee shall be
given an opportunity to have views or a disclaimer included
as part of the material filed or released, as the case may
be.
(c) Foreign Travel Reports. At the same time that the
report required by clause 8(b)(3) of rule X of the House of
Representatives, regarding foreign travel reports, is
submitted to the Chairman, Members and employees of the
Committee shall provide a report to the Chairman listing all
official meetings, interviews, inspection tours and other
official functions in which the individual participated, by
country and date. Under extraordinary circumstances, the
Chairman may waive the listing in such report of an official
meeting, interview, inspection tour, or other official
function. The report shall be maintained in the Committee
offices and shall be available for public inspection during
normal business hours. Except in extraordinary circumstances,
no Member or employee of the Committee will be authorized for
additional Committee travel until the reports described in
this subsection have been submitted to the Chairman for that
person's prior Committee travel.
12. Reporting Bills and Resolutions
Except in extraordinary circumstances, bills and
resolutions will not be considered by the Committee unless
and until the appropriate subcommittee has recommended the
bill or resolution for Committee action, and will not be
taken to the House of Representatives for action unless and
until the Committee or a relevant subcommittee has ordered
reported such bill or resolution, a quorum being present.
Except in extraordinary circumstances, a bill or resolution
originating in the House of Representatives that contains
exclusively findings and policy declarations or expressions
of the sense of the House of Representatives or the sense of
the Congress shall not be considered by the Committee or a
subcommittee unless such bill or resolution has at least 25
House co-sponsors, at least 10 of whom are Members of the
Committee.
For purposes of this rule, extraordinary circumstances will
be determined by the Chairman, after consultation with the
Ranking Minority Member and such other Members of the
Committee as the Chairman deems appropriate.
The Committee or a subcommittee shall not consider a bill
or resolution originating in the House of Representatives
that expresses appreciation, commends, congratulates,
celebrates, recognizes the accomplishments of, or celebrates
the anniversary of, an entity, event, group, individual,
institution, team, or government program, or that
acknowledges or recognizes a period of time for such
purposes, except in circumstances determined by the Chairman
with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member.
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.
13. Staff Services
The Committee staff shall be selected and organized so that
it can provide a comprehensive range of professional services
in the field of foreign affairs to the Committee, the
subcommittees, and all its Members. The staff shall include
persons with training and experience in foreign affairs,
making available to the Committee individuals with knowledge
of major countries, areas, and U.S. overseas programs and
operations.
Subject to clause 9 of rule X of the House of
Representatives, the staff of the Committee, except as
provided in paragraph (c), shall be appointed, and may be
removed, by the Chairman with the approval of the majority of
the Members in the majority party of the Committee. Their
remuneration shall be fixed by the Chairman, and they shall
work under the general supervision and direction of the
Chairman. Staff assignments are to be authorized by the
Chairman or by the Staff Director under the direction of the
Chairman.
Subject to clause 9 of rule X of the House of
Representatives, the staff of the Committee assigned to the
minority shall be appointed, their remuneration determined,
and may be removed, by the Ranking Minority Member with the
approval of the majority of the minority party Members of the
Committee. Such staff shall work under the general
supervision and direction of the Ranking Minority Member with
the approval or consultation of the minority Members of the
Committee.
The Chairman shall ensure that sufficient staff is made
available to each subcommittee to carry out its
responsibilities under the rules of the Committee. The
Chairman shall ensure that the minority party is fairly
treated in the appointment of such staff.
14. Number and Jurisdiction of Subcommittees
(a) Full Committee. The full Committee will be responsible
for oversight and legislation relating to: foreign assistance
(including development assistance, Millennium Challenge
Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Account, HIV/AIDS in
foreign countries, security assistance, and Public Law 480
programs abroad); national security developments affecting
foreign policy; strategic planning and agreements; war
powers, treaties, executive agreements, and the deployment
and use of United States Armed Forces; peacekeeping, peace
enforcement, and enforcement of United Nations or other
international sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues;
the United States Agency for International Development;
activities and policies of the State, Commerce, and Defense
Departments and other agencies related to the Arms Export
Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act, including export
and licensing policy for munitions items and technology and
dual-use equipment and technology; international law;
promotion of democracy; international law enforcement issues,
including narcotics control programs and activities;
Broadcasting Board of Governors; embassy security;
international broadcasting; public diplomacy, including
international communication and information policy, and
international education and exchange programs; and all other
matters not specifically assigned to a subcommittee. The full
Committee will have jurisdiction over legislation with
respect to the administration of the Export Administration
Act, including the export and licensing of dual-use equipment
and technology and other matters related to international
economic policy and trade not otherwise assigned to a
subcommittee, and with respect to the United Nations, its
affiliated agencies, and other international organizations,
including assessed and voluntary contributions to such
organizations. The full Committee may conduct oversight and
investigations with respect to any matter within the
jurisdiction of the Committee as defined in the Rules of the
House of Representatives.
(b) Subcommittees. There shall be six (6) standing
subcommittees. The names and jurisdiction of those
subcommittees shall be as follows:
[[Page H695]]
(1) Functional Subcommittee. There shall be one
subcommittee with functional jurisdiction:
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade:
Oversight and legislative responsibilities over the United
States' efforts to manage and coordinate international
programs to combat terrorism as coordinated by the Department
of State and other agencies, and efforts to bring
international terrorists to justice. With the concurrence of
the Chairman of the full Committee, oversight of, and
legislation pertaining to, nonproliferation matters involving
nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass
destruction, except for legislation involving the Foreign
Assistance Act, the Arms Export Control Act, the Export
Administration Act, and sanctions laws pertaining to
individual countries and the provision of foreign assistance
(which is reserved to the full Committee). Oversight of
matters relating to international economic and trade policy;
commerce with foreign countries; international investment
policy; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the
Trade and Development Agency; commodity agreements; and
special oversight of international financial and monetary
institutions; the Export-Import Bank, and customs. With the
concurrence of the Chairman of the full Committee,
legislative jurisdiction over measures related to export
promotion and measures related to the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency.
(2) Regional Subcommittees. There shall be five
subcommittees with regional jurisdiction: the Subcommittee on
Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International
Organizations; the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific; the
Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats; the
Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa; and the
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. As detailed below,
two of the regional subcommittees also shall have functional
jurisdiction.
The regional subcommittees shall have jurisdiction over the
following within their respective regions:
(1) Matters affecting the political relations between the
United States and other countries and regions, including
resolutions or other legislative measures directed to such
relations.
(2) Legislation with respect to disaster assistance outside
the Foreign Assistance Act, boundary issues, and
international claims.
(3) Legislation with respect to region- or country-specific
loans or other financial relations outside the Foreign
Assistance Act.
(4) Legislation and oversight regarding human rights
practices in particular countries.
(5) Oversight of regional lending institutions.
(6) Oversight of matters related to the regional activities
of the United Nations, of its affiliated agencies, and of
other multilateral institutions.
(7) Identification and development of options for meeting
future problems and issues relating to U.S. interests in the
region.
(8) Oversight of base rights and other facilities access
agreements and regional security pacts.
(9) Concurrent oversight jurisdiction with respect to
matters assigned to the functional subcommittees insofar as
they may affect the region.
(10) Oversight of foreign assistance activities affecting
the region, with the concurrence of the Chairman of the full
Committee.
(11) Such other matters as the Chairman of the full
Committee may determine.
The Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human
Rights, and International Organizations: In addition to its
regional jurisdiction, oversight of: international health
issues, including transboundary infectious diseases, maternal
health and child survival, and programs related to the global
ability to address health issues; population issues; the
United Nations and its affiliated agencies (excluding
peacekeeping and enforcement of United Nations or other
international sanctions); the American Red Cross; and the
Peace Corps. In addition, legislation and oversight
pertaining to: implementation of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights; other matters relating to internationally-
recognized human rights, including legislation aimed at the
promotion of human rights and democracy generally; and the
Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child
Abduction, and related issues.
The Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats:
In addition to its regional jurisdiction, with the
concurrence of the Chairman of the full Committee, oversight
related to emerging foreign threats to the national security
and interests of the United States.
15. Powers and Duties of Subcommittees
(a) In General. Each subcommittee is authorized to meet,
hold hearings, receive evidence, and report to the full
Committee on all matters referred to it.
(b) Scheduling. Subcommittee chairmen shall set meeting
dates after consultation with the Chairman, other
subcommittee chairmen, the relevant Ranking Minority Member
and other appropriate Members, with a view toward minimizing
scheduling conflicts. Subcommittee meetings shall not be
scheduled to occur simultaneously with meetings of the full
Committee. Hearings shall not be scheduled to occur prior to
the first vote or subsequent to the last vote of a
legislative week, or outside of Washington, D.C., without
prior consultation with the relevant Ranking Minority Member.
In order to ensure orderly administration and fair assignment
of hearing and meeting rooms, the subject, time, and location
of hearings and meetings shall be arranged in advance with
the Chairman through the Staff Director of the Committee.
(c) Vice Chairmen. The Chairman of the Full Committee shall
designate a Member of the majority party on each subcommittee
as its vice chairman.
(d) Participation. The Chairman of the full Committee and
the Ranking Minority Member may attend the meetings and
participate in the activities of all subcommittees of which
they are not Members, except that they may not vote or be
counted for a quorum in such subcommittees.
(e) Required Oversight Hearings. During each 180-day period
following organization of the Committee, each subcommittee
shall hold at least one hearing on oversight of U.S.
Government activities.
16. Referral of Bills by Chairman
In accordance with rule 14 of the Committee and to the
extent practicable, all legislation and other matters
referred to the Committee shall be referred by the Chairman
to a subcommittee of primary jurisdiction within two (2)
weeks. In accordance with rule 14 of the Committee,
legislation may also be referred to additional subcommittees
for consideration. Unless otherwise directed by the Chairman,
such subcommittees shall act on or be discharged from
consideration of legislation that has been approved by the
subcommittee of primary jurisdiction within two (2) weeks of
such action. In referring any legislation to a subcommittee,
the Chairman may specify a date by which the subcommittee
shall report thereon to the full Committee.
Subcommittees with regional jurisdiction shall have joint
jurisdiction with the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health,
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations over
legislation regarding human rights practices in particular
countries within their regions.
The Chairman may designate a subcommittee Chairman or other
Member to take responsibility as manager of a bill or
resolution during its consideration in the House of
Representatives.
17. Party Ratios on Subcommittees and Conference Committees
The majority party caucus of the Committee shall determine
an appropriate ratio of majority to minority party Members
for each subcommittee. Party representation on each
subcommittee or conference committee shall be no less
favorable to the majority party than the ratio for the full
Committee. The Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member are
authorized to negotiate matters affecting such ratios
including the size of subcommittees and conference
committees.
18. Subcommittee Funding and Records
Each subcommittee shall have adequate funds to discharge
its responsibility for legislation and oversight.
In order to facilitate Committee compliance with clause
2(e)(1) of rule XI of the House of Representatives, each
subcommittee shall keep a complete record of all subcommittee
actions which shall include a record of the votes on any
question on which a record vote is demanded. The result of
each record vote shall be promptly made available to the full
Committee for inspection by the public in accordance with
rule 9 of the Committee.
All subcommittee hearings, records, data, charts, and files
shall be kept distinct from the congressional office records
of the Member serving as Chairman of the subcommittee.
Subcommittee records shall be coordinated with the records of
the full Committee, shall be the property of the House, and
all Members of the House shall have access thereto.
19. Meetings of Subcommittee Chairmen
The Chairman shall call a meeting of the subcommittee
chairmen on a regular basis not less frequently than once a
month. Such a meeting need not be held if there is no
business to conduct. It shall be the practice at such
meetings to review the current agenda and activities of each
of the subcommittees.
20. Access to Classified Information
(a) Authorized Persons. In accordance with the stipulations
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, all Members of
the House who have executed the oath required by clause 13 of
rule XXIII of the House of Representatives shall be
authorized to have access to classified information within
the possession of the Committee.
Members of the Committee staff shall be considered
authorized to have access to classified information within
the possession of the Committee when they have the proper
security clearances, when they have executed the oath
required by clause 13 of rule XXIII of the House of
Representatives, and when they have a demonstrable need to
know. The decision on whether a given staff member has a need
to know will be made on the following basis:
(1) In the case of the full Committee majority staff, by
the Chairman, acting through the Staff Director;
(2) In the case of the full Committee minority staff, by
the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, acting through
the Minority Staff Director;
(3) In the case of subcommittee majority staff, by the
chairman of the subcommittee;
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(4) In the case of the subcommittee minority staff, by the
Ranking Minority Member of the subcommittee.
No other individuals shall be considered authorized
persons, unless so designated by the Chairman of the full
Committee.
(b) Designated Persons. Each Committee Member is permitted
to designate one member of his or her staff as having the
right of access to information classified Confidential. Such
designated persons must have the proper security clearance,
have executed the oath required by clause 13 of rule XXIII of
the House of Representatives, and have a need to know as
determined by his or her principal. Upon request of a
Committee Member in specific instances, a designated person
also shall be permitted access to information classified
Secret which has been furnished to the Committee pursuant to
section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended. Upon
the written request of a Committee Member and with the
approval of the Chairman in specific instances, a designated
person may be permitted access to other classified materials.
Designation of a staff person shall be by letter from the
Committee Member to the Chairman.
(c) Location. Classified information will be stored in
secure safes in the Office of the Security Officer and in the
Office of the Minority Staff Director. All materials
classified Top Secret or higher must be stored in a Secure
Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF).
(d) Handling. Materials classified Confidential or Secret
may be taken from Committee offices to other Committee
offices and hearing rooms by Members of the Committee and
authorized Committee staff in connection with hearings and
briefings of the Committee or its subcommittees for which
such information is deemed to be essential. Removal of such
information from the Committee offices shall be only with the
permission of the Chairman under procedures designed to
ensure the safe handling and storage of such information at
all times. Except as provided in this paragraph, Top Secret
materials may not be taken from approved storage areas for
any purpose, except that such materials may be taken to
hearings and other meetings that are being conducted at the
Top Secret level when necessary. Materials classified Top
Secret may otherwise be used under conditions approved by the
Chairman after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member.
(e) Notice. Appropriate notice of the receipt of classified
documents received by the Committee from the Executive Branch
will be sent promptly to Committee Members through the Survey
of Activities or by other means.
(f) Access. Except as provided for above, access to
materials classified Top Secret or otherwise restricted held
by the Committee will be in approved Committee spaces. The
following procedures will be observed:
(1) Authorized persons will be permitted access to
classified documents after inquiring of the Staff Director or
an assigned staff member. Access to the SCIF will be afforded
during regular Committee hours.
(2) Authorized persons will be required to identify
themselves, to identify the documents or information they
wish to view, and to sign the Classified Materials Log, which
is kept with the classified information.
(3) The assigned staff member will be responsible for
maintaining a log which identifies: (1) authorized persons
seeking access, (2) the classified information requested, and
(3) the time of arrival and departure of such persons. The
assigned staff member will also assure that the classified
materials are returned to the proper location.
(g) Divulgence. Classified information provided to the
Committee by the Executive Branch shall be handled in
accordance with the procedures that apply within the
Executive Branch for the protection of such information. Any
classified information to which access has been gained
through the Committee may not be divulged to any unauthorized
person. Classified material shall not be photocopied or
otherwise reproduced. In no event shall classified
information be discussed in a non-secure environment.
Apparent violations of this rule should be reported as
promptly as possible to the Chairman for appropriate action.
(h) Other Regulations. The Chairman, after consultation
with the Ranking Minority Member, may establish such
additional regulations and procedures as in his judgment may
be necessary to safeguard classified information under the
control of the Committee. Members of the Committee will be
given notice of any such regulations and procedures promptly.
They may be modified or waived in any or all particulars by a
majority vote of the full Committee.
21. Broadcasting of Committee Hearings and Meetings
All Committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings which
are open to the public may be covered, in whole or in part,
by television broadcast, radio broadcast, and still
photography, or by any such methods of coverage in accordance
with the provisions of clause 3 of House rule XI.
The Chairman of the full Committee or a subcommittee shall
determine, in his or her discretion, the number of television
and still cameras permitted in a hearing or meeting room, but
shall not limit the number of television or still cameras to
fewer than two (2) representatives from each medium.
Such coverage shall be in accordance with the following
requirements contained in section 116(b) of the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1970, and clause 4 of XI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives:
(a) If the television, Internet or radio coverage of the
hearing or meeting is to be presented to the public as live
coverage, that coverage shall be conducted and presented
without commercial sponsorship.
(b) No witness served with a subpoena by the Committee
shall be required against his will to be photographed at any
hearing or to give evidence or testimony while the
broadcasting of that hearing, by radio or television is being
conducted. At the request of any such witness who does not
wish to be subjected to radio, television, Internet or still
photography coverage, all lenses shall be covered and all
microphones used for coverage turned off. This subparagraph
is supplementary to clause 2(k)(5) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives relating to the protection of
the rights of witnesses.
(c) The allocation among cameras permitted by the Chairman
of the full Committee or a subcommittee in a hearing room
shall be in accordance with fair and equitable procedures
devised by the Executive Committee of the Radio and
Television Correspondents' Galleries.
(d) Television cameras shall be placed so as not to
obstruct in any way the space between any witness giving
evidence or testimony and Member of the Committee or its
subcommittees or the visibility of that witness and that
Member to each other.
(e) Television cameras shall operate from fixed positions
but shall not be placed in positions which obstruct
unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing by the other media.
(f) Equipment necessary for coverage by the television and
radio media shall not be installed in, or removed from, the
hearing or meeting room while the Committee or subcommittee
is in session.
(g) Floodlights, spotlights, strobe lights, and flashguns
shall not be used in providing any method of coverage of the
hearing or meeting, except that the television media may
install additional lighting in the hearing room, without cost
to the Government, in order to raise the ambient lighting
level in the hearing room to the lowest level necessary to
provide adequate television coverage of the hearing or
meeting at the current state-of-the-art level of television
coverage.
(h) In the allocation of the number of still photographers
permitted by the Chairman of the full Committee or a
subcommittee in a hearing or meeting room, preference shall
be given to photographers from Associated Press Photos,
United Press International News pictures, and Reuters. If
requests are made by more of the media than will be permitted
by the Chairman of the full Committee or a subcommittee for
coverage of the hearing or meeting by still photography, that
coverage shall be made on the basis of a fair and equitable
pool arrangement devised by the Standing Committee of Press
Photographers.
(i) Photographers shall not position themselves, at any
time during the course of the hearing or meeting, between the
witness table and the Members of the Committee or its
subcommittees.
(j) Photographers shall not place themselves in positions
which obstruct unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing by
the other media.
(k) Personnel providing coverage by the television and
radio media shall be currently accredited to the Radio and
Television Correspondents' Galleries.
(1) Personnel providing coverage by still photography shall
be currently accredited to the Press Photographers' Gallery
Committee of Press Photographers.
(m) Personnel providing coverage by the television and
radio media and by still photography shall conduct themselves
and their coverage activities in an orderly and unobtrusive
manner.
22. Subpoena Powers
A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the Chairman, in
accordance with clause 2(m) of rule XI of the House of
Representatives, in the conduct of any investigation or
activity or series of investigations or activities within the
jurisdiction of the Committee, following consultation with
the Ranking Minority Member.
In addition, a subpoena may be authorized and issued by the
Committee or its subcommittees in accordance with clause 2(m)
of rule XI of the House of Representatives, in the conduct of
any investigation or activity or series of investigations or
activities, when authorized by a majority of the Members
voting, a majority of the Committee or subcommittee being
present.
Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the Chairman or by
any Member designated by the Committee.
23. Recommendation for Appointment of Conferees
Whenever the Speaker is to appoint a conference committee,
the Chairman shall recommend to the Speaker as conferees
those Members of the Committee who are primarily responsible
for the legislation (including to the full extent practicable
the principal proponents of the major provisions of the bill
as it passed the House), who have actively participated in
the Committee or subcommittee consideration of the
legislation, and who agree to attend the meetings of the
conference. With regard to the appointment of minority
Members, the Chairman shall consult with the Ranking Minority
Member.
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24. General Oversight
Not later than February 15th of the first session of a
Congress, the Committee shall meet in open session, with a
quorum present, to adopt its oversight plans for that
Congress for submission to the Committee on House
Administration and the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, in accordance with the provisions of clause 2(d) of
rule X of the House of Representatives.
In accordance with the provisions of clause 2(n) of rule XI
of the House of Representatives, the Committee or a
subcommittee thereof shall hold at least one hearing during
each 120-day period following its establishment on the topic
of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in programs within
its jurisdiction, as documented in reports received from a
Federal Office of the Inspector General or the Comptroller
General of the United States that have been provided to the
Ranking Minority Member prior to the notice of the hearing
pursuant to Committee rule 5.
25. Other Procedures and Regulations
The Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority
Member, may establish such other procedures and take such
actions as may be necessary to carry out the foregoing rules
or to facilitate the effective operation of the Committee.
Any additional procedures or regulations may be modified or
rescinded in any or all particulars by a majority vote of the
full Committee.
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