[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 30, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1325-H1328]
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 116th CONGRESS
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I respectfully submit the
Rules of the Committee on Armed Services for the 116th Congress, as
adopted by the committee on January 24, 2019.
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 60 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 the Department of Energy, counter-drug programs,
security cooperation and humanitarian assistance activities
(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. While subcommittees are provided
jurisdictional responsibilities in subparagraph (a)(2) and
are required to conduct oversight in their respective
jurisdictions, pursuant to clause 2(b)(2) of rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, 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 six
standing subcommittees with the following jurisdictions:
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces: Army programs
and accounts related to aircraft, ground equipment, missiles,
ammunition, and other procurement; Marine Corps programs and
accounts related to ground and amphibious equipment, fighter
aircraft, helicopters, air-launched weapons, and ammunition;
Air Force programs and accounts related to fighter, training,
reconnaissance and surveillance, and electronic warfare
aircraft, helicopters, air-launched weapons, ground
equipment, and ammunition; Navy programs and accounts related
to fighter, training, and electronic warfare aircraft,
helicopters, and air-launched weapons; tactical air and
missile defense programs and accounts; chemical agent and
munition destruction programs and accounts; and National
Guard and Reserve equipment programs and accounts.
Subcommittee on Military Personnel: Department of Defense
policy and programs and accounts related to military
personnel and their families, Reserve Component integration
and employment, military health care, military education,
dependent schools, POW/MIA issues, Morale, Welfare and
Recreation, commissaries, cemeteries under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Defense, the Uniform Code of Military
Justice, and military retirement issues.
Subcommittee on Readiness: Department of Defense policy and
programs and accounts related to military readiness,
training, logistics and maintenance, military construction,
organic industrial base, the civilian and contract workforce,
environment, military installations and real property
management, family housing, base realignments and closures,
and energy.
Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces: Navy and
Marine Corps acquisition
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programs and accounts related to shipbuilding and conversion,
reconnaissance and surveillance, tanker, and airlift
aircraft, ship and submarine-launched weapons, ammunition,
and other procurements; Air Force programs and accounts
related to bomber, tanker, and airlift aircraft; Army
programs and accounts related to waterborne vessels; and
Maritime policy and programs and accounts 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: Department of Defense and
Department of Energy policy related to strategic deterrence,
strategic stability, nuclear weapons, strategic and nuclear
arms control, nonproliferation, nuclear safety, missile
defense, and space; Department of Defense programs and
accounts related to nuclear weapons, strategic missiles,
nuclear command and control systems, Department of Defense
intelligence space, space systems and services of the
military departments, and intermediate and long-range missile
defense systems; and Department of Energy national security
programs and accounts.
Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and
Capabilities: Department of Defense policy and programs and
accounts related to military intelligence, national
intelligence, countering weapons of mass destruction,
counter-proliferation, counter-terrorism, other sensitive
military operations, special operations forces, cyber
security, cyber operations, cyber forces, information
technology, information operations, and science and
technology (including defense-wide programs and accounts
related to research, development, testing, and evaluation,
except for those defense-wide programs and accounts related
to research, development, testing, and evaluation of missile
defense systems).
(3) Definitions--For the purposes of subparagraph (a)(2):
(A) The phrase ``programs and accounts'' means acquisition
and modernization programs, sustainment planning during
program development, and related funding lines for
procurement, advanced development, advanced component
development and prototypes, systems development, sustainment
planning, and demonstration.
(B) The term ``policy'' means statutes, regulations,
directives, and other institutional guidance.
(C) The phrase ``science and technology'' means science and
technology programs and related funding lines for basic
research, applied research, and non-acquisition program
advanced development.
(b) Membership of the Subcommittees
(1) Subcommittee memberships shall be filled in accordance
with the rules of the majority party's caucus and the
minority party's conference, respectively.
(2) The Chairman of the Committee and the Ranking Minority
Member thereof (hereinafter referred to as the ``Ranking
Minority Member'') 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.
(3) A member of the Committee who is not a member of a
particular subcommittee may sit with the subcommittee and
participate during any of its hearings but shall not have
authority to vote, cannot be counted for the purpose of
achieving a quorum, and cannot raise a point of order at the
hearing.
RULE 5. COMMITTEE PANELS AND TASK FORCES
(a) Committee Panels
(1) The Chairman may designate a panel of the Committee
consisting of members of the Committee to inquire into and
take testimony on a matter or matters that fall within the
jurisdiction of more than one subcommittee and to report to
the Committee.
(2) No panel appointed by the Chairman shall continue in
existence for more than six months after the appointment. A
panel so appointed may, upon the expiration of six months, be
reappointed by the Chairman for a period of time which is not
to exceed six months.
(3) Consistent with the party ratios established by the
majority party, all majority members of the panels shall be
appointed by the Chairman, and all minority members shall be
appointed by the Ranking Minority Member. The Chairman 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
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, or the chairman of a subcommittee with
the concurrence of the Chairman, 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 the Ranking Minority Member or
the chairman and the ranking minority member of a
subcommittee shall each appoint an equal number of members to
the task force. The Chairman or the chairman of a
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 or the ranking minority member of a
subcommittee shall similarly appoint the ranking minority
member of the task force.
(2) No task force appointed by the Chairman or the chairman
of a 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 the Ranking Minority Member or the concurrence
of the chairman and the ranking minority member of the
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 or the chairman of a
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, or the chairman
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
calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal
holidays except when the House is in session on such a day)
before the commencement of a meeting. However, if the
Chairman, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority
Member, or the chairman 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, 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, or the chairman 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
[[Page H1327]]
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,
subcommittee, panel, or task force 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 paragraph (a)
and the provisions of clause 2(g)(2)(A) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives and in accordance with
the provisions of clause 2(g)(2)(B) 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, subcommittee, panel, or
task force, the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force
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, subcommittee, panel, or task force 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, subcommittee, panel, or task force shall proceed
to receive such testimony in open session only if the
Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force, a majority
being present, determines that such evidence or testimony
will not tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, and with the approval of
the Chairman, each member of the Committee may designate by
letter to the Chairman, one member of that member's personal
staff, and an alternate, which may include fellows, with Top
Secret security clearance to attend hearings of the
Committee, or that member's subcommittee(s), panel(s), or
task force(s) (excluding briefings or meetings held under the
provisions of committee rule 9(a)), which have been closed
under the provisions of rule 9(a) above for national security
purposes for the taking of testimony. The attendance of such
a staff member or fellow at such hearings is subject to the
approval of the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force
as dictated by national security requirements at that time.
The attainment of any required security clearances is the
responsibility of individual members of the Committee.
(d) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, no Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner may be excluded from nonparticipatory
attendance at any hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee,
unless the House of Representatives shall by majority vote
authorize the Committee or subcommittee, for purposes of a
particular series of hearings on a particular article of
legislation or on a particular subject of investigation, to
close its hearings to Members, Delegates, and the Resident
Commissioner by the same procedures designated in this rule
for closing hearings to the public.
(e) The Committee or the subcommittee may vote, by the same
procedure, to meet in executive session for up to five
additional consecutive days of hearings.
RULE 10. QUORUM
(a) For purposes of taking testimony and receiving
evidence, two members shall constitute a quorum.
(b) One-third of the members of the Committee or
subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for taking any action,
with the following exceptions, in which case a majority of
the Committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum:
(1) Reporting a measure or recommendation;
(2) Closing Committee or subcommittee meetings and hearings
to the public;
(3) Authorizing the issuance of subpoenas;
(4) Authorizing the use of executive session material; and
(5) Voting to proceed in open session after voting to close
to discuss whether evidence or testimony to be received would
tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person.
(c) No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the
House of Representatives unless a majority of the Committee
is actually present.
RULE 11. THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE
(a) Subject to rule 15, the time any one member may address
the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force 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 the Ranking Minority Member or
the chairman and the ranking minority member of a
subcommittee, panel, or task force.
(b)(1) Members who are present at a hearing of the
Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force when a hearing
is originally convened shall be recognized by the Chairman or
subcommittee, panel, or task force 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 or the chairman and the ranking minority
member of a subcommittee, panel, or task force, as
appropriate, 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, panel,
or task force may be recognized by a subcommittee, panel, or
task force chairman in order of their arrival and after all
present subcommittee, panel, or task force members have been
recognized.
(3) The Chairman of the Committee or the chairman of a
subcommittee, panel, or task force, 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
Chairman and after consultation with the Ranking Minority
Member, 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, panel, or task force shall
be submitted to the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task
force at least 48 hours in advance of presentation and shall
be distributed to all members of the Committee, subcommittee,
panel, or task force 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,
subcommittee, panel, or task force 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, subcommittee, panel, or task
force, a quorum being present. In cases where a witness does
not submit a statement by the time required under this rule,
the Chairman, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority
Member, or the chairman of a subcommittee, panel, or task
force, 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, panel, or task
force 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.
[[Page H1328]]
(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, panel, or
task force) 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, panel, or task force, members of the Committee,
subcommittee, panel, or task force may put questions to the
witness only when recognized by the Chairman, subcommittee,
panel, or task force chairman, as appropriate, for that
purpose according to rule 11 of the Committee.
(b) Members of the Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task
force 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 the subcommittee,
panel, or task force chairman, as appropriate.
(c) Questions put to witnesses before the Committee,
subcommittee, panel, or task force shall be pertinent to the
measure or matter that may be before the Committee,
subcommittee, panel, or task force for consideration.
RULE 16. PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
The transcripts of those hearings conducted by the
Committee, subcommittee, panel, or task force 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, with the concurrence of the Ranking
Minority Member, or the chairman of a subcommittee, as
appropriate, with the concurrence of the respective ranking
minority member or the most senior minority member who is
present at the time, may elect to postpone requested record
votes until such time or point at a markup as is mutually
decided. When proceedings resume on a postponed question,
notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous
question, the underlying proposition shall remain subject to
further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the
question was postponed.
rule 18. committee reports
(a) If, at the time of approval of any measure or matter by
the Committee, any member of the Committee gives timely
notice of intention to file supplemental, minority,
additional or dissenting views, all members shall be entitled
to not less than two calendar days (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in
session on such days) in which to file such written and
signed views with the Staff Director of the Committee, or the
Staff Director's designee. All such views so filed by one or
more members of the Committee shall be included within, and
shall be a part of, the report filed by the Committee with
respect to that measure or matter.
(b) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report
any measure or matter, and on any amendment offered to the
measure or matter, the total number of votes cast for and
against, the names of those voting for and against, and a
brief description of the question, shall be included in the
Committee report on the measure or matter.
(c) Not later than 24 hours after the adoption of any
amendment to a measure or matter considered by the Committee,
the Chairman shall cause the text of each such amendment to
be made publicly available in electronic form as provided in
clause 2(e)(6) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
rule 19. public inspection of committee rollcalls
The result of each record vote in any meeting of the
Committee shall be made available by the Committee for
inspection by the public at reasonable times in the offices
of the Committee and also made publicly available in
electronic form within 48 hours of such record vote pursuant
to clause 2(e)(1)(B)(i) of rule XI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives. Information so available shall include a
description of the amendment, motion, order, or other
proposition and the name of each member voting for and each
member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or
proposition and the names of those members present but not
voting.
rule 20. protection of national security and other information
(a) Except as provided in clause 2(g) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, all national security
information bearing a classification of Confidential or
higher which has been received by the Committee or a
subcommittee shall be deemed to have been received in
executive session and shall be given appropriate safekeeping.
(b) The Chairman 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 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 the
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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