[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2983-H2984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES


   RULES OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS FOR THE 116TH 
                                CONGRESS


                                Congress of the United States,

                                    Washington, DC, April 2, 2019.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker of the House,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam Speaker, Pursuant to Rule XI, Clause 2(a) of the 
     Rules of the House of Representatives, I respectfully submit 
     the rules for the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in 
     the 116th Congress for publication in the Congressional 
     Record. The Select Committee adopted these rules by voice 
     vote, with a quorum being present, at our organizational 
     meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2019.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Kathy Castor,
                                                            Chair.


                       RULE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

       (a) The provisions of section 104(f) of H. Res. 6 (116th 
     Congress) governing the proceedings of the Select Committee 
     on the Climate Crisis (hereinafter referred to as the 
     ``Committee'') are hereby incorporated by reference and 
     nothing herein shall be construed as superseding any 
     provision of that section. The Rules of the House of 
     Representatives shall apply to the Committee to the extent 
     that they are not inconsistent with that title.
       (b) The rules of the Committee shall be made publicly 
     available in electronic form and published in the 
     Congressional Record not later than 30 days after the 
     Committee adopts its rules.


                           RULE 2. MEETINGS.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) The regular meeting date of the Committee shall be the 
     first Tuesday of every month when the House is in session in 
     accordance with clause 2(b) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
     House of Representatives. If the House is not in session on 
     the first Tuesday of a month, the regular meeting date shall 
     be the third Tuesday of that month. A regular meeting of the 
     Committee may be dispensed with if, in the judgment of the 
     Chair of the Committee, there is no need for the meeting.
       (2) Additional meetings may be called by the Chair of the 
     Committee as the Chair considers necessary, in accordance 
     with clause 2(g)(3) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (b) Meetings of the Committee shall be called to order and 
     presided over by the Chair or, in the Chair's absence, by a 
     member designated by the Chair to carry out such duties.
       (c) Notification.--
       (1) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(3) of Rule XI of the Rules of 
     the House, the Chair shall make a public announcement of the 
     date, place, and subject matter of a Committee meeting (other 
     than a hearing), which may not commence earlier than the 
     third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal 
     holidays except when the House is in session on such a day) 
     on which members have notice thereof.
       (2) The agenda for each Committee meeting, setting out all 
     items of business to be considered, shall be established by 
     the Chair and provided to each member of the Committee at 
     least 36 hours (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal 
     holidays except when the House is in session on such days) in 
     advance of the commencement of such meeting.
       (d) The requirements of paragraph (c) may be waived by a 
     majority vote of those present, a quorum being present, or by 
     the Chair with the concurrence of the Ranking Member. If the 
     requirements of paragraph (c) are waived, the Chair shall 
     notify the members of the Committee at the earliest possible 
     time.


                           RULE 3. HEARINGS.

       (a) Announcement of Hearings.--
       (1) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(3) of Rule XI of the Rules of 
     the House, the Chair shall announce the date, time, place, 
     and subject matter of any hearing of the Committee, which may 
     not commence earlier than one week after such notice.
       (2) A hearing may commence sooner than specified in (a)(1) 
     if the Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking Member, 
     determines there is good cause or the Committee so determines 
     by majority vote, a quorum being present. The Chair shall 
     announce the hearing at the earliest possible time.
       (b) Written Witness Statement; Oral Testimony.--
       (1) Filing of Statement.--To the greatest extent 
     practicable, each witness who is to appear before the 
     Committee shall file with the clerk of the Committee a 
     written statement of his or her proposed testimony at least 
     two business days in advance of his or her appearance. The 
     clerk of the Committee shall distribute this testimony to the 
     Members of the Committee as soon as is practicable and at 
     least one business day before the hearing. The requirements 
     of this subparagraph may be waived or modified by the Chair 
     after consultation with the Ranking Member.
       (2) Each witness shall limit his or her oral presentation 
     of testimony to no more than five minutes.
       (3) Truth in Testimony.--Each witness appearing in a 
     nongovernmental capacity shall include with the written 
     statement of his or her proposed testimony a curriculum vitae 
     and a disclosure of any Federal grants or contracts or 
     foreign government contracts and payments related to the 
     subject matter of the hearing received during the current 
     calendar year or either of the two preceding calendar years 
     by the witness or by an entity represented by the witness. 
     The disclosure shall include (A) the amount and source of 
     each Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or contract (or 
     subcontract thereof) related to the subject matter of the 
     hearing; and (B) the amount and country of origin of any 
     payment or contract related to the subject matter of the 
     hearing originating with a foreign government.
       (4) Availability of Information.--Statements filed under 
     this paragraph shall be made publicly available in electronic 
     form not later than one day after the witness appears.
       (c) Notification of Subject Matter.--As soon as practicable 
     but no later than 36 hours before the commencement of a 
     hearing, the Chair shall make available to the public and all 
     Members of the Committee a concise summary of the subject 
     matter under consideration at the hearing, any relevant 
     reports from departments or agencies on such matters, and a 
     list of witnesses, including minority witnesses.
       (d) Minority Witnesses.--When any hearing is conducted by 
     the Committee on any measure or matter, the minority party 
     members on the Committee shall be entitled, upon request to 
     the Chair by a majority of those members, to call at least 
     one witness, as selected by the minority members, to testify 
     with respect to that measure or matter along with witnesses 
     selected by the Chair.
       (e) Opening Statements.--
       (1) Chair and Ranking Member.--At any hearing of the 
     Committee, the Chair and Ranking Member shall each control 
     five minutes for opening statements. The Chair and Ranking 
     Member may recognize other members within their respective 
     five minutes.
       (2) Other Members.--The Chair may allow other members of 
     the Committee to deliver oral opening statements, as 
     appropriate, with the concurrence of the Ranking Member. Such 
     statements shall not exceed five minutes in length and are to 
     be equally distributed between majority and minority members 
     to the extent practicable given the party makeup of the 
     members present. Members not recognized by the Chair for oral 
     opening statements may submit written opening statements for 
     the record.
       (f) Questioning of Witnesses.--The Chair shall initiate the 
     right to question witnesses before the Committee, followed by 
     the Ranking Member and all other members thereafter.
       (1) Order of Member Recognition.--The right to question the 
     witnesses before the Committee shall alternate between 
     majority and minority members. A member of the Committee may 
     question a witness only when recognized by the Chair for that 
     purpose. The Chair shall recognize in order of appearance 
     members who were not present when the meeting was called to 
     order after all members who were present when the meeting was 
     called to order have been recognized in the order of 
     seniority on the Committee.
       (2) Procedures for Questioning of Witnesses by Members.--
     Each member shall be limited to 5 minutes in the questioning 
     of witnesses and shall limit his or her remarks to the 
     subject matter of the hearing. After consultation with the 
     Ranking Member, the Chair may recognize members who have 
     already had an opportunity to question the witness for a 
     second period of 5 minutes once each member of the Committee 
     present has been recognized once for that purpose.
       (3) Extended Questioning of Witnesses by Members.--
     Following the questioning of witnesses described in (f)(2) 
     above, the Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking Member 
     or the Committee by motion, may permit a specified number of 
     members to question one or more witnesses for a specified 
     period of time not to exceed 60 minutes in the aggregate, 
     equally divided between and controlled by the Chair and the 
     Ranking Member.
       (4) Questions for the Record.--Each member may submit to 
     the Chair additional questions for the record to be answered 
     by the witnesses who have appeared. Each member shall provide 
     a copy of the questions in an electronic format to the 
     Committee no later than 10 business days following a hearing. 
     The Chair shall transmit all questions received from members 
     of the Committee to the appropriate witnesses and include the 
     transmittal letter and the responses from the witnesses in 
     the hearing record. After consultation with the Ranking 
     Member, the Chair is authorized to close the hearing record 
     no earlier than 15 business days from the date the questions 
     were transmitted to the appropriate witnesses.
       (g) Hearings of the Committee shall be called to order and 
     presided over by the Chair or, in the Chair's absence, by a 
     member designated by the Chair to carry out such duties.
       (h) Oaths.--The Chair of the Committee, or a member 
     designated by the Chair, may administer oaths to any witness 
     before the Committee. The Chair or his or her designee may 
     administer the following oath to all witnesses prior to 
     receiving testimony: ``Do you solemnly swear or affirm, under 
     penalty of law, that the testimony you are about to give is 
     the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so 
     help you God?''

[[Page H2984]]

       (i) Claims of Privilege.--Claims of common-law privilege 
     made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees in 
     investigations or inquiries, are applicable only at the 
     discretion of the Chair, subject to appeal to the Committee.


                       RULE 4. OPEN PROCEEDINGS.

       (a) Meetings for the transaction of business and hearings 
     of the Committee shall be open to the public, including 
     radio, television, and still photography coverage, unless 
     closed in accordance with clause 2(g) of rule XI of the Rules 
     of the House of Representatives.
       (b) The audio and video coverage of Committee proceeding 
     permitted under clause 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House 
     of Representatives shall apply to the Committee.


                            RULE 5. REPORTS.

       (a) Approval of Official Committee Reports.--Any report 
     completed pursuant to section 104(f)(5) of H. Res. 6 (116th 
     Congress) that purports to express the views, findings, 
     conclusions, or recommendations of the Committee must be 
     approved by a majority vote of the Committee at a meeting at 
     which a quorum is present, in accordance with Committee Rule 
     7(a)(3). The total number of votes cast for and against, and 
     the names of those voting for and against, shall be included 
     in the Committee report on the matter.
       (b) Notice of Committee Reports.--Any report described in 
     (a) shall not be considered in the Committee unless the 
     proposed report has been available to the members of the 
     Committee for at least three business days before 
     consideration of such report in the Committee.
       (c) Additional Views.--If, at the time of approval of a 
     report, a member of the Committee gives notice of intent to 
     file supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views 
     for inclusion in the report, all members of the Committee 
     shall be entitled to no less than two business days after 
     such notice to file such views following clause 2(1) of rule 
     XI and clause 3(a)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House.
       (d) Availability of Publications.--Pursuant to clause 
     2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, the Committee 
     shall make its publications available in electronic form to 
     the maximum extent feasible. Pursuant to sections 104(f)(5) 
     and 104(f)(6) of H. Res. 6 (116th Congress), the Committee 
     shall make its publications available to the general public 
     in widely accessible formats not later than 30 calendar days 
     following the respective dates for completion.


                       RULE 6. COMMITTEE RECORDS.

       (a) Availability.--Documents reflecting the proceedings of 
     the Committee shall be made publicly available in electronic 
     form on the Committee's website and in the Committee office 
     for inspection by the public, as provided in clause 2(e) of 
     rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, within 
     48 hours of such recorded vote after each meeting has 
     adjourned, including a record showing those present at each 
     meeting; and a record of the vote on any question on which a 
     recorded vote is demanded, including a description of the 
     motion, order, or other proposition, the name of each member 
     voting for and each member voting against such motion, order, 
     or proposition, and the names of those members of the 
     Committee present but not voting.
       (b) Archived Records.--The records of the Committee 
     deposited at the National Archives shall be made available 
     for public use in accordance with Rule VII of the Rules of 
     the House. The Chair shall notify the Ranking Member of any 
     decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of such 
     rule, to withhold a record otherwise available. Upon written 
     request of any member of the Committee, the Chair shall 
     present the matter to the Committee for a determination, 
     which shall be subject to the same requirements for conduct 
     of Committee business under Committee Rule 2.


       RULE 7. QUORUMS AND RECORDED VOTES; POSTPONEMENT OF VOTES

       (a) Establishment of a Quorum.--
       (1) For the purpose of taking testimony and receiving 
     evidence, no fewer than two members of the Committee shall 
     constitute a quorum.
       (2) A majority of the members of the Committee shall 
     constitute a quorum for those actions for which the Rules of 
     the House of Representatives require a majority quorum.
       (3) A majority of the members of the Committee shall 
     constitute a quorum for issuing an official Committee report 
     pursuant to Rule 5 of the Committee rules and section 
     104(f)(5) of H. Res. 6 (116th Congress).
       (4) For the purposes of taking any other action, one-third 
     of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
       (b) Recorded Votes.--A recorded vote may be demanded by 
     one-fifth of the members present.
       (c) Postponement of Votes.--Pursuant to clause 2(h)(4) of 
     the Rules of the House, the Chair, after consultation with 
     the Ranking Member, may postpone further proceedings when a 
     recorded vote is ordered on the question of approving any 
     measure or matter or adopting an amendment and may resume 
     proceedings on a postponed vote at any time after reasonable 
     notice to Members by the Clerk or other designee of the 
     Chair. 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.


                        RULE 8. COMMITTEE STAFF.

       (a) Professional and other staff of the Committee are 
     subject to the provisions of clause 9 of rule X of the Rules 
     of the House of Representatives.
       (b) Majority Staff.--The Chair shall appoint and determine 
     the remuneration of, and may remove, the employees of the 
     Committee not assigned to the minority. The staff of the 
     Committee not assigned to the minority shall be under the 
     general supervision and direction of the Chair, who shall 
     establish and assign the duties and responsibilities of such 
     staff members and delegate such authority as he or she 
     determines appropriate.
       (c) Minority Staff.--The Ranking Member shall appoint and 
     determine the remuneration of, and may remove, the staff 
     assigned to the minority within the budget approved for such 
     purposes.
       The staff assigned to the minority shall be under the 
     general supervision and direction of the Ranking Member, who 
     may delegate any authority he or she determines appropriate.
       (d) The Chair and Ranking Member have the right to secure 
     one or more detailees to assist with the work of the 
     Committee.


                            RULE 9. BUDGET.

       (a) The Chair, in consultation with the Ranking Member, 
     shall prepare a budget providing amounts for staff, committee 
     travel, field hearings, investigation, and other expenses of 
     the Committee. Funds authorized for the Committee as provided 
     in clause 6 of Rule X are for expenses incurred in the 
     activities of the Committee.
       (b) Consistent with clause 9 of Rule X, the Chair shall 
     designate an amount equal to 1/3 of the amount provided to 
     the Committee in the primary expense resolution adopted by 
     the House of Representatives to be under the direction of the 
     Ranking Member for the compensation of the minority staff, 
     travel expenses of minority members and staff, and minority 
     office expenses. All expenses of minority members and staff 
     shall be paid for out of the amount so set aside.


                            RULE 10. TRAVEL.

       (a) The Chair may authorize travel for any member and any 
     staff member of the Committee in connection with activities 
     or subject matters under the general jurisdiction of the 
     Committee. Travel to be reimbursed from funds set aside for 
     the Committee for any member of staff member shall be paid 
     only upon the prior authorization of the Chair. Before such 
     authorization is granted, there shall be submitted to the 
     Chair in writing the following:
       (1) The purpose of the travel.
       (2) The dates during which the travel is to occur.
       (3) The names of the states or countries to be visited and 
     the length of time to be spent in each.
       (4) An agenda of anticipated activities.
       (5) The names of members and staff of the Committee for 
     whom the authorization is sought.
       (b) Members and staff of the Committee shall make a written 
     report to the Chair on any travel they have conducted under 
     this subsection, including a description of their itinerary, 
     expenses, and activities, and of pertinent information gained 
     as a result of such travel.
       (c) Members and staff of the Committee performing 
     authorized travel on official business shall be governed by 
     applicable laws, resolutions, and regulations of the House 
     and of the Committee on House Administration.


                           RULE 11. WEBSITE.

       The Chair shall maintain an official Committee website for 
     the purpose of carrying out the official responsibilities of 
     the Committee, including communicating information about the 
     Committee's activities. The Ranking Member may maintain a 
     minority website. To the maximum extent feasible, the 
     Committee shall make its publications available in electronic 
     form on the official Committee website maintained by the 
     Chair.

                          ____________________