[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S922-S923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

          SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY RULES OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the Committee on the Judiciary has adopted 
rules governing its procedures for the 117th Congress. Pursuant to 
rules XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf 
of myself and Ranking Member Grassley, I ask unanimous consent that a 
copy of the committee rules be printed in the Record.

   Rules of Procedure United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary


                      I. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

       1. Meetings of the Committee may be called by the Chair as 
     he or she may deem necessary on at least three calendar days' 
     notice of the date, time, place and subject matter of the 
     meeting, or in the alternative with the consent of the 
     Ranking Minority Member, or pursuant to the provision of the 
     Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended.
       2. Unless a different date and time are set by the Chair 
     pursuant to (1) of this section, Committee meetings shall be 
     held beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursdays the Senate is in 
     session, which shall be the regular meeting day for the 
     transaction of business.
       3. At the request of any member, or by action of the Chair, 
     a bill, matter, or nomination on the agenda of the Committee 
     may be held over until the next meeting of the Committee or 
     for one week, whichever occurs later.


                     II. HEARINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

       1. The Committee shall provide a public announcement of the 
     date, time, place and subject matter of any hearing to be 
     conducted by the Committee or any Subcommittee at least seven 
     calendar days prior to the commencement of that hearing, 
     unless the Chair with the consent of the Ranking Minority 
     Member determines that good cause exists to begin such 
     hearing at an earlier date. Witnesses shall provide a written 
     statement of their testimony and curriculum vitae to the 
     Committee at least 24 hours preceding the hearings in as many 
     copies as the Chair of the Committee or Subcommittee 
     prescribes.
       2. In the event 14 calendar days' notice of a hearing has 
     been made, witnesses appearing before the Committee, 
     including any witness representing a Government agency, must 
     file with the Committee at least 48 hours preceding 
     appearance written statements of their testimony and 
     curriculum vitae in as many copies as the Chair of the 
     Committee or Subcommittee prescribes.
       3. In the event a witness fails timely to file the written 
     statement in accordance with this rule, the Chair may permit 
     the witness to testify, or deny the witness the privilege of 
     testifying before the Committee, or permit the witness to 
     testify in response to questions from Senators without the 
     benefit of giving an opening statement.


                              III. QUORUMS

       1. Seven Members of the Committee, actually present, shall 
     constitute a quorum for the purpose of discussing business. 
     Nine Members of the Committee, including at least two Members 
     of the minority, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of 
     transacting business. No bill, matter, or nomination shall be 
     ordered reported from the Committee, however, unless a 
     majority of the Committee is actually present at the time 
     such action is taken and a majority of those present support 
     the action taken.
       2. For the purpose of taking down sworn testimony, a quorum 
     of the Committee and each Subcommittee thereof, now or 
     hereafter appointed, shall consist of one Senator.


                    IV. BRINGING A MATTER TO A VOTE

       The Chair shall entertain a non-debatable motion to bring a 
     matter before the Committee to a vote. If there is objection 
     to bring the matter to a vote without further debate, a roll 
     call vote of the Committee shall be taken, and debate shall 
     be terminated if the motion to bring the matter to a vote 
     without further debate passes with twelve votes in the 
     affirmative, one of which must be cast by the minority.


                             V. AMENDMENTS

       1. Provided at least seven calendars days' notice of the 
     agenda is given, and the text of the proposed bill or 
     resolution has been made available at least seven calendar 
     days in advance, it shall not be in order for the Committee 
     to consider any amendment in the first degree proposed to any 
     measure under consideration by the Committee unless such 
     amendment has been delivered to the office of the Committee 
     and circulated via e-mail to each of the offices by at least 
     5:00 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled start of the 
     meeting.
       2. It shall be in order, without prior notice, for a Member 
     to offer a motion to strike a single section of any bill, 
     resolution, or amendment under consideration.
       3. The time limit imposed on the filing of amendments shall 
     apply to no more than three bills identified by the Chair and 
     included on the Committee's legislative agenda.
       4. This section of the rule may be waived by agreement of 
     the Chair and the Ranking Minority Member.


                            VI. PROXY VOTING

       When a recorded vote is taken in the Committee on any bill, 
     resolution, amendment,

[[Page S923]]

     or any other question, a quorum being present, Members who 
     are unable to attend the meeting may submit votes by proxy, 
     in writing or by telephone, or through personal instructions. 
     A proxy must be specific with respect to the matters it 
     addresses.


                           VII. SUBCOMMITTEES

       1. Any Member of the Committee may sit with any 
     Subcommittee during its hearings or any other meeting, but 
     shall not have the authority to vote on any matter before the 
     Subcommittee unless a Member of such Subcommittee.
       2. Subcommittees shall be considered de novo whenever there 
     is a change in the Subcommittee chair and seniority on the 
     particular Subcommittee shall not necessarily apply.
       3. Except for matters retained at the full Committee, 
     matters shall be referred to the appropriate Subcommittee or 
     Subcommittees by the Chair, except as agreed by a majority 
     vote of the Committee or by the agreement of the Chair and 
     the Ranking Minority Member.
       4. Provided all members of the Subcommittee consent, a bill 
     or other matter may be polled out of the Subcommittee. In 
     order to be polled out of a Subcommittee, a majority of the 
     members of the Subcommittee who vote must vote in favor of 
     reporting the bill or matter to the Committee.


                         VIII. ATTENDANCE RULES

       1. Official attendance at all Committee business meetings 
     of the Committee shall be kept by the Committee Clerk. 
     Official attendance at all Subcommittee business meetings 
     shall be kept by the Subcommittee Clerk.
       2. Official attendance at all hearings shall be kept, 
     provided that Senators are notified by the Committee Chair 
     and Ranking Minority Member, in the case of Committee 
     hearings, and by the Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Minority 
     Member, in the case of Subcommittee Hearings, 48 hours in 
     advance of the hearing that attendance will be taken; 
     otherwise, no attendance will be taken. Attendance at all 
     hearings is encouraged.


                             IX. SUBPOENAS

       The Chair of the Committee, with the agreement of the 
     Ranking Member or by a vote of the Committee, may subpoena 
     the attendance of a witness at a Committee or Subcommittee 
     hearing or Committee deposition, or the production of 
     memoranda, documents, records, or any other materials. Any 
     such subpoena shall be issued upon the signature of the Chair 
     or any other Member of the Committee designated by the Chair.


                             X. DEPOSITIONS

       1. Any subpoena issued for a deposition that is to be 
     conducted by staff shall be accompanied by a notice of 
     deposition identifying the Majority staff officers designated 
     by the Chair and the Minority staff officers designated by 
     the Ranking Member to take the deposition, and the Majority 
     and Minority shall be afforded the opportunity to participate 
     on equal terms.
       2. Unless waived by agreement of the Chair and Ranking 
     Member, any deposition shall have at least one Member present 
     for the duration of the deposition. All Members shall be 
     notified of the date, time, and location of any deposition.
       3. Any Member of the Committee may attend and participate 
     in the taking of any deposition.
       4. A witness at a deposition shall be examined upon oath 
     administered by an individual authorized by law to administer 
     oaths, or administered by any Member of the Committee if one 
     is present.
       5. Unless otherwise specified, the deposition shall be in 
     private.

Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee Jurisdictions With Membership--
                             117th Congress


   Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights

       Jurisdiction: Oversight of antitrust law and competition 
     policy and antitrust law, including the Sherman, Clayton, and 
     Federal Trade Commission Acts; (2) oversight of antitrust 
     enforcement and competition policy at the Justice Department; 
     (3) oversight of antitrust enforcement and competition policy 
     at the Federal Trade Commission; (4) oversight of competition 
     throughout the federal government at other federal agencies.
       Senator Klobuchar, Chair, Senator Leahy, Senator 
     Blumenthal, Senator Booker, Senator Ossoff, Senator Lee, 
     Ranking Member, Senator Hawley, Senator Cotton, Senator 
     Tillis, Senator Blackburn.


      Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety

       Jurisdiction: (1) Immigration, citizenship, and refugee 
     laws; (2) Oversight of the immigration functions of the 
     Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Citizenship 
     and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
     U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Ombudsman 
     Citizenship and Immigration Services; (3) Oversight of the 
     immigration-related functions of the Department of Justice, 
     the Department of State, the Department of Health and Human 
     Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the Department 
     of Labor; (4) Oversight of international migration, 
     internally displaced persons, and refugee laws and policy; 
     and (5) Private immigration relief bills.
       Senator Padilla, Chair, Senator Feinstein, Senator 
     Klobuchar, Senator Coon, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Hirono, 
     Senator Booker, Senator Cornyn, Ranking Member, Senator 
     Graham, Senator Cruz, Senator Cotton, Senator Kennedy, 
     Senator Tillis, Senator Blackburn.


                    Subcommittee on the Constitution

       Jurisdiction: (1) Constitutional amendments; (2) Oversight 
     of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice; 
     (3) Enforcement and protection of constitutional rights; (4) 
     Statutory guarantees of civil rights and civil liberties; (5) 
     Separation of powers; (6) Federal-State relations; and (7) 
     Interstate compacts.
       Senator Blumenthal, Chair, Senator Feinstein, Senator 
     Whitehouse, Senator Ossoff, Senator Cruz, Ranking Member, 
     Senator Cornyn, Senator Lee, Senator Sasse.


         Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism

       Jurisdiction: (1) Oversight of the Department of Justice's 
     (a) Criminal Division, (b) Drug Enforcement Administration, 
     (c) Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, (d) Office on 
     Violence Against Women, (e) U.S. Marshals Service, (f) 
     Community Oriented Policing Services and related law 
     enforcement grants, (g) Bureau of Prisons, (h) Office of the 
     Pardon Attorney, (i) U.S. Parole Commission, (j) Federal 
     Bureau of Investigation, and (k) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
     Firearms, and Explosives, as it relates to crime or drug 
     policy; (2) Oversight of the U.S. Sentencing Commission; (3) 
     Youth violence and directly related issues; (4) Federal 
     programs under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
     Prevention Act of 1974, as amended (including the Runaway and 
     Homeless Youth Act); (5) Criminal justice and victims' rights 
     policy; (6) Oversight of the Office of National Drug Control 
     Policy; (7) Oversight of the U.S. Secret Service; (8) 
     Corrections, rehabilitation, reentry and other detention-
     related policy; and (9) Parole and probation policy; (10) 
     Oversight of anti-terrorism enforcement and policy; (11) 
     Oversight of Department of Homeland Security functions as 
     they relate to anti-terrorism enforcement and policy; (12) 
     Oversight of State Department consular operations as they 
     relate to antiterrorism enforcement and policy; (13) 
     Oversight of encryption policies and export licensing; and 
     (14) Oversight of espionage laws and their enforcement.
       Senator Booker, Chair, Senator Leahy, Senator Feinstein, 
     Senator Whitehouse, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Padilla, 
     Senator Ossoff, Senator Cotton, Ranking Member, Senator 
     Graham, Senator Cornyn, Senator Lee, Senator Cruz, Senator 
     Hawley, Senator Kennedy.


                 Subcommittee on Intellectual Property

       Jurisdiction: (1) the United States Patent and Trademark 
     Office; (2) the United States Copyright Office; (3) Oversight 
     of the functions of the federal government as they relate to 
     intellectual property; (4) Patents; (5) Copyrights; (6) 
     Trademarks; and (7) Trade Secrets.
       Senator Leahy, Chair, Senator Coons, Senator Hirono, 
     Senator Padilla, Senator Tillis, Ranking Member, Senator 
     Cornyn, Senator Cotton, Senator Blackburn.


 Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal 
                                 Rights

       Jurisdiction: (1) Federal court jurisdiction, 
     administration and management; (2) Rules of evidence and 
     procedure; (3) Creation of new courts and judgeships; (4) 
     Bankruptcy; (5) Access to civil justice, legal reform and 
     liability issues; (6) Local courts in territories and 
     possessions; (7) Administrative practices and procedures 
     including agency rulemaking and adjudication; (8) Judicial 
     review of agency action; (9) Third party enforcement of 
     federal rights; (10) Oversight of the Department of Justice 
     grant programs, as well as government waste and abuse; (11) 
     private relief bills other than immigration; and (12) 
     Oversight of the Foreign Claims Settlement Act.
       Senator Whitehouse, Chair, Senator Leahy, Senator Hirono, 
     Senator Booker, Senator Padilla, Senator Ossoff, Senator 
     Kennedy, Ranking Member, Senator Graham, Senator Lee, Senator 
     Cruz, Senator Sasse, Senator Tillis.


                Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law

       Jurisdiction: (1) Human rights laws and policies; (2) 
     Enforcement and implementation of human rights laws; (3) 
     Judicial proceedings regarding human rights laws; and (4) 
     Judicial and executive branch interpretations of human rights 
     laws.
       Senator Feinstein, Chair, Senator Coons, Senator 
     Blumenthal, Senator Hawley, Ranking Member, Senator Sasse, 
     Senator Kennedy.


            Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law

       Jurisdiction: (1) Oversight of laws and policies governing 
     the collection, protection, use and dissemination of 
     personally identifiable information by the private sector and 
     by the government, including online privacy issues; (2) Use 
     of technology to protect privacy, civil rights, and civil 
     liberties; enhance the free flow of information; and 
     encourage innovation; and (3) Privacy and civil liberties 
     implications of new or emerging technologies.
       Senator Coons, Chair, Senator Whitehouse, Senator 
     Klobuchar, Senator Hirono, Senator Ossoff, Senator Sasse, 
     Ranking Member, Senator Graham, Senator Hawley, Senator 
     Kennedy, Senator Blackburn.

                          ____________________