    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Pages H764-H766]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                         PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES

    RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE 119TH
                                    CONGRESS

                                             House of Representatives,

                      Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,

                                    Washington, DC, February 24, 2025.
         Hon. Mike Johnson,
         Speaker, House of Representatives,
         Washington, D.C.
           Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to Rule XI, clause 2(a)(2) of
         the Rules of the United States House of Representatives, I
         submit the rules of the Committee on Science, Space, and
         Technology for the 119th Congress for publication in the
         Congressional Record. The rules were adopted by the Committee
         on Science, Space, and Technology by voice vote with a quorum
         present on February 5, 2025.
               Sincerely,
                                                  Brian Babin, D.D.S.,
                                                             Chairman.

                                Rule I. General

           (a) Application of Rules.
           (1) The Rules of the House of Representatives (``House
         Rules'') are the rules of the Committee on Science, Space,
         and Technology and its Subcommittees with the specific
         additions thereto contained in these rules.
           (2) Except where the term ``Subcommittee'' is specifically
         referred to, the following rules shall apply to the Committee
         and its Subcommittees as well as to the respective Chairs and
         Ranking Minority Members.
           (b) Other Procedures. The Chair of the Committee, after
         consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the
         Committee, may establish such other procedures and take such
         actions as may be necessary to carry out these rules or to
         facilitate the effective operation of the Committee.
           (c) Use of Hearing Rooms. In consultation with the Ranking
         Minority Member, the Chair of the Committee shall establish
         guidelines for the use of Committee hearing rooms.

               Rule II. Regular, Additional, and Special Meetings

           (a) Regular Meetings. The regular meeting day of the
         Committee for the conduct of its business shall be on the
         first Wednesday of each month, if the House is in session. If
         the House is not in session on that day, then the Committee
         shall meet on the next Wednesday of such month on which the
         House is in session, or at another practicable time as
         determined by the Chair.
           (1) A regular meeting of the Committee may be dispensed
         with if, in the judgment of the Chair, there is no need for
         the meeting.
           (2) The Chair may call and convene, when the Chair
         considers it necessary and in accordance with the notice
         requirements contained in these rules, additional meetings of
         the Committee for the consideration of any bill or resolution
         pending before the Committee or for the conduct of other
         Committee business.
           (b) Bills and Subjects to be Considered.
           (1) The Chair shall announce the date, place, and subject
         matter of any Committee meeting, 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,
         unless the Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking
         Minority Member, or the Committee by majority vote with a
         quorum present for the transaction of business, determines
         there is good cause to begin the meeting sooner, in which
         case the Chair shall make the announcement at the earliest
         possible date.
           (2) At least 48 hours prior to the commencement of a
         meeting for the markup of legislation (excluding Saturdays,
         Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in
         session on such a day), the Chair shall cause the text of
         such legislation to be made publicly available in electronic
         form.
           (3) To the maximum extent practicable, amendments to a
         measure or matter shall be submitted in writing or
         electronically to the designee of both the Chair and Ranking
         Minority Member at least 24 hours prior to the consideration
         of the measure or matter, and the Chair may oppose any
         amendment not so submitted.
           (c) Open Meetings.
           Meetings for the transaction of business and hearings of
         the Committee shall be open to the public or closed in
         accordance with the House Rules.
           (d) Quorums.
           (1) Majority Quorum. A majority of the Members of the
         Committee or Subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for:
           (A). The reporting of a bill, resolution or other measure
         (See clause 2(h)(1) of House Rule XI);
           (B). The closing of a meeting or hearing to the public
         pursuant to clause 2(g), 2(k)(5), and 2(k)(7) of House Rule
         XI; and
           (C). As where required by a Rule of the House.
           (2) Quorum for Taking Testimony. Two Members of the
         Committee or Subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the
         purpose of taking testimony and receiving evidence.
           (3) Working Quorum. One-third of the Members of the
         Committee or Subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for
         taking any action, other than as noted in paragraphs (1) and
         (2) of this subsection.
           (e) Absence of the Chair. If the Chair is not present at
         any meeting of the Committee or Subcommittee, the Vice Chair
         on the Committee who is present shall preside at the meeting,
         unless another Member of the Committee is designated by the
         Chair.
           (f) Postponement of Proceedings.
           (1) Pursuant to clause 2(h)(4) of House Rule XI, the Chair
         may postpone further proceedings when a record vote is
         ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter or
         on adopting an amendment. The Chair may resume proceedings on
         a postponed vote at any time after reasonable notice.
           (2) 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.
           (g) Time for Statements and Debate.
           (1) Insofar as is practicable, the Chair, after
         consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, shall limit
         the total time of opening statements by Members at a
         Committee meeting to no more than ten minutes, the time to be
         divided equally between the Chair and Ranking Minority
         Member, except in the case of joint Subcommittee hearings, in
         which case the total time of opening statements by Members at
         such joint hearing shall be no more than twenty minutes, the
         time to be divided equally between the Chairs and Ranking
         Minority Members. When requested, ex officio Members of any
         Subcommittee shall also be recognized at a Subcommittee
         hearing for five minutes each to present an opening
         statement.
           (2) The time any one Member may address the Committee on
         any bill, amendment, motion, or other matter under
         consideration by the Committee will be limited to five
         minutes, and then only when the Member has been recognized by
         the Chair. This time limit may be waived by the Chair
         pursuant to unanimous consent.
           (h) Requests for Recorded Vote. A record vote of the
         Committee shall be provided on any question before the
         Committee upon the request of three or more Members or, in
         the apparent absence of a quorum, by any one Member.
           (i) Electronic Voting. The chair may conduct any record
         vote by electronic device in accordance with clause 2(n) of
         House Rule XI.
           (j) Transcripts. Transcripts of markups shall be recorded
         and may be published in the same manner as hearings before
         the Committee and shall be included as part of the
         legislative report, unless waived by the Chair of the
         Committee.
           (k) Motion to Go to Conference. Without further action of
         the Committee, the Chair is authorized to offer a motion
         under clause 1 of House Rule XXII whenever the Chair
         considers it appropriate.

                               Rule III. Hearings

           (a) Notice of Hearings.
           (1) The Chair shall publicly announce the date, place, and
         subject matter of any hearing to be conducted by the
         Committee on any measure or matter at least one week before
         the commencement of that hearing. If the Chair, with the
         concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, determines there
         is good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the
         Committee so determines by majority vote, a quorum being
         present for the transaction of business, the Chair shall make
         the announcement at the earliest possible date.
           (2) The Chair shall publicly announce a list of witnesses
         to testify at a hearing as soon as a complete list of
         witnesses, including those to be called by the minority, is
         compiled. When practicable, the Chair and the Ranking
         Minority Member will seek to have a complete list of
         witnesses compiled at or as soon as practicable after the
         time that the hearing is publicly announced.
           (b) Witnesses.
           (1) Insofar as is practicable, no later than 48 hours in
         advance of his or her appearance, each witness who is to
         appear before the Committee shall file, in printed copy and
         in electronic form, a written statement of his or her
         proposed testimony and a curriculum vitae.
           (2) Each witness shall limit his or her presentation to a
         five minute summary, however additional time may be granted
         by the Chair when appropriate.
           (3) The Chair, or any Member of the Committee designated by
         the Chair, may administer oaths to witnesses before the
         Committee.
           (4) Whenever any hearing is conducted by the Committee on
         any measure or matter, the Minority Members of the Committee
         shall be entitled, upon request to the Chair by a majority of
         them and before the completion of the hearing, to call
         witnesses selected by the Minority to testify with respect to
         the measure or matter during at least one day of hearing
         thereon.
           (5) In the case of a witness appearing in a nongovernmental
         capacity, a written statement of proposed testimony shall
         include:
           (A). A curriculum vitae;
           (B). A disclosure of any Federal grants or contracts, or
         contracts, grants, or payments originating with a foreign
         government, received during the past 36 months by the witness
         or by an entity represented by the witness and related to the
         subject matter of the hearing; and
           (C). A disclosure of whether the witness is a fiduciary
         (including, but not limited to, a director, officer, advisor,
         or resident agent) of any organization or entity that has an
         interest in the subject matter of the hearing.
           Such statements, with appropriate redactions to protect the
         privacy or security

    [[Page H765]]

         of the witness, shall be made publicly available in
         electronic form 24 hours before the witness appears to the
         extent practicable, but not later than one day after the
         witness appears.
           (c) Questioning of Witnesses.
           (1) The right to interrogate a witness before the Committee
         shall alternate between Majority and Minority Members of the
         Committee. Each Member shall be limited to five minutes in
         the interrogation of witnesses. No Member may be recognized
         for a second period of interrogation until each Member
         present, who wishes to be recognized, has been recognized at
         least once.
           (2) Notwithstanding clause 1, upon a motion the Chair, in
         consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, may:
           (A). Designate a specified number of Members of the
         Committee from each party to question a witness for a period
         of time equally divided between the majority party and the
         minority party, not to exceed one hour in the aggregate; or
           (B). Designate staff from each party to question a witness
         for a period of time equally divided between the majority
         party and the minority party, not to exceed one hour in the
         aggregate.
           (3) Members of the Committee have 10 calendar days from the
         date of a hearing to submit additional questions in writing
         for the record to be answered by witnesses who have appeared
         before the Committee. The letters of transmittal and any
         responses thereto shall be included in the hearing record.
           (d) Claims of Privilege. Claims of common-law privileges
         made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees or
         deponents in investigations or inquiries, are applicable only
         at the discretion of the Chair, subject to appeal to the
         Committee.
           (e) Publication of Transcripts. The transcripts of those
         hearings conducted by the Committee, when it is decided they
         will be printed, shall be published 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. Individuals, including Members, whose comments
         are to be published as part of a Committee document shall be
         given the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the
         transcription in advance of publication. Any requests by
         those Members, staff, or witnesses to correct any errors
         other than errors in the transcript, or disputed errors in
         transcription, shall be appended to the record, and the
         appropriate place where the change is requested will be
         footnoted. Prior to approval by the Chair of hearings
         conducted jointly with another Congressional Committee, a
         memorandum of understanding shall be prepared which
         incorporates an agreement for the publication of the
         transcript.
           (f) Items for the Record. Committee Members have 10
         calendar days from the date of a hearing to submit brief and
         pertinent statements or materials in writing for inclusion in
         the record. The Committee is the sole judge of the pertinence
         of testimony and evidence adduced at its hearing.

                                Rule IV. Reports

           (a) Bills and resolutions approved by the Committee shall
         be reported by the Chair pursuant to clauses 2-4 of House
         Rule XIII.
           (b) A proposed investigative or oversight report shall be
         considered as read if it has been available to the Members of
         the Committee for at least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays,
         Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in
         session on such days).
           (c) Every investigative or oversight report shall be
         approved by a majority vote of the Committee at a meeting at
         which a quorum is present. If at the time of approval of such
         a report a Member of the Committee gives notice of intent to
         file supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views
         that Member shall be entitled to file such views.
           (d) Only those investigative or oversight reports approved
         by a majority vote of the Committee may be ordered printed,
         unless otherwise required by House Rules.

                              Rule V. Broadcasting

           (a) Whenever a meeting for the transaction of business,
         including the markup of legislation or a hearing is open to
         the public, that meeting or hearing shall be open to coverage
         by television, radio, and still photography in accordance
         with clause 4 of House Rule XI.
           (b) To the maximum extent practicable, the Committee shall
         provide audio and visual 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 and
         maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner that is
         easily accessible to the public. Operation and use of any
         Committee internet broadcast system shall be fair and
         nonpartisan, and in accordance with clauses 4 (b) and (f) of
         House Rule XI and all other applicable rules of the Committee
         and the House.

                             Rule VI. Subcommittees

           (a) Committee Jurisdiction. The Full Committee shall retain
         jurisdiction over such matters as determined by the Chair.
           (b) Subcommittees and Jurisdiction. There shall be five
         standing Subcommittees of the Committee on Science, Space,
         and Technology, with jurisdictions as follows:
           (1) Subcommittee on Energy. Shall have jurisdiction over
         the following subject matters: all matters relating to energy
         research, development, and demonstration projects therefor;
         commercial application of energy technology; Department of
         Energy research, development, and demonstration programs;
         Department of Energy laboratories; Department of Energy
         science activities; Department of Energy cybersecurity
         activities; Department of Energy international research,
         development, and demonstration projects; energy supply
         activities; nuclear, solar, and renewable energy, and other
         advanced energy technologies; uranium supply and enrichment,
         and Department of Energy waste management; Department of
         Energy environmental management research, development, and
         demonstration; fossil energy research and development; clean
         coal technology; energy conservation research and
         development, including building performance, alternate fuels,
         distributed power systems, and industrial process
         improvements; pipeline research, development, and
         demonstration projects; energy standards; other appropriate
         matters as referred by the Chair; and relevant oversight.
           (2) Subcommittee on Environment. Shall have jurisdiction
         over the following subject matters: all matters relating to
         environmental research; Environmental Protection Agency
         research and development; environmental standards; climate
         change research and development; the National Oceanic and
         Atmospheric Administration, including all activities related
         to weather, weather services, climate, the atmosphere, marine
         fisheries, and oceanic research; risk assessment activities;
         scientific issues related to environmental policy, including
         climate change; other appropriate matters as referred by the
         Chair; and relevant oversight.
           (3) Subcommittee on Research and Technology. Shall have
         jurisdiction over the following subject matters: all matters
         relating to science policy and science education; the Office
         of Science and Technology Policy; all scientific research,
         and scientific and engineering resources (including human
         resources); all matters relating to science, technology,
         engineering and mathematics education; intergovernmental
         mechanisms for research, development, and demonstration and
         cross-cutting programs; international scientific cooperation;
         National Science Foundation; university research policy,
         including infrastructure and overhead; university research
         partnerships, including those with industry; science
         scholarships; computing, communications, networking, and
         information technology; research and development relating to
         health, biomedical, and nutritional programs; research,
         development, and demonstration relating to nanoscience,
         nanoengineering, and nanotechnology; research, development,
         and demonstration relating to semiconductors, semiconductor
         manufacturing, and microelectronics; quantum information
         science; agricultural, geological, biological and life
         sciences research; materials research, development,
         demonstration, and policy; all matters relating to
         competitiveness, technology, standards, and innovation;
         standardization of weights and measures, including technical
         standards, standardization, and conformity assessment;
         measurement, including the metric system of measurement;
         cybersecurity standards; the Technology Administration of the
         Department of Commerce; the National Institute of Standards
         and Technology; the National Technical Information Service;
         competitiveness, including small business competitiveness;
         tax, antitrust, regulatory and other legal and governmental
         policies related to technological development and
         commercialization; technology transfer, including civilian
         use of defense technologies; patent and intellectual property
         policy; international technology trade; research,
         development, and demonstration activities of the Department
         of Transportation; surface and water transportation research,
         development, and demonstration programs; earthquake programs
         and fire research programs, including those related to
         wildfire proliferation research and prevention; biotechnology
         policy; research, development, demonstration, and standards-
         related activities of the Department of Homeland Security;
         Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer;
         voting technologies and standards; other appropriate matters
         as referred by the Chair; and relevant oversight.
           (4) Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. Shall have
         jurisdiction over the following subject matters: all matters
         relating to astronautical and aeronautical research and
         development; national space policy, including access to
         space; sub-orbital access and applications; National
         Aeronautics and Space Administration and its contractor and
         government-operated labs; space commercialization, including
         commercial space activities relating to the Department of
         Transportation and the Department of Commerce; exploration
         and use of outer space; international space cooperation; the
         National Space Council; space applications, space
         communications and related matters; Earth remote sensing
         policy; civil aviation including unmanned aerial systems,
         research, development, and demonstration; research,
         development, and demonstration programs of the Federal
         Aviation Administration; space law; other appropriate matters
         as referred by the Chair; and relevant oversight.
           (5) Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Shall
         have general and special investigative authority on all
         matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee.
           (c) Composition of Subcommittees.
           (1) The Chair shall assign Members to the Subcommittees.
         Minority party assignments shall be made only with the
         concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member. The Chair

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         shall determine the ratio of Majority Members to Minority
         Members of each Subcommittee; provided that the ratio of
         Majority Members to Minority Members on each Subcommittee
         (excluding any ex officio Member) shall be no less favorable
         to the Majority party than the ratio for the Committee.
           (2) The Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee
         shall be ex officio Members of each Subcommittee and shall
         have the right to vote and be counted as part of the quorum
         and ratios on all matters before the Subcommittee.
           (d) Referral to Subcommittees. The Chair shall
         expeditiously refer all legislation and other matters
         referred to the Committee to the Subcommittee or
         Subcommittees of appropriate jurisdiction, unless the Chair
         deems consideration is to be by the Committee. Subcommittee
         Chairs may make requests for referral of specific matters to
         their Subcommittee if they believe Subcommittee jurisdictions
         so warrants.
           (e) Subcommittee Procedures and Reports.
           (1) Subcommittee Chairs shall set meeting dates with the
         concurrence of the Chair and after consultation with the
         other Subcommittee Chairs with a view toward avoiding
         simultaneous scheduling of Subcommittee meetings or hearings
         wherever possible. No Subcommittee may meet or hold a hearing
         at the same time as a meeting or hearing of the Committee
         without authorization from the Chair.
           (2) Each Subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings,
         receive testimony or evidence, mark up legislation, and
         report to the Committee on all matters referred to it. For
         matters within its jurisdiction, each Subcommittee is
         authorized to conduct legislative, investigative,
         forecasting, and general oversight hearings; to conduct
         inquiries into the future; and to undertake budget impact
         studies.
           (3) Each Subcommittee shall provide the Committee with
         copies of such records of votes taken in the Subcommittee and
         such other records with respect to the Subcommittee as the
         Chair of the Committee deems necessary to ensure compliance
         with the House Rules.
           (4) After ordering a measure or matter reported, a
         Subcommittee shall issue a report in such form as the Chair
         shall specify. To the maximum extent practicable, reports and
         recommendations of a Subcommittee shall not be considered by
         the Committee until after the intervention of 48 hours
         (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when
         the House is in session on such a day) from the time the
         report is submitted and made available to the Committee.
         Printed hearings thereon shall be made available, if
         feasible, to the Committee, except that this Rule may be
         waived at the discretion of the Chair after consultation with
         the Ranking Minority Member.
           (5) Any Member of the Committee may have the privilege of
         sitting with any Subcommittee during its hearings or
         deliberations and may participate in such hearings or
         deliberations, but no Member who is not a Member of the
         Subcommittee shall vote on any matter before such
         Subcommittee, except as provided in Rule VI(c)(2).

                             Rule VII. Vice Chairs

           (a) The Chair of the Committee shall designate a Member of
         the majority party to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee
         and shall designate a Majority Member of each Subcommittee to
         serve as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee. Vice Chairs of the
         Committee and each Subcommittee serve at the pleasure of the
         Chair, who may at any time terminate his designation of a
         Member as Vice Chair and designate a different Member of the
         majority party to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee or
         relevant Subcommittee.
           (b) The Chair may assign duties, privileges, and
         responsibilities to the Vice Chairs of the Committee or the
         various Subcommittees.

                    Rule VIII. Oversight and Investigations

           (a) The Committee shall review and study, on a continuing
         basis, the application, administration, execution, and
         effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws, the subject
         matter of which is within its jurisdiction, including all
         laws, programs, and Government activities relating to
         nonmilitary research and development in accordance with House
         Rule X.
           (b) Not later than March 1st of the first session of the
         119th Congress, the Chair, after consultation with the
         Ranking Minority Member, shall adopt and submit the
         Committees oversight and authorization plan to the Committee
         on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on House
         Administration in accordance with the provisions of clause
         2(d) of House Rule X.
           (c) Any investigation undertaken in the name of the
         Committee shall be approved by the Chair. Nothing in this
         subsection shall be interpreted to infringe on a
         Subcommittees authority to conduct general oversight of
         matters within its jurisdiction, short of undertaking an
         investigation.

                               Rule IX. Subpoenas

           The power to authorize and issue subpoenas is delegated to
         the Chair as provided for under clause 2(m)(3)(A)(i) of House
         Rule XI. The Chair shall notify the Ranking Minority Member
         prior to issuing any subpoena under such authority. To the
         extent practicable, the Chair shall consult with the Ranking
         Minority Member at least 24 hours in advance of a subpoena
         being issued under such authority.

                          Rule X. Deposition Authority

           The Chair, after consultation with the Ranking Member, may
         authorize a member or counsel of the Committee to conduct
         depositions pursuant to subsection 3(t) of House Resolution
         5, 119th Congress, and subject to any regulations issued
         pursuant thereto.

                           Rule XI. Committee Records

           (a) The records of the Committee at the National Archives
         and Records Administration shall be made available for public
         use in accordance with House Rule VII.
           (b) The Chair shall notify the Ranking Minority Member of
         the Committee of any decision, pursuant to clauses 3(b)(3) or
         4(b) of House 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 XII. Official Committee Website

           The Chair shall maintain an official Committee website for
         the purpose of furthering the Committees legislative and
         oversight responsibilities, including communicating
         information about the Committee's activities to Committee
         Members and other Members of the House. The Ranking Minority
         Member of the Committee may maintain a similar website for
         the same purpose, including communicating information about
         the activities of the minority to Committee Members and other
         Members of the House.

                          Rule XIII. Committee Budget

           From the amount provided to the Committee in the primary
         expense resolution adopted by the House of Representatives in
         the 119th Congress, the Chair shall designate one-third of
         the budget, after adjustment for the salaries of the shared
         administrative functions for the Clerk, Printer and Financial
         Administrator, under the direction of the Ranking Minority
         Member for the purposes of minority staff, travel expenses of
         minority staff and Members, and all other minority office
         expenses.

                    Rule XIV. Amendments to Committee Rules

           The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended, or
         repealed, in the same manner and method as prescribed for the
         adoption of committee rules in clause 2 of House Rule XI, but
         only if written notice of the proposed change has been
         provided to each such Member at least 3 days before the time
         of the meeting at which the vote on the change occurs. Any
         such change in the rules of the Committee shall be published
         in the Congressional Record within 30 calendar days after
         their approval.

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