[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 4, Chapters 15 - 17]
[Chapter 17. Committees]
[A. Creating and Organizing Committees]
[Â§ 3. Authorizing Investigations]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 2526-2542]
 
                               CHAPTER 17
 
                               Committees
 
                 A. CREATING AND ORGANIZING COMMITTEES
 
Sec. 3.--Authorizing Investigations

    As of 1973, only four standing committees possessed standby 
authority under the rules (6) to sit and act and to hold 
hearings at such times and places within the United States as the 
committees deemed necessary. The powers to subpena or otherwise require 
the attendance and testimony of witnesses and to compel the production 
of papers and documents were also limited under the standing rules to 
those same four committees. Accordingly, investigative authority was 
granted to all other standing, as well as special or select 
(7) committees by means of individual resolutions 
(8) reported from the Committee on Rules. While these 
circumstances were to change in 1975,(9) the need to obtain 
such specific authorizations prior to undertaking an investigation was 
an historic fact for most committees for more than a century.
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 6. Committee on Appropriations, Rule XI clause 2(b), House Rules and 
        Manual Sec. 679 (1973); Committee on Government Operations, 
        Rule XI clause 8(d), House Rules and Manual Sec. 691 (1973); 
        Committee on Internal Security, Rule XI clause 11 (b), House 
        Rules and Manual Sec. 703A (1973); and Committee on Standards 
        of Official Conduct, Rule XI clause 19(h), House Rules and 
        Manual Sec. 720 (1973).
 7. For treatment of special and select committee investigations, see 
        Ch. 15, supra.
 8. There were instances where two committees received investigative 
        authority in one resolution. See Sec. 3.9, infra.
 9. See Rule XI clause 2(m), House Rules and Manual Sec. 718 (1977) and 
        further editions of this work. The Committee Reform Amendments 
        of 1974, H. Res. 988, 93d Cong. 2d Sess., gave all committees 
        listed under Rule X the power to conduct investigations within 
        the United States and to issue subpenas, effective Jan. 3, 
        1975.                          -------------------
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Investigation of Alleged Subversives in Government

Sec. 3.1 The House approved a resolution authorizing the Committee on 
    Appropriations to investigate allegations that certain persons 
    employed by the federal government were unfit for continued 
    employment because of subversive affiliations. The resolution also 
    provided that any legislation approved by the committee as a result

[[Page 2527]]

    of its investigation could be incorporated in any general or 
    special appropriation measure emanating from the committee 
    notwithstanding the House rule against the inclusion of legislation 
    in appropriation bills.

    On Feb. 9, 1943,(10~) Mr. Adolph J. Sabath, of Illinois, 
a member of the Committee on Rules submitted the following privileged 
resolution (H. Res. 105) and asked for its immediate consideration:

        Resolved, That the Committee on Appropriations, acting through 
    a special subcommittee thereof appointed by the chairman of such 
    committee for the purposes of this resolution, is authorized and 
    directed to examine into any and all allegations or charges that 
    certain persons in the employ of the several executive departments 
    and other executive agencies are unfit to continue in such 
    employment by reason of their present association or membership or 
    past association or membership in or with organizations whose aims 
    or purposes are or have been subversive to the Government of the 
    United States. Such examination shall be pursued with the view of 
    obtaining all available evidence bearing upon each particular case 
    and reporting to the House the conclusions of the committee with 
    respect to each such case in the light of the factual evidence 
    obtained. The committee, for the purposes of this resolution, shall 
    have the right to report at any time by bill, amendment, or 
    otherwise, its findings and determination. Any legislation approved 
    by the committee as a result of this resolution may be incorporated 
    in any general or special appropriation measure emanating from such 
    committee or may be offered as a committee amendment to any such 
    measure notwithstanding the provisions of clause 2 of rule 
    XXI.(11)
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10. 89 Cong. Rec. 734, 78th Cong. 1st Sess.
11. See House Rules and Manual Sec. 834 (1973).
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        For the purposes of this resolution, such committee or any 
    subcommittee thereof is hereby authorized to sit and act during the 
    present Congress at such times and places within the United States, 
    whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned, to 
    hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses, 
    and the production of such books or papers or documents or vouchers 
    by subpena or otherwise, and to take such testimony and records as 
    it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued over the signature of 
    the chairman of the committee or subcommittee, or by any person 
    designated by him, and shall be served by such person or persons as 
    the chairman of the committee or subcommittee may designate. The 
    chairman of the committee or subcommittee, or any member thereof, 
    may administer oaths to witnesses.
        With the following committee amendment:
        Page 2, line 4, after the period, strike out all of the 
    language following up to the period in line 6.(12)
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12. The language to be struck under the committee amendment consisted 
        of the resolution's third sentence--granting the committee 
        ``the right to report at any time by bill, amendment or 
        otherwise, its findings and determination.''

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[[Page 2528]]

    The House, by a two-thirds vote' agreed to consider the measure 
immediately. Following debate, the committee amendment was 
adopted,(13) and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
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13. 89 Cong. Rec. 742, 78th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Investigations of Executive Agency [Veterans' Administration]

Sec. 3.2 The House authorized a standing committee, the Committee on 
    World War Veterans' Legislation (now, the Committee on Veterans' 
    Affairs), to investigate the Veterans' Administration.

    On Mar. 27, 1945,(14) Mr. Roger C. Slaughter, of 
Missouri, by direction of the Committee on Rules, called up and asked 
for the immediate consideration of the following resolution (H. Res. 
192):
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14. 91 Cong. Rec. 2871, 79th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Resolved, That the Committee on World War Veterans' 
    Legislation, acting as a whole or by subcommittee, is authorized 
    and directed to conduct an investigation of the Veterans' 
    Administration with a particular view to determining the efficiency 
    of the administration and operation of Veterans' Administration 
    facilities.
        The committee shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the 
    House if the House is not in session), as soon as practicable 
    during the present Congress, the results of its investigation, 
    together with such recommendations for legislation as it deems 
    advisable.
        For the purposes of this resolution the committee, or any 
    subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act during the 
    present Congress at such times and places within the United States, 
    whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has 
    adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such 
    witnesses and the production of such records, documents, and 
    papers, to administer oaths, and to take such testimony, as it 
    deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the 
    chairman of the committee, or by any member designated by such 
    chairman, and may be served by any person designated by such 
    chairman or member.

    As Mr. Slaughter explained, two investigatory resolutions had been 
under consideration by the Committee on Rules, and:

        It was the judgment of the Rules Committee, however, that [one 
    of the two proposals] was somewhat too sweeping in character and 
    embraced subjects that, at least in the judgment of the committee, 
    should not be taken up at this time. After a full and frank 
    discussion of these two resolutions it was concluded to report the 
    so-called Rankin resolution which provides for an investigation of 
    the Veterans' Bureau by the committee that has juris

[[Page 2529]]

    diction of that Bureau and by the committee which presumptively is 
    the committee best advised as to the operation of the Veterans' 
    Administration.

    Shortly thereafter,(15) the resolution was agreed to on 
a roll call vote.(16)
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15. Id. at p. 2881.
16. Duties of the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation were 
        assumed by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs which was 
        established in 1947. See Rule X clause 1(u), House Rules and 
        Manual Sec. 690 (1979).
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Defining Extent of Probe

Sec. 3.3 The House authorized the Committee on the District of Columbia 
    to conduct investigations within its jurisdiction as set forth in 
    the House rules.

    On Mar. 6, 1973,(17) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. Richard Bolling, of Missouri, a member of that committee, 
called up and asked for the immediate consideration of the following 
resolution (H. Res. 162):
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17. 119 Cong. Rec. 6385, 93d Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Resolved, That, effective January 3, 1973, the Committee on the 
    District of Columbia, acting as a whole or by subcommittee, is 
    authorized to conduct full and complete studies and investigations 
    and make inquiries within its jurisdiction as set forth in clause 5 
    of rule XI (18) of the Rules of the House of 
    Representatives. However, the committee shall not undertake any 
    investigation of any subject which is being investigated for the 
    same purpose by any other committee of the House.
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18. This provision defines the jurisdiction of the Committee on the 
        District of Columbia as extending to ``all measures relating to 
        the municipal affairs'' of the city, in general, ``other than 
        appropriations therefor [Rule XI clause 5(a) (1973)].'' The 
        remaining clauses [5(b)-5(i)] clarify what subjects are 
        included therein. See Rule XI clause 5, House Rules and Manual 
        Sec. 685 (1973).
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        Sec. 2. (a) For the purpose of making such investigations and 
    studies, the committee or any subcommittee thereof is authorized to 
    sit and act, subject to clause 31 of rule XI (19) of the 
    Rules of the House of Representatives, during the present Congress 
    at such times and places within the United States, whether the 
    House is meeting, has recessed, or has adjourned, and to hold such 
    hearings and require, by subpena or otherwise, the attendance and 
    testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, 
    records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents, as it 
    deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued over the signature of the 
    chairman of the committee or any member designated by him and may 
    be served by any person
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19. This provision requires all but five standing committees to obtain 
        ``special leave'' in order to sit ``while the House is reading 
        a measure for amendment under the five-minute rule.'' See Rule 
        XI clause 31, House Rules and Manual Sec. 739 (1973).
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[[Page 2530]]

    designated by such chairman or member. The chairman of the 
    committee, or any member designated by him, may administer oaths to 
    any witness.

        (b) Pursuant to clause 238 of rule XI (20) of the 
    Rules of the House of Representatives, the committee shall submit 
    to the House, not later than January 2, 1975, a report on the 
    activities of that committee during the Congress ending at noon on 
    January 3, 1975.
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20. This reference (to ``clause 238'') appears to be a typographical 
        error in the Record, and most likely refers to Sec. 738 of Rule 
        XI [i.e., Rule XI clause 30, House Rules and Manual Sec. 738 
        (1973)] which requires certain salary and accounting 
        information to be reported by each committee to the Clerk's 
        office biannually.
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    Immediate consideration of the resolution was agreed to by a two-
thirds vote,(1) end shortly thereafter, the resolution, 
itself, was agreed to.
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 1. 119 Cong. Rec. 6386, 93d Cong. 1st Sess.
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    Parliamentarian's Note: Prior to the effective date of House 
Resolution 988, 93d Cong. 2d Sess., which gave all committees listed 
under Rule X the power to conduct investigations and issue subpenas, 
only specified committees had such permanent authority under the rules. 
Other committees were authorized by separate resolution, of which the 
above is typical, to conduct investigations. The present rule is 
contained in Rule XI clause 2(m), House Rules and Manual Sec. 718 
(1979).

Expansion of Investigations Beyond U.S. Borders

Sec. 3.4 The House authorized the Committee on Public Works to send 
    abroad a limited number of its members and staff (1 ) to attend the 
    United Nations Conference on the Human Environment being held in 
    Sweden; and (2) to inspect, on the return trip, various projects 
    relating to public works, resource usage, and pollution control in 
    specified foreign lands.

    On June 1, 1972,(2) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. Spark M. Matsunaga, of Hawaii, called up and asked for the 
immediate consideration of House Resolution 985, which read, in part as 
follows:
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 2. 118 Cong. Rec. 19486, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Resolved, That notwithstanding the provisions of H. Res. 142, 
    Ninety-second Congress,(3) the Committee on

[[Page 2531]]

    Public Works is authorized to send not more than three members of 
    such committee as congressional adviser and alternates to the 
    United States delegation to the United Nations Conference on the 
    Human Environment (such adviser having been designated by the 
    Speaker of the House and appointed by the Secretary of State), and 
    not more than two staff assistants, to attend the conference to be 
    held in Stockholm, Sweden, during June 5 through June 16, 
    inclusive; and in returning to the United States, also to inspect 
    various projects and programs of significant national and 
    international importance relating to public works, resource 
    management and development, and anti-pollution in the Netherlands, 
    Germany, Scandinavia, and the United Kingdom.
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 3. H. Res. 142 [117 Cong. Rec. 4604, 4605, 92d Cong. 1st Sess., Mar. 
        2, 1971] as amended and agreed to by the House, was an 
        investigatory and funding authorization which permitted the 
        Public Works Committee for the purposes of its studies to ``sit 
        and act . . . at such times and places within the United 
        States, Commonwealths, territories and possessions thereof, 
        Canada, Mexico, and those Central American and South American 
        countries in which the Pan American Highway is located . . . as 
        it deems necessary. [Sec. 2. (a)].''
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        Notwithstanding the provisions of H. Res. 142 of the Ninety-
    second Congress, first session, local currencies owned by the 
    United States shall be made available to the members of the 
    Committee on Public Works of the House of Representatives and 
    employees engaged in carrying out their official duties for the 
    purpose of carrying out the authority as set forth in this 
    resolution, to travel outside the United States.(4)
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 4. H. Res. 142 had limited committee use of local currencies owned by 
        the United States to the countries specified in the immediately 
        preceding footnote.
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    Two proposed committee amendments (5) were agreed to, 
after which the resolution was briefly debated and agreed 
to.(6)
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 5. The amendments did not materially affect the quoted passages. The 
        first specified the departure date [June 3]; and, the second 
        specified the date of return [June 23].
 6. 118 Cong. Rec. 19487, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
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Sec. 3.5 The House authorized a limited number of members from the 
    Committee on Post Office and Civil Service (which had been limited 
    by prior resolution to domestic investigations) to study civilian 
    manpower usage by the Department of Defense in Far Eastern and 
    Western European countries.

    On Oct. 19, 1966,(7) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. Claude D. Pepper, of Florida, called up and asked for the 
immediate consideration of the following resolution (H. Res. 1048):
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 7. 112 Cong. Rec. 27713, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Resolved, That (a) notwithstanding the provisions of H. Res. 
    245, Eighty-ninth Congress,(8) the Committee on

[[Page 2532]]

    Post Office and Civil Service is authorized to send not more than 
    two members, and not more than two staff assistants, of such 
    committee to such Far Eastern and Western European countries as the 
    committee may determine, for the purpose of conducting studies with 
    respect to the policies, operations, activities, and administration 
    by the Department of Defense of the United States Government of the 
    civilian manpower requirements, utilization, and employment 
    policies of the Department in such countries, with particular 
    reference to--
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 8. H. Res. 245 [111 Cong. Rec. 6242, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Mar. 29, 
        1965] provided investigative and travel authorizations for the 
        Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. As amended, the 
        measure provided that ``Funds authorized are for expenses 
        incurred in the committee's activities within the United States 
        and . . . local currencies owned by the United States in 
        foreign countries shall not be made available . . . for 
        expenses of [committee] members or other Members or employees 
        traveling abroad.''
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        (1) the determination of the appropriate means of ascertaining 
    the number of civilian employees needed by the Department of 
    Defense in such countries, including the utilization of United 
    States civil service employees, the direct hiring by the Department 
    of Defense of foreign nationals, and the indirect hiring by the 
    Department of Defense of foreign nationals through the government 
    of the foreign countries concerned;
        (2) the determination of whether sound manpower utilization 
    policies are being applied by the Department of Defense in such 
    countries; and
        (3) the propriety of the use by the Department of Defense of 
    personnel furnished by private contractors in such countries.
        (b) Notwithstanding section 1754 of title 22, United States 
    Code, or any other provision of law, local currencies owned by the 
    United States shall be made available to the Committee on Post 
    Office and Civil Service of the House of Representatives and 
    employees engaged in carrying out their official duties under 
    section 190d of title 2, United States Code, except that--
        (1) no member or employee of said committee shall receive or 
    expend local currencies for subsistence in any country at a rate in 
    excess of the maximum per diem rate set forth in section 502(b) of 
    the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended by Public Law 88-633, 
    approved October 7, 1964;
        (2) no member or employee of said committee shall receive or 
    expend an amount for transportation in excess of actual 
    transportation costs; and
        (3) no appropriated funds shall be expended for the purpose of 
    defraying expenses of members of said committee or its employees in 
    any country where counterpart funds are available for this purpose.
        (c) Each member or employee of said committee shall make to the 
    chairman of said committee an itemized report showing the number of 
    days visited in each country where local currencies were spent, the 
    amount of per diem furnished, and the cost of transportation if 
    furnished by public carrier, or if such transportation is furnished 
    by an agency of the United States Government, the identification of 
    the agency. All such individual reports shall be filed by the 
    chairman with the Committee on House Administration and shall be 
    open to public inspection.

[[Page 2533]]

    Shortly thereafter, the resolution was agreed to.

Sec. 3.6 The House authorized the Speaker to appoint certain members 
    from a standing committee to attend an international conference in 
    Geneva--thereby extending the geographic bounds of that committee's 
    investigatory authorization.

    On May 29, 1963,(9) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. B. F. Sisk, of California, called up and asked for the 
immediate consideration of the following resolution (H. Res. 368):
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 9. 109 Cong. Rec. 9799, 88th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Resolved, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives is 
    hereby authorized to appoint a member from the majority and a 
    member from the minority of the Committee on Education and Labor to 
    attend the International Labor Organization Conference in Geneva, 
    Switzerland, between June 1, 1963, and June 30, 1963.
        He is further authorized to appoint as alternates a member from 
    the majority and a member from the minority of the said committee.
        Notwithstanding section 1754 of title 22, United States Code, 
    or any other provision of law, local currencies owned by the United 
    States shall be made available to the aforesaid delegates and 
    alternates from the Committee on Education and Labor of the House 
    of Representatives engaged in carrying out their official duties 
    under section 190(d) of title 2, United States Code: Provided, (1) 
    That no member of said committee shall receive or expend local 
    currencies for subsistence in an amount in excess of the maximum 
    per diem rates approved for oversee travel as set forth in the 
    Standardized Government Travel Regulations, as revised and amended 
    by the Bureau of the Budget; (2) that no member of said committee 
    shall receive or expend an amount for transportation in excess of 
    actual transportation costs; (10) (3) no appropriated 
    funds shall be expended: for the purpose of defraying expenses of 
    members of said committee in any country where counterpart funds 
    are available for this purpose.
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10. The language of this paragraph was necessitated by the passage of 
        H. Res. 103 [109 Cong. Rec. 1553, 88th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 
        31, 1963] earlier in the session. H. Res. 103 was an 
        investigatory and fund-authorizing measure for the Committee on 
        Education and Labor which provided, among other things that 
        ``Funds authorized are for expenses incurred in the committee's 
        activities within the United States; and, notwithstanding 
        section 1754 of title 22, United States Code, or any other 
        provision of law, local currencies owned by the United States 
        in foreign countries shall not be made available to the 
        Committee on Education and Labor for expenses of its members or 
        other Members or employees traveling abroad.''
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        That each member of said committee shall make to the chairman 
    of said committee an itemized report showing

[[Page 2534]]

    the number of days visited in each country whose local currencies 
    were spent, the amount of per diem furnished and the cost of 
    transportation if furnished by public carrier, or if such 
    transportation is furnished by an agency of the U.S. Government, 
    the identification of the agency. All such individual reports shall 
    be filed by the chairman with the Committee on House Administration 
    and shall be open to public inspection.

    In the debate which ensued, Mr. Sisk noted that a ``somewhat 
similar resolution'' had been looked upon ``with some concern'' 
(11) when it was brought to the floor several days earlier. 
He explained that the resolution under consideration, however, was a 
simpler measure. These remarks prompted the following exchange: 
(12)
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11. On May 14, 1963 [109 Cong. Rec. 8512-20, 88th Cang. 1st Sess.], the 
        House entertained consideration of, and ultimately chose to 
        reject [id. at p 8520] a resolution (H. Res. 340) authorizing 
        the Committee on Education and Labor to send four of its 
        members to the identical conference.
12. 109 Cong. Rec. 9800, 88th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Omar T.] Burleson [of Texas]: The reason for this 
    resolution is the simple fact that the Education and Labor 
    Committee does not have authorization to travel outside the 
    continental limits of the United States. This authority was not 
    included in their authorizing legislation permitting money to be 
    appropriated to the committee for the conduct of their committee 
    business. Is that correct?
        Mr. Sisk: The gentleman is exactly right and I think very 
    clearly states the need for this resolution.
        Mr. Burleson: There was some misunderstanding at the time this 
    matter was on the floor a few days ago. There was obviously some 
    confusion as to the necessity for this resolution to be brought 
    before us. I thought it was well to develop this point.

    Debate continued briefly on the resolution after which it was 
agreed to--yeas 278, nays 52--by roll call vote.(13)
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13. Id. at p. 9802.
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Sec. 3.7 By unanimous consent the House considered and agreed to a 
    resolution ordered reported but not formally filed by the Committee 
    on Rules, amending a previously adopted resolution to provide for 
    geographic extension of the investigative authority of the 
    Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce during the 85th 
    Congress.

    On Mar. 14, 1957,(14) Howard W. Smith, of Virginia, 
Chairman of the Committee on Rules, sought to call up House Resolution 
197 to extend the territorial jurisdiction of the Committee on 
Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
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14. 103 Cong. Rec. 3722, 85th Cong. 1st. Sess.
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    The following exchange took place:

[[Page 2535]]

        Mr. Smith of Virginia: Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke to the 
    Speaker about a minor resolution reported from the Committee on 
    Rules. May I be recognzed on behalf of the Committee on Rules to 
    call up this resolution for consideration?
        The Speaker: (15) The Chair will recognize the 
    gentleman from Virginia.
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15. Sam Rayburn (Tex.).
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        Mr. Smith of Virginia: Mr. Speaker, by direction of the 
    Committee on Rules I present a privileged resolution and ask 
    unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                              House Resolution 197

            Resolved, That House Resolution 99, 85th Congress, is 
        amended by striking out the words ``within the United States'' 
        where they appear on lines 19 and 20, page 3, of said engrossed 
        resolution, and inserting in lieu thereof the words ``within 
        the United States, its Territories and possessions, and the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.''

        Mr. [Joseph W.] Martin [Jr., of Massachusetts]: Mr. Speaker, 
    reserving the right to object, will the gentleman explain the 
    resolution.
        Mr. Smith of Virginia: Yes. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Rules 
    so far this session has not granted foreign travel privileges to 
    any committee. We have, however, included in the resolution the 
    right to visit any offshore territories and possessions. 
    Inadvertently that was omitted from the resolution of the 
    Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee and this merely corrects 
    that oversight. It is unanimously approved by the Committee on 
    Rules.
        Mr. Martin: Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of 
    objection.
    The Speaker: Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
from Virginia?

        There was no objection.
        The resolution was agreed to and a motion to reconsider was 
    laid on the table.

Sec. 3.8 In the 92d Congress, the House, by privileged resolution 
    reported from the Committee on Rules, authorized the Committee on 
    Ways and Means to conduct investigations within its jurisdiction, 
    to hold hearings, to travel outside the United States, and to use 
    counterpart funds.

    On Nov. 5, 1971,(16) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. Richard Bolling, of Missouri, a member of that committee, 
called up the privileged resolution (H. Res. 597) described above. In 
the course of the ensuing discussion, Mr. Bolling yielded some of his 
time to Wilbur D. Mills, of Arkansas, Chairman of the Committee on Ways 
and Means, who proceeded to explain the need for the resolution, as 
follows: (17)
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16. 117 Cong. Rec. 39513, 92d Cong. 1st Sess.
17. Id. at p. 39514.
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        Mr. Mills: . . . [I]n all fairness to the membership of the 
    House, this idea did not originate with the committee. We do not 
    want to take credit for it.
        We were asked by the Commissioners of the European Common Mar

[[Page 2536]]

    ket through an official invitation to visit some sessions of the 
    European Common Market in order to discuss problems of trade 
    between the European Common Market and the United States. This was, 
    we thought, a matter that we could not treat lightly. We discussed 
    it in committee. I think the committee was unanimous in its feeling 
    that we should at least consider the invitation. It was not 
    possible for us, because of the schedule of the committee, to avail 
    ourselves of the opportunity to go at the time first suggested by 
    the commissioners. That was the first week of November of this 
    year--this week, in fact.
        Now they are asking us to consider the possibility of being 
    there for some 3 or 4 days sometime during the month of January. No 
    decision has yet been made, and in all frankness, I am not certain 
    yet that the committee or a part of the committee will actually go. 
    But in the event we do go, it is necessary for us to have this 
    permission from the House in order to do so.

    Shortly thereafter, the resolution was agreed to.
    Parliamentarian's Note: Counterpart funds are local currencies 
owned by the United States which, under 22 USC Sec. 1754(b) may be made 
available to committees of Congress studying the application, 
administration and execution of laws, or parts of laws, the subject 
matter of which is within their jurisdiction.

Resolution Authorizing Investigation by Two Committees

Sec. 3.9 The House in one resolution authorized two standing 
    committees, the Committee on Military Affairs and the Committee on 
    Naval Affairs [each later combined into the Committee on Armed 
    Services] to investigate, with subpena authority, the progress of 
    the national defense program insofar as it related to matters 
    within the jurisdiction of each committee.

    On Apr. 2, 1941,(18) Speaker Sam Rayburn, of Texas, 
recognized Mr. Howard W. Smith, of Virginia, who, by direction of the 
Committee on Rules, called up and asked for the immediate consideration 
of the following resolution :(19)
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18. 87 Cong. Rec. 2898, 77th Cong. 1st Sess.
19. Id. at p. 2899.
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                            House Resolution 162

        Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs and the 
    Committee on Naval Affairs, respectively, each acting as a whole or 
    by subcommittee, are authorized and directed to conduct thorough 
    studies and investigations of the progress of the national-defense 
    program insofar as it relates to matters coming within the 
    jurisdiction of such committees, respectively, with a view to 
    determining whether such program is being carried forward 
    efficiently, expeditiously, and economically.
        The Committee on Military Affairs and the Committee on Naval 
    Affairs shall report to the House during the

[[Page 2537]]

    present Congress the results of their studies and investigations, 
    together with such recommendations for legislation as they deem 
    desirable.
        For the purposes of this resolution, the respective committees, 
    or any subcommittees thereof, are authorized to hold such hearings, 
    to sit and act during the present Congress at such times and places 
    whether or not the House is in session, has recessed, or has 
    adjourned, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the 
    production of such books, papers, and documents by subpena or 
    otherwise, and to take testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas 
    may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the respective 
    committees and shall be served by any person designated by such 
    chairmen. The chairman of each committee or any member thereof may 
    administer oaths to witnesses.

    A clerical error in the measure was corrected by unanimous consent, 
whereupon brief debate ensued, and the resolution was agreed to 
(20) on a roll call vote--yeas 327, nay 1.
    Parliamentarian's Note: In 1947, the Committee on Military Affairs 
and the Committee on Naval Affairs were combined to establish the 
Committee on Armed Services pursuant to the Legislative Reorganization 
Act of 1946.(1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. Id. at p. 2907.
 1. See Rule XI clause 3, House Rules and Manual Sec. 682 (1973).
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Specificity in Investigative Resolutions

Sec. 3.10 The House authorized the standing Committee on Veterans' 
    Affairs to conduct an investigation of veterans' programs and 
    benefits, specifying the subjects of compensation and pensions, 
    hospitalization and medical care, insurance, housing and business 
    loans, education and training, and the furnishing of burial 
    allowances.

    On Feb. 5, 1957,(2) Howard W. Smith, of Virginia, 
Chairman of the Committee on Rules, called up House Resolution 64 and 
asked for its immediate consideration. The resolution, in pertinent 
part, contained the following language:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. 103 Cong. Rec. 1554, 85th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Resolved, That the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, acting as a 
    whole or by subcommittee, is authorized and directed to conduct a 
    full and complete investigation and study of the following programs 
    of benefits for veterans and their dependents and survivors:
        (1) The programs of compensation and pension;
        (2) The programs of hospitalization, domiciliary care, medical 
    and dental care and treatment, and furnishing of prosthetic 
    appliances;
        (3) The insurance and indemnity programs;

[[Page 2538]]

        (4) The housing and business loan programs, and the program of 
    furnishing assistance for the acquisition of specially adapted 
    housing;
        (5) The programs of education and training (including 
    vocational rehabilitation);
        (6) The furnishing of burial allowances; and
        (7) The furnishing of unemployment compensation under the 
    Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952; with a view to 
    determining whether or not such programs are being conducted 
    economically, efficiently, in the best interests of the Government 
    and the beneficiaries of such programs, and in such a manner as to 
    avoid the misuse of Government funds; whether or not such programs 
    adequately serve the needs and protect the welfare of the 
    beneficiaries of such programs; and whether changes in the law or 
    in the administration and operation of the programs either will 
    lead to greater efficiency and economy or will make such programs 
    more adequately serve the needs of the beneficiaries of such 
    programs.

    Following House agreement to proposed committee 
amendments,(3) the resolution was agreed to.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. In the excerpt quoted above, the words ``and directed'' were struck 
        and the resolution was (retroactively) made ``effective from 
        January 4, 1957.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 3.11 The House specified matters for investigation by the standing 
    Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs through passage of an 
    authorizing resolution.

    On Feb. 5, 1957,(4) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. James W. Trimble, of Arkansas, called up for immediate 
consideration a resolution (H. Res. 94) which read, in part, as 
follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4. 103 Cong. Rec. 1557, 85th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Resolved, That the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs 
    may make investigations and studies into the following matters 
    within its jurisdiction: In Alaska--the aboriginal and possessory 
    rights of the Eskimos, Aleuts, and Indians in and to the public 
    lands; in Hawaii--the operation of the Hawaiian Homes Commission 
    under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, and the return of 
    federally held lands to local authority and/or private ownership; 
    in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and Pacific-flag 
    areas--the provisions and local conditions for an organic act for 
    the trust territory; legislation concerning American Samoa; 
    operation and administration of the Organic Act of Guam; and 
    legislation affecting the civilian population of the Ryukyu 
    Islands; in Puerto Rico--the return of federally held lands to 
    local authority; in the Virgin Islands--the operation and 
    administration of the Revised Organic Act of 1954 and the Virgin 
    Islands Corporation; in the continental United States, Hawaii, 
    Alaska, and the Virgin Islands--the operation and administration of 
    the units of the national park system; in the continental

[[Page 2539]]

    United States and Alaska--the mineral resources of the public lands 
    and mining interests generally, including but not limited to the 
    condition, problems, and needs of the mining and minerals 
    industries; the proposed long-range domestic minerals programs to 
    be submitted by the Secretary of the Interior, with the approval of 
    the President, during the first session of the 85th Congress; 
    mineral resources surveys, exploration, development, production, 
    and conservation minerals research, including coal research, 
    required to improve the position of domestic minerals industries; 
    the administration and operation of Public Law 633 (84th Cong., 2d 
    sess.) with a view to determining the extent to which the intent of 
    Congress to provide interim assistance to those mining industries 
    producing tungsten, fluorspar, asbestos, and columbium-tantalum 
    bearing ores, has been carried out; the administration and 
    operation of Public Law 167 (84th Cong., 1st sess.) known as the 
    Multiple Surface Use Act, and Public Law 359 (84th Cong., 1st 
    sess.), known as the Mining Claims Restoration Act; proposed 
    changes in the general mining laws, and the mineral leasing laws, 
    including the laws which govern the development, utilization, and 
    conservation of the oil, gas, and associated petroleum resources of 
    the public lands and outer Continental Shelf of the United States 
    and Alaska; in the continental United States--irrigation and 
    reclamation projects proposed for authorization, including but not 
    limited to the San Luis project in California, the Fryingpan-
    Arkansas project in Colorado, the San Angelo project in Texas, the 
    Norman project in Oklahoma, the Garrison Dam diversion project in 
    North Dakota, the Mid-State project in Nebraska, developments in 
    the Middle and Upper Snake River Basin in Idaho, developments in 
    the Columbia Basin in the vicinity of Wenatchee and Spokane in 
    Washington, and developments in the Rio Grande River Basin in New 
    Mexico, projects proposed for construction under the Small 
    Reclamation Projects Act of 1956; disposal of Federal interests in 
    the towns of Boulder City, Nev., and Coulee Dam, Wash., and 
    policies relating to the establishment of such Federal cities at 
    future damsites; applicability to Federal agencies and activities 
    of State and Territorial laws governing the control, appropriation 
    and use of water; in the United States and Alaska--the 
    administration and operation of the laws governing the development, 
    utilization, and conservation of the surface and subsurface 
    resources of the public lands administered by the Bureau of Land 
    Management and the forest reserves created out of the public 
    domain; on various Indian and native lands and reservations in the 
    United States and Alaska--for the purpose of improving the 
    management of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the administration and 
    operation of the Indian health program; and for the purpose of 
    planning the ultimate release of the Indians from Federal wardship.

    After agreement to proposed committee amendments,(5) the 
resolution was agreed to.
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 5. Only one amendment affected the quoted portion of the resolution. 
        It was made ``effective from January 4, 1957.''

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[[Page 2540]]

Sec. 3.12 The House authorized the Committee on Banking and Currency to 
    investigate prices of lumber and plywood, and conferred special 
    subpena authority for the purpose of carrying out the 
    investigation.

    On Aug. 14, 1972,(6) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. William M. Colmer, of Mississippi, called up for immediate 
consideration the following resolution (H. Res. 1037):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 6. 118 Cong. Rec. 28076, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Resolved, That the Committee on Banking and Currency, acting as 
    a whole or by subcommittee, is authorized and directed to conduct a 
    full and complete investigation and study of the high price of 
    lumber and plywood.
        For the purpose of carrying out this resolution the committee 
    or subcommittee is authorized to sit and act during the present 
    Congress at such times and places within the United States, 
    including any Commonwealth or possession thereof, whether the House 
    is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such 
    hearings, and to require, by subpena or otherwise, the attendance 
    and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, 
    records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents, as it 
    deems necessary; except that neither the committee nor any 
    subcommittee thereof may sit while the House is meeting unless 
    special leave to sit shall have been obtained from the House. 
    Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the 
    committee or any member of the committee designated by him . . . 
    and may be served by any person designated by such chairman or 
    member.
        The committee shall report to the House on or before November 
    1972 the results of its investigation and study, together with such 
    recommendations as it deems advisable. Any such report which is 
    made when the House is not in session shall be filed with the Clerk 
    of the House.

    Shortly after agreeing to two proposed amendments,(7) 
the House agreed to the resolution.(8)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 7. The combined effect of the amendments was to strike out the words 
        ``and directed'' and to insert at that point the words ``and 
        requested''.
 8. 118 Cong. Rec. 28077, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rejection of Authorizing Resolution

Sec. 3.13 The House rejected a resolution authorizing the Committee on 
    Banking and Currency to make certain investigations.

    On June 15, 1955,(9) the following resolution (H. Res. 
210) was reported from the Committee on Rules and called up by Mr. W. 
Homer Thornberry, of Texas, who asked for its immediate consideration:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9. 101 Cong. Rec. 8310, 84th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Resolved, That the Committee on Banking and Currency, acting as 
    a

[[Page 2541]]

    whole or by subcommittee, is authorized and directed to conduct 
    full and complete studies and investigations and make inquiries 
    with respect to any matter or matters concerning (1) the 
    composition, operation, and activities of the Federal Open Market 
    Committee, (2) the fluctuation in rates of interest and prices of 
    securities issued by the United States and the effect of such 
    fluctuations on the public debt, general price level, employment, 
    the cost of State and municipal financing, and other segments of 
    the national economy, (3) the various types of Government 
    securities, manner of issue, method of payment, maturities, 
    character of investors, and amount and degree of speculation 
    therein, and (4) the various proposals for Federal assistance 
    (other than grants) in the financing of State, county, and 
    municipal (or instrumentalities thereof) highway and school 
    programs.

    Following debate, the previous question was ordered, and, on a yea 
and nay vote, there were yeas 178, nays 214. So the resolution was 
rejected.(10)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Id. at p. 8322.
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Sec. 3.14 A resolution authorizing the Committee on Education and Labor 
    to send four Members to the International Labor Organization 
    Conference in Geneva, and one designated member of that group to 
    conduct further studies in Europe, specifying the travel permitted 
    at government expense, and permitting the use of local currencies 
    for official business, was rejected by the House.

    On May 14, 1963,(11) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. B. F. Sisk, of California, called up House Resolution 340 
and asked for its immediate consideration. The Clerk then read the 
resolution, as follows: (12)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. 109 Cong. Rec. 8512, 88th Cong. 1st Sess.
12. Id. at pp. 8512, 8513.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Resolved, That, notwithstanding the provisions of H. Res. 103, 
    Eighty-eighth Congress, the Committee on Education and Labor is 
    hereby authorized to send two of its majority members and two of 
    its minority members to attend the International Labor Organization 
    Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, during June 1963.
        It is Resolved, further, That Congressman James Roosevelt, who 
    will be one of the majority members of the Committee on Education 
    and Labor attending the International Labor Organization 
    Conference, is hereby authorized to proceed from Geneva to Greece; 
    Israel; Rome, Italy; and Paris, France, for the purpose of studying 
    labor-management relations in said countries, and then return from 
    Paris, via London, England, to the United States.
        Notwithstanding section 1754 of title 22, United States Code, 
    or any other provisions of law, local currencies owned by the 
    United States shall be made available to the committee members 
    engaged in carrying out their offi

[[Page 2542]]

    cial duties under section 190(d) of title 2, United States Code: . 
    . .

    The yeas and nays were demanded, and ordered, and there were--yeas 
153, nays 217, answered ``present'' 1. Hence, the resolution was 
rejected.(13)
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13. Id. at p. 8520.
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