H. Res. 24

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

January 30, 2007.

Resolved, 

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

There is established in the House of Representatives a 

commission to be known as the House Democracy Assistance 

Commission (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the 

‘‘Commission’’). 

SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION. 

(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

shall be composed of 20 Members of the House of Representatives, of whom 11 shall represent the majority party and be 

appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives 

and 9 shall represent the minority party and be appointed by 

the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 

(b) TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—Each member of the Commission shall be 

appointed for a term that is concurrent with the Congress in 

which the appointment is made. Such a member may be re-
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appointed for one or more subsequent terms in accordance 

with the preceding sentence. 

(c) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Commission 

shall be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among the members appointed by the 

Speaker of the House of Representatives under subsection 

(a). 

SEC. 3. DUTIES. 

(a) ACTIVITIES.—The Commission shall work with the 

legislatures of partner countries, as determined pursuant to 

paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b), on a frequent and 

regular basis in order to—

(1) enable Members, officers, and staff of the 

House of Representatives and congressional support 

agencies to provide expert advice and consultation to 

members and staff of the legislatures of partner countries; 

(2) enable members and staff of legislatures of 

partner countries to study the operations of the House 

of Representatives and its support agencies; and 

(3) provide recommendations to the Administrator 

of the United States Agency for International Development regarding the provision of material assistance, such 

as modern automation and office systems, information 

technology, and library supplies, as the Commission de-
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termines to be needed by a legislature of a partner country in order to improve the efficiency and transparency 

of its work, and to oversee the provision of such assistance. 

(b) SELECTION OF PARTNER LEGISLATURES.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to carry out the activities described in subsection (a), the Commission may 

conduct, as needed, studies on the feasibility of programs of assistance for legislatures of countries described in paragraph (2) for the purpose of strengthening the legislative infrastructure of such countries. 

Such studies shall assess—

(A) the independent and substantive role that 

each legislature plays, or could reasonably be expected to play, in the legislative process and government oversight; 

(B) the potential benefit to each legislature of 

expert advice from and consultation with Members 

and staff of the House of Representatives in areas 

such as the development of research services and 

legislative information systems, legislative procedure, committee operations, budget process, government oversight, and constituent services; and 

(C) the need in each legislature for material 

assistance, such as modern automation and office 
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systems, information technology, and research materials, in order to improve efficiency and transparency. 

(2) COUNTRIES DESCRIBED.—The countries referred to in paragraph (1) are countries that have established, have re-established, or are developing democratic 

legislatures which would benefit from the assistance described in this resolution. 

(3) ADDITIONAL PARTNER LEGISLATURES.—From 

any countries studied in accordance with paragraph (1), 

the Commission may select one or more legislatures to 

receive assistance under the provisions of this resolution, 

subject to a written expression of interest from the highest ranking office within the legislature of a selected 

country. 

(c) REPORTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 

2007, and each December 31 thereafter, the Commission 

shall prepare and submit to the Speaker of the House 

of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of 

Representatives, appropriate House committees, the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Administrator of the United States 

Agency for International Development, an annual report 

on the Commission’s activities, including a review of the 
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activities of the Commission in the current year and a 

proposal for the activities of the Commission in the upcoming year, as described in subsection (a). 

(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate House committees’’ means the following committees of the House of Representatives: 

(A) The Committee on Foreign Affairs. 

(B) The Committee on Appropriations. 

(C) The Committee on House Administration. 

(D) The Committee on Rules. 

SEC. 4. ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall carry out the 

duties described in section 3 using the staff and resources of 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs, including the use of consultants or temporary employees, such as individuals with expertise in development of democratic parliaments, legislative 

systems management, legislative research, parliamentary procedure, related legislative matters, and technology systems 

management, as appropriate. 

(b) PARTICIPATION OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.—At the request of the Commission, the head of any office of the House of Representatives or any congressional 

support agency may assist the work of the Commission by—
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(1) detailing personnel to the staff of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or another standing committee 

of the House of Representatives; or 

(2) authorizing personnel to participate in activities 

of the Commission. 

SEC. 5. TRANSITION FROM FORMER COMMISSION. 

(a) CONTINUATION OF EXISTING PROGRAMS.—The 

Commission may continue programs of assistance with legislatures of partner countries which were initiated by the 

former Commission. 

(b) TRANSFER OF AUTHORITIES AND RESOURCES.—Any 

authorities and resources of the former Commission which remain available as of the day before the date of the adoption 

of this resolution, including unobligated funds, shall be transferred and made available to the Commission. 

(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the ‘‘former Commission’’ means the House Democracy Assistance Commission 

established under the House Democracy Assistance Commission Resolution (House Resolution 135, One Hundred Ninth 

Congress, agreed to March 14, 2005). 

Attest:

Clerk.