```

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 6 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 6

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                       January 9, 2019.
    Resolved,

              TITLE I--RULES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

SEC. 101. ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.

    The Rules of the House of Representatives of the One Hundred Fifteenth 
Congress, including applicable provisions of law or concurrent resolution that 
constituted rules of the House at the end of the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, 
are adopted as the Rules of the House of Representatives of the One Hundred 
Sixteenth Congress, with amendments to the standing rules as provided in section 
102, and with other orders as provided in this resolution.

SEC. 102. CHANGES TO THE STANDING RULES.

    (a) Notification of Convening of the House.--In clause 12 of rule I, insert 
``, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner'' after ``Members'' each place it 
appears.
    (b) Voting by Delegates and the Resident Commissioner in the Committee of 
the Whole.--
            (1) In clause 3(a) of rule III, insert ``In a Committee of the Whole 
        House on the State of the Union, each Delegate and the Resident 
        Commissioner shall possess the same powers and privileges as Members of 
        the House.'' before ``Each Delegate''.
            (2) In clause 6 of rule XVIII, add at the end the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``(h) Whenever a recorded vote on any question has been decided by a margin 
within which the votes cast by the Delegates and the Resident Commissioner have 
been decisive, the Committee of the Whole shall rise and the Speaker shall put 
such question de novo without intervening motion. Upon the announcement of the 
vote on that question, the Committee of the Whole shall resume its sitting 
without intervening motion.''.
    (c) Allowing Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to Serve on Joint 
Committees.--In clause 3(b) of rule III, strike ``and to any'' and insert ``, 
joint committee, or''.
    (d) Admittance to the Hall of the House.--In clause 2(a) of rule IV--
            (1) strike subparagraphs (1) and (2) and insert the following:
            ``(1) Members of Congress, Members-elect, Delegates, Delegates-
        elect, the Resident Commissioner, and the Resident Commissioner-elect.
            ``(2) Contestants in election cases during the pendency of their 
        cases on the floor.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (14), insert ``and of the Territories'' after 
        ``States''.
    (e) Office of Speaker.--In clause 2(a) of rule IX, add the following new 
subparagraph:
    ``(3) A resolution causing a vacancy in the Office of Speaker shall not be 
privileged except if offered by direction of a party caucus or conference.''.
    (f) Designating Committee on Oversight and Reform.--In the standing rules, 
strike ``Committee on Oversight and Government Reform'' each place it appears 
and insert (in each instance) ``Committee on Oversight and Reform''.
    (g) Designating Committee on Education and Labor.--
            (1) In clause 1(e) of rule X, strike ``the Workforce'' and insert 
        ``Labor''.
            (2) In clause 3(d) of rule X, strike ``the Workforce'' and insert 
        ``Labor''.
    (h) Education and Labor Jurisdiction Clarification.--In clause 1(e) of rule 
X, add the following new subparagraphs:
            ``(14) Organization, administration, and general management of the 
        Department of Education.
            ``(15) Organization, administration, and general management of the 
        Department of Labor.''.
    (i) Committee Oversight Plans.--Amend clause 2(d) of rule X to read as 
follows:
    ``(d)(1) Not later than March 1 of the first session of a Congress, the 
chair of each standing committee (other than the Committee on Appropriations, 
the Committee on Ethics, and the Committee on Rules) shall--
            ``(A) prepare, in consultation with the ranking minority member, an 
        oversight plan for that Congress;
            ``(B) provide a copy of that plan to each member of the committee 
        for at least seven calendar days before its submission; and
            ``(C) submit that plan (including any supplemental, minority, 
        additional, or dissenting views submitted by a member of the committee) 
        simultaneously to the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the 
        Committee on House Administration.
    ``(2) In developing the plan, the chair of each committee shall, to the 
maximum extent feasible--
            ``(A) consult with other committees that have jurisdiction over the 
        same or related laws, programs, or agencies with the objective of 
        ensuring maximum coordination and cooperation among committees when 
        conducting reviews of such laws, programs, or agencies and include in 
        the plan an explanation of steps that have been or will be taken to 
        ensure such coordination and cooperation;
            ``(B) review specific problems with Federal rules, regulations, 
        statutes, and court decisions that are ambiguous, arbitrary, or 
        nonsensical, or that impose severe financial burdens on individuals;
            ``(C) give priority consideration to including in the plan the 
        review of those laws, programs, or agencies operating under permanent 
        budget authority or permanent statutory authority;
            ``(D) have a view toward ensuring that all significant laws, 
        programs, or agencies within the committee's jurisdiction are subject to 
        review every 10 years; and
            ``(E) have a view toward insuring against duplication of Federal 
        programs.
    ``(3) Not later than April 15 in the first session of a Congress, after 
consultation with the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the Minority Leader, the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform shall report to the House the oversight plans 
submitted under subparagraph (1) together with any recommendations that it, or 
the House leadership group described above, may make to ensure the most 
effective coordination of oversight plans and otherwise to achieve the 
objectives of this clause.''.
    (j) Activity Reports.--
            (1) In clause 1(d)(2)(B) of rule XI, strike ``authorization and''.
            (2) In clause 1(d)(2)(C) of rule XI, strike ``authorization and''.
    (k) Oversight Over the Executive Office of the President.--In clause 3(i) of 
rule X, strike ``with a view to determining their economy and efficiency'' and 
insert ``, including the Executive Office of the President''.
    (l) Oversight and Reform Committee Depositions.--In clause 4(c)(3)(B) of 
rule X--
            (1) in item (i), insert ``and'' after the semicolon;
            (2) in item (ii), strike ``; and'' and insert ``.''; and
            (3) strike item (iii).
    (m) Removing Certain Committee Term Limits.--
            (1) In clause 5(a)(2) of rule X--
                    (A) strike subdivisions (B) and (C); and
                    (B) in subdivision (A), strike ``(A)'' and redesignate items 
                (i), (ii), and (iii) as subdivisions (A), (B), and (C).
            (2) In clause 5(c) of rule X--
                    (A) strike the designation of subparagraph (1); and
                    (B) strike subparagraph (2).
    (n) Rules of Committees.--In clause 2(a)(2) of rule XI, strike ``30'' and 
insert ``60''.
    (o) Committee Markup Notice.--In clause 2(g)(3)(A)(ii) of rule XI, strike 
``third day'' and insert ``third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or 
legal holidays except when the House is in session on such a day)''.
    (p) Annual Ethics Training.--In clause 3(a)(6)(B)(ii) of rule XI--
            (1) strike "officer and employee" and insert "Member, Delegate, 
        Resident Commissioner, officer, and employee"; and
            (2) strike "officer or employee" and insert "Member, Delegate, 
        Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee".
    (q) Considering Criminal Trial Evidence in Ethics Investigation.--In clause 
3(p) of rule XI--
            (1) in subparagraph (5)(C), strike ``first; or'' and insert 
        ``first;'';
            (2) in subparagraph (5)(D), strike ``investigation;'' and insert 
        ``investigation; or'';
            (3) in subparagraph (5), add at the end the following new 
        subdivision:
                            ``(E) the committee or an investigative subcommittee 
                        determines to take into evidence the trial transcript or 
                        exhibits admitted into evidence at a criminal trial 
                        pursuant to subparagraph (9);'';
            (4) in subparagraph (7), strike ``; and'' and insert a semicolon;
            (5) in subparagraph (8), strike the period and insert ``; and''; and
            (6) add at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(9) in any investigation permitted by House or committee 
                rules, in addition to any other evidence which the committee or 
                an investigative subcommittee may consider, if the respondent 
                has been convicted by a court of record for a crime which is 
                related to the subject of the investigation, the committee or 
                investigative subcommittee may take into evidence the trial 
                transcript and all exhibits admitted into evidence at the 
                trial.''.
    (r) Consensus Calendar.--
            (1) In clause 1 of rule XIII, add at the end the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``(c) There is established a Consensus Calendar as provided in clause 7 of 
rule XV.''.
            (2) In rule XV, add at the end the following new clause:
``Consensus Calendar
    ``7.(a)(1) At least once during any week in which the House convenes, the 
House shall consider a measure on the Consensus Calendar as designated by the 
Speaker.
    ``(2) This paragraph does not apply before March 1 of an odd-numbered year 
or after September 30 of an even-numbered year.
    ``(b)(1) The sponsor of a measure that has accumulated 290 cosponsors and 
has not been reported by the committee of primary jurisdiction may present to 
the Clerk a motion in writing to place that measure on the Consensus Calendar.
    ``(2) A proper motion presented under subparagraph (1) shall be placed in 
the custody of the Clerk, and shall appear in a portion of the Congressional 
Record designated for that purpose. The Clerk shall maintain a cumulative list 
of such motions, and shall make such list publicly available in electronic form.
    ``(3) A motion presented under subparagraph (1) shall be considered as 
withdrawn if the measure is reported by the committee of primary jurisdiction 
prior to its placement on the Consensus Calendar.
    ``(c) After a measure has maintained at least 290 cosponsors for a 
cumulative period of 25 legislative days after the presentation of a motion 
under paragraph (b)(1), the measure shall be placed on the Consensus Calendar. 
Such measure shall remain on the Consensus Calendar until it is--
            ``(1) considered in the House; or
            ``(2) reported by the committee of primary jurisdiction.''.
    (s) Recorded Votes in Rules Committee Reports.--In clause 3(b) of rule XIII, 
insert ``, and applies only to the maximum extent practicable to a report by the 
Committee on Rules on a rule, joint rule, or the order of business'' after 
``Ethics''.
    (t) 72-Hour Text Availability.--
            (1) In clause 4(a)(1) of rule XIII--
                    (A) strike ``the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, 
                Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in session 
                on such a day) on which each report'' and insert ``the proposed 
                text of each report (except views referred to in clause 2(l) of 
                rule XI)''; and
                    (B) insert ``for 72 hours'' after ``Resident Commissioner''.
            (2) In clause 11 of rule XXI--
                    (A) strike ``the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, 
                Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in session 
                on such a day) on which''; and
                    (B) insert ``for 72 hours'' after ``Resident Commissioner''.
            (3) In clause 8(a)(1)(A) of rule XXII--
                    (A) strike ``the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, 
                Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in session 
                on such a day) on which''; and
                    (B) insert ``for 72 hours'' after ``Resident Commissioner''.
            (4) In clause 8(b)(1)(A) of rule XXII--
                    (A) strike ``the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, 
                Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in session 
                on such a day) on which''; and
                    (B) insert ``for 72 hours'' after ``Resident Commissioner''.
    (u) Macroeconomic Analysis.--In rule XIII, strike clause 8.
    (v) Discharge Petitions.--
            (1) In clause 2 of rule XV--
                    (A) strike ``Discharge motions, second and fourth Mondays'' 
                and insert ``Discharge motions'';
                    (B) strike paragraph (a) and redesignate the subsequent 
                paragraphs accordingly;
                    (C) in paragraph (b) (as so redesignated), strike 
                ``paragraph (b)'' and insert ``paragraph (a)''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (c)(1) (as so redesignated), strike the 
                first sentence and insert the following: ``A motion to discharge 
                that has been on the calendar for at least seven legislative 
                days (except during the last six days of a session of Congress) 
                shall be privileged only at a time or place, designated by the 
                Speaker, in the legislative schedule within two legislative days 
                after the day on which a Member whose signature appears thereon 
                announces to the House an intention to offer the motion.''.
            (2) In clause 6(e) of rule XIII, strike ``on a day when it is in 
        order to consider a motion to discharge committees under clause 2 of 
        rule XV'' and insert ``on the second and fourth Mondays of a month''.
            (3) In clause 3 of rule XV, strike ``on a day when it is in order to 
        consider a motion to discharge committees under clause 2'' and insert 
        ``on the second and fourth Mondays of a month''.
            (4) In clause 4 of rule XV, strike ``after the disposition of 
        motions to discharge committees and''.
    (w) Private Calendar.--In clause 5 of rule XV--
            (1) in the caption, strike ``, first and third Tuesdays''; and
            (2) in paragraph (b)(1), amend the first sentence to read as 
        follows: ``On any day, after the disposal of such business on the 
        Speaker's table as requires reference only, the Speaker may direct the 
        Clerk to call any bill or resolution that has been on the Private 
        Calendar for at least seven days, but only on the second legislative day 
        after the legislative day on which the Speaker or a designee announces 
        to the House an intention to do so.''.
    (x) Religious Headdress.--In clause 5 of rule XVII, insert ``non-religious 
headdress or'' before ``a hat''.
    (y) Quorum in the Committee of the Whole.--In clause 6 of rule XVIII--
            (1) in paragraph (a), insert ``, Delegates, and the Resident 
        Commissioner'' after ``Members'';
            (2) in paragraph (e), insert ``, Delegates, and the Resident 
        Commissioner'' after ``Members''; and
            (3) in paragraph (g)(2), insert ``, Delegates, and the Resident 
        Commissioner'' after ``Members''.
    (z) Two-minute Voting in the Committee of the Whole.--In clause 6 of rule 
XVIII--
            (1) in paragraph (f)--
                    (A) strike ``without any intervening business or debate''; 
                and
                    (B) after ``first pending amendment'' insert the following: 
                ``, if in the discretion of the Chair Members, Delegates, and 
                the Resident Commissioner would be afforded an adequate 
                opportunity to vote''; and
            (2) in paragraph (g)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (1), strike ``without intervening 
                business''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (2), strike ``without intervening debate 
                or motion''.
    (aa) Postponability of Certain Votes.--In clause 8(a)(2) of rule XX--
            (1) redesignate subdivisions (G) through (J) as subdivisions (H) 
        through (K), respectively;
            (2) insert after subdivision (F) the following new subdivision:
                    ``(G) The question of agreeing to an amendment.'';
            (3) in subdivision (H) (as redesignated), strike ``(F)'' and insert 
        ``(G)''; and
            (4) strike subdivision (K) (as redesignated).
    (bb) Discretion for Five-minute Votes.--
            (1) Strike clause 8(c) of rule XX (and redesignate the succeeding 
        paragraph accordingly).
            (2) Amend clause 9 of rule XX to read as follows:
    ``9.(a) The Speaker may reduce to five minutes the minimum time for 
electronic voting on any question that follows another electronic vote or a 
report from the Committee of the Whole, if in the discretion of the Speaker 
Members would be afforded an adequate opportunity to vote.
    ``(b) To the maximum extent practicable, notice of possible five-minute 
voting for a given series of votes shall be issued prior to the first electronic 
vote in the series.''.
    (cc) Net Increase in Budget Authority.--In clause 2 of rule XXI, strike 
paragraph (g).
    (dd) Removing Supermajority Vote.--
            (1) In clause 5 of rule XXI, strike paragraph (b) and redesignate 
        the subsequent paragraph accordingly.
            (2) In clause 10 of rule XX, strike ``, or increasing Federal income 
        tax rates (within the meaning of clause 5 of rule XXI)''.
            (3) In clause 5(a) of rule XXI, strike ``paragraph (1)'' and insert 
        ``subparagraph (1)''.
    (ee) Pay-As-You-Go Point Of Order.--In rule XXI, amend clause 10 to read as 
follows:
    ``10.(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), it shall not be in 
order to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report if 
the provisions of such measure affecting direct spending and revenues have the 
net effect of increasing the deficit or reducing the surplus for either the 
period comprising--
            ``(A) the current fiscal year, the budget year, and the four fiscal 
        years following that budget year; or
            ``(B) the current fiscal year, the budget year, and the nine fiscal 
        years following that budget year.
    ``(2) The effect of such measure on the deficit or surplus shall be 
determined on the basis of estimates made by the Committee on the Budget 
relative to baseline estimates supplied by the Congressional Budget Office 
consistent with section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
Act of 1985.
    ``(b) If a bill, joint resolution, or amendment is considered pursuant to a 
special order of the House directing the Clerk to add as new matter at the end 
of such measure the provisions of a separate measure as passed by the House, the 
provisions of such separate measure as passed by the House shall be included in 
the evaluation under paragraph (a) of the bill, joint resolution, or amendment.
    ``(c)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), the evaluation under 
paragraph (a) shall exclude a provision expressly designated as an emergency for 
purposes of pay-as-you-go principles in the case of a point of order under this 
clause against consideration of--
            ``(A) a bill or joint resolution;
            ``(B) an amendment made in order as original text by a special order 
        of business;
            ``(C) a conference report; or
            ``(D) an amendment between the Houses.
    ``(2) In the case of an amendment (other than one specified in subparagraph 
(1)) to a bill or joint resolution, the evaluation under paragraph (a) shall 
give no cognizance to any designation of emergency.
    ``(3) If a bill, a joint resolution, an amendment made in order as original 
text by a special order of business, a conference report, or an amendment 
between the Houses includes a provision expressly designated as an emergency for 
purposes of pay-as-you-go principles, the Chair shall put the question of 
consideration with respect thereto.
    ``(d) For the purpose of this clause, the terms `budget year' and `current 
year' have the meanings specified in section 250 of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, and the term `direct spending' has the 
meaning specified in such section 250 except that such term shall also include 
provisions in appropriations Acts that make outyear modifications to substantive 
law as described in section 3(4)(C) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
2010.''.
    (ff) Banning Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender 
Identity.--In clause 9 of rule XXIII, insert ``sexual orientation, gender 
identity,'' before ``disability''.
    (gg) Banning Sexual Relationships Between Members and Committee Staff.--In 
clause 18(a) of rule XXIII, strike ``Resident Commissioner.'' and insert 
``Resident Commissioner, or who is an employee of a committee on which the 
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner serves.''.
    (hh) Service of Indicted Members in Leadership and on Committees.--In clause 
10 of rule XXIII--
            (1) designate the existing sentence as paragraph (a); and
            (2) insert at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(b) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who has been indicted for 
or otherwise formally charged with criminal conduct in any Federal, State, or 
local court punishable as a felony for which a sentence of two or more years' 
imprisonment may be imposed should submit his or her resignation from any 
standing, select, joint or ad hoc committee, and any subcommittee thereof, on 
which he or she serves, and should step aside from any party caucus or 
conference leadership position he or she holds, unless or until judicial or 
executive proceedings result in acquittal or the charges are dismissed or 
reduced to less than a felony as described in this paragraph.''.
    (ii) Banning Members, Officers, and Employees From Sitting on Corporate 
Boards.--Effective January 1, 2020, in rule XXIII--
            (1) redesignate clause 19 as clause 20; and
            (2) insert after clause 18 the following new clause:
    ``19.(a) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of 
the House may not serve as an officer or director of any public company.
    ``(b) In paragraph (a), the term `public company' means an issuer as defined 
in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c)--
            ``(1) the securities of which are required to be registered under 
        section 12 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 78l); or
            ``(2) that is required to file reports under section 15(d) of such 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 78o(d)).
    ``(c) Not later than December 31, 2019, the Committee on Ethics shall 
develop regulations addressing other types of prohibited service or positions 
that could lead to conflicts of interest.''.
    (jj) Suspension of the Debt Limit.--Rule XXVIII is amended to read as 
follows:

                                  ``RULE XXVIII

                      ``Statutory Limit on the Public Debt

    ``1. Upon adoption by the House of a concurrent resolution on the budget 
under section 301 or 304 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Clerk 
shall prepare an engrossment of a joint resolution suspending the statutory 
limit on the public debt in the form prescribed in clause 2. Upon engrossment of 
the joint resolution, the vote by which the concurrent resolution on the budget 
was adopted by the House shall also be considered as a vote on passage of the 
joint resolution in the House, and the joint resolution shall be considered as 
passed by the House and duly certified and examined. The engrossed copy shall be 
signed by the Clerk and transmitted to the Senate for further legislative 
action.
    ``2. The matter after the resolving clause in a joint resolution described 
in clause 1 shall be as follows: `Section 3101(b) of title 31, United States 
Code, shall not apply for the period beginning on the date of enactment and 
ending on September 30, ____.' with the blank being filled with the budget year 
for the concurrent resolution.
    ``3. Nothing in this rule shall be construed as limiting or otherwise 
affecting--
    ``(a) the power of the House or the Senate to consider and pass bills or 
joint resolutions, without regard to the procedures under clause 1, that would 
change the statutory limit on the public debt; or
    ``(b) the rights of Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, or 
committees with respect to the introduction, consideration, and reporting of 
such bills or joint resolutions.
    ``4. In this rule the term 'statutory limit on the public debt' means the 
maximum face amount of obligations issued under authority of chapter 31 of title 
31, United States Code, and obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest 
by the United States (except such guaranteed obligations as may be held by the 
Secretary of the Treasury), as determined under section 3101(b) of such title 
after the application of section 3101(a) of such title, that may be outstanding 
at any one time.''.

SEC. 103. SEPARATE ORDERS.

    (a) Deposition Authority.--
            (1) During the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, the chair of a 
        standing committee (other than the Committee on Rules), and the chair of 
        the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, upon consultation with 
        the ranking minority member of such committee, may order the taking of 
        depositions, including pursuant to subpoena, by a member or counsel of 
        such committee.
            (2) Depositions taken under the authority prescribed in this 
        subsection shall be subject to regulations issued by the chair of the 
        Committee on Rules and printed in the Congressional Record.
    (b) Providing for Transparency With Respect to Memorials Submitted Pursuant 
to Article V of the Constitution of the United States.--With respect to any 
memorial presented under clause 3 of rule XII purporting to be an application of 
the legislature of a State calling for a convention for proposing amendments to 
the Constitution of the United States pursuant to Article V, or a rescission of 
any such prior application--
            (1) the chair of the Committee on the Judiciary shall, in the case 
        of a memorial presented in the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress or 
        succeeding Congresses, and may, in the case of such a memorial presented 
        prior to the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, designate any such 
        memorial for public availability by the Clerk; and
            (2) the Clerk shall make such memorials as are designated pursuant 
        to paragraph (1) publicly available in electronic form, organized by 
        State of origin and year of receipt, and shall indicate whether the 
        memorial was designated as an application or a rescission.
    (c) Limitation on Advance Appropriations.--
            (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any general appropriation 
        bill or bill or joint resolution continuing appropriations, or amendment 
        thereto or conference report thereon, may not provide an advance 
        appropriation.
            (2) An advance appropriation may be provided for programs, 
        activities or accounts identified in lists submitted for printing in the 
        Congressional Record by the chair of the Committee on the Budget (when 
        elected)--
                    (A) for fiscal year 2020, under the heading ``Accounts 
                Identified for Advance Appropriations'' in an aggregate amount 
                not to exceed $28,852,000,000 in new budget authority, and for 
                2021, accounts separately identified under the same heading; and
                    (B) for fiscal year 2020, under the heading ``Veterans 
                Accounts Identified for Advance Appropriations'' in an aggregate 
                amount not to exceed $75,550,600,000 in new budget authority.
            (3) Definition.--The term ``advance appropriation'' means any new 
        discretionary budget authority provided in a general appropriation bill 
        or bill or joint resolution continuing appropriations for fiscal year 
        2019, or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that first 
        becomes available following fiscal year 2019.
    (d) Exercise Facilities for Former Members.--During the One Hundred 
Sixteenth Congress--
            (1) The House of Representatives may not provide access to any 
        exercise facility which is made available exclusively to Members and 
        former Members, officers and former officers of the House of 
        Representatives, and their spouses to any former Member, former officer, 
        or spouse who is a lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
        of 1995 or any successor statute or who is an agent of a foreign 
        principal as defined in clause 5 of rule XXV. For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term ``Member'' includes a Delegate or Resident 
        Commissioner to the Congress.
            (2) The Committee on House Administration shall promulgate 
        regulations to carry out this subsection.
    (e) Numbering of Bills.--In the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, the first 10 
numbers for bills (H.R. 1 through H.R. 10) shall be reserved for assignment by 
the Speaker and the second 10 numbers for bills (H.R. 11 through H.R. 20) shall 
be reserved for assignment by the Minority Leader.
    (f) Inclusion of Citations for Proposed Repeals and Amendments.--To the 
maximum extent practicable and consistent with established drafting conventions, 
an instruction in a bill or joint resolution proposing to repeal or amend any 
law or part thereof not contained in a codified title of the United States Code 
shall include, in parentheses immediately following the designation of the 
matter proposed to be repealed or amended, the applicable United States Code 
citation (which may be a note in the United States Code), or, if no such 
citation is available, an appropriate alternative citation to the applicable law 
or part.
    (g) Broadening Availability of Legislative Documents in Machine-readable 
Formats.--The Committee on House Administration, the Clerk, and other officers 
and officials of the House shall continue efforts to broaden the availability of 
legislative documents in machine readable formats in the One Hundred Sixteenth 
Congress in furtherance of the institutional priority of improving public 
availability and use of legislative information produced by the House and its 
committees.
    (h) Subcommittees.--Notwithstanding clause 5(d) of rule X, during the One 
Hundred Sixteenth Congress--
            (1) the Committee on Agriculture may have not more than six 
        subcommittees; and
            (2) the Committee on Financial Services may have not more than seven 
        subcommittees.
    (i) Requiring Committee Hearing and Markup on Bills and Joint Resolutions.--
            (1) Effective March 1, 2019, during the One Hundred Sixteenth 
        Congress, it shall not be in order to consider a bill or joint 
        resolution pursuant to a special order of business reported by the 
        Committee on Rules that--
                    (A) has not been reported by a committee; or
                    (B) has been reported by a committee unless the report 
                includes a list of related committee and subcommittee hearings 
                and a designation of at least one committee or subcommittee 
                hearing that was used to develop or consider such bill or joint 
                resolution.
            (2) This subsection shall not apply to a bill or joint resolution--
                    (A) continuing appropriations for a fiscal year;
                    (B) containing an emergency designation under section 
                251(b)(2) or section 252(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
                Deficit Control Act; or
                    (C) designated pursuant to clause 7(a) of rule XV.
    (j) Member Day Hearing Requirement.--During the first session of the One 
Hundred Sixteenth Congress, each standing committee (other than the Committee on 
Ethics) shall hold a hearing at which it receives testimony from Members, 
Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner on proposed legislation within its 
jurisdiction, except that the Committee on Rules may hold such hearing during 
the second session of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress.
    (k) Empaneling Investigative Subcommittee of the Committee on Ethics.--The 
text of House Resolution 451, One Hundred Tenth Congress, shall apply in the One 
Hundred Sixteenth Congress in the same manner as such provision applied in the 
One Hundred Tenth Congress, except that references to the Committee on Standards 
of Official Conduct shall be construed as references to the Committee on Ethics.
    (l) War Powers Resolution.--During the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, a 
motion to discharge a measure introduced pursuant to section 6 or section 7 of 
the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1545-46) shall not be subject to a motion 
to table.
    (m) Budget Matters.--During the first session of the One Hundred Sixteenth 
Congress, pending the adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget for 
fiscal year 2019--
            (1) the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate levels as 
        contained in the statement of the chair of the Committee on the Budget 
        of the House of Representatives in the Congressional Record of May 10, 
        2018, as adjusted in the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, shall be 
        considered for all purposes in the House to be the allocations, 
        aggregates, and other appropriate levels under titles III and IV of the 
        Congressional Budget Act of 1974; and
            (2) the provisions of House Concurrent Resolution 71, One Hundred 
        Fifteenth Congress, specified in section 30104(f)(1) of the Bipartisan 
        Budget Act of 2018 shall have no force or effect except for sections 
        5201, 5202, 5203, and 5401 of such concurrent resolution.
    (n) Legal Issues Related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act.--To protect the institutional interests of the House of Representatives, 
the Speaker, on behalf of the House, is authorized to intervene, otherwise 
appear, or take any other steps, in the case of Texas v. United States, No. 
4:18-cv-00167-O (N.D. Tex.) and in any appellate proceedings arising from such 
case. The Speaker, in consultation with the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, is 
also authorized to intervene, otherwise appear, or take any other steps in any 
other cases involving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to protect 
the institutional interests of the House and to defend such Act, the amendments 
made by such Act to other provisions of law, and any amendments to such 
provisions, including the provisions ensuring affordable health coverage for 
those with preexisting conditions. The House authorizes the Office of General 
Counsel of the House of Representatives, at the direction of the Speaker, to 
represent the House in any such litigation, and to take such steps as may be 
appropriate, including the supervision and employment of services of outside 
counsel, including pro bono counsel, or other experts.
    (o) Legal Issues Related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.--
The Office of General Counsel is directed to immediately explore all possible 
legal options for responding to any rulemaking by the United States Department 
of Agriculture, announced on or after December 20, 2018, to the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program involving requirements for able-bodied adults 
without dependents.
    (p) Congressional Member Organization Transparency Reform.--
            (1) Payment of salaries and expenses through account of 
        organization.--A Member of the House of Representatives and an eligible 
        Congressional Member Organization may enter into an agreement under 
        which--
                    (A) an employee of the Member's office may carry out 
                official and representational duties of the Member by assignment 
                to the Organization; and
                    (B) to the extent that the employee carries out such duties 
                under the agreement, the Member shall transfer the portion of 
                the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) of the Member 
                which would otherwise be used for the salary and related 
                expenses of the employee to a dedicated account in the House of 
                Representatives which is administered by the Organization, in 
                accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Committee on 
                House Administration under paragraph (2).
            (2) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration (hereafter 
        referred to in this subsection as the ``Committee'') shall promulgate 
        regulations as follows:
                    (A) Use of mra.--Pursuant to the authority of section 101(d) 
                of the House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical 
                Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 5341(d)), the Committee shall 
                prescribe regulations to provide that an eligible Congressional 
                Member Organization may use the amounts transferred to the 
                Organization's dedicated account under paragraph (1)(B) for the 
                same purposes for which a Member of the House of Representatives 
                may use the Members' Representational Allowance, except that the 
                Organization may not use such amounts for franked mail, official 
                travel, or leases of space or vehicles.
                    (B) Maintenance of limitations on number of shared 
                employees.--Pursuant to the authority of section 104(d) of the 
                House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical 
                Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 5321(d)), the Committee shall 
                prescribe regulations to provide that an employee of the office 
                of a Member of the House of Representatives who is covered by an 
                agreement entered into under paragraph (1) between the Member 
                and an eligible Congressional Member Organization shall be 
                considered a shared employee of the Member's office and the 
                Organization for purposes of such section, and shall include in 
                such regulations appropriate accounting standards to ensure that 
                a Member of the House of Representatives who enters into an 
                agreement with such an Organization under paragraph (1) does not 
                employ more employees than the Member is authorized to employ 
                under such section.
                    (C) Participation in student loan repayment program.--
                Pursuant to the authority of section 105(b) of the Legislative 
                Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 (2 U.S.C. 4536(b)), relating to 
                the student loan repayment program for employees of the House, 
                the Committee shall promulgate regulations to provide that, in 
                the case of an employee who is covered by an agreement entered 
                into under paragraph (1) between a Member of the House of 
                Representatives and an eligible Congressional Member 
                Organization and who participates in such program while carrying 
                out duties under the agreement--
                            (i) any funds made available for making payments 
                        under the program with respect to the employee shall be 
                        transferred to the Organization's dedicated account 
                        under paragraph (1)(B); and
                            (ii) the Organization shall use the funds to repay a 
                        student loan taken out by the employee, under the same 
                        terms and conditions which would apply under the program 
                        if the Organization were the employing office of the 
                        employee.
                    (D) Access to house services.--The Committee shall prescribe 
                regulations to ensure that an eligible Congressional Member 
                Organization has appropriate access to services of the House.
                    (E) Other regulations.--The Committee shall promulgate such 
                other regulations as may be appropriate to carry out this 
                subsection.
            (3) Eligible congressional member organization defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``eligible Congressional Member Organization'' 
        means, with respect to the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, an 
        organization meeting each of the following requirements:
                    (A) The organization is registered as a Congressional Member 
                Organization with the Committee on House Administration.
                    (B) The organization designates a single Member of the House 
                of Representatives to be responsible for the administration of 
                the organization, including the administration of the account 
                administered under paragraph (1)(B), and includes the 
                identification of such Member with the statement of organization 
                that the organization files and maintains with the Committee on 
                House Administration.
                    (C) At least 3 employees of the House are assigned to 
                perform some work for the organization.
                    (D) During the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, at least 15 
                Members of the House of Representatives used a portion of the 
                Members' Representational Allowance of the Member for the salary 
                and related expenses of an employee who was a shared employee of 
                the Member's office and the organization.
                    (E) The organization files a statement with the Committee on 
                House Administration and the Chief Administrative Officer of the 
                House of Representatives certifying that it will administer an 
                account in accordance with paragraph (1)(B).
    (q) Non-disclosure Agreements.--Any non-disclosure agreement imposed by any 
employing or contracting authority in the House of Representatives to which a 
paid or unpaid employee or contractor is or was required to agree as a term of 
employment shall--
            (1) provide clear guidance that the employee or contractor may 
        communicate concerning any matter with the Committee on Ethics, the 
        Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, or any other office or entity 
        designated by the Committee on House Administration without prior, 
        concurrent, or subsequent notice or approval; and
            (2) not be binding and shall have no legal effect to the extent to 
        which it requires prior, concurrent, or subsequent notice or approval 
        from anyone on any matter with respect to communications from an 
        employee or contractor to any of the committees, offices, or entities 
        described in paragraph (1).
    (r) Requiring Members to Pay for Discrimination Settlements.--
            (1) In general.--In the case of a settlement of a complaint under 
        the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 in connection with a claim 
        alleging a violation described in paragraph (2) which is committed 
        personally by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, if the 
        Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner is not required under law to 
        reimburse the Treasury for the amount of the settlement, the chair and 
        ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration may not 
        approve the settlement pursuant to clause 4(d)(2) of rule X unless, 
        under the terms and conditions of the settlement, the Member, Delegate, 
        or Resident Commissioner is required to reimburse the Treasury for the 
        amount of the settlement.
            (2) Violations described.--A violation described in this paragraph 
        is--
                    (A) a violation of section 201(a) or section 206(a) of the 
                Congressional Accountability Act of 1995; or
                    (B) a violation of section 207 of such Act which consists of 
                intimidating, taking reprisal against, or otherwise 
                discriminating against any covered employee under such Act 
                because of a claim alleging a violation described in 
                subparagraph (A).
    (s) Mandatory Anti-harassment and Anti-discrimination Policies for House 
Offices.--
            (1) Requiring offices to adopt policy.--Each employing office of the 
        House of Representatives under the Congressional Accountability Act of 
        1995 shall adopt an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy for 
        the office's workplace.
            (2) Regulations.--Not later than April 1, 2019, the Committee on 
        House Administration shall promulgate regulations to carry out this 
        section, and shall ensure that such regulations are consistent with the 
        requirements of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, rule 
        XXIII, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
    (t) Displaying Statement of Rights and Protections Provided to House 
Employees.--The Committee on House Administration shall issue regulations to 
provide that each employing office of the House of Representatives shall post in 
a prominent location in the office (including, in the case of the office of a 
Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner, a prominent location in each 
district office) a statement of the rights and protections provided to employees 
of the House of Representatives under the Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995, including the procedures available to employees of the House under such 
Act for responding to and adjudicating allegations of violations of such rights 
and protections.

SEC. 104. COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND HOUSE OFFICES.

    (a) House Democracy Partnership.--House Resolution 24, One Hundred Tenth 
Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress in the same manner 
as such resolution applied in the One Hundred Tenth Congress except that the 
commission concerned shall be known as the House Democracy Partnership.
    (b) Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Sections 1 through 7 of House Resolution 1451, One 
        Hundred Tenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred Sixteenth 
        Congress in the same manner as such provisions applied in the One 
        Hundred Tenth Congress, except that--
                    (A) the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission may, in addition 
                to collaborating closely with other professional staff members 
                of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, collaborate closely with 
                professional staff members of other relevant committees;
                    (B) the resources of the Committee on Foreign Affairs which 
                the Commission may use shall include all resources which the 
                Committee is authorized to obtain from other offices of the 
                House of Representatives; and
                    (C) any amounts authorized to provide full-time professional 
                staff and resources to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission 
                shall be in addition to and separate from the overall budget 
                authorization for the Committee on Foreign Affairs as provided 
                by resolution of the House, shall be administered by the 
                Committee on Foreign Affairs, and shall be distributed equally 
                between the co-chairs of the Commission.
            (2) Funding.--For the expenses of the Commission, including the 
        expenses of full-time professional staff and other resources, there 
        shall be paid, out of the applicable accounts of the House of 
        Representatives, not more than $52,000, to be available during the 
        period beginning at noon on January 3, 2019, and ending on March 31, 
        2019. The amounts provided under this paragraph shall be administered by 
        the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the same manner as amounts provided 
        for the expenses of such Committee by resolution of the House, and shall 
        be distributed equally between the co-chairs of the Commission.
    (c) Office of Congressional Ethics.--Section 1 of House Resolution 895, One 
Hundred Tenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress in the 
same manner as such provision applied in the One Hundred Tenth Congress, except 
that--
            (1) the Office of Congressional Ethics shall be treated as a 
        standing committee of the House for purposes of section 202(i) of the 
        Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i));
            (2) references to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct 
        shall be construed as references to the Committee on Ethics;
            (3) any requirement for concurrence in section 1(b)(1) shall be 
        construed as a requirement for consultation;
            (4) the second sentence of section 1(b)(6)(A) shall not apply;
            (5) members subject to section 1(b)(6)(B) may be reappointed for a 
        third additional term;
            (6) any individual who is the subject of a preliminary review or 
        second-phase review by the board shall be informed of the right to be 
        represented by counsel and invoking that right should not be held 
        negatively against such individual; and
            (7) the Office may not take any action that would deny any person 
        any right or protection provided under the Constitution of the United 
        States.
    (d) Office of Diversity and Inclusion.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established an Office of Diversity and 
        Inclusion of the House of Representatives (hereafter in this clause 
        referred to as the ``Office'').
            (2) Director.--The Speaker, in consultation with the Minority 
        Leader, shall appoint a Director of the Office from recommendations 
        provided by the chair of the Committee on House Administration in 
        consultation with the ranking minority member of such committee.
            (3) Operational plan.--Not later than 60 days after the appointment 
        of the Director of the Office, the Office shall submit to the Committee 
        on House Administration an operational plan for the Office that shall 
        include, consistent with applicable House rules, regulations, and law, a 
        plan for appointing and establishing duties for staff of the Office 
        which shall set forth a proposed maximum number of staff.
            (4) Diversity plan.--Not later than 90 days after submitting the 
        operational plan under paragraph (3), the Office shall submit a 
        diversity plan to the Committee on House Administration for the 
        committee's review and approval, and shall include in the plan the 
        following:
                    (A) Policies to direct and guide House employing offices to 
                recruit, hire, train, develop, advance, promote, and retain a 
                diverse workforce, consistent with applicable House rules, 
                regulations, and law.
                    (B) The development of a survey, in consultation with the 
                Committee on House Administration, to evaluate diversity in 
                House employing offices.
                    (C) A framework for the House of Representatives diversity 
                report required by paragraph (5).
                    (D) A proposal for the composition of an Advisory Council 
                that shall, as necessary, inform the work of the Office.
                    (E) Any additional components as determined by the Committee 
                on House Administration.
            (5) Diversity report.--At the end of each session of Congress, the 
        Office shall submit a House of Representatives diversity report to the 
        Speaker, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader, the chair and ranking 
        minority member of the Committee on House Administration, and the chair 
        and ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on the Legislative 
        Branch of the Committee on Appropriations.
            (6) Regulations.--The Office shall carry out its duties pursuant to 
        regulations issued by the Committee on House Administration.
            (7) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``House employing 
        office'' means--
                    (A) the official office of a Member, Delegate, or the 
                Resident Commissioner;
                    (B) each committee of the House and each joint committee; 
                and
                    (C) any other office of the House.
    (e) Office of the Whistleblower Ombudsman.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established an Office of the 
        Whistleblower Ombudsman, to be headed by the Whistleblower Ombudsman.
            (2) Appointment.--The Whistleblower Ombudsman shall be appointed by 
        the Speaker in consultation with the chairs and ranking minority members 
        of the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Oversight 
        and Reform.
            (3) Duties.-- The Whistleblower Ombudsman, under the direction of 
        the Committee on House Administration, and in consultation with any 
        other standing committee and the Permanent Select Committee on 
        Intelligence (at the request of the chair or ranking minority member of 
        such other committee), shall--
                    (A) promulgate best practices for whistleblower intake for 
                offices of the House; and
                    (B) provide training for offices of the House on 
                whistleblower intake, including establishing an effective 
                reporting system for whistleblowers, maintaining whistleblower 
                confidentiality, advising staff of relevant laws and policies, 
                and protecting information provided by whistleblowers.
    (f) Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.--
            (1) Establishment; composition.--
                    (A) Establishment.--There is hereby established a Select 
                Committee on the Climate Crisis (hereinafter in this subsection 
                referred to as the ``Select Committee'').
                    (B) Composition.--The Select Committee shall be composed of 
                15 Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner appointed by 
                the Speaker, of whom 6 shall be appointed on the recommendation 
                of the Minority Leader. The Speaker shall designate one member 
                of the Select Committee as its chair. A vacancy in the 
                membership of the Select Committee shall be filled in the same 
                manner as the original appointment.
            (2) Jurisdiction; functions.--
                    (A) Legislative jurisdiction.--The Select Committee shall 
                not have legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to 
                take legislative action on any bill or resolution.
                    (B) Investigative jurisdiction.--The sole authority of the 
                Select Committee shall be to investigate, study, make findings, 
                and develop recommendations on policies, strategies, and 
                innovations to achieve substantial and permanent reductions in 
                pollution and other activities that contribute to the climate 
                crisis which will honor our responsibility to be good stewards 
                of the planet for future generations. The Select Committee may, 
                at its discretion, hold public hearings in connection with any 
                aspect of its investigative functions.
            (3) Procedure.--(A) Except as specified in subparagraph (B), the 
        Select Committee shall have the authorities and responsibilities of, and 
        shall be subject to the same limitations and restrictions as, a standing 
        committee of the House, and shall be deemed a committee of the House for 
        all purposes of law or rule.
            (B)(i) Rules X and XI shall apply to the Select Committee where not 
        inconsistent with this subsection.
            (ii) Service on the Select Committee shall not count against the 
        limitations in clause 5(b)(2) of rule X.
            (iii) Clause 2(m)(1)(B) of rule XI, clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI, and 
        section 103(a) of this resolution shall not apply to the Select 
        Committee, but the Select Committee may recommend subpoenas and 
        depositions and submit such recommendations to the relevant standing 
        committee.
            (iv) Clause 2(d) of rule X shall not apply to the Select Committee.
            (4) Funding.--To enable the Select Committee to carry out the 
        purposes of this section--
                    (A) the Select Committee may use the services of staff of 
                the House; and
                    (B) the Select Committee shall be eligible for interim 
                funding pursuant to clause 7 of rule X.
            (5) Reporting.--The Select Committee may report to the House or any 
        committee of the House from time to time the results of its 
        investigations and studies, together with such detailed findings and 
        policy recommendations as it may deem advisable. All such reports shall 
        be submitted to the House by December 31, 2020. All policy 
        recommendations shall be submitted to the relevant standing committees 
        not later than March 31, 2020.
            (6) Publication.--The Select Committee shall ensure that reports and 
        proposals prepared in accordance with this subsection shall, upon 
        completion, be made available to the general public in widely accessible 
        formats not later than 30 calendar days following the respective dates 
        for completion set forth in paragraph (5).

SEC. 105. ORDERS OF BUSINESS.

    (a) The Speaker may recognize a Member, Delegate, and the Resident 
Commissioner for the reading of the Constitution on any legislative day during 
the first session of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress.
    (b) It shall be in order at any time through the legislative day of January 
17, 2019, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules 
as though under clause 1 of rule XV. The Speaker or her designee shall consult 
with the Minority Leader or his designee on the designation of any matter for 
consideration pursuant to this section.
    (c) The requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to 
consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to 
the House is waived with respect to any resolution reported through the 
legislative day of January 8, 2019, relating to a measure making or continuing 
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.

           TITLE II--SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE MODERNIZATION OF CONGRESS

SEC. 201. SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE MODERNIZATION OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a Select Committee on the 
Modernization of Congress (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
``Select Committee'').
    (b) Composition.--
            (1) The Select Committee shall be composed of 12 Members, Delegates, 
        or the Resident Commissioner appointed by the Speaker.
            (2) The Speaker shall appoint members of the Select Committee as 
        follows:
                    (A) At least 2 members from among Members, Delegates, or the 
                Resident Commissioner serving in their first term.
                    (B) At least 2 members from the Committee on Rules.
                    (C) At least 2 members from the Committee on House 
                Administration.
            (3) Of the members of the Select Committee appointed pursuant to 
        paragraph (1), 6 shall be appointed on the recommendation of the 
        Minority Leader, including 1 member each as described in subparagraphs 
        (A) through (C) of paragraph (2).
            (4) The Speaker shall designate one member of the Select Committee 
        as chair, and, upon recommendation of the Minority Leader, shall 
        designate one member of the Select Committee as vice chair.
            (5) A vacancy in the membership of the Select Committee shall be 
        filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
    (c) Jurisdiction; Functions.--
            (1) Legislative jurisdiction.--The Select Committee shall not have 
        legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to take legislative 
        action on any bill or resolution.
            (2) Investigative jurisdiction.--The sole authority of the Select 
        Committee shall be to investigate, study, make findings, hold public 
        hearings, and develop recommendations on modernizing Congress, including 
        recommendations on--
                    (A) rules to promote a more modern and efficient Congress;
                    (B) procedures, including the schedule and calendar;
                    (C) policies to develop the next generation of leaders;
                    (D) staff recruitment, diversity, retention, and 
                compensation and benefits;
                    (E) administrative efficiencies, including purchasing, 
                travel, outside services, and shared administrative staff;
                    (F) technology and innovation; and
                    (G) the work of the House Commission on Congressional 
                Mailing Standards.
    (d) Procedures.--
            (1)(A) Except as specified in subparagraph (B), the Select Committee 
        shall have the authorities and responsibilities of, and shall be subject 
        to the same limitations and restrictions as, a standing committee of the 
        House, and shall be deemed a committee of the House for all purposes of 
        law or rule.
            (B)(i) Rules X and XI shall apply to the Select Committee where not 
        inconsistent with this section.
            (ii) Service on the Select Committee shall not count against the 
        limitations in clause 5(b)(2) of rule X.
            (iii) Clause 2(m)(1)(B) of rule XI, clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI, and 
        section 103(a) of this resolution shall not apply to the Select 
        Committee, but the Select Committee may recommend subpoenas and 
        depositions and submit such recommendations to the relevant standing 
        committee.
            (iv) Clause 2(d) of rule X shall not apply to the Select Committee.
            (2) During the first session of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, 
        the Select Committee shall hold a hearing at which it receives testimony 
        from Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner on matters 
        described in subsection (c).
    (e) Funding.--To enable the Select Committee to carry out the purposes of 
this section--
            (1) the Select Committee may use the services of staff of the House; 
        and
            (2) the Select Committee shall be eligible for interim funding 
        pursuant to clause 7 of rule X.
    (f) Reports.--
            (1) Interim status report.--Every 90 days, the Select Committee 
        shall provide an interim status report on its activities to the 
        Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Rules. Each 
        interim status report must include transcripts of the Select Committee's 
        proceedings, itemized reporting of its expenditures, and a proposed plan 
        for the next 90 days.
            (2) Findings and recommendations.--The Select Committee may report 
        to the House or any committee from time to time the results of its 
        investigations and studies, together with such detailed findings and 
        policy recommendations as it may deem advisable. The Select Committee 
        may only submit any such report if the report receives the votes of not 
        fewer than 2/3 of its members.
            (3) Final report.--At the conclusion of the first session of the One 
        Hundred Sixteenth Congress, the Select Committee shall submit a final 
        report to the House. The final report shall include the results of the 
        Select Committee's studies, detailed findings, and any policy 
        recommendations as the select committee may deem advisable. The Select 
        Committee may only submit the report if the report receives the votes of 
        not fewer than 2/3 of its members. The Select Committee shall submit all 
        policy recommendations included in the report to relevant standing 
        committees.
            (4) Publication.--The Select Committee shall ensure that reports 
        prepared in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) shall, upon 
        completion, be made available to the general public in widely accessible 
        formats not later than 30 calendar days following the date any such 
        report is made available to the House or a committee, as applicable.
    (g) Termination; Disposition of Records.--
            (1) Termination.--The Select Committee shall terminate on February 
        1, 2020.
            (2) Disposition of records.--Upon its termination, the records of 
        the Select Committee shall be transferred to, and shall become part of, 
        the records of such standing committees as the Speaker may designate.

     TITLE III--INTERVENTION IN LITIGATION INVOLVING PATIENT PROTECTION AND 
                               AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

SEC. 301. FINDINGS.

    The House of Representatives finds the following:
            (1) Texas, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, 
        Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Governor Paul LePage of Maine, Mississippi 
        (by and through Governor Phil Bryant), Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, 
        South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia have 
        filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District 
        of Texas, arguing that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 
        (Public Law 111-148; 124 Stat. 119) is unconstitutional and should be 
        enjoined by asserting that the Act's requirement to maintain minimum 
        essential coverage (commonly known as the ``individual responsibility 
        provision'') in section 5000A(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
        is unconstitutional following the amendment of that provision by the Act 
        to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the 
        concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018 (Public Law 
        115-97) (commonly known as the ``Tax Cuts and Jobs Act'').
            (2) These State and individual plaintiffs also seek to strike down 
        the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as not severable 
        from the individual responsibility provision.
            (3) On June 7, 2018, the Department of Justice refused to defend the 
        constitutionality of the amended individual responsibility provision, 
        despite the well-established duty of the Department to defend Federal 
        statutes where reasonable arguments can be made in their defense.
            (4) The Department of Justice not only refused to defend the amended 
        individual responsibility provision, but affirmatively argued that this 
        provision is unconstitutional and that the provisions of the Patient 
        Protection and Affordable Care Act guaranteeing issuance of health 
        insurance coverage regardless of health status or preexisting conditions 
        (commonly known as the ``guaranteed issue provision'') found in sections 
        2702, 2704, and 2705(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
        300gg-1, 300gg-3, 300gg-4(a)) and prohibitions on discriminatory premium 
        rates (commonly known as the ``community rating provision'') found in 
        sections 2701 and 2705(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
        300gg(a)(1), 300gg-4(b)) must now be struck down as not severable from 
        the individual responsibility provision.
            (5) The district court recently held that the individual 
        responsibility provision is unconstitutional and that all of the 
        remaining provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care act 
        are inseverable and therefore invalid.
            (6) Up to 133 million nonelderly Americans have some type of 
        preexisting health condition, such as, but not limited to, diabetes, 
        high cholesterol, cancer, arthritis, and asthma, that could affect their 
        insurance.
            (7) Prior to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the 
        enactment of protections such as guaranteed issue and community rating, 
        millions of Americans were denied health insurance coverage, were unable 
        to obtain coverage of necessary medical services, or were priced out of 
        the individual market due to preexisting conditions.
            (8) Without such protections for preexisting conditions, millions of 
        Americans could once again lose access to affordable, comprehensive 
        health insurance.
            (9) More than 13 million Americans who gained coverage in States 
        that expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Patient Protection and 
        Affordable Care Act could lose coverage if the Act were struck down in 
        its entirety.
            (10) More than 2 million young adults who gained coverage under a 
        provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allowing 
        individuals under the age of 26 to stay on their parents' insurance 
        could lose coverage if the Act were struck down in its entirety.
            (11) More than 8.9 million low and middle-income Americans who 
        received tax credits averaging $520 per month to help pay for health 
        insurance in the individual market under the Patient Protection and 
        Affordable Care Act could lose coverage if the Act were struck down in 
        its entirety.
            (12) An estimated 105 million Americans who now enjoy coverage 
        without lifetime limits due to the Patient Protection and Affordable 
        Care Act could once again face lifetime limits on their benefits if the 
        Act were struck down in its entirety.
            (13) Nearly 12 million Medicare beneficiaries who received an 
        average of $2,200 in savings on prescription drugs due to the closing of 
        the Medicare prescription drug donut hole under the Patient Protection 
        and Affordable Care Act would face rising drug costs if the Act were 
        struck down in its entirety.

SEC. 302. AUTHORIZING LEGAL ACTION BY HOUSE.

    (a) Authorization.--The Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives, 
is authorized to intervene, otherwise appear, or take any other steps in the 
case of Texas v. United States, No. 4:18-cv-00167-O (N.D. Tex.) and in any 
appellate proceedings arising from such case. The Speaker, in consultation with 
the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, is also authorized to intervene, otherwise 
appear, or take any other steps in any other cases involving the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act to protect the institutional interests of the 
House and to defend such Act, the amendments made by such Act to other 
provisions of law, and any amendments to such provisions, including the 
provisions ensuring affordable health coverage for those with preexisting 
conditions.
    (b) Role of General Counsel.--The Office of General Counsel of the House of 
Representatives, at the direction of the Speaker, shall represent the House in 
any litigation pursuant to this title. The Office of General Counsel may employ 
the services of outside counsel, including pro bono counsel, or other experts 
for this purpose.
    (c) Reports on Amounts Expended.--The chair of the Committee on House 
Administration shall cause to be printed in the Congressional Record a statement 
setting forth the aggregate amounts expended by the Office of General Counsel on 
outside counsel and other experts pursuant to this title on a quarterly basis, 
and such statement shall be submitted for printing not more than 30 days after 
the expiration of each such quarter.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.
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