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. 
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(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: 
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‘‘(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’’. 
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(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— 
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‘‘(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 
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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— 
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(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: 
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‘‘(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.’’. 
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(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 evennumbered 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 
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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 
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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’’; 
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(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’’. 
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(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)— 
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(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.— 
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(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, 
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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- 
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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.’’. 
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(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 dis-
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missed 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: 
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‘‘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, llll.’ 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 pro-
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cedures 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. 
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(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.— 
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(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. 
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(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 
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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.— 
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•HRES 6 EH 

(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 
27 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
28 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
29 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
30 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 au-
31 

•HRES 6 EH 

thority 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 
32 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
33 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
34 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
35 

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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.— 
36 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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. 
37 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 fulltime professional staff and resources to the Tom 

Lantos Human Rights Commission shall be in addi-
38 

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tion 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 cochairs 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 pur-
39 

•HRES 6 EH 

poses 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’’). 
40 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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. 
41 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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. 
42 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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.— 
43 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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 re-
44 

•HRES 6 EH 

sponsibility 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— 
45 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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. 
46 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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. 
47 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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 
48 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
49 

•HRES 6 EH 

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 
50 

•HRES 6 EH 

(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 re-
51 

•HRES 6 EH 

port 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: 
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(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-estab-
53 

•HRES 6 EH 

lished 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 
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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 
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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 
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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.