H. Res. 240
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
April 27, 2005.
Resolved, That clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives (relating to the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct) is amended as follows:
(1) Subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) is amended
to read as follows:
‘‘(2) Except in the case of an investigation undertaken
by the committee on its own initiative, the committee may
undertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of
an individual Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, offi-
cer, or employee of the House only—
‘‘(A) upon receipt of information offered as a com-
plaint, in writing and under oath, from a Member, Dele-
gate, or Resident Commissioner and transmitted to the
committee by such Member, Delegate, or Resident Com-
missioner; or
‘‘(B) upon receipt of information offered as a com-
plaint, in writing and under oath, from a person not a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner provided
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that a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner cer-
tifies in writing to the committee that he believes the in-
formation is submitted in good faith and warrants the
review and consideration of the committee.
If a complaint is not disposed of within the applicable periods
set forth in the rules of the Committee on Standards of Offi-
cial Conduct, the chairman and ranking minority member
shall establish jointly an investigative subcommittee and for-
ward the complaint, or any portion thereof, to that sub-
committee for its consideration. However, if at any time dur-
ing those periods either the chairman or ranking minority
member places on the agenda the issue of whether to estab-
lish an investigative subcommittee, then an investigative sub-
committee may be established only by an affirmative vote of
a majority of the members of the committee.’’.
(2) Paragraph (k) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘Duties of chairman and ranking minority member re-
garding properly filed complaints
‘‘(k)(1) The committee shall adopt rules providing that
whenever the chairman and ranking minority member jointly
determine that information submitted to the committee meets
the requirements of the rules of the committee for what con-
stitutes a complaint, they shall have 45 calendar days or five
legislative days, whichever is later, after that determination
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(unless the committee by an affirmative vote of a majority of
its members votes otherwise) to—
‘‘(A) recommend to the committee that it dispose of
the complaint, or any portion thereof, in any manner
that does not require action by the House, which may
include dismissal of the complaint or resolution of the
complaint by a letter to the Member, officer, or employee
of the House against whom the complaint is made;
‘‘(B) establish an investigative subcommittee; or
‘‘(C) request that the committee extend the applica-
ble 45-calendar day or five-legislative day period by one
additional 45-calendar day period when they determine
more time is necessary in order to make a recommenda-
tion under subdivision (A).
‘‘(2) The committee shall adopt rules providing that if
the chairman and ranking minority member jointly determine
that information submitted to the committee meets the re-
quirements of the rules of the committee for what constitutes
a complaint, and the complaint is not disposed of within the
applicable time periods under subparagraph (1), then they
shall establish an investigative subcommittee and forward the
complaint, or any portion thereof, to that subcommittee for
its consideration. However, if, at any time during those peri-
ods, either the chairman or ranking minority member places
on the agenda the issue of whether to establish an investiga-