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(7) Federal courts and judges, and local
courts in the Territories and possessions.
(8) Immigration and naturalization.
(9) Interstate compacts generally.
(10) Claims against the United States.
(11) Meetings of Congress; attendance of
Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commis-
sioner; and their acceptance of incompatible of-
fices.
(12) National penitentiaries.
(13) Patents, the Patent and Trademark
Office, copyrights, and trademarks.
(14) Presidential succession.
(15) Protection of trade and commerce
against unlawful restraints and monopolies.
(16) Revision and codification of the Stat-
utes of the United States.
(17) State and territorial boundary lines.
(18) Subversive activities affecting the in-
ternal security of the United States.
(l) Committee on Resources.
(1) Fisheries and wildlife, including re-
search, restoration, refuges, and conservation.
(2) Forest reserves and national parks cre-
ated from the public domain.
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(3) Forfeiture of land grants and alien
ownership, including alien ownership of mineral
lands.
(4) Geological Survey.
(5) International fishing agreements.
(6) Interstate compacts relating to appor-
tionment of waters for irrigation purposes.
(7) Irrigation and reclamation, including
water supply for reclamation projects and ease-
ments of public lands for irrigation projects;
and acquisition of private lands when necessary
to complete irrigation projects.
(8) Native Americans generally, including
the care and allotment of Native American
lands and general and special measures relating
to claims that are paid out of Native American
funds.
(9) Insular possessions of the United
States generally (except those affecting the rev-
enue and appropriations).
(10) Military parks and battlefields, na-
tional cemeteries administered by the Secretary
of the Interior, parks within the District of Co-
lumbia, and the erection of monuments to the
memory of individuals.
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(11) Mineral land laws and claims and en-
tries thereunder.
(12) Mineral resources of public lands.
(13) Mining interests generally.
(14) Mining schools and experimental sta-
tions.
(15) Marine affairs, including coastal zone
management (except for measures relating to
oil and other pollution of navigable waters).
(16) Oceanography.
(17) Petroleum conservation on public
lands and conservation of the radium supply in
the United States.
(18) Preservation of prehistoric ruins and
objects of interest on the public domain.
(19) Public lands generally, including
entry, easements, and grazing thereon.
(20) Relations of the United States with
Native Americans and Native American tribes.
(21) Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline (except
ratemaking).
(m) Committee on Rules.
(1) Rules and joint rules (other than those
relating to the Code of Official Conduct) and
the order of business of the House.
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(2) Recesses and final adjournments of
Congress.
(n) Committee on Science.
(1) All energy research, development, and
demonstration, and projects therefor, and all
federally owned or operated nonmilitary energy
laboratories.
(2) Astronautical research and develop-
ment, including resources, personnel, equip-
ment, and facilities.
(3) Civil aviation research and develop-
ment.
(4) Environmental research and develop-
ment.
(5) Marine research.
(6) Commercial application of energy tech-
nology.
(7) National Institute of Standards and
Technology, standardization of weights and
measures, and the metric system.
(8) National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration.
(9) National Space Council.
(10) National Science Foundation.
(11) National Weather Service.
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(12) Outer space, including exploration
and control thereof.
(13) Science scholarships.
(14) Scientific research, development, and
demonstration, and projects therefor.
(o) Committee on Small Business.
(1) Assistance to and protection of small
business, including financial aid, regulatory
flexibility, and paperwork reduction.
(2) Participation of small-business enter-
prises in Federal procurement and Government
contracts.
(p) Committee on Standards of Offi-
cial Conduct.
The Code of Official Conduct.
(q) Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.
(1) Coast Guard, including lifesaving serv-
ice, lighthouses, lightships, ocean derelicts, and
the Coast Guard Academy.
(2) Federal management of emergencies
and natural disasters.
(3) Flood control and improvement of riv-
ers and harbors.
(4) Inland waterways.
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(5) Inspection of merchant marine vessels,
lights and signals, lifesaving equipment, and
fire protection on such vessels.
(6) Navigation and laws relating thereto,
including pilotage.
(7) Registering and licensing of vessels and
small boats.
(8) Rules and international arrangements
to prevent collisions at sea.
(9) The Capitol Building and the Senate
and House Office Buildings.
(10) Construction or maintenance of roads
and post roads (other than appropriations
therefor).
(11) Construction or reconstruction, main-
tenance, and care of buildings and grounds of
the Botanic Garden, the Library of Congress,
and the Smithsonian Institution.
(12) Merchant marine (except for national
security aspects thereof).
(13) Purchase of sites and construction of
post offices, customhouses, Federal court-
houses, and Government buildings within the
District of Columbia.
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(14) Oil and other pollution of navigable
waters, including inland, coastal, and ocean wa-
ters.
(15) Marine affairs, including coastal zone
management, as they relate to oil and other pol-
lution of navigable waters.
(16) Public buildings and occupied or im-
proved grounds of the United States generally.
(17) Public works for the benefit of navi-
gation, including bridges and dams (other than
international bridges and dams).
(18) Related transportation regulatory
agencies.
(19) Roads and the safety thereof.
(20) Transportation, including civil avia-
tion, railroads, water transportation, transpor-
tation safety (except automobile safety), trans-
portation infrastructure, transportation labor,
and railroad retirement and unemployment (ex-
cept revenue measures related thereto).
(21) Water power.
(r) Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
(1) Veterans’ measures generally.
(2) Cemeteries of the United States in
which veterans of any war or conflict are or
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may be buried, whether in the United States or
abroad (except cemeteries administered by the
Secretary of the Interior).
(3) Compensation, vocational rehabilita-
tion, and education of veterans.
(4) Life insurance issued by the Govern-
ment on account of service in the Armed
Forces.
(5) Pensions of all the wars of the United
States, general and special.
(6) Readjustment of servicemen to civil
life.
(7) Soldiers’ and sailors’ civil relief.
(8) Veterans’ hospitals, medical care, and
treatment of veterans.
(s) Committee on Ways and Means.
(1) Customs, collection districts, and ports
of entry and delivery.
(2) Reciprocal trade agreements.
(3) Revenue measures generally.
(4) Revenue measures relating to insular
possessions.
(5) Bonded debt of the United States, sub-
ject to the last sentence of clause 4(f).
(6) Deposit of public monies.
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(7) Transportation of dutiable goods.
(8) Tax exempt foundations and charitable
trusts.
(9) National social security (except health
care and facilities programs that are supported
from general revenues as opposed to payroll de-
ductions and except work incentive programs).
General oversight responsibilities
2. (a) The various standing committees shall have
general oversight responsibilities as provided in paragraph
(b) in order to assist the House in—
(1) its analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of—
(A) the application, administration, execu-
tion, and effectiveness of Federal laws; and
(B) conditions and circumstances that may
indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting
new or additional legislation; and
(2) its formulation, consideration, and enact-
ment of changes in Federal laws, and of such addi-
tional legislation as may be necessary or appro-
priate.
(b)(1) In order to determine whether laws and pro-
grams addressing subjects within the jurisdiction of a
committee are being implemented and carried out in ac-
cordance with the intent of Congress and whether they
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should be continued, curtailed, or eliminated, each stand-
ing committee (other than the Committee on Appropria-
tions) shall review and study on a continuing basis—
(A) the application, administration, execution,
and effectiveness of laws and programs addressing
subjects within its jurisdiction;
(B) the organization and operation of Federal
agencies and entities having responsibilities for the
administration and execution of laws and programs
addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
(C) any conditions or circumstances that may
indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new
or additional legislation addressing subjects within
its jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution
has been introduced with respect thereto); and
(D) future research and forecasting on subjects
within its jurisdiction.
(2) Each committee to which subparagraph (1) ap-
plies having more than 20 members shall establish an
oversight subcommittee, or require its subcommittees to
conduct oversight in their respective jurisdictions, to assist
in carrying out its responsibilities under this clause. The
establishment of an oversight subcommittee does not limit
the responsibility of a subcommittee with legislative juris-
diction in carrying out its oversight responsibilities.
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(c) Each standing committee shall review and study
on a continuing basis the impact or probable impact of
tax policies affecting subjects within its jurisdiction as de-
scribed in clauses 1 and 3.
(d)(1) Not later than February 15 of the first session
of a Congress, each standing committee shall, in a meeting
that is open to the public and with a quorum present,
adopt its oversight plan for that Congress. Such plan shall
be submitted simultaneously to the Committee on Govern-
ment Reform and to the Committee on House Administra-
tion. In developing its plan each committee shall, to the
maximum extent feasible—
(A) consult with other committees that have ju-
risdiction over the same or related laws, programs,
or agencies within its jurisdiction with the objective
of ensuring maximum coordination and cooperation
among committees when conducting reviews of such
laws, programs, or agencies and include in its plan
an explanation of steps that have been or will be
taken to ensure such coordination and cooperation;
(B) give priority consideration to including in
its plan the review of those laws, programs, or agen-
cies operating under permanent budget authority or
permanent statutory authority; and
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(C) have a view toward ensuring that all signifi-
cant laws, programs, or agencies within its jurisdic-
tion are subject to review every 10 years.
(2) Not later than March 31 in the first session of
a Congress, after consultation with the Speaker, the Ma-
jority Leader, and the Minority Leader, the Committee on
Government Reform shall report to the House the over-
sight plans submitted by committees 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.
(e) The Speaker, with the approval of the House, may
appoint special ad hoc oversight committees for the pur-
pose of reviewing specific matters within the jurisdiction
of two or more standing committees.
Special oversight functions
3. (a) The Committee on Appropriations shall con-
duct such studies and examinations of the organization
and operation of executive departments and other execu-
tive agencies (including an agency the majority of the
stock of which is owned by the United States) as it consid-
ers necessary to assist it in the determination of matters
within its jurisdiction.
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(b) The Committee on the Budget shall study on a
continuing basis the effect on budget outlays of relevant
existing and proposed legislation and report the results of
such studies to the House on a recurring basis.
(c) The Committee on Commerce shall review and
study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Govern-
ment activities relating to nuclear and other energy and
nonmilitary nuclear energy research and development in-
cluding the disposal of nuclear waste.
(d) The Committee on Education and the Workforce
shall review, study, and coordinate on a continuing basis
laws, programs, and Government activities relating to do-
mestic educational programs and institutions and pro-
grams of student assistance within the jurisdiction of
other committees.
(e) The Committee on Government Reform shall re-
view and study on a continuing basis the operation of Gov-
ernment activities at all levels with a view to determining
their economy and efficiency.
(f) The Committee on International Relations shall
review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs,
and Government activities relating to customs administra-
tion, intelligence activities relating to foreign policy, inter-
national financial and monetary organizations, and inter-
national fishing agreements.
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(i) the basic recommendations and budgetary
policies of the President in the presentation of the
Budget; and
(ii) the fiscal, financial, and economic assump-
tions used as bases in arriving at total estimated ex-
penditures and receipts.
(B) In holding hearings under subdivision (A), the
committee shall receive testimony from the Secretary of
the Treasury, the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Ad-
visers, and such other persons as the committee may de-
sire.
(C) A hearing under subdivision (A), or any part
thereof, shall be held in open session, except when the
committee, in open session and with a quorum present,
determines by record vote that the testimony to be taken
at that hearing on that day may be related to a matter
of national security. The committee may by the same pro-
cedure close one subsequent day of hearing. A transcript
of all such hearings shall be printed and a copy thereof
furnished to each Member, Delegate, and the Resident
Commissioner.
(D) A hearing under subdivision (A), or any part
thereof, may be held before a joint meeting of the commit-
tee and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate
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in accordance with such procedures as the two committees
jointly may determine.
(2) Pursuant to section 401(b)(2) of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, when a committee reports a
bill or joint resolution that provides new entitlement au-
thority as defined in section 3(9) of that Act, and enact-
ment of the bill or joint resolution, as reported, would
cause a breach of the committee’s pertinent allocation of
new budget authority under section 302(a) of that Act,
the bill or joint resolution may be referred to the Commit-
tee on Appropriations with instructions to report it with
recommendations (which may include an amendment lim-
iting the total amount of new entitlement authority pro-
vided in the bill or joint resolution). If the Committee on
Appropriations fails to report a bill or joint resolution so
referred within 15 calendar days (not counting any day
on which the House is not in session), the committee auto-
matically shall be discharged from consideration of the bill
or joint resolution, and the bill or joint resolution shall
be placed on the appropriate calendar.
(3) In addition, the Committee on Appropriations
shall study on a continuing basis those provisions of law
that (on the first day of the first fiscal year for which
the congressional budget process is effective) provide
spending authority or permanent budget authority and
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shall report to the House from time to time its rec-
ommendations for terminating or modifying such provi-
sions.
(4) In the manner provided by section 302 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee on Ap-
propriations (after consulting with the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the Senate) shall subdivide any allocations
made to it in the joint explanatory statement accompany-
ing the conference report on such concurrent resolution,
and promptly report the subdivisions to the House as soon
as practicable after a concurrent resolution on the budget
for a fiscal year is agreed to.
(b) The Committee on the Budget shall—
(1) review on a continuing basis the conduct by
the Congressional Budget Office of its functions and
duties;
(2) hold hearings and receive testimony from
Members, Senators, Delegates, the Resident Com-
missioner, and such appropriate representatives of
Federal departments and agencies, the general pub-
lic, and national organizations as it considers desir-
able in developing concurrent resolutions on the
budget for each fiscal year;
(3) make all reports required of it by the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974;
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(4) study on a continuing basis those provisions
of law that exempt Federal agencies or any of their
activities or outlays from inclusion in the Budget of
the United States Government, and report to the
House from time to time its recommendations for
terminating or modifying such provisions;
(5) study on a continuing basis proposals de-
signed to improve and facilitate the congressional
budget process, and report to the House from time
to time the results of such studies, together with its
recommendations; and
(6) request and evaluate continuing studies of
tax expenditures, devise methods of coordinating tax
expenditures, policies, and programs with direct
budget outlays, and report the results of such stud-
ies to the House on a recurring basis.
(c)(1) The Committee on Government Reform shall—
(A) receive and examine reports of the Comp-
troller General of the United States and submit to
the House such recommendations as it considers
necessary or desirable in connection with the subject
matter of the reports;
(B) evaluate the effects of laws enacted to reor-
ganize the legislative and executive branches of the
Government; and
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(C) study intergovernmental relationships be-
tween the United States and the States and munici-
palities and between the United States and inter-
national organizations of which the United States is
a member.
(2) In addition to its duties under subparagraph (1),
the Committee on Government Reform may at any time
conduct investigations of any matter without regard to
clause 1, 2, 3, or this clause conferring jurisdiction over
the matter to another standing committee. The findings
and recommendations of the committee in such an inves-
tigation shall be made available to any other standing
committee having jurisdiction over the matter involved and
shall be included in the report of any such other committee
when required by clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII.
(d)(1) The Committee on House Administration
shall—
(A) examine all bills, amendments, and joint
resolutions after passage by the House and, in co-
operation with the Senate, examine all bills and joint
resolutions that have passed both Houses to see that
they are correctly enrolled and forthwith present
those bills and joint resolutions that originated in
the House to the President in person after their sig-
nature by the Speaker and the President of the Sen-
HRES 5 ATH
ate, and report to the House the fact and date of
their presentment;
(B) provide policy direction for, and oversight
of, the Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Chief Administra-
tive Officer, and Inspector General;
(C) have the function of accepting on behalf of
the House a gift, except as otherwise provided by
law, if the gift does not involve a duty, burden, or
condition, or is not made dependent on some future
performance by the House; and
(D) promulgate regulations to carry out sub-
division (C).
(2) An employing office of the House may enter into
a settlement of a complaint under the Congressional Ac-
countability Act of 1995 that provides for the payment
of funds only after receiving the joint approval of the
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee
on House Administration concerning the amount of such
payment.
(e)(1) Each standing committee shall, in its consider-
ation of all public bills and public joint resolutions within
its jurisdiction, ensure that appropriations for continuing
programs and activities of the Federal Government and
the government of the District of Columbia will be made
annually to the maximum extent feasible and consistent
HRES 5 ATH
with the nature, requirement, and objective of the pro-
grams and activities involved. In this subparagraph pro-
grams and activities of the Federal Government and the
government of the District of Columbia includes programs
and activities of any department, agency, establishment,
wholly owned Government corporation, or instrumentality
of the Federal Government or of the government of the
District of Columbia.
(2) Each standing committee shall review from time
to time each continuing program within its jurisdiction for
which appropriations are not made annually to ascertain
whether the program should be modified to provide for an-
nual appropriations.
Budget Act responsibilities
(f)(1) Each standing committee shall submit to the
Committee on the Budget not later than six weeks after
the President submits his budget, or at such time as the
Committee on the Budget may request—
(A) its views and estimates with respect to all
matters to be set forth in the concurrent resolution
on the budget for the ensuing fiscal year that are
within its jurisdiction or functions; and
(B) an estimate of the total amounts of new
budget authority, and budget outlays resulting there-
from, to be provided or authorized in all bills and
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resolutions within its jurisdiction that it intends to
be effective during that fiscal year.
(2) The views and estimates submitted by the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means under subparagraph (1) shall
include a specific recommendation, made after holding
public hearings, as to the appropriate level of the public
debt that should be set forth in the concurrent resolution
on the budget and serve as the basis for an increase or
decrease in the statutory limit on such debt under the pro-
cedures provided by rule XXIII.
Election and membership of standing committees
5. (a)(1) The standing committees specified in clause
1 shall be elected by the House within seven calendar days
after the commencement of each Congress, from nomina-
tions submitted by the respective party caucus or con-
ference. A resolution proposing to change the composition
of a standing committee shall be privileged if offered by
direction of the party caucus or conference concerned.
(2)(A) The Committee on the Budget shall be com-
posed of members as follows:
(i) Members, Delegates, or the Resident Com-
missioner who are members of other standing com-
mittees, including five who are members of the Com-
mittee on Appropriations and five who are members
of the Committee on Ways and Means;
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(ii) one Member from the elected leadership of
the majority party; and
(iii) one Member from the elected leadership of
the minority party.
(B) Except as permitted by subdivision (C), a mem-
ber of the Committee on the Budget other than one from
the elected leadership of a party may not serve on the com-
mittee during more than four Congresses in a period of
six successive Congresses (disregarding for this purpose
any service for less than a full session in a Congress).
(C) A member of the Committee on the Budget who
served as either the chairman or the ranking minority
member of the committee in the immediately previous
Congress and who did not serve in that respective capacity
in an earlier Congress may serve as either the chairman
or the ranking minority member of the committee during
one additional Congress.
(3)(A) The Committee on Standards of Official Con-
duct shall be composed of 10 members, five from the ma-
jority party and five from the minority party.
(B) Except as permitted by subdivision (C), a mem-
ber of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
may not serve on the committee during more than three
Congresses in a period of five successive Congresses (dis-
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regarding for this purpose any service for less than a full
session in a Congress).
(C) A member of the Committee on Standards of Of-
ficial Conduct may serve on the committee during a fourth
Congress in a period of five successive Congresses only as
either the chairman or the ranking minority member of
the committee.
(4)(A) At the beginning of a Congress, the Speaker
or his designee and the Minority Leader or his designee
each shall name 10 Members, Delegates, or the Resident
Commissioner from his respective party who are not mem-
bers of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
to be available to serve on investigative subcommittees of
that committee during that Congress. The lists of Mem-
bers, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner so named
shall be announced to the House.
(B) Whenever the chairman and the ranking minority
member of the Committee on Standards of Official Con-
duct jointly determine that Members, Delegates, or the
Resident Commissioner named under subdivision (A)
should be assigned to serve on an investigative subcommit-
tee of that committee, each of them shall select an equal
number of such Members, Delegates, or Resident Commis-
sioner from his respective party to serve on that sub-
committee.
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(b)(1) Membership on a standing committee during
the course of a Congress shall be contingent on continuing
membership in the party caucus or conference that nomi-
nated the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
concerned for election to such committee. Should a Mem-
ber, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner cease to be a
member of a particular party caucus or conference, that
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall auto-
matically cease to be a member of each standing commit-
tee to which he was elected on the basis of nomination
by that caucus or conference. The chairman of the rel-
evant party caucus or conference shall notify the Speaker
whenever a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
ceases to be a member of that caucus or conference. The
Speaker shall notify the chairman of each affected com-
mittee that the election of such Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner to the committee is automatically
vacated under this subparagraph.
(2)(A) Except as specified in subdivision (B), a Mem-
ber, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not serve
simultaneously as a member of more than two standing
committees or more than four subcommittees of the stand-
ing committees.
(B)(i) Ex officio service by a chairman or ranking
minority member of a committee on each of its subcommit-
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tees under a committee rule does not count against the
limitation on subcommittee service.
(ii) Service on an investigative subcommittee of the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct under para-
graph (a)(4) does not count against the limitation on sub-
committee service.
(iii) Any other exception to the limitations in subdivi-
sion (A) must be approved by the House on the rec-
ommendation of the relevant party caucus or conference.
(C) In this subparagraph the term ″subcommittee″
includes a panel (other than a special oversight panel of
the Committee on Armed Services), task force, special
subcommittee, or other subunit of a standing committee
that is established for a cumulative period longer than six
months in a Congress.
(c)(1) One of the members of each standing commit-
tee shall be elected by the House, on the nomination of
the majority party caucus or conference, as chairman
thereof. In the temporary absence of the chairman, the
member next in rank (and so on, as often as the case shall
happen) shall act as chairman. Rank shall be determined
by the order members are named in resolutions electing
them to the committee. In the case of a permanent va-
cancy in the elected chairmanship of a committee, the
House shall elect another chairman.
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(2) A member of a standing committee may not serve
as chairman of the same standing committee, or of the
same subcommittee of a standing committee, during more
than three consecutive Congresses (disregarding for this
purpose any service for less than a full session in a Con-
gress).
(d)(1) Except as permitted by subparagraph (2), a
committee may have not more than five subcommittees.
(2) A committee that maintains a subcommittee on
oversight may have not more than six subcommittees. The
Committee on Appropriations may have not more than 13
subcommittees. The Committee on Government Reform
may have not more than seven subcommittees.
(e) The House shall fill a vacancy on a standing com-
mittee by election on the nomination of the respective
party caucus or conference.
Expense resolutions
6. (a) Whenever a committee, commission, or other
entity (other than the Committee on Appropriations) is
granted authorization for the payment of its expenses (in-
cluding staff salaries) for a Congress, such authorization
initially shall be procured by one primary expense resolu-
tion reported by the Committee on House Administration.
A primary expense resolution may include a reserve fund
for unanticipated expenses of committees. An amount
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from such a reserve fund may be allocated to a committee
only by the approval of the Committee on House Adminis-
tration. A primary expense resolution reported to the
House may not be considered in the House unless a print-
ed report thereon was available on the previous calendar
day. For the information of the House, such report shall—
(1) state the total amount of the funds to be
provided to the committee, commission, or other en-
tity under the primary expense resolution for all an-
ticipated activities and programs of the committee,
commission, or other entity; and
(2) to the extent practicable, contain such gen-
eral statements regarding the estimated foreseeable
expenditures for the respective anticipated activities
and programs of the committee, commission, or
other entity as may be appropriate to provide the
House with basic estimates of the expenditures con-
templated by the primary expense resolution.
(b) After the date of adoption by the House of a pri-
mary expense resolution for a committee, commission, or
other entity for a Congress, authorization for the payment
of additional expenses (including staff salaries) in that
Congress may be procured by one or more supplemental
expense resolutions reported by the Committee on House
Administration, as necessary. A supplemental expense res-
HRES 5 ATH
(2) a resolution providing each of the standing
committees in a Congress additional office equip-
ment, airmail and special-delivery postage stamps,
supplies, staff personnel, or any other specific item
for the operation of the standing committees, and
containing an authorization for the payment from
committee salary and expense accounts of the House
of the expenses of any of the foregoing items pro-
vided by that resolution, subject to and until enact-
ment of the provisions of the resolution as perma-
nent law.
(d) From the funds made available for the appoint-
ment of committee staff by a primary or additional ex-
pense resolution, the chairman of each committee shall en-
sure that sufficient staff is made available to each sub-
committee to carry out its responsibilities under the rules
of the committee and that the minority party is treated
fairly in the appointment of such staff.
(e) Funds authorized for a committee under this
clause and clauses 7 and 8 are for expenses incurred in
the activities of the committee.
Interim funding
7. (a) For the period beginning at noon on January
3 and ending at midnight on March 31 in each odd-num-
bered year, such sums as may be necessary shall be paid
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out of the committee salary and expense accounts of the
House for continuance of necessary investigations and
studies by—
(1) each standing and select committee estab-
lished by these rules; and
(2) except as specified in paragraph (b), each
select committee established by resolution.
(b) In the case of the first session of a Congress,
amounts shall be made available under this paragraph for
a select committee established by resolution in the preced-
ing Congress only if—
(1) a resolution proposing to reestablish such
select committee is introduced in the present Con-
gress; and
(2) the House has not adopted a resolution of
the preceding Congress providing for termination of
funding for investigations and studies by such select
committee.
(c) Each committee described in paragraph (a) shall
be entitled for each month during the period specified in
paragraph (a) to 9 percent (or such lesser percentage as
may be determined by the Committee on House Adminis-
tration) of the total annualized amount made available
under expense resolutions for such committee in the pre-
ceding session of Congress.
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(d) Payments under this paragraph shall be made on
vouchers authorized by the committee involved, signed by
the chairman of the committee, except as provided in para-
graph (e), and approved by the Committee on House Ad-
ministration.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule of the
House, or other authority, from noon on January 3 of the
first session of a Congress until the election by the House
of the committee concerned in that Congress, payments
under this paragraph shall be made on vouchers signed
by—
(1) the member of the committee who served as
chairman of the committee at the expiration of the
preceding Congress; or
(2) if the chairman is not a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner in the present Congress,
then the ranking member of the committee as it was
constituted at the expiration of the preceding Con-
gress who is a member of the majority party in the
present Congress.
(f)(1) The authority of a committee to incur expenses
under this paragraph shall expire upon adoption by the
House of a primary expense resolution for the committee.
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(2) Amounts made available under this paragraph
shall be expended in accordance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Committee on House Administration.
(3) This clause shall be effective only insofar as it
is not inconsistent with a resolution reported by the Com-
mittee on House Administration and adopted by the
House after the adoption of these rules.
Travel
8. (a) Local currencies owned by the United States
shall be made available to the committee and its employees
engaged in carrying out their official duties outside the
United States or its territories or possessions. Appro-
priated funds, including those authorized under this clause
and clauses 6 and 8, may not be expended for the purpose
of defraying expenses of members of a committee or its
employees in a country where local currencies are available
for this purpose.
(b) The following conditions shall apply with respect
to travel outside the United States or its territories or pos-
sessions:
(1) A member or employee of a committee may
not receive or expend local currencies for subsistence
in a country for a day at a rate in excess of the
maximum per diem set forth in applicable Federal
law.
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(2) A member or employee shall be reimbursed
for his expenses for a day at the lesser of—
(A) the per diem set forth in applicable
Federal law; or
(B) the actual, unreimbursed expenses
(other than for transportation) he incurred dur-
ing that day.
(3) Each member or employee of a committee
shall make to the chairman of the committee an
itemized report showing the dates each country was
visited, the amount of per diem furnished, the cost
of transportation furnished, and funds expended for
any other official purpose and shall summarize in
these categories the total foreign currencies or ap-
propriated funds expended. Each report shall be
filed with the chairman of the committee not later
than 60 days following the completion of travel for
use in complying with reporting requirements in ap-
plicable Federal law and shall be open for public in-
spection.
(c)(1) In carrying out the activities of a committee
outside the United States in a country where local cur-
rencies are unavailable, a member or employee of a com-
mittee may not receive reimbursement for expenses (other
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than for transportation) in excess of the maximum per
diem set forth in applicable Federal law.
(2) A member or employee shall be reimbursed for
his expenses for a day, at the lesser of—
(A) the per diem set forth in applicable Federal
law; or
(B) the actual unreimbursed expenses (other
than for transportation) he incurred during that
day.
(3) A member or employee of a committee may not
receive reimbursement for the cost of any transportation
in connection with travel outside the United States unless
the member or employee actually paid for the transpor-
tation.
(d) The restrictions respecting travel outside the
United States set forth in paragraph (c) also shall apply
to travel outside the United States by a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House
authorized under any standing rule.
Committee staffs
9. (a)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2) and paragraph
(f), each standing committee may appoint, by majority
vote, not more than 30 professional staff members to be
compensated from the funds provided for the appointment
of committee staff by primary and additional expense reso-
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lutions. Each professional staff member appointed under
this subparagraph shall be assigned to the chairman and
the ranking minority member of the committee, as the
committee considers advisable.
(2) Subject to paragraph (f) whenever a majority of
the minority party members of a standing committee
(other than the Committee on Standards of Official Con-
duct or the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence)
so request, not more than 10 persons (or one-third of the
total professional committee staff appointed under this
clause, whichever is fewer) may be selected, by majority
vote of the minority party members, for appointment by
the committee as professional staff members under sub-
paragraph (1). The committee shall appoint persons so se-
lected whose character and qualifications are acceptable
to a majority of the committee. If the committee deter-
mines that the character and qualifications of a person
so selected are unacceptable, a majority of the minority
party members may select another person for appointment
by the committee to the professional staff until such ap-
pointment is made. Each professional staff member ap-
pointed under this subparagraph shall be assigned to such
committee business as the minority party members of the
committee consider advisable.
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(b)(1) The professional staff members of each stand-
ing committee—
(A) may not engage in any work other than
committee business during congressional working
hours; and
(B) may not be assigned a duty other than one
pertaining to committee business.
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to staff des-
ignated by a committee as ‘‘associate’’ or ‘‘shared’’ staff
who are not paid exclusively by the committee, provided
that the chairman certifies that the compensation paid by
the committee for any such staff is commensurate with
the work performed for the committee in accordance with
clause 8 of rule XXIV.
(3) The use of any ‘‘associate’’ or ‘‘shared’’ staff by
a committee shall be subject to the review of, and to any
terms, conditions, or limitations established by, the Com-
mittee on House Administration in connection with the re-
porting of any primary or additional expense resolution.
(4) This paragraph does not apply to the Committee
on Appropriations.
(c) Each employee on the professional or investigative
staff of a standing committee shall be entitled to pay at
a single gross per annum rate, to be fixed by the chairman
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and that does not exceed the maximum rate of pay as in
effect from time to time under applicable provisions of law.
(d) Subject to appropriations hereby authorized, the
Committee on Appropriations may appoint by majority
vote such staff as it determines to be necessary (in addi-
tion to the clerk of the committee and assistants for the
minority). The staff appointed under this paragraph, other
than minority assistants, shall possess such qualifications
as the committee may prescribe.
(e) A committee may not appoint to its staff an ex-
pert or other personnel detailed or assigned from a depart-
ment or agency of the Government except with the written
permission of the Committee on House Administration.
(f) If a request for the appointment of a minority pro-
fessional staff member under paragraph (a) is made when
no vacancy exists for such an appointment, the committee
nevertheless may appoint under paragraph (a) a person
selected by the minority and acceptable to the committee.
A person so appointed shall serve as an additional member
of the professional staff of the committee until such a va-
cancy occurs (other than a vacancy in the position of head
of the professional staff, by whatever title designated), at
which time that person is considered as appointed to that
vacancy. Such a person shall be paid from the applicable
accounts of the House described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule
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X. If such a vacancy occurs on the professional staff when
seven or more persons have been so appointed who are
eligible to fill that vacancy, a majority of the minority
party members shall designate which of those persons
shall fill the vacancy.
(g) Each staff member appointed pursuant to a re-
quest by minority party members under paragraph (a),
and each staff member appointed to assist minority mem-
bers of a committee pursuant to an expense resolution de-
scribed in paragraph (a) of clause 6, shall be accorded eq-
uitable treatment with respect to the fixing of the rate
of pay, the assignment of work facilities, and the acces-
sibility of committee records.
(h) Paragraph (a) may not be construed to authorize
the appointment of additional professional staff members
of a committee pursuant to a request under paragraph (a)
by the minority party members of that committee if 10
or more professional staff members provided for in para-
graph (a)(1) who are satisfactory to a majority of the mi-
nority party members are otherwise assigned to assist the
minority party members.
(i) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2), a committee
may employ nonpartisan staff, in lieu of or in addition
to committee staff designated exclusively for the majority
or minority party, by an affirmative vote of a majority
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of the members of the majority party and of a majority
of the members of the minority party.
Select and joint committees
10. (a) Membership on a select or joint committee
appointed by the Speaker under clause 11 of rule I during
the course of a Congress shall be contingent on continuing
membership in the party caucus or conference of which
the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner con-
cerned was a member at the time of appointment. Should
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner cease to
be a member of that caucus or conference, that Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall automatically
cease to be a member of any select or joint committee to
which he is assigned. The chairman of the relevant party
caucus or conference shall notify the Speaker whenever a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner ceases to be
a member of a party caucus or conference. The Speaker
shall notify the chairman of each affected select or joint
committee that the appointment of such Member, Dele-
gate, or Resident Commissioner to the select or joint com-
mittee is automatically vacated under this paragraph.
(b) Each select or joint committee, other than a con-
ference committee, shall comply with clause 2(a) of rule
XI unless specifically exempted by law.
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Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
11. (a)(1) There is established a Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence (hereafter in this clause re-
ferred to as the ‘‘select committee’’). The select committee
shall be composed of not more than 16 Members, Dele-
gates, or the Resident Commissioner, of whom not more
than nine may be from the same party. The select commit-
tee shall include at least one Member, Delegate, or the
Resident Commissioner from each of the following com-
mittees:
(A) the Committee on Appropriations;
(B) the Committee on Armed Services;
(C) the Committee on International Relations;
and
(D) the Committee on the Judiciary.
(2) The Speaker and the Minority Leader shall be
ex officio members of the select committee but shall have
no vote in the select committee and may not be counted
for purposes of determining a quorum thereof.
(3) The Speaker and Minority Leader each may des-
ignate a member of his leadership staff to assist him in
his capacity as ex officio member, with the same access
to committee meetings, hearings, briefings, and materials
as employees of the select committee and subject to the
same security clearance and confidentiality requirements
as employees of the select committee under this clause.
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(4)(A) Except as permitted by subdivision (B), a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, other than
the Speaker or the Minority Leader, may not serve as a
member of the select committee during more than four
Congresses in a period of six successive Congresses (dis-
regarding for this purpose any service for less than a full
session in a Congress).
(B) A member of the select committee who served as
either the chairman or the ranking minority member of
the select committee in the immediately previous Congress
and who did not serve in that respective capacity in an
earlier Congress may serve as either the chairman or the
ranking minority member of the select committee during
one additional Congress.
(b)(1) There shall be referred to the select committee
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and
other matters relating to the following:
(A) The Central Intelligence Agency, the Direc-
tor of Central Intelligence, and the National Foreign
Intelligence Program as defined in section 3(6) of
the National Security Act of 1947.
(B) Intelligence and intelligence-related activi-
ties of all other departments and agencies of the
Government, including the tactical intelligence and
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intelligence-related activities of the Department of
Defense.
(C) The organization or reorganization of a de-
partment or agency of the Government to the extent
that the organization or reorganization relates to a
function or activity involving intelligence or intel-
ligence-related activities.
(D) Authorizations for appropriations, both di-
rect and indirect, for the following:
(i) The Central Intelligence Agency, the
Director of Central Intelligence, and the Na-
tional Foreign Intelligence Program as defined
in section 3(6) of the National Security Act of
1947.
(ii) Intelligence and intelligence-related ac-
tivities of all other departments and agencies of
the Government, including the tactical intel-
ligence and intelligence-related activities of the
Department of Defense.
(iii) A department, agency, subdivision, or
program that is a successor to an agency or
program named or referred to in (i) or (ii).
(2) Proposed legislation initially reported by the se-
lect committee (other than provisions solely involving mat-
ters specified in subparagraph (1)(A) or subparagraph
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committee shall promptly call to the attention of the
House, or to any other appropriate committee, a matter
requiring the attention of the House or another commit-
tee. In making such report, the select committee shall pro-
ceed in a manner consistent with paragraph (g) to protect
national security.
(2) The select committee shall obtain annual reports
from the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Di-
rector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Such re-
ports shall review the intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of the agency or department concerned and the
intelligence and intelligence-related activities of foreign
countries directed at the United States or its interests.
An unclassified version of each report may be made avail-
able to the public at the discretion of the select committee.
Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the public
disclosure in such reports of the names of persons engaged
in intelligence or intelligence-related activities for the
United States or the divulging of intelligence methods em-
ployed or the sources of information on which the reports
are based or the amount of funds authorized to be appro-
priated for intelligence and intelligence-related activities.
(3) Within six weeks after the President submits a
budget under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States
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Code, or at such time as the Committee on the Budget
may request, the select committee shall submit to the
Committee on the Budget the views and estimates de-
scribed in section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the
select committee.
(d)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2),
clauses 6(a), (b), and (c) and 8(a), (b), and (c) of this
rule, and clauses 1, 2, and 4 of rule XI shall apply to
the select committee to the extent not inconsistent with
this clause.
(2) Notwithstanding the requirements of the first
sentence of clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI, in the presence of
the number of members required under the rules of the
select committee for the purpose of taking testimony or
receiving evidence, the select committee may vote to close
a hearing whenever a majority of those present determines
that the testimony or evidence would endanger the na-
tional security.
(e) An employee of the select committee, or a person
engaged by contract or otherwise to perform services for
or at the request of the select committee, may not be given
access to any classified information by the select commit-
tee unless such employee or person has—
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(1) agreed in writing and under oath to be
bound by the Rules of the House, including the ju-
risdiction of the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct and of the select committee concerning the
security of classified information during and after
the period of his employment or contractual agree-
ment with the select committee; and
(2) received an appropriate security clearance,
as determined by the select committee in consulta-
tion with the Director of Central Intelligence, that is
commensurate with the sensitivity of the classified
information to which such employee or person will be
given access by the select committee.
(f) The select committee shall formulate and carry
out such rules and procedures as it considers necessary
to prevent the disclosure, without the consent of each per-
son concerned, of information in the possession of the se-
lect committee that unduly infringes on the privacy or that
violates the constitutional rights of such person. Nothing
herein shall be construed to prevent the select committee
from publicly disclosing classified information in a case in
which it determines that national interest in the disclosure
of classified information clearly outweighs any infringe-
ment on the privacy of a person.
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(g)(1) The select committee may disclose publicly any
information in its possession after a determination by the
select committee that the public interest would be served
by such disclosure. With respect to the disclosure of infor-
mation for which this paragraph requires action by the
select committee—
(A) the select committee shall meet to vote on
the matter within five days after a member of the
select committee requests a vote; and
(B) a member of the select committee may not
make such a disclosure before a vote by the select
committee on the matter, or after a vote by the se-
lect committee on the matter except in accordance
with this paragraph.
(2)(A) In a case in which the select committee votes
to disclose publicly any information that has been classi-
fied under established security procedures, that has been
submitted to it by the executive branch, and that the exec-
utive branch requests be kept secret, the select committee
shall notify the President of such vote.
(B) The select committee may disclose publicly such
information after the expiration of a five-day period fol-
lowing the day on which notice of the vote to disclose is
transmitted to the President unless, before the expiration
of the five-day period, the President, personally in writing,
HRES 5 ATH
notifies the select committee that he objects to the disclo-
sure of such information, provides his reasons therefor,
and certifies that the threat to the national interest of the
United States posed by the disclosure is of such gravity
that it outweighs any public interest in the disclosure.
(C) If the President, personally in writing, notifies
the select committee of his objections to the disclosure of
information as provided in subdivision (B), the select com-
mittee may, by majority vote, refer the question of the
disclosure of such information, with a recommendation
thereon, to the House. The select committee may not pub-
licly disclose such information without leave of the House.
(D) Whenever the select committee votes to refer the
question of disclosure of any information to the House
under subdivision (C), the chairman shall, not later than
the first day on which the House is in session following
the day on which the vote occurs, report the matter to
the House for its consideration.
(E) If the chairman of the select committee does not
offer in the House a motion to consider in closed session
a matter reported under subdivision (D) within four cal-
endar days on which the House is in session after the rec-
ommendation described in subdivision (C) is reported,
then such a motion shall be privileged when offered by
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. In either
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case such a motion shall be decided without debate or in-
tervening motion except one that the House adjourn.
(F) Upon adoption by the House of a motion to re-
solve into closed session as described in subdivision (E),
the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the call of
the Chair. At the expiration of the recess, the pending
question, in closed session, shall be, ‘‘Shall the House ap-
prove the recommendation of the select committee?’’.
(G) Debate on the question described in subdivision
(F) shall be limited to two hours equally divided and con-
trolled by the chairman and ranking minority member of
the select committee. After such debate the previous ques-
tion shall be considered as ordered on the question of ap-
proving the recommendation without intervening motion
except one motion that the House adjourn. The House
shall vote on the question in open session but without di-
vulging the information with respect to which the vote is
taken. If the recommendation of the select committee is
not approved, then the question is considered as recommit-
ted to the select committee for further recommendation.
(3)(A) Information in the possession of the select
committee relating to the lawful intelligence or intel-
ligence-related activities of a department or agency of the
United States that has been classified under established
security procedures, and that the select committee has de-
HRES 5 ATH
termined should not be disclosed under subparagraph (1)
or (2), may not be made available to any person by a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or em-
ployee of the House except as provided in subdivision (B).
(B) The select committee shall, under such regula-
tions as it may prescribe, make information described in
subdivision (A) available to a committee or a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, and permit a Mem-
ber, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to attend a hear-
ing of the select committee that is closed to the public.
Whenever the select committee makes such information
available, it shall keep a written record showing, in the
case of particular information, which committee or which
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner received the
information. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner who, and a committee that, receives information
under this subdivision may not disclose the information
except in a closed session of the House.
(4) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
shall investigate any unauthorized disclosure of intel-
ligence or intelligence-related information by a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House in violation of subparagraph (3) and report to
the House concerning any allegation that it finds to be
substantiated.
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(5) Upon the request of a person who is subject to
an investigation described in subparagraph (4), the Com-
mittee on Standards of Official Conduct shall release to
such person at the conclusion of its investigation a sum-
mary of its investigation, together with its findings. If, at
the conclusion of its investigation, the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct determines that there has
been a significant breach of confidentiality or unauthor-
ized disclosure by a Member, Delegate, Resident Commis-
sioner, officer, or employee of the House, it shall report
its findings to the House and recommend appropriate ac-
tion. Recommendations may include censure, removal
from committee membership, or expulsion from the House,
in the case of a Member, or removal from office or employ-
ment or punishment for contempt, in the case of an officer
or employee.
(h) The select committee may permit a personal rep-
resentative of the President, designated by the President
to serve as a liaison to the select committee, to attend
any closed meeting of the select committee.
(i) Subject to the Rules of the House, funds may not
be appropriated for a fiscal year, with the exception of
a bill or joint resolution continuing appropriations, or an
amendment thereto, or a conference report thereon, to, or
for use of, a department or agency of the United States
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to carry out any of the following activities, unless the
funds shall previously have been authorized by a bill or
joint resolution passed by the House during the same or
preceding fiscal year to carry out such activity for such
fiscal year:
(1) The activities of the Central Intelligence
Agency and the Director of Central Intelligence.
(2) The activities of the Defense Intelligence
Agency.
(3) The activities of the National Security
Agency.
(4) The intelligence and intelligence-related ac-
tivities of other agencies and subdivisions of the De-
partment of Defense.
(5) The intelligence and intelligence-related ac-
tivities of the Department of State.
(6) The intelligence and intelligence-related ac-
tivities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in-
cluding all activities of the Intelligence Division.
(j)(1) In this clause the term ‘‘intelligence and intel-
ligence-related activities’’ includes—
(A) the collection, analysis, production, dissemi-
nation, or use of information that relates to a for-
eign country, or a government, political group,
party, military force, movement, or other association
HRES 5 ATH
in a foreign country, and that relates to the defense,
foreign policy, national security, or related policies of
the United States and other activity in support of
the collection, analysis, production, dissemination, or
use of such information;
(B) activities taken to counter similar activities
directed against the United States;
(C) covert or clandestine activities affecting the
relations of the United States with a foreign govern-
ment, political group, party, military force, move-
ment, or other association;
(D) the collection, analysis, production, dissemi-
nation, or use of information about activities of per-
sons within the United States, its territories and
possessions, or nationals of the United States abroad
whose political and related activities pose, or may be
considered by a department, agency, bureau, office,
division, instrumentality, or employee of the United
States to pose, a threat to the internal security of
the United States; and
(E) covert or clandestine activities directed
against persons described in subdivision (D).
(2) In this clause the term ‘‘department or agency’’
includes any organization, committee, council, establish-
ment, or office within the Federal Government.
100
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(3) For purposes of this clause, reference to a depart-
ment, agency, bureau, or subdivision shall include a ref-
erence to any successor department, agency, bureau, or
subdivision to the extent that a successor engages in intel-
ligence or intelligence-related activities now conducted by
the department, agency, bureau, or subdivision referred to
in this clause.
(k) Clause 12(a) of rule XXII does not apply to meet-
ings of a conference committee respecting legislation (or
any part thereof) reported by the Permanent Select Com-
mittee on Intelligence.
RULE XI.
PROCEDURES OF COMMITTEES AND UNFINISHED
BUSINESS.
In general
1. (a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B),
the Rules of the House are the rules of its committees
and subcommittees so far as applicable.
(B) A motion to recess from day to day, and a motion
to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or reso-
lution, if printed copies are available, each shall be privi-
leged in committees and subcommittees and shall be de-
cided without debate.
101
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(2) Each subcommittee is a part of its committee and
is subject to the authority and direction of that committee
and to its rules, so far as applicable.
(b)(1) Each committee may conduct at any time such
investigations and studies as it considers necessary or ap-
propriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under rule
X. Subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as re-
quired by clause 6 of rule X, each committee may incur
expenses, including travel expenses, in connection with
such investigations and studies.
(2) A proposed investigative or oversight report shall
be considered as read in committee if it has been available
to the members for at least 24 hours (excluding Satur-
days, Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House
is in session on such a day).
(3) A report of an investigation or study conducted
jointly by more than one committee may be filed jointly,
provided that each of the committees complies independ-
ently with all requirements for approval and filing of the
report.
(4) After an adjournment sine die of the last regular
session of a Congress, an investigative or oversight report
may be filed with the Clerk at any time, provided that
a member who gives timely notice of intention to file sup-
plemental, minority, or additional views shall be entitled
102
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to not less than seven calendar days in which to submit
such views for inclusion in the report.
(c) Each committee may have printed and bound such
testimony and other data as may be presented at hearings
held by the committee or its subcommittees. All costs of
stenographic services and transcripts in connection with
a meeting or hearing of a committee shall be paid from
the applicable accounts of the House described in clause
1(i)(1) of rule X.
(d)(1) Each committee shall submit to the House not
later than January 2 of each odd-numbered year a report
on the activities of that committee under this rule and rule
X during the Congress ending at noon on January 3 of
such year.
(2) Such report shall include separate sections sum-
marizing the legislative and oversight activities of that
committee during that Congress.
(3) The oversight section of such report shall include
a summary of the oversight plans submitted by the com-
mittee under clause 2(d) of rule X, a summary of the ac-
tions taken and recommendations made with respect to
each such plan, a summary of any additional oversight ac-
tivities undertaken by that committee, and any rec-
ommendations made or actions taken thereon.
103
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(4) After an adjournment sine die of the last regular
session of a Congress, the chairman of a committee may
file an activities report under subparagraph (1) with the
Clerk at any time and without approval of the committee,
provided that—
(A) a copy of the report has been available to
each member of the committee for at least seven cal-
endar days; and
(B) the report includes any supplemental, mi-
nority, or additional views submitted by a member of
the committee.
Adoption of written rules
2. (a)(1) Each standing committee shall adopt writ-
ten rules governing its procedure. Such rules—
(A) shall be adopted in a meeting that is open
to the public unless the committee, in open session
and with a quorum present, determines by record
vote that all or part of the meeting on that day shall
be closed to the public;
(B) may not be inconsistent with the Rules of
the House or with those provisions of law having the
force and effect of Rules of the House; and
(C) shall in any event incorporate all of the suc-
ceeding provisions of this clause to the extent appli-
cable.
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(2) Each committee shall submit its rules for publica-
tion in the Congressional Record not later than 30 days
after the committee is elected in each odd-numbered year.
Regular meeting days
(b) Each standing committee shall establish regular
meeting days for the conduct of its business, which shall
be not less frequent than monthly. Each such committee
shall meet for the consideration of a bill or resolution
pending before the committee or the transaction of other
committee business on all regular meeting days fixed by
the committee unless otherwise provided by written rule
adopted by the committee.
Additional and special meetings
(c)(1) The chairman of each standing committee may
call and convene, as he considers necessary, additional and
special meetings of the committee for the consideration of
a bill or resolution pending before the committee or for
the conduct of other committee business, subject to such
rules as the committee may adopt. The committee shall
meet for such purpose under that call of the chairman.
(2) Three or more members of a standing committee
may file in the offices of the committee a written request
that the chairman call a special meeting of the committee.
Such request shall specify the measure or matter to be
considered. Immediately upon the filing of the request, the
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clerk of the committee shall notify the chairman of the
filing of the request. If the chairman does not call the re-
quested special meeting within three calendar days after
the filing of the request (to be held within seven calendar
days after the filing of the request) a majority of the mem-
bers of the committee may file in the offices of the commit-
tee their written notice that a special meeting of the com-
mittee will be held. The written notice shall specify the
date and hour of the special meeting and the measure or
matter to be considered. The committee shall meet on that
date and hour. Immediately upon the filing of the notice,
the clerk of the committee shall notify all members of the
committee that such special meeting will be held and in-
form them of its date and hour and the measure or matter
to be considered. Only the measure or matter specified in
that notice may be considered at that special meeting.
Temporary absence of chairman
(d) A member of the majority party on each standing
committee or subcommittee thereof shall be designated by
the chairman of the full committee as the vice chairman
of the committee or subcommittee, as the case may be,
and shall preside during the absence of the chairman from
any meeting. If the chairman and vice chairman of a com-
mittee or subcommittee are not present at any meeting
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of the committee or subcommittee, the ranking majority
member who is present shall preside at that meeting.
Committee records
(e)(1)(A) Each committee shall keep a complete
record of all committee action which shall include—
(i) in the case of a meeting or hearing tran-
script, a substantially verbatim account of remarks
actually made during the proceedings, subject only
to technical, grammatical, and typographical correc-
tions authorized by the person making the remarks
involved; and
(ii) a record of the votes on any question on
which a record vote is demanded.
(B)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (B)(ii) and
subject to paragraph (k)(7), the result of each such record
vote shall be made available by the committee for inspec-
tion by the public at reasonable times in its offices. Infor-
mation so available for public inspection shall include a
description of the amendment, motion, order, or other
proposition, the name of each member voting for and each
member voting against such amendment, motion, order,
or proposition, and the names of those members of the
committee present but not voting.
(ii) The result of any record vote taken in executive
session in the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
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may not be made available for inspection by the public
without an affirmative vote of a majority of the members
of the committee.
(2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), all com-
mittee hearings, records, data, charts, and files shall be
kept separate and distinct from the congressional office
records of the member serving as its chairman. Such
records shall be the property of the House, and each Mem-
ber, Delegate, and the Resident Commissioner shall have
access thereto.
(B) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner,
other than members of the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct, may not have access to the records of
that committee respecting the conduct of a Member, Dele-
gate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House without the specific prior permission of that com-
mittee.
(3) Each committee shall include in its rules stand-
ards for availability of records of the committee delivered
to the Archivist of the United States under rule VII. Such
standards shall specify procedures for orders of the com-
mittee under clause 3(b)(3) and clause 4(b) of rule VII,
including a requirement that nonavailability of a record
for a period longer than the period otherwise applicable
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under that rule shall be approved by vote of the commit-
tee.
(4) Each committee shall make its publications avail-
able in electronic form to the maximum extent feasible.
Prohibition against proxy voting
(f) A vote by a member of a committee or subcommit-
tee with respect to any measure or matter may not be cast
by proxy.
Open meetings and hearings
(g)(1) Each meeting for the transaction of business,
including the markup of legislation, by a standing commit-
tee or subcommittee thereof (other than the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct or its subcommittee)
shall be open to the public, including to radio, television,
and still photography coverage, except when the committee
or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority
present, determines by record vote that all or part of the
remainder of the meeting on that day shall be in executive
session because disclosure of matters to be considered
would endanger national security, would compromise sen-
sitive law enforcement information, would tend to defame,
degrade, or incriminate any person, or otherwise would
violate a law or rule of the House. Persons, other than
members of the committee and such noncommittee Mem-
bers, Delegates, Resident Commissioner, congressional
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staff, or departmental representatives as the committee
may authorize, may not be present at a business or mark-
up session that is held in executive session. This subpara-
graph does not apply to open committee hearings, which
are governed by clause 4(a)(1) of rule X or by subpara-
graph (2).
(2)(A) Each hearing conducted by a committee or
subcommittee (other than the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct or its subcommittees) shall be open to
the public, including to radio, television, and still photog-
raphy coverage, except when the committee or subcommit-
tee, in open session and with a majority present, deter-
mines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of
that hearing on that day shall be closed to the public be-
cause disclosure of testimony, evidence, or other matters
to be considered would endanger national security, would
compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or
would violate a law or rule of the House.
(B) Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision
(A), in the presence of the number of members required
under the rules of the committee for the purpose of taking
testimony, a majority of those present may—
(i) agree to close the hearing for the sole pur-
pose of discussing whether testimony or evidence to
be received would endanger national security, would
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compromise sensitive law enforcement information,
or would violate clause 2(k)(5); or
(ii) agree to close the hearing as provided in
clause 2(k)(5).
(C) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
may not be excluded from nonparticipatory attendance at
a hearing of a committee or subcommittee (other than the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or its sub-
committees) unless the House by majority vote authorizes
a particular committee or subcommittee, for purposes of
a particular series of hearings on a particular article of
legislation or on a particular subject of investigation, to
close its hearings to Members, Delegates, and the Resident
Commissioner by the same procedures specified in this
subparagraph for closing hearings to the public.
(D) The committee or subcommittee may vote by the
same procedure described in this subparagraph to close
one subsequent day of hearing, except that the Committee
on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the
subcommittees thereof, may vote by the same procedure
to close up to five additional, consecutive days of hearings.
(3) The chairman of each committee (other than the
Committee on Rules) shall make public announcement of
the date, place, and subject matter of a committee hearing
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at least one week before the commencement of the hear-
ing. If the chairman of the committee, with the concur-
rence of the ranking minority member, determines that
there is good cause to begin a hearing sooner, or if the
committee so determines by majority vote in the presence
of the number of members required under the rules of the
committee for the transaction of business, the chairman
shall make the announcement at the earliest possible date.
An announcement made under this subparagraph shall be
published promptly in the Daily Digest and made available
in electronic form.
(4) Each committee shall, to the greatest extent prac-
ticable, require witnesses who appear before it to submit
in advance written statements of proposed testimony and
to limit their initial presentations to the committee to brief
summaries thereof. In the case of a witness appearing in
a nongovernmental capacity, a written statement of pro-
posed testimony shall include a curriculum vitae and a dis-
closure of the amount and source (by agency and pro-
gram) of each Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or con-
tract (or subcontract thereof) received during the current
fiscal year or either of the two previous fiscal years by
the witness or by an entity represented by the witness.
(5)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), a point
of order does not lie with respect to a measure reported
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by a committee on the ground that hearings on such meas-
ure were not conducted in accordance with this clause.
(B) A point of order on the ground described in sub-
division (A) may be made by a member of the committee
that reported the measure if such point of order was time-
ly made and improperly disposed of in the committee.
(6) This paragraph does not apply to hearings of the
Committee on Appropriations under clause 4(a)(1) of
rule X.
Quorum requirements
(h)(1) A measure or recommendation may not be re-
ported by a committee unless a majority of the committee
is actually present.
(2) Each committee may fix the number of its mem-
bers to constitute a quorum for taking testimony and re-
ceiving evidence, which may not be less than two.
(3) Each committee (other than the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the
Committee on Ways and Means) may fix the number of
its members to constitute a quorum for taking any action
other than the reporting of a measure or recommendation,
which may not be less than one-third of the members.
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Limitation on committee sittings
(i) A committee may not sit during a joint session
of the House and Senate or during a recess when a joint
meeting of the House and Senate is in progress.
Calling and questioning of witnesses
(j)(1) Whenever a hearing is conducted by a commit-
tee on a measure or matter, the minority members of the
committee shall be entitled, upon request to the chairman
by a majority of them before the completion of the hear-
ing, to call witnesses selected by the minority to testify
with respect to that measure or matter during at least
one day of hearing thereon.
(2)(A) Subject to subdivisions (B) and (C), each com-
mittee shall apply the five-minute rule during the ques-
tioning of witnesses in a hearing until such time as each
member of the committee who so desires has had an op-
portunity to question each witness.
(B) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permit-
ting a specified number of its members to question a wit-
ness for longer than five minutes. The time for extended
questioning of a witness under this subdivision shall be
equal for the majority party and the minority party and
may not exceed one hour in the aggregate.
(C) A committee may adopt a rule or motion permit-
ting committee staff for its majority and minority party
members to question a witness for equal specified periods.
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The time for extended questioning of a witness under this
subdivision shall be equal for the majority party and the
minority party and may not exceed one hour in the aggre-
gate.
Investigative hearing procedures
(k)(1) The chairman at an investigative hearing shall
announce in an opening statement the subject of the inves-
tigation.
(2) A copy of the committee rules and of this clause
shall be made available to each witness.
(3) Witnesses at investigative hearings may be ac-
companied by their own counsel for the purpose of advis-
ing them concerning their constitutional rights.
(4) The chairman may punish breaches of order and
decorum, and of professional ethics on the part of counsel,
by censure and exclusion from the hearings; and the com-
mittee may cite the offender to the House for contempt.
(5) Whenever it is asserted that the evidence or testi-
mony at an investigative hearing may tend to defame, de-
grade, or incriminate any person—
(A) notwithstanding paragraph (g)(2), such tes-
timony or evidence shall be presented in executive
session if, in the presence of the number of members
required under the rules of the committee for the
purpose of taking testimony, the committee deter-
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mines by vote of a majority of those present that
such evidence or testimony may tend to defame, de-
grade, or incriminate any person; and
(B) the committee shall proceed to receive such
testimony in open session only if the committee, a
majority being present, determines that such evi-
dence or testimony will not tend to defame, degrade,
or incriminate any person.
In either case the committee shall afford such person an
opportunity voluntarily to appear as a witness, and receive
and dispose of requests from such person to subpoena ad-
ditional witnesses.
(6) Except as provided in subparagraph (5), the
chairman shall receive and the committee shall dispose of
requests to subpoena additional witnesses.
(7) Evidence or testimony taken in executive session,
and proceedings conducted in executive session, may be
released or used in public sessions only when authorized
by the committee, a majority being present.
(8) In the discretion of the committee, witnesses may
submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in writing for
inclusion in the record. The committee is the sole judge
of the pertinence of testimony and evidence adduced at
its hearing.
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(9) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of his tes-
timony given at a public session or, if given at an executive
session, when authorized by the committee.
Supplemental, minority, or additional views
(l) If at the time of approval of a measure or matter
by a committee (other than the Committee on Rules) a
member of the committee gives notice of intention to file
supplemental, minority, or additional views for inclusion
in the report to the House thereon, that member shall be
entitled to not less than two additional calendar days after
the day of such notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
legal holidays except when the House is in session on such
a day) to file such views, in writing and signed by that
member, with the clerk of the committee.
Power to sit and act; subpoena power
(m)(1) For the purpose of carrying out any of its
functions and duties under this rule and rule X (including
any matters referred to it under clause 2 of rule XII),
a committee or subcommittee is authorized (subject to
subparagraph (2)(A))—
(A) to sit and act at such times and places
within the United States, whether the House is in
session, has recessed, or has adjourned, and to hold
such hearings as it considers necessary; and
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(B) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the
attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the
production of such books, records, correspondence,
memoranda, papers, and documents as it considers
necessary.
(2) The chairman of the committee, or a member des-
ignated by the chairman, may administer oaths to wit-
nesses.
(3)(A)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (A)(ii), a
subpoena may be authorized and issued by a committee
or subcommittee under subparagraph (1)(B) in the con-
duct of an investigation or series of investigations or ac-
tivities only when authorized by the committee or sub-
committee, a majority being present. The power to author-
ize and issue subpoenas under subparagraph (1)(B) may
be delegated to the chairman of the committee under such
rules and under such limitations as the committee may
prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the
chairman of the committee or by a member designated by
the committee.
(ii) In the case of a subcommittee of the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct, a subpoena may be au-
thorized and issued only by an affirmative vote of a major-
ity of its members.
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(B) A subpoena duces tecum may specify terms of
return other than at a meeting or hearing of the commit-
tee or subcommittee authorizing the subpoena.
(C) Compliance with a subpoena issued by a commit-
tee or subcommittee under subparagraph (1)(B) may be
enforced only as authorized or directed by the House.
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
3. (a) The Committee on Standards of Official Con-
duct has the following functions:
(1) The committee may recommend to the
House from time to time such administrative actions
as it may consider appropriate to establish or en-
force standards of official conduct for Members, Del-
egates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and em-
ployees of the House. A letter of reproval or other
administrative action of the committee pursuant to
an investigation under subparagraph (2) shall only
be issued or implemented as a part of a report re-
quired by such subparagraph.
(2) The committee may investigate, subject to
paragraph (b), an alleged violation by a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or em-
ployee of the House of the Code of Official Conduct
or of a law, rule, regulation, or other standard of
conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member,
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Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or em-
ployee in the performance of his duties or the dis-
charge of his responsibilities. After notice and hear-
ing (unless the right to a hearing is waived by the
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer
or employee), the committee shall report to the
House its findings of fact and recommendations, if
any, for the final disposition of any such investiga-
tion and such action as the committee may consider
appropriate in the circumstances.
(3) The committee may report to the appro-
priate Federal or State authorities, either with the
approval of the House or by an affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the members of the committee, any
substantial evidence of a violation by a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or em-
ployee of the House, of a law applicable to the per-
formance of his duties or the discharge of his re-
sponsibilities that may have been disclosed in a com-
mittee investigation.
(4) The committee may consider the request of
a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer,
or employee of the House for an advisory opinion
with respect to the general propriety of any current
or proposed conduct of such Member, Delegate,
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Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee. With
appropriate deletions to ensure the privacy of the
person concerned, the committee may publish such
opinion for the guidance of other Members, Dele-
gates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and em-
ployees of the House.
(5) The committee may consider the request of
a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer,
or employee of the House for a written waiver in ex-
ceptional circumstances with respect to clause 4 of
rule XXIV.
(b)(1)(A) Unless approved by an affirmative vote of
a majority of its members, the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct may not report a resolution, report,
recommendation, or advisory opinion relating to the offi-
cial conduct of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commis-
sioner, officer or employee of the House, or, except as pro-
vided in subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation of
such conduct.
(B)(i) Upon the receipt of information offered as a
complaint that is in compliance with this rule and the
rules of the committee, the chairman and ranking minority
member jointly may appoint members to serve as an inves-
tigative subcommittee.
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(ii) The chairman and ranking minority member of
the committee jointly may gather additional information
concerning alleged conduct that is the basis of a complaint
or of information offered as a complaint until they have
established an investigative subcommittee or either of
them has placed on the agenda of the committee the issue
of whether to establish an investigative subcommittee.
(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 Commis-
sioner, officer, or employee of the House only—
(A) upon receipt of information offered as a
complaint, in writing and under oath, from a Mem-
ber, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner and trans-
mitted to the committee by such Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner; or
(B) upon receipt of information offered as a
complaint, in writing and under oath, from a person
not a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
provided that a Member, Delegate, or Resident Com-
missioner certifies in writing to the committee that
he believes the information is submitted in good
faith and warrants the review and consideration of
the committee.
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If a complaint is not disposed of within the applicable peri-
ods set forth in the rules of the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct, the chairman and ranking minority
member shall establish jointly an investigative subcommit-
tee and forward the complaint, or any portion thereof, to
that subcommittee for its consideration. However, if at
any time during those periods either the chairman or
ranking minority member places on the agenda the issue
of whether to establish an investigative subcommittee,
then an investigative subcommittee may be established
only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members
of the committee.
(3) The committee may not undertake an investiga-
tion of an alleged violation of a law, rule, regulation, or
standard of conduct that was not in effect at the time of
the alleged violation. The committee may not undertake
an investigation of such an alleged violation that occurred
before the third previous Congress unless the committee
determines that the alleged violation is directly related to
an alleged violation that occurred in a more recent Con-
gress.
(4) A member of the committee shall be ineligible to
participate as a member of the committee in a committee
proceeding relating to the member’s official conduct.
Whenever a member of the committee is ineligible to act
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as a member of the committee under the preceding sen-
tence, the Speaker shall designate a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner from the same political party
as the ineligible member to act in any proceeding of the
committee relating to that conduct.
(5) A member of the committee may disqualify him-
self from participating in an investigation of the conduct
of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer,
or employee of the House upon the submission in writing
and under oath of an affidavit of disqualification stating
that the member cannot render an impartial and unbiased
decision in the case in which the member seeks to be dis-
qualified. If the committee approves and accepts such affi-
davit of disqualification, the chairman shall so notify the
Speaker and request the Speaker to designate a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from the same politi-
cal party as the disqualifying member to act in any pro-
ceeding of the committee relating to that case.
(6) Information or testimony received, or the contents
of a complaint or the fact of its filing, may not be publicly
disclosed by any committee or staff member unless specifi-
cally authorized in each instance by a vote of the full com-
mittee.
(7) The committee shall have the functions des-
ignated in titles I and V of the Ethics in Government Act
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of 1978, in sections 7342, 7351, and 7353 of title 5,
United States Code, and in clause 11(g)(4) of rule X.
(c)(1) Notwithstanding clause 2(g)(1) of rule XI,
each meeting of the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct or a subcommittee thereof shall occur in executive
session unless the committee or subcommittee, by an af-
firmative vote of a majority of its members, opens the
meeting to the public.
(2) Notwithstanding clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI, each
hearing of an adjudicatory subcommittee or sanction hear-
ing of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
shall be held in open session unless the committee or sub-
committee, in open session by an affirmative vote of a ma-
jority of its members, closes all or part of the remainder
of the hearing on that day to the public.
(d) Before a member, officer, or employee of the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, including
members of a subcommittee of the committee selected
under clause 5(a)(4) of rule X and shared staff, may have
access to information that is confidential under the rules
of the committee, the following oath (or affirmation) shall
be executed:
‘‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not
disclose, to any person or entity outside the Commit-
tee on Standards of Official Conduct, any informa-
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tion received in the course of my service with the
committee, except as authorized by the committee or
in accordance with its rules.’’
Copies of the executed oath shall be retained by the Clerk
as part of the records of the House. This paragraph estab-
lishes a standard of conduct within the meaning of para-
graph (a)(2). Breaches of confidentiality shall be inves-
tigated by the Committee on Standards of Official Con-
duct and appropriate action shall be taken.
(e)(1) If a complaint or information offered as a com-
plaint is deemed frivolous by an affirmative vote of a ma-
jority of the members of the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct, the committee may take such action as
it, by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members,
considers appropriate in the circumstances.
(2) Complaints filed before the One Hundred Fifth
Congress may not be deemed frivolous by the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct.
Audio and visual coverage of committee proceedings
4. (a) The purpose of this clause is to provide a
means, in conformity with acceptable standards of dignity,
propriety, and decorum, by which committee hearings or
committee meetings that are open to the public may be
covered by audio and visual means—
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(1) for the education, enlightenment, and infor-
mation of the general public, on the basis of accu-
rate and impartial news coverage, regarding the op-
erations, procedures, and practices of the House as
a legislative and representative body, and regarding
the measures, public issues, and other matters be-
fore the House and its committees, the consideration
thereof, and the action taken thereon; and
(2) for the development of the perspective and
understanding of the general public with respect to
the role and function of the House under the Con-
stitution as an institution of the Federal Govern-
ment.
(b) In addition, it is the intent of this clause that
radio and television tapes and television film of any cov-
erage under this clause may not be used, or made available
for use, as partisan political campaign material to promote
or oppose the candidacy of any person for elective public
office.
(c) It is, further, the intent of this clause that the
general conduct of each meeting (whether of a hearing or
otherwise) covered under authority of this clause by audio
or visual means, and the personal behavior of the commit-
tee members and staff, other Government officials and
personnel, witnesses, television, radio, and press media
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personnel, and the general public at the hearing or other
meeting, shall be in strict conformity with and observance
of the acceptable standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy,
and decorum traditionally observed by the House in its
operations, and may not be such as to—
(1) distort the objects and purposes of the hear-
ing or other meeting or the activities of committee
members in connection with that hearing or meeting
or in connection with the general work of the com-
mittee or of the House; or
(2) cast discredit or dishonor on the House, the
committee, or a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner or bring the House, the committee, or
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner into
disrepute.
(d) The coverage of committee hearings and meetings
by audio and visual means shall be permitted and con-
ducted only in strict conformity with the purposes, provi-
sions, and requirements of this clause.
(e) Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by a
committee or subcommittee is open to the public, those
proceedings shall be open to coverage by audio and visual
means. A committee or subcommittee chairman may not
limit the number of television or still cameras to fewer
than two representatives from each medium (except for
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legitimate space or safety considerations, in which case
pool coverage shall be authorized).
(f) Each committee shall adopt written rules to gov-
ern its implementation of this clause. Such rules shall con-
tain provisions to the following effect:
(1) If audio or visual coverage of the hearing or
meeting is to be presented to the public as live cov-
erage, that coverage shall be conducted and pre-
sented without commercial sponsorship.
(2) The allocation among the television media
of the positions or the number of television cameras
permitted by a committee or subcommittee chairman
in a hearing or meeting room shall be in accordance
with fair and equitable procedures devised by the
Executive Committee of the Radio and Television
Correspondents’ Galleries.
(3) Television cameras shall be placed so as not
to obstruct in any way the space between a witness
giving evidence or testimony and any member of the
committee or the visibility of that witness and that
member to each other.
(4) Television cameras shall operate from fixed
positions but may not be placed in positions that ob-
struct unnecessarily the coverage of the hearing or
meeting by the other media.
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(5) Equipment necessary for coverage by the
television and radio media may not be installed in,
or removed from, the hearing or meeting room while
the committee is in session.
(6)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B),
floodlights, spotlights, strobelights, and flashguns
may not be used in providing any method of cov-
erage of the hearing or meeting.
(B) The television media may install additional
lighting in a hearing or meeting room, without cost
to the Government, in order to raise the ambient
lighting level in a hearing or meeting room to the
lowest level necessary to provide adequate television
coverage of a hearing or meeting at the current state
of the art of television coverage.
(7) In the allocation of the number of still pho-
tographers permitted by a committee or subcommit-
tee chairman in a hearing or meeting room, pref-
erence shall be given to photographers from Associ-
ated Press Photos and United Press International
Newspictures. If requests are made by more of the
media than will be permitted by a committee or sub-
committee chairman for coverage of a hearing or
meeting by still photography, that coverage shall be
permitted on the basis of a fair and equitable pool
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arrangement devised by the Standing Committee of
Press Photographers.
(8) Photographers may not position themselves
between the witness table and the members of the
committee at any time during the course of a hear-
ing or meeting.
(9) Photographers may not place themselves in
positions that obstruct unnecessarily the coverage of
the hearing by the other media.
(10) Personnel providing coverage by the tele-
vision and radio media shall be currently accredited
to the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Gal-
leries.
(11) Personnel providing coverage by still pho-
tography shall be currently accredited to the Press
Photographers’ Gallery.
(12) Personnel providing coverage by the tele-
vision and radio media and by still photography shall
conduct themselves and their coverage activities in
an orderly and unobtrusive manner.
Pay of witnesses
5. Witnesses appearing before the House or any of
its committees shall be paid the same per diem rate as
established, authorized, and regulated by the Committee
on House Administration for Members, Delegates, the
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Resident Commissioner, and employees of the House, plus
actual expenses of travel to or from the place of examina-
tion. Such per diem may not be paid when a witness has
been summoned at the place of examination.
Unfinished business of the session
6. All business of the House at the end of one session
shall be resumed at the commencement of the next session
of the same Congress in the same manner as if no ad-
journment had taken place.
RULE XII.
RECEIPT AND REFERRAL OF MEASURES AND MATTERS.
Messages
1. Messages received from the Senate, or from the
President, shall be entered on the Journal and published
in the Congressional Record of the proceedings of that
day.
Referral
2. (a) The Speaker shall refer each bill, resolution,
or other matter that relates to a subject listed under a
standing committee named in clause 1 of rule X in accord-
ance with the provisions of this clause.
(b) The Speaker shall refer matters under paragraph
(a) in such manner as to ensure to the maximum extent
feasible that each committee that has jurisdiction under
clause 1 of rule X over the subject matter of a provision
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thereof may consider such provision and report to the
House thereon. Precedents, rulings, or procedures in effect
before the Ninety-Fourth Congress shall be applied to re-
ferrals under this clause only to the extent that they will
contribute to the achievement of the objectives of this
clause.
(c) In carrying out paragraphs (a) and (b) with re-
spect to the referral of a matter, the Speaker—
(1) shall designate a committee of primary ju-
risdiction;
(2) may refer the matter to one or more addi-
tional committees for consideration in sequence, ei-
ther initially or after the matter has been reported
by the committee of primary jurisdiction;
(3) may refer portions of the matter reflecting
different subjects and jurisdictions to one or more
additional committees;
(4) may refer the matter to a special, ad hoc
committee appointed by the Speaker with the ap-
proval of the House, and including members of the
committees of jurisdiction, for the specific purpose
of considering that matter and reporting to the
House thereon;
(5) may subject a referral to appropriate time
limitations; and
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(6) may make such other provision as may be
considered appropriate.
(d) A bill for the payment or adjudication of a private
claim against the Government may not be referred to a
committee other than the Committee on International Re-
lations or the Committee on the Judiciary, except by unan-
imous consent.
Petitions, memorials, and private bills
3. If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
has a petition, memorial, or private bill to present, he shall
endorse his name, deliver it to the Clerk, and may specify
the reference or disposition to be made thereof. Such peti-
tion, memorial, or private bill (except when judged by the
Speaker to be obscene or insulting) shall be entered on
the Journal with the name of the Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner presenting it and shall be printed
in the Congressional Record.
4. A private bill or private resolution (including an
omnibus claim or pension bill), or amendment thereto,
may not be received or considered in the House if it au-
thorizes or directs—
(a) the payment of money for property dam-
ages, for personal injuries or death for which suit
may be instituted under the Tort Claims Procedure
provided in title 28, United States Code, or for a
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pension (other than to carry out a provision of law
or treaty stipulation);
(b) the construction of a bridge across a navi-
gable stream; or
(c) the correction of a military or naval record.
Prohibition on commemorations
5. (a) A bill or resolution, or an amendment thereto,
may not be introduced or considered in the House if it
establishes or expresses a commemoration.
(b) In this clause the term ‘‘commemoration’’ means
a remembrance, celebration, or recognition for any pur-
pose through the designation of a specified period of time.
Excluded matters
6. A petition, memorial, bill, or resolution excluded
under this rule shall be returned to the Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner from whom it was received. A
petition or private bill that has been inappropriately re-
ferred may, by direction of the committee having posses-
sion of it, be properly referred in the manner originally
presented. An erroneous reference of a petition or private
bill under this clause does not confer jurisdiction on a
committee to consider or report it.
Sponsorship
7. (a) All other bills, memorials, petitions, and resolu-
tions, endorsed with the names of Members, Delegates, or
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the Resident Commissioner introducing them, may be de-
livered to the Speaker to be referred. The titles and ref-
erences of all bills, memorials, petitions, resolutions, and
other documents referred under this rule shall be entered
on the Journal and printed in the Congressional Record.
An erroneous reference may be corrected by the House
in accordance with rule X on any day immediately after
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by unanimous consent
or motion. Such a motion shall be privileged if offered by
direction of a committee to which the bill has been erro-
neously referred or by direction of a committee claiming
jurisdiction and shall be decided without debate.
(b)(1) The primary sponsor of a public bill or public
resolution may name cosponsors. The name of a cosponsor
added after the initial printing of a bill or resolution shall
appear in the next printing of the bill or resolution on
the written request of the primary sponsor. Such a request
may be submitted to the Speaker at any time until the
last committee authorized to consider and report the bill
or resolution reports it to the House or is discharged from
its consideration.
(2) The name of a cosponsor of a bill or resolution
may be deleted by unanimous consent. The Speaker may
entertain such a request only by the Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner whose name is to be deleted or
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by the primary sponsor of the bill or resolution, and only
until the last committee authorized to consider and report
the bill or resolution reports it to the House or is dis-
charged from its consideration. The Speaker may not en-
tertain a request to delete the name of the primary spon-
sor of a bill or resolution. A deletion shall be indicated
by date in the next printing of the bill or resolution.
(3) The addition or deletion of the name of a cospon-
sor of a bill or resolution shall be entered on the Journal
and printed in the Congressional Record of that day.
(4) A bill or resolution shall be reprinted on the writ-
ten request of the primary sponsor. Such a request may
be submitted to the Speaker only when 20 or more cospon-
sors have been added since the last printing of the bill
or resolution.
(5) When a bill or resolution is introduced ‘‘by re-
quest,’’ those words shall be entered on the Journal and
printed in the Congressional Record.
Executive communications
8. Estimates of appropriations and all other commu-
nications from the executive departments intended for the
consideration of any committees of the House shall be ad-
dressed to the Speaker for referral as provided in clause
2 of rule XIV.
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RULE XIII.
CALENDARS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Calendars
1. (a) All business reported by committees shall be
referred to one of the following three calendars:
(1) A Calendar of the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union, to which shall be
referred public bills and public resolutions raising
revenue, involving a tax or charge on the people, di-
rectly or indirectly making appropriations of money
or property or requiring such appropriations to be
made, authorizing payments out of appropriations
already made, releasing any liability to the United
States for money or property, or referring a claim
to the Court of Claims.
(2) A House Calendar, to which shall be re-
ferred all public bills and public resolutions not re-
quiring referral to the Calendar of the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union.
(3) A Private Calendar as provided in clause 5
of rule XV, to which shall be referred all private bills
and private resolutions.
(b) There is established a Corrections Calendar as
provided in clause 6 of rule XV.
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(c) There is established a Calendar of Motions to Dis-
charge Committees as provided in clause 2 of rule XV.
Filing and printing of reports
2. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), all
reports of committees (other than those filed from the
floor as privileged) shall be delivered to the Clerk for
printing and reference to the proper calendar under the
direction of the Speaker in accordance with clause 1. The
title or subject of each report shall be entered on the Jour-
nal and printed in the Congressional Record.
(2) A bill or resolution reported adversely shall be laid
on the table unless a committee to which the bill or resolu-
tion was referred requests at the time of the report its
referral to an appropriate calendar under clause 1 or un-
less, within three days thereafter, a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner makes such a request.
(b)(1) It shall be the duty of the chairman of each
committee to report or cause to be reported promptly to
the House a measure or matter approved by the committee
and to take or cause to be taken steps necessary to bring
the measure or matter to a vote.
(2) In any event, the report of a committee on a
measure that has been approved by the committee shall
be filed within seven calendar days (exclusive of days on
which the House is not in session) after the day on which
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a written request for the filing of the report, signed by
a majority of the members of the committee, has been filed
with the clerk of the committee. The clerk of the commit-
tee shall immediately notify the chairman of the filing of
such a request. This subparagraph does not apply to a
report of the Committee on Rules with respect to a rule,
joint rule, or order of business of the House, or to the
reporting of a resolution of inquiry addressed to the head
of an executive department.
(c) All supplemental, minority, or additional views
filed under clause 2(l) of rule XI by one or more members
of a committee shall be included in, and shall be a part
of, the report filed by the committee with respect to a
measure or matter. When time guaranteed by clause 2(l)
of rule XI has expired (or, if sooner, when all separate
views have been received), the committee may arrange to
file its report with the Clerk not later than one hour after
the expiration of such time. This clause and provisions of
clause 2(l) of rule XI do not preclude the immediate filing
or printing of a committee report in the absence of a time-
ly request for the opportunity to file supplemental, minor-
ity, or additional views as provided in clause 2(l) of rule
XI.
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Content of reports
3. (a)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), the
report of a committee on a measure or matter shall be
printed in a single volume that—
(A) shall include all supplemental, minority, or
additional views that have been submitted by the
time of the filing of the report; and
(B) shall bear on its cover a recital that any
such supplemental, minority, or additional views
(and any material submitted under paragraph (c)(3)
or (4)) are included as part of the report.
(2) A committee may file a supplemental report for
the correction of a technical error in its previous report
on a measure or matter.
(b) With respect to each record vote on a motion to
report a measure or matter of a public nature, and on
any amendment offered to the measure or matter, the
total number of votes cast for and against, and the names
of members voting for and against, shall be included in
the committee report. The preceding sentence does not
apply to votes taken in executive session by the Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct.
(c) The report of a committee on a measure that has
been approved by the committee shall include, separately
set out and clearly identified, the following:
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(1) Oversight findings and recommendations
under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X.
(2) The statement required by section 308(a) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, except that
an estimate of new budget authority shall include,
when practicable, a comparison of the total esti-
mated funding level for the relevant programs to the
appropriate levels under current law.
(3) An estimate and comparison prepared by
the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 if timely submitted to the committee before
the filing of the report.
(4) A summary of oversight findings and rec-
ommendations by the Committee on Government Re-
form under clause 4(c)(2) of rule X if such findings
and recommendations have been submitted to the re-
porting committee in time to allow it to consider
such findings and recommendations during its delib-
erations on the measure.
(d) Each report of a committee on a public bill or
public joint resolution shall contain the following:
(1) A statement citing the specific powers
granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the
law proposed by the bill or joint resolution.
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(2)(A) An estimate by the committee of the
costs that would be incurred in carrying out the bill
or joint resolution in the fiscal year in which it is
reported and in each of the five fiscal years following
that fiscal year (or for the authorized duration of
any program authorized by the bill or joint resolu-
tion if less than five years);
(B) A comparison of the estimate of costs de-
scribed in subdivision (A) made by the committee
with any estimate of such costs made by a Govern-
ment agency and submitted to such committee; and
(C) When practicable, a comparison of the total
estimated funding level for the relevant programs
with the appropriate levels under current law.
(3)(A) In subparagraph (2) the term ‘‘Govern-
ment agency’’ includes any department, agency, es-
tablishment, wholly owned Government corporation,
or instrumentality of the Federal Government or the
government of the District of Columbia.
(B) Subparagraph (2) does not apply to the
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on
House Administration, the Committee on Rules, or
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct,
and does not apply when a cost estimate and com-
parison prepared by the Director of the Congres-
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sional Budget Office under section 402 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974 has been included in
the report under paragraph (c)(3).
(e)(1) Whenever a committee reports a bill or joint
resolution proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part
thereof, it shall include in its report or in an accompanying
document—
(A) the text of a statute or part thereof that is
proposed to be repealed; and
(B) a comparative print of any part of the bill
or joint resolution proposing to amend the statute
and of the statute or part thereof proposed to be
amended, showing by appropriate typographical de-
vices the omissions and insertions proposed.
(2) If a committee reports a bill or joint resolution
proposing to repeal or amend a statute or part thereof
with a recommendation that the bill or joint resolution be
amended, the comparative print required by subparagraph
(1) shall reflect the changes in existing law proposed to
be made by the bill or joint resolution as proposed to be
amended.
(f)(1) A report of the Committee on Appropriations
on a general appropriation bill shall include—
(A) a concise statement describing the effect of
any provision of the accompanying bill that directly
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or indirectly changes the application of existing law;
and
(B) a list of all appropriations contained in the
bill for expenditures not previously authorized by law
(except classified intelligence or national security
programs, projects, or activities).
(2) Whenever the Committee on Appropriations re-
ports a bill or joint resolution including matter specified
in clause 1(b)(2) or (3) of rule X, it shall include—
(A) in the bill or joint resolution, separate
headings for ‘‘Rescissions’’ and ‘‘Transfers of Unex-
pended Balances’’; and
(B) in the report of the committee, a separate
section listing such rescissions and transfers.
(g) Whenever the Committee on Rules reports a reso-
lution proposing to repeal or amend a standing rule of the
House, it shall include in its report or in an accompanying
document—
(1) the text of any rule or part thereof that is
proposed to be repealed; and
(2) a comparative print of any part of the reso-
lution proposing to amend the rule and of the rule
or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by
appropriate typographical devices the omissions and
insertions proposed.
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(h)(1) It shall not be in order to consider a bill or
joint resolution reported by the Committee on Ways and
Means that proposes to amend the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 unless—
(A) the report includes a tax complexity analy-
sis prepared by the Joint Committee on Internal
Revenue Taxation in accordance with section
4022(b) of the Internal Revenue Service Restructur-
ing and Reform Act of 1998; or
(B) the chairman of the Committee on Ways
and Means causes such a tax complexity analysis to
be printed in the Congressional Record before con-
sideration of the bill or joint resolution.
(2) A report from the Committee on Ways and Means
on a bill or joint resolution designated by the Majority
Leader, after consultation with the Minority Leader, as
major tax legislation may include a dynamic estimate of
the changes in Federal revenues expected to result from
enactment of the legislation. The Joint Committee on In-
ternal Revenue Taxation shall render a dynamic estimate
of such legislation only in response to a timely request
from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means,
after consultation with the ranking minority member. A
dynamic estimate under this paragraph may be used only
for informational purposes.
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(3) In this paragraph the term ‘‘dynamic estimate’’
means a projection based in any part on assumptions con-
cerning probable effects of macroeconomic feedback. A dy-
namic estimate shall include a statement identifying all
such assumptions.
Availability of reports
4. (a)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it
shall not be in order to consider in the House a measure
or matter reported by a committee until the third calendar
day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays ex-
cept when the House is in session on such a day) on which
each report of a committee on that measure or matter has
been available to Members, Delegates, and the Resident
Commissioner.
(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to—
(A) a resolution providing a rule, joint rule, or
order of business reported by the Committee on
Rules considered under clause 6;
(B) a resolution providing amounts from the
applicable accounts described in clause 1(i)(1) of
rule X reported by the Committee on House Admin-
istration considered under clause 6 of rule X;
(C) a resolution presenting a question of the
privileges of the House reported by any committee;
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(D) a measure for the declaration of war, or the
declaration of a national emergency, by Congress;
and
(E) a measure providing for the disapproval of
a decision, determination, or action by a Government
agency that would become, or continue to be, effec-
tive unless disapproved or otherwise invalidated by
one or both Houses of Congress. In this subdivision
the term ‘‘Government agency’’ includes any depart-
ment, agency, establishment, wholly owned Govern-
ment corporation, or instrumentality of the Federal
Government or of the government of the District of
Columbia.
(b) A committee that reports a measure or matter
shall make every reasonable effort to have its hearings
thereon (if any) printed and available for distribution to
Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner be-
fore the consideration of the measure or matter in the
House.
(c) A general appropriation bill reported by the Com-
mittee on Appropriations may not be considered in the
House until the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in
session on such a day) on which printed hearings of the
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Committee on Appropriations thereon have been available
to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner.
Privileged reports, generally
5. (a) The following committees shall have leave to
report at any time on the following matters, respectively:
(1) The Committee on Appropriations, on gen-
eral appropriation bills and on joint resolutions con-
tinuing appropriations for a fiscal year after Sep-
tember 15 in the preceding fiscal year.
(2) The Committee on the Budget, on the mat-
ters required to be reported by such committee
under titles III and IV of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974.
(3) The Committee on House Administration,
on enrolled bills, on contested elections, on matters
referred to it concerning printing for the use of the
House or the two Houses, on expenditure of the ap-
plicable accounts of the House described in clause
1(i)(1) of rule X, and on matters relating to preser-
vation and availability of noncurrent records of the
House under rule VII.
(4) The Committee on Rules, on rules, joint
rules, and the order of business.
(5) The Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct, on resolutions recommending action by the
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House with respect to a Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House as
a result of an investigation by the committee relat-
ing to the official conduct of such Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee.
(b) A report filed from the floor as privileged under
paragraph (a) may be called up as a privileged question
by direction of the reporting committee, subject to any re-
quirement concerning its availability to Members, Dele-
gates, and the Resident Commissioner under clause 4 or
concerning the timing of its consideration under clause 6.
Privileged reports by the Committee on Rules
6. (a) A report by the Committee on Rules on a rule,
joint rule, or the order of business may not be called up
for consideration on the same day it is presented to the
House except—
(1) when so determined by a vote of two-thirds
of the Members voting, a quorum being present;
(2) in the case of a resolution proposing only to
waive a requirement of clause 4 or of clause 8 of
rule XXII concerning the availability of reports; or
(3) during the last three days of a session of
Congress.
(b) Pending the consideration of a report by the Com-
mittee on Rules on a rule, joint rule, or the order of busi-
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ness, the Speaker may entertain one motion that the
House adjourn. After the result of such a motion is an-
nounced, the Speaker may not entertain any other dilatory
motion until the report shall have been disposed of.
(c) The Committee on Rules may not report—
(1) a rule or order proposing that business
under clause 7 of rule XV be set aside by a vote of
less than two-thirds of the Members voting, a
quorum being present;
(2) a rule or order that would prevent the mo-
tion to recommit a bill or joint resolution from being
made as provided in clause 2(b) of rule XIX, includ-
ing a motion to recommit with instructions to report
back an amendment otherwise in order, if offered by
the Minority Leader or a designee, except with re-
spect to a Senate bill or resolution for which the text
of a House-passed measure has been substituted.
(d) The Committee on Rules shall present to the
House reports concerning rules, joint rules, and the order
of business, within three legislative days of the time when
they are ordered. If such a report is not considered imme-
diately, it shall be referred to the calendar. If such a re-
port on the calendar is not called up by the member of
the committee who filed the report within seven legislative
days, any member of the committee may call it up as a
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privileged question on the day after the calendar day on
which the member announces to the House his intention
to do so. The Speaker shall recognize a member of the
committee who rises for that purpose.
(e) An adverse report by the Committee on Rules on
a resolution proposing a special order of business for the
consideration of a public bill or public joint resolution may
be called up as a privileged question by a Member, Dele-
gate, or Resident Commissioner on a day when it is in
order to consider a motion to discharge committees under
clause 2 of rule XV.
(f) If the House has adopted a resolution making in
order a motion to consider a bill or resolution, and such
a motion has not been offered within seven calendar days
thereafter, such a motion shall be privileged if offered by
direction of all reporting committees having initial juris-
diction of the bill or resolution.
(g) Whenever the Committee on Rules reports a reso-
lution providing for the consideration of a measure, it shall
(to the maximum extent possible) specify in the resolution
the object of any waiver of a point of order against the
measure or against its consideration.
Resolutions of inquiry
7. A report on a resolution of inquiry addressed to
the head of an executive department may be filed from
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the floor as privileged. If such a resolution is not reported
to the House within 14 legislative days after its introduc-
tion, a motion to discharge a committee from its consider-
ation shall be privileged.
RULE XIV.
ORDER AND PRIORITY OF BUSINESS.
1. The daily order of business (unless varied by the
application of other rules and except for the disposition
of matters of higher precedence) shall be as follows:
First. Prayer by the Chaplain.
Second. Reading and approval of the Journal,
unless postponed under clause 9(a) of rule XX.
Third. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Fourth. Correction of reference of public bills.
Fifth. Disposal of business on the Speaker’s
table as provided in clause 2.
Sixth. Unfinished business as provided in
clause 3.
Seventh. The morning hour for the consider-
ation of bills called up by committees as provided in
clause 4.
Eighth. Motions that the House resolve into the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union subject to clause 5.
Ninth. Orders of the day.
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2. Business on the Speaker’s table shall be disposed
of as follows:
(a) Messages from the President shall be re-
ferred to the appropriate committees without debate.
(b) Communications addressed to the House,
including reports and communications from heads of
departments and bills, resolutions, and messages
from the Senate, may be referred to the appropriate
committees in the same manner and with the same
right of correction as public bills and public resolu-
tions presented by Members, Delegates, or the Resi-
dent Commissioner.
(c) Motions to dispose of Senate amendments
on the Speaker’s table may be entertained as pro-
vided in clauses 1, 2, and 4 of rule XXII.
(d) Senate bills and resolutions substantially
the same as House measures already favorably re-
ported and not required to be considered in the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union may be disposed of by motion. Such a motion
shall be privileged if offered by direction of all re-
porting committees having initial jurisdiction of the
House measure.
3. Consideration of unfinished business in which the
House may have been engaged at an adjournment, except
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business in the morning hour and proceedings postponed
under clause 9 of rule XX, shall be resumed as soon as
the business on the Speaker’s table is finished, and at the
same time each day thereafter until disposed of. The con-
sideration of all other unfinished business shall be re-
sumed whenever the class of business to which it belongs
shall be in order under the rules.
4. After the unfinished business has been disposed
of, the Speaker shall call each standing committee in regu-
lar order and then select committees. Each committee
when named may call up for consideration a bill or resolu-
tion reported by it on a previous day and on the House
Calendar. If the Speaker does not complete the call of the
committees before the House passes to other business, the
next call shall resume at the point it left off, giving pref-
erence to the last bill or resolution under consideration.
A committee that has occupied the call for two days may
not call up another bill or resolution until the other com-
mittees have been called in their turn.
5. After consideration of bills or resolutions under
clause 4 for one hour, it shall be in order, pending consid-
eration thereof, to entertain a motion that the House re-
solve into the Committee of the Whole House on the state
of the Union or, when authorized by a committee, that
the House resolve into the Committee of the Whole House
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on the state of the Union to consider a particular bill.
Such a motion shall be subject to only one amendment
designating another bill. If such a motion is decided in
the negative, another such motion may not be considered
until the matter that was pending when such motion was
offered is disposed of.
6. All questions relating to the priority of business
shall be decided by a majority without debate.
RULE XV.
BUSINESS IN ORDER ON SPECIAL DAYS.
Suspensions, Mondays and Tuesdays
1. (a) A rule may not be suspended except by a vote
of two-thirds of the Members voting, a quorum being
present. The Speaker may not entertain a motion that the
House suspend the rules except on Mondays and Tuesdays
and during the last six days of a session of Congress.
(b) Pending a motion that the House suspend the
rules, the Speaker may entertain one motion that the
House adjourn. After the result of such a motion is an-
nounced, the Speaker may not entertain any other motion
until the vote is taken on the suspension.
(c) A motion that the House suspend the rules is de-
batable for 40 minutes, one-half in favor of the motion
and one-half in opposition thereto.
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Discharge motions, second and fourth Mondays
2. (a) Motions to discharge committees shall be in
order on the second and fourth Mondays of a month.
(b)(1) A Member may present to the Clerk a motion
in writing to discharge—
(A) a committee from consideration of a public
bill or public resolution that has been referred to it
for 30 legislative days; or
(B) the Committee on Rules from consideration
of a resolution that has been referred to it for seven
legislative days and that proposes a special order of
business for the consideration of a public bill or pub-
lic resolution that has been reported by a standing
committee or has been referred to a standing com-
mittee for 30 legislative days.
(2) Only one motion may be presented for a bill or
resolution. A Member may not file a motion to discharge
the Committee on Rules from consideration of a resolution
providing for the consideration of more than one public
bill or public resolution or admitting or effecting a non-
germane amendment to a public bill or public resolution.
(c) A motion presented under paragraph (b) shall be
placed in the custody of the Clerk, who shall arrange a
convenient place for the signatures of Members. A signa-
ture may be withdrawn by a Member in writing at any
time before a motion is entered on the Journal. The Clerk
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shall make signatures a matter of public record, causing
the names of the Members who have signed a discharge
motion during a week to be published in a portion of the
Congressional Record designated for that purpose on the
last legislative day of the week and making cumulative
lists of such names available each day for public inspection
in an appropriate office of the House. The Clerk shall de-
vise a means for making such lists available to offices of
the House and to the public in electronic form. When a
majority of the total membership of the House shall have
signed the motion, it shall be entered on the Journal,
printed with the signatures thereto in the Record, and re-
ferred to the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Commit-
tees.
(d)(1) On the second and fourth Mondays of a month
(except during the last six days of a session of Congress),
immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
a motion to discharge that has been on the calendar for
at least seven legislative days shall be privileged if called
up by a Member whose signature appears thereon. When
such a motion is called up, the House shall proceed to
its consideration under this paragraph without intervening
motion except one motion to adjourn. Privileged motions
to discharge shall have precedence in the order of their
entry on the Journal.
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(2) When a motion to discharge is called up, the bill
or resolution to which it relates shall be read by title only.
The motion is debatable for 20 minutes, one-half in favor
of the motion and one-half in opposition thereto.
(e)(1) If a motion prevails to discharge the Commit-
tee on Rules from consideration of a resolution, the House
shall immediately consider the resolution, pending which
the Speaker may entertain one motion that the House ad-
journ. After the result of such a motion to adjourn is an-
nounced, the Speaker may not entertain any other dilatory
motion until the resolution has been disposed of. If the
resolution is adopted, the House shall immediately proceed
to its execution.
(2) If a motion prevails to discharge a standing com-
mittee from consideration of a public bill or public resolu-
tion, a motion that the House proceed to the immediate
consideration of such bill or resolution shall be privileged
if offered by a Member whose signature appeared on the
motion to discharge. The motion to proceed is not debat-
able. If the motion to proceed is adopted, the bill or resolu-
tion shall be considered immediately under the general
rules of the House. If unfinished before adjournment of
the day on which it is called up, the bill or resolution shall
remain the unfinished business until it is disposed of. If
the motion to proceed is rejected, the bill or resolution
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shall be referred to the appropriate calendar, where it shall
have the same status as if the committee from which it
was discharged had duly reported it to the House.
(f)(1) When a motion to discharge originated under
this clause has once been acted on by the House, it shall
not be in order to entertain during the same session of
Congress—
(A) a motion to discharge a committee from
consideration of that bill or resolution or of any
other bill or resolution that, by relating in substance
to or dealing with the same subject matter, is sub-
stantially the same; or
(B) a motion to discharge the Committee on
Rules from consideration of a resolution providing a
special order of business for the consideration of
that bill or resolution or of any other bill or resolu-
tion that, by relating in substance to or dealing with
the same subject matter, is substantially the same.
(2) A motion to discharge on the Calendar of Motions
to Discharge Committees that is rendered out of order
under subparagraph (1) shall be stricken from that cal-
endar.
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Adverse report by the Committee on Rules, second and
fourth Mondays
3. An adverse report by the Committee on Rules on
a resolution proposing a special order of business for the
consideration of a public bill or public joint resolution may
be called up under clause 6(e) of rule XIII as a privileged
question by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner on a day when it is in order to consider a motion
to discharge committees under clause 2.
District of Columbia business, second and fourth
Mondays
4. The second and fourth Mondays of a month shall
be set apart for the consideration of such District of Co-
lumbia business as may be called up by the Committee
on Government Reform after the disposition of motions
to discharge committees and after the disposal of such
business on the Speaker’s table as requires reference only.
Private Calendar, first and third Tuesdays
5. (a) On the first Tuesday of a month, the Speaker
shall direct the Clerk to call the bills and resolutions on
the Private Calendar after disposal of such business on
the Speaker’s table as requires reference only. If two or
more Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner
object to the consideration of a bill or resolution so called,
it shall be recommitted to the committee that reported it.
No other business shall be in order before completion of
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the call of the Private Calendar on this day unless two-
thirds of the Members voting, a quorum being present,
agree to a motion that the House dispense with the call.
(b)(1) On the third Tuesday of a month, after the
disposal of such business on the Speaker’s table as re-
quires reference only, the Speaker may direct the Clerk
to call the bills and resolutions on the Private Calendar.
Preference shall be given to omnibus bills containing the
texts of bills or resolutions that have previously been ob-
jected to on a call of the Private Calendar. If two or more
Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner object
to the consideration of a bill or resolution so called (other
than an omnibus bill), it shall be recommitted to the com-
mittee that reported it. Two-thirds of the Members voting,
a quorum being present, may adopt a motion that the
House dispense with the call on this day.
(2) Omnibus bills shall be read for amendment by
paragraph. No amendment shall be in order except to
strike or to reduce amounts of money or to provide limita-
tions. An item or matter stricken from an omnibus bill
may not thereafter during the same session of Congress
be included in an omnibus bill. Upon passage such an om-
nibus bill shall be resolved into the several bills and resolu-
tions of which it is composed. The several bills and resolu-
tions, with any amendments adopted by the House, shall
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be engrossed, when necessary, and otherwise considered
as passed severally by the House as distinct bills and reso-
lutions.
(c) The Speaker may not entertain a reservation of
the right to object to the consideration of a bill or resolu-
tion under this clause. A bill or resolution considered
under this clause shall be considered in the House as in
the Committee of the Whole. A motion to dispense with
the call of the Private Calendar under this clause shall
be privileged. Debate on such a motion shall be limited
to five minutes in support and five minutes in opposition.
Corrections Calendar, second and fourth Tuesdays
6. (a) After a bill has been favorably reported and
placed on either the Union or House Calendar, the Speak-
er, after consultation with the Minority Leader, may direct
the Clerk also to place the bill on the ‘‘Corrections Cal-
endar.’’ At any time on the second and fourth Tuesdays
of a month, the Speaker may direct the Clerk to call a
bill that has been on the Corrections Calendar for three
legislative days.
(b) A bill called from the Corrections Calendar shall
be considered in the House, is debatable for one hour
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and rank-
ing minority member of the primary committee of jurisdic-
tion, and shall not be subject to amendment except those
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recommended by the primary committee of jurisdiction or
offered by the chairman of the primary committee or a
designee. The previous question shall be considered as or-
dered on the bill and any amendments thereto to final pas-
sage without intervening motion except one motion to re-
commit with or without instructions.
(c) The approval of three-fifths of the Members vot-
ing, a quorum being present, shall be required to pass a
bill called from the Corrections Calendar. The rejection
of a bill so called, or the sustaining of a point of order
against it or against its consideration, does not cause its
removal from the Calendar to which it was originally re-
ferred.
Calendar Call of Committees, Wednesdays
7. (a) On Wednesday of each week, business shall not
be in order before completion of the call of the committees
(except as provided by clause 4 of rule XIV) unless two-
thirds of the Members voting, a quorum being present,
agree to a motion that the House dispense with the call.
Such a motion shall be privileged. Debate on such a mo-
tion shall be limited to five minutes in support and five
minutes in opposition.
(b) A bill or resolution on either the House or the
Union Calendar, except bills or resolutions that are privi-
leged under the Rules of the House, may be called under
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this clause. A bill or resolution called up from the Union
Calendar shall be considered in the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union without motion,
subject to clause 3 of rule XVI. General debate on a meas-
ure considered under this clause shall be confined to the
measure and may not exceed two hours equally divided
between a proponent and an opponent.
(c) When a committee has occupied the call under
this clause on one Wednesday, it shall not be in order on
a succeeding Wednesday to consider unfinished business
previously called up by that committee until the other
committees have been called in their turn unless—
(1) the previous question has been ordered on
such unfinished business; or
(2) the House adopts a motion to dispense with
the call under paragraph (a).
(d) If any committee has not been called under this
clause during a session of a Congress, then at the next
session of that Congress the call shall resume where it left
off at the end of the preceding session.
(e) This rule does not apply during the last two weeks
of a session of Congress.
(f) The Speaker may not entertain a motion for a
recess on a Wednesday except during the last two weeks
of a session of Congress.
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RULE XVI.
MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS.
Motions
1. Every motion entertained by the Speaker shall be
reduced to writing on the demand of a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner and, unless it is withdrawn the
same day, shall be entered on the Journal with the name
of the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner offer-
ing it. A dilatory motion may not be entertained by the
Speaker.
Withdrawal
2. When a motion is entertained, the Speaker shall
state it or cause it to be read aloud by the Clerk before
it is debated. The motion then shall be in the possession
of the House but may be withdrawn at any time before
a decision or amendment thereon.
Question of consideration
3. When a motion or proposition is entertained, the
question, ‘‘Will the House now consider it?’’ may not be
put unless demanded by a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner.
Precedence of motions
4. (a) When a question is under debate, only the fol-
lowing motions may be entertained (which shall have prec-
edence in the following order):
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(1) To adjourn.
(2) To lay on the table.
(3) For the previous question.
(4) To postpone to a day certain.
(5) To refer.
(6) To amend.
(7) To postpone indefinitely.
(b) A motion to adjourn, to lay on the table, or for
the previous question shall be decided without debate. A
motion to postpone to a day certain, to refer, or to post-
pone indefinitely, being decided, may not be allowed again
on the same day at the same stage of the question.
(c)(1) It shall be in order at any time for the Speaker,
in his discretion, to entertain a motion—
(A) that the Speaker be authorized to declare
a recess; or
(B) that when the House adjourns it stand ad-
journed to a day and time certain.
(2) Either motion shall be of equal privilege with the
motion to adjourn and shall be decided without debate.
Divisibility
5. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a ques-
tion shall be divided on the demand of a Member, Dele-
gate, or Resident Commissioner before the question is put
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if it includes propositions so distinct in substance that,
one being taken away, a substantive proposition remains.
(b)(1) A motion or resolution to elect members to a
standing committee of the House, or to a joint standing
committee, is not divisible.
(2) A resolution or order reported by the Committee
on Rules providing a special order of business is not divis-
ible.
(c) A motion to strike and insert is not divisible, but
rejection of a motion to strike does not preclude another
motion to amend.
Amendments
6. When an amendable proposition is under consider-
ation, a motion to amend and a motion to amend that
amendment shall be in order, and it also shall be in order
to offer a further amendment by way of substitute for the
original motion to amend, to which one amendment may
be offered but which may not be voted on until the original
amendment is perfected. An amendment may be with-
drawn in the House at any time before a decision or
amendment thereon. An amendment to the title of a bill
or resolution shall not be in order until after its passage
or adoption and shall be decided without debate.
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Germaneness
7. No motion or proposition on a subject different
from that under consideration shall be admitted under
color of amendment.
Readings
8. Bills and joint resolutions are subject to readings
as follows:
(a) A first reading is in full when the bill or
joint resolution is first considered.
(b) A second reading occurs only when the bill
or joint resolution is read for amendment in a Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
under clause 5 of rule XVIII.
(c) A third reading precedes passage when the
Speaker states the question: ‘‘Shall the bill [or joint
resolution] be engrossed [when applicable] and read
a third time?’’ If that question is decided in the af-
firmative, then the bill or joint resolution shall be
read the final time by title and then the question
shall be put on its passage.
RULE XVII.
DECORUM AND DEBATE.
Decorum
1. (a) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner who desires to speak or deliver a matter to the
House shall rise and respectfully address himself to ‘‘Mr.
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Speaker’’ and, on being recognized, may address the
House from any place on the floor. When invited by the
Chair, a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
may speak from the Clerk’s desk.
(b)(1) Remarks in debate shall be confined to the
question under debate, avoiding personality.
(2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (B), debate
may not include characterizations of Senate action or inac-
tion, references to individual Members of the Senate, or
quotations from Senate proceedings.
(B) Debate may include references to actions taken
by the Senate or by committees thereof that are a matter
of public record; references to the pendency or sponsorship
in the Senate of bills, resolutions, and amendments; fac-
tual descriptions relating to Senate action or inaction con-
cerning a measure then under debate in the House; and
quotations from Senate proceedings on a measure then
under debate in the House that are relevant to the making
of legislative history establishing the meaning of that
measure.
Recognition
2. When two or more Members, Delegates, or the
Resident Commissioner rise at once, the Speaker shall
name the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
who is first to speak. A Member, Delegate, or Resident
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Commissioner may not occupy more than one hour in de-
bate on a question in the House or in the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union except as oth-
erwise provided in this rule.
Managing Debate
3. (a) The Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner who calls up a measure may open and close debate
thereon. When general debate extends beyond one day,
that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall
be entitled to one hour to close without regard to the time
used in opening.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a), a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not speak more
than once to the same question without leave of the House.
(c) A manager of a measure who opposes an amend-
ment thereto is entitled to close controlled debate thereon.
Call to order
4. (a) If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the Rules
of the House, the Speaker shall, or a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner may, call to order the offending
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, who shall
immediately sit down unless permitted on motion of an-
other Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner to
explain. If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
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is called to order, the Member, Delegate, or Resident Com-
missioner making the call to order shall indicate the words
excepted to, which shall be taken down in writing at the
Clerk’s desk and read aloud to the House.
(b) The Speaker shall decide the validity of a call to
order. The House, if appealed to, shall decide the question
without debate. If the decision is in favor of the Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner called to order, the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall be at
liberty to proceed, but not otherwise. If the case requires
it, an offending Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner shall be liable to censure or such other punishment
as the House may consider proper. A Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner may not be held to answer a
call to order, and may not be subject to the censure of
the House therefor, if further debate or other business has
intervened.
Comportment
5. When the Speaker is putting a question or address-
ing the House, a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner may not walk out of or across the Hall. When a
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner is speaking,
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not
pass between the person speaking and the Chair. During
the session of the House, a Member, Delegate, or Resident
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Commissioner may not wear a hat or remain by the
Clerk’s desk during the call of the roll or the counting
of ballots. A person may not smoke or use any personal,
electronic office equipment, including cellular phones and
computers, on the floor of the House. The Sergeant-at-
Arms is charged with the strict enforcement of this clause.
Exhibits
6. When the use of an exhibit in debate is objected
to by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, its
use shall be decided without debate by a vote of the House.
Galleries
7. During a session of the House, it shall not be in
order for a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
to introduce to or to bring to the attention of the House
an occupant in the galleries of the House. The Speaker
may not entertain a request for the suspension of this rule
by unanimous consent or otherwise.
Congressional Record
8. (a) The Congressional Record shall be a substan-
tially verbatim account of remarks made during the pro-
ceedings of the House, subject only to technical, grammat-
ical, and typographical corrections authorized by the Mem-
ber, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner making the re-
marks.
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(b) Unparliamentary remarks may be deleted only by
permission or order of the House.
(c) This clause establishes a standard of conduct
within the meaning of clause 3(a)(2) of rule XI.
Secret sessions
9. When confidential communications are received
from the President, or when the Speaker or a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner informs the House
that he has communications that he believes ought to be
kept secret for the present, the House shall be cleared of
all persons except the Members, Delegates, Resident Com-
missioner, and officers of the House for the reading of
such communications, and debates and proceedings there-
on, unless otherwise ordered by the House.
RULE XVIII.
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE
STATE OF THE UNION.
Resolving into the Committee of the Whole
1. Whenever the House resolves into the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union, the Speaker
shall leave the chair after appointing a Chairman to pre-
side. In case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the
galleries or lobby, the Chairman may cause the same to
be cleared.
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2. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and in
clause 7 of rule XV, the House resolves into the Commit-
tee of the Whole House on the state of the Union by mo-
tion. When such a motion is entertained, the Speaker shall
put the question without debate: ‘‘Shall the House resolve
itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state
of the Union for consideration of this matter?’’, naming
it.
(b) After the House has adopted a resolution reported
by the Committee on Rules providing a special order of
business for the consideration of a measure in the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, the
Speaker may at any time, when no question is pending
before the House, declare the House resolved into the
Committee of the Whole for the consideration of that
measure without intervening motion, unless the special
order of business provides otherwise.
Measures requiring initial consideration in the Com-
mittee of the Whole
3. All bills, resolutions, or Senate amendments (as
provided in clause 3 of rule XXII) involving a tax or
charge on the people, raising revenue, directly or indirectly
making appropriations of money or property or requiring
such appropriations to be made, authorizing payments out
of appropriations already made, releasing any liability to
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the United States for money or property, or referring a
claim to the Court of Claims, shall be first considered in
the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union. A bill, resolution, or Senate amendment that fails
to comply with this clause is subject to a point of order
against its consideration.
Order of business
4. (a) Subject to subparagraph (b) business on the
calendar of the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union may be taken up in regular order, or
in such order as the Committee may determine, unless the
measure to be considered was determined by the House
at the time of resolving into the Committee of the Whole.
(b) Motions to resolve into the Committee of the
Whole for consideration of bills and joint resolutions mak-
ing general appropriations have precedence under this
clause.
Reading for amendment
5. (a) Before general debate commences on a measure
in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union, it shall be read in full. When general debate is con-
cluded or closed by order of the House, the measure under
consideration shall be read for amendment. A Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who offers an amend-
ment shall be allowed five minutes to explain it, after
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which the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
who shall first obtain the floor shall be allowed five min-
utes to speak in opposition to it. There shall be no further
debate thereon, but the same privilege of debate shall be
allowed in favor of and against any amendment that may
be offered to an amendment. An amendment, or an
amendment to an amendment, may be withdrawn by its
proponent only by the unanimous consent of the Commit-
tee of the Whole.
(b) When a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner offers an amendment in the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union, the Clerk shall
promptly transmit five copies of the amendment to the
majority committee table and five copies to the minority
committee table. The Clerk also shall deliver at least one
copy of the amendment to the majority cloakroom and at
least one copy to the minority cloakroom.
Quorum and voting
6. (a) A quorum of a Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union is 100 Members. The first time
that a Committee of the Whole finds itself without a
quorum during a day, the Chairman shall invoke the pro-
cedure for a quorum call set forth in clause 2 of rule XX,
unless he elects to invoke an alternate procedure set forth
in clause 3 or clause 4(a) of rule XX. If a quorum appears,
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the Committee of the Whole shall continue its business.
If a quorum does not appear, the Committee of the Whole
shall rise, and the Chairman shall report the names of ab-
sentees to the House.
(b)(1) The Chairman may refuse to entertain a point
of order that a quorum is not present during general de-
bate.
(2) After a quorum has once been established on a
day, the Chairman may entertain a point of order that
a quorum is not present only when the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union is operating under
the five-minute rule and the Chairman has put the pend-
ing proposition to a vote.
(3) Upon sustaining a point of order that a quorum
is not present, the Chairman may announce that, following
a regular quorum call under paragraph (a), the minimum
time for electronic voting on the pending question shall
be five minutes.
(c) When ordering a quorum call in the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union, the Chair-
man may announce an intention to declare that a quorum
is constituted at any time during the quorum call when
he determines that a quorum has appeared. If the Chair-
man interrupts the quorum call by declaring that a
quorum is constituted, proceedings under the quorum call
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shall be considered as vacated, and the Committee of the
Whole shall continue its sitting and resume its business.
(d) A quorum is not required in the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union for adoption
of a motion that the Committee rise.
(e) In the Committee of the Whole House on the state
of the Union, the Chairman shall order a recorded vote
on a request supported by at least 25 Members.
(f) In the Committee of the Whole House on the state
of the Union, the Chairman may reduce to five minutes
the minimum time for electronic voting without any inter-
vening business or debate on any or all pending amend-
ments after a record vote has been taken on the first pend-
ing amendment.
Dispensing with the reading of an amendment
7. It shall be in order in the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union to move that the Commit-
tee of the Whole dispense with the reading of an amend-
ment that has been printed in the bill or resolution as re-
ported by a committee, or an amendment that a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner has caused to be
printed in the Congressional Record. Such a motion shall
be decided without debate.
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Closing debate
8. (a) Subject to paragraph (b) at any time after the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
has begun five-minute debate on amendments to any por-
tion of a bill or resolution, it shall be in order to move
that the Committee of the Whole close all debate on that
portion of the bill or resolution or on the pending amend-
ments only. Such a motion shall be decided without de-
bate. The adoption of such a motion does not preclude
further amendment, to be decided without debate.
(b) If the Committee of the Whole House on the state
of the Union closes debate on any portion of a bill or reso-
lution before there has been debate on an amendment that
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner has
caused to be printed in the Congressional Record at least
one day before its consideration, the Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner who caused the amendment to
be printed in the Record shall be allowed five minutes to
explain it, after which the Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner who shall first obtain the floor shall be al-
lowed five minutes to speak in opposition to it. There shall
be no further debate thereon.
(c) Material submitted for printing in the Congres-
sional Record under this rule shall indicate the full text
of the proposed amendment, the name of the Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner proposing it, the
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number of the bill or resolution to which it will be offered,
and the point in the bill or resolution or amendment there-
to where the amendment is intended to be offered. The
amendment shall appear in a portion of the Record des-
ignated for that purpose. Amendments to a specified
measure submitted for printing in that portion of the
Record shall be numbered in the order printed.
Striking the enacting clause
9. A motion that the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union rise and report a bill or resolu-
tion to the House with the recommendation that the enact-
ing or resolving clause be stricken shall have precedence
of a motion to amend, and, if carried in the House, shall
constitute a rejection of the bill or resolution. Whenever
a bill or resolution is reported from the Committee of the
Whole with such adverse recommendation and the rec-
ommendation is rejected by the House, the bill or resolu-
tion shall stand recommitted to the Committee of the
Whole without further action by the House. Before the
question of concurrence is submitted, it shall be in order
to move that the House refer the bill or resolution to a
committee, with or without instructions. If a bill or resolu-
tion is so referred, then when it is again reported to the
House it shall be referred to the Committee of the Whole
without debate.
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Concurrent resolution on the budget
10. (a) At the conclusion of general debate in the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
on a concurrent resolution on the budget under section
305(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the con-
current resolution shall be considered as read for amend-
ment.
(b) It shall not be in order in the House or in the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union
to consider an amendment to a concurrent resolution on
the budget, or an amendment thereto, unless the concur-
rent resolution, as amended by such amendment or
amendments—
(1) would be mathematically consistent except
as limited by paragraph (c); and
(2) would contain all the matter set forth in
paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 301(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(c)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it
shall not be in order in the House or in the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union to consider
an amendment to a concurrent resolution on the budget,
or an amendment thereto, that proposes to change the
amount of the appropriate level of the public debt set forth
in the concurrent resolution, as reported.
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(2) Amendments to achieve mathematical consistency
under section 305(a)(5) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, if offered by direction of the Committee on the
Budget, may propose to adjust the amount of the appro-
priate level of the public debt set forth in the concurrent
resolution, as reported, to reflect changes made in other
figures contained in the concurrent resolution.
Unfunded mandates
11. (a) In the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union, an amendment proposing only to strike
an unfunded mandate from the portion of the bill then
open to amendment, if otherwise in order, may be pre-
cluded from consideration only by specific terms of a spe-
cial order of the House.
(b) In this clause the term ‘‘unfunded mandate’’
means a Federal intergovernmental mandate the direct
costs of which exceed the threshold otherwise specified for
a reported bill or joint resolution in section 424(a)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Applicability of Rules of the House
12. The Rules of the House are the rules of the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the state of the Union so
far as applicable.
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RULE XIX.
MOTIONS FOLLOWING THE AMENDMENT STAGE.
Previous question
1. (a) There shall be a motion for the previous ques-
tion, which, being ordered, shall have the effect of cutting
off all debate and bringing the House to a direct vote on
the immediate question or questions on which it has been
ordered. Whenever the previous question has been ordered
on an otherwise debatable question on which there has
been no debate, it shall be in order to debate that question
for 40 minutes, equally divided and controlled by a pro-
ponent of the question and an opponent. The previous
question may be moved and ordered on a single question,
on a series of questions allowable under the rules, or on
an amendment or amendments, or may embrace all au-
thorized motions or amendments and include the bill or
resolution to its passage, adoption, or rejection.
(b) Incidental questions of order arising during the
pendency of a motion for the previous question shall be
decided, whether on appeal or otherwise, without debate.
Recommit
2. (a) After the previous question has been ordered
on passage or adoption of a measure, or pending a motion
to that end, it shall be in order to move that the House
recommit (or commit, as the case may be) the measure,
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with or without instructions, to a standing or select com-
mittee. For such a motion to recommit, the Speaker shall
give preference in recognition to a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner who is opposed to the measure.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), if a motion
that the House recommit a bill or joint resolution on which
the previous question has been ordered to passage includes
instructions, it shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally
divided between the proponent and an opponent.
(c) On demand of the floor manager for the majority,
it shall be in order to debate the motion for one hour
equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an
opponent.
Reconsideration
3. When a motion has been carried or lost, it shall
be in order on the same or succeeding day for a Member
on the prevailing side of the question to enter a motion
for the reconsideration thereof. The entry of such a motion
shall take precedence over all other questions except the
consideration of a conference report or a motion to ad-
journ, and may not be withdrawn after such succeeding
day without the consent of the House. Once entered, a
motion may be called up for consideration by any Member.
During the last six days of a session of Congress, such
a motion shall be disposed of when entered.
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4. A bill, petition, memorial, or resolution referred to
a committee, or reported therefrom for printing and re-
commitment, may not be brought back to the House on
a motion to reconsider.
RULE XX.
VOTING AND QUORUM CALLS.
1. (a) The House shall divide after the Speaker has
put a question to a vote by voice as provided in clause
6 of rule I if the Speaker is in doubt or division is de-
manded. Those in favor of the question shall first rise
from their seats to be counted, and then those opposed.
(b) If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
requests a recorded vote, and that request is supported
by at least one-fifth of a quorum, the vote shall be taken
by electronic device unless the Speaker invokes another
procedure for recording votes provided in this rule. A re-
corded vote taken in the House under this paragraph shall
be considered a vote by the yeas and nays.
(c) In case of a tie vote, a question shall be lost.
2. (a) Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk
shall conduct a record vote or quorum call by electronic
device. In such a case the Clerk shall enter on the Journal
and publish in the Congressional Record, in alphabetical
order in each category, the names of Members recorded
as voting in the affirmative, the names of Members re-
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corded as voting in the negative, and the names of Mem-
bers answering present as if they had been called in the
manner provided in clause 3. Except as otherwise per-
mitted under clause 9 or 10 of this rule or under clause
6 of rule XVIII, the minimum time for a record vote or
quorum call by electronic device shall be 15 minutes.
(b) When the electronic voting system is inoperable
or is not used, the Speaker or Chairman may direct the
Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call as provided
in clause 3 or 4.
3. The Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a
record vote or quorum call by call of the roll. In such a
case the Clerk shall call the names of Members, alphabeti-
cally by surname. When two or more have the same sur-
name, the name of the State (and, if necessary to distin-
guish among Members from the same State, the given
names of the Members) shall be added. After the roll has
been called once, the Clerk shall call the names of those
not recorded, alphabetically by surname. Members appear-
ing after the second call, but before the result is an-
nounced, may vote or announce a pair.
4. (a) The Speaker may direct a record vote or
quorum call to be conducted by tellers. In such a case the
tellers named by the Speaker shall record the names of
the Members voting on each side of the question or record
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their presence, as the case may be, which the Clerk shall
enter on the Journal and publish in the Congressional
Record. Absentees shall be noted, but the doors may not
be closed except when ordered by the Speaker. The mini-
mum time for a record vote or quorum call by tellers shall
be 15 minutes.
(b) On the demand of a Member, or at the suggestion
of the Speaker, the names of Members sufficient to make
a quorum in the Hall of the House who do not vote shall
be noted by the Clerk, entered on the Journal, reported
to the Speaker with the names of the Members voting,
and be counted and announced in determining the pres-
ence of a quorum to do business.
5. (a) In the absence of a quorum, a majority com-
prising at least 15 Members, which may include the
Speaker, may compel the attendance of absent Members.
(b) Subject to clause 7(b) a majority of those present
may order the Sergeant-at-Arms to send officers ap-
pointed by him to arrest those Members for whom no suf-
ficient excuse is made and shall secure and retain their
attendance. The House shall determine on what condition
they shall be discharged. Unless the House otherwise di-
rects, the Members who voluntarily appear shall be admit-
ted immediately to the Hall of the House and shall report
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their names to the Clerk to be entered on the Journal as
present.
6. (a) When a quorum fails to vote on a question,
a quorum is not present, and objection is made for that
cause (unless the House shall adjourn)—
(1) there shall be a call of the House;
(2) the Sergeant-at-Arms shall proceed forth-
with to bring in absent Members; and
(3) the yeas and nays on the pending question
shall at the same time be considered as ordered.
(b) The Clerk shall record Members by the yeas and
nays on the pending question, using such procedure as the
Speaker may invoke under clause 2, 3, or 4. Each Member
arrested under this clause shall be brought by the Ser-
geant-at-Arms before the House, whereupon he shall be
noted as present, discharged from arrest, and given an op-
portunity to vote; and his vote shall be recorded. If those
voting on the question and those who are present and de-
cline to vote together make a majority of the House, the
Speaker shall declare that a quorum is constituted, and
the pending question shall be decided as the requisite ma-
jority of those voting shall have determined. Thereupon
further proceedings under the call shall be considered as
dispensed with.
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(c) At any time after Members have had the requisite
opportunity to respond by the yeas and nays, but before
a result has been announced, the Speaker may entertain
a motion that the House adjourn if seconded by a majority
of those present, to be ascertained by actual count by the
Speaker. If the House adjourns on such a motion, all pro-
ceedings under this clause shall be considered as vacated.
7. (a) The Speaker may not entertain a point of order
that a quorum is not present unless a question has been
put to a vote.
(b) Subject to paragraph (c) the Speaker may recog-
nize a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to
move a call of the House at any time. When a quorum
is established pursuant to a call of the House, further pro-
ceedings under the call shall be considered as dispensed
with unless the Speaker recognizes for a motion to compel
attendance of Members under clause 5(b).
(c) A call of the House shall not be in order after
the previous question is ordered unless the Speaker deter-
mines by actual count that a quorum is not present.
Postponement of proceedings
8. (a)(1) When a recorded vote is ordered, or the yeas
and nays are ordered, or a vote is objected to under clause
6 on any of the questions specified in subparagraph (2),
the Speaker may postpone further proceedings on that
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question to a designated place in the legislative schedule
on that legislative day (in the case of the question of
agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal) or
within two legislative days (in the case of any other ques-
tion).
(2) The questions described in the subparagraph (1)
are as follows:
(A) The question of passing a bill or joint reso-
lution.
(B) The question of adopting a resolution or
concurrent resolution.
(C) The question of agreeing to a motion to in-
struct managers on the part of the House (except
that proceedings may not resume on such a motion
under clause 7(c) of rule XXII if the managers have
filed a report in the House).
(D) The question of agreeing to a conference
report.
(E) The question of agreeing to a motion to re-
commit a bill considered under clause 6 of rule XV.
(F) The question of ordering the previous ques-
tion on a question described in subdivision (A), (B),
(C), (D), or (E).
(G) The question of agreeing to an amendment
to a bill considered under clause 6 of rule XV.
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(H) The question of agreeing to a motion to
suspend the rules.
(b) At the time designated by the Speaker for further
proceedings on questions postponed under paragraph (a),
the Speaker shall resume proceedings on each postponed
question in the order in which it was considered.
(c) The Speaker may reduce to five minutes the mini-
mum time for electronic voting on a question postponed
under this clause, or on a question incidental thereto, that
follows another electronic vote without intervening busi-
ness, so long as the minimum time for electronic voting
on the first in any series of questions is 15 minutes.
(d) If the House adjourns on a legislative day des-
ignated for further proceedings on questions postponed
under this clause without disposing of such questions, then
on the next legislative day the unfinished business is the
disposition of such questions in the order in which they
were considered.
Five-minute votes
9. The Speaker may reduce to five minutes the mini-
mum time for electronic voting—
(a) after a record vote on a motion for the pre-
vious question, on any underlying question that fol-
lows without intervening business, or on a question
incidental thereto;
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(b) after a record vote on an amendment re-
ported from the Committee of the Whole House on
the state of the Union, on any subsequent amend-
ment to that bill or resolution reported from the
Committee of the Whole, or on a question incidental
thereto;
(c) after a record vote on a motion to recommit
a bill, resolution, or conference report, on the ques-
tion of passage or adoption, as the case may be, of
such bill, resolution, or conference report, or on a
question incidental thereto, if the question of pas-
sage or adoption follows without intervening busi-
ness the vote on the motion to recommit; or
(d) as provided in clause 6(b)(3) of rule XVIII,
clause 6(f) of rule XVIII, or clause 8 of this rule.
Automatic yeas and nays
10. The yeas and nays shall be considered as ordered
when the Speaker puts the question on passage of a bill
or joint resolution, or on adoption of a conference report,
making general appropriations, or increasing Federal in-
come tax rates (within the meaning of clause 5 of rule
XXI), or on final adoption of a concurrent resolution on
the budget or conference report thereon.
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Ballot votes
11. In a case of ballot for election, a majority of the
votes shall be necessary to an election. When there is not
such a majority on the first ballot, the process shall be
repeated until a majority is obtained. In all balloting
blanks shall be rejected, may not be counted in the enu-
meration of votes, and may not be reported by the tellers.
RULE XXI.
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN BILLS.
Reservation of certain points of order
1. At the time a general appropriation bill is reported,
all points of order against provisions therein shall be con-
sidered as reserved.
General appropriation bills and amendments
2. (a)(1) An appropriation may not be reported in
a general appropriation bill, and may not be in order as
an amendment thereto, for an expenditure not previously
authorized by law, except to continue appropriations for
public works and objects that are already in progress.
(2) A reappropriation of unexpended balances of ap-
propriations may not be reported in a general appropria-
tion bill, and may not be in order as an amendment there-
to, except to continue appropriations for public works and
objects that are already in progress. This subparagraph
does not apply to transfers of unexpended balances within
the department or agency for which they were originally
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appropriated that are reported by the Committee on Ap-
propriations.
(b) A provision changing existing law may not be re-
ported in a general appropriation bill, including a provi-
sion making the availability of funds contingent on the re-
ceipt or possession of information not required by existing
law for the period of the appropriation, except germane
provisions that retrench expenditures by the reduction of
amounts of money covered by the bill (which may include
those recommended to the Committee on Appropriations
by direction of a legislative committee having jurisdiction
over the subject matter) and except rescissions of appro-
priations contained in appropriation Acts.
(c) An amendment to a general appropriation bill
shall not be in order if changing existing law, including
an amendment making the availability of funds contingent
on the receipt or possession of information not required
by existing law for the period of the appropriation. Except
as provided in paragraph (d), an amendment proposing
a limitation not specifically contained or authorized in ex-
isting law for the period of the limitation shall not be in
order during consideration of a general appropriation bill.
(d) After a general appropriation bill has been read
for amendment, a motion that the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union rise and report the bill
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to the House with such amendments as may have been
adopted shall, if offered by the Majority Leader or a des-
ignee, have precedence over motions to amend the bill. If
such a motion to rise and report is rejected or not offered,
amendments proposing limitations not specifically con-
tained or authorized in existing law for the period of the
limitation or proposing germane amendments that re-
trench expenditures by reductions of amounts of money
covered by the bill may be considered.
(e) A provision other than an appropriation des-
ignated an emergency under section 251(b)(2) or section
252(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act, a rescission of budget authority, or a reduc-
tion in direct spending or an amount for a designated
emergency may not be reported in an appropriation bill
or joint resolution containing an emergency designation
under section 251(b)(2) or section 252(e) of such Act and
may not be in order as an amendment thereto.
(f) During the reading of an appropriation bill for
amendment in the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union, it shall be in order to consider en bloc
amendments proposing only to transfer appropriations
among objects in the bill without increasing the levels of
budget authority or outlays in the bill. When considered
en bloc under this paragraph, such amendments may
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amend portions of the bill not yet read for amendment
(following disposition of any points of order against such
portions) and is not subject to a demand for division of
the question in the House or in the Committee of the
Whole.
Transportation obligation limitations
3. It shall not be in order to consider a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, or conference report that would
cause obligation limitations to be below the level for any
fiscal year set forth in section 8103 of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century, as adjusted, for the high-
way category or the mass transit category, as applicable.
Appropriations on legislative bills
4. A bill or joint resolution carrying an appropriation
may not be reported by a committee not having jurisdic-
tion to report appropriations, and an amendment propos-
ing an appropriation shall not be in order during the con-
sideration of a bill or joint resolution reported by a com-
mittee not having that jurisdiction. A point of order
against an appropriation in such a bill, joint resolution,
or amendment thereto may be raised at any time during
pendency of that measure for amendment.
Tax and tariff measures and amendments
5. (a) A bill or joint resolution carrying a tax or tariff
measure may not be reported by a committee not having
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jurisdiction to report tax or tariff measures, and an
amendment in the House or proposed by the Senate carry-
ing a tax or tariff measure shall not be in order during
the consideration of a bill or joint resolution reported by
a committee not having that jurisdiction. A point of order
against a tax or tariff measure in such a bill, joint resolu-
tion, or amendment thereto may be raised at any time dur-
ing pendency of that measure for amendment.
Passage of tax rate increases
(b) A bill or joint resolution, amendment, or con-
ference report carrying a Federal income tax rate increase
may not be considered as passed or agreed to unless so
determined by a vote of not less than three-fifths of the
Members voting, a quorum being present. In this para-
graph the term ‘‘Federal income tax rate increase’’ means
any amendment to subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of
section 1, or to section 11(b) or 55(b), of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986, that imposes a new percentage as a
rate of tax and thereby increases the amount of tax im-
posed by any such section.
Consideration of retroactive tax rate increases
(c) It shall not be in order to consider a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, or conference report carrying a
retroactive Federal income tax rate increase. In this
paragraph—
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(1) the term ‘‘Federal income tax rate in-
crease’’ means any amendment to subsection (a),
(b), (c), (d), or (e) of section 1, or to section 11(b)
or 55(b), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that
imposes a new percentage as a rate of tax and there-
by increases the amount of tax imposed by any such
section; and
(2) a Federal income tax rate increase is retro-
active if it applies to a period beginning before the
enactment of the provision.
RULE XXII.
HOUSE AND SENATE RELATIONS.
Senate amendments
1. A motion to disagree to Senate amendments to a
House bill or resolution and to request or agree to a con-
ference with the Senate, or a motion to insist on House
amendments to a Senate bill or resolution and to request
or agree to a conference with the Senate, shall be privi-
leged in the discretion of the Speaker if offered by direc-
tion of the primary committee and of all reporting commit-
tees that had initial referral of the bill or resolution.
2. A motion to dispose of House bills with Senate
amendments not requiring consideration in the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union shall be
privileged.
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3. Except as permitted by clause 1, before the stage
of disagreement, a Senate amendment to a House bill or
resolution shall be subject to the point of order that it
must first be considered in the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union if, originating in the
House, it would be subject to such a point under clause
3 of rule XVIII.
4. When the stage of disagreement has been reached
on a bill or resolution with House or Senate amendments,
a motion to dispose of any amendment shall be privileged.
5. (a) Managers on the part of the House may not
agree to a Senate amendment described in paragraph (b)
unless specific authority to agree to the amendment first
is given by the House by a separate vote with respect
thereto. If specific authority is not granted, the Senate
amendment shall be reported in disagreement by the con-
ference committee back to the two Houses for disposition
by separate motion.
(b) The managers on the part of the House may not
agree to a Senate amendment described in paragraph (a)
that—
(1) would violate clause 2(a)(1) or (c) of rule
XXI if originating in the House; or
(2) proposes an appropriation on a bill other
than a general appropriation bill.
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6. A Senate amendment carrying a tax or tariff meas-
ure in violation of clause 5(a) of rule XXI may not be
agreed to.
Conference reports; amendments reported in disagree-
ment
7. (a) The presentation of a conference report shall
be in order at any time except during a reading of the
Journal or the conduct of a record vote, a vote by division,
or a quorum call.
(b)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2) the time allotted
for debate on a motion to instruct managers on the part
of the House shall be equally divided between the majority
and minority parties.
(2) If the proponent of a motion to instruct managers
on the part of the House and the Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner of the other party identified under
subparagraph (1) both support the motion, one-third of
the time for debate thereon shall be allotted to a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who opposes the mo-
tion on demand of that Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner.
(c)(1) A motion to instruct managers on the part of
the House, or a motion to discharge all managers on the
part of the House and to appoint new conferees, shall be
privileged—
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(A) after a conference committee has been ap-
pointed for 20 calendar days without making a re-
port; and
(B) on the first legislative day after the cal-
endar day on which the Member, Delegate, or Resi-
dent Commissioner offering the motion announces to
the House his intention to do so and the form of the
motion.
(2) The Speaker may designate a time in the legisla-
tive schedule on that legislative day for consideration of
a motion described in subparagraph (1).
(3) During the last six days of a session of Congress,
the period of time specified in subparagraph (1)(A) shall
be 36 hours.
(d) Each conference report to the House shall be
printed as a report of the House. Each such report shall
be accompanied by a joint explanatory statement prepared
jointly by the managers on the part of the House and the
managers on the part of the Senate. The joint explanatory
statement shall be sufficiently detailed and explicit to in-
form the House of the effects of the report on the matters
committed to conference.
8. (a)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it
shall not be in order to consider a conference report
until—
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(A) the third calendar day (excluding Satur-
days, Sundays, or legal holidays except when the
House is in session on such a day) on which the con-
ference report and the accompanying joint explana-
tory statement have been available to Members, Del-
egates, and the Resident Commissioner in the Con-
gressional Record; and
(B) copies of the conference report and the ac-
companying joint explanatory statement have been
available to Members, Delegates, and the Resident
Commissioner for at least two hours.
(2) Subparagraph (1)(A) does not apply during the
last six days of a session of Congress.
(b)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it
shall not be in order to consider a motion to dispose of
a Senate amendment reported in disagreement by a con-
ference committee until—
(A) the third calendar day (excluding Satur-
days, Sundays, or legal holidays except when the
House is in session on such a day) on which the re-
port in disagreement and any accompanying state-
ment have been available to Members, Delegates,
and the Resident Commissioner in the Congressional
Record; and
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(B) copies of the report in disagreement and
any accompanying statement, together with the text
of the Senate amendment, have been available to
Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner
for at least two hours.
(2) Subparagraph (1)(A) does not apply during the
last six days of a session of Congress.
(3) During consideration of a Senate amendment re-
ported in disagreement by a conference committee on a
general appropriation bill, a motion to insist on disagree-
ment to the Senate amendment shall be preferential to any
other motion to dispose of that amendment if the original
motion offered by the floor manager proposes to change
existing law and the motion to insist is offered before de-
bate on the original motion by the chairman of the com-
mittee having jurisdiction of the subject matter of the
amendment or a designee. Such a preferential motion shall
be separately debatable for one hour equally divided be-
tween its proponent and the proponent of the original mo-
tion. The previous question shall be considered as ordered
on the preferential motion to its adoption without inter-
vening motion.
(c) A conference report or a Senate amendment re-
ported in disagreement by a conference committee that
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has been available as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
shall be considered as read when called up.
(d)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), the time allotted
for debate on a conference report or on a motion to dispose
of a Senate amendment reported in disagreement by a
conference committee shall be equally divided between the
majority and minority parties.
(2) If the floor manager for the majority and the floor
manager for the minority both support the conference re-
port or motion, one-third of the time for debate thereon
shall be allotted to a Member, Delegate, or Resident Com-
missioner who opposes the conference report or motion on
demand of that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner.
(e) Under clause 6(a)(2) of rule XIII, a resolution
proposing only to waive a requirement of this clause con-
cerning the availability of reports to Members, Delegates,
and the Resident Commissioner may be considered by the
House on the same day it is reported by the Committee
on Rules.
9. Whenever a disagreement to an amendment has
been committed to a conference committee, the managers
on the part of the House may propose a substitute that
is a germane modification of the matter in disagreement.
The introduction of any language presenting specific addi-
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tional matter not committed to the conference committee
by either House does not constitute a germane modifica-
tion of the matter in disagreement. Moreover, a conference
report may not include matter not committed to the con-
ference committee by either House and may not include
a modification of specific matter committed to the con-
ference committee by either or both Houses if that modi-
fication is beyond the scope of that specific matter as com-
mitted to the conference committee.
10. (a)(1) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner may raise a point of order against nongermane mat-
ter, as specified in subparagraph (2), before the com-
mencement of debate on—
(A) a conference report;
(B) a motion that the House recede from its
disagreement to a Senate amendment reported in
disagreement by a conference committee and concur
therein, with or without amendment; or
(C) a motion that the House recede from its
disagreement to a Senate amendment on which the
stage of disagreement has been reached and concur
therein, with or without amendment.
(2) A point of order against nongermane matter is
one asserting that a proposition described in subparagraph
(1) contains specified matter that would violate clause 7
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of rule XVI if it were offered in the House as an amend-
ment to the underlying measure in the form it was passed
by the House.
(b) If a point of order under paragraph (a) is sus-
tained, a motion that the House reject the nongermane
matter identified by the point of order shall be privileged.
Such a motion is debatable for 40 minutes, one-half in
favor of the motion and one-half in opposition thereto.
(c) After disposition of a point of order under para-
graph (a) or a motion to reject under paragraph (b), any
further points of order under paragraph (a) not covered
by a previous point of order, and any consequent motions
to reject under paragraph (b), shall be likewise disposed
of.
(d)(1) If a motion to reject under paragraph (b) is
adopted, then after disposition of all points of order under
paragraph (a) and any consequent motions to reject under
paragraph (b), the conference report or motion, as the
case may be, shall be considered as rejected and the mat-
ter remaining in disagreement shall be disposed of under
subparagraph (2) or (3), as the case may be.
(2) After the House has adopted one or more motions
to reject nongermane matter contained in a conference re-
port under the preceding provisions of this clause—
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(A) if the conference report accompanied a
House measure amended by the Senate, the pending
question shall be whether the House shall recede and
concur in the Senate amendment with an amend-
ment consisting of so much of the conference report
as was not rejected; and
(B) if the conference report accompanied a Sen-
ate measure amended by the House, the pending
question shall be whether the House shall insist fur-
ther on the House amendment.
(3) After the House has adopted one or more motions
to reject nongermane matter contained in a motion that
the House recede and concur in a Senate amendment, with
or without amendment, the following motions shall be
privileged and shall have precedence in the order stated:
(A) A motion that the House recede and concur
in the Senate amendment with an amendment in
writing then available on the floor.
(B) A motion that the House insist on its dis-
agreement to the Senate amendment and request a
further conference with the Senate.
(C) A motion that the House insist on its dis-
agreement to the Senate amendment.
(e) If, on a division of the question on a motion de-
scribed in paragraph (a)(1)(B) or (C), the House agrees
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to recede, then a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner may raise a point of order against nongermane mat-
ter, as specified in paragraph (a)(2), before the commence-
ment of debate on concurring in the Senate amendment,
with or without amendment. A point of order under this
paragraph shall be disposed of according to the preceding
provisions of this clause in the same manner as a point
of order under paragraph (a).
11. It shall not be in order to consider a conference
report to accompany a bill or joint resolution that proposes
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 unless—
(a) the joint explanatory statement of the man-
agers includes a tax complexity analysis prepared by
the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation
in accordance with section 4022(b) of the Internal
Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of
1998; or
(b) the chairman of the Committee on Ways
and Means causes such a tax complexity analysis to
be printed in the Congressional Record before con-
sideration of the conference report.
12. (a)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), a meeting of
each conference committee shall be open to the public.
(2) In open session of the House, a motion that man-
agers on the part of the House be permitted to close to
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the public a meeting or meetings of their conference com-
mittee shall be privileged, shall be decided without debate,
and shall be decided by a record vote.
(b) A point of order that a conference committee
failed to comply with paragraph (a) may be raised imme-
diately after the conference report is read or considered
as read. If such a point of order is sustained, the con-
ference report shall be considered as rejected, the House
shall be considered to have insisted on its amendments or
on disagreement to the Senate amendments, as the case
may be, and to have requested a further conference with
the Senate, and the Speaker may appoint new conferees
without intervening motion.
RULE XXIII.
STATUTORY LIMIT ON PUBLIC DEBT.
1. Upon adoption by Congress of a concurrent resolu-
tion on the budget under section 301 or 304 of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974 that sets forth, as the ap-
propriate level of the public debt for the period to which
the concurrent resolution relates, an amount that is dif-
ferent from the amount of the statutory limit on the public
debt that otherwise would be in effect for that period, the
Clerk shall prepare an engrossment of a joint resolution
increasing or decreasing, as the case may be, the statutory
limit on the public debt in the form prescribed in clause
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2. Upon engrossment of the joint resolution, the vote by
which the concurrent resolution on the budget was finally
agreed to in 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: ‘‘That
subsection (b) of section 3101 of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by striking out the dollar limitation con-
tained in such subsection and inserting in lieu thereof
‘$
’.’’, with the blank being filled with a dollar limita-
tion equal to the appropriate level of the public debt set
forth pursuant to section 301(a)(5) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 in the relevant concurrent resolution
described in clause 1. If an adopted concurrent resolution
under clause 1 sets forth different appropriate levels of
the public debt for separate periods, only one engrossed
joint resolution shall be prepared under clause 1; and the
blank referred to in the preceding sentence shall be filled
with the limitation that is to apply for each period.
3. (a) The report of the Committee on the Budget
on a concurrent resolution described in clause 1 and the
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joint explanatory statement of the managers on a con-
ference report to accompany such a concurrent resolution
each shall contain a clear statement of the effect the even-
tual enactment of a joint resolution engrossed under this
rule would have on the statutory limit on the public debt.
(b) It shall not be in order for the House to consider
a concurrent resolution described in clause 1, or a con-
ference report thereon, unless the report of the Committee
on the Budget or the joint explanatory statement of the
managers complies with paragraph (a).
4. 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 Resi-
dent Commissioner, or committees with respect to
the introduction, consideration, and reporting of
such bills or joint resolutions.
5. 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