IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1416 
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives regarding the public 
disclosure by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of written 
reports and findings of the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 28, 2010 
Ms. FUDGE (for herself, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. CLAY, Mr. 
ELLISON, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. CORRINE 
BROWN of Florida, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE 
JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. WATERS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. PAYNE, 
Ms. CLARKE, Mr. WATT, Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas, Ms. LEE of Cali-
fornia, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. JOHNSON of Geor-
gia, and Mr. CARSON of Indiana) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the 
Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives regard-
ing the public disclosure by the Committee on Standards 
of Official Conduct of written reports and findings of 
the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics, and 
for other purposes. 
Resolved, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
16:25 Jun 01, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1416.IH
HR1416
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1416 IH 
SECTION 1. DISCLOSURES BY THE COMMITTEE ON STAND-
ARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT. 
(a) Clause 3(b)(8) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(8)(A)(i) If the board of the Office of Congressional 
Ethics transmits a report respecting any matter with a 
recommendation to dismiss or that is unresolved due to 
a tie vote, the committee shall not make a public state-
ment. 
‘‘(ii) If the committee establishes an investigative 
subcommittee respecting any such matter, the report and 
findings of the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics 
shall not be made public until the committee has taken 
its final vote on the investigative subcommittee’s conclu-
sions. Such investigative subcommittee shall conclude its 
review within one year after the board transmits a report 
respecting any matter. However, the committee shall make 
public the report and findings upon conclusion of review 
of the matter if misconduct is found, but no report shall 
be released if dismissal is recommended or if the matter 
is unresolved due to a tie vote. At least one calendar day 
before the committee makes public any written report or 
findings of the board, the chairman shall notify such board 
and the applicable Member, officer, or employee of that 
fact and transmit to such individual a copy of the state-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
16:25 Jun 01, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1416.IH
HR1416
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1416 IH 
ment on the committee’s disposition of, and any committee 
report on, the matter. 
‘‘(B) If, after receipt of a written report and any find-
ings and supporting documentation regarding a referral 
from the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics or 
of a referral of the matter from the board pursuant to 
a request under paragraph (r), the committee agrees to 
a request from an appropriate law enforcement or regu-
latory authority to defer taking action on the matter, then 
the committee shall make no public disclosure unless and 
until the committee has acted on the matter. 
‘‘(C) The committee may not receive any referral 
from the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics with-
in 60 days before a Federal, State, or local election in 
which the subject of the referral is a candidate. The com-
mittee may delay any reporting requirement under this 
subdivision that falls within that 60-day period.’’. 
(b) Clause 3(e)(1) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives is amended by inserting ‘‘or a 
report regarding a referral from the board of the Office 
of Congressional Ethics’’ before ‘‘is deemed frivolous’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
16:25 Jun 01, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1416.IH
HR1416
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1416 IH 
SEC. 2. PROCEDURES OF THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL 
ETHICS. 
(a) In applying House Resolution 895 (110th Con-
gress) during the 111th Congress, the following shall 
apply: 
(1) Notwithstanding the procedure set forth in 
section 1(c) of such House Resolution 895 to under-
take a preliminary review of any alleged violation of 
a Member, officer, or employee of the House, such 
a preliminary review may only be undertaken within 
7 calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and 
public holidays) by the board of the Office of Con-
gressional Ethics after receipt, after the date of 
adoption of this resolution, of a sworn complaint 
from a citizen asserting personal knowledge of any 
alleged violation by that Member, officer, or em-
ployee of any law, rule, regulation, or other standard 
of conduct applicable to such individual in the per-
formance of his duties or the discharge of his re-
sponsibilities. 
(2) If, after the date of adoption of this resolu-
tion, the Committee on Standards of Official Con-
duct votes to dismiss any matter as frivolous or un-
founded that is referred from the board of the Office 
of Congressional Ethics and directs that all records 
of the Office of Congressional Ethics respecting such 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
16:25 Jun 01, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1416.IH
HR1416
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1416 IH 
matter be sealed, then the office shall immediately 
seal such records. 
(b) The board of the Office of Congressional Ethics 
is authorized and directed to amend its rules to define the 
standard of proof required to— 
(1) undertake a preliminary review; 
(2) commence a second-phase review of any 
matter under consideration; and 
(3) refer any matter to the Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct. 
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by section 1 shall apply to 
referrals from the board of the Office of Congressional 
Ethics received by the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct after the date of adoption of this resolution. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
16:25 Jun 01, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR1416.IH
HR1416
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS