I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3592
To establish the permanent Joint Committee for Review of Administrative
Rules to review rules of Federal agencies and to amend chapter 8
of title 5 of the United States Code.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 8, 2000
Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Judici-
ary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish the permanent Joint Committee for Review of
Administrative Rules to review rules of Federal agencies
and to amend chapter 8 of title 5 of the United States
Code.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.—There is
established a permanent Joint Committee for Review of
Administrative Rules (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Joint
Committee’’) to be composed of—
(1) 10 members of the Senate to be appointed
by the majority leader of the Senate; and
(2) 10 members of the House of Representa-
tives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Vacancies in the membership of
the Joint Committee shall not affect the power of the re-
maining members to execute the functions of the Joint
Committee and shall be filled in the same manner as in
the case of the original selection. The Joint Committee
shall select a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from among
its members at the beginning of each Congress. The Vice
Chairman shall act in the place and stead of the Chairman
in the absence of the Chairman. The chairmanship shall
alternate between the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives with each Congress, and the Chairman shall be se-
lected by the Members from that House entitled to the
chairmanship. The Vice Chairman shall be chosen from
the House other than that of the Chairman by the Mem-
bers from that House.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES.
The Joint Committee shall review rules of Federal
agencies as provided by chapter 8 of title 5 of the United
States Code. Any joint resolution that is referred to any
committee pursuant to section 802 of title 5, United
States Code, which is reported by, or discharged from,
that committee shall be referred to the Joint Committee
for its consideration. The members of the Joint Committee
who are members of the Senate shall from time to time
report to the Senate, and the members of the Joint Com-
mittee who are members of the House of Representatives
shall from time to time report to the House, by joint reso-
lution their recommendations with respect to matters
within the jurisdiction of their respective Houses which
are referred to the Joint Committee.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY AND EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSA-
TION OF STAFF.
(a) AUTHORITY OF JOINT COMMITTEE.—The Joint
Committee may—
(1) sit and act at such places and times as the
Joint Committee determines is appropriate during
the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of Con-
gress; and
(2) require the attendance of witnesses and the
production of books, papers, and documents, admin-
ister oaths, take testimony, and procure printing and
binding.
(b) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION OF STAFF.—
(1) The Joint Committee may appoint and fix the com-
pensation of such experts, consultants, technicians, and
staff employees as it deems necessary and advisable.
(2) The Joint Committee may utilize such voluntary
and uncompensated services as it deems necessary and
may utilize the services, information, facilities, and per-
sonnel of the departments and establishments of the Gov-
ernment.
(c) WITNESSES.—Witnesses requested to appear be-
fore the Joint Committee shall be reimbursed for travel,
subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by
them in traveling to and from the places at which they
are to appear.
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF AGENCY RULE-
MAKING.
(a) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.—Section 801(a) of
title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(C), by inserting ‘‘and to
the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative
Rules’’ before the period; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘and to
the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative
Rules’’ after ‘‘Congress’’.
(b) CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL PROCEDURE IN
THE SENATE.—(1) Section 804(c) of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by—
(1) striking ‘‘placed on the calendar’’ and in-
serting ‘‘referred to the Joint Committee for Review
of Administrative Rules for a period of not to exceed
10 session days’’; and
(2) adding at the end the following new sen-
tence: In the Senate, if the Joint Committee for Re-
view of Administrative Rules has not reported such
joint resolution (or an identical joint resolution) at
the end of 10 session days after such joint resolution
is referred to it, such joint committee may be dis-
charged from further consideration of such joint res-
olution upon a petition supported in writing by 30
Members of the Senate, and such joint resolution
shall be placed on the calendar.’’.
(2) Section 804(d) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ‘‘and the joint committee’’ after
‘‘committee’’ the first place it occurs and by striking ‘‘a
committee’’ and inserting ‘‘the joint committee’’.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—This Act and the amendments
made by it shall take effect on noon January 3, 2001,
and shall apply to rules promulgated after such date.