[House Prints 117-A]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
117th Congress} { Committee
1st Session } COMMITTEE PRINT { Print 117-A
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COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
__________
RULES
FOR THE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
DURING THE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
ADOPTED FEBRUARY 8, 2021
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
43-668 PDF WASHINGTON : 2021
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ROBERT C. 'BOBBY' SCOTT, Virginia, Chairman
RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina,
JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut Ranking Member
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, JOE WILSON, South Carolina
Northern Mariana Islands GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania
FREDERICA S. WILSON, Florida TIM WALBERG, Michigan
SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin
MARK TAKANO, California ELISE M. STEFANIK, New York
ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina RICK W. ALLEN, Georgia
MARK DeSAULNIER, California JIM BANKS, Indiana
DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey JAMES COMER, Kentucky
PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington RUSS FULCHER, Idaho
JOSEPH D. MORELLE, New York RON WRIGHT, Texas **
SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania FRED KELLER, Pennsylvania
LUCY McBATH, Georgia GREGORY F. MURPHY, North Carolina
JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa
ANDY LEVIN, Michigan BURGESS OWENS, Utah
ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota BOB GOOD, Virginia
HALEY M. STEVENS, Michigan LISA C. McCLAIN, Michigan
TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New Mexico DIANA HARSHBARGER, Tennessee
MONDAIRE JONES, New York MARY E. MILLER, Illinois
KATHY E. MANNING, North Carolina VICTORIA SPARTZ, Indiana
FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin
JAMAAL BOWMAN, New York * MADISON CAWTHORN, North Carolina
MARK POCAN, Wisconsin MICHELLE STEEL, California
JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas Vacancy
MIKIE SHERRILL, New Jersey ** Deceased February 7, 2021
JOHN A. YARMUTH, Kentucky
ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York
Vacancy
* Vice-Chair
Veronique Pluviose, Staff Director
Cyrus Artz, Minority Staff Director
(II)
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Rule 1. Regular, Additional, and Special Meetings............ 1
Rule 2. Decorum.............................................. 2
Rule 3. Standing Subcommittees and Jurisdiction.............. 2
Rule 4. Ex Officio Membership................................ 3
Rule 5. Subcommittee Scheduling.............................. 3
Rule 6. Subcommittee Rules................................... 4
Rule 7. Special Assignment of Members........................ 4
Rule 8. Hearing Procedure.................................... 4
Rule 9. Questioning of Hearing Witnesses..................... 5
Rule 10. Subpoena Authority.................................. 6
Rule 11. Deposition Procedure................................ 6
Rule 12. Quorums............................................. 8
Rule 13. Referral of Bills, Resolutions, and Other Matters... 8
Rule 14. Votes............................................... 9
Rule 15. Records and Roll Calls.............................. 10
Rule 16. Reports............................................. 11
Rule 17. Appointment of Conferees, Notice of Conference
Meetings, and
Conference Motion.......................................... 13
Rule 18. Measures To Be Considered Under Suspension.......... 13
Rule 19. Broadcasting of Committee Hearings and Meetings..... 14
Rule 20. Committee Staff..................................... 14
Rule 21. Supervision and Duties of Committee Staff........... 15
Rule 22. Authorization for Travel............................ 15
Rule 23. Budget and Expenses................................. 16
Rule 24. Changes in Committee Rules.......................... 17
Rules of the Committee on Education and Labor 117th Congress
Adopted February 8, 2021
RULE 1. REGULAR, ADDITIONAL, AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
(a) Regular meetings of the Committee shall be held on the
second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m., while the House
is in session. The Committee shall meet for the consideration
of a bill or resolution pending before the Committee or the
transaction of other committee business on regular meeting days
fixed by the Committee if notice is given in accordance with
clause 2(g)(3) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
(b) The Chair may call and convene, as he or she considers
necessary, additional meetings of the Committee for the
consideration of any bill or resolution pending before the
Committee or for the conduct of other Committee business.
(c) If at least three members of the Committee desire that
a special meeting of the Committee be called by the Chair,
those members may file with the clerk of the Committee their
written request to the Chair for that special meeting.
Immediately upon the filing of the request, the staff director
of the Committee shall notify the Chair of the filing of the
request. If, within three calendar days after the filing of the
request, the Chair does not call the requested special meeting
to be held within seven calendar days after the filing of the
request, a majority of the members of the Committee may file
with the clerk of the Committee their written notice that a
special meeting of the Committee will be held, specifying the
date and hour thereof, and the measure or matter to be
considered at that special meeting. Immediately upon the filing
of the notice, the staff director of the Committee shall notify
all members of the Committee that such meeting will be held and
inform them of its date and hour and the measure or matter to
be considered. Such notice shall also be made publicly
available in electronic form and shall satisfy the notice
requirements in clause 2(g)(3)(A)(ii) of Rule XI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives. The Committee shall meet on
that date and hour and only the measure or matter specified in
that notice may be considered at that special meeting.
(d) Legislative meetings of the Committee and its
subcommittees shall be open to the public, including radio,
television, and still photography coverage, unless such
meetings are closed pursuant to the requirements of the Rules
of the House of Representatives. No business meeting of the
Committee, other than regularly scheduled meetings, may be held
without each member being given reasonable notice.
(e) The Chair of the Committee or of a subcommittee, as
appropriate, shall preside at meetings or hearings. In the
absence of the Chair of the Committee or of a subcommittee,
members shall preside as provided in clause 2(d) of Rule XI of
the Rules of the House of Representatives. No person other than
a Member of Congress or Congressional staff may walk in, stand
in, or be seated at the rostrum area during a meeting or
hearing of the Committee or subcommittee unless authorized by
the Chair.
RULE 2. DECORUM
The Chair shall enforce decorum including with regard to
actions that impact the health and safety of Members and staff
and anyone else present.
RULE 3. STANDING SUBCOMMITTEES AND JURISDICTION
(a) There shall be five standing subcommittees. In addition
to conducting oversight in the area of their respective
jurisdictions as required in clause 2 of Rule X of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, each subcommittee shall have the
following jurisdiction:
Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and
Secondary Education.--Education from early learning
through the high school level, including but not
limited to early care and education programs such as
the Head Start Act and the Child Care and Development
Block Grant Act, special education, and homeless and
migrant education; overseas dependent schools; career
and technical education; school climate and safety,
including alcohol and drug abuse prevention;
educational equity, including facilities; educational
research and improvement, including the Institute of
Education Sciences; and pre-service and in-service
teacher professional development, including Title II of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Title II
of the Higher Education Act.
Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce
Investment.--Education and workforce development beyond
the high school level, including but not limited to
higher education generally, postsecondary student
assistance and employment services, and the Higher
Education Act, including campus safety and climate;
adult education; postsecondary career and technical
education, apprenticeship programs, and workforce
development, including but not limited to the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act, vocational
rehabilitation, and workforce development programs from
immigration fees; programs related to the arts and
humanities, museum and library services, and arts and
artifacts indemnity; science and technology programs;
and domestic volunteer programs and national service
programs, including the Corporation for National and
Community Service.
Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.--Wages and
hours of workers, including but not limited to the
Davis-Bacon Act, the Walsh-Healey Act, the Service
Contract Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act;
workers' compensation, including but not limited to the
Federal Employees' Compensation Act, the Longshore and
Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, and the Black Lung
Benefits Act; the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural
Worker Protection Act; the Family and Medical Leave
Act; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
Act; the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988;
trade, international labor rights, and immigration
issues as they affect employers and workers; and
workers' safety and health, including but not limited
to occupational safety and health, mine safety and
health, and migrant and agricultural worker safety and
health.
Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and
Pensions.--Matters dealing with relationships between
employers and employees, including but not limited to
the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor-Management
Relations Act, and the Labor-Management Reporting and
Disclosure Act; the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and
employment-related health and retirement security,
including but not limited to pension, health, other
employee benefits, and the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act.
Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services.--
Matters relating to equal employment opportunities and
civil rights generally; welfare reform programs,
including but not limited to work incentive programs
and welfare-to-work requirements; poverty and human
services programs, including but not limited to the
Community Services Block Grant Act and the Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program; the Native American
Programs Act; school lunch and child nutrition
programs; matters dealing with programs and services
for the elderly, including but not limited to nutrition
programs and the Older Americans Act; adolescent
development programs, including but not limited to
those providing for the care and treatment of certain
at-risk youth such as the Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention Act and the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act; and matters dealing with child abuse and
domestic violence, including but not limited to the
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and child
adoption.
(b) The majority party members of the Committee may provide
for such temporary, ad hoc subcommittees as determined to be
appropriate.
RULE 4. EX OFFICIO MEMBERSHIP
The Chair of the Committee and the ranking minority party
member (``Ranking Member'') shall be ex officio members, but
not voting members, of each subcommittee to which such Chair or
Ranking Member has not been assigned, and as ex officio members
they shall not be counted for the purpose of constituting a
quorum.
RULE 5. SUBCOMMITTEE SCHEDULING
(a) Subcommittee chair shall set meeting or hearing dates
after consultation with the Chair and other subcommittee chair
with a view toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of
Committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings, wherever
possible. No such meetings or hearings, however, shall be held
outside of Washington, D.C., without the prior authorization of
the Committee Chair. Where practicable, 14 days' notice will be
given of such meeting or hearing.
(b) Available dates for subcommittee meetings shall be
assigned by the Chair to the subcommittees as nearly as
practicable in rotation and in accordance with their workloads.
As far as practicable, the Chair shall not schedule
simultaneous subcommittee markups, a subcommittee markup during
a full Committee markup, or any hearing during a markup.
RULE 6. SUBCOMMITTEE RULES
The rules of the Committee shall be the rules of its
subcommittees.
RULE 7. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT OF MEMBERS
To facilitate the oversight and other legislative and
investigative activities of the Committee, the Chair of the
Committee may, at the request of a subcommittee chair, make a
temporary assignment of any member of the Committee to such
subcommittee for the purpose of constituting a quorum and of
enabling such member to participate in any public hearing,
investigation, or study by such subcommittee to be held outside
of Washington, D.C. Any member of the Committee may attend
public hearings of any subcommittee and any member of the
Committee may question witnesses only when they have been
recognized by the Chair for that purpose.
RULE 8. HEARING PROCEDURE
(a) The Chair, in the case of hearings to be conducted by
the Committee, and the appropriate subcommittee chair, in the
case of hearings to be conducted by a subcommittee, shall make
public announcement of the date, place, and subject matter of
any hearing to be conducted on any measure or matter at least
one week before the commencement of that hearing unless the
Chair of the Committee, with the concurrence of the Ranking
Member, determines that there is good cause to begin such
hearing at an earlier date or 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. In the latter event, the Chair or the subcommittee
chair, as the case may be, shall have such an announcement
promptly published in the Daily Digest and made publicly
available in electronic form. To the extent practicable, the
Chair or the subcommittee chair shall make public announcement
of the final list of witnesses scheduled to testify at least 48
hours before the commencement of the hearing. The staff
director of the Committee shall promptly notify the Daily
Digest Clerk of the Congressional Record as soon as practicable
after such public announcement is made.
(b) Subcommittees are authorized to hold hearings, receive
exhibits, hear witnesses, and report to the Committee for final
action, together with such recommendations as may be agreed
upon by the subcommittee.
(c) All opening statements at hearings conducted by the
Committee or any subcommittee will be made part of the
permanent written record. Opening statements by members may not
be presented orally, unless the Chair of the Committee or any
subcommittee determines that one statement from the Chair or a
designee will be presented, in which case the Ranking Member or
a designee may also make a statement. If a witness scheduled to
testify at any hearing of the Committee or any subcommittee is
a constituent of a member of the Committee or subcommittee,
such member shall be entitled to briefly introduce such witness
at the hearing.
(d) To the extent practicable, witnesses who are to appear
before the Committee or a subcommittee shall file with the
staff director of the Committee, at least 48 hours in advance
of their appearance, a written statement of their proposed
testimony, together with a brief summary thereof, and shall
limit their oral presentation to a summary thereof. The staff
director of the Committee shall promptly furnish to the staff
director of the minority a copy of such testimony submitted to
the Committee pursuant to this rule. The Chair of the
Committee, or a member designated by the Chair, may administer
oaths to witnesses.
(e) When any hearing is conducted by the Committee or any
subcommittee upon any measure or matter, the minority party
members on the Committee shall be entitled, upon request to the
Chair by a majority of those minority party members before the
completion of such hearing, to call witnesses selected by the
minority to testify with respect to that measure or matter
during at least one day of hearing thereon. The minority party
may waive this right by calling at least one witness during a
Committee hearing or subcommittee hearing.
(f) In the conduct of hearings of subcommittees sitting
jointly, the rules otherwise applicable to all subcommittees
shall likewise apply to joint subcommittee hearings for
purposes of such shared consideration.
RULE 9. QUESTIONING OF HEARING WITNESSES
(a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), and (d), a Committee
member may question hearing witnesses only when the member has
been recognized by the Chair for that purpose, and only for a
five-minute period until all members present have had an
opportunity to question a witness. The questioning of witnesses
in both Committee and subcommittee hearings shall be initiated
by the Chair, followed by the Ranking Member and all other
members alternating between the majority and minority party.
The Chair shall exercise discretion in determining the order in
which members will be recognized. In recognizing members to
question witnesses in this fashion, the Chair shall take into
consideration the ratio of the majority to minority party
members present and shall establish the order of recognition
for questioning in such a manner as not to place the members of
the majority party in a disadvantageous position.
(b) The Chair may permit a specified number of members to
question a witness for longer than five minutes. The time for
extended questioning of a witness under this clause shall be
equal for the majority party and the minority party and may not
exceed one hour in the aggregate.
(c) The Chair may permit Committee staff for the majority
and the minority party members to question a witness for equal
specified periods. The time for extended questioning of a
witness under this clause shall be equal for the majority party
and the minority party and may not exceed one hour in the
aggregate.
(d) In an investigative hearing or in an executive session,
the Chair's authority to extend questioning under subsection
(b) and (c) of this rule shall be equal for the majority and
the minority party and may not exceed one hour in the
aggregate, and shall only be conducted by counsel for the
majority and the minority party when authorized under
subsection (c) of this rule.
RULE 10. SUBPOENA AUTHORITY
The power to authorize and issue subpoenas is delegated to
the Chair of the full Committee, as provided for under clause
2(m)(3)(A)(i) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives. The Chair shall notify the Ranking Member
prior to issuing any subpoena under such authority. To the
extent practicable, the Chair shall consult with the Ranking
Member at least 24 hours in advance of a subpoena being issued
under such authority, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and federal
holidays. As soon as practicable after issuing any subpoena
under such authority, the Chair shall notify in writing all
members of the Committee of the issuance of the subpoena.
RULE 11. DEPOSITION PROCEDURE
(a) In accordance with Section 3 of H. Res. 8, regarding
deposition authority in the House of Representatives, the
Chair, upon consultation with the Ranking Member, may order the
taking of depositions pursuant to notice or subpoena as
contemplated by this rule.
(b) The Chair or majority staff shall consult with the
Ranking Member or minority staff no less than three business
days before any notice or subpoena for a deposition is issued.
After such consultation, all members shall receive written
notice that a notice or subpoena for a deposition will be
issued.
(c) A notice or subpoena issued under this rule shall
specify the date, time, and place of the deposition and the
method or methods by which the deposition will be recorded.
Prior to testifying, a deponent shall be provided with a copy
of the Committee's rules and the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
(d)(1) A deposition shall be conducted by one or more
members or Committee counsel as designated by the Chair or
Ranking Member.
(2) A deposition shall be taken under oath or
affirmation administered by a member or a person
otherwise authorized to administer oaths and
affirmations.
(e) A deponent may be accompanied at a deposition by
counsel to advise the deponent of the deponent's rights. Only
members and Committee counsel, however, may examine the
deponent. No one may be present at a deposition other than
members, Committee staff designated by the Chair or Ranking
Member, such individuals as may be required to administer the
oath or affirmation and transcribe or record the proceedings,
the deponent, and the deponent's counsel (including personal
counsel and counsel for the entity employing the deponent if
the scope of the deposition is expected to cover actions taken
as part of the deponent's employment). Observers or counsel for
other persons or entities may not attend.
(f)(1) Unless the majority, minority, and deponent agree
otherwise, questions in a deposition shall be propounded in
rounds, alternating between the majority and minority. A single
round shall not exceed 60 minutes per side, unless the members
or counsel conducting the deposition agree to a different
length of questioning. In each round, a member or Committee
counsel designated by the Chair shall ask questions first, and
the member or Committee counsel designated by the Ranking
Member shall ask questions second.
(2) Any objection made during a deposition must be
stated concisely and in a nonargumentative and non-
suggestive manner. Deponent may refuse to answer a
question only to preserve a privilege. When the
deponent has objected and refused to answer a question
to preserve a privilege, the Chair may rule on any such
objection after the deposition has adjourned. If the
Chair overrules any such objection and thereby orders a
deponent to answer any question to which a privilege
objection was lodged, such ruling shall be filed with
the clerk of the Committee and shall be provided to
members and the deponent no less than three days before
the ruling is enforced at a reconvened deposition. If a
member of the Committee appeals in writing the ruling
of the Chair, the appeal shall be preserved for
Committee consideration. A deponent who refuses to
answer a question after being directed to answer by the
Chair in writing may be subject to sanction, except
that no sanctions may be imposed if the ruling of the
Chair is reversed on appeal. In all cases, when
deposition testimony for which an objection has been
made is offered for admission in evidence before the
Committee, all properly lodged objections then made
shall be timely and shall be considered by the
Committee prior to admission in evidence before the
Committee.
(g) Deposition testimony shall be transcribed by
stenographic means and may also be video recorded. The clerk of
the Committee shall receive the transcript and any video
recording and promptly forward such to minority staff at the
same time the clerk distributes such to other majority staff.
(h) The individual administering the oath shall certify on
the transcript that the deponent was duly sworn. The
transcriber shall certify that the transcript is a true,
verbatim record of the testimony, and the transcript and any
exhibits shall be filed, as shall any video recording, with the
clerk of the Committee. In no case shall any video recording be
considered the official transcript of a deposition or otherwise
supersede the certified written transcript.
(i) After receiving the transcript, majority staff shall
make available the transcript for review by the deponent or
deponent's counsel. No later than ten business days thereafter,
the deponent may submit suggested changes to the Chair.
Committee majority staff may direct the clerk of the Committee
to note any typographical errors, including any requested by
the deponent or minority staff, via an errata sheet appended to
the transcript. Any proposed substantive changes,
modifications, clarifications, or amendments to the deposition
testimony must be submitted by the deponent as an affidavit
that includes the deponent's reasons therefore. Any substantive
changes, modifications, clarifications, or amendments shall be
included as an appendix to the transcript, a copy of which
shall be promptly forwarded to minority staff.
(j) The Chair and Ranking Member shall consult regarding
the release of deposition transcript or electronic recordings.
If either objects in writing to a proposed release of a
deposition transcript or electronic recording or a portion
thereof, the matter shall be promptly referred to the Committee
for resolution.
RULE 12. QUORUMS
One-third of the members of the Committee or subcommittee
shall constitute a quorum for taking any action other than
amending Committee rules, closing a meeting from the public,
reporting a measure or recommendation, or in the case of the
Committee or a subcommittee authorizing a subpoena. For the
enumerated actions, a majority of the Committee or subcommittee
shall constitute a quorum. Any two members shall constitute a
quorum for the purpose of taking testimony and receiving
evidence.
RULE 13. REFERRAL OF BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, AND
OTHER MATTERS
(a) The Chair shall consult with subcommittee chair
regarding referral to the appropriate subcommittees of such
bills, resolutions, and other matters that have been referred
to the Committee. Once copies of a bill, resolution, or other
matter are available to the Committee, the Chair shall, within
three weeks of such availability, provide notice of referral,
if any, to the appropriate subcommittee.
(b) Referral to a subcommittee shall not be made until
three days have elapsed after written notification of such
proposed referral to all subcommittee chair, at which time such
proposed referral shall be made unless one or more subcommittee
chair shall have given written notice to the Chair of the full
Committee and to the chair of each subcommittee that he or she
intends to question such proposed referral at the next
regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee, or at a special
meeting of the Committee called for that purpose, at which time
referral shall be made by the majority members of the
Committee. All bills shall be referred under this rule to the
subcommittee of proper jurisdiction without regard to whether
the author is or is not a member of the subcommittee. Upon a
majority vote of the Committee, a bill, resolution, or other
matter referred to a subcommittee in accordance with this rule
may be recalled at any time for the Committee's direct
consideration or for reference to another subcommittee.
(c) The Chair shall announce the date, place, and subject
matter of a Committee meeting, which may not commence earlier
than the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or
legal holidays except when the House is in session on such a
day) on which members have notice thereof; but this requirement
may be waived if the Chair of the Committee, with the
concurrence of the Ranking Member, determines that there is
good cause or 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 such business.
(d) When a bill or resolution is being considered by the
Committee or a subcommittee, members shall provide the clerk in
a timely manner a sufficient number of written copies of any
amendment offered, so as to enable each member present to
receive a copy thereof prior to taking action. However, if
directed by the Chair or majority staff, an electronic
submission to the clerk in a timely manner, in the manner
prescribed by the Chair or majority staff, shall satisfy the
requirement to provide the clerk in a timely manner a
sufficient number of written copies of any amendment offered. A
point of order may be made against any amendment not reduced to
writing. A copy of each such amendment shall be maintained in
the public records of the Committee or subcommittee, as the
case may be.
(e) In determining the order in which amendments to a
matter pending before the Committee or a subcommittee will be
considered, the Chair may give priority to:
(1) The Chair's mark, and
(2) Amendments, otherwise in order, that have been
filed with the Committee at least 24 hours prior to the
Committee or subcommittee business meeting on said
measure or matter.
(f) The Chair shall provide, in a timely manner,
electronically or in paper form to the Ranking Member a copy of
each report received by the Chair that is authorized by statute
to be transmitted to Congress and addressed by clause 2(b) of
Rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives, unless
such report has been specifically marked as already having been
sent to the Ranking Member or minority Committee staff.
(g) The Chair or majority staff shall consult with the
Ranking Member or minority staff before waiving Committee
consideration of a bill referred to the Committee. The Chair
shall provide to the Ranking Member a copy of any Committee
letter exchanged with another committee waiving Committee
consideration of a bill referred to the Committee within 24
hours of issuing such a letter.
RULE 14. VOTES
(a) With respect to each roll call vote on a motion to
report any bill, resolution, or matter of a public character,
and on any amendment offered thereto, the total number of votes
cast for and against, and the names of those members voting for
and against, shall be included in the Committee report on the
measure or matter.
(b) In accordance with clause 2(h)(4) of Rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Chair of the
Committee or a subcommittee is authorized to postpone further
proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the question of
approving a measure or matter or on adopting an amendment. Such
Chair may resume proceedings on a postponed request at any time
after reasonable notice. When proceedings resume on a postponed
question, notwithstanding any intervening order for the
previous question, an underlying proposition shall remain
subject to further debate or amendment to the same extent as
when the question was postponed.
RULE 15. RECORDS AND ROLL CALLS
(a) Written records shall be kept of the proceedings of the
Committee and of each subcommittee, including a record of the
votes on any question on which a roll call is demanded. The
result of each such roll call vote shall be made available by
the Committee or subcommittee for inspection by the public at
reasonable times and shall be made available on the Committee's
website within 48 hours of such record vote. Information so
available for public inspection and on the Committee's website
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 present but not
voting. The text of an amendment offered to a measure or matter
considered in Committee shall be made publicly available in
electronic form not later than 24 hours after its final
disposition in Committee. A record vote may be demanded by one-
fifth of the members present or, in the apparent absence of a
quorum, by any one member.
(b) In accordance with Rule VII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, any official permanent record of the
Committee (including any record of a legislative, oversight, or
other activity of the Committee or any subcommittee) shall be
made available for public use if such record has been in
existence for 30 years, except that--
(1) any record that the Committee (or a subcommittee)
makes available for public use before such record is
delivered to the Archivist under clause 2 of Rule VII
of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall be
made available immediately, including any record
described in subsection (a) of this rule;
(2) any investigative record that contains personal
data relating to a specific living individual (the
disclosure of which would be an unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy), any administrative record with
respect to personnel, and any record with respect to a
hearing closed pursuant to clause 2(g)(2) of Rule XI of
the Rules of the House of Representatives shall be
available if such record has been in existence for 50
years; or
(3) except as otherwise provided by order of the
House of Representatives, any record of the Committee
for which a time, schedule, or condition for
availability is specified by order of the Committee
(entered during the Congress in which the record is
made or acquired by the Committee) shall be made
available in accordance with the order of the
Committee.
(c) The official permanent records of the Committee include
noncurrent records of the Committee (including subcommittees)
delivered by the Clerk of the House of Representatives to the
Archivist of the United States for preservation at the National
Archives and Records Administration, which are the property of
and remain subject to the rules and orders of the House of
Representatives.
(d)(1) Any order of the Committee with respect to any
matter described in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be
adopted only if the notice requirements of Committee Rule 13(c)
have been met, a quorum consisting of a majority of the members
of the Committee is present at the time of the vote, and a
majority of those present and voting approve the adoption of
the order, which shall be submitted to the Clerk of the House
of Representatives, together with any accompanying report.
(2) This subsection applies to any order of the
Committee which--
(A) provides for the non-availability of any
record subject to subsection (b) of this rule
for a period longer than the period otherwise
applicable; or
(B) is subsequent to, and constitutes a later
order under clause 4(b) of Rule VII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives,
regarding a determination of the Clerk of the
House of Representatives with respect to
authorizing the Archivist of the United States
to make available for public use the records
delivered to the Archivist under clause 2 of
Rule VII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives; or
(C) specifies a time, schedule, or condition
for availability pursuant to subsection (b)(3)
of this rule.
RULE 16. REPORTS
(a) Reports of the Committee. All Committee reports on
bills or resolutions shall comply with the provisions of clause
2(l) of Rule XI and clauses 2, 3, and 4 of Rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives.
(1) No such report shall be filed until copies of the
proposed report have been available to all members at
least 36 hours prior to such filing in the House of
Representatives. No material change shall be made in
the report distributed to members unless agreed to by
the Ranking Member; but any member or members of the
Committee may file, as part of the printed report,
individual, minority, or dissenting views, without
regard to the preceding provisions of this rule.
(2) Such 36-hour period shall not conclude earlier
than the end of the period provided under clause 2(l)
of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives
after the Committee approves a measure or matter if a
member, at the time of such approval, gives notice of
intention to file supplemental, minority, or additional
views for inclusion as part of the printed report.
(3) To the extent practicable, any report prepared
pursuant to a Committee or subcommittee study or
investigation shall be available to members no later
than 48 hours prior to consideration of any such report
by the Committee or subcommittee, as the case may be.
(b) Disclaimers.
(1) A report on activities of the Committee required
under clause 1(d) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives shall include the following
disclaimer in the document transmitting the report to
the Clerk of the House of Representatives:
This report has not been officially adopted
by the Committee on Education and Labor or any
subcommittee thereof and therefore may not
necessarily reflect the views of its members.
Such disclaimer need not be included if the
report was circulated to all members of the
Committee at least seven days prior to its
submission to the House of Representatives and
provision is made for the filing by any member,
as part of the printed report, of individual,
minority, or dissenting views.
(2) All Committee or subcommittee reports printed
pursuant to legislative study or investigation and not
approved by a majority vote of the Committee or
subcommittee, as appropriate, shall contain the
following disclaimer on the cover of such report:
This report has not been officially adopted
by the Committee on Education and Labor (or
pertinent subcommittee thereof) and therefore
may not necessarily reflect the views of its
members.
The minority party members of the Committee
or subcommittee shall have three calendar days,
excluding weekends and holidays, to file, as
part of the printed report, supplemental,
minority, or additional views.
(c) Reports of Subcommittees. Whenever a subcommittee has
ordered a bill, resolution, or other matter to be reported to
the Committee, the chair of the subcommittee reporting the
bill, resolution, or matter to the Committee, or any member
authorized by the subcommittee to do so, may report such bill,
resolution, or matter to the Committee. It shall be the duty of
the chair of the subcommittee to report or cause to be reported
promptly such bill, resolution, or matter, and to take or cause
to be taken the necessary steps to bring such bill, resolution,
or matter to a vote.
(1) In any event, the report, described in the
proviso in subsection (c)(2) of this rule, of any
subcommittee on a measure which has been approved by
the subcommittee shall be filed within seven calendar
days (exclusive of days on which the House is not in
session) after the day on which there has been filed
with the staff director of the Committee a written
request, signed by a majority of the members of the
subcommittee, for the reporting of that measure. Upon
the filing of any such request, the staff director of
the Committee shall transmit immediately to the chair
of the subcommittee a notice of the filing of that
request.
(2) Bills, resolutions, or other matters favorably
reported by a subcommittee shall automatically be
placed upon the agenda of the Committee as of the time
they are reported. No bill or resolution or other
matter reported by a subcommittee shall be considered
by the full Committee unless it has been delivered or
electronically sent to all members and notice of its
prior transmission has been in the hands of all members
at least 48 hours prior to such consideration. When a
bill is reported from a subcommittee, such measure
shall be accompanied by a section-by-section analysis;
and, if the Chair of the Committee so requires (in
response to a request from the Ranking Member of the
Committee or for other reasons), a comparison showing
proposed changes in existing law.
RULE 17. APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES, NOTICE OF CONFERENCE
MEETINGS, AND CONFERENCE MOTION
(a) Whenever in the legislative process it becomes
necessary to appoint conferees, the Chair shall recommend to
the Speaker as conferees the names of those members of the
subcommittee which handled the legislation in the order of
their seniority upon such subcommittee and such other Committee
members as the Chair may designate with the approval of the
majority party members. Recommendations of the Chair to the
Speaker shall provide a ratio of majority party members to
minority party members no less favorable to the majority party
than the ratio of majority members to minority party members on
the full Committee. In making assignments of minority party
members as conferees, the Chair shall consult with the Ranking
Member of the Committee.
(b) After the appointment of conferees pursuant to clause
11 of Rule I of the Rules of the House of Representatives for
matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee, the Chair
shall notify all members appointed to the conference of
meetings at least 48 hours before the commencement of the
meeting. If such notice is not possible, then notice shall be
given as soon as possible.
(c) The Chair is directed to offer a motion under clause 1
of Rule XXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives
whenever the Chair considers it appropriate.
RULE 18. MEASURES TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER SUSPENSION
(a) A member of the Committee may not seek to suspend the
Rules of the House of Representatives on any bill, resolution,
or other matter which has been modified after such measure is
ordered reported, unless notice of such action has been given
to the Chair and Ranking Member of the full Committee.
(b) The Chair of the Committee shall not request to have
scheduled any bill or resolution for consideration under
suspension of the Rules of the House of Representatives that
expresses appreciation, commends, congratulates, celebrates,
recognizes the accomplishments of, or celebrates the
anniversary of, an entity, event, group, individual,
institution, team, or government program; or acknowledges or
recognizes a period of time for such purposes.
RULE 19. BROADCASTING OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS
(a) Television, Radio and Still Photography.--
(1) Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by the
Committee or any subcommittee is open to the public,
those proceedings shall be open to coverage by
television, radio, and still photography subject to the
requirements of clause 4 of Rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives and except when the hearing or
meeting is closed pursuant to the Rules of the House of
Representatives and of the Committee. The coverage of
any hearing or meeting of the Committee or any
subcommittee thereof by television, radio, or still
photography shall be under the direct supervision of
the Chair of the Committee, the subcommittee chair, or
other member of the Committee presiding at such hearing
or meeting and may be terminated by such member in
accordance with the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Personnel providing coverage by the television
and radio media shall be then currently accredited to
the Radio and Television Correspondents' Galleries.
(3) Personnel providing coverage by still photography
shall be then accredited to the Press Photographers'
Gallery.
(b) Audio and Video Coverage of Committee Hearings and
Meetings.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Committee
shall provide audio and video coverage of each hearing or
meeting for the transaction of business in a manner that allows
the public to easily listen to and view the proceedings and
shall maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner that
is easily accessible to the public, unless such hearing or
meeting is closed pursuant to the Rules of the House of
Representatives and of the Committee. Such coverage shall be
fair and nonpartisan in accordance with clause 4(b) of Rule XI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and other
applicable rules of the House of Representatives and of the
Committee. Personnel providing such coverage shall be employees
of the House of Representatives or currently accredited to the
Radio and Television Correspondents' Galleries.
RULE 20. COMMITTEE STAFF
(a) The employees of the Committee shall be appointed by
the Chair in consultation with subcommittee chair and other
majority party members of the Committee within the budget
approved for such purposes by the Committee.
(b) The staff appointed by the minority shall have their
remuneration determined in such manner as the minority party
members of the Committee shall determine within the budget
approved for such purposes by the Committee.
RULE 21. SUPERVISION AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE STAFF
The staff of the Committee shall be under the general
supervision and direction of the Chair, who shall establish and
assign the duties and responsibilities of such staff members
and delegate authority as he or she determines appropriate. The
staff appointed by the minority shall be under the general
supervision and direction of the minority party members of the
Committee, who may delegate such authority as they determine
appropriate. All Committee staff shall be assigned to Committee
business and no other duties may be assigned to them.
RULE 22. AUTHORIZATION FOR TRAVEL
(a) Consistent with the primary expense resolution and such
additional expense resolutions as may have been approved, the
provisions of this rule shall govern travel of Committee
members and staff. Travel to be paid from funds set aside for
the full Committee for any member or any staff member shall be
paid only upon the prior authorization of the Chair. Travel may
be authorized by the Chair for any member and any staff member
in connection with the attendance of hearings conducted by the
Committee or any subcommittee thereof and meetings,
conferences, and investigations that involve activities or
subject matter under the general jurisdiction of the Committee.
The Chair shall review travel requests to assure the validity
to Committee business. Before such authorization is given,
there shall be submitted to the Chair in writing the following:
(1) The purpose of the travel;
(2) The dates during which the travel is to be made
and the date or dates of the event for which the travel
is being made;
(3) The location of the event for which the travel is
to be made; and
(4) The names of members and staff seeking
authorization.
(b)(1) In the case of travel outside the United States of
members and staff of the Committee for the purpose of
conducting hearings, investigations, studies, or attending
meetings and conferences involving activities or subject matter
under the legislative assignment of the Committee or pertinent
subcommittees, prior authorization must be obtained from the
Chair, or, in the case of a subcommittee, from the subcommittee
chair and the Chair. Before such authorization is given, there
shall be submitted to the Chair, in writing, a request for such
authorization. Each request, which shall be filed in a manner
that allows for a reasonable period of time for review before
such travel is scheduled to begin, shall include the following:
(A) The purpose of travel;
(B) The dates during which the travel will
occur;
(C) The names of the countries to be visited
and the length of time to be spent in each;
(D) An agenda of anticipated activities for
each country for which travel is authorized
together with a description of the purpose to
be served and the areas of Committee
jurisdiction involved; and
(E) The names of members and staff for whom
authorization is sought.
(2) Requests for travel outside the United States may
be initiated by the Chair or the chair of a
subcommittee (except that individuals may submit a
request to the Chair for the purpose of attending a
conference or meeting) and shall be limited to members
and permanent employees of the Committee.
(3) The Chair shall not approve a request involving
travel outside the United States while the House is in
session (except in the case of attendance at meetings
and conferences or where circumstances warrant an
exception).
(4) At the conclusion of any hearing, investigation,
study, meeting, or conference for which travel outside
the United States has been authorized pursuant to this
rule, each subcommittee (or members and staff attending
meetings or conferences) shall submit a written report
to the Chair covering the activities of the
subcommittee and containing the results of these
activities and other pertinent observations or
information gained as a result of such travel.
(c) Members and staff of the Committee performing
authorized travel on official business shall be governed by
applicable laws, resolutions, or regulations of the House of
Representatives and of the Committee on House Administration
pertaining to such travel, including rules, procedures, and
limitations prescribed by the Committee on House Administration
with respect to domestic and foreign expense allowances.
(d) Prior to the Chair's authorization for any travel, the
Ranking Member shall be given a copy of the written request
therefor.
RULE 23. BUDGET AND EXPENSES
(a) The Chair, in consultation with the majority party
members of the Committee, shall prepare a preliminary budget.
Such budget shall include necessary amounts for staff
personnel, for necessary travel, investigation, and other
expenses of the Committee; and, after consultation with the
minority party membership, the Chair shall include amounts
budgeted to the minority party members for staff personnel to
be under the direction and supervision of the minority party,
travel expenses of minority party members and staff, and
minority party office expenses. All travel expenses of minority
party members and staff shall be paid for out of the amounts so
set aside and budgeted. The Chair shall take whatever action is
necessary to have the budget as finally approved by the
Committee duly authorized by the House of Representatives.
After such budget shall have been adopted, no change shall be
made in such budget unless approved by the Committee. The Chair
or the chair of any standing subcommittee may initiate
necessary travel requests as provided in Committee Rule 21
within the limits of their portion of the consolidated budget
as approved by the House, and the Chair may execute necessary
vouchers therefor.
(b) Subject to the Rules of the House of Representatives
and procedures prescribed by the Committee on House
Administration, and with the prior authorization of the Chair
of the Committee in each case, there may be expended in any one
session of Congress for necessary travel expenses of witnesses
attending hearings in Washington, D.C.:
(1) Out of funds budgeted and set aside for each
subcommittee, not to exceed $5,000 for expenses of
witnesses attending hearings of each such subcommittee;
(2) Out of funds budgeted for the full Committee
majority, not to exceed $5,000 for expenses of
witnesses attending full Committee hearings; and
(3) Out of funds set aside to the minority party
members:
(A) Not to exceed, for each of the
subcommittees, $5,000 for expenses of witnesses
attending subcommittee hearings, and
(B) Not to exceed $5,000 for expenses of
witnesses attending full Committee hearings.
(c) A full and detailed monthly report accounting for all
expenditures of Committee funds shall be maintained by the
Committee, and it shall be available to each member of the
Committee. Such report shall show the amount and purpose of
each expenditure, and the budget to which such expenditure is
attributed.
RULE 24. CHANGES IN COMMITTEE RULES
The Committee shall not consider a proposed change in these
rules unless the text of such change has been delivered or
electronically sent to all members and notice of its prior
transmission has been in the hands of all members at least 48
hours prior to such consideration.