Volume 141, No. 192 covering the 1st Session of the 104th Congress (1995 - 1996) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE FOR THE 104TH CONGRESS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H13997-H14001 on Dec. 5, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE FOR THE 104TH CONGRESS
(Mr. WALKER asked and was given permission to extend his remarks at this point in the Record and to include extraneous matter.)
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to rule XI(2)(a) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I submit for the Record the amended Rules Governing Procedure for the Committee on Science for the 104th Congress.
Rules Governing Procedure for the Committee on Science--104th Congress
general
1. The Rules of the House of Representatives, as applicable, shall govern the committee and its subcommittees, except that a motion to recess from day to day and a motion to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed copies are available, are nondebatable motions of high privilege in the committee and its subcommittees. The rules of the Committee, as applicable, shall be the rules of its subcommittees.
committee meetings
Time and place
2. Unless dispensed with by the Chairman, the meetings of the committee shall be held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month the House is in session at 10:00 a.m. and at such other times and in such places as the Chairman may designate.
3. The Chairman of the committee may convene as 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.
4. The Chairman shall make public announcement of the date, time, place and subject matter of any of its hearings at least one week before the commencement of the hearing. If the Chairman, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, determines there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the committee so determines by majority vote, a quorum being present for the transaction of business, the Chairman shall make the announcement at the earliest possible date. Any announcement made under this Rule shall be promptly published in the Daily Digest, and promptly entered into the scheduling service of the House Information Systems.
5. The committee may not sit, without special leave, while the House is reading a measure for amendment under the five minute rule.Vice chairman to preside in absence of chairman
6. The Member of the majority party of the committee or subcommittee thereof designated by the Chairman of the Full Committee shall be Vice Chairman of the committee or subcommittee as the case may be, and shall preside at any meeting during the temporary absence of the Chairman. If the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the committee or subcommittee are not present at any meeting of the committee, or subcommittee, the Ranking Member of the majority party on the committee who is present shall preside.Order of business
7. The order of business and procedure of the committee and the subjects of inquiries or investigations will be decided by the Chairman, subject always to an appeal to the committee.Membership
8. A majority of the majority Members of the committee shall determine an appropriate ratio of majority Members of each subcommittee and shall authorize the Chairman to negotiate that ratio with the minority party; Provided, however, that party representation on each subcommittee
(including any ex-officio Members) shall be no less favorable to the majority party than the ratio for the Full Committee. Provided, further, that recommendations of conferees to the Speaker shall provide a ratio of majority party Members to minority party Members which shall be no less favorable to the majority party than the ratio for the Full Committee.Special meetings
9. Rule XI 2(c) of the Rules of the House of Representatives is hereby incorporated by reference (Special Meetings).
COMMITTEE PROCEDURES
Quorum
10. (a) One-third of the Members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for all purposes except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Rule.
(b) A majority of the Members of the committee shall constitute a quorum in order to: (1) report or table any legislation, measure, or matter; (2) close committee meetings or hearings pursuant to Rules 18 and 19; and (3) authorize the issuance of subpoenas pursuant to Rule 32.
(c) Two Members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for taking testimony and receiving evidence, which, unless waived by the Chairman of the Full Committee after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the Full Committee, shall include at least one Member from each of the majority and minority parties.Proxies
11. No Member may authorize a vote by proxy with respect to any measure or matter before the committee.Witnesses
12. The committee shall, insofar as is practicable, require each witness who is to appear before it to file twenty-four
(24) hours in advance with the committee (in advance of his or her appearance) a written statement of the proposed testimony and to limit the oral presentation to a five-minute summary of his or her statement, provided that additional time may be granted by the Chairman when appropriate.
13 Whenever any hearing is conducted by the committee on any 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 hearing, to call witnesses selected by the minority to testify with respect to the measure or matter during at least one day of hearing thereon.Investigative hearing procedures
14. Rule XI 2(k) of the Rules, of the House of Representatives is hereby incorporated by reference (right of witnesses under subpoena).Subject matter
15. Bills and other substantive matters may be taken up for consideration only when called by the Chairman of the committee or by a majority vote of a quorum of the committee, except those matters which are the subject of special-call meetings outlined in Rule 9.
16. No private bill will be reported by the committee if there are two or more dissenting votes. Private bills so rejected by the committee will not be reconsidered during the same Congress unless new evidence sufficient to justify a new hearing has been presented to the committee.
17. (a) It shall not be in order for the committee to consider any new or original measure or matter unless written notice of the date, place and subject matter of consideration and to the extent practicable, a written copy of the measure or matter to be considered, has been available in the office of each Member of the committee for at least 48 hours in advance of consideration, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Rule, consideration of any legislative measure or matter by the committee shall be in order by vote of two-thirds of the Members present, provided that a majority of the committee is present.
Open meetings
18. Each meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of legislation, of the committee shall be open to the public, including to radio, television, and still photography coverage, except when the committee, in open session and with a majority present, determines by rollcall vote that all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public because disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security, would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person or otherwise would violate any law or rule of the House. No person other than Members of the committee and such congressional staff and such departmental representatives as they may authorize shall be present at any business or markup session which has been closed to the public. This Rule does not apply to open committee hearings which are provided for by Rule 19 contained herein.
19. Each hearing conducted by the committee shall be open to the public including to radio, television, and still photography coverage except when the committee, in open session and with a majority present, determines by rollcall vote that all or part of the remainder of that hearing on that day shall be closed to the public because disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person, or otherwise would violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives. Notwithstanding the requirements of the preceding sentence, and Rule 9, a majority of those present, there being in attendance the requisite number required under the rules of the committee to be present for the purpose of taking testimony.
(1) may vote to close the hearing for the sole purpose of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be received would endanger the national security or violate Rule XI 2(k)(5) of the Rules of the House of Representatives; or
(2) may vote to close the hearing, as provided in Rule XI 2(k)(5) of the Rules of the House of Representatives. No Member may be excluded from nonparticipatory attendance at any hearing of any committee or subcommittee, unless the House of Representatives shall by majority vote authorize 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 by the same procedures designated in this Rule for closing hearings to the public: Provided, however, that the committee or subcommittee may be the same procedure vote to close one subsequent day of the hearing.
(3) Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by the committee is open to the public, these proceedings shall be open to coverage by television, radio, and still photography, except as provided in Rule XI 3(f)(2) of the House of Representatives. The Chairman shall not be able to limit the number of television, or still cameras to fewer than two representatives from each medium (except for legitimate space or safety considerations in which case pool coverage shall be authorized).Requests for rollcall votes at full committee
20. A rollcall vote of the Members may be had at the request of three or more Members or, in the apparent absence of a quorum, by any one Member.Automatic rollcall vote for amendments which affect the use of Federal resources
21. (a) A rollcall vote shall be automatic on any amendment which specifies the use of Federal resources in addition to, or more explicitly (inclusively or exclusively) than that specified in the underlying text of the measure being considered.
(b) No legislative report filed by the committee on any measure or matter reported by the committee shall contain language which has the effect of specifying the use of Federal resources more explicitly (inclusively or exclusively) than that specified in the measure or matter as ordered reported, unless such language has been approved by the committee during a meeting or otherwise in writing by a majority of the Members.Committee records
22. (a) The committee shall keep a complete record of all committee action which shall include a record of the votes on any question on which a rollcall vote is demanded. The result of each rollcall vote shall be made available by the committee for inspection by the public at reasonable times in the offices of the committee. Information so available for public inspection shall include a description of the amendment, motion, order, or other proposition and 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.
(b) The records of the committee at the National Archives and Records Administration shall be made available for public use in accordance with Rule XXXVI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking Member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of the Rule, to withhold a record otherwise available, and the matter shall be presented to the committee for a determination on the written request of any Member of the committee.Publication of committee hearings and markups
23. The transcripts of those hearings conducted by the committee which are decided to be printed shall be published in verbatim form, with the material requested for the record inserted at that place requested, or at the end of the record, as appropriate. Any requests by those Members, staff or witnesses to correct any errors other than errors in transcription, or disputed errors in transcription, shall be appended to the record, and the appropriate place where the change is requested will be footnoted. Prior to approval by the Chairman of hearings conducted jointly with another congressional committee, a memorandum of understanding shall be prepared which incorporates an agreement for the publication of the verbatim transcript. Transcripts of markups shall be recorded and published in the same manner as hearings before the committee and shall be included as part of the legislative report unless waived by the Chairman.Opening statements; 5-minute rule
24. Insofar as is practicable, the Chairman, after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, shall limit the total time of opening statements by Members to no more than 10 minutes, the time to be divided equally among Members present desiring to make an opening statement. The time any one Member may address the committee on any bill, motion or other matter under consideration by the committee or the time allowed for the questioning of a witness at hearings before the committee will be limited to five minutes, and then only when the Member has been recognized by the Chairman, except that this time limit may be waived by the Chairman or acting Chairman. The rules of germaneness will be enforced by the Chairman.Requests for written motions
25. Any legislative or non-procedural motion made at a regular or special meeting of the committee and which is entertained by the Chairman shall be presented in writing upon the demand of any Member present and a copy made available to each Member present.
subcommittees
Structure and jurisdiction
26. The committee shall have the following standing subcommittees with the jurisdiction indicated.
(1) Subcommittee on basic research.--Legislative jurisdiction and general and special oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to science policy including: Office of Science and Technology Policy; all scientific research, and scientific and engineering resources (including human resources), math, science and engineering education; intergovernmental mechanisms for research, development, and demonstration and cross-cutting programs; international scientific cooperation; National Science Foundation; university research policy, including infrastructure, overhead and partnerships; science scholarships; government-owned, contractor-operated non-military laboratories; computer, communications, and information science; earthquake and fire research programs; research and development relating to health, biomedical, and nutritional programs; to the extent appropriate, agricultural, geological, biological and life sciences research; and the Office of Technology Assessment.
(2) Subcommittee on energy and environment.--Legislative jurisdiction and general and special oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to energy and environmental research, development, and demonstration including: Department of Energy research, development, and demonstration programs; federally owned and operated nonmilitary energy laboratories; energy supply research and development activities; nuclear and other advanced energy technologies; general science and research activities; uranium supply, enrichment, and waste management activities as appropriate; fossil energy research and development; clean coal technology; energy conservation research and development; science and risk assessment activities of the Federal Government; Environmental Protection Agency research and development programs; and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including all activities related to weather, weather services, climate, and the atmosphere, and marine fisheries, and oceanic research.
(3) Subcommittee on space and aeronautics.--Legislative jurisdiction and general and special oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to astronautical and aeronautical research and development including: national space policy, including access to space; sub-orbital access applications; National Aeronautics and Space Administration and its contractor and government-operated laboratories; space commercialization including the commercial space activities relating to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce; exploration and use of outer space; international space cooperation; National Space Council; space applications; space communications and related matters; and earth remote sensing policy.
(4) Subcommittee on technology.--Legislative jurisdiction and general and special oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to competitiveness including: standards and standardization of measurement; the National Institute of Standards and Technology; the National Technical Information Service; competitiveness, including small business competitiveness; tax, antitrust, regulatory and other legal and governmental policies as they relate to technological development and commercialization; technology transfer; patent and intellectual property policy; international technology trade; research, development, and demonstration activities of the Department of Transportation; civil aviation research, development, and demonstration; research, development, and demonstration programs of the Federal Aviation Administration; surface and water transportation research, development, and demonstration programs; materials research, development, and demonstration and policy; and biotechnology policy.Referral of legislation
27. The Chairman shall refer all legislation and other matters referred to the committee to the subcommittee or subcommittees of appropriate jurisdiction within two weeks unless, the Chairman deems consideration is to be by the Full Committee. Subcommittee chairmen may make requests for referral of specific matters to their subcommittee within the two week period if they believe subcommittee jurisdictions so warrant.Ex-officio members
28. The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member shall serve as ex-officio Members of all subcommittees and shall have the right to vote and be counted as part of the quorum and ratios on all matters before the subcommittee.Procedures
29. Unless waived by the Chairman, no subcommittee shall meet for markup or approval when any other subcommittee of the committee or the Full Committee is meeting to consider any measure or matter for markup or approval.
30. Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence, and report to the committee on all matters referred to it. Each subcommittee shall conduct legislative, investigative, and general oversight, inquiries for the future and forecasting, and budget impact studies on matters within their respective jurisdictions. Subcommittee chairmen shall set meeting dates after consultation with the Chairman and other subcommittee chairmen with a view toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings wherever possible.
31. Any Member of the committee may have the privilege of sitting with any subcommittee during its hearings or deliberations and may participate in such hearings or deliberations, but no such Member who is not a Member of the subcommittee shall vote on any matter before such subcommittee, except as provided in Rule 28.
32. During any subcommittee proceeding for markup or approval, a rollcall vote may be had at the request of one or more Members of that subcommittee.Power to sit and act; subpoena power
33. The committee and each of its subcommittees may exercise the powers provided under Rule XI 2(m) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, which is hereby incorporated by reference (power to sit and act; subpoena power).National security information
34. All national security information bearing a classification of secret or higher which has been received by the committee or a subcommittee shall be deemed to have been received in Executive Session and shall be given appropriate safekeeping. The Chairman of the Full Committee may establish such regulations and procedures as in his judgment are necessary to safeguard classified information under the control of the committee. Such procedures shall, however, ensure access to this information by any Member of the committee, or any other Member of the House of Representatives who has requested the opportunity to review such material.Sensitive or confidential information received pursuant to subpoena
35. Unless otherwise determined by the committee or subcommittee, certain information received by the committee or subcommittee pursuant to a subpoena not made part of the record at an open hearing shall be deemed to have been received in Executive Session when the Chairman of the Full Committee, in his judgment, deems that in view of all the circumstances, such as the sensitivity of the information or the confidential nature of the information, such action is appropriate.
reports
Substance of legislative reports
36. The report of the committee on a measure which has been approved by the committee shall include the following, to be provided by the committee:
(1) the oversight findings and recommendations required pursuant to Rule X 2(b)(1) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, separately set out and identified [Rule XI] 2(l)(3)(A)];
(2) the statement required by section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, separately set out and identified, if the measure provides new budget authority or new or increased tax expenditures as specified in [Rule XI 2(l)(3)(B)];
(3) a detailed, analytical statement as to whether that enactment of such bill or joint resolution into law may have an inflationary impact on the national economy [Rule XI 2(l)(4)];
(4) with respect to each rollcall vote on a motion to report any measure or matter of a public character, and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 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;
(5) the estimate and comparison prepared by the committee under Rule XIII 7(a) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, unless the estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office prepared under subparagraph 2 of this Rule 34 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the report and included in the report [Rule XIII 7(d)];
(6) in the case of a bill or joint resolution which repeals or amends any statute or part thereof, the text of the statute or part thereof which is proposed to be repealed, and a comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended [Rule XIII 3]; and
(7) a transcript of the markup of the measure or matter unless waived under Rule 22.
37. (a) The report of the committee on a measure which has been approved by the committee shall further include the following, to be provided by sources other than the committee:
(1) the estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office required under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, separately set out and identified, whenever the Director (if timely, and submitted prior to the filing of the report) has submitted such estimate and comparison of the committee [Rule XI 2(l)(3)(C)];
(2) a summary of the oversight findings and recommendations made by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight under Rule X 2(b)(2) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, separately set out and identified [Rule XI 2(l)(3)(D)].
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Rule, if the committee has not received prior to the filing of the report the material required under paragraph (a) of this Rule, then it shall include a statement to that effect in the report on the measure.Minority and additional views
38. If, at the time of approval of any measure or matter by the committee, any Member of the committee gives notice of intention to file supplemental, minority, or additional views, that Member shall be entitled to not less than 3 calendar days (excluding Saturday, Sundays, and legal holidays) in which to file such views, in writing and signed by that Member, with the clerk of the committee. All such views so filed by one or more Members of the committee shall be included within, and shall be a part of, the report filed by the committee with respect to that measure or matter. The report of the committee upon that measure or matter shall be printed in a single volume which shall include all supplemental, minority, or additional views, which have been submitted by the time of the filing of the report, and shall bear upon its cover a recital that any such supplemental, minority, or additional views (and any material submitted under paragraph (a) of Rule 35) are included as part of the report. However, this rule does not preclude (1) the immediate filing or printing of a committee report unless timely requested for the opportunity to file supplemental, minority, or additional views has been made as provided by this Rule or (2) the filing by the committee of any supplemental report upon any measure or matter which may be required for the correction of any technical error in a previous report made by that committee upon that measure or matter.
39. The Chairman of the committee or subcommittee, as appropriate, shall advise Members of the day and hour when the time for submitting views relative to any given report elapses. No supplemental, minority, or additional views shall be accepted for inclusion in the report if submitted after the announced time has elapsed unless the Chairman of the committee or subcommittee, as appropriate, decides to extend the time for submission of views beyond 3 days, in which case he shall communicate such fact to Members, including the revised day and hour for submissions to be received, without delay.Consideration of subcommittee reports
40. Reports and recommendations of a subcommittee shall not be considered by the Full Committee until after the intervention of 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, from the time the report is submitted and printed hearings thereon shall be made available, if feasible, to the Members, except that this rule may be waived at the discretion of the Chairman.Timing and filing of committee reports
41. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to report or cause to be reported promptly to the House any measure approved by the committee and to take or cause to be taken the necessary steps to bring the matter to a vote.
42. The report of the committee on a measure which 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 there has been filed with the clerk of the committee a written request, signed by the majority of the Members of the committee, for the reporting of that measure. Upon the filing of any such request, the clerk of the committee shall transmit immediately to the Chairman of the committee notice of the filing of that request.
43. (a) Any document published by the committee as a House Report, other than a report of the committee on a measure which has been approved by the committee, shall be approved by the committee at a meeting, and Members shall have the same opportunity to submit views as provided for in Rule 38.
(b) Subject to paragraphs (c) and (d), the Chairman may approve the publication of any document as a committee print which in his discretion he determines to be useful for the information of the committee.
(c) Any document to be published as a committee print which purports to express the views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations of the committee or any of its subcommittees must be approved by the Full Committee or its subcommittees, as applicable, in a meeting or otherwise in writing by a majority of the Members, and such Members shall have the right to submit supplemental, minority, or additional views for inclusion in the print within at least 48 hours after such approval.
(d) Any document to be published as a committee print other than a document described in paragraph (c) of this Rule: (1) shall include on its cover the following statement: ``This document has been printed for informational purposes only and does not represent either findings or recommendations adopted by this Committee;'' and (2) shall not be published following the sine die adjournment of a Congress, unless approved by the Chairman of the Full Committee after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the Full Committee.Notification to Appropriations Committee
44. No later than May 15 of each year, the Chairman shall report to the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations any departments, agencies, or programs under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science for which no authorization exists for the next fiscal year. The Chairman shall further report to the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations when authorizations are subsequently enacted prior to enactment of the relevant annual appropriations bill.Oversight
45. No later than February 15 of the first session of a Congress, the Committee shall meet in open session, with a quorum present, to adopt its oversight plans for that Congress for submission to the Committee on House Oversight and the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, in accordance with the provisions of clause 2(d) of Rule X of the House of Representatives.
46. The Chairman of the committee, or of any subcommittee, shall not undertake any investigation in the name of the committee without formal approval by the Chairman of the committee after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the Full Committee.Other procedures and regulations
47. During the consideration of any measure or matter, the Chairman of the Full Committee, or of any Subcommittee, or any Member acting as such, shall suspend further proceedings after a question has been put to the Committee at any time when there is a vote by electronic device occurring in the House of Representatives.
48. The Chairman of the Full Committee, after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, may establish such other procedures and take such actions as may be necessary to carry out the foregoing rules or to facilitate the effective operation of the Committee. legislative and oversight jurisdiction of the committee on science
``Rule X. Establishment and jurisdiction of standing committees
``The Committees and Their Jurisdiction.
``1. There shall be in the House the following standing committees, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and related functions assigned to it by this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 4; and all bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction of any standing committee as listed in this clause shall (in accordance with and subject to clause 5) by referred to such committees, as follows:
* * * * *
``(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 development, including resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities.
``(3) Civil aviation research and development.
``(4) Environmental research and development.
``(5) Marine research.
``(6) Measures relating to the commercial application of energy technology.
``(7) National Institute of Standards and Technology, standardization of weights and measures and the metric system.
``(8) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
``(9) National Space Council.
``(10) National Science Foundation.
``(11) National Weather Service.
``(12) Outer space, including exploration and control thereof.
``(13) Science Scholarships.
``(14) Scientific research, development, and demonstration, and projects therefor.
``In addition to its legislative jurisdiction under the proceeding provisions of this paragraph (and its general oversight function under clause 2(b)(1)), the committee shall have the special oversight function provided for in clause 3(f) with respect to all nonmilitary research and development.''
special oversight functions
3.(f) The Committee on Science shall have the function of reviewing and studying, on a continuing basis, all laws, programs, and Government activities dealing with or involving nonmilitary research and development.
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