[Pages H2353-H2357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE RULES

rules of the committee on oversight and reform for the 116th congress

House of Representatives,

Committee on Oversight and Reform,

Washington, DC, March 4, 2019.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Speaker: Pursuant to clause 2(a)(2) of House
rule XI, the Committee on

[[Page H2354]]

Oversight and Reform adopted its rules for the 116th Congress
on January 29, 2019, and I submit them now for publication in
the Congressional Record.
Sincerely,
Elijah E. Cummings,
Chairman.
Enclosure.

Rule 1.--General

(a) Rules of the House. The Rules of the House are the
rules of the Committee on Oversight and Reform (``the
Committee'') and its subcommittees so far as applicable.
(b) Application of the Rules. Except where the terms ``the
Committee'' and ``subcommittee'' are specifically referred
to, the following rules shall apply to the Committee and its
subcommittees as well as to their respective chairs, ranking
minority members, members, and staff.

Rule 2--Meetings

(a) Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Committee
shall be held on the second Thursday of each month at 10
a.m., when the House is in session. The Chair of the
Committee is authorized to dispense with a regular meeting or
to change the date thereof when circumstances warrant.
(b) Additional and Special Meetings. The Chair of the
Committee may call and convene additional meetings, when
circumstances warrant. A special meeting of the Committee may
be requested by members of the Committee pursuant to the
provisions of House Rule XI, clause 2(c)(2).
(c) Subcommittee Meetings. Each subcommittee shall meet at
the call of its chair, subject to Rule 7.
(d) Presiding Member. The Chair of the Committee or a
subcommittee shall preside over each meeting and hearing
thereof (``the presiding member''). If the Chair of the
Committee or a subcommittee is not present during a meeting
or hearing thereof, the Vice Chair of the Committee or
subcommittee, designated pursuant to House Rule XI, clause
2(d), shall serve as the presiding member during the absence
of the Chair. If the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee or
a subcommittee are not present during a meeting or hearing
thereof, the ranking member of the majority party on the
Committee or subcommittee who is present shall serve as the
presiding member during the absence of the Chair and Vice
Chair.
(e) Notice. The Chair of the Committee or a subcommittee
shall announce the date, place, and subject matter of a
meeting or hearing pursuant to House Rule XI, clause
2(g)(3)(A).
(f) Agenda. Every member of the Committee, unless prevented
by unusual circumstances, shall be provided with a memorandum
at least three calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays,
and legal holidays, unless the House is in session on such
days) before each meeting or hearing explaining: (1) the
purpose of the meeting or hearing; and (2) the names, titles,
background and reasons for appearance of any witnesses. The
Ranking Minority Member shall be responsible for providing
the same information on witnesses whom the minority may
request.
(g) Availability of Text. To the maximum extent
practicable, amendments to a measure or matter shall be
submitted in writing or electronically to the designee of the
Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or a
subcommittee at least 24 hours prior to its consideration of
the measure or matter. The Chair may exercise discretion to
give priority to amendments submitted pursuant to this
process.

Rule 3--Quorums

(a) Generally. A majority of the members of the Committee
or a subcommittee shall form a quorum for the Committee or
subcommittee, respectively, except that two members shall
constitute a quorum for taking testimony and receiving
evidence, and one third of the members shall form a quorum
for taking any action other than for which the presence of a
majority of the Committee or subcommittee is otherwise
required.
(b) Subcommittee Field Hearings. 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 at and
participating in any public hearing by such subcommittee to
be held outside of Washington, DC. A member appointed to such
temporary positions shall not be a voting member. The Chair
of the Committee shall give reasonable notice of such
temporary assignment to the Ranking Minority Member of the
Committee and of the respective subcommittee.

Rule 4--Committee Reports

(a) Bills and Resolutions. Each bill or resolution approved
by the Committee shall be reported by the Chair of the
Committee pursuant to House Rule XIII, clauses 2-4.
(b) Approval of Investigative and Oversight Reports. Only
those investigative or oversight reports approved by a
majority vote of the Committee at a meeting at which a quorum
is present may be ordered printed, unless otherwise required
by the Rules of the House of Representatives.
(c) Notice of Investigative and Oversight Reports. A
proposed investigative or oversight report shall not be
considered in the Committee unless the proposed report has
been available to the members of the Committee for at least
three calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
holidays, unless the House is in session on such days) before
consideration of such proposed report in the Committee. If a
hearing has been held on the matter reported upon, every
reasonable effort shall be made to have such hearing printed
and available to the members of the Committee before the
consideration of the proposed report in the Committee.
(d) Additional Views. If at the time of approval of a
report, a member of the Committee gives notice of intent to
file supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views
any member of the Committee shall be entitled to file such
views following House Rule XI, clause 2(1) and Rule XIII,
clause 3(a)(1).

Rule 5--Record Votes

(a) Request for Record Vote. A record vote of the members
may be had upon the request of any member upon approval of a
one-fifth vote of the members present.
(b) Postponement of a Record Vote. Pursuant to House Rule
XI, clause 2(h)(4), the presiding member at a meeting 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 and to resume proceedings on a
postponed question 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. After consultation with the Ranking Minority
Member, the Chair shall take reasonable steps to notify
members on the resumption of proceedings on any postponed
record vote.

Rule 6--Subcommittees; Referrals

(a)(1) There shall be five subcommittees of the Committee,
with appropriate party ratios, as follows:
(A) Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which
has oversight jurisdiction over: issues related to civil
rights, civil liberties and the equal protection of laws,
including voting rights, freedom of religion, speech, press,
and assembly; equal employment; nondisclosure agreements; and
criminal justice reform policies; and legislative and
oversight jurisdiction over the Census Bureau and the Census.
(B) Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, which
shall have oversight jurisdiction over: income inequality and
policies that affect the growth and prosperity of the middle
class, including education, housing, labor, trade, small
business, agriculture; securities regulation; consumer
protection; private sector information technology security,
policy, and management; intellectual property;
telecommunications; and federal acquisition policy unrelated
to national security and information technology.
(C) Subcommittee on Environment, which shall have oversight
jurisdiction over: global climate change; environmental
protection, public lands, endangered species, air and water
quality; oceans; public health; conservation; international
agreements; energy policy, research and development; and
oversight and legislative jurisdiction over regulatory
affairs and federal paperwork reduction.
(D) Subcommittee on Government Operations, which shall have
legislative and oversight jurisdiction over: the federal
civil service; whistleblower protections; the U.S. Postal
Service; government management and accounting measures; the
economy, efficiency, and management of government operations
and activities; government reorganization; intergovernmental
affairs, including with state and local governments; federal
information technology security, acquisition policy, and
management; and federal property.
(E) Subcommittee on National Security, which shall have
oversight jurisdiction over: national security; homeland
security; foreign operations, including the relationships of
the United States with other nations; immigration; defense;
issues affecting veterans; and oversight and legislative
jurisdiction over federal acquisition policy related to
national security.
(2) In addition, each subcommittee shall have specific
responsibility for such other measures or matters as the
Chair of the Committee refers to it.
(3) Each subcommittee with legislative jurisdiction shall
review and study, on a continuing basis, the application,
administration, execution, and effectiveness of those laws,
or parts of laws, the subject matter of which is within its
general responsibility.
(b) Referrals. Bills, resolutions, and other matters may be
expeditiously referred by the Chair of the Committee to
subcommittees, as appropriate in the determination of the
Chair of the Committee, for consideration or investigation in
accordance with subcommittees' jurisdictions. Bills,
resolutions, and other matters referred to subcommittees may
be re-referred or discharged by the Chair of the Committee
when, in the judgment of the Chair, the subcommittee is not
able to complete its work or cannot reach agreement therein.
(c) Membership. The Chair of the Committee shall assign
members to the subcommittees and shall designate the chair
and vice-chair of each subcommittee. Minority party
assignments, including designation of the ranking minority
member of each subcommittee, shall be made only with the
concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee.
(d) Ex Officio Membership. The Chair of the Committee and
the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee shall be ex
officio

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members of all subcommittees. They are authorized to vote on
subcommittee matters; but, unless they are regular members of
the subcommittee, they shall not be counted in determining a
subcommittee quorum other than a quorum for taking testimony.

Rule 7--Subcommittee Hearing and Meeting Procedure

(a) Generally. Each subcommittee is authorized to meet,
hold hearings, receive testimony, markup legislation, and
report to the Committee on any measure or matter referred to
it.
(b) During Committee Meetings and Hearings. No subcommittee
may meet or hold a hearing at the same time as a meeting or
hearing of the Committee.
(c) Scheduling. Each subcommittee chair shall set hearing
and meeting dates only with the approval of the Chair of the
Committee with a view toward assuring the availability of
meeting rooms and avoiding simultaneous scheduling of
meetings or hearings.

Rule 8--Staff

(a) Employment Authority. Except as otherwise provided by
House Rule X, clauses 6, 7 and 9, the Chair of the Committee
shall have the authority to hire and discharge employees of
the professional and clerical staff of the Committee and
subcommittees.
(b) Duties. Except as otherwise provided by House Rule X,
clauses 6, 7 and 9, the staff of the Committee and
subcommittees shall be subject to the direction of the Chair
of the Committee and shall perform such duties as the Chair
of the Committee may assign.

Rule 9--Hearings

(a) Generally. Hearings shall be conducted according to the
procedures in House Rule XI, clause 2(k). The Chair of the
Committee or subcommittee shall make an opening statement
as set forth in House Rule XI, clause 2(k)(1). In
addition, the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or
subcommittee may make an opening statement. All questions
put to witnesses before the Committee or a subcommittee
shall be relevant to the subject matter before the
Committee or subcommittee for consideration, and the
presiding member shall rule on the relevance of any
question put to a witness.
(b) Recognition and Order of Questioning. A member may
question witnesses only when recognized by the presiding
member for that purpose. In accordance with House Rule XI,
clause 2(j)(2), the five-minute rule shall apply during the
questioning of witnesses in a hearing. The presiding member
shall, so far as practicable, recognize alternately based on
seniority of those majority and minority members present at
the conclusion of the members' opening statements as
determined by the Chair for the majority members and the
Ranking Minority Member for the minority members. Other
members will be recognized based on their arrival at the
hearing. Additional time may be extended at the direction of
the presiding member.
(c) Extended Questioning. The presiding member, or the
Committee or subcommittee by motion, may permit a specified
number of majority and minority members to question a witness
for a specified, total period that is equal for each side and
not longer than thirty minutes for each side.
(d) Staff Questioning. The presiding member, or the
Committee or subcommittee by motion, may permit Committee or
subcommittee staff of the majority and minority to question a
witness for a specified, total period that is equal for each
side and not longer than thirty minutes for each side.
(e) Time for Questioning. Nothing in paragraph (c) or (d)
affects the rights of a member (other than a member
designated under paragraph (c)) to question a witness for 5
minutes in accordance with paragraph (b). In any extended
questioning permitted under paragraph (c) or (d), the
presiding member shall determine how to allocate the time
permitted for extended questioning by majority members or
staff, and the Ranking Minority Member shall determine how to
allocate the time permitted for extended questioning by
minority members or staff.
(f) Witness Statements. Witnesses appearing before the
Committee or a subcommittee shall, so far as practicable,
submit written statements at least 24 hours before their
appearance.
(g) Oaths. The presiding member may administer oaths to any
witness before the Committee or subcommittee. All witnesses
appearing in hearings may be administered the following oath
by the presiding member prior to receiving the testimony:
``Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony that you
are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?''

Rule 10--Committee Records, Open Meetings, Transparency

(a) Generally. The Committee and subcommittee staff shall
maintain in the Committee offices a complete record of
Committee and subcommittee actions from the current Congress
including a record of the roll call votes taken at business
meetings. The original records, or true copies thereof, as
appropriate, shall be available for public inspection
whenever the Committee offices are open for public business.
The staff shall assure that such original records are
preserved with no unauthorized alteration, additions, or
defacement.
(b) Transcripts of Proceedings. A stenographic record of
all testimony shall be kept of public hearings and shall be
made available on such conditions as the Chair of the
Committee may prescribe.
(c) Open Meetings. Meetings and hearings shall be open to
the public or closed in accordance with the Rules of the
House of Representatives.
(d) Committee Website. The Chair of the Committee shall
maintain an official website on behalf of the Committee for
the purpose of furthering the Committee's legislative and
oversight responsibilities, including communicating
information about the Committee's activities to Committee
members and other members of the House. To the greatest
extent practicable, the Chair of the Committee shall ensure
that Committee records are made available on the Committee's
official website in appropriate formats.
(e) Minority Website. The Ranking Minority Member of the
Committee is authorized to maintain an official website on
behalf of the minority members of the Committee for the same
purpose as in paragraph (d), including communicating
information about the activities of the minority to Committee
members and other members of the House.
(f) Archived Records. The records of the Committee at the
National Archives and Records Administration shall be made
available for public use in accordance with rule VII of the
Rules of the House. The Chair shall notify the Ranking
Minority 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 written request of any member of the
Committee.

Rule 11--Audio and Visual Coverage of Committee Proceedings

(a) Generally. An open meeting or hearing may be covered,
in whole or in part, by television broadcast, radio
broadcast, internet broadcast, and still photography, unless
closed subject to the provisions of House Rules. Any such
coverage shall conform to the provisions of House Rule XI,
clause 4.
(b) Committee Broadcast System. Use of the Committee
Broadcast System shall be fair and nonpartisan, and in
accordance with House Rule XI, clause 4(b), and all other
applicable rules of the House and the Committee. Members of
the Committee shall have prompt access to a copy of coverage
by the Committee Broadcast System, to the extent that such
coverage is maintained.
(c) Other Coverage. Personnel providing coverage of an open
meeting or hearing of the Committee by internet broadcast,
other than through the Committee Broadcast System shall be
currently accredited to the Radio and Television
Correspondents' Galleries. If the Committee Broadcast System
is not available, the Chair of the Committee may, with the
concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee,
direct staff to provide coverage in a manner that is fair and
nonpartisan and in accordance with House Rule XI, clause 4.

Rule 12--Additional Duties of the Chair of the Committee

The Chair of the Committee shall:
(a) Make available to other committees the findings and
recommendations resulting from the investigations of the
Committee, as required by House Rule X, clause 4(c)(2);
(b) Direct such review and studies on--
(1) the impact or probable impact of tax policies affecting
subjects within the Committee's jurisdiction, as required by
House Rule X, clause 2(c);
(2) the operation of Government activities at all levels,
including the Executive Office of the President, as required
by House Rule X, clause 3(i);
(3) the effect of laws enacted to reorganize the
legislative and executive branches of the Government, as
required by House Rule X, clause 4(c)(1)(B); and
(4) intergovernmental relationships between the United
States and the States and municipalities and between the
United States and international organizations of which the
United States is a member, as required by House Rule X,
clause 4(c)(1)(C);
(c) Submit to the Committee on House Administration the
Committee's oversight plan as required by House Rule X,
clause 2(d);
(d) Report to the House by April 15 in the first session of
Congress, after consultation with the Speaker, the Majority
Leader, and the Minority Leader, the oversight plans
submitted by committees together with any recommendations
that the Committee, or the House leadership group described
above, may make to ensure the most effective coordination of
oversight plans and otherwise achieve the objectives of House
Rule X, clause 2;
(e) Submit to the House such recommendations as the
Committee considers necessary or desirable in connection with
the reports of the Comptroller General, as required by House
Rule X, clause 4(c)(1)(A);
(f) Submit to the Committee on the Budget views and
estimates required by House Rule X, clause 4(f), and to file
reports with the House as required by the Congressional
Budget Act;
(g) Authorize and issue subpoenas as provided in House Rule
XI, clause 2(m), in the conduct of any investigation or
activity or series of investigations or activities within the
jurisdiction of the Committee;
(h) Prepare, after consultation with the Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee, a budget for the Committee;
(i) Make any necessary technical and conforming changes to
legislation reported by the Committee upon unanimous consent;
and
(j) Offer motions under clause 1 of Rule XXII of the Rules
of the House (motion to request or agree to a conference)
whenever the

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Chair of the Committee considers it appropriate.

Rule 13--Consideration of Certain Bills and Resolutions

(a) Commemorative Stamps. The determination of the subject
matter of commemorative stamps and new semi-postal issues is
properly for consideration by the Postmaster General, and the
Committee will not give consideration to legislative
proposals specifying the subject matter of commemorative
stamps and new semi-postal issues. It is suggested that
recommendations for the subject matter of stamps be submitted
to the Postmaster General.
(b) Postal Naming Bills. The consideration of bills
designating facilities of the United States Postal Service
shall be conducted so as to minimize the time spent on such
matters by the Committee and the House.
(c) Resolutions. The Chair of the Committee shall not
request to have scheduled any resolution for consideration
under suspension of the Rules, which 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 14--Panels and Task Forces

(a) Generally. The Chair of the Committee is authorized to
appoint panels or task forces to carry out the duties and
functions of the Committee.
(b) Ex Officio Membership. The Chair and Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee may serve as ex-officio members of
each panel or task force established under this Rule.
(c) Appointment of Leadership. The chair of any panel or
task force shall be appointed by the Chair of the Committee.
The Ranking Minority Member of the Committee shall select a
ranking minority member for each panel or task force.
(d) Application of Rules. The House and Committee rules
applicable to subcommittee meetings, hearings,
recommendations, and reports shall apply to the meetings,
hearings, recommendations, and reports of panels and task
forces.
(e) Termination. No panel or task force appointed under
this Rule shall continue in existence for more than six
months. A panel or task force appointed under this Rule may,
upon the expiration of six months, be reappointed by the
chair.

Rule 15--Deposition Authority

(a) Generally. The Chair of the Committee, upon
consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the
Committee, may order the taking of depositions, under oath
and pursuant to notice or subpoena.
(b) Notices. Notices for the taking of depositions shall
specify the date, time, and place of examination. All members
shall also receive three calendar days' written notice
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, unless the
House is in session on such days) that a deposition has been
scheduled, except in exigent circumstances. Depositions may
continue from day to day.
(c) Oaths. Depositions shall be taken under oath
administered by a member or a person otherwise authorized to
administer oaths.
(d) Consultation. Consultation with the Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee shall include three calendar days'
notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays,
unless the House is in session on such days), and a copy of a
proposed deposition subpoena, if applicable, before any
deposition is taken.
(e) Attendance. Witnesses may be accompanied at a
deposition by counsel to advise them of their rights. No one
may be present at depositions except members, Committee staff
designated by the Chair of the Committee or the Ranking
Minority Member of the Committee, an official reporter, the
witness, and the witness's counsel. Observers or counsel for
other persons, or for agencies under investigation, may not
attend.
(f) Joint Depositions. The Chair of the Committee may
designate a deposition as part of a joint investigation
between committees, and in that case, provide notice to
members of both committees.
(g) Who May Question. A deposition shall be conducted by
any member or counsel designated by the Chair of the
Committee or Ranking Minority Member of the Committee. When
depositions are conducted by Committee counsel, there shall
be no more than two Committee counsel permitted to question a
witness per round. One of the Committee counsel shall be
designated by the Chair of the Committee and the other by the
Ranking Minority Member of the Committee. Other Committee
staff members designated by the Chair of the Committee or
Ranking Minority Member of the Committee may attend, but may
not pose questions to the witness.
(h) Order of Questions. Questions in the 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,
the member(s) or Committee counsel designated by the Chair of
the Committee shall ask questions first, and the member(s) or
Committee counsel designated by the Ranking Minority Member
of the Committee shall ask questions second.
(i) Objections. Any objection made during a deposition must
be stated concisely and in a non-argumentative and non-
suggestive manner. The witness may refuse to answer a
question only to preserve a privilege. When the witness has
refused to answer a question to preserve a privilege, members
or staff may (i) proceed with the deposition, or (ii) either
at that time or at a subsequent time, seek a ruling from the
Chair either by telephone or otherwise. If the Chair of the
Committee overrules any such objection during the deposition,
the witness shall be ordered to answer. If following the
deposition's recess, the Chair of the Committee overrules any
such objection and thereby orders a witness 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 the members and the witness no less than
three days before the 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 by the Chair in writing, or orally during the
proceeding as reflected in the record, may be subject to
sanction, except that no sanctions may be imposed if the
ruling of the Chair is reversed by the Committee on appeal.
(j) Record of Testimony. Committee staff shall ensure that
the testimony is either transcribed or electronically
recorded or both. If a witness's testimony is transcribed,
the witness or the witness's counsel shall be afforded an
opportunity to review a copy. No later than five days after
the witness has been notified of the opportunity to review
the transcript, the witness may submit suggested changes to
the Chair of the Committee. Committee staff may make any
typographical and technical changes. Substantive changes,
modifications, clarifications, or amendments to the
deposition transcript submitted by the witness must be
accompanied by a letter signed by the witness requesting the
changes and a statement of the witness's reasons for each
proposed change. Any substantive changes, modifications,
clarifications, or amendments shall be included as an
appendix to the transcript conditioned upon the witness
signing the transcript.
(k) Transcription Requirements. The individual
administering the oath, if other than a member, shall certify
on the transcript that the witness was duly sworn. The
transcriber shall certify that the transcript is a true
record of the testimony, and the transcript shall be filed,
together with any electronic recording, with the clerk of the
Committee in Washington, D.C. Depositions shall be considered
to have been taken in Washington, D.C., as well as the
location actually taken once filed there with the clerk of
the Committee for the Committee's use. The Chair of the
Committee and the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee
shall be provided with a copy of the transcripts of the
deposition at the same time.
(l) Release. The Chair of the Committee and Ranking
Minority Member of the Committee shall consult in advance
regarding the release of deposition testimony, transcripts,
or recordings, and portions thereof. If either objects in
writing to a proposed release of a deposition testimony,
transcript or recording, or a portion thereof, the matter
shall be promptly referred to the Committee for resolution.
(m) Provision of Rules to Witnesses. A witness shall not be
required to testify unless the witness has been provided with
a copy of the Committee's rules.

Rule 16--Witness and Privilege Procedure

(a) Witness Disclosures. Witnesses appearing at a hearing
of the Committee or a subcommittee in a non-governmental
capacity shall include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure of
the amount and source (by agency and program) of each federal
grant (or subgrant thereof) or contract (or subcontract
thereof), as well as the amount and source of payments or
contracts originating from foreign governments, insofar as
they relate to the subject matter of the hearing, received
during the current calendar year or either of the two
previous calendar years, by the witness or by an entity
represented by the witness.
(b) Representation by Counsel. When representing a witness
or entity before the Committee or a subcommittee in response
to a request or subpoena from the Committee, or in connection
with testimony before the Committee or a subcommittee,
counsel for the witness or entity must promptly submit to the
Committee a notice of appearance specifying the following:
(1) counsel's name, firm or organization, bar membership, and
contact information including email; and (2) each client or
entity represented by the counsel in connection with the
proceeding.
(c) Privileges. The Chair of the Committee has the
authority to rule on assertions of privilege.
(1) For the Chair to consider assertions of privilege over
testimony or statements, witnesses or entities must clearly
state the specific privilege being asserted and the reason
for the assertion on or before the scheduled date of
testimony or appearance, or upon a demand from the Chair of
the Committee that provides for a subsequent due date.
(2) For the Chair to consider an assertion of privilege
over a document, on or before the scheduled date of testimony
or appearance, or upon a demand from the Chair of the
Committee that provides for a subsequent due date, the
assertion must be set forth in a privilege log that includes
the following information for each document for which a

[[Page H2357]]

privilege is asserted: (a) every privilege asserted; (b) the
type of document; (c) the general subject matter; (d) the
date, author, addressee, and any other recipients; (e) the
relationship of the author and addressee to each other; and
(f) the basis for the privilege asserted.
(3) The only assertions of executive privilege that the
Chair of the Committee will consider are those made in
writing by an executive branch official authorized to assert
the privilege.
(4) The Chair of the Committee may waive or modify any of
the requirements of this rule in order to facilitate
cooperation.

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