[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 8 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
H. Res. 8
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
January 4, 2021.
Resolved,
SECTION 1. ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
The Rules of the House of Representatives of the One Hundred Sixteenth
Congress, including applicable provisions of law or concurrent resolution that
constituted rules of the House at the end of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress,
are adopted as the Rules of the House of Representatives of the One Hundred
Seventeenth Congress, with amendments to the standing rules as provided in
section 2, and with other orders as provided in this resolution.
SEC. 2. CHANGES TO THE STANDING RULES.
(a) Conforming Change.--In clause 2(i) of rule II--
(1) strike the designation of subparagraph (1); and
(2) strike subparagraph (2).
(b) Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Office of the Whistleblower
Ombuds.--
(1) Establishment.--In rule II, add at the end the following new
clauses:
``Office of Diversity and Inclusion
``9.(a) There is established an Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The
Speaker, in consultation with the Minority Leader, shall appoint a Director of
the Office from recommendations provided by the chair of the Committee on House
Administration in consultation with the ranking minority member of such
committee.
``(b) Subject to the policy direction and oversight of the Committee on
House Administration, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion shall--
``(1) direct and guide House employing offices to recruit, hire,
train, develop, advance, promote, and retain a diverse workforce;
``(2) survey and evaluate diversity in House employing offices;
``(3) through the Director of the Office at the end of each session
of Congress, submit a House of Representatives diversity report to the
Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on House Administration, and the chair
and ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on the Legislative
Branch of the Committee on Appropriations; and
``(4) provide consultation and guidance in furtherance of increasing
diversity and inclusion in the House.
``Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds
``10.(a) There is established an Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds. The
Speaker, in consultation with the chairs and ranking minority members of the
Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Oversight and Reform,
shall appoint a Director of the Office.
``(b) Subject to the policy direction and oversight of the Committee on
House Administration, and in consultation with any other committee (at the
request of the chair or ranking minority member of such other committee), the
Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds shall--
``(1) promulgate best practices for whistleblower intake for offices
of the House; and
``(2) provide training for offices of the House on whistleblower
intake, including establishing an effective reporting system for
whistleblowers, maintaining whistleblower confidentiality, advising
staff of relevant laws and policies, and protecting information provided
by whistleblowers.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--In clause 4(d)(1)(A) of rule X--
(A) strike ``and the Inspector General'' and insert ``, the
Inspector General, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and
the Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds''; and
(B) strike ``and Inspector General'' and insert ``Inspector
General, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Office of the
Whistleblower Ombuds''.
(c) Continuing Authority to Act in Litigation Matters.--In clause 8(c) of
rule II, strike ``appropriate'' and insert ``appropriate, including, but not
limited to, the issuance of subpoenas,''.
(d) Admittance to the Hall of the House.--
(1) In clause 2(a)(14) of rule IV, insert ``and the Mayor of the
District of Columbia'' after ``Territories''.
(2) In clause 4(a) of rule IV--
(A) in subparagraph (2) strike ``committee; or'' and insert
``committee;'';
(B) in subparagraph (3) strike the period and insert ``;
or''; and
(C) add at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(4) has been convicted by a court of record for the commission of a crime
in relation to that individual's election to, or service to, the House.''.
(e) Gender-Inclusive Language.--
(1) In clause 1(c)(9) of rule X, strike ``seamen'' and insert
``seafarers''.
(2) In clause 4(a)(1)(B) of rule X, strike ``Chairman'' and insert
``Chair''.
(3) In clause 8(c)(3) of rule XXIII, strike ``father, mother, son,
daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece,
husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-
law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson,
stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister,
grandson, or granddaughter'' and insert ``parent, child, sibling,
parent's sibling, first cousin, sibling's child, spouse, parent-in-law,
child-in-law, sibling-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling, half-
sibling, or grandchild''.
(4) In clause 10(b) of rule XXIII--
(A) strike ``submit his or her resignation'' and insert
``resign'';
(B) strike ``he or she serves'' and insert ``such Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner serves''; and
(C) strike ``he or she holds'' and insert ``such Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner holds''.
(5) In clause 15(d)(2) of rule XXIII, strike ``father, mother, son,
daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife, father-in-law, or mother-in-
law'' and insert ``parent, child, sibling, spouse, or parent-in-law''.
(6) In clause 4 of rule XXVII, strike ``himself or herself'' and
insert ``themself''.
(7) In rule XXIX, clause 2 is amended to read as follows:
``2. (Reserved.)''.
(f) Committee on Armed Services.--In clause 1(c) of rule X--
(1) in subparagraph (1) strike ``and Air Force'' and insert ``Marine
Corps, Air Force, and Space Force''; and
(2) in subparagraph (13), strike ``and Air Force'' and insert ``Air
Force, and Space Force''.
(g) Committee Oversight Plans.--In clause 2(d)(2) of rule X--
(1) in subdivision (D), strike ``and'';
(2) in subdivision (E), strike the period and insert ``; and''; and
(3) add at the end the following new subdivision:
``(F) give priority consideration to including in the plan a discussion of
how the committee's work will address issues of inequities on the basis of race,
color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
disability, age, or national origin.''.
(h) Printing and Availability Requirements.--
(1) In clause 6 of rule X, strike ``printed'' each place that it
appears.
(2) In clause 8(b)(1)(A) of rule XXII, insert ``or pursuant to
clause 3 of rule XXIX'' after ``Congressional Record''.
(i) Committee Vote Availability.--In clause 2(e)(1)(B) of rule XI--
(1) in item (i), strike ``made available by the committee for
inspection by the public at reasonable times in its offices and also'';
(2) in item (i), strike ``subdivision (B)(ii)'' and insert ``item
(ii)''; and
(3) in item (ii), strike ``available for inspection by the public''
and insert ``publicly available''.
(j) Amendment Availability.--In clause 2(e)(6) of rule XI, insert ``, or 48
hours after the disposition or withdrawal of any other amendment,'' after ``any
amendment''.
(k) Truth-in-Testimony Reform.--In clause 2(g)(5) of rule XI--
(1) amend subdivision (B) to read as follows:
``(B) In the case of a witness appearing in a non-governmental capacity, a
written statement of proposed testimony shall include--
``(i) a curriculum vitae;
``(ii) a disclosure of any Federal grants or contracts, or
contracts, grants, or payments originating with a foreign government,
received during the past 36 months by the witness or by an entity
represented by the witness and related to the subject matter of the
hearing; and
``(iii) a disclosure of whether the witness is a fiduciary
(including, but not limited to, a director, officer, advisor, or
resident agent) of any organization or entity that has an interest in
the subject matter of the hearing.'';
(2) in subdivision (C), strike ``subdivision (B)'' and insert
``subdivision (B)(ii)''; and
(3) in subdivision (D), insert ``24 hours before the witness appears
to the extent practicable, but'' before ``not later''.
(l) Electronic Filing of Reports and Electronic Signatures.--
(1) In clause 2(l) of rule XI, insert ``(including in electronic
form)'' after ``signed views''.
(2) In clause 2(a) of rule XIII--
(A) in subparagraph (1), strike ``subparagraph (2)'' and
insert ``subparagraphs (2) and (3)''; and
(B) add the following new subparagraph:
``(3) All reports of committees may be delivered to the Clerk in electronic
form.''.
(3) In clause 5(b) of rule XIII, insert ``, pursuant to clause
2(a)(3), or pursuant to clause 2(c),'' after ``from the floor''.
(4) In clause 5 of rule XXV, insert ``(including in electronic
form)'' after ``signed'' each place that it appears.
(5) In clause 1 of rule XXVII, insert ``(including in electronic
form)'' after ``signed''.
(m) Subpoena Authority.--In clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI, add the following new
subdivision:
``(D) Subpoenas for documents or testimony may be issued to any person or
entity, whether governmental, public, or private, within the United States,
including, but not limited to, the President, and the Vice President, whether
current or former, in a personal or official capacity, as well as the White
House, the Office of the President, the Executive Office of the President, and
any individual currently or formerly employed in the White House, Office of the
President, or Executive Office of the President.''.
(n) Committee on Ethics.--
(1) In clause 5(a)(3)(C) of rule X, insert ``or fifth'' after
``fourth''.
(2) In clause 3 of rule XI--
(A) in paragraph (b)(8)(A), insert ``, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner'' after ``Member'' each place it appears;
(B) in paragraph (b)(8)(B)(iii), insert ``, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner'' after ``Member'';
(C) in paragraph (k)(1)(A), insert ``, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner'' after ``Member'';
(D) in paragraph (m)(1)(A), insert ``, Delegates, or the
Resident Commissioner'' after ``Members'';
(E) in paragraph (n), insert ``, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner'' after ``Member''; and
(F) in paragraph (r), insert ``, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner'' after ``Member''.
(o) Audio and Video Recordings.--In clause 4(b) of rule XI, strike ``radio
and television tapes and television film'' and insert ``audio and video
recordings''.
(p) Cosponsorship Withdrawal.--In clause 7(b)(2) of rule XII, strike the
first two sentences and insert the following: ``The name of a cosponsor of a
bill or resolution may be deleted only by a demand from the floor made by the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner whose name is to be deleted, or by a
unanimous-consent request from the sponsor. The Speaker may only entertain such
a demand or request until the last committee authorized to consider and report
the bill or resolution reports it to the House or is discharged from its
consideration.''.
(q) Comparative Prints.--In rule XXI, strike clause 12.
(r) Requiring Committee Hearing and Markup on Bills and Joint Resolutions.--
(1) In clause 3(c) of rule XIII, add the following new subparagraph:
``(6)(A) On a bill or joint resolution to be considered pursuant to a
special order of business reported by the Committee on Rules--
``(i) a list of related committee and subcommittee hearings;
and
``(ii) a designation of at least one committee or
subcommittee hearing that was used to develop or consider such
bill or joint resolution.
``(B) Subdivision (A) shall not apply to a bill or joint resolution--
``(i) continuing appropriations for a fiscal year; or
``(ii) containing an emergency designation under section 251(b)(2)
or section 252(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985.''.
(2) In rule XXI, add at the end the following new clause:
``12.(a) It shall not be in order to consider a bill or joint resolution
pursuant to a special order of business reported by the Committee on Rules that
has not been reported by a committee.
``(b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to a bill or joint resolution--
``(1) continuing appropriations for a fiscal year;
``(2) containing an emergency designation under section 251(b)(2) or
section 252(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act
of 1985;
``(3) designated pursuant to clause 7(a) of rule XV; or
``(4) not referred to committee.
``(c) Paragraph (a) does not apply before March 1 of an odd-numbered
year.''.
(s) Motion to Recommit.--
(1) In clause 6(c) of rule XIII, strike ``, including a motion to
recommit with instructions to report back an amendment otherwise in
order''.
(2) In clause 2 of rule XIX--
(A) in paragraph (a), strike ``with or'';
(B) amend paragraph (b) to read as follows:
``(b) The previous question shall be considered as ordered on any motion to
recommit (or commit, as the case may be).''; and
(C) strike paragraph (c).
(3) In clause 7(d) of rule XXII, strike ``or in a motion to recommit
to conference''.
(t) District of Columbia Business.--In rule XV--
(1) clause 4 is amended to read as follows:
``4. (Reserved.)''.
(2) in clause 4, strike the caption.
(u) Title Amendments.--In clause 6 of rule XVI, insert ``, shall be in order
only if offered by the Majority Leader or a designee,'' after ``adoption''.
(v) Reconciliation Directives.--Clause 7 of rule XXI is amended to read as
follows:
``7. (Reserved.)''.
(w) Availability of Measures.--In clause 11 of rule XXI, insert ``the text
of'' before ``such measure''.
(x) Prohibited Service.--Clause 19(c) of rule XXIII is amended to read as
follows: ``A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House shall comply with regulations issued and revised, as necessary, by the
Committee on Ethics regarding types of prohibited service or positions that
could lead to conflicts of interest.''.
(y) Code of Official Conduct.--In rule XXIII--
(1) redesignate clause 20 as clause 22; and
(2) insert after clause 19 the following new clauses:
``20. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House may not, directly or indirectly, take any actions to prevent any
individual from or retaliate against any individual for providing truthful
information to the Committee on Ethics, the Office of Congressional Ethics, the
Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, or any law enforcement official,
provided that the disclosure of such information is not otherwise prohibited by
law or House rules.
``21.(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall not knowingly and
willfully disclose publicly the identity of, or personally identifiable
information about, any individual who has reported allegations of possible
wrongdoing, including retaliation, under processes and protections provided by
the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989,
the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998, or any other
Federal law that establishes the right for individuals to make protected
disclosures to Congress.
``(b) The limitation in paragraph (a) shall not apply to any disclosure of
an individual's identity or personally identifiable information if--
``(1) the individual has provided express written consent prior to
such disclosure;
``(2) the individual has already voluntarily and publicly disclosed
their identity; or
``(3) the disclosure is by the chair of a committee after an
affirmative vote by two-thirds of the members of the committee that such
disclosure is in the public interest.
``(c) Nothing in this clause shall prevent--
``(1) an investigation of any allegation of wrongdoing disclosed by
any individual; or
``(2) the public disclosure of substantive information shared by any
individual that is not personally identifiable to that individual.
``(d) Disclosures made pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) shall be subject to
appropriate safeguards, including that the individual be provided timely advance
notice if possible before their identity or any personally identifiable
information is disclosed prior to the vote described in paragraph (b)(3), unless
such information would jeopardize the related investigations. When providing
such notice to the individual the committee chair shall send the individual a
written explanation of the reasons for the disclosure.''.
(z) Communications Standards Commission.--In clause 5 of rule XXIV, strike
``Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards'' and insert ``Communications
Standards Commission''.
SEC. 3. SEPARATE ORDERS.
(a) Member Day Hearing Requirement.--During the first session of the One
Hundred Seventeenth Congress, each standing committee (other than the Committee
on Ethics) or each subcommittee thereof (other than a subcommittee on oversight)
shall hold a hearing at which it receives testimony from Members, Delegates, and
the Resident Commissioner on proposed legislation within its jurisdiction,
except that the Committee on Rules may hold such hearing during the second
session of the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress.
(b) Deposition Authority.--
(1) During the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, the chair of a
standing committee (other than the Committee on Rules), and the chair of
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, upon consultation with
the ranking minority member of such committee, may order the taking of
depositions, including pursuant to subpoena, by a member or counsel of
such committee.
(2) Depositions taken under the authority prescribed in this
subsection shall be subject to regulations issued by the chair of the
Committee on Rules and printed in the Congressional Record.
(c) War Powers Resolution.--During the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, a
motion to discharge a measure introduced pursuant to section 6 or section 7 of
the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1545-46) shall not be subject to a motion
to table.
(d) Exercise Facilities for Former Members.--During the One Hundred
Seventeenth Congress--
(1) The House of Representatives may not provide access to any
exercise facility which is made available exclusively to Members and
former Members, officers and former officers of the House of
Representatives, and their spouses to any former Member, former officer,
or spouse who is a lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act
of 1995 or any successor statute or who is an agent of a foreign
principal as defined in clause 5 of rule XXV. For purposes of this
subsection, the term ``Member'' includes a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress.
(2) The Committee on House Administration shall promulgate
regulations to carry out this subsection.
(e) Empaneling Investigative Subcommittee of the Committee on Ethics.--The
text of House Resolution 451, One Hundred Tenth Congress, shall apply in the One
Hundred Seventeenth Congress in the same manner as such provision applied in the
One Hundred Tenth Congress, except that references to the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct shall be construed as references to the Committee on Ethics.
(f) Non-Disclosure Agreements.--Any non-disclosure agreement imposed by any
employing or contracting authority in the House of Representatives to which a
paid or unpaid employee or contractor is or was required to agree as a term of
employment shall--
(1) provide clear guidance that the employee or contractor may
communicate concerning any matter with the Committee on Ethics, the
Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, or any other office or entity
designated by the Committee on House Administration without prior,
concurrent, or subsequent notice or approval; and
(2) not be binding and shall have no legal effect to the extent to
which it requires prior, concurrent, or subsequent notice or approval
from anyone on any matter with respect to communications from an
employee or contractor to any of the committees, offices, or entities
described in paragraph (1).
(g) Requiring Members to Pay for Discrimination Settlements.--
(1) In general.--In the case of a settlement of a complaint under
the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 in connection with a claim
alleging a violation described in paragraph (2) which is committed
personally by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, if the
Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner is not required under law to
reimburse the Treasury for the amount of the settlement, the chair and
ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration may not
approve the settlement pursuant to clause 4(d)(2) of rule X unless,
under the terms and conditions of the settlement, the Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner is required to reimburse the Treasury for the
amount of the settlement.
(2) Violations described.--A violation described in this paragraph
is--
(A) a violation of section 201(a) or section 206(a) of the
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995; or
(B) a violation of section 207 of such Act which consists of
intimidating, taking reprisal against, or otherwise
discriminating against any covered employee under such Act
because of a claim alleging a violation described in
subparagraph (A).
(h) Mandatory Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Policies for House
Offices.--
(1) Requiring offices to adopt policy.--Each employing office of the
House of Representatives under the Congressional Accountability Act of
1995 shall adopt an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy for
the office's workplace.
(2) Regulations.--Not later than April 1, 2021, the Committee on
House Administration shall promulgate regulations to carry out this
subsection, and shall ensure that such regulations are consistent with
the requirements of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, rule
XXIII, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
(i) Displaying Statement of Rights and Protections Provided to House
Employees.--The Committee on House Administration shall issue regulations to
provide that each employing office of the House of Representatives shall post in
a prominent location in the office (including, in the case of the office of a
Member, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner, a prominent location in each
district office) a statement of the rights and protections provided to employees
of the House of Representatives under the Congressional Accountability Act of
1995, including the procedures available to employees of the House under such
Act for responding to and adjudicating allegations of violations of such rights
and protections.
(j) Broadening Availability and Utility of Legislative Documents in Machine-
Readable Formats.--The Committee on House Administration, the Clerk, and other
officers and officials of the House shall continue efforts to broaden the
availability and utility of legislative documents in machine readable formats in
the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress in furtherance of the institutional
priorities of--
(1) improving public availability and use of legislative information
produced by the House and its committees; and
(2) enabling all House staff to produce comparative prints showing
the differences between versions of legislation, how proposed
legislation will amend existing law, and how an amendment may change
proposed legislation.
(k) Improving the Committee Electronic Document Repository.--The Clerk, the
Committee on House Administration, and other officers and officials of the House
shall undertake efforts to improve the electronic document repository operated
by the Clerk for use by committees of the House in the One Hundred Seventeenth
Congress, in furtherance of the institutional priority of increasing public
availability and identification of legislative information produced and held by
House committees, including votes, amendments, and witness disclosure forms.
(l) Inclusion of Citations for Proposed Repeals and Amendments.--To the
maximum extent practicable and consistent with established drafting conventions,
an instruction in a bill or joint resolution proposing to repeal or amend any
law or part thereof not contained in a codified title of the United States Code
shall include, in parentheses immediately following the designation of the
matter proposed to be repealed or amended, the applicable United States Code
citation (which may be a note in the United States Code), or, if no such
citation is available, an appropriate alternative citation to the applicable law
or part.
(m) Providing for Transparency With Respect to Memorials Submitted Pursuant
to Article V of the Constitution of the United States.--With respect to any
memorial presented under clause 3 of rule XII purporting to be an application of
the legislature of a State calling for a convention for proposing amendments to
the Constitution of the United States pursuant to Article V, or a rescission of
any such prior application--
(1) the chair of the Committee on the Judiciary shall, in the case
of a memorial presented in the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress or
succeeding Congresses, and may, in the case of such a memorial presented
prior to the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, designate any such
memorial for public availability by the Clerk; and
(2) the Clerk shall make such memorials as are designated pursuant
to paragraph (1) publicly available in electronic form, organized by
State of origin and year of receipt, and shall indicate whether the
memorial was designated as an application or a rescission.
(n) Subcommittees.--Notwithstanding clause 5(d) of rule X, during the One
Hundred Seventeenth Congress the Committee on Agriculture may have not more than
six subcommittees.
(o) Congressional Member Organization Transparency Reform.--
(1) Payment of salaries and expenses through account of
organization.--A Member of the House of Representatives and an eligible
Congressional Member Organization may enter into an agreement under
which--
(A) an employee of the Member's office may carry out
official and representational duties of the Member by assignment
to the Organization; and
(B) to the extent that the employee carries out such duties
under the agreement, the Member shall transfer the portion of
the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) of the Member
which would otherwise be used for the salary and related
expenses of the employee to a dedicated account in the House of
Representatives which is administered by the Organization, in
accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Committee on
House Administration under paragraph (2).
(2) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration (hereafter
referred to in this subsection as the ``Committee'') shall promulgate
regulations as follows:
(A) Use of mra.--Pursuant to the authority of section 101(d)
of the House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical
Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 5341(d)), the Committee shall
prescribe regulations to provide that an eligible Congressional
Member Organization may use the amounts transferred to the
Organization's dedicated account under paragraph (1)(B) for the
same purposes for which a Member of the House of Representatives
may use the Members' Representational Allowance, except that the
Organization may not use such amounts for franked mail, official
travel, or leases of space or vehicles.
(B) Maintenance of limitations on number of shared
employees.--Pursuant to the authority of section 104(d) of the
House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical
Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 5321(d)), the Committee shall
prescribe regulations to provide that an employee of the office
of a Member of the House of Representatives who is covered by an
agreement entered into under paragraph (1) between the Member
and an eligible Congressional Member Organization shall be
considered a shared employee of the Member's office and the
Organization for purposes of such section, and shall include in
such regulations appropriate accounting standards to ensure that
a Member of the House of Representatives who enters into an
agreement with such an Organization under paragraph (1) does not
employ more employees than the Member is authorized to employ
under such section.
(C) Participation in student loan repayment program.--
Pursuant to the authority of section 105(b) of the Legislative
Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 (2 U.S.C. 4536(b)), relating to
the student loan repayment program for employees of the House,
the Committee shall promulgate regulations to provide that, in
the case of an employee who is covered by an agreement entered
into under paragraph (1) between a Member of the House of
Representatives and an eligible Congressional Member
Organization and who participates in such program while carrying
out duties under the agreement--
(i) any funds made available for making payments
under the program with respect to the employee shall be
transferred to the Organization's dedicated account
under paragraph (1)(B); and
(ii) the Organization shall use the funds to repay a
student loan taken out by the employee, under the same
terms and conditions which would apply under the program
if the Organization were the employing office of the
employee.
(D) Access to house services.--The Committee shall prescribe
regulations to ensure that an eligible Congressional Member
Organization has appropriate access to services of the House.
(E) Other regulations.--The Committee shall promulgate such
other regulations as may be appropriate to carry out this
subsection.
(3) Eligible congressional member organization defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``eligible Congressional Member Organization''
means, with respect to the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, an
organization meeting each of the following requirements:
(A) The organization is registered as a Congressional Member
Organization with the Committee on House Administration.
(B) The organization designates a single Member of the House
of Representatives to be responsible for the administration of
the organization, including the administration of the account
administered under paragraph (1)(B), and includes the
identification of such Member with the statement of organization
that the organization files and maintains with the Committee on
House Administration.
(C) At least 3 employees of the House are assigned to
perform some work for the organization.
(D) During the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, at least 15
Members of the House of Representatives used a portion of the
Members' Representational Allowance of the Member for the salary
and related expenses of an employee who was a shared employee of
the Member's office and the organization.
(E) The organization files a statement with the Committee on
House Administration and the Chief Administrative Officer of the
House of Representatives certifying that it will administer an
account in accordance with paragraph (1)(B).
(p) Budget Matters.--During the first session of the One Hundred Seventeenth
Congress, pending the adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 2021, the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate levels as
contained in the statement of the chair of the Committee on the Budget of the
House of Representatives in the Congressional Record of May 1, 2020, as adjusted
in the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, shall be considered for all purposes in
the House to be the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate levels under
titles III and IV of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(q) Reissuance of Subpoenas Prior to Committee Organization.--(1) The House
authorizes the chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform (when elected), on
behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and until such committee has
adopted rules pursuant to clause 2(a) of rule XI, to issue subpoenas related to
the investigation into the accuracy and timing of the 2020 decennial census and
related matters.
(2) The House authorizes the chair of the Select Subcommittee on the
Coronavirus Crisis (when designated), on behalf of the Select Subcommittee on
the Coronavirus Crisis and until the Committee on Oversight and Reform has
adopted rules pursuant to clause 2(a) of rule XI, to issue subpoenas related to
the investigation into political interference in the response to the coronavirus
pandemic at the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and related matters.
(r) Numbering of Bills.--In the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, the first
10 numbers for bills (H.R. 1 through H.R. 10) shall be reserved for assignment
by the Speaker and the second 10 numbers for bills (H.R. 11 through H.R. 20)
shall be reserved for assignment by the Minority Leader.
(s) Remote Voting by Proxy and Remote Committee Activity.--House Resolution
965, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred Seventeenth
Congress in the same manner as such resolution applied in the One Hundred
Sixteenth Congress, except that--
(1) the notification and availability requirements of section 2 do
not apply to revocation letters submitted to the Clerk after an
automatic revocation pursuant to section 2(a)(2)(B);
(2) section 4(b) shall not apply; and
(3) the chair of the Committee on House Administration, in
consultation with the ranking minority member, shall identify and submit
to the Speaker and to the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Rules specific operable and secure technology that may be
used to conduct remote voting in the House and shall provide
certification of such submission to the House as though pursuant to
section 5(a).
(t) Witness Diversity.--Not later than July 1, 2021, the Office of Diversity
and Inclusion shall submit a report to the Committee on House Administration and
the Committee on Rules recommending a method to survey the diversity of witness
panels at committee hearings. Not later than July 31, 2021, the Committee on
House Administration and the Committee on Rules shall take such steps as may be
necessary to ensure the implementation of such method.
(u) Requirements for Committee Hearing and Markup.--During the One Hundred
Seventeenth Congress, notwithstanding clause 12(c) of rule XXI (as added by
section 2(r)), clause 12(a) of rule XXI shall not apply before April 1, 2021.
(v) Exemptions.--The chair of the Committee on the Budget may adjust an
estimate under clause 4 of rule XXIX to--
(1) exempt the budgetary effects of measures to prevent, prepare
for, or respond to economic or public health consequences resulting from
the COVID-19 pandemic; and
(2) exempt the budgetary effects of measures to prevent, prepare
for, or respond to economic, environmental, or public health
consequences resulting from climate change.
(w) Further Expenses for Resolving Contested Elections.--
(1) Amounts for expenses of committee on house administration.--
There shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of
Representatives such sums as may be necessary for further expenses of
the Committee on House Administration for the One Hundred Seventeenth
Congress for resolving contested elections.
(2) Session limitation.--The amount specified in paragraph (1) shall
be available for expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon
on January 3, 2021, and ending immediately before noon on January 3,
2022.
(3) Vouchers.--Payments under this subsection shall be made on
vouchers authorized by the Committee on House Administration, signed by
the chair of the Committee, and approved in the manner directed by the
Committee.
(4) Regulations.--Amounts made available under this subsection shall
be expended in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee
on House Administration.
(x) Support for Senate Measures.--Not later than February 1, 2021, the Clerk
shall submit to the chair of the Committee on Rules regulations establishing a
process for Members to indicate their support for Senate measures that have been
received by the House. Such process shall include the maintenance of a publicly
available list of Members supporting each such Senate measure. Upon receipt of
such regulations, the chair of the Committee on Rules shall cause them to be
printed in the Congressional Record, and Members shall be permitted to indicate
their support for Senate measures accordingly.
(y) Dissemination of Manipulated Media.--The Committee on Ethics is directed
to report to the House, not later than December 31, 2021, any recommended
amendments to the Code of Official Conduct, as well as any accompanying
regulations, intended to address the circumstances and instances, if any, for
which a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House may be subject to discipline for the dissemination by electronic means,
including by social media, of any image, video, or audio file that has been
distorted or manipulated with the intent to mislead the public.
SEC. 4. COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND HOUSE OFFICES.
(a) House Democracy Partnership.--House Resolution 24, One Hundred Tenth
Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress in the same manner
as such resolution applied in the One Hundred Tenth Congress, except that the
commission concerned shall be known as the House Democracy Partnership.
(b) Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.--Sections 1 through 7 of House
Resolution 1451, One Hundred Tenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred
Seventeenth Congress in the same manner as such provisions applied in the One
Hundred Tenth Congress, except that--
(1) the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission may, in addition to
collaborating closely with other professional staff members of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, collaborate closely with professional
staff members of other relevant committees;
(2) the resources of the Committee on Foreign Affairs which the
Commission may use shall include all resources which the Committee is
authorized to obtain from other offices of the House of Representatives;
and
(3) any amounts authorized to provide full-time professional staff
and resources to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission shall be in
addition to and separate from the amounts authorized for salaries and
expenses of the Committee on Foreign Affairs as provided by resolution
of the House, shall be administered by the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
and shall be distributed equally between the co-chairs of the
Commission.
(c) Office of Congressional Ethics.--Section 1 of House Resolution 895, One
Hundred Tenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress in
the same manner as such provision applied in the One Hundred Tenth Congress,
except that--
(1) the Office of Congressional Ethics shall be treated as a
standing committee of the House for purposes of section 202(i) of the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i));
(2) references to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
shall be construed as references to the Committee on Ethics;
(3) any requirement for concurrence in section 1(b)(1) shall be
construed as a requirement for consultation;
(4) the second sentence of section 1(b)(6)(A) shall not apply;
(5) members subject to section 1(b)(6)(B) may be reappointed for a
fourth additional term;
(6) any individual who is the subject of a preliminary review or
second-phase review by the board shall be informed of the right to be
represented by counsel and invoking that right should not be held
negatively against such individual; and
(7) the Office may not take any action that would deny any person
any right or protection provided under the Constitution of the United
States.
(d) Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.--Section 104(f) of House
Resolution 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred
Seventeenth Congress in the same manner as such section applied in the One
Hundred Sixteenth Congress, except that--
(1) the investigative jurisdiction of the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis shall consist of policies, strategies, and innovations to
achieve substantial and permanent reductions in pollution and other
activities that contribute to the climate crisis which will honor our
responsibility to be good stewards of the planet for future generations
and advance environmental justice;
(2) the Select Committee shall coordinate with and advise standing
committees with relevant jurisdiction with respect to such policies,
strategies, and innovations;
(3) any records obtained by a standing committee pursuant to a
subpoena or deposition recommended by the Select Committee pursuant to
section 104(f)(3)(B)(iii) may be transferred to the Select Committee;
and
(4) the Select Committee shall submit all policy recommendations
referenced in section 104(f)(5) by December 31, 2021, and all reports
referenced in section 104(f)(5) by December 31, 2022.
(e) Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.--Section 201 of House
Resolution 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred
Seventeenth Congress in the same manner as such section applied in the One
Hundred Sixteenth Congress, except that--
(1) the Select Committee shall submit the final report under section
201(f)(3) not later than December 31, 2022; and
(2) section 201(g)(1) shall not apply.
(f) Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.--Sections 1 through 7 of
House Resolution 935, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, shall apply in the One
Hundred Seventeenth Congress in the same manner as such provisions applied in
the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress.
(g) Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.--
(1) Establishment; composition.--
(A) Establishment.--There is hereby established a Select
Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth
(hereafter in this subsection referred to as the ``Select
Committee'').
(B) Composition.--The Select Committee shall be composed of
15 Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner appointed by
the Speaker, of whom 6 shall be appointed on the recommendation
of the Minority Leader. The Speaker shall designate one member
of the Select Committee as its chair. A vacancy in the
membership of the Select Committee shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment.
(2) Jurisdiction; functions.--
(A) Legislative jurisdiction.--The Select Committee shall
not have legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to
take legislative action on any bill or resolution.
(B) Investigative jurisdiction.--The sole authority of the
Select Committee shall be to investigate, study, make findings,
and develop recommendations on policies, strategies, and
innovations to make our economy work for everyone, empowering
American economic growth while ensuring that no one is left out
or behind in the 21st Century Economy. The Select Committee
shall coordinate with and advise standing committees with
relevant jurisdiction with respect to policy related to economic
fairness, access to education, and workforce development. The
Select Committee may, at its discretion, hold public hearings in
connection with any aspect of its investigative functions.
(3) Procedure.--(A) Except as specified in subparagraph (B), the
Select Committee shall have the authorities and responsibilities of, and
shall be subject to the same limitations and restrictions as, a standing
committee of the House, and shall be deemed a committee of the House for
all purposes of law or rule.
(B)(i) Rules X and XI shall apply to the Select Committee where not
inconsistent with this subsection.
(ii) Service on the Select Committee shall not count against the
limitations in clause 5(b)(2) of rule X.
(iii) Clause 2(m)(1)(B) of rule XI, clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI, and
section 3(b) of this resolution shall not apply to the Select Committee,
but the Select Committee may recommend subpoenas and depositions and
submit such recommendations to the relevant standing committee. Any
records obtained by a standing committee pursuant to a subpoena or
deposition recommended by the Select Committee pursuant to this clause
may be transferred to the Select Committee.
(iv) Clause 2(d) of rule X shall not apply to the Select Committee.
(4) Amounts for initial expenses.--
(A) Payment of expenses.--There shall be paid out of the
applicable accounts of the House of Representatives not more
than $500,000 for the expenses of the Select Committee, to be
available during the period beginning at noon on January 3,
2021, and ending on March 31, 2021.
(B) Vouchers.--Payments under this paragraph shall be made
on vouchers authorized by the Select Committee, signed by the
chair of the Select Committee, and approved in the manner
directed by the Committee on House Administration.
(C) Regulations.--Amounts made available under this
paragraph shall be expended in accordance with regulations
prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.
(5) Use of staff.--To enable the Select Committee to carry out the
purposes of this subsection, the Select Committee may use the services
of staff of the House.
(6) Reporting.--The Select Committee may report to the House or any
committee of the House from time to time the results of its
investigations and studies, together with such detailed findings and
policy recommendations as it may deem advisable. All such reports shall
be submitted to the House by December 31, 2022. All such policy
recommendations shall be submitted to the relevant standing committees
not later than December 31, 2021.
(7) Publication.--The Select Committee shall ensure that reports and
proposals prepared in accordance with this subsection shall, upon
completion, be made available to the general public in widely accessible
formats not later than 30 calendar days following the respective dates
for completion set forth in paragraph (6).
SEC. 5. ORDERS OF BUSINESS.
(a)(1) On any legislative day during the period from January 3, 2021 through
January 28, 2021--
(A) the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day shall be
considered as approved; and
(B) the Chair may at any time declare the House adjourned to meet at
a date and time, within the limits of clause 4, section 5, article I of
the Constitution, to be announced by the Chair in declaring the
adjournment.
(2) The Speaker may appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for
the duration of the period addressed by paragraph (1) as though under clause
8(a) of rule I.
(3) Each day during the period addressed by paragraph (1) shall not
constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 7 of the War Powers Resolution
(50 U.S.C. 1546).
(4) Each day during the period addressed by paragraph (1) shall not
constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of rule XIII.
(5) Each day during the period addressed by paragraph (1) shall not
constitute a calendar or legislative day for purposes of clause 7(c)(1) of rule
XXII.
(6) Each day during the period addressed by paragraph (1) shall not
constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of rule XV.
(b) It shall be in order at any time through the legislative day of January
28, 2021, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules
as though under clause 1 of rule XV. The Speaker or her designee shall consult
with the Minority Leader or his designee on the designation of any matter for
consideration pursuant to this subsection.
(c) The requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to
consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to
the House is waived with respect to any resolution reported through the
legislative day of January 28, 2021.
Attest:
Clerk.