RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE, 105TH CONGRESS (House of Representatives - March 18, 1997)

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The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss] is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the requirement of clause 2(a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I submit herewith the rules of the Committee on National Security for the 105th Congress and ask that they be printed in the Record at this point.

Rules of Procedure for the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--REVISED MARCH 1997

1. CONVENING OF MEETINGS

The regular meeting day of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for the transaction of committee business shall be on the first Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise directed by the chairman.

In the case of any meeting of the committee, other than a regularly scheduled meeting, the clerk of the committee shall notify every member of the committee of the time and place of the meeting and shall give reasonable notice which, except in extraordinary circumstances, shall be at least 24 hours in advance of any meeting held in Washington, D.C., and at least 48 hours in the case of any meeting held outside Washington, D.C.

2. PREPARATIONS FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Under direction of the chairman, designated committee staff members shall brief members of the committee at a time sufficiently prior to any committee or subcommittee meeting to assist the committee members in preparation for such meeting and to determine any matter which the committee members might wish considered during the meeting. Such briefing shall, at the request of a member, include a list of all pertinent papers and other materials that have been obtained by the committee that bear on matters to be considered at the meeting.

The staff director shall recommend to the chairman the testimony, papers, and other materials to be presented to the committee or subcommittee at any meeting. The determination whether such testimony, papers, and other materials shall be presented in open or executive session shall be made pursuant to the Rules of the House and these rules.

3. MEETING PROCEDURES

Meetings of the committee and its subcommittees shall be open to the public except that a portion or portions of any such meeting may be closed to the public if the committee or subcommittee, as the case may be, determines by record vote in open session and with a majority present that the matters to be discussed or the testimony to be taken on such matters 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.

Except for purposes of taking testimony or receiving evidence, for which purposes a quorum shall consist of two committee members, a quorum for the transaction of any other committee business shall consist of nine committee members. Decisions of the committee shall be by majority vote of the members present and voting.

Whenever the committee by rollcall vote reports any measure or matter, the report of the committee upon such measure or matter shall include a tabulation of the votes cast in favor of and the votes cast in opposition to such measure or matter.

4. PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE TAKING OF TESTIMONY

Notice: Reasonable notice shall be given to all witnesses appearing before the committee.

Oath or Affirmation: Testimony of witnesses shall be given under oath or affirmation which may be administered by any member of the committee, except that the chairman of the committee or of any subcommittee shall not require an oath or affirmation where the chairman determines that it would not be appropriate under the circumstances.

Interrogation: Committee or subcommittee interrogation shall be conducted by members of the committee and such committee staff as are authorized by the chairman or the presiding member.

Counsel for the Witness: (A) Any witness may be accompanied by counsel. A witness who is unable to obtain counsel may inform the committee of such fact. If the witness informs the committee of this fact at least 24 hours prior to the witness' appearance before the committee, the committee shall then endeavor to obtain voluntary counsel for the witness. Failure to obtain such counsel will not excuse the witness from appearing and testifying.

(B) Counsel shall conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner. Failure to do so shall, upon a finding to that effect by a majority of the members of the committee, a majority being present, subject such counsel to disciplinary action which may include censure, removal, or a recommendation of contempt proceedings, except that the chairman of the committee or of a subcommittee may temporarily remove counsel during proceedings before the committee or subcommittee unless a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee, a majority being present, vote to reverse the ruling of the chair.

(C) There shall be no direct cross-examination by counsel. However, counsel may submit in writing any question counsel wishes propounded to a client or to any other witness and may, at the conclusion of such testimony, suggest the presentation of other evidence or the calling of other witnesses. The committee or subcommittee may use such questions and dispose of such suggestions as it deems appropriate.

Statements by Witnesses: A witness may make a statement, which shall be brief and relevant, at the beginning and conclusion of the witness' testimony. Such statements shall not exceed a reasonable period of time as determined by the chairman, or other presiding member. Any witness desiring to make a prepared or written statement for the record of the proceedings shall file a copy with the clerk of the committee, and insofar as practicable and consistent with the notice given, shall do so at least 72 hours in advance of the witness' appearance before the committee.

Objections and Ruling: Any objection raised by a witness or counsel shall be ruled upon by the chairman or other presiding member, and such ruling shall be the ruling of the committee unless a majority of the committee present overrules the ruling of the chair.

Transcripts: A transcript shall be made of the testimony of each witness appearing before the committee or any subcommittee during a committee or subcommittee hearing.

Inspection and Correction: All witnesses testifying before the committee or any subcommittee shall be given a reasonable opportunity to inspect the transcript of their testimony to determine whether such testimony was correctly transcribed. The witness may be accompanied by counsel. Any corrections the witness desires to make in the transcript shall be submitted in writing to the committee within 5 days from the date when the transcript was made available to the witness. Corrections shall be limited to grammar and minor editing, and may not be made to change the substance of the testimony. Any questions arising with respect to such corrections shall be decided by the chairman. Upon request, those parts of testimony given by a witness in executive session which are subsequently quoted or made part of a public record shall be made available to that witness at the witness' expense.

Requests to Testify: The committee or subcommittee will consider requests to testify on any matter or measure pending before the committee or subcommittee. A person who believes that testimony or other evidence presented at a public hearing, or any comment made by a committee member or a member of the committee staff may tend to affect adversely that person's reputation, may request to appear personally before the committee to testify on his or her own behalf, or may file a sworn statement of facts relevant to the testimony, evidence, or comment, or may submit to the chairman proposed questions in writing for the cross-examination of other witnesses. The committee shall take such actions as it deems appropriate.

Contempt Procedures: No recommendation that a person be cited for contempt of Congress shall be forwarded to the House unless and until the committee has, upon notice to all its members, met and considered the alleged contempt, afforded the person an opportunity to state in writing or in person why he or she should not be held in contempt, and agreed, by majority vote of the committee to forward such recommendation to the House.

Release of Name of Witness: At the request of any witness, the name of that witness scheduled to be heard by the committee shall not be released prior to, or after, the witness' appearance before the committee, unless otherwise authorized by the chairman.

Closing Hearings: A vote to close a committee or subcommittee hearing may not be taken by less than a majority of the committee or the subcommittee pursuant to clause 4 of House Rule XLVIII unless at least one member of the minority is present to vote upon a motion to close the hearing.

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5. SUBCOMMITTEES

Creation of subcommittees shall be by majority vote of the committee. Subcommittees shall deal with such legislation and oversight of programs as the committee may direct. The subcommittees shall be governed by the rules of the committee.

Except for purposes of taking testimony or receiving evidence, for which purposes a quorum shall consist of two subcommittee members, a quorum for the transaction of any other subcommittee business shall consist of a majority of the subcommittee.

There are hereby established the following subcommittees: (1) Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence; and (2) Technical and Tactical Intelligence.

The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the full committee are authorized to sit as ex officio members of each subcommittee and to participate in the work of the subcommittee, except, when sitting as ex officio members, they shall not have a vote in the subcommittee [nor be counted for purposes of determining a quorum].

6. INVESTIGATIONS

No investigation shall be conducted by the committee unless approved by the full committee, a majority being present; provided, however, that an investigation may be initiated--

(1) at the direction of the chairman of the full committee, with notice to the ranking minority member of the full committee; or

(2) at the written request to the chairman of the full committee of at least five members of the committee, except that any investigation initiated under (1) or (2) must be brought to the attention of the full committee for approval at the next regular meeting of the full committee following initiation of the investigation. Authorized investigations may be conducted by members of the committee and/or designated committee staff members.

7. SUBPOENAS

Unless otherwise determined by the committee, the chairman, upon consultation with the ranking minority member, or the committee, shall authorize and issue subpoenas. Subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses or the production of memoranda, documents, records or any other material may be issued by the chairman, or any member of the committee designated by the chairman, and may be served by any person designated by the chairman or member issuing the subpoenas. Each subpoena shall have attached thereto a copy of these rules.

8. STAFF

For the purpose of these rules, committee staff means employees of the committee, consultants to the committee, employees of other Government agencies detailed to the committee, or any other person engaged by contract or otherwise to perform services for or at the request of the committee. In addition, the Speaker and minority leader each may designate a member of their leadership staff to assist them in their capacity as ex officio members, with the same access to committee meetings, hearings, briefings, and materials as if employees of the select committee, and subject to the same security clearance and confidentiality requirements as employees of the select committee under this rule.

The appointment of committee staff shall be by the chairman in consultation with the ranking minority member. After confirmation, the chairman shall certify committee staff appointments to the Clerk of the House in writing.

The committee staff works for the committee as a whole, under the supervision of the chairman of the committee. Except as otherwise provided by the committee, the duties of committee staff shall be performed and committee staff personnel affairs and day-to-day operations, including security and control of classified documents and material, shall be administered under the direct supervision and control of the staff director.

The committee staff shall assist the minority as fully as the majority in all matters of committee business and in the preparation and filing of additional, separate and minority views, to the end that all points of view may be fully considered by the committee and the House.

The members of the committee staff shall not discuss either the classified substance or procedure of the work of the committee with any person not a member of the committee or the committee staff for any purpose or in connection with any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, either during that person's tenure as a member of the committee staff or at any time thereafter except as directed by the committee in accordance with clause 7 of House Rule XLVIII and the provisions of these rules, or, in the event of the termination of the committee, in such a manner as may be determined by the House.

No member of the committee staff shall be employed by the committee unless and until such a member of the committee staff agrees in writing, as a condition of employment, not to divulge any classified information which comes into such person's possession while a member of the committee staff or any classified information which comes into such person's possession by virtue of his or her position as a member of the committee staff to any person not a member of the committee or the committee staff, either while a member of the committee staff or at any time thereafter except as directed by the committee in accordance with clause 7 of House Rule XLVIII and the provisions of these rules, or in the event of the termination of the committee, in such manner as may be determined by the House.

No member of the committee staff shall be employed by the committee unless and until such a member of the committee staff agrees in writing, as a condition of employment, to notify the committee, or, in the event of the committee's termination, the House, of any request for testimony, either while a member of the committee staff or at any time thereafter with respect to classified information which came into the staff member's possession by virtue of his or her position as a member of the committee staff. Such classified information shall not be disclosed in response to such requests except as directed by the committee in accordance with clause 7 of House Rule XLVIII and the provisions of these rules, or in the event of the termination of the committee, in such manner as may be determined by the House.

The committee shall immediately consider disciplinary action to be taken in case any member of the committee staff fails to conform to any of these rules. Such disciplinary action may include, but shall not be limited to, immediate dismissal from the committee staff.

9. RECEIPT OF CLASSIFIED MATERIAL

In the case of any information classified under established security procedures and submitted to the committee by the executive or legislative branch, the committee's acceptance of such information shall constitute a decision by the committee that it is executive session material and shall not be disclosed publicly or released unless the committee, by rollcall vote, determines, in a manner consistent with clause 7 of House Rule XLVIII, that it should be disclosed publicly or otherwise released. For purposes of receiving information from either the executive or legislative branch, the committee staff may accept information on behalf of the committee.

10. PROCEDURES RELATED TO CLASSIFIED OR SENSITIVE MATERIAL

(a) Committee staff offices shall operate under strict security precautions. At least one security officer shall be on duty at all times by the entrance to control entry. Before entering the office all persons shall identify themselves.

Sensitive or classified documents and material shall be segregated in a security storage area. They may be examined only at secure reading facilities. Copying, duplicating, or removal from the committee offices of such documents and other materials are prohibited except as is necessary for use in, or preparation for, interviews or committee meetings, including the taking of testimony in conformity with these rules.

Each member of the committee shall at all times have access to all papers and other material received from any source. The staff director shall be responsible for the maintenance, under appropriate security procedures, of a registry which will number and identify all classified papers and other classified materials in the possession of the committee and such registry shall be available to any member of the committee.

(b) Pursuant to clause (7)(c)(2) of House Rule XLVIII and to clause (2)(e)(2) and clause 2(g)(2) of House Rule XI, members who are not members of the committee shall be granted access to such transcripts, records, data, charts and files of the committee and be admitted on a nonparticipatory basis to hearings or briefings of the committee which involve classified material, on the basis of the following provisions:

(1) Members who desire to examine materials in the possession of the committee or to attend committee hearings or briefings on a nonparticipatory basis should notify the clerk of the committee in writing.

(2) Each such request by a member must be considered by the committee, a quorum being present, at the earliest practicable opportunity. The committee must determine by record vote whatever action it deems necessary in light of all the circumstances of each individual request. The committee shall take into account, in its deliberations, such considerations, as the sensitivity of the information sought to the national defense or the confidential conduct of the foreign relations of the United States, the likelihood of its being directly or indirectly disclosed, the jurisdictional interest of the member making the request and such other concerns--constitutional or otherwise--as affect the public interest of the United States. Such actions as the committee may take include, but are not limited to: (i) approving the request, in whole or part; (ii) denying the request; (iii) providing in different form than requested information or material which is the subject of the request.

(3) In matters touching on such requests, the committee may, in its discretion, consult the Director of Central Intelligence and such other officials as it may deem necessary.

(4) In the event that the member making the request in question does not accede to the determination or any part thereof of the committee as regards the request, that member should notify the committee in writing of the grounds for such disagreement. The committee shall subsequently consider the matter and decide, by record vote, what further action or recommendation, if any, it will take.

(c) Pursuant to Section 501 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 413) and to clauses 3(a) and 7(c)(2) of House Rule XLVIII, the committee shall call to the attention of the House or to any other appropriate committee or committees of the House any matters requiring the attention of the House or such other committee or committees of the House on the basis of the following provisions:

(1) At the request of any member of the committee, the committee shall meet at the earliest practicable opportunity to consider a suggestion that the committee call to the attention of the House or any other committee or committees of the House executive session material.

(2) In determining whether any matter requires the attention of the House or any other committee or committees of the House, the committee shall consider, among such other matters it deems appropriate--

(A) the effect of the matter in question upon the national defense or the foreign relations of the United States; (B) whether the matter in question involves sensitive intelligence sources and methods; (C) whether the matter in question otherwise raises serious questions about the national interest; and (D) whether the matter in question affects matters within the jurisdiction of another committee or committees of the House.

(3) In examining the considerations described in paragraph (2), the committee may seek the opinion of members of the committee appointed from standing committees of the House with jurisdiction over the matter in question or to submissions from such other committees. Further, the committee may seek the advice in its deliberations of any executive branch official.

(4) If the committee, with a quorum present, by record vote decides that a matter requires the attention of the House or a committee or committees of the House which the committee deems appropriate, it shall make arrangements to notify the House or committee or committees promptly.

(5) In bringing a matter to the attention of another committee or committees of the House, the committee, with due regard for the protection of intelligence sources and methods, shall take all necessary steps to safeguard materials or information relating to the matter in question.

(6) The method of communicating matters to other committees of the House shall insure that information or material designated by the committee is promptly made available to the chairman and ranking minority member of such other committees.

(7) The committee may bring a matter to the attention of the House when it considers the matter in question so grave that it requires the attention of all members of the House, if time is of the essence, or for any other reason which the committee finds compelling. In such case, the committee shall consider whether to request an immediate secret session of the House (with time equally divided between the majority and the minority) or to publicly disclose the matter in question pursuant to clause 7 of House Rule XLVIII.

(d) Whenever the select committee makes classified material available to any other committee of the House or to any member of the House not a member of the committee, the clerk of the committee shall be notified. The clerk shall at that time provide a copy of the applicable portions of these rules and of House Rule XLVIII and other pertinent Rules of the House to such members or such committee and insure that the conditions contained therein under which the classified materials provided are clearly presented to the recipient. The clerk of the committee shall also maintain a written record identifying the particular information transmitted, the reasons agreed upon by the committee for approving such transmission and the committee or members of the House receiving such information. The staff director of the committee is further empowered to provide for such additional measures as he or she deems necessary in providing material which the committee has determined to make available to a member of the House or a committee of the House.

(e) Access to classified information supplied to the committee shall be limited to those committee staff members with appropriate security clearance and a need-to-know, as determined by the committee, and under the committee's direction, the staff director.

No member of the committee or of the committee staff shall disclose, in whole or in part or by way of summary, to any person not a member of the committee or the committee staff for any purpose or in connection with any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, any testimony given before the committee in executive session, or the contents of any classified papers or other classified materials or other classified information received by the committee report as authorized by the committee in a manner consistent with clause 7 of House Rule XLVIII and the provisions of these rules, or in the event of the termination of the committee, in such a manner as may be determined by the House.

Before the committee makes any decision regarding a request for access to any testimony, papers or other materials in its possession or a proposal to bring any matter to the attention of the House or a committee or committees of the House, committee members shall have a reasonable opportunity to examine all pertinent testimony, papers, and other materials that have been obtained by the committee.

(f) Before any member of the committee or the committee staff may have access to classified information the following oath shall be executed:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not disclose any classified information received in the course of my service on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, except when authorized to do so by the committee or the House of Representatives.

Copies of the executed oath shall be retained in the files of the committee.

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11. LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR

The clerk of the committee shall maintain a printed calendar for the information of each committee member showing the measures introduced and referred to the committee and the status of such measures--and such other matters as the committee determines shall be included. The calendar shall be revised from time to time to show pertinent changes. A copy of each such revision shall be furnished to each member of the committee.

Unless otherwise ordered, measures referred to the committee shall be referred by the clerk of the committee to the appropriate department or agency of the Government for reports thereon.

12. COMMITTEE TRAVEL

No member of the committee or committee staff shall travel on committee business unless specifically authorized by the chairman. Requests for authorization of such travel shall state the purpose and extent of the trip. A full report shall be filed with the committee when travel is completed.

A report on all foreign travel shall be filed with the committee clerk within 60 calendar days of the completion of said travel. The report shall contain a description of all issues discussed during the trip. If a member of the committee or an individual with the committee staff fails to comply with this requirement, no further travel requests requiring the authorization of the chairman will be authorized for these individuals until compliance is achieved.

When the chairman approves the foreign travel of a member of the committee staff not accompanying a member of the committee, all members of the committee are to be advised, prior to the commencement of such travel of its extent, nature and purpose. The report referred to in the previous paragraph shall be furnished to all members of the committee and shall not be otherwise disseminated without the express authorization of the committee pursuant to the rules of the committee.

13. BROADCASTING COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Whenever any hearing or meeting conducted by the committee or any subcommittee is open to the public, a majority of the committee or subcommittee, as the case may be, may permit that hearing or meeting to be covered, in whole or in part, by television broadcast, radio broadcast, and still photography, or by any of such methods of coverage, subject to the provisions and in accordance with the spirit of the purposes enumerated in clause 3 of Rule XI of the Rules of the House.

14. COMMITTEE RECORDS TRANSFERRED TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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 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 the written request of any member of the committee.

15. CHANGES IN RULES

These rules may be modified, amended, or repealed by the committee, provided that a notice in writing of the proposed change has been given to each member at least 48 hours prior to the meeting at which action thereon is to be taken.

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