U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION RULES OF PROCEDURE

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION RULES OF PROCEDURE

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S1336-S1337] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION RULES OF PROCEDURE Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Committee on Rules and Administration has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 119th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Senator Padilla, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Rules of Procedure meetings of the committee Rule 1. The regular meeting dates of the Committee shall be the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, at 10:00 a.m., in room SR-301, Russell Senate Office Building. Additional meetings of the Committee may be called by the Chair as he or she may deem necessary or pursuant to the provision of paragraph 3 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate. Rule 2. Meetings of the Committee, including meetings to conduct hearings, shall be open to the public, except that a meeting or series of meetings by the Committee on the same subject for a period of no more than 14 calendar days may be closed to the public on a motion made and seconded to go into closed session to discuss only whether the matters enumerated in subparagraphs (a) through (f) would require the meeting to be closed followed immediately by a recorded vote in open session by a majority of the Members of the Committee when it is determined that the matters to be discussed or the testimony to be taken at such meeting or meetings: (a) will disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct of the foreign relations of the United States; (b) will relate solely to matters of the Committee staff personnel or internal staff management or procedure; (c) will tend to charge an individual with crime or misconduct, to disgrace or injure the professional standing of an individual, or otherwise to expose an individual to public contempt or obloquy, or will represent a clearly unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual; (d) will disclose the identity of any informer or law enforcement agent or will disclose any information relating to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense that is required to be kept secret in the interests of effective law enforcement; (e) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets or financial or commercial information pertaining specifically to a given person if: (1) an Act of Congress requires the information to be kept confidential by Government officers and employees; or (2) the information has been obtained by the Government on a confidential basis, other than through an application by such person for a specific Government financial or other benefit, and is required to be kept secret in order to prevent undue injury to the competitive position of such person; or (f) may divulge matters required to be kept confidential under the provisions of law or Government regulations. (Paragraph 5(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules.) Rule 3. Written notices of Committee meetings will normally be sent by the Committees staff director to all Members of the Committee at least a week in advance. In addition, the Committee staff will telephone or e-mail reminders of Committee meetings to all Members of the Committee or to the appropriate assistants in their offices. Rule 4. A copy of the Committees intended agenda enumerating separate items of legislative business and Committee business will normally be sent to all Members of the Committee and released to the public at least one day in advance of all meetings. This does not preclude any Member of the Committee from discussing appropriate non-agenda topics. Rule 5. After the Chair and the Ranking Minority Member, speaking order shall be based on order of arrival, alternating between Majority and Minority Members, unless otherwise directed by the Chair. Rule 6. Any witness who is to appear before the Committee in any hearing shall file with the clerk of the Committee at least three business days before the date of his or her appearance, a written statement of his or her proposed testimony and an executive summary thereof, in such form as the Chair may direct, unless the Chair and the Ranking Minority Member waive such requirement for good cause. Rule 7. In general, testimony will be restricted to five minutes for each witness. The time may be extended by the Chair, upon the Chairs own direction or at the request of a Member. Each round of questions by Members will also be limited to five minutes. quorums Rule 8. Pursuant to paragraph 7(a)(1) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules, a majority of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the reporting of legislative measures. Rule 9. Pursuant to paragraph 7(a)(1) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules, one-third of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, including action on amendments to measures prior to voting to report the measure to the Senate. Rule 10. Pursuant to paragraph 7(a)(2) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules, two Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking testimony under oath and one Member of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking testimony not under oath; provided, however, that in either instance, [[Page S1337]] once a quorum is established, any one Member can continue to take such testimony. Rule 11. Under no circumstances may proxies be considered for the establishment of a quorum. voting Rule 12. Voting in the Committee on any issue will normally be by voice vote. Rule 13. If a third of the Members present so demand a roll call vote instead of a voice vote, a record vote will be taken on any question by roll call. Rule 14. The results of roll call votes taken in any meeting upon any measure, or any amendment thereto, shall be stated in the Committee report on that measure unless previously announced by the Committee, and such report or announcement shall include a tabulation of the votes cast in favor of and the votes cast in opposition to each such measure and amendment by each Member of the Committee. (Paragraph 7(b) and (c) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules.) Rule 15. Proxy voting shall be allowed on all measures and matters before the Committee. However, the vote of the Committee to report a measure or matter shall require the concurrence of a majority of the Members of the Committee who are physically present at the time of the vote. Proxies will be allowed in such cases solely for the purpose of recording a Members position on the question and then only in those instances when the absentee Committee Member has been informed of the question and has affirmatively requested that he or she be recorded. (Paragraph 7(a)(3) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules.) amendments Rule 16. Provided at least five business days notice of the agenda is given, and the text of the proposed bill or resolution has been made available at least five business days in advance, it shall not be in order for the Committee to consider any amendment in the first degree proposed to any measure under consideration by the Committee unless such amendment has been delivered to the office of the Committee and by at least 5:00 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled start of the meeting and circulated to each of the offices by at least 6:00 p.m. Rule 17. In the event the Chair introduces a substitute amendment or a Chairs mark, the requirements set forth in Rule 16 shall be considered waived unless such substitute amendment or Chairs mark has been made available at least five business days in advance of the scheduled meeting. Rule 18. It shall be in order, without prior notice, for a Member to offer a motion to strike a single section of any bill, resolution, or amendment under consideration. Rule 19. This section of the rule may be waived by agreement of the Chair and the Ranking Minority Member. delegation of authority to committee chair Rule 20. The Chair is authorized to personally sign or sign by delegation all necessary vouchers and routine papers for which the Committees approval is required and to decide on the Committees behalf all routine business. Rule 21. The Chair is authorized to engage commercial reporters for the preparation of transcripts of Committee meetings and hearings. Rule 22. The Chair is authorized to issue, on behalf of the Committee, regulations normally promulgated by the Committee at the beginning of each session. delegation of authority to committee chair and ranking minority member Rule 23. The Chair and Ranking Minority Member, acting jointly, are authorized to approve on behalf of the Committee any rule or regulation for which the Committees approval is required, provided advance notice of their intention to do so is given to Members of the Committee. Rule 24. The Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, is authorized to subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, papers, documents, and other materials. Regardless of whether a subpoena has been concurred in by the Ranking Minority Member, such subpoena may be authorized by vote of the Members of the Committee. When a subpoena is authorized, either by a vote of the Committee or by the Chair with the concurrence of the Ranking Member, the subpoena may be issued upon the signature of the Chair or of any other Member of the Committee designated by the Chair. ____________________