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House Republican Policy Committee
John J. Rhodes, Chairman
140 Cannon House Office Bldg.
October 10, 1966
Phone: 225-6168
Republican Policy Committee Statement on Recommendations for
The Reorganization of Congress
We urge the immediate consideration of H.R. 17873, the Legislative Reorgani- -
zation Act of 1966. This bill would implement the important recommendations con-
tained in the final report of the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress
which was filed with the Congress on July 28, 1966.
The Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress was established by unani-
mous vote of both the House and the Senate in March of 1965. It has held 41 pub-
lic hearings and received the views of 199 witnesses. The testimony, together
with the statements, documents and an index, is contained in 16 printed volumes
totaling 2,435 pages. Between January 19, 1966 and the filing of the report on
July 28, 1966, the Committee and its staff met in over 50 executive sessions to
consider the proposed reforms and to formulate its recommendations. The work of
this Committee has been thorough and complete. Without question, the recommenda-
tions contained in this report, if enacted into law, would make Congress a more
effective institution for carrying out its basic functions.
The recommendations of the Joint Committee, as implemented by H.R. 17873,
include:
1. The establishment of a Joint Committee on Congressional Operations with con-
tinuing authority to study the structure and procedures of Congress and to recom-
mend additional reforms and changes.
2. The protection of the rights of the minority through the provision of addi-
tional committee staff, the right to present minority views and reports, the
provision of equal time on conference reports, and the right to schedule wit-
nesses during at least one day of committee hearings.
3. The creation of a House Committee on Standards and Conduct which vould have
an equal number of majority and minority members.
4. The authorization of measures designed to assist Members of Congress in the
performance of their Congressional duties. Such measures would include enlarg-
ing committee staffs, strengthening and improving the Legislative Reference
Service, and authorizing committees to employ consultants on an interim basis
in order to take advantage of expertise in various fields of knowledge.
5. The implementation of fiscal controls and budgetary reforms that would in-
clude a greater utilization of the General Accounting Office, a multiple-year
financial projection of programs and the updating of the budget on June 1 of
each year, and the testimony of responsible Executive Department officials be-
fore the Appropriations Committee of each House within 30 days after the budget
is presented to Congress.
6. The establishment of a Bill of Rights for committees that would: require
the announcement of record votes; permit the majority to compel the filing of a
report or a bill; prohibit the use of proxies; and require the printing of com-
mittee rules at the beginning of each session.
(over)
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"ocrText": "House Republican Policy Committee\nJohn J. Rhodes, Chairman\n140 Cannon House Office Bldg.\nOctober 10, 1966\nPhone: 225-6168\nRepublican Policy Committee Statement on Recommendations for\nThe Reorganization of Congress\nWe urge the immediate consideration of H.R. 17873, the Legislative Reorgani- -\nzation Act of 1966. This bill would implement the important recommendations con-\ntained in the final report of the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress\nwhich was filed with the Congress on July 28, 1966.\nThe Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress was established by unani-\nmous vote of both the House and the Senate in March of 1965. It has held 41 pub-\nlic hearings and received the views of 199 witnesses. The testimony, together\nwith the statements, documents and an index, is contained in 16 printed volumes\ntotaling 2,435 pages. Between January 19, 1966 and the filing of the report on\nJuly 28, 1966, the Committee and its staff met in over 50 executive sessions to\nconsider the proposed reforms and to formulate its recommendations. The work of\nthis Committee has been thorough and complete. Without question, the recommenda-\ntions contained in this report, if enacted into law, would make Congress a more\neffective institution for carrying out its basic functions.\nThe recommendations of the Joint Committee, as implemented by H.R. 17873,\ninclude:\n1. The establishment of a Joint Committee on Congressional Operations with con-\ntinuing authority to study the structure and procedures of Congress and to recom-\nmend additional reforms and changes.\n2. The protection of the rights of the minority through the provision of addi-\ntional committee staff, the right to present minority views and reports, the\nprovision of equal time on conference reports, and the right to schedule wit-\nnesses during at least one day of committee hearings.\n3. The creation of a House Committee on Standards and Conduct which vould have\nan equal number of majority and minority members.\n4. The authorization of measures designed to assist Members of Congress in the\nperformance of their Congressional duties. Such measures would include enlarg-\ning committee staffs, strengthening and improving the Legislative Reference\nService, and authorizing committees to employ consultants on an interim basis\nin order to take advantage of expertise in various fields of knowledge.\n5. The implementation of fiscal controls and budgetary reforms that would in-\nclude a greater utilization of the General Accounting Office, a multiple-year\nfinancial projection of programs and the updating of the budget on June 1 of\neach year, and the testimony of responsible Executive Department officials be-\nfore the Appropriations Committee of each House within 30 days after the budget\nis presented to Congress.\n6. The establishment of a Bill of Rights for committees that would: require\nthe announcement of record votes; permit the majority to compel the filing of a\nreport or a bill; prohibit the use of proxies; and require the printing of com-\nmittee rules at the beginning of each session.\n(over)"
}