Amending rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives with regard to the procedures of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
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Amends rule XI (Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to revise the procedures of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Repeals the requirement that a complaint be dismissed if an investigative subcommittee has not been established within 45 days after the complaint is filed (Automatic Dismissal Rule). Requires the committee to establish an investigative subcommittee if a complaint is not disposed of within the 45 days (or a 45-day extension). Subjects to such (automatic) subcommittee establishment rule the current related requirement that an investigative committee be established only by an affirmative of the majority of the committee members, if at any time during the applicable time period either the committee chairman or ranking member places on the agenda the issue of whether to establish such an investigative subcommittee.
Requires the Committee to establish an "investigative" instead of "adjudicatory" subcommittee when requested by a Member, officer, or employee of the House, contesting the contents of a written complaint. (Thus repeals the right of a Member, officer, or employee to demand an immediate trial by an adjudicatory committee within the initial 45-day period, before a case has been adequately prepared.)
Revises the right to counsel of a respondent or witness. Strikes provisions allowing a respondent or witness appearing before the investigative subcommittee or investigative hearing to obtain counsel of his or her choice, even if such counsel represents another respondent or witness. (Thus allows the committee to adopt a rule that prohibits a counsel from representing more than one respondent or witness.)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2534-2535)
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Res. 131: Amending rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives with regard to the procedures of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-131/
"H. Res. 131: Amending rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives with regard to the procedures of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-131/.
H. Res. 131, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-131/.
[H. Res. 131: Amending rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives with regard to the procedures of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-131/)