Order Code 98-169 GOV
Updated January 17, 2003
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
House Committee Reports:
Required Contents
Judy Schneider
Specialist on the Congress
Government and Finance Division
House rules and statutes detail several substantive requirements for items to be
included in reports accompanying bills reported from committees, as noted in the
following table. For example, most reports explain a bill’s purpose and the need for the
legislation, its cost, the committee votes on amendments and the measure itself, the
position of the executive branch, and the specific changes the bill would make in existing
law. Not all requirements are applicable to all committees or in all circumstances. There
is also no prescribed order for inclusion of these items in the report, although custom has
dictated certain common approaches, such as placing at the end of a report the notations
of specific changes in law and additional views.
House Committee Reports: Required Contents
House Rule
Requirement
Applies To
Rule XIII, clause 3(b)
Statement of committee action
Rollcall vote to report bill or
on all rollcall votes
resolution of public character
and on any amendment offered
in committee
Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(1)
Statement of committee
Measure approved; all
oversight findings and
committees except the
recommendations
Committees on Appropriations
and Budget
Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(2),
Statement on new budget
Bill or resolution (except
and Section 308(a)(1) of the
authority and related items
continuing appropriations)
Congressional Budget Act of
providing new budget authority,
1974
new spending authority, new
credit authority, or an increase
or decrease in revenues or tax
expenditures
Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(3),
Statement of CBO cost
Bill or resolution of a public
and Section 402 of the
estimate and comparison, if
character; all committees except
Congressional Budget Act of
submitted in a timely fashion
the Committee on
1974
Appropriations
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
House Rule
Requirement
Applies To
Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(4)
Statement of general
Measure approved
performance goals and
objectives, include outcome-
related goals and objectives
Rule XIII, clause 3(d)(1)
Statement of constitutional
Bill or joint resolution of a
authority of Congress to enact
public character
Rule XIII, clause 3(a)(1)(A)
Supplemental, minority, or
Measure or matter approved; all
additional views, if submitted
committees except the
in writing and signed, and filed
Committee on Rules
within 2 calendar days
Rule XIII, clause 3(a)(1)(B)
Recital on cover of report to
Reports that include CBO cost
show inclusion of certain
estimate and comparison,
material
oversight findings, and
supplemental, minority, or
additional views
Rule XIII, clause 3(e)
Changes in existing law
Bill or joint resolution that
(“Ramseyer rule”)
repeals or amends existing law
Rule XIII, clause 3(d)(2)
Statement of committee cost
Bill or resolution of a public
estimate
character; Committees on
Appropriations, House
Administration, Rules, and
Standards of Official Conduct
are exempt; requirement does
not apply if CBO cost estimate
is in report
Rule XIII, clause 3(h)
Statement of macroeconomic
Committee on Ways and Means;
impact of a measure amending
can be waived, or chair of Ways
the tax code
and Means Committee can insert
the analysis in the Congressional
Record prior to the measure
being considered on the floor
Federal Advisory Committee
Determination with respect to
Legislation establishing or
Act (5 U.S.C. App.), Section
new advisory committee
authorizing establishment of an
5(b)
advisory committee
Congressional
Applicability to legislative
Bill or joint resolution relating
Accountability Act, Public
branch or statement of why not
to terms and conditions of
Law 104-1, Section
applicable
employment or access to public
102(b)(3)
services or accommodations
Unfunded Mandates Reform
Statement of federal mandates
Bill or resolution of a public
Act, Public Law 104-4;
character
Section 423 of
Congressional Budget Act of
1974

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