E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 No. 2 Senate The Senate was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. House of Representatives MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 The House met at 10 a.m. and was or ridicule. And may it compel each of The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- us to approach the tasks of this day lows: pore (Ms. DEGETTE). with humility and graciousness of spir- H. RES. 8 f it. Resolved, Thus, may we then honor our respon- SECTION 1. ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER sibility to reflect You to those with ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CON- PRO TEMPORE whom You have called us to serve and GRESS. The Rules of the House of Representatives The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- to serve with. That we, as instruments of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, in- fore the House the following commu- of Your love for us and for this Nation, cluding applicable provisions of law or con- nication from the Speaker: would attend to the good work of current resolution that constituted rules of WASHINGTON, DC, bringing Your justice, Your truth, and the House at the end of the One Hundred Six- January 4, 2021. Your peace to our country. teenth Congress, are adopted as the Rules of I hereby appoint the Honorable DIANA We pray these things in the strength the House of Representatives of the One DEGETTE to act as Speaker pro tempore on of Your holy name. Hundred Seventeenth Congress, with amend- this day. Amen. ments to the standing rules as provided in NANCY PELOSI, section 2, and with other orders as provided Speaker of the House of Representatives. f in this resolution. f THE JOURNAL SEC. 2. CHANGES TO THE STANDING RULES. (a) CONFORMING CHANGE.—In clause 2(i) of PRAYER The SPEAKER pro tempore. The rule II— Chair has examined the Journal of the (1) strike the designation of subparagraph The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret last day’s proceedings and announces (1); and Grun Kibben, offered the following to the House her approval thereof. (2) strike subparagraph (2). prayer: (b) OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND f Gracious and Almighty God, in re- OFFICE OF THE WHISTLEBLOWER OMBUDS.— cent days, so many voices across our PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—In rule II, add at the end the following new clauses: Nation and within this House have The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the ‘‘Office of Diversity and Inclusion prayed for peace and unity. In answer gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. YAR- ‘‘9.(a) There is established an Office of Di- to our pleas, speak Your love into the MUTH) come forward and lead the House versity and Inclusion. The Speaker, in con- hearts of each Member, that the delib- in the Pledge of Allegiance. erations of this 117th Congress would sultation with the Minority Leader, shall ap- Mr. YARMUTH led the Pledge of Al- point a Director of the Office from rec- bring amity with our compatriots and legiance as follows: ommendations provided by the chair of the hope to America. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Committee on House Administration in con- As we look across the aisle, may we United States of America, and to the Repub- sultation with the ranking minority member pause to look for and see You in the lic for which it stands, one nation under God, of such committee. face of each one who, in seeking to indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ‘‘(b) Subject to the policy direction and oversight of the Committee on House Admin- serve in such a time as this, brings f their God-given passion, their heart- istration, the Office of Diversity and Inclu- felt dedication, their very selves, to ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE sion shall— ‘‘(1) direct and guide House employing of- these Chambers. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS fices to recruit, hire, train, develop, advance, May that simple yet profound aware- promote, and retain a diverse workforce; ness serve to diffuse animosity and dis- Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I send ‘‘(2) survey and evaluate diversity in House pel any inclination for disparagement to the desk a privileged resolution. employing offices; b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H13 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:32 Jan 05, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A04JA7.000 H04JAPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H14 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 4, 2021 ‘‘(3) through the Director of the Office at (A) strike ‘‘submit his or her resignation’’ (1) In clause 2(l) of rule XI, insert ‘‘(includ- the end of each session of Congress, submit a and insert ‘‘resign’’; ing in electronic form)’’ after ‘‘signed House of Representatives diversity report to (B) strike ‘‘he or she serves’’ and insert views’’. the Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Mi- ‘‘such Member, Delegate, or Resident Com- (2) In clause 2(a) of rule XIII— nority Leader, the chair and ranking minor- missioner serves’’; and (A) in subparagraph (1), strike ‘‘subpara- ity member of the Committee on House Ad- (C) strike ‘‘he or she holds’’ and insert graph (2)’’ and insert ‘‘subparagraphs (2) and ministration, and the chair and ranking mi- ‘‘such Member, Delegate, or Resident Com- (3)’’; and nority member of the Subcommittee on the missioner holds’’. (B) add the following new subparagraph: Legislative Branch of the Committee on Ap- (5) In clause 15(d)(2) of rule XXIII, strike ‘‘(3) All reports of committees may be de- propriations; and ‘‘father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sis- livered to the Clerk in electronic form.’’. ‘‘(4) provide consultation and guidance in ter, husband, wife, father-in-law, or mother- (3) In clause 5(b) of rule XIII, insert ‘‘, pur- furtherance of increasing diversity and in- in-law’’ and insert ‘‘parent, child, sibling, suant to clause 2(a)(3), or pursuant to clause clusion in the House. spouse, or parent-in-law’’. 2(c),’’ after ‘‘from the floor’’. ‘‘Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds (6) In clause 4 of rule XXVII, strike ‘‘him- (4) In clause 5 of rule XXV, insert ‘‘(includ- ing in electronic form)’’ after ‘‘signed’’ each ‘‘10.(a) There is established an Office of the self or herself’’ and insert ‘‘themself’’. place that it appears. Whistleblower Ombuds. The Speaker, in con- (7) In rule XXIX, clause 2 is amended to (5) In clause 1 of rule XXVII, insert ‘‘(in- sultation with the chairs and ranking minor- read as follows: ‘‘2. (Reserved.)’’. cluding in electronic form)’’ after ‘‘signed’’. ity members of the Committee on House Ad- (f) COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES.—In (m) SUBPOENA AUTHORITY.—In clause ministration and the Committee on Over- clause 1(c) of rule X— 2(m)(3) of rule XI, add the following new sub- sight and Reform, shall appoint a Director of (1) in subparagraph (1) strike ‘‘and Air division: the Office. Force’’ and insert ‘‘Marine Corps, Air Force, ‘‘(D) Subpoenas for documents or testi- ‘‘(b) Subject to the policy direction and and Space Force’’; and mony may be issued to any person or entity, oversight of the Committee on House Admin- (2) in subparagraph (13), strike ‘‘and Air whether governmental, public, or private, istration, and in consultation with any other Force’’ and insert ‘‘Air Force, and Space within the United States, including, but not committee (at the request of the chair or Force’’. limited to, the President, and the Vice Presi- ranking minority member of such other com- (g) COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT PLANS.—In dent, whether current or former, in a per- mittee), the Office of the Whistleblower clause 2(d)(2) of rule X— sonal or official capacity, as well as the Ombuds shall— (1) in subdivision (D), strike ‘‘and’’; White House, the Office of the President, the ‘‘(1) promulgate best practices for whistle- (2) in subdivision (E), strike the period and Executive Office of the President, and any blower intake for offices of the House; and insert ‘‘; and’’; and individual currently or formerly employed in ‘‘(2) provide training for offices of the (3) add at the end the following new sub- the White House, Office of the President, or House on whistleblower intake, including es- division: Executive Office of the President.’’. (n) COMMITTEE ON ETHICS.— tablishing an effective reporting system for ‘‘(F) give priority consideration to includ- (1) In clause 5(a)(3)(C) of rule X, insert ‘‘or whistleblowers, maintaining whistleblower ing in the plan a discussion of how the com- fifth’’ after ‘‘fourth’’. confidentiality, advising staff of relevant mittee’s work will address issues of inequi- (2) In clause 3 of rule XI— laws and policies, and protecting informa- ties on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, re- (A) in paragraph (b)(8)(A), insert ‘‘, Dele- tion provided by whistleblowers.’’. ligion, sex, sexual orientation, gender iden- gate, Resident Commissioner’’ after ‘‘Mem- (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—In clause tity, disability, age, or national origin.’’. ber’’ each place it appears; 4(d)(1)(A) of rule X— (h) PRINTING AND AVAILABILITY REQUIRE- (B) in paragraph (b)(8)(B)(iii), insert ‘‘, Del- (A) strike ‘‘and the Inspector General’’ and MENTS.— insert ‘‘, the Inspector General, the Office of (1) In clause 6 of rule X, strike ‘‘printed’’ egate, Resident Commissioner’’ after ‘‘Mem- Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office of the each place that it appears.