June 20, 2019
AMENDMENT PROCESS FOR
H.R. 3351–Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020
Dear Colleague:
The Committee on Rules is likely to meet the week of June 24 to grant a rule that may provide a structured amendment process for floor consideration of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020.
Any Member wishing to offer an amendment must submit a searchable electronic copy of the amendment, which should be provided by the Office of Legislative Counsel, via the Rules Committee’s website. Members must also submit 15 hard copies of the amendment, one copy of a brief explanation of the amendment, and an amendment login form to the Rules Committee in room H-312 of the Capitol by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 24, 2019. Both electronic and hard copies must be received by the date and time specified. Members should draft their amendments to the text of H.R. 3351, as reported by the Committee on Appropriations, which is available on the Rules Committee website.
Members should use the Office of Legislative Counsel to ensure that their amendments are drafted in the most appropriate format. To help expedite drafting requests, drafting templates can be found on the Rules Committee website. If the Office of Legislative Counsel is unable to provide their drafting services before the submission deadline, Members may submit amendments written using the posted templates. Members are urged to re-submit any such amendment as a revision upon receipt of a formal draft from the Office of Legislative Counsel.
Members should check with the Committee on Appropriations for technical and subject matter expertise and the Congressional Budget Office for a preliminary assessment of their amendment’s budgetary effect. Additionally, Members should consult with the Office of the Parliamentarian and the Committee on the Budget to be certain their amendments comply with the rules of the House and the Congressional Budget Act. At times of particularly high-volume amendment drafting, these offices may not be able to provide guidance before the submission deadline—Members may submit unreviewed amendments to the Committee.
The Rules Committee does not intend to make in order amendments that are in violation of House rules or budget rules and would require a waiver.
If you have any questions, please contact Rose Laughlin of the Committee staff at 225-9091.
Sincerely,
James P. McGovern