United States House Committee on House Administration

History

The Committee on House Administration was created by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, which merged the Committees on Enrolled Bills (created in 1789 as Joint Committee), Elections (created in 1794), Accounts (created in 1803), Printing (created in 1846), Disposition of Executive Papers (created in 1889), Memorials (created in 1929), and some functions of the Joint Committee on the Library (created in 1806 as a Joint Committee) into one new standing committee, the Committee on House Administration. (See National Archives's Records of the House Administration Committee and Its Predecessors)

In 1975 its responsibilities expanded to include oversight of parking facilities and campaign contributions to House candidates. In 1979, as part of the annual appropriations bill for the legislative branch, this committee absorbed the responsibilities of the former Select Committee on the Beauty Shop, which had been chaired by Rep. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and was responsible for overseeing the operations of a beauty shop for House members, employees, and their families.

In 1995 its responsibilities expanded to include oversight of the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards.

Jurisdiction

The Committee on House Administration is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The powers and duties of the Committee include the statutory responsibilities of the Committee on House Administration, as determined primarily by the Legislative Reorganization Acts of 1946 and 1970; the House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act of 1996; and the Rules of the House of Representatives adopted on January 6, 1999.

The Committee on House Administration, which consists of 12 members, has jurisdiction over all legislation and other matters relating to the House of Representatives, such as:

Appropriations from accounts (and the expenditure, auditing and settling thereof) for committee salaries and expenses, except for the Committee on Appropriations; House Information Resources; and allowances and expenses of Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, Officers, and administrative offices of the House.

Employment of persons by the House, including staff for Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and Committees; and reporters of debates.

The Library of Congress, including management thereof.

The House Library.

Statuary and pictures.

Acceptance or purchase of works of art for the Capitol.

United States Botanic Garden.

Purchase of books and manuscripts.

The Smithsonian Institution and the incorporation of similar institutions .

The Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards (Franking Commission).

Members, 119th Congress

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 54 (R), H.Res. 55 (D)

Subcommittees

Due to its relatively small size, the House Administration Committee has not had subcommittees for most of its existence. For the 110th Congress, Chair Millinder-McDonald recommended the creation of two new subcommittees, on Elections and Oversight, which were approved by the full committee on February 16, 2007. However, in the 113th Congress, the committee abolished both subcommittees. The Elections Subcommittee was reconstituted for the 116th Congress.

For the 118th Congress:

Historical membership rosters

118th Congress

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 56 (R), H.Res. 57 (D)

Subcommittees

117th Congress

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 9 (Chair), H.Res. 10 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 62 (D), H.Res. 63 (R)

Subcommittees

116th Congress

Sources: H.Res. 31 (Chair), H.Res. 32 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 85 (D), H.Res. 103 (R)

Subcommittees

Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards (Franking Commission)