Seven Member Rule

The Seven Member Rule is a shorthand term for a federal law that gives members of the Government Reform Committee and its counterpart in the Senate a legal right to information from Executive Branch agencies. United States Code Title 5 Section 2954 states that “an Executive agency, on request of the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives, or of any seven members thereof ... shall submit any information requested of it relating to any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.” (5 U.S.C. § 2954).

The following are recent examples in which Government Reform Committee members requested information under the Seven Member Rule.

Latest News

Members File Suit To Force Administration To Release Medicare Cost Estimates

All 19 members of the Government Reform Committee minority file suit against the Secretary of Health and Human Services to compel the Administration to release cost estimates prepared by the HHS Actuary during congressional consideration of Medicare reform legislation.

HHS Refuses to Release Medicare Cost Estimates

All 19 minority members of the Committee write Secretary Thompson to protest HHS's obstruction of their investigation into the withholding of the cost data. The members officially expand their Seven Member request to include the communications between HHS and congressional leadership.

Rep. Waxman Asks for Hearings on Medicare Cost Estimates, Threatens Suit over Documents

In a letter to Chairman Davis, Rep. Waxman requests a hearing on the allegations that the HHS Actuary was told he would be fired if he shared with Congress estimates on the true costs of the Medicare prescription drug proposal. In a letter to HHS Secretary Thompson, Rep. Waxman threatens legal action under the "Seven Member Rule" if the Secretary continues to refuse to release the cost estimates.

Members Demand Information on Medicare Cost Estimates

In response to reports that the true cost of the Medicare prescription drug legislation was concealed, 19 committee members demand the release of the cost estimates prepared by the Administration during congressional consideration of the legislation.

Members Demand Information on Health and Energy Policies

More than a dozen members demand the release of information on the political interference with science at HHS and on reports that the Department of Energy worked with industry groups to plan a "lobbying blitz" in support of the energy bill.

Members Request Information on Homeland Security Department Involvement in Texas Legislature Dispute

Nine committee members request that the Department of Homeland Security provide information about the assistance the Department provided in tracking down Democratic lawmakers during a dispute among members of the Texas legislature.

'Seven Member Rule' Request for EPA Power Plant Emissions Data

Pursuant to the 'Seven Member Rule,' eighteen Committee members requested that the Environmental Protection Agency release modeling data on power plant emissions. The 'Seven Member Rule' is a statute that states "an Executive agency, on request of the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives, or of any seven members thereof . . . shall submit any information requested of it relating to any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee."

Members Request Release of EPA Power Plant Emissions Data

Eighteen committee members request that the Environmental Protection Agency release modeling data on power plant emissions.

Members File Suit to Compel Release of Adjusted 2000 Census Data

Sixteen committee members file suit in federal court in Los Angeles against the Secretary of Commerce to compel the Administration to release adjusted 2000 census data.

Members Request Briefing on FDA Clinical Trials

Ten committee members request that the Food and Drug Administration brief the committee on the clinical trial case histories of several witnesses scheduled to testify in FDA oversight hearings.

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