So that there is no misunderstanding on the extremely limited nature of any communications that either of us may have with members of the House leadership on committee business, we are issuing the following statement. We have had an agreement under which, as the need arises, either of us may provide to a member of the leadership information on the status of or the procedures relating to a Committee matter. In no event does any such contact involve our disclosing information required to be kept confidential under Committee Rule 7, and in no event would either of us tolerate any attempt to “lobby” us on a case pending before the Committee.
One instance in which both of us were required to contact the leadership occurred earlier this year when both of us had to seek appointment of House Members to the pool from which we could draw in appointing members of an investigative subcommittee. In addition, at times erroneous information on actions taken by or the status of matters before the Committee has appeared in the news media. In such instances it has been our practice to issue a public statement and, where appropriate, to bring the correct information, as reflected in our public statement, to the attention of members of the leadership.
Any further public statements under our authority under Committee Rule 7(g) will be in the form of a joint statement by us. The text of the Committee Rules is available on the Committee Web site, www.house.gov/ethics