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Resolving Differences with the Senate
Methods of Getting to Conference With the Senate
The Rules of the House provide for three methods of getting to conference with the Senate. They include the following:
receiving specific authorization from each committee which received an initial referral and reported the bill (clause 1 of Rule XXII).
Rather than relying on the uncertainty of a unanimous consent request on the House floor or on requesting a rule from the Rules Committee when the Rules Committee is considering other business, Committee Chairmen are encouraged to pursue the third available option as a matter of regular order. Chairmen should obtain conference authority from their committee at the time a bill is ordered reported. The authorization should be granted by motion, must be specific to each bill reported, and cannot be granted on a general or blanket basis for all future bills. A suggested motion reads as follows:
Member _____ moves: Pursuant to clause 1 of rule XXII, I move that the Committee authorize the Chairman to offer such motions as may be necessary in the House to go to conference with the Senate on the bill H.R. _____ or a similar Senate bill.
