What is the purpose of a Conference Committee?

A Conference Committee is a temporary panel composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, tasked with reconciling differences between the versions of a bill passed by each chamber. The legislative process often leads to variations in how a bill is phrased or structured, resulting in different legislative texts. The primary goal of the Conference Committee is to create a unified version that can be accepted by both chambers, ensuring that the final legislation can move forward to the President for approval.

In contrast, holding hearings on legislation involves committees gathering information and public opinion on proposed bills before they are voted on, which is distinct from the reconciliation function of the Conference Committee. Conducting oversight of government operations focuses on monitoring and evaluating government activities to ensure they are being conducted properly and in compliance with laws, again separate from the purpose of resolving legislative differences. Meanwhile, drafting new legislation is usually the responsibility of standing committees, which initiate and refine bills before they ever reach the stage where a Conference Committee would be engaged. Thus, the primary role of the Conference Committee is precisely to iron out differences in bills, allowing for a cohesive piece of legislation to emerge from the legislative process.