Why are conference committees rarely necessary? Answer: Conference committees are now rarely used in Congress Senate Resolution 16 is designed to reduce the number of motions necessary to convene a conference committee, [ thus reducing the opportunities for minority obstruction. It seems likely however, that the effects of these changes in the current Congress will be minimal. A conference committee is a committee of the Congress appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill. when the two houses pass differing versions of a bill and the first house will not agree to the changes a conference committee will be done.