January 7, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H31 COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there since 1789. This rule supersedes any John Conyers, Michigan; Barney Frank, objection to the request of the gen- claim of a Member to be free from Massachusetts; Charles Schumer, New York; tleman from California? questioning in any other place. Howard Berman, California; Rick Boucher, There was no objection. On January 27, 1909, the House adopt- Virginia; Jerrold Nadler, New York; Robert A motion to reconsider was laid upon ed a report that stated the following, Scott, Virginia; Melvin Watt, North Caro- lina; Zoe Lofgren, California; Sheila Jack- the table. which is recorded in Cannon’s Prece- son-Lee, Texas; Maxine Waters, California; f dents, volume 8, at section 2497: ‘‘It is * * * the duty of the House to Marty Meehan, Massachusetts; William ELECTION OF MEMBER TO CER- DeLahunt, Massachusetts; Robert Wexler, require its Members in speech or de- Florida; Steve Rothman, New Jersey. TAIN STANDING COMMITTEES OF bate to preserve that proper restraint THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY which will permit the House to conduct Ronald Dellums, California; Ike Skelton, Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speak- its business in an orderly manner and Missouri; Norman Sisisky, Virginia; John er, I offer an additional privileged reso- without unnecessarily and unduly ex- Spratt, North Carolina; Solomon Ortiz, lution (H. Res. 14) and ask for its im- citing animosity among its Members.’’ Texas; Owen Pickett, Virginia; Lane Evans, mediate consideration. This report was in response to im- Illinois; Gene Taylor, Mississippi; Neil Aber- The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- proper references in debate to the crombie, Hawaii; Frank Tejeda, Texas (When Sworn); Martin Meehan, Massachusetts; Rob- lows: President, but clearly reiterated a ert Underwood, Guam; Jane Harman, Califor- H. RES. 14 principle that all occupants of the nia; Paul McHale, Pennsylvania; Patrick Resolved, That the following named Mem- Chair in prior Congresses, both Repub- Kennedy, Road Island; Rod Blagojevich, Illi- ber be and is hereby elected to the following lican and Democratic, have held to be nois; Sylvester Reyes, Texas; Tom Allen, standing committees: equally applicable to Members’ re- Maine; Vic Snyder, Arkansas; Jim Turner, Committee on Banking and Financial marks in debate toward each other. Texas; Allen Boyd, Florida; Adam Smith, Services: Bernard Sanders of Vermont. The Chair asks and expects the co- Washington. Committee on Government Reform and operation of all Members in maintain- COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES Oversight: Bernard Sanders of Vermont. ing a level of decorum that properly George Miller, California; Edward Markey, Mr. FAZIO of California (during the dignifies the proceedings of the House Massachusetts; Nick Rahall, West Virginia; reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous and respects proper rulings of the Bruce Vento, Minnesota; Dale Kildee, Michi- consent that the resolution be consid- gan; Sam Gejdenson, Connecticut; Bill Rich- Chair. ardson, New Mexico; Peter DeFazio, Oregon; ered as read and printed in the RECORD. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES Eni Faleomavaega, American Samoa; Neil The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speak- Abercrombie, Hawaii; Solomon Ortiz, Texas; objection to the request of the gen- er, parliamentary inquiry. Owen Pickett, Virginia; Frank Pallone, New tleman from California? The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Jersey; Calvin Dooley, California; Carlos Ro- There was no objection. tleman will state his inquiry. mero-Barcelo, Puerto Rico; Maurice The resolution was agreed to. Mr. FAZIO of California. Is it the Hinchey, New York; Robert Underwood, A motion to reconsider was laid on Speaker’s contention that he is stating Guam; Sam Farr, California; Patrick Ken- the table. nedy, Rhode Island; Adam Smith, Washing- what has been the rules of the House ton; William Delahunt, Massachusetts; Chris f for many years? John, Louisiana; Donna Green, Virgin Is- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pur- lands. PRO TEMPORE pose of reading this is that we have COMMITTEE ON RULES adopted the rules, and this follows the John Joseph Moakley, Massachusetts; The SPEAKER pro tempore. The precedents that have been set pre- Martin Frost, Texas; Tony P. Hall, Ohio; Chair would like to enunciate an essen- viously by previous Congresses, both Louise Slaughter, New York. tial rule of decorum. Democrat and Republican, and the COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND It is an essential rule of decorum in Chair wanted to reiterate it for all INFRASTRUCTURE debate that Members should refrain Members, particularly new Members. James Oberstar, Minnesota; Nick Rahall, from references in debate to the con- Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speak- West Virginia; Robert Borski, Pennsylvania; duct of other Members where such con- er, further inquiry. Does it require a William Lipinski, Illinois; Robert Wise, West duct is not the question actually pend- Member to rise on the floor to ask for Virginia, James Traficant, Ohio; Peter ing before the House by way of a report the enforcement of the rule, or is that DeFazio, Oregon; Bob Clement, Tennessee; from the Committee on Standards of Jerry Costello, Illinois; Glenn Poshard, Illi- at the discretion of the Speaker or his nois; Bud Cramer, Jr., Alabama; Eleanor Official Conduct or by way of any ques- designee? Holmes-Norton, District of Columbia; tion of the privileges of the House. The The SPEAKER pro tempore. Either Jerrold Nadler, New York; Pat Danner, Mis- principle is documented on pages 168 the Chair or a Member may initiate souri; Robert Menendez, New Jersey; James and 226 of the House Rules and Manual points of order. Clyburn, South Carolina; Corrine Brown, and reflects the consistent rulings of Mr. FAZIO of California. So if it is Florida; James Barcia, Michigan; Bob Filner, the Chair in prior Congresses and ap- not the position of a Member who per- California; Eddie Bernice-Johnson, Texas; plies to one-minutes and special-order haps hears a rule being violated and Frank Mascara, Pennsylvania; Gene Taylor, speeches. Mississippi; Juanita Millender-McDonald, brings it to the Speaker’s attention, California; Elijah Cummings, Maryland; Max Neither the filing of a complaint be- the Speaker would be in a position to Sandlin, Texas; Ellen Tauscher, California; fore the Committee on Standards of Of- enforce it from the Chair. Would the Bill Pascrell, New Jersey; Jay Johnson, Wis- ficial Conduct, nor the conduct of in- Speaker therefore be required to do it consin; Leonard Boswell, Iowa; Jim vestigations in prior Congresses, nor under all circumstances and show no McCovern, Massachusetts. the publication in another forum of discretion? COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS charges that are personally critical of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Charles Rangel, New York; Pete Stark, another Member, justify references to Chair normally uses its initiative to California; Robert Matsui, California; Bar- such charges on the floor of the House. enforce the rule with respect to ref- bara Kennelly, Connecticut; William Coyne, This includes references to the motiva- erences to the President and Members Pennsylvania; Sander Levin, Michigan; Ben- tions of Members who file complaints of the Senate. jamin Cardin, Maryland; Jim McDermott, and to Members of the Committee on Washington; Gerald Kleczka, Wisconsin; Mr. FAZIO of California. Members of John Lewis, Georgia; Richard Neal, Massa- Standards of Official Conduct. the House, I infer, would need to have chusetts; Michael McNulty, New York; Wil- Clause 1 of rule XIV is a prohibition the rule applied to them by an objec- liam Jefferson, Louisiana; John Tanner, Ten- against engaging in personality in de- tion arising from among the member- nessee; Xavier Becerra, California; Karen bate. It derives from article I, section 5 ship? Thurman, Florida. of the Constitution, which authorizes The SPEAKER pro tempore. That has Mr. FAZIO of California (during the each House to make its own rules and generally been the practice of the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous to punish its Members for disorderly Chair. consent that the resolution be consid- behavior and has been part of the rules Mr. FAZIO of California. I appreciate ered as read and printed in the RECORD. of the House in some relevant form that.