[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 271 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                      October 22, 1997.
    Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker 
may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule XXIII, declare the House resolved into the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the 
bill (H.R. 1534) to simplify and expedite access to the Federal courts for 
injured parties whose rights and privileges, secured by the United States 
Constitution, have been deprived by final actions of Federal agencies, or other 
government officials or entities acting under color of State law; to prevent 
Federal courts from abstaining from exercising Federal jurisdiction in actions 
where no State law claim is alleged; to permit certification of unsettled State 
law questions that are essential to resolving Federal claims arising under the 
Constitution; and to clarify when government action is sufficiently final to 
ripen certain Federal claims arising under the Constitution. The first reading 
of the bill shall be dispensed with. Points of order against consideration of 
the bill for failure to comply with clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI are waived. 
General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on the Judiciary. After general debate the bill shall be 
considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. It shall be in order to 
consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute 
rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendments printed in 
part 1 of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. 
That amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. No 
amendment to that amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be in order 
except a further amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by 
Representative Conyers of Michigan or his designee, which shall be considered as 
read, shall be debatable for thirty minutes equally divided and controlled by 
the proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to amendment. If that 
further amendment is rejected or not offered, then no other amendment shall be 
in order except the amendment printed in part 2 of the report of the Committee 
on Rules, which may be offered only by the Member designated in the report, 
shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for thirty minutes equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, and shall not be 
subject to amendment. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for 
amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such 
amendments as may have been adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in 
the House on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the bill or 
to the amendment in the nature of a substitute made in order as original text. 
The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments 
thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.