[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 2 (Thursday, January 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H133-H139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           REPUBLICAN REFORMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefley). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 4, 1995, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to make a couple of observations 
this morning. Much has been said on the other side of the aisle about 
the fact that the Democrat Party was unable to offer amendments to the 
rules changes that were offered yesterday. That was true, but the truth 
is in the 200-year history of this Congress, when the opening day 
activities begin, the majority party submits a rules package to the 
Congress for their approval and there has never been any opportunity to 
amend that opening day document.
  We this year, because we had campaigned for years and years in the 
minority to open up this House to openness and fairness, and 
accountability, had proposed a number of major changes to the rules of 
the House. What we did is we took the old rules of the 103d Congress 
which had been proposed year in and year out by the Democratic Party, 
and we brought those rules to the floor with certain changes. And there 
were eight significant changes that we wanted to make. They were 
reforms that the American people have been asking for this Congress to 
enact for many, many years, because we had failed to enact those 
reforms, this Congress had dropped in esteem in the eyes of the 
American people to something like 20 percent. And that is embarrassing 
to a Member like me that holds this body in the greatest esteem.
  So we offered these changes, and we also offered, every Member, not 
just Democrats but Republicans and Democrats alike, the opportunity to 
vote on each one of those changes that we were going to make from the 
rules that we had been operating under the Democrat leadership all of 
those years. They were changes like reducing the committees and 
subcommittee reorganization, and staffs. We eliminated three full 
committees. We eliminated more than 20 subcommittees and that resulted 
in reducing this congressional bureaucracy by more than 600 jobs.
  Why is that significant? We never like to put people out of work. But 
the truth is over the last several decades this Congress had just grown 
and grown and grown. The number of committees and subcommittees and 
staff had proliferated to a point that this is where gridlock really 
existed. A lot of press and the media used to say that gridlock was 
caused between Democrats and Republicans, because we Republicans 
controlled the White House and the Democrats controlled both bodies of 
this Congress.
  That was not entirely true, and it became evident when the Democrats 
won control of the White House and President Clinton was elected. And 
then that was supposed to end all gridlock, but lo and behold, gridlock 
continued. So it was not Republicans and Democrats.
  So then the media blamed it on conservatives and liberals. What it 
boiled down to it was not Republicans and Democrats, it was not 
liberals and conservatives, it was the bureaucracy of this Congress.
  One good example of this is when President Clinton offered up last 
year his health care reform package, and lo and behold, that package 
was sent to three different committees in this Congress, referred 
jointly to three different committees and dozens and dozens of 
subcommittees.
  What did that mean. That meant that bill was dead on arrival because 
of all of the little fiefdoms that had to begin to look at that piece 
of legislation.
  We in this rules package yesterday made one great significant change 
to that and the Speaker of this House now is going to take any piece of 
legislation that comes before this body, if it is offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Volkmer] or the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro], it is going to be assigned to one primary 
committee. That can be the Committee on Commerce, it could be the 
Committee on Rules, which I am the chairman of, but it will go to one 
primary committee. If there is another jurisdiction involved such as 
maybe a tax significance of some kind, then the Committee on Commerce 
will send that little portion over to Ways and Means with instructions 
to act on it and get it back. But it means that this bureaucracy, this 
gridlock is going to be broken because we have shrunk the size of this 
Congress. And incidentally, we are not through doing it yet; we are 
going to continue.
                              {time}  1050

  But we also have set the example for what we intend to do to this 
Federal Government. There was an election back on November 8, and I am 
going to tell you that election really surprised this Member of 
Congress. I have been here suffering in the minority for 16 years, and 
I never in this world thought that I, Jerry Solomon, would 
[[Page H134]] ever become chairman of the Committee on Rules in this 
House. Because the Rules Committees are controlled by the majority 
party, and because the Democrats have had such a wide majority of 
Members, I just thought that was impossible.
  But the truth of the matter is the American people spoke, and they 
spoke very loudly, and we elected Republicans across this Nation in 
places we never ever thought that they would serve, and now we 
Republicans have that majority. We are going to use the example of 
shrinking this Congress by the three committees and dozens of 
subcommittees and eliminating 600-plus jobs. We are going to send the 
example that that is what we want to do to the Federal Government as 
well. We want to carry on the second part of the Reagan revolution that 
ended in 1983.
  You know, Ronald Reagan came in here in 1981, and we were able to 
push through the Reagan program, which really began to tighten the 
belts of the Federal Government. We dealt with entitlements, and in 
doing so, and all of those that voted for all of those tough medicine 
cuts, we had to go back and face the electorate 2 years later in the 
Reagan administration's term. Lo and behold, we lost an awful lot of 
Republicans, because all of the special interest groups went after 
them. ``You cut my entitlement program. I am not voting for you.''
  We lost a lot of good conservative Democrats, because they voted with 
us, too, because it was a coalition of Republicans and conservative 
Democrats that ran through the first 2 years of the Reagan programs, 
and we began to turn this country around.
  After the election in 1982, after 2 years of Ronald Reagan, we no 
longer had that kind of coalition. We no longer had 192 Republicans to 
go with about 40 good conservative Democrats, because we now were down 
to about 173 Republicans. We lost about 20 of those conservative 
Democrats.
  So now Ronald Reagan could no longer have the votes on the floor of 
these two bodies to carry out his revolution. So he had to become a 
compromise President.
  You might keep this in mind, because Bill Clinton is going to have to 
make this decision very shortly. Ronald Reagan had to decide whether he 
was going to become the veto king or become a compromiser. He chose the 
latter. He wanted to accomplish what he could with this vision and the 
vision of those who supported him.
  As a result of that, he became less effective. He was tremendously 
effective in 1981 and 1982. In 1983 and 1984 he had to be a 
compromiser. He only got a little bit of what he wanted. Then there was 
another election. He lost more of the conservative philosophy, and he 
had to compromise at even higher levels. This carried right on through 
into 1988 when George Bush was elected and, of course, by that time we 
had dropped in numbers to the point where really the Reagan revolution 
had stopped.
  What I was getting at in the beginning was this revolution now has 
started all over again. The American people have spoken, because they 
want this Congress and this White House to shrink the size of the 
Federal Government and shrink the size of the power of the Federal 
Government and grow the private sector, because that is what this 
country is all about.
  We never were intended when we formed this Republic of States into a 
U.S. Government, we never intended for this to be a big Government that 
was going to rule the lives of the American people. This Republic of 
States was formed for the specific purpose of providing a common 
defense for the States of this Nation.
  Lo and behold, now we have gotten into all of these other myriad of 
programs.
  We are going to change all of that. We are going to restructure this 
Government. We are going to shrink the size of it. We are going to give 
the power back to the States and back to the American people.
  Now, having said all of that, I just wanted to point out to the 
Members what is going to be happening in the next several weeks on the 
floor, because Speaker Gingrich, as you know, has put out the word that 
we are going to be a working Congress for this 100 days, and that we 
are expected to be in Washington working 5 days a week during the 
months of January, February, and March.
  Well, some people yesterday were questioning why
   we do not have legislation on the floor today, for instance, and 
Friday and next Monday and Tuesday. Well, again, I just want to point 
out that I was the ranking Republican serving in the minority on the 
Committee on Rules, and for years and years we saw the fact that 
minority rights were waived and that Members really did not have the 
opportunity to participate in the debate on this floor, offering 
amendments, and never had the chance to really read legislation.

  I would point out what happened. You know, in the days of a man named 
Tip O'Neill, he was a tough partisan Democrat who sat in that chair 
right there. Although he was tough and he was partisan, he was one of 
the fairest Speakers that we have ever had. He was willing to bring 
legislation to this floor and let the House work its will. He did not 
discriminate against his own conservative Democrats even though he was 
a liberal, and he allowed them to offer amendments. Only 15 percent of 
the rules that brought legislation to this floor were brought here in a 
restricted manner. They were open rules.
  There was much talk yesterday that we had closed rules that brought 
legislation to the floor. The truth is there were no rules at all. We 
do not have a Committee on Rules. The truth is we do not have any rules 
at all. Our Committee on Rules, which I am the chairman of, will not 
even organize until this afternoon at 2 o'clock, and from that point 
on, I have been instructed by our new Speaker Gingrich that we will be 
as open and fair and as accountable to the American people and to this 
Congress and to all Members of the Congress regardless of political or 
philosophical persuasion. He has instructed me to try to have open 
rules and fair rules be the norm of this Congress.
  We are going to go back to the days of Tip O'Neill when we had free 
and unfettered debate on this floor for the most part. That does not 
mean that every rule is going to be open, that every rule is not going 
to be restricted. Because there are times when we are dealing with 
national security, when we are going to debate the national defense 
budget which the chairman up there sits on the committee. We are going 
to have to have a structured rule. We will have to have limited 
debates. But we will make sure the liberals and the conservatives both 
have their amendments in order so that we can have a reasonable debate.
  There are times when we will be debating intelligence matters that 
might affect the national security of this country, and we might have 
to have structured, restricted rules in those cases. There are other 
cases when we will be dealing with the U.S. Tax Code. That is something 
that is extremely complex, and you cannot bring bills on the floor and 
just have unfettered debate and amendments offered on any part of that 
Code. It would be a disaster.
  When we develop budgets over a 2-year period, you have to be able to 
depend on the revenues that are coming in in that 2-year period. There 
are times when we will not have open and free, unfettered debate. We 
will have negotiations with the minority, and I can assure you I am 
going to follow Speaker Gingrich's suggestions that the open rule be 
the norm. When I go to the organizational meeting this afternoon, I 
will be instructing the other members of the committee to do just that.
  In regard to minority rights, there is a chart next to me, and this 
is why I took the well today, to talk about how legislation will come 
to this floor. The truth of the matter is that under the rules of the 
House that we adopted yesterday which provide for openness and 
fairness, and I key in on fairness and accountability, in being fair, 
we want to be fair to the minority as well. I know what it was like to 
be persecuted in the minority.
  The truth of the matter is when a piece of legislation, any one of 
these pieces of legislation that were in our 100-days contract, when 
they were introduced yesterday, they were assigned to committees.
  The Fiscal Responsibility Act will be brought to the floor. It is a 
balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution 
[[Page H135]] and a line-item veto giving the President a tool to 
eliminate wasteful spending.
  We are setting hearings. And, Mr. Speaker, I am including at this 
point in the Record the January tentative committee activity for 
hearings on the 100-days contract.
                 January: Tentative Committee Activity

                            Thursday, 1/5/95

       W&M--Hearing: Contract Overview.

                             Friday, 1/6/95

       SCI--Hearing: Sci & Tech in Govt., Sec. Brown.

                             Monday, 1/9/95

       JUD--Hearing: Balanced Budget (or 1/10).
       W&M--Hearing: Social Security.

                            Tuesday, 1/10/95

       BUD--Joint Hearing: Dyn v. Stat Scoring.
       GOV--Markup: Unfunded Mandate.
       RUL--Markup: Unfun. Mandate (or 1/11).
       W&M--Hearing: Contract Overview.

                           Wednesday, 1/11/95

       ECOP--Hearing: Role of Gov't in Education & Wkplace Policy 
     (or 1/12).
       W&M--Hearing: Contract Overview.

                           Thursday, 1/12/95

       INR--Hearing: Int'l Sit. & Clinton For. Pol., Fmr. Sec. 
     State Baker.
       RUL--Rule: Unfun. Mandate (or 1/13).
       W&M--Hearing: Contract Overview.

                            Friday, 1/13/95

       W&M--Hearing: Welfare Reform.

                            Monday, 1/16/95

       JUD--Hearing (wk of): Term Limits, Legal Reform.
       SCI--Hearing (wk of): Risk Assessment.
       SCI--Markup (wk of): Hydrogen Research Bill.
       SMB--Hearing (wk of): Sm. Bus. Tax Issues.

                            Tuesday, 1/17/95

       NATS--Briefing: Classified Threat (or 1/18).
       RUL--Rule: Balanced Budget (or 1/18).
       W&M--Hearing: Contract Family Provisions.

                           Wednesday, 1/18/95

       GOV--Hearing: Line-Item Veto.
       ECOP--Hearing: Welfare Reform.
       W&M--Hearing: Contract Family Provisions.

                           Thursday, 1/19/95

       INR--Hearing: Kirkpatrick & Brzezinski.
       W&M--Hearing: Contract Family Provisions.
       Balanced Budget Floor Vote.

                            Friday, 1/20/95

       W&M--Hm. Res. Hrng: Welfare Reform.
       W&M--Oversight Hrng.

                            Monday, 1/23/95

       AGR--Hearing (wk of): Food Stamp Reform.
       SMB--Hearing (wk of): Regulatory Reform.
       W&M--Hm. Res. Hrng: Welfare Reform.
       W&M--Oversight Hrng.

                            Tuesday, 1/24/95

       W&M--Hearing: Contract Savings & Invest. Provisions.

                           Wednesday, 1/25/95

       GOV--Markup: Line-Item Veto.
       W&M--Hearing: Contract Savings & Invest. Provisions.

                           Thursday, 1/26/95

       W&M--Hearing: Contract Savings & Invest. Provisions.

                            Friday, 1/27/95

       W&M--Oversight Hrng.

                            Monday, 1/30/95

       RUL--Rule (wk of): Line-Item Veto.
       W&M--Hm. Res. Hrng: Welfare Reform.
       W&M--Trade Hrng: Customs Oversight.

                            Tuesday, 1/31/95

       W&M--Hearing: Contract Savings & Invest. Provisions.


                               committees

       AGR: Agriculture
       APP: Appropriations
       BNK: Banking
       COM: Commerce
       ECOP: Econ. Opportunity
       GOV: Gov Ref & Oversight
       HOV: House Oversight
       INR: Int'l Relations
       JUD: Judiciary
       NATS: National Security
       PLR: Pub Lands & Rsrces
       RUL: Rules
       SMB: Small Business
       STN: Stand. Off. Conduct
       SCI: Science
       TRN: Trans & Infrastruct.
       VET: Vetrans' Affairs
       W&M: Ways & Means.
  And I would point to the chart here which shows what happens to a 
piece of legislation if there is a balanced-budget amendment, and that 
has now been sent to, as primary jurisdiction, the Committee on the 
Judiciary. When that Committee on the Judiciary finishes its hearings 
and when it marks up the balanced-budget amendment and when it is 
finished, it will send that bill to the Committee on Rules.
  Now, in the meantime, let us say it happens today, on Thursday, the 
committee offers the bill reported and views are requested.

                              {time}  1100

  That means that for Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, the next 3 
legislative days, that that bill is available for the minority to file 
their views, and they have the opportunity then to read that 
legislation. They have the opportunity to discuss with other Members 
who do not serve on the Committee on the Judiciary what they might want 
in those views. We have to wait 3 days. That takes us from today 
through next Tuesday just for the filing of those minority views. Then 
the committee files the report with this body right here, with the 
Clerk, and that is on Wednesday. Then Thursday, and this is already 
next Thursday, a week from now, there are 3 days for every single 
Member of this body to see that piece of legislation and to be able to 
review it.
  Then the bill comes to the Committee on Rules upstairs, where we will 
meet, and we will then put out a rule which would allow whatever 
amendments are going to be allowed, whatever substitutes or 
alternatives. Then the bill will finally be able to come to this floor 
on the 10th day, on Wednesday.
  So that is why you do not see legislation on the floor here today on 
these issues because we do intend in the new majority to honor the 
rights of the minority, and I am going to see to it with every bit of 
persuasion that I possess that we honor these rights for Members to be 
able to know what they are voting on, to be able to have that right, to 
vote and to offer amendments on the floor of this House.
  Having said that, if I might, I would ask that my report on the issue 
of restrictive rules, which we compiled during the 103d Congress be put 
in the Record. This does show that during the 103d Congress, 73 rules 
that came to this floor, of that number, 70 percent of them were 
restricted or closed rules. Now, that is 70 percent. We are going to 
try to turn that around.
  I am going to say to you now, today, we are shooting to have 70 
percent of those rules open so that as the minority and even the 
majority Members over here will have the right to work their will on 
the floor of this Congress.
  I ask that that be put into the Record.
  The document referred to is as follows:

              OPEN VERSUS RESTRICTIVE RULES 95TH-103D CONG.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Open rules       Restrictive rules
  Congress (years)   Total rules ---------------------------------------
                      granted\1\  Number  Percent\2\  Number  Percent\3\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
95th (1977-78).....          211     179         85       32         15 
96th (1979-80).....          214     161         75       53         25 
97th (1981-82).....          120      90         75       30         25 
98th (1983-84).....          155     105         68       50         32 
99th (1985-86).....          115      65         57       50         43 
100th (1987-88)....          123      66         54       57         46 
101st (1989-90)....          104      47         45       57         55 
102d (1991-92).....          109      37         34       72         66 
103d (1993-94).....          104      31         30       73         70 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Total rules counted are all order of business resolutions reported   
  from the Rules Committee which provide for the initial consideration  
  of legislation, except rules on appropriations bills which only waive 
  points of order. Original jurisdiction measures reported as privileged
  are also not counted.                                                 
\2\Open rules are those which permit any Member to offer any germane    
  amendment to a measure so long as it is otherwise in compliance with  
  the rules of the House. The parenthetical percentages are open rules  
  as a percent of total rules granted.                                  
\3\Restrictive rules are those which limit the number of amendments     
  which can be offered, and include so-called modified open and modified
  closed rules, as well as completely closed rule, and rules providing  
  for consideration in the House as opposed to the Committee of the     
  Whole. The parenthetical percentages are restrictive rules as a       
  percent of total rules granted.                                       
                                                                        
Sources: ``Rules Committee Calendars & Surveys of Activities,'' 95th-   
  102d Cong.; ``Notices of Action Taken,'' Committee on Rules, 103d     
  Cong., through Oct. 7, 1994.                                          


                                                        OPEN VERSUS RESTRICTIVE RULES: 103D CONG.                                                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Rule                                      Amendments                                                                  
   Rule number date reported      type       Bill number and subject         submitted         Amendments allowed         Disposition of rule and date  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 58, Feb. 2, 1993......  MC        H.R. 1: Family and medical     30 (D-5; R-25)..  3 (D-0; R-3)..............  PQ: 246-176. A: 259-164. (Feb. 3,
                                           leave.                                                                       1993).                          
H. Res. 59, Feb. 3, 1993......  MC        H.R. 2: National Voter         19 (D-1; R-18)..  1 (D-0; R-1)..............  PQ: 248-171. A: 249-170. (Feb. 4,
                                           Registration Act.                                                            1993).                          
H. Res. 103, Feb. 23, 1993....  C         H.R. 920: Unemployment         7 (D-2; R-5)....  0 (D-0; R-0)..............  PQ: 243-172. A: 237-178. (Feb.   
                                           compensation.                                                                24, 1993).                      
H. Res. 106, Mar. 2, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 20: Hatch Act amendments  9 (D-1; R-8)....  3 (D-0; R-3)..............  PQ: 248-166. A: 249-163. (Mar. 3,
                                                                                                                        1993).                          
H. Res. 119, Mar. 9, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 4: NIH Revitalization     13 (d-4; R-9)...  8 (D-3; R-5)..............  PQ: 247-170. A: 248-170. (Mar.   
                                           Act of 1993.                                                                 10, 1993).                      
H. Res. 132, Mar. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 1335: Emergency           37 (D-8; R-29)..  1(not submitted) (D-1; R-   A: 240-185. (Mar. 18, 1993).     
                                           supplemental Appropriations.                     0).                                                         
H. Res. 133, Mar. 17, 1993....  MC        H. Con. Res. 64: Budget        14 (D-2; R-12)..  4 (1-D not submitted) (D-   PQ: 250-172. A: 251-172. (Mar.   
                                           resolution.                                      2; R-2).                    18, 1993).                      
H. Res. 138, Mar. 23, 1993....  MC        H.R. 670: Family planning      20 (D-8; R-12)..  9 (D-4; R-5)..............  PQ: 252-164. A: 247-169. (Mar.   
                                           amendments.                                                                  24, 1993).                      


                                                                                                                                                        
[[Page H136]]
                                                  OPEN VERSUS RESTRICTIVE RULES: 103D CONG.--Continued                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Rule                                      Amendments                                                                  
   Rule number date reported      type       Bill number and subject         submitted         Amendments allowed         Disposition of rule and date  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 147, Mar. 31, 1993....  C         H.R. 1430: Increase Public     6 (D-1; R-5)....  0 (D-0; R-0)..............  PQ: 244-168. A: 242-170. (Apr. 1,
                                           debt limit.                                                                  1993).                          
H. Res. 149 Apr. 1, 1993......  MC        H.R. 1578: Expedited           8 (D-1; R-7)....  3 (D-1; R-2)..............  A: 212-208. (Apr. 28, 1993).     
                                           Rescission Act of 1993.                                                                                      
H. Res. 164, May 4, 1993......  O         H.R. 820: Nate                 NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (May 5, 1993).    
                                           Competitiveness Act.                                                                                         
H. Res. 171, May 18, 1993.....  O         H.R. 873: Gallatin Range Act   NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (May 20, 1993).   
                                           of 1993.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 172, May 18, 1993.....  O         H.R. 1159: Passenger Vessel    NA..............  NA........................  A: 308-0 (May 24, 1993).         
                                           Safety Act.                                                                                                  
H. Res. 173 May 18, 1993......  MC        S.J. Res. 45: United States    6 (D-1; R-5)....  6 (D-1; R-5)..............  A: Voice Vote (May 20, 1993)     
                                           forces in Somalia.                                                                                           
H. Res. 183, May 25, 1993.....  O         H.R. 2244: 2d supplemental     NA..............  NA........................  A: 251-174. (May 26, 1993).      
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 186, May 27, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 2264: Omnibus budget      51 (D-19; R-32).  8 (D-7; R-1)..............  PQ: 252-178. A: 236-194 (May 27, 
                                           reconciliation.                                                              1993).                          
H. Res. 192, June 9, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 2348: Legislative branch  50 (D-6; R-44)..  6 (D-3; R-3)..............  PQ: 240-177. A: 226-185. (June   
                                           appropriations.                                                              10, 1993).                      
H. Res. 193, June 10, 1993....  O         H.R. 2200: NASA authorization  NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 14, 1993).  
H. Res. 195, June 14, 1993....  MC        H.R. 5: Striker replacement..  7 (D-4; R-3)....  2 (D-1; R-1)..............  A: 244-176.. (June 15, 1993).    
H. Res. 197, June 15, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2333: State Department.   53 (D-20; R-33).  27 (D-12; R-15)...........  A: 294-129. (June 16, 1993).     
                                           H.R. 2404: Foreign aid.                                                                                      
H. Res. 199, June 16, 1993....  C         H.R. 1876: Ext. of ``Fast      NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 22, 1993).  
                                           Track''.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 200, June 16, 1993....  MC        H.R. 2295: Foreign operations  33 (D-11; R-22).  5 (D-1; R-4)..............  A: 263-160. (June 17, 1993).     
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 201, June 17, 1993....  O         H.R. 2403: Treasury-postal     NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 17, 1993).  
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 203, June 22, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2445: Energy and Water    NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (June 23, 1993).  
                                           appropriations.                                                                                              
H. Res. 206, June 23, 1993....  O         H.R. 2150: Coast Guard         NA..............  NA........................  A: 401-0. (July 30, 1993).       
                                           authorization.                                                                                               
H. Res. 217, July 14, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2010: National Service    NA..............  NA........................  A: 261-164. (July 21, 1993).     
                                           Trust Act.                                                                                                   
H. Res. 220, July 21, 1993....  MC        H.R. 2667: Disaster            14 (D-8; R-6)...  2 (D-2; R-0)..............  PQ: 245-178. F: 205-216. (July   
                                           assistance supplemental.                                                     22, 1993).                      
H. Res. 226, July 23, 1993....  MC        H.R. 2667: Disaster            15 (D-8; R-7)...  2 (D-2; R-0)..............  A: 224-205. (July 27, 1993).     
                                           assistance supplemental.                                                                                     
H. Res. 229, July 28, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2330: Intelligence        NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (Aug. 3, 1993).   
                                           Authority Act, fiscal year                                                                                   
                                           1994.                                                                                                        
H. Res. 230, July 28, 1993....  O         H.R. 1964: Maritime            NA..............  NA........................  A: Voice Vote. (July 29, 1993).  
                                           Administration authority.                                                                                    
H. Res. 246, Aug. 6, 1993.....  MO        H.R. 2401: National Defense    149 (D-109; R-    ..........................  A: 246-172. (Sept. 8, 1993).     
                                           authority.                     40).                                                                          
H. Res. 248, Sept. 9, 1993....  MO        H.R. 2401: National defense    ................  ..........................  PQ: 237-169. A: 234-169. (Sept.  
                                           authorization.                                                               13, 1993).                      
H. Res. 250, Sept. 13, 1993...  MC        H.R. 1340: RTC Completion Act  12 (D-3; R-9)...  1 (D-1; R-0)..............  A: 213-191-1. (Sept. 14, 1993).  
H. Res. 254, Sept. 22, 1993...  MO        H.R. 2401: National Defense    ................  91 (D-67; R-24)...........  A: 241-182. (Sept. 28, 1993).    
                                           authorization.                                                                                               
H. Res. 262, Sept. 28, 1993...  O         H.R. 1845: National            NA..............  NA........................  A: 238-188 (10/06/93).           
                                           Biological Survey Act.                                                                                       
H. Res. 264, Sept. 28, 1993...  MC        H.R. 2351: Arts, humanities,   7 (D-0; R-7)....  3 (D-0; R-3)..............  PQ: 240-185. A: 225-195. (Oct.   
                                           museums.                                                                     14, 1993).                      
H. Res. 265, Sept. 29, 1993...  MC        H.R. 3167: Unemployment        3 (D-1; R-2)....  2 (D-1; R-1)..............  A: 239-150. (Oct. 15, 1993).     
                                           compensation amendments.                                                                                     
H. Res. 269, Oct. 6, 1993.....  MO        H.R. 2739: Aviation            N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 7, 1993).   
                                           infrastructure investment.                                                                                   
H. Res. 273, Oct. 12, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3167: Unemployment        3 (D-1; R-2)....  2 (D-1; R-1)..............  PQ: 235-187. F: 149-254. (Oct.   
                                           compensation amendments.                                                     14, 1993).                      
H. Res. 274, Oct. 12, 1993....  MC        H.R. 1804: Goals 2000 Educate  15 (D-7; R-7; I-  10 (D-7; R-3).............  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 13, 1993).  
                                           America Act.                   1).                                                                           
H. Res. 282, Oct. 20, 1993....  C         H.J. Res. 281: Continuing      N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 21, 1993).  
                                           appropriations through Oct.                                                                                  
                                           28, 1993.                                                                                                    
H. Res. 286, Oct. 27, 1993....  O         H.R. 334: Lumbee Recognition   N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Oct. 28, 1993).  
                                           Act.                                                                                                         
H. Res. 287, Oct. 27, 1993....  C         H.J. Res. 283: Continuing      1 (D-0; R-0)....  0.........................  A: 252-170. (Oct. 28, 1993).     
                                           appropriations resolution.                                                                                   
H. Res. 289, Oct. 28, 1993....  O         H.R. 2151: Maritime Security   N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Nov. 3, 1993).   
                                           Act of 1993.                                                                                                 
H. Res. 293, Nov. 4, 1993.....  MC        H. Con. Res. 170: Troop        N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: 390-8. (Nov. 8, 1993).        
                                           withdrawal Somalia.                                                                                          
H. Res. 299, Nov. 8, 1993.....  MO        H.R. 1036: Employee            2 (D-1; R-1)....  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Nov. 9, 1993).   
                                           Retirement Act-1993.                                                                                         
H. Res. 302, Nov. 9, 1993.....  MC        H.R. 1025: Brady handgun bill  17 (D-6; R-11)..  4 (D-1; R-3)..............  A: 238-182. (Nov. 10, 1993).     
H. Res. 303, Nov. 9, 1993.....  O         H.R. 322: Mineral exploration  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote. (Nov. 16, 1993).  
H. Res. 304, Nov. 9, 1993.....  C         H.J. Res. 288: Further CR, FY  N/A.............  N/A.......................  .................................
                                           1994.                                                                                                        
H. Res. 312, Nov. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3425: EPA Cabinet Status  27 (D-8; R-19)..  9 (D-1; R-8)..............  F: 191-227. (Feb. 2, 1994).      
H. Res. 313, Nov. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 796: Freedom Access to    15 (D-9; R-6)...  4 (D-1; R-3)..............  A: 233-192. (Nov. 18, 1993).     
                                           Clinics.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 314, Nov. 17, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3351: Alt Methods Young   21 (D-7; R-14)..  6 (D-3; R-3)..............  A: 238-179. (Nov. 19, 1993).     
                                           Offenders.                                                                                                   
H. Res. 316, Nov. 19, 1993....  C         H.R. 51: D.C. statehood bill.  1 (D-1; R-0)....  N/A.......................  A: 252-172. (Nov. 20, 1993).     
H. Res. 319, Nov. 20, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3: Campaign Finance       35 (D-6; R-29)..  1 (D-0; R-1)..............  A: 220-207. (Nov. 21, 1993).     
                                           Reform.                                                                                                      
H. Res. 320, Nov. 20, 1993....  MC        H.R. 3400: Reinventing         34 (D-15; R-19).  3 (D-3; R-0)..............  A: 247-183. (Nov. 22, 1993).     
                                           Government.                                                                                                  
H. Res. 336, Feb. 2, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 3759: Emergency           14 (D-8; R-5; I-  5 (D-3; R-2)..............  PQ: 244-168. A: 342-65. (Feb. 3, 
                                           Supplemental Appropriations.   1).                                           1994).                          
H. Res. 352, Feb. 8, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 811: Independent Counsel  27 (D-8; R-19)..  10 (D-4; R-6).............  PQ: 249-174. A: 242-174. (Feb. 9,
                                           Act.                                                                         1994).                          
H. Res. 357, Feb. 9, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 3345: Federal Workforce   3 (D-2; R-1)....  2 (D-2; R-0)..............  A: VV (Feb. 10, 1994).           
                                           Restructuring.                                                                                               
H. Res. 366, Feb. 23, 1994....  MO        H.R. 6: Improving America's    NA..............  NA........................  A: VV (Feb. 24, 1994).           
                                           Schools.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 384, Mar. 9, 1994.....  MC        H. Con. Res. 218: Budget       14 (D-5; R-9)...  5 (D-3; R-2)..............  A: 245-171 (Mar. 10, 1994).      
                                           Resolution FY 1995-99.                                                                                       
H. Res. 401, Apr. 12, 1994....  MO        H.R. 4092: Violent Crime       180 (D-98; R-82)  68 (D-47; R-21)...........  A: 244-176 (Apr. 13, 1994).      
                                           Control.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 410, Apr. 21, 1994....  MO        H.R. 3221: Iraqi Claims Act..  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Apr. 28, 1994).   
H. Res. 414, Apr. 28, 1994....  O         H.R. 3254: NSF Auth. Act.....  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (May 3, 1994).     
H. Res. 416, May 4, 1994......  C         H.R. 4296: Assault Weapons     7 (D-5; R-2)....  0 (D-0; R-0)..............  A: 220-209 (May 5, 1994).        
                                           Ban Act.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 420, May 5, 1994......  O         H.R. 2442: EDA                 N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (May 10, 1994).    
                                           Reauthorization.                                                                                             
H. Res. 422, May 11, 1994.....  MO        H.R. 518: California Desert    N/A.............  N/A.......................  PQ: 245-172 A: 248-165 (May 17,  
                                           Protection.                                                                  1994).                          
H. Res. 423, May 11, 1994.....  O         H.R. 2473: Montana Wilderness  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (May 12, 1994).    
                                           Act.                                                                                                         
H. Res. 428, May 17, 1994.....  MO        H.R. 2108: Black Lung          4 (D-1; R-3)....  N/A.......................  A: VV (May 19, 1994).            
                                           Benefits Act.                                                                                                
H. Res. 429, May 17, 1994.....  MO        H.R. 4301: Defense Auth., FY   173 (D-115; R-    ..........................  A: 369-49 (May 18, 1994).        
                                           1995.                          58).                                                                          
H. Res. 431, May 20, 1994.....  MO        H.R. 4301: Defense Auth., FY   ................  100 (D-80; R-20)..........  A: Voice Vote (May 23, 1994).    
                                           1995.                                                                                                        
H. Res. 440, May 24, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 4385: Natl Hiway System   16 (D-10; R-6)..  5 (D-5; R-0)..............  A: Voice Vote (May 25, 1994).    
                                           Designation.                                                                                                 
H. Res. 443, May 25, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 4426: For. Ops. Approps,  39 (D-11; R-28).  8 (D-3; R-5)..............  PQ: 233-191 A: 244-181 (May 25,  
                                           FY 1995.                                                                     1994).                          
H. Res. 444, May 25, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 4454: Leg Branch Approp,  43 (D-10; R-33).  12 (D-8; R-4).............  A: 249-177 (May 26, 1994).       
                                           FY 1995.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 447, June 8, 1994.....  O         H.R. 4539: Treasury/Postal     N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: 236-177 (June 9, 1994).       
                                           Approps 1995.                                                                                                
H. Res. 467, June 28, 1994....  MC        H.R. 4600: Expedited           N/A.............  N/A.......................  PQ: 240-185 A:Voice Vote (July   
                                           Rescissions Act.                                                             14, 1994).                      
H. Res. 468, June 28, 1994....  MO        H.R. 4299: Intelligence        N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (July 19, 1994).   
                                           Auth., FY 1995.                                                                                              
H. Res. 474, July 12, 1994....  MO        H.R. 3937: Export Admin. Act   N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (July 14, 1994).   
                                           of 1994.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 475, July 12, 1994....  O         H.R. 1188: Anti. Redlining in  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (July 20, 1994).   
                                           Ins.                                                                                                         
H. Res. 482, July 20, 1994....  O         H.R. 3838: Housing & Comm.     N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (July 21, 1994).   
                                           Dev. Act.                                                                                                    
H. Res. 483, July 20, 1994....  O         H.R. 3870: Environ. Tech. Act  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (July 26, 1994).   
                                           of 1994.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 484, July 20, 1994....  MC        H.R. 4604: Budget Control Act  3 (D-2; R-1)....  3 (D-2; R-1)..............  PQ: 245-180 A: Voice Vote (July  
                                           of 1994.                                                                     21, 1994).                      
H. Res. 491, July 27, 1994....  O         H.R. 2448: Radon Disclosure    N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (July 28, 1994).   
                                           Act.                                                                                                         
H. Res. 492, July 27, 1994....  O         S. 208: NPS Concession Policy  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (July 28, 1994).   
H. Res. 494, July 28, 1994....  MC        H.R. 4801: SBA Reauth &        10 (D-5; R-5)...  6 (D-4; R-2)..............  PQ: 215-169 A: 221-161 (July 29, 
                                           Amdmts. Act.                                                                 1994).                          
H. Res. 500, Aug. 1, 1994.....  MO        H.R. 4003: Maritime Admin.     N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: 336-77 (Aug. 2, 1994).        
                                           Reauth..                                                                                                     
H. Res. 501, Aug. 1, 1994.....  O         S. 1357: Little Traverse Bay   N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Aug. 3, 1994).    
                                           Bands.                                                                                                       
H. Res. 502, Aug. 1, 1994.....  O         H.R. 1066: Pokagon Band of     N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Aug. 3, 1994).    
                                           Potawatomi.                                                                                                  
H. Res. 507, Aug. 4, 1994.....  O         H.R. 4217: Federal Crop        N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Aug. 5, 1994).    
                                           Insurance.                                                                                                   
H. Res. 509, Aug. 5, 1994.....  MC        H.J. Res. 373/H.R. 4590: MFN   N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Aug. 9, 1994).    
                                           China Policy.                                                                                                
H. Res. 513, Aug. 9, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 4906: Emergency Spending  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Aug. 17, 1994).   
                                           Control Act.                                                                                                 
H. Res. 512, Aug. 9, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 4907: Full Budget         N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: 255-178 (Aug. 11, 1994).      
                                           Disclosure Act.                                                                                              
H. Res. 514, Aug. 9, 1994.....  MC        H.R. 4822: Cong.               33 (D-16; R-17).  16 (D-10; R-6)............  PQ: 247-185 A: Voice Vote (Aug.  
                                           Accountability.                                                              10, 1994).                      
H. Res. 515, Aug. 10, 1994....  O         H.R. 4908: Hydrogen Etc.       N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Aug. 19, 1994).   
                                           Research Act.                                                                                                
H. Res. 516, Aug. 10, 1994....  MC        H.R. 3433: Presidio            12 (D-2; R-10)..  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Aug. 19, 1994).   
                                           Management.                                                                                                  
H. Res. 532, Sept. 20, 1994...  O         H.R. 4448: Lowell Natl. Park.  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Sept. 26, 1994).  
H. Res. 535, Sept. 20, 1994...  O         H.R. 4422: Coast Guard         N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Sept. 22, 1994).  
                                           Authorization.                                                                                               
H. Res. 536, Sept. 20, 1994...  MC        H.R. 2866: Headwaters Forest   16 (D-5; R-11)..  9 (D-3; R-6)..............  PQ: 245-175 A: 246-174 (Sept. 21,
                                           Act.                                                                         1994).                          
H. Res. 542, Sept. 23, 1994...  O         H.R. 4008: NOAA Auth. Act....  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Sept. 26, 1994).  
H. Res. 543, Sept. 23, 1994...  O         H.R. 4926: Natl. Treatment in  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Sept. 29, 1994).  
                                           Banking.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 544, Sept. 23, 1994...  O         H.R. 3171: Ag. Dept.           N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Sept. 28, 1994).  
                                           Reorganization.                                                                                              
H. Res. 551, Sept. 27, 1994...  MO        H.R. 4779: Interstate Waste    22 (D-15; R-7)..  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Sept. 28, 1994).  
                                           Control.                                                                                                     
H. Res. 552, Sept. 27, 1994...  O         H.R. 4683: Flow Control Act..  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Sept. 29, 1994).  
H. Res. 562, Oct. 3, 1994.....  MO        H.R. 5044: Amer. Heritage      N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Oct. 5, 1994).    
                                           Areas.                                                                                                       
H. Res. 563, Oct. 4, 1994.....  MC        H. Con. Res. 301: SoC Re:      N/A.............  N/A.......................  F: 83-339 (Oct. 5, 1994).        
                                           Entitlements.                                                                                                
H. Res. 565, Oct. 4, 1994.....  MC        S. 455: Payments in Lieu of    N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: 384-28 (Oct. 6, 1994).        
                                           Taxes.                                                                                                       
H. Res. 570, Oct. 5, 1994.....  MC        H. J. Res. 416: U.S. in Haiti  N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: 241-182 (Oct. 6, 1994).       
H. Res. 576, Oct. 6, 1994.....  C         H.R. 5231: Presidio            N/A.............  N/A.......................  A: Voice Vote (Oct. 7, 1994).    
                                           Management.                                                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note.--Code: C-Closed; MC-Modified closed; MO-Modified open; O-Open; D-Democrat; R-Republican; PQ: Previous question; A-Adopted; F-Failed.              

Having said all that, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro].
  Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding this 
opportunity to me.
  I just want to make a comment with regard to the closed rules. I have 
sat in this Chamber day after day, as the gentleman from New York has, 
and I have great respect for my colleague. I have listened to his 
personal opposition to closed rules and the opposition of other 
[[Page H137]] Republicans on the issue of closed rules. I just would 
like to take a second to lift some quotes here. Here is one by 
Representative Dreier, ``Each time a closed rule is foisted on the 
House, Members of Congress are denied the opportunity to represent 
their constituents.''
  A quote from the Honorable Mr. Solomon: ``The people are sick and 
tired of political gamesmanship. They want back into their own House. 
They want it open and democratic and not closed and dictatorial.''
  Representative Pryce: ``With every closed rule, millions of voters 
are disenfranchised when their duly elected Representatives are 
prevented from offering relevant amendments to bills that we 
consider.''
  These are all quotes from the last session of the Congress. The 
gentleman has also commented that in fact part of what occurred here is 
the American public wanted to see change, wanted to see the process 
open, and wanted to see reform. I agree with the gentleman. I think we 
made so many strides in the last Congress to deal with reform in 
passing the Accountability Act. We passed it again last night. But I 
would just say this to you, that yesterday, something that really 
happened on the floor probably is a first in the House; there were two 
closed rules, two gag rules offered on the first day.
  The second of the closed rules was hidden within the closed rule, so 
it was a closed rule inside a closed rule.
  Now, the point is that if you want to have change, you cannot be 
talking in two directions and saying that the Democrats did it a year 
ago, therefore, ``We have a right to do it now.'' The issue is if you 
truly believe that the process should be open. We had a historic 
opportunity yesterday on the floor of this House to demonstrate two 
things: openness of this process. There should have been an opportunity 
for Democrats to amend the Accountability Act and to deal with a vote 
on a gift ban and that we should have taken this very historic day and 
turned it into that opportunity to say to the American people that in 
fact we have changed, we have reformed this body, this institution; we 
opened up the process and people can amend and debate on this floor and 
we have separated ourselves from the special interests who have an 
overwhelming effect in this body and who have a direct effect on 
legislation.
  On both of these instances, the opportunity was missed. I say that 
more in sorrow than I do in outrage or anger because I think that the 
public is demanding reform, an opportunity to do so, but you cannot say 
it and then not do it. And it is not good enough to say, ``You did it; 
therefore, it is now our opportunity to do it.'' We cannot have that on 
the floor of this House.
  Mr. SOLOMON. What the gentlewoman says makes a lot of sense. I am 
going to throw out a challenge to the gentlewoman because we probably 
will adjourn this first of the session of the 104th Congress, 
hopefully, sometime in October, although in an off year, and a coming 
presidential year, we could be here until December. I say to the 
gentleman from Missouri [Mr.
 Volkmer], that I hope that does not happen.

  But I want to throw out a challenge to the gentlewoman. I want her to 
judge us by our overall performance, and particularly I want the 
gentlewoman to hold me accountable. I want the gentlewoman to sit down 
here with me on the floor of this Congress in October or November, and 
let us see how open these rules were. Let us judge it at that time. I 
am going to pledge to the gentlewoman to try to turn this around; 
instead of having 70 percent closed rules and restricted rules, we are 
going to have 70 percent open and unrestricted rules, if we possibly 
can.
  So let us judge our performance then, in October or thereabouts.
  Ms. DeLAURO. I would be happy to cooperate with my colleague. I also 
believe it is one thing for me to hold anyone accountable, but we are 
all accountable to the American public. That is what is at issue. That 
is what happens on the floor of this House. It is the people who send 
us here who hold us accountable for our openness, our sincerity, or 
compassion, our actions, for the opportunity to do the things that they 
send us here to do on their behalf and to raise their standard of 
living, to separate out the special interests in this body. Ultimately, 
they will be the deciders. But I am happy to accept the gentleman's 
challenge.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I look forward to it.
  Mr. Speaker, let me yield to a very important member of the Committee 
on Rules, the gentleman from California [Mr. Dreier], from Carmel, CA, 
who was the cochairman of the congressional task force appointed by the 
Speaker to reform this House and who had more input into the 
legislation we adopted yesterday than any other Member I know.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding this 
opportunity to me. I would like to simply rise in strong support of the 
case that the gentleman has been making.
  Quite frankly, having just entered the Chamber, I would like to 
associate myself with the remarks of my friend from Connecticut, Ms. 
DeLauro, who has just talked about the need for accountability, 
compassion, concern, responding to the wishes of the American people. 
That is exactly what happened right here just a few hours ago before we 
adjourned the first day of the 104th Congress, by creating the kind of 
openness that my friend said is absolutely essential if we are going to 
effectively do our job.
  It seems to me, as we look at the challenges ahead over the next 99 
days, we are going to easily tackle every one of these problems. But we 
have to do it. We have to do it not only because we stood on the steps 
of the Capitol on September 27 and signed that contract, letting the 
American people know we would bring to the floor in the first 100 days 
those 10 pieces of legislation, but because so many of them are the 
right thing to do.
  We are not simply putting into place legislation which was 
structured, as many in the media have said, based on public opinion 
polls. These are the kinds of things that we on this side of the aisle 
have been trying for years and, in many cases, decades, to bring to the 
floor of the Congress.
  Now, I think the point that the chairman of the Committee on Rules is 
making is that we are in a position where we have been denied the 
opportunity to even have a hearing on so many of these measures. That 
is what we are planning to do. We want to create a fair and an open 
process here, which unfortunately, the pattern of leadership that we 
have seen at least over the last decade and a half, the last 15 years,
 has been such that we have unfortunately not been able to have the 
kind of openness we would like.

  I would like to congratulate the chairman of the Committee on Rules 
for his special order, and I want to thank him.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Let me first of all just say to the gentleman that we 
really appreciate all the work that he did, the work he did 
particularly on realignment of the committee jurisdictions and reducing 
the size of the committees and subcommittees. That has really helped to 
make this a functioning body in the next 2 years. I know that the 
gentleman has not finished yet.
  Mr. DREIER. That is just what I was going to say.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I know the gentleman has not finished it yet.
  Mr. DREIER. That is exactly what I was going to say. There are many 
people who would like to believe that January 4th ended the process of 
political and congressional reform. Nothing could be further from the 
truth because we plan to continue.
  My friend knows we passed a resolution in the Republican conference 
which calls for further review of the reforms that have been 
implemented. What we plan to do is to continue this process because we 
cannot reverse 40 years of one-party control and what existed here 
overnight.
  So I thank my friend and appreciate his remarks.

                              {time}  1110

  Mr. SOLOMON. I am going to pile some burden on the gentleman's 
shoulders because at 2 o'clock this afternoon I will appoint him as 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Rules, revamping the rules of this 
House and the committee structures. The gentleman is going to have his 
work cut out for him, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would yield, I say to my 
chairman, ``I'd like to think I'm ready, willing, and able.''
  [[Page H138]] Mr. SOLOMON. I say to the gentleman, ``You are.''
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Volkmer], my 
good friend.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Solomon] for his attitude as far as openness of the House, as 
far as the future, and closed rules and open rules.
  I have a little question I would like to ask of the gentleman:
  In the past, whenever there has been an opportunity for legislation 
that is very controversial, and there is a question of trying to limit 
the amount and numbers of amendments--because in the past, as the 
gentleman realizes and I know from history--we have both been here--
that when we had such legislation in the past, we sometimes see 200 or 
250 amendments in 2 weeks, and some of them are just, as the gentleman 
knows as well as I----
  Mr. SOLOMON. The California Desert Act?
  Mr. VOLKMER. Yes, and others.
  And so I recognize, and I think the gentleman recognizes, that there 
are opportunities and times when there would be restrictions on 
amendments. Now at other times there may not be that restriction, but 
sometimes there are both the sponsors of the legislation, the committee 
chairman and others, that have worked on that legislation, and other 
Members would like to have some idea of what amendments are going to be 
brought up. With a strictly open rule and nothing said, there is no 
opportunity. I can bring an amendment up here on the floor, blindside 
somebody on it as long as it is germane and it is in order. At times 
there have been provisions that the chairmen of the Committee on Rules 
have said, ``You're going to have to have them in the Congressional 
Record within a certain length of time, or by a certain date, or by a 
certain hour of a certain date.''
  Does the gentleman plan to use that type of restriction on 
amendments?
  Mr. SOLOMON. Excuse me. I walked over on this side. I just wanted to 
show the gentleman we are cooperating.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Right.
  Mr. SOLOMON. We want to look out for the rights----
  Mr. VOLKMER. Well, I would much rather have 70 percent open rules 
than 70 percent closed rules. I have always said that. I agree with the 
gentleman that Members, all Members, have been sent here to be able to 
participate in the debate on the legislation, offer amendments, and 
have their ideas expressed also.
  Mr. SOLOMON. The gentleman is absolutely right. The gentleman makes 
some sense, too, and, as I told the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Dellums] who is the former chairman of the Committee on Armed Services 
and now the ranking minority member, that when the defense budget comes 
before the Committee on Rules, we want to be able to sit down with him 
because we cannot bring that bill to the floor under an open debate. We 
would be here for 3 months debating just that one bill.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Right.
  Mr. SOLOMON. And what we will do, we will negotiate with the 
minority, we will make sure if someone has an issue such as SDI; for 
instance, the Strategic Defense Initiative. We cannot allow 50 
amendments on the Strategic Defense Initiative, but what we will do is 
we will allow a liberal's point of view, we will allow a conservative, 
and maybe a moderate. In other words, we will have three amendments 
dealing with that issue.
  One thing we will eliminate is this business of king of the hill, and 
that is something, as the gentleman knows--the gentleman, I think, 
shares my view--that there is no place in this body for a king-of-the-
hill procedure. What a king-of-the-hill procedure is is that one 
amendment might pass with 280 votes, and then another amendment will 
follow right behind it, wipe that out, and only get 218 votes, and the 
one with the fewer votes wins. Well, no more of that. I have spoken to 
Speaker Gingrich about that. We are going to try to do away with this 
king-of-the-hill procedure, and we are going to let the best man win, 
or the best amendment win, or the best alternative win. The one with 
the most votes will win. That is how it should be.
  There might come a time when we want to allow the printing of the 
amendments in the Congressional Record prior to debate. We might even 
go so far as to have those amendments numbered so they will be easier 
to identify. I know the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Volkmer] is a very 
diligent Member of this House, and he reads the amendments, and 
sometimes it is hard to follow which amendment is being called up at 
certain times. One Member may have 10 amendments resting at the desk, 
and he calls up an amendment, and we do not know what it is, what the 
text is. So, if we number those amendments, it will make a lot more 
sense.
  So, there will be times on complex issues when we will do that. 
Otherwise we will try to bring bills to the floor under an open rule 
process and let the Members offer amendments as they see fit right from 
the floor.
  Mr. VOLKMER. The last comment I would like to make to the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. Solomon] is that I could understand in the 
resolution that we had yesterday, as far as the actual rules changes, 
and I could understand the provision there for closed rules. We have 
always had that. We have never had anything, as long as I have been 
here, any different. So, I am not objecting to that.
  But I do have a strong disappointment, a very strong disappointment, 
in the majority in requiring a closed rule.
  I know the gentleman did not have a Committee on Rules, but I could 
read, too, the gentleman from New York, in here the provision in regard 
to what we call the compliance legislation, and what I am saddened by 
is that that bill, which is a good bill, has overwhelming support, we 
all supported it last year, and it went to the Senate and died, so it 
still has not become law. I listened to the speeches here this morning, 
some of the 1-minutes saying that we have now placed the House under 
all the laws of the United States that affect all private business and 
industry.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman, ``We haven't done that yet, 
Jerry. You know that, and I know that, and until it passes the Senate, 
comes out of conference, goes to the President and is signed, we 
haven't done anything.''
  We passed it. We did that last year. It does not do anything until it 
becomes law.
  Mr. SOLOMON. That is right.
  Mr. VOLKMER. All right. So let us tell the American people we still 
got a ways to go.
  But my problem is what was done yesterday on that bill is that we in 
the minority, we in the minority, will never, never have an opportunity 
to change one word in that law, not one word.
  Now that is not part of the rule; that is legislation. We should have 
been given an opportunity to offer amendments to that legislation.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Well, I understand.
  Mr. VOLKMER. I am very disappointed.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I understand the gentleman's logic, and I share that 
view to a certain extent, and, as a matter of fact, I even spoke on the 
fact that I did not want to see the accountability bill, if it were 
going to be changed in any way, come to this floor under a closed rule. 
There was talk, as the gentleman knows. There were negotiations going 
on, both Democrats and Republicans negotiating with the Senate, to put 
together the differences and to bring the accountability bill, revised 
with the Senate concerns, with Democrat concerns, into the bill and 
bring it onto the floor yesterday under a closed rule with no 
amendments. I objected to that. As a matter of fact, I refused to let 
that happen because there then would not have been a bill that was 
debated on this floor, was amended on this floor, and passed 
overwhelmingly with, I think, only four votes in opposition. I said, 
``If you want to bring this bill on the floor tomorrow, you will bring 
the exact bill we had that we spent hours debating and that we spent 
hours amending and that we sent over to the Senate.''
  The reason we brought it up yesterday, and finally they agreed to 
bring the same bill that passed this House, not some revised edition 
with these negotiations that could not be amended; the reason they 
brought that to this floor was so that we would not die, and we were 
afraid. As the gentleman knows, we put this off today, that bill could 
have languished for another 
[[Page H139]] month by the time we get it on this calendar with all 
this 100 days business. The chances are it would have been next July or 
August, and one never can tell around here what happens. Bills 
disappear. They hide. They are never seen again.
  We wanted to pass that bill. Seventy-three new Republicans, all of 
them, wanted that bill acted on yesterday. They wanted to have it done. 
We sent that bill over again to the Democrats that were working on it. 
Mr. Swett, who was a good Member of this body who is no longer here 
now, was not here, but other Members were. The gentleman from Maryland 
[Mr. Hoyer] was one, I believe, and, in other words, to get their 
impact on the bill. But the truth of the matter is I do not think that 
the 13 new Democrats who were not here last year, they did not have a 
chance to vote on it.

                              {time}  1120

  I do not think they objected. They all voted for the bill yesterday 
afternoon. At any rate, what we have done is, we have now passed that 
bill. It will now go to the Senate. The Senate will revise it, as is 
their prerogative, and the bill then, if it is different, will either 
come back to us for the amendment process or it will go to conference, 
one or the other. They could send a Senate bill over here, in which 
case we would have a chance to revisit it, and you, the gentlewoman 
from Connecticut, will have an opportunity at that time to work your 
will on the bill, too.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to echo my comments.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, does the gentlewoman wish me to yield to 
her?
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, first, if the gentleman will yield further, 
the gentleman is missing a little bit of the point.
  I will admit that when it goes into the conference, the Democrats who 
are on the conference committee, those few, may have an opportunity to 
make some changes in the bill, but, remember, it is only
 the bill that passed this House and the bill that passed the Senate 
that is going to be in the conference. It was clear to me yesterday, 
listening to the debate, that there were other Members who would have 
had amendments to that bill. If they had been permitted to offer them, 
they would have liked to offer those amendments. They did not get that 
opportunity, and they will never get that opportunity in the next 2 
years. We will not revisit this bill.

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, if I may just reclaim my time for 1 minute, 
I would have to disagree with the gentleman that they will never get 
the opportunity. We are going to try to be as fair as we can, and if 
there are other issues, we are going to revisit many of these issues 
that we discussed yesterday on the floor.
  We heard the gentleman from California [Mr. Dreier] say that his 
committee and the Committee on Rules are going to mark up additional 
bills, and certainly your representatives on the Committee on Rules and 
other committees are gong to have an opportunity for input, and we will 
revisit the issue, and we will have another day to debate whatever 
amendments you wanted to offer.
  So I think, on the gentleman's concerns, that he is going to be 
presently surprised at the openness when we are going to be able to 
revisit many of these issues.
  Mr. VOLKMER. You will have another compliance bill?
  Mr. SOLOMON. We could very well, yes.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Another accountability bill?
  Mr. SOLOMON. Yes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. SOLOMON. I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to echo the sentiments of my 
colleague. That is many respects is what I think was hoped for in terms 
of change, particularly by the American public, and as far as the rules 
are concerned, I truly believe in the gentleman's objection, because 
again, he talks on this floor about open rules all the time. And yet 
for the first day, for this opportunity to come up and to pass this 
bill, I would just say that it was business as usual, so that we do not 
have the opportunity.
  I worked personally very, very hard on the accountability legislation 
in the last session. My colleague, Dick Swett, did also, and I 
complimented my colleague, the gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Chris 
Shays. I think that bill was long overdue.
  But there was not an opportunity for the minority to have a debate 
and a discussion about it. If we are to change this body, then in fact 
you are now in charge. The Republicans have the majority, so that with 
bills getting lost, the calendar becomes your calendar in terms of 
scheduling. If it is your side that has to say that for the sake of 
reform and openness and what we have talked about in this bill, then we 
have to have delay. Let the process be opened up so we can have a 
debate about a variety of issues.
  That is the point I am trying to make, that we cannot portray change 
when in fact we are looking at business as usual. And I think we need 
to be very mindful and very careful about that as we go down the next 
several months.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman sounds just like Jerry 
Solomon.
  Mr. Speaker, I have got to prepare to organize the Rules Committee. 
It is going to be a fair and open and accountable Rules Committee this 
year. So I am going to have to close this special order, and I thank 
the body for indulging me.


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