[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER

  The SPEAKER. A recent misuse of handouts on the floor of the House 
has been called to the attention of the Chair and the House. At the 
bipartisan request of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, 
the Chair announces that all handouts distributed on or adjacent to the 
House floor by Members during House proceedings must bear the name of 
the Member authorizing their distribution. In addition, the content of 
those materials must comport with standards of propriety applicable to 
words spoken in debate or inserted in the Record. Failure to comply 
with this admonition may constitute a breach of decorum and may give 
rise to a question of privilege.
  The Chair would also remind Members that pursuant to clause 4, rule 
XXXII, staff are prohibited from engaging in efforts in the Hall of the 
House or rooms leading thereto to influence Members with regard to the 
legislation being amended. Staff cannot distribute handouts.
  In order to enhance the quality of debate in the House, the Chair 
would ask Members to minimize the use of handouts.

                          ____________________