[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REQUEST TO DISCHARGE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND 
   MEANS FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2854, AGRICULTURE MARKET 
                             TRANSITION ACT

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees 
on Agriculture and Ways and Means be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill H.R. 2854, the Agriculture Market Transition 
Act, and that it shall be in order today to consider the bill in the 
House, and that all points of order against the bill and against its 
consideration be waived; and that the previous question be considered 
as ordered on the bill and any amendment thereto to final passage 
without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate on the bill, 
to be equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Agriculture; (2) one amendment, if 
offered, by Representative de la Garza of Texas or his designee, said 
amendment to be debatable for not to exceed 1 hour, to be equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and a Member opposed thereto, 
and all points of order against the amendment be waived; and (3) one 
motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the guidelines consistently issued by 
successive speakers and recorded on page 534 of the House Rules Manual, 
the Chair is constrained not to entertain the gentleman's request until 
it has been cleared by the bipartisan floor and committee leaderships.


                         parliamentary inquiry

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, I know that the Agriculture Market 
Transition Act, H.R. 2854, has been cleared for floor consideration by 
the Republican side. Am I to understand that the Democrat side has 
objection to consideration of this bill?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot respond to that. That is 
not an appropriate parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. ROBERTS. It may not be appropriate, but it sure as hell is true.
  Mr. VOLKMER. Regular order, Mr. Speaker, Regular order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is attempting to keep order. The 
gentleman from Missouri and his comrades are not helping at the moment.

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