[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page H1719]]



      PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the 
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 117 and ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 117

       Resolved, That it shall be in order at any time on 
     Wednesday, April 23, 1997, or on Thursday, April 24, 1997, 
     for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend 
     the rules. The object of any motion to suspend the rules 
     shall be announced from the floor at least one hour prior to 
     its consideration. The Speaker or his designee shall consult 
     with the minority leader or his designee on the designation 
     of any matter for consideration pursuant to this resolution.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The gentleman from 
Washington [Mr. Hastings] is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate 
only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York 
[Ms. Slaughter], pending which I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is 
for the purpose of debate only.
  (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, this rule makes it in order 
at any time today, Wednesday April 23, or tomorrow, Thursday, April 24, 
for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules. 
The rule also provides that the object of any motion to suspend the 
rules shall be announced from the floor at least 1 hour prior to its 
consideration. The rule further considers the Speaker or his designee 
to consult with the minority leader or his designee on the designation 
of any matter for consideration pursuant to this resolution.
  The bills that will be considered under suspension of the rules as a 
result of adopting this rule are noncontroversial and are very narrowly 
tailored, thus making it impractical to bring them up under an order of 
business resolution from our Committee on Rules. However, scheduling 
them for consideration today is necessary to ensure that our colleagues 
are here to do the very important committee work.
  For example, Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Banking and Financial 
Services is meeting today to mark up the Housing Opportunity and 
Responsibility Act. In addition, the Committee on Ways and Means is 
meeting today to mark up two very important pieces of legislation, the 
Adoption Promotion Act and the Welfare Reform Technical Corrections 
Act. Finally, the Committee on International Relations is marking up 
several timely measures relating to Zaire and Cambodia.
  Mr. Speaker, a number of our colleagues have expressed concern about 
the pace in which this body has conducted its business during the first 
months of this session. To those Members, I would simply say that 
today's resolution makes it possible to keep moving ahead expeditiously 
on the important business the American people have sent us here to do.
  This is clearly a straightforward and noncontroversial rule. I would 
hope my colleagues here will debate it with their customary civility 
and pass it on without delay.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me the 
customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  While I do not oppose the rule, I would like to use the opportunity 
to again raise the issue of why the majority still has yet to propose a 
budget and has yet to hold any hearings or markups on campaign finance 
reform. Fifty-eight bills have already been introduced in the House 
this year that would reform our campaign finance system, one of which 
is my own measure to provide free television time to political 
candidates. Yet all 58 of these campaign finance reform bills continue 
to languish in committee. There is no excuse for this Congress' 
continuing failure to take action on these issues. The leadership of 
the House owes it to the voters of the Nation to seize the opportunity 
before it and to enact responsible reform. While I support this rule 
allowing us to move suspension measures forward this week, I would urge 
our leadership and my colleagues to also move forward on some of the 
more difficult and pressing matters before us. I am at a loss to 
explain to my constituents why the House has spent so little time in 
session this year while so much major legislation has yet to see the 
light of day. Let us get on with the budget process and move forward 
with real campaign finance reform.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________