[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 4(b) OF RULE XI WITH RESPECT TO SAME DAY 
 CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON RULES

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 445 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 445

       Resolved, That the requirement of clause 4(b) of rule XI 
     for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee 
     on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House is 
     waived with respect to any resolution reported from that 
     committee on the legislative day of May 22, 1998, providing 
     for consideration or disposition of the bill (H.R. 2400) to 
     authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety 
     programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes, an 
     amendment thereto, a conference report thereon, or an 
     amendment reported in disagreement from a conference thereon.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Everett). The gentleman from Colorado 
(Mr. McInnis) is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), 
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. Speaker, House Resolution 445 is a simple resolution. The 
proposed rule merely waives the requirement of clause 4(b) of Rule XI 
for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules 
on the same day it is presented to the House for resolutions reported 
from the committee on May 22, 1998, under certain circumstances.
  This narrow, short-term, waiver only applies to special rules 
providing for the consideration or disposition of H.R. 2400, BESTEA, 
which will authorize funds for the Federal-aid highways, highway safety 
programs, transit programs and for other purposes, amendments thereto, 
a conference report thereon, or an amendment reported in disagreement 
from a conference for H.R. 2400.
  Mr. Speaker, House resolution 445 was reported by the Committee on 
Rules with voice vote. The Committee recognizes the need for an 
expedited procedure to bring this important bill forward as soon as 
possible.
  Mr. Speaker, approval of the conference report to H.R. 2400 will 
provide desperately needed funds to help rebuild America's roads and 
bridges. This legislation provides the resources to meet America's 
infrastructure needs. Simply put, this bill is going to build America, 
reduce congestion, save lives. I urge my colleagues to support House 
Resolution 445.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
McInnis), my good friend, for yielding me the customary half hour, and 
I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this rule waiving the two-thirds requirement for same 
day consideration of the transportation conference report is really a 
terrible way to legislate.
  This conference report has only been available to Members for a very 
short period of time, and I would be willing to bet that most Members 
have not seen this legislation, and that very few, if any, have had a 
chance to read the whole conference report, unless they are actually a 
member of the conference committee.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is a major piece of legislation which impacts 
every single Congressional District in this country, but few in the 
House have had an opportunity to look at the final product. We are 
spending billions upon billions of dollars, and we should know what we 
are voting on.
  However, having said that, I will not oppose the rule because I 
realize that this conference report needs to be considered by the House 
before we leave for the Memorial Day break. We need to get highway 
construction monies back in the pipeline in time for the summer 
construction period.
  I can only add that I hope the leadership will exercise more caution 
in the future when a bill of this magnitude comes before the House so 
that it will give Members sufficient time to read and fully comprehend 
the contents before voting on such comprehensive, far-reaching, 
expensive legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, although this is not a good way to legislate, this 
transportation bill is far too important to let it fall by the wayside 
at this late hour, so I will reluctantly support this two-thirds rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McINNIS. 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.

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