[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H901-H902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MAKING TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 10 OF TITLE 9, UNITED STATES 
                                  CODE

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 861) to make technical amendments to section 10 of title 
9, United States Code.
  The Clerk read as follows:

[[Page H902]]

                                H.R. 861

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. VACATION OF AWARDS.

       Section 10 of title 9, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by indenting the margin of paragraphs (1) through (4) 
     of subsection (a) 2 ems;
       (2) by striking ``Where'' in such paragraphs and inserting 
     ``where'';
       (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraphs (1), 
     (2), and (3) of subsection (a) and inserting a semicolon and 
     by adding ``or'' at the end of paragraph (3);
       (4) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
       (5) in paragraph (5), by striking ``Where an award'' and 
     inserting ``If an award'', by inserting a comma after 
     ``expired'', and by redesignating the paragraph as subsection 
     (b).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 861, and in so doing, feel 
inclined to paraphrase Daniel Webster, who, in defending Dartmouth 
College, noted that ``It may be small, but there are those who love 
it.''
  Nothing could be more true with this bill, as H.R. 861 makes a truly 
technical correction of the most noncontroversial nature. It simply 
corrects section 10 of title 9 of the United States Code, which is a 
typographical flaw that has long evaded detection.
  This section enumerates several grounds for vacating an arbitrator's 
award, with each ground beginning with the word ``where.'' The fifth 
clause of section 10, however, is obviously not a ground for vacating 
an award, but rather, the beginning of a new sentence. This bill 
corrects this error.
  However small this change may be, through the years this bill, which 
has come to be known as ``the comma bill,'' has engendered great 
affection.

                              {time}  1130

  Some may try to diminish the importance of this bill, but one should 
never underestimate the importance of a comma.
  To paraphrase the late Everett Dirksen, a comma here, a comma there, 
and pretty soon you have got a full sentence.
  Let us be honest with ourselves, when used properly, a comma can be 
devastatingly effective. For those, especially school children, who 
think that grammar and punctuation do not matter and tune themselves 
out during English class, today's action shows clearly that it does.
  Thankfully, not every grammar mistake, not every misplaced comma 
takes an act of Congress to correct, but this particular section of the 
United States Code does.
  This bill has been passed by each of the past two Congresses, only to 
be held hostage by unrelated issues in the other body.
  To my colleagues here and on the other side of the Capitol who have 
previously loaded up this bill with unrelated legislation, I say free 
the comma, and I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 861.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in total unanimous support for the comma bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time 
as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 861.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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