[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H10082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, 
I call up House Resolution 314 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 314

       Resolved, That it shall be in order at any time on the 
     legislative day of Wednesday, December 19, 2001, for the 
     Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the 
     rules, provided that the object of any such motion is 
     announced from the floor at least one hour before the motion 
     is offered. 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. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), pending 
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration 
of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purposes of debate 
only.
  (Mr. DIAZ-BALART asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 314 is a rule providing for the 
consideration of motions to suspend the rules at any time on the 
legislative day of Wednesday, December 19, 2001.
  The rule further provides that the object of any motion to suspend 
the rules should be announced from the floor at least 1 hour prior to 
its consideration, and that the Speaker or his designee will consult 
with the minority leader or his designee on any suspension considered 
under the rule.
  It is a fair rule, Mr. Speaker. It will allow for the consideration 
of important legislation. I would urge my colleagues to support this 
straightforward, hopefully noncontroversial, rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, under rule XV of the House rules, bills may be 
considered on the House floor under suspension of the rules only on 
Mondays and Tuesdays, and this resolution will permit bills to be 
considered under suspension of the rules on Wednesday, December 19.
  This special rule is open-ended. It authorizes the Republican House 
leadership to bring up any bill under suspensions of the rules. Other 
special rules considered during this Congress to create new suspension 
days covered only specific measures.
  Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that this rule requires only 1 hour's 
notice before bringing up a bill under suspension.
  Mr. Speaker, as we all know, during the last moments of a session 
when Members are rushing to wrap up the year's business, it is easy to 
make mistakes. It is also easy to take shortcuts that undermine the 
deliberative process and restrict the rights of the minority. Under 
these circumstances, 1 hour's notice is simply not enough time.
  Towards the end of the session in 1999, the House passed an open-
ended suspension rule that required at least 2 hours. Near the end of 
the session in 1998, the House also passed an open-ended suspension 
rule that required at least 2 hours. I fail to see why this rule should 
require only 1 hour's notice.
  For this reason, I must reluctantly oppose the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. 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 SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question are postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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