[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 72 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H3394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RESIGNATION AS PARLIAMENTARIAN OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER laid before the House the following resignation as 
Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives:
                                              The Speaker's Rooms,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 20, 2004.
     Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
     Speaker of the House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: After forty years of service in the 
     Office of Parliamentarian, I believe that the time is 
     appropriate for me to submit my resignation in completion of 
     a wonderfully satisfying career under seven Speakers. By this 
     action, I shall with your permission remain available to 
     fulfill the requirement in law to publish precedents 
     accumulated during my tenure and that of my beloved 
     predecessor, the late Wm. Holmes Brown.
       This decision is made especially difficult by the loyal 
     support and friendship you have shown to me, Mr. Speaker. You 
     have enabled my office to serve the House and all its Members 
     at a time of profound institutional change, by coping with 
     new pressures and realities while mindful of the importance 
     of continuity of the practices and precedents of the House 
     and of the dignity and integrity of its proceedings. Speaker 
     Foley, who appointed me to this position, other Speakers, and 
     Minority Leaders, whose personal friendships I have also 
     cherished, have likewise been particularly supportive of this 
     office.
       One need only refer to the prefaces of Hinds', Cannon's, 
     and Deschler's Precedents to gain a sense of the extent of 
     the procedural evolution in the House for the first 190 years 
     of the Republic, and then compare with that documented 
     history the nature and pace of more recent changes, to 
     understand the enormity of contemporary developments. Along 
     the way, important matters of Constitutional separation of 
     powers and continuity of government have occupied high 
     profile status requiring the attention of my office. Numerous 
     incremental changes have considerably altered the procedural 
     landscape during my career. Examples include increased 
     turnover in Membership, committee seniority status, budgetary 
     disciplines, appropriations practices, an ethics process, 
     televised proceedings, multiplicity of committee 
     jurisdictions, oversight and authorization prerequisites, the 
     impact of changing Senate processes, disposition of matters 
     in conference, review of Executive actions, authorities to 
     recess, to postpone and cluster votes and consolidate 
     amendments, an issue-specific super-majority vote 
     requirement, electronic capabilities, committee report 
     availabilities, five-minute rule and other special rule 
     variations, and the interaction between traditional 
     spontaneity of the House's proceedings and trends toward 
     relative predictability of time constraints and issues 
     presented.
       I believe that the longstanding tradition of the role of 
     the Chair in rendering impartial and proper decisions has 
     been maintained and appreciated despite the switch in party 
     majorities and despite occasional efforts to appeal various 
     rulings. It has been reassuring when bipartisan majorities 
     understand and support the rulings of the Chair solely on the 
     basis of their propriety as nonpartisan institutional 
     standards with precedential significance. Respect for 
     appropriate means of disagreement remains the foundation upon 
     which so much depends. I express special gratitude to those 
     Members on both sides of the aisle who served as fair and 
     effective presiding officers during this time. We share a 
     unique bond.
       In fact, my decision is made easier by the certain 
     realization that my office is immediately capable of 
     providing all required services to the House. That is made 
     possible by the total dedication and competence of my 
     deputies, assistants and clerks. Beyond the fact that they 
     offer to the House more than 100 years in cumulative 
     nonpartisan professional experience, they are my dear friends 
     whose institutional loyalty and commitment have been 
     unfailing. Together, with frequent infusions of humor and 
     with an essential ability to communicate honestly with all 
     who inquire, they serve in the public interest. In retrospect 
     many of my own most valuable experiences were as Deputy and 
     Assistant, in furtherance of the office's collective response 
     to questions. I am particularly proud of the involvement of 
     my office in the preparation of the recodification of the 
     Rules in the 106th Congress working with a bi-partisan task 
     force. By this letter through you Mr. Speaker, I also wish to 
     honor the many staff who, over the years, have respected and 
     protected the collegial traditions of the House by their 
     professionalism and by being true to Speaker O'Neill's 
     reminder of the abiding ``importance of being nice''.
       My affection for the House which began when Parliamentarian 
     Lewis Deschler hired me in 1964 has been sustaining. It has 
     been nurtured by occasional skepticism, by the never-ending 
     nuances of questions and responses which have confronted the 
     House, by cherished relationships with Members and staff past 
     and present, and by exchanges with parliamentarians from over 
     the world. I expect to communicate the value of this unique 
     experience to young people contemplating public service. 
     Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for having permitted me this 
     opportunity, and for your friendship.
       With your permission, this resignation will take effect May 
     31, 2004.
           Very respectfully yours,
                                               Charles W. Johnson,
                                                  Parliamentarian.

  The SPEAKER. With great regret, the Chair accepts the resignation of 
the distinguished Parliamentarian of the House, Charles W. Johnson, 
effective May 31, 2004.

                          ____________________