[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 98 (Thursday, July 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005

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                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 12, 2004

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4755) making 
     appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this rule.
  Unlike most appropriations bills that this House debates, this bill 
will be considered by a structured rule that had blocked me from 
offering two amendments.
  Two amendments that, according to the parliamentarian, were germane 
and not subject to a point of order. In other words, if this 
appropriations bill was any other appropriations bill, I would of had 
the opportunity to offer my amendments.
  My first amendment would have prohibited the use of funds on any vote 
that last longer than 17 minutes.
  It is not bad enough that they will hold the vote open long enough to 
have it their way. What is worst is that they would not even let us 
debate the amendment in the first place. What are they so afraid of?
  The second Amendment would have required conference committees to 
meet before the House can vote on a conference report.
  Since they did not allow me to offer my amendment, I plan to 
introduce a bill to restore democracy to the House of Representative. 
Some of the key sections of the bill deal with what my amendments would 
have also addressed.
  In all, this legislation will offer ten specific changes to the way 
this House has been operating under the Republican Majority. Like my 
amendments, these changes will help restore democracy to the United 
States Congress.

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