[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8983-H8984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0945
    WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 6(a) OF RULE XIII WITH RESPECT TO 
CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF 
                      MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES

  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 1102 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows

                              H. Res. 1102

       Resolved, That the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII 
     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 on the 
     legislative day of December 8, 2006.
       Sec. 2. It shall be in order at any time on the legislative 
     day of December 8, 2006, for the Speaker to entertain motions 
     that the House suspend the rules. The Speaker or his designee 
     shall consult with the Minority Leader or her designee on the 
     designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this 
     resolution.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Foxx). The gentlewoman from West 
Virginia (Mrs. Capito) is recognized for 1 hour.

[[Page H8984]]

  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), 
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.
  (Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1102 waives clause 6(a) 
of rule XIII, requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the 
same day it is reported from the Rules Committee, against certain 
resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The resolution applies 
the waiver to any special rule reported on this legislative day.
  The rule also provides that suspensions will be in order at any time 
on the legislative day. The resolution also provides that the Speaker 
or his designee shall consult with the minority leader or her designee 
on any suspension considered under the rule.
  Madam Speaker, we have before us this morning a simple rule that will 
allow for the consideration of important final measures that must be 
addressed before we adjourn sine die. Most important is the 
consideration of the continuing resolution, which will continue funding 
of the government until February of 2007.
  Although I am disappointed this Congress was unable to complete its 
spending bills for fiscal year 2007, we must consider and pass this 
continuing resolution before we leave tonight. It is my hope that in 
future Congresses we can work together with the other body to ensure we 
finish the appropriating process on schedule and in a fiscally 
responsible manner.
  This balanced rule provides the minority with the ability to consult 
with the Speaker on any suspension that is offered, ensuring that their 
input and views are duly considered before any legislation considered 
under this rule is brought to the floor. This rules also allows for 
consideration of special rules reported on this day.
  We are nearing the end of our session, always a chaotic time, and 
this rule will allow the House to finish its business in a timely 
fashion. I now ask my colleagues to support this rule so that we may 
continue the work of the American people in a timely fashion today. 
Completing consideration of these suspensions and remaining bills 
ensures that we may accomplish as much as possible in the final days of 
this Congress, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
to support this balanced rule.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentlewoman 
from West Virginia, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, it is disappointing we are adjourning 
after passing only 2 of the 13 appropriation bills that fund the 
Federal Government. We should have done better, and clearly we could 
have done better. Instead, we are leaving this year's unfinished 
business to the next Congress. That is far from the ideal way of 
handling our constitutional responsibilities.
  Nonetheless, that is a reality, and we will deal with it as such when 
Congress returns next year under new leadership. But the American 
people should be assured that such a turn of events will not alter the 
focus of the next Congress. We will remain focused on the critical 
priorities of American families, priorities that were made clear in the 
recent election: a sensible energy policy, affordable health care for 
working families, reforming prescription drug benefits, honest wages 
for honest work, increasing homeland security, and responsible 
oversight of and a change in direction of our policy in Iraq.
  I hope those issues will be addressed next year in a bipartisan 
manner, with open debate and a focus on concrete results for the 
American people.
  The time to deal with those will come soon. The problem before us now 
is that the Federal Government shuts down at midnight tonight unless we 
invoke martial law under this rule. It concludes the 109th Congress on 
a less than satisfactory note, but it is nonetheless necessary
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, 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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