[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H10447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Can the Speaker please clarify within the 
rules of the House when a bill is final in terms of not being subject 
to open and changing the votes? Is it when the board says final or is 
it when the Speaker gavels the bill down?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The board is for display purposes; and when 
the Chair hit the gavel to see if any Members wished to change their 
votes, several Members from both sides of the aisle indicated they had 
not voted, and the Chair extended the courtesy to allow Members to 
vote.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Further parliamentary inquiry then.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his further 
parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Just so I am clear, it is not upon the 
board, nor is it at the time of handing of the gavel down? Some other 
action has to occur?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is correct. The Chair is 
advised that the word ``final'' appears on the wall display as an 
indication of the status of the computer, not of the status of the 
vote.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Further parliamentary inquiry?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his further 
parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. The final element of when a vote is 
actually closed is when the Speaker, in this case yourself, actually 
hands down the gavel and not the board?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is when the Chair announces the result of 
the vote.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I thank the Speaker for the clarification. 
I appreciate it.

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