[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 27, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H1130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, as all of us know, we have been considering 
for a number of years now the question of how we ensure that we have 
ethical conduct in this body, but more importantly, how we give 
confidence to the American people that we are handling their business 
in a fashion which they can trust and be proud of. It is a difficult 
effort.
  We had scheduled for tomorrow a rule which would have established a 
process of access and oversight that many believe would be an 
improvement. The committee that was set up was chaired by Mr. Capuano, 
and Mr. Smith, Lamar Smith, was his ranking member or cochair.
  Mr. Smith just an hour ago or so, or 2 hours ago, brought a new 
proposal, which we had not seen, to the Rules Committee. We have asked 
Mr. Capuano about that proposal. He has indicated that he wants an 
opportunity to review it because he had not seen it before.
  In light of that, I have had discussions with the other side of the 
aisle with reference to a procedure in which we would not consider the 
rule that was proposed, the rules change that was proposed, tomorrow. 
We do expect to consider it soon, but not tomorrow.
  Tomorrow, and I will be asking at the end of this for unanimous 
consent, I have discussed with Mr. Boehner and Mr. Blunt doing the 
seven suspension bills. There are eight suspension bills scheduled for 
today. One of them is the Andean bill, which I think is not of any 
controversy, the 10-month extension on that bill. I will be asking for 
unanimous consent, therefore, for tomorrow to be a suspension day.
  This will give Mr. Capuano and Mr. Smith the opportunity to discuss a 
new proposal which has been put on the table just this afternoon, and 
they will discuss that.
  I know that Mr. Boehner and Ms. Pelosi, the Speaker, have had 
discussions. I presume those discussions will continue.
  So my expectation is tomorrow, after the unanimous consent, we will 
conclude this bill. We will then have no further business. We will have 
the Andean suspension bill. After the conclusion of the Andean 
suspension bill, we will have no further business for today that 
Members would be voting on. And then we would, tomorrow, consider the 
seven suspension bills, and my presumption is it will be a relatively 
early day tomorrow, Thursday.

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