[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E28]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RULES OF THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2009

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, let me congratulate you for 
your re-election as Speaker of the House. It is an honor that you have 
served with great distinction and verve. I look forward to more of your 
continued leadership in the 111th Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 5, Adopting the rules 
for the One Hundred Eleventh Congress. The House Rules Package provides 
commonsense reforms that will enable Congress to work more efficiently 
for America.
  In the 110th Congress, Democrats put forth critical measures to 
restore integrity and accountability to the House. These reforms were 
the most sweeping ethics and lobbying reforms since Watergate and has 
changed the way Congress does business in Washington. The reforms 
adopted by the 110th Congress included banning gifts from lobbyists, 
prohibiting the use of corporate jets, mandating ethics training for 
all House employees, establishing a new, independent Office of 
Congressional Ethics, and ensuring transparency for budget earmarks by 
requiring the full disclosure of earmarks in all bills and conference 
reports.
  The Rule Package for the 111th Congress builds upon these reforms to 
further strengthen the integrity of Congress. Key provisions include 
closing the loophole regarding ``lame-duck'' Members negotiating post-
Congressional employment, codifying additional earmark reforms adopted 
in mid-term in the 110th Congress, continuing the Office of 
Congressional Ethics, maintaining strong PAYGO rules, and improving 
Congress's effectiveness by removing an abusive practice where popular 
measures are killed through unrelated, ``gotcha'' amendments on motions 
to recommit.
  On this last point, noted Congressional scholar Norm Ornstein pointed 
out in the Roll Call, August 13, 2007, ``Using `promptly' . . . is a 
subterfuge, a way to kill bills, and reflects a desire not to legislate 
but embarrass vulnerable majority Members through a ``gotcha'' process. 
The Rules Package protects the minority and still preserves its ability 
to recommit. Specifically, the minority can offer a motion to recommit 
``forthwith,'' where the GOP amendment is immediately voted upon and, 
if adopted, is added to the bill. Additionally, the minority can offer 
a straight motion to recommit the bill to committee (in which case the 
vote occurs on the merits of the bill itself).
  Mr. Speaker, the Rules Package removes term limits for Committee 
Chairmen from House Rules. Instead, each party should determine its own 
rules on the tenure of Committee Chairs and/or Ranking Members--and 
they should be reflected in Democratic Caucus Rules and Republican 
Conference Rules. In practice, term limits have resulted in the 
creation of a ``pay-to-play'' system, where the chief criterion for 
being selected as a new Chair has in many instances been a Member's 
fundraising prowess. This had the effect of focusing upon fundraising 
and undermining the integrity of Congress and the legislative process.
  Lastly, I am pleased that the Select Committee on Energy Independence 
and Global Warming, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and the 
House Democracy Assistance Commission will be continued. These entities 
have done tremendous work.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Rules Package. I believe this 
package restores integrity and accountability.

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