[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 22-24]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair customarily takes this occasion on 
the opening day of the Congress to announce his policies with respect 
to particular aspects of the legislative process. The Chair will insert 
in the Record announcements by the Speaker concerning: first, 
privileges of the floor; second, introduction of bills and resolutions; 
third, unanimous consent requests for the consideration of bills and 
resolutions; forth, recognition for 1-minute speeches, morning hour 
debate, and special orders; fifth, decorum in debate; sixth, conduct of 
votes by electronic device; seventh, distribution of written material 
on the House floor; and, eighth, use of personal, electronic office 
equipment on the House floor.
  These announcements, where appropriate, will reiterate the origins of 
the stated policies. The Speaker intends to continue in the 108th 
Congress the policies reflected in these statements. The policy 
announced in the 102nd Congress with respect to jurisdictional concepts 
related to clause 5(a) of rule XXI, tax and tariff measures, will 
continue to govern but need not be reiterated, as it is adequately 
documented as precedent in the House Rules and Manual.
  The announcements referred to follow and, without objection, will be 
printed in the Record:
  There was no objection.

                       1. Privileges of the Floor

       The Chair will make the following announcement regarding 
     floor privileges. Rule 4 strictly limits those persons to 
     whom the privileges of the floor during sessions of the House 
     are extended, and that rule prohibits the Chair from 
     entertaining requests for suspension or waiver of that rule. 
     The Speaker's instructions to the former Doorkeeper and the 
     Sergeant-at-Arms announced on January 25, 1983, and on 
     January 21, 1986, regarding floor privileges of staff will 
     apply during the 108th Congress. In accordance with the 
     change in this Congress of clause 2(a) of rule 4 regarding 
     leadership staff floor access, the Speaker announces that 
     only designated staff approved by the Speaker shall be 
     granted the privilege of the floor. The Speaker intends that 
     his approval be narrowly granted on a bipartisan basis to 
     staff from the majority and minority side and only to those 
     staff essential to floor activities.
       The rule strictly limits the number of committee staff 
     permitted on the floor at one time during the consideration 
     of measures reported from their committees. This permission 
     does not extend to Members' personal staff except when a 
     Member has an amendment actually pending. To this end, the 
     Chair requests all Members and committee staff to cooperate 
     to assure that not more than the proper number of staff are 
     on the floor, and then only during the actual consideration 
     of measures reported from their committees. The Chair will 
     again extend this admonition to all properly admitted 
     majority and minority staff by insisting that their presence 
     on the floor, including the areas behind the rail, be 
     restricted to those periods during which their supervisors 
     have specifically requested (and the Speaker has approved) 
     their presence. The Chair has consulted with and has 
     concurrence of the Minority Leader with respect to this 
     policy and has directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to assure proper 
     enforcement of the rule. The Speaker's policy announced on 
     August 1, 1996, regarding floor privileges of former Members 
     will also apply during the 108th Congress.


             announcement by the speaker, january 25, 1983

       The Speaker. Rule IV strictly limits those persons to whom 
     the privileges of the floor during sessions of the House are 
     extended, and that rule prohibits the Chair from entertaining 
     requests for suspension or waiver of that rule. As reiterated 
     as recently as August 22, 1974, by Speaker Albert under the 
     principle stated in Deschler's Procedure, chapter 4, section 
     3.4, the rule strictly limits the number of committee staff 
     permitted on the floor at one time during the consideration 
     of measures reported from their committees. This permission 
     does not extend to Member's personal staff except when a 
     Member has an amendment actually pending during the five-
     minute rule. To this end, the Chair requests all Members and 
     committee staff to cooperate to assure that not more than the 
     proper number of staff are on the floor, and then only during 
     the actual consideration of measures reported from their 
     committees. The Chair will again extend this admonition to 
     all properly admitted majority and minority staff by 
     insisting that their presence on the floor, including the 
     areas behind the rail, be restricted to those periods during 
     which their supervisors have specifically requested their 
     presence. The Chair stated this policy in the 97th Congress, 
     and an increasing number of Members have insisted on strict 
     enforcement of the rule. The Chair has consulted with and has 
     the concurrence of the Minority Leader with respect to this 
     policy and has directed [the Doorkeeper and] the Sergeant-at-
     Arms to assure proper enforcement of the rule.


             announcement by the Speaker, January 21, 1986

       The Speaker. Rule IV strictly limits those persons to whom 
     the privileges of the floor during sessions of the House are 
     extended, and that rule prohibits the Chair from entertaining 
     requests for suspension or waiver of that rule. As reiterated 
     by the Chair on January 25, 1983, and January 3, 1985, and as 
     stated in chapter 4, section 3.4 of Deschler-Brown's 
     Procedure in the House of Representatives, the rule strictly 
     limits the number of committee staff on the floor at one time 
     during the consideration of measures reported from their 
     committees. This permission does not extend to Members' 
     personal staff except when a Member's amendment is actually 
     pending during the five-minute rule. It also does not extend 
     to personal staff of Members who are sponsors of pending 
     bills or who are engaging in special orders. The Chair 
     requests the cooperation of all Members and committee staff 
     to assure that only the proper number of staff are on the 
     floor, and then only during the consideration of measures 
     reported from their committees. The Chair is making this 
     statement and reiterating this policy because of concerns 
     expressed by many Members about the number of committee staff 
     on the floor during the last weeks of the first session. The 
     Chair requests each chairman, and each ranking minority 
     member, to submit to the [Doorkeeper] Sergeant-at-Arms a list 
     of staff who are to be allowed on the floor during the 
     consideration of a measure reported by their committee. Each 
     staff person should exchange his or her ID for a ``committee 
     staff'' badge which is to be worn while on the floor. The 
     Chair has consulted with the Minority Leader and will 
     continue to consult with him. The Chair has furthermore 
     directed the [Doorkeeper and] Sergeant-at-Arms to assure 
     proper enforcement of rule IV.


              announcement by the Speaker, August 1, 1996

       The Speaker. The Chair will make a statement. On May 25, 
     1995, the Chair took the opportunity to reiterate guidelines 
     on the prohibition against former Members exercising floor 
     privileges during the consideration of a matter in which they 
     have a personal or pecuniary interest or are employed or 
     retained as a lobbyist.
       Clause 4 of rule IV and the subsequent guidelines issued by 
     previous Speakers on

[[Page 23]]

     this matter make it clear that consideration of legislative 
     measures is not limited solely to those pending before the 
     House. Consideration also includes all bills and resolutions 
     either which have been called up by a full committee or 
     subcommittee or on which hearings have been a full committee 
     or subcommittee of the House.
       Former Members can be prohibited from privileges of the 
     floor, the Speaker's lobby and respective Cloakrooms should 
     it be ascertained they have direct interests in legislation 
     that is before a subcommittee, full committee, or the House. 
     Not only do those circumstances prohibit former Members but 
     the fact that a former Member is employed or retained by a 
     lobbying organization attempting to directly or indirectly 
     influence pending legislation is cause for prohibiting access 
     to the House Chamber.
       First announced by Speaker O'Neill on January 6, 1977, 
     again on June 7, 1978, and by Speaker Foley in 1994, the 
     guidelines were intended to prohibit former Members from 
     using their floor privileges under the restrictions laid out 
     in this rule. This restriction extends not only to the House 
     floor but adjacent rooms, the Cloakrooms, and the Speaker's 
     lobby.
       Members who have reason to know that a former Member is on 
     the floor inconsistent with clause 4 of rule IV should notify 
     the Sergeant-at-Arms promptly.

                2. Introduction of Bills and Resolutions

       The Speaker's policy announced on January 3, 1983, will 
     continue to apply in the 108th Congress.


              announcement by the speaker, january 3, 1983

       The Speaker. The Chair would like to make a statement 
     concerning the introduction and reference of bills and 
     resolutions. As Members are aware, they have the privilege 
     today of introducing bills. Heretofore on the opening day of 
     a new Congress, several hundred bills have been introduced. 
     The Chair will do his best to refer as many bills as 
     possible, but he will ask the indulgence of Members if he is 
     unable to refer all the bills that may be introduced. Those 
     bills which are not referred and do not appear in the Record 
     as of today will be included in the next day's Record and 
     printed with a date as of today.
       The Chair has advised all officers and employees of the 
     House that are involved in the processing of bills that every 
     bill, resolution, memorial, petition or other material that 
     is placed in the hopper must bear the signature of a Member. 
     Where a bill or resolution is jointly sponsored, the 
     signature must be that of the Member first named thereon. The 
     bill clerk is instructed to return to the Member any bill 
     which appears in the hopper without an original signature. 
     This procedure was inaugurated in the 92d Congress. It has 
     worked well, and the Chair thinks that it is essential to 
     continue this practice to insure the integrity of the process 
     by which legislation is introduced in the House.

   3. Unanimous-Consent Requests for the Consideration of Bills and 
                              Resolutions

       The Speaker's policy announced on January 6, 1999, will 
     continue to apply in the 108th Congress.


              announcement by the speaker, january 6, 1999

       The Speaker. The Speaker will continue to follow the 
     guidelines recorded in section 956 of the House Rules and 
     Manual conferring recognition for unanimous-consent requests 
     for the consideration of bills and resolutions only when 
     assured that the majority and minority floor leadership and 
     committee and subcommittee chairmen and ranking minority 
     members have no objection. Consistent with those guidelines, 
     and with the Chair's inherent power of recognition under 
     clause 2 of rule XVII, the Chair, and any occupant of the 
     Chair appointed as Speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 8 
     of rule I, will decline recognition for unanimous-consent 
     requests for consideration of bills and resolutions without 
     assurances that the request has been so cleared. This denial 
     of recognition by the Chair will not reflect necessarily any 
     personal opposition on the part of the Chair to orderly 
     consideration of the matter in question, but will reflect the 
     determination upon the part of the Chair that orderly 
     procedures will be followed; that is, procedures involving 
     consultation and agreement between floor and committee 
     leadership on both sides of the aisle. In addition to 
     unanimous-consent requests for the consideration of bills and 
     resolutions, section 956 of the House Rules and Manual also 
     chronicles examples where the Speaker applied this policy on 
     recognition to other related unanimous-consent requests, such 
     as requests to consider a motion to suspend the rules on a 
     nonsuspension day and requests to permit consideration of 
     nongermane amendments to bills.
       As announced by the Speaker, April 26, 1984, the Chair will 
     entertain unanimous-consent requests to dispose of Senate 
     amendments to House bills on the Speaker's table if made by 
     the chairman of the committee with jurisdiction, or by 
     another committee member authorized to make the request.

       4. Recognition for One-Minute Speeches and Special Orders

       The Speaker's policy announced on January 25, 1984, with 
     respect to recognition for one-minute speeches will apply 
     during the 108th Congress with the continued understanding 
     that the Chair reserves the authority to restrict one-minute 
     speeches at the beginning of the legislative day. The 
     Speaker's policy announced in the 104th Congress for 
     recognition for ``morning hour'' debate and restricted 
     special-order speeches, announced on May 12, 1995, will also 
     continue through the 108th Congress with the further 
     clarification that reallocations of time within each 
     leadership special-order period will be permitted with notice 
     to the Chair.


 announcement by the speaker, august 8, 1984, relative to recognition 
                        for one-minute speeches

       The Speaker. After consultation with and concurrence by the 
     Minority Leader, the Chair announces that he will institute a 
     new policy of recognition for ``one-minute'' speeches and for 
     special order requests. The Chair will alternate recognition 
     for one-minute speeches between majority and minority 
     Members, in the order in which they seek recognition in the 
     well under present practice from the Chair's right to the 
     Chair's left, with possible exceptions for Members of the 
     leadership and Members having business requests. The Chair, 
     of course, reserves the right to limit one-minute speeches to 
     a certain period of time or to a special place in the program 
     on any given day, with notice to the leadership.
       Upon consultation with the Minority Leader, the Speaker's 
     policy, which began on February 23, 1994, was reiterated on 
     January 4, 1995, and was supplemented on January 3, 2001, 
     will continue to apply in the 108th Congress as outlined 
     below:
       On Tuesdays, following legislative business, the Chair may 
     recognize Members for special-order speeches up to midnight, 
     and such speeches may not extend beyond midnight. On all 
     other days of the week, the Chair may recognize Members for 
     special-order speeches up to four hours after the conclusion 
     of five-minute special-order speeches. Such speeches may not 
     extend beyond the four-hour limit without the permission of 
     the Chair, which may be granted only with advance 
     consultation between the leaderships and notification to the 
     House. However, at no time shall the Chair recognize for any 
     special-order speeches beyond midnight.
       The Chair will first recognize Members for five-minute 
     special-order speeches, alternating initially and 
     subsequently between the parties regardless of the date the 
     order was granted by the House. The Chair will then recognize 
     longer special orders speeches. A Member recognized for a 
     five-minute special-order speech may not be recognized for a 
     longer special-order speech. The four-hour limitation will be 
     divided between the majority and minority parties. Each party 
     is entitled to reserve its first hour for respective 
     leaderships or their designees. Recognition will alternate 
     initially and subsequently between the parties each day.
       The allocation of time within each party's two-hour period 
     (or shorter period of prorated to end by midnight) is to be 
     determined by a list submitted to the Chair by the respective 
     leaderships. Members may not sign up with their leadership 
     for any special-order speeches earlier than one week prior to 
     the special order, and additional guidelines may be 
     established for such sign-ups by the respective leaderships.
       Pursuant to clause 2(a) of rule V, the television cameras 
     will not pan the Chamber, but a ``crawl'' indicating morning 
     hour or that the House has completed its legislative business 
     and is proceeding with special-order speeches will appear on 
     the screen. Other television camera adaptations during this 
     period may be announced by the Chair.
       The continuation of this format for recognition by the 
     Speaker is without prejudice to the Speaker's ultimate power 
     of recognition under clause 2 of rule XVII should 
     circumstances so warrant.

                          5. Decorum in Debate

       The Chair will make the following announcement regarding 
     decorum in debate. It is essential that the dignity of the 
     proceedings of the House be preserved, not only to assure 
     that the House conducts its business in an orderly fashion 
     but to permit Members to properly comprehend and participate 
     in the business of the House. To this end, and in order to 
     permit the Chair to understand and to correctly put the 
     question on the numerous requests that are made by Members, 
     the Chair requests that Members and others who have the 
     privileges of the floor desist from audible conversation in 
     the Chamber while the business of the House is being 
     conducted. The Chair would encourage all Members to review 
     rule 17 to gain a better understanding of the proper rules of 
     decorum expected to them, and especially:
       (1) to avoid ``personalities'' in debate with respect to 
     references to other Members, the Senate, and the President;
       (2) to address the Chair while standing and only when, and 
     not beyond, the time recognized, and not to address the 
     television or other imagined audience;
       (3) to refrain from passing between the Chair and a Member 
     speaking, or directly in front of a Member speaking from the 
     well;
       (4) to refrain from smoking in the Chamber;
       (5) to disable wireless phones when entering the Chamber;

[[Page 24]]

       (6) to wear appropriate business attire in the Chamber; and 
     to generally display the same degree of respect to the Chair 
     and other Members that every Member is due.
       The Speaker's policies with respect to decorum in debate 
     announced on January 3, 1991, and January 4, 1995, will apply 
     during the 108th Congress.


              Announcement by the Speaker, January 3, 1991

       The Speaker. It is essential that the dignity of the 
     proceedings of the House be preserved, not only to assure 
     that the House conducts its business in an orderly fashion 
     but to permit Members to properly comprehend and participate 
     in the business of the House. To this end, and in order to 
     permit the Chair to understand and to correctly put the 
     question on the numerous requests that are made by Members, 
     the Chair requests that Members and others who have the 
     privileges of the floor desist from audible conversation in 
     the Chamber while the business of the House is being 
     conducted. The Chair would encourage all Members to review 
     rule XVII to gain a better understanding of the proper rules 
     of decorum expected of them, and especially: First, to avoid 
     ``personalities'' in debate with respect to references to 
     other Members, the Senate, and the President; second, to 
     address the Chair while standing and only when and not beyond 
     the time recognized, and not to address the television or 
     other imagined audience; third, to refrain from passing 
     between the Chair and the Member speaking, or directly in 
     front of a Member speaking from the well; fourth, to refrain 
     from smoking in the Chamber; and generally to display the 
     same degree of respect to the Chair and other Members that 
     every Member is due.
       The Speaker's announcement of January 4, 1995, will 
     continue to apply in the 108th Congress as follows:
       The Speaker. The Chair would like all Members to be on 
     notice that the Chair intends to strictly enforce time 
     limitations on debate. Furthermore, the Chair has the 
     authority to immediately interrupt Members in debate who 
     transgress rule XVII by failing to avoid ``personalities' in 
     debate with respect to references to the Senate, the 
     President, and other Members, rather than wait for Members to 
     complete their remarks.
       Finally, it is not in order to speak disrespectfully of the 
     Speaker; and under the precedents the sanctions for such 
     violations transcend the ordinary requirements for timeliness 
     of challenges. This separate treatment is recorded in volume 
     2 of Hinds' Precedents, at section 1248 and was reiterated on 
     January 19, 1995.

                 6. Conduct of Votes by Electric Device

       The Speaker's policy announced on January 4, 1995, will 
     continue through the 108th Congress.
       The Speaker. The Chair wishes to enunciate a clear policy 
     with respect to the conduct of electronic votes.
       As Members are aware, clause 2(a) of rule XX provides that 
     Members shall have not less than 15 minutes in which to 
     answer an ordinary [rollcall] record vote or quorum call. The 
     rule obviously establishes 15 minutes as a minimum. Still, 
     with the cooperation of the Members, a vote can easily be 
     completed in that time. The events of October 30, 1991, stand 
     out as proof of this point. On that occasion, the House was 
     considering a bill in the Committee of the Whole under a 
     special rule that placed an overall time limit on the 
     amendment process, including the time consumed by [rollcalls] 
     record votes. The Chair announced, and then strictly 
     enforced, a policy of closing electronic votes as soon as 
     possible after the guaranteed period of 15 minutes. Members 
     appreciated and cooperated with the Chair's enforcement of 
     the policy on that occasion.
       The Chair desires that the example of October 30, 1991, be 
     made the regular practice of the House. To that end, the 
     Chair enlists the assistance of all Members in avoiding the 
     unnecessary loss of time in conducting the business of the 
     House. The Chair encourages all Members to depart for the 
     Chamber promptly upon the appropriate bell and light signal. 
     As in recent Congresses, the cloakrooms should not forward to 
     the Chair requests to hold a vote by electronic device, but 
     should simply apprise inquiring Members of the time remaining 
     on the voting clock.
       Although no occupant of the Chair would prevent a Member 
     who is in the well of the Chamber before the announcement of 
     the result from casting his or her vote, each occupant of the 
     Chair will have the full support of the Speaker in striving 
     to close each electronic vote at the earliest opportunity. 
     Members should not rely on signals relayed from outside the 
     Chamber to assume that votes will be held open until they 
     arrive in the Chamber.

                   7. Use of Handouts on House Floor

       The Speaker's policy announced on September 27, 1995, will 
     continue through 108th Congress.
       The Speaker. A recent misuse of handouts on the floor of 
     the House has been called to the attention of the Chair and 
     the House. At the bipartisan request of the Committee on 
     Standards of Official Conduct, the Chair announces that all 
     handouts distributed on or adjacent to the House floor by 
     Members during House proceedings must bear the name of the 
     member authorizing their distribution. In addition, the 
     content of those materials must comport with standards of 
     propriety applicable to words spoken in debate or inserted in 
     the Record. Failure to comply with this admonition may 
     constitute a breach of decorum and may give rise to a 
     question of privilege.
       The Chair would also remind Members that, pursuant to 
     clause 5 of rule IV, staff are prohibited from engaging in 
     efforts in the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto to 
     influence Members with regard to the legislation being 
     amended. Staff cannot distribute handouts.
       In order to enhance the quality of debate in the House, the 
     Chair would ask Members to minimize the use of handouts.

                   8. Use of Equipment on House Floor

       The Speaker's policy announced on January 27, 2000, as 
     modified by the change in clause 5 of rule XVII in this 
     Congress, will continue. All Members and staff are reminded 
     of the absolute prohibition contained in the last sentence of 
     clause 5 of rule XVII against the use of a wireless telephone 
     or personal computer upon the floor of the House at any time.
       The Chair requests all Members and staff wishing to receive 
     or send wireless telephone messages to do so outside of the 
     chamber, and to deactivate, which means to turn off, any 
     audible ring of wireless phones before entering the Chamber. 
     To this end, the Chair insists upon the cooperation of all 
     Members and staff and instructs the Sergeant-at-Arms, 
     pursuant to clause 3(a) of rule II, to enforce this 
     prohibition.

                          ____________________