[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 37. Resignations]
[C. Resignations From Committees and Delegations]
[Â§ 7. Reason for Resignation]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 455-470]
 
                               CHAPTER 37
 
                              Resignations
 
            C. Resignations from Committees and Delegations
 
Sec. 7. Reason for Resignation

Election to Leadership

Sec. 7.1 Upon his election as Speaker, a Member resigned from various 
    committees on which he had served while Majority Leader.

    On Jan. 10, 1962,(1) after his election as Speaker, John 
W. McCormick, of Massachusetts, resigned from various committees of the 
House on which he had served while Majority Leader.
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 1. 108 Cong. Rec. 8, 87th Cong. 2d Sess.
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                          RESIGNATION FROM COMMITTEES

        The SPEAKER. The Chair desires to announce that he is herewith 
    submitting his resignation as a member of the Committee on 
    Government Operations; the Committee on Science and Astronautics; 
    and also as a member of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial 
    Commission.
        Without objection the resignations will be accepted.
        There was no objection.

Sec. 7.2 Upon his selection as Majority Leader, a Member resigned from 
    a standing committee.

    On Feb. 7, 2006,(1) the House, by unanimous consent, 
accepted

[[Page 456]]

the resignation of a Member as chairman of a standing committee.
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 1. 152 Cong. Rec. 988, 989, 109th Cong. 2d Sess.
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           RESIGNATION AS CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE 
                                   WORKFORCE

        The SPEAKER pro tempore(2) laid before the House the 
    following resignation as chairman of the Committee on Education and 
    the Workforce:
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 2. John Campbell (CA).

               Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of 
                                                  Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, February 6, 2006.
                                             Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
                                  Speaker, House of Representatives,
                                                     Washington, DC.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: As a result of my election Thursday as 
    Majority Leader, this letter is to inform you that I resign as 
    Chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and from 
    further service on that Committee. During my five years of service 
    as Chairman on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the 
    Committee has overseen and enacted 131 public laws designed to 
    improve the lives of all Americans.
        I also resign from the Committee on Agriculture on which I have 
    served since being elected to Congress. I would ask that Conference 
    Rule 2 be invoked with respect to my status on both Committees. I 
    am humbled by my peers' decision to elect me as our Majority Leader 
    and I look forward to working with you in that capacity.

            Sincerely,
                                                  John A. Boehner,
                                                         Chairman.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the resignation is 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Jan. 18, 1962,(3) Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, resigned 
from the Committee on Agriculture after his selection as Majority 
Leader.
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 3. 108 Cong. Rec. 470, 87th Cong. 2d Sess.
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                                    Congress of the United States,

                                          House of Representatives

                                    Office of the Democratic Whip,

                               Washington, D.C., January 18, 1962.

                             The Honorable the Speaker of the House.

        Sir: I herewith submit my resignation as a member of the House 
    Committee on Agriculture.

              Very truly yours,

                                                      Carl Albert.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.

        There was no objection.

Election as Committee Chair

Sec. 7.3 A newly elected chairman of a committee resigned as a member 
    of another committee.

    On Sept. 21, 1961,(1) the House agreed to a resolution 
electing a new chairman of the Committee on Science and Astronautics (a 
vacancy having been created by the death of the former chairman, 
Overton Brooks, of Louisiana). Thereupon, the newly elected

[[Page 457]]

chairman, George P. Miller, of California, resigned as a member of the 
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, which resignation was laid 
before the House and accepted.
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 1. 107 Cong. Rec. 20549, 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
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           ELECTION OF GEORGE P. MILLER TO COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND 
                                  ASTRONAUTICS

        Mr. [Wilbur D.] MILLS [of Arkansas]. Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    privileged resolution (H. Res. 474) and ask for its immediate 
    consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

            Resolved, That George P. Miller, of California, be, and he 
        is hereby, elected chairman of the standing committee of the 
        House of Representatives on Science and Astronautics.

        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the 
    table.                          -------------------

                           RESIGNATION FROM COMMITTEE

        The SPEAKER pro tempore(2) laid before the House the 
    following communication which was read by the Clerk:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

      
                                         House of Representatives,

                             Washington, D.C., September 21, 1961.

                                                   Hon. Sam Rayburn,

                                  Speaker, House of Representatives,

                                                    Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: I hereby tender my resignation as a member of 
    the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.

              Sincerely yours,

                                                 George P. Miller.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection the resignation is 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

Election to Committee

Sec. 7.4 A Member resigned from certain committee assignments pending 
    his election to the Committee on Ways and Means.

    On July 30, 1968,(1) the chairman (2) of the 
Committee on House Administration, who also was a member of the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, resigned from those positions pending his 
election to the Committee on Ways and Means.(3) His 
resignation was laid before the House by the Speaker:

 1. 114 Cong. Rec. 24215, 90th Cong. 2d Sess.
 2. Omar T. Burleson (TX).
 3. See 114 Cong. Rec. 24220, 90th Cong. 2d Sess., July 30, 1968 (H. 
        Res. 1276).

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                                    Congress of the United States,

                                         House of Representatives,

                                  Washington, D.C., July 30, 1968.

                                             Hon. John W. McCormack,

                 Speaker of the House, the Capitol, Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Please accept my resignation from the 
    Committee on House Administration, the Joint Committee on Printing 
    and the Joint Committee on the Library.

[[Page 458]]

        With kindest regards, I remain,

              Sincerely yours,

                                                    Omar Burleson.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.
        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following resignation 
    from a committee:

                                    Congress of the United States,

                                         House of Representatives,

                                  Washington, D.C., July 30, 1968.

                                             Hon. John W. McCormack,

                 Speaker of the House, the Capitol, Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Please accept my resignation from the 
    Committee on Foreign Affairs.
        With kindest regards, I remain,

              Sincerely yours,

                                                    Omar Burleson.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

Sec. 7.5 The House, by unanimous consent, accepted the resignation of a 
    Member from three standing committees.

    On Sept. 29, 2004,(1) Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, of 
Illinois, laid before the House the following resignation, which cited 
the Member's appointment to the Committee on Rules:
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 1. 150 Cong. Rec. 19888, 108th Cong. 2d Sess.
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          RESIGNATION AS MEMBER OF CERTAIN STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE 
                                     HOUSE

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following resignation as 
    a member of the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on 
    Government Reform, and the Committee on Budget:


                                         House of Representatives,
                               Washington, DC, September 28, 2004.

                                             Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
                  Speaker of the House, The Capitol, Washington, DC.

        Dear Mr. Speaker, I hereby resign from the House Agriculture, 
    Government Reform and Budget Committees due to my appointment to 
    the House Committee on Rules.

            Sincerely,
                                                   Adam H. Putnam,
                                               Member of Congress.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignations are accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Jan. 21, 2004,(2) Speaker pro tempore John Culberson, 
of Texas, laid down the following resignation:
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 2. 150 Cong. Rec. 140, 141, 108th Cong. 2d Sess.
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           RESIGNATION AS MEMBER OF COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES, 
         SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND COMMITTEE ON SMALL 
                                    BUSINESS

        The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson) laid before the House 
    the following resignation as a member of the Committee on Financial 
    Services,

[[Page 459]]

    the Select Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on 
    Small Business:

                                    Congress of the United States,
                                         House of Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, January 20, 2004.
                                                Hon. Dennis Hastert,
        Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington, 
                                                                 DC.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Effective January 20, 2004, I hereby resign 
    from the Committee on Financial Services, the Select Committee on 
    Homeland Security, and the Committee on Small Business due to my 
    pending appointment to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

            Sincerely,
                                              Charles A. Gonzalez,
                                               Member of Congress.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the resignation is 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

Statement of Reasons for Resignation

Sec. 7.6 A Member's letter of resignation from a committee, addressed 
    to the Speaker, may state the reasons impelling the Member to 
    resign.

    On Apr. 26, 2001,(1) Speaker pro tempore Paul Ryan, of 
Wisconsin, laid before the House a communication from Rep. Collin C. 
Peterson, of Minnesota, resigning his seat on a standing committee in 
light of his recent appointment to a permanent select committee and a 
rule of his party's caucus restricting the number of committee 
assignments.

 1. 147 Cong. Rec. 6299, 107th Cong. 1st Sess.

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                                    Congress of the United States,

                                         House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, April 24, 2001.

                                                Hon. Dennis Hastert,

                                               Speaker of the House,

                                       The Capitol, Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Thank you for appointing me to serve on the 
    House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
        In keeping with the Democratic Caucus rules and Rules of the 
    House that limit me to serving on no more than two full committees 
    I am resigning from my seat on the House Committee on Veterans' 
    Affairs.
        Please notify me as to the disposition of this request. . . .
        Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.

              Sincerely,

                                               Collin C. Peterson,

                                               Member of Congress.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the resignation is 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Sept. 17, 1980,(2) Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., of 
Massachusetts, laid before the House a communication from Rep. Michael 
O. Myers, of Pennsylvania, resigning his membership on a conference 
committee in light of a felony conviction.
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 2. 126 Cong. Rec. 25886, 96th Cong. 2d Sess.
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                                                  Washington, D.C.

                                               September 17, 1980.


[[Page 460]]


                                                  Hon. Carl Perkins,

                    Education and Labor Committee, Rayburn Building.

        Dear Mr. Chairman: In compliance with House Rule XLIII, I must 
    refrain from participation in the business of the committees of 
    which I am a member.
        Consequently, I am unable to act as a conferee on the Child 
    Nutrition legislation and would ask that you excuse me from this 
    duty and appoint another member to the conference committee.

              Sincerely yours,

                                                 Michael O. Myers,

                                               Member of Congress.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation is accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Sept. 24, 1974,(3) Speaker Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, 
laid before the House a communication from Rep. Frank J. Brasco, of New 
York, resigning his membership on a conference committee in light of a 
felony conviction.
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 3. 120 Cong. Rec. 32420, 93d Cong. 2d Sess.

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                                                 Washington, D.C.,

                                               September 19, 1974.

                                                   Hon. Carl Albert,

                                  Speaker, House of Representatives,

                                                    Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: In view of my present circumstances, and 
    because of the provisions of House Resolution 128, I hereby tender 
    my resignation as a member of the conference committee on S. 386 
    and H.R. 11221.
        With warmest personal regards, I am,

              Sincerely yours,

                                                  Frank J. Brasco.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Feb. 7, 1966,(4) a letter of resignation of a Member 
from a committee was laid before the House and accepted. The letter 
noted certain restrictions against dual committee assignments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4. 112 Cong. Rec. 2383, 2384, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.

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                                         House of Representatives,

                               Washington, D.C., February 7, 1966.

                                             Hon. John W. McCormack,

                                               Speaker of the House,

                                           House of Representatives,

                                                    Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: I herewith tender my resignation as a member 
    of the Committee on Agriculture.
        Having thoroughly enjoyed my work on this committee, I wish to 
    advise the House that this resignation is being submitted in 
    accordance with a decision of our committee on committees that 
    members of the Committee on Rules should not have dual committee 
    assignments.

              Sincerely yours,

                                                 Delbert L. Latta,

                                       Representative to Congress.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Jan. 13, 1966,(5) a Member's letter of resignation as 
the chairman and member of a committee

[[Page 461]]

was laid before the House by the Speaker and accepted. The letter made 
reference to the Member's appointment as a Federal district court 
judge.
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 5. Id. at p. 170.
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                                                 January 13, 1966.

                                             Hon. John W. McCormack,

                                                        The Speaker,

                                           House of Representatives,

                                                    Washington, D.C.

        My Dear Mr. Speaker: In view of my imminent departure from the 
    House of Representatives to assume a new role for me as U.S. 
    district judge for the eastern and western districts of Arkansas, I 
    hereby tender to you my resignation as chairman and a member of the 
    Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
        I leave this important assignment with affection and deep 
    appreciation for the members of the committee with whom I have 
    served over the years.
        With genuine respect and high esteem, I am,

              Sincerely yours,

                                                       Oren Harris

                                               Member of Congress.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation of the 
    distinguished gentleman from Arkansas, who has rendered outstanding 
    service as a legislator and as chairman of the important Committee 
    on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, is--and I pause--accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Feb. 3, 1965,(6) a member of the Committee on the 
Judiciary, having ceased to serve on the subcommittee dealing with 
immigration matters, submitted his resignation from the Joint Committee 
on Immigration and Nationality Policy.

 6. 111 Cong. Rec. 1870, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.

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                                         House of Representatives,

                               Washington, D.C., February 3, 1965.

                                             Hon. John W. McCormack,

                                               Speaker of the House,

                                      U.S. House of Representatives,

                                                    Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Having transferred this year from 
    subcommittee No. 1 of the Committee on the Judiciary, which has 
    special jurisdiction over immigration legislation, it would be 
    inappropriate for me to serve on the Joint Committee on Immigration 
    and Nationality Policy to which I was reappointed on February 1, 
    1965.
        In accordance with custom, I hereby respectfully submit my 
    resignation from the Joint Committee on Immigration and Nationality 
    Policy.

              Sincerely,

                                                  Richard H. Poff.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation is accepted.
        There was no objection.

    Similarly, on Jan. 25, 1943,(7) the resignation of a 
Member from the five committees to which he had been assigned at the 
opening of the Congress was laid before

[[Page 462]]

the House. In the letter, the Member, James H. Morrison, of Louisiana, 
set forth his reasons for resigning all the committees on which he had 
been placed.
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 7. 89 Cong. Rec. 356, 78th Cong. 1st Sess.

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                                                Washington, D. C.,

                                                 January 23, 1943.

                                                   Hon. Sam Rayburn,

                            Speaker of the House of Representatives,

                                             United States Congress,

                                                   Washington, D. C.

        My Dear Mr. Speaker: I herewith tender my resignation as a 
    member of each of the following five committees:
        Coinage, Weights, and Measures; Invalid Pensions; Public Lands; 
    War Claims; Mines and Mining.
        I want to make it plain that in taking this action I am not 
    attempting to shirk my share of work. It is a fact, however, that 
    the work of these committees is of no interest to people in my part 
    of the country. Nor does the work of these committees have to do 
    with the war, or national policy. Hence, if I tied myself down to 
    committees of this type I would be serving interests which are of 
    no concern to my people.
        My district is predominantly agricultural. My whole personal 
    background is agricultural. I have been intimately associated with 
    farmers and farm organizations. I know little, if anything, of (1) 
    mines and mining, (2) coinage, weights, and measures, (3) pensions, 
    (4) war claims, and (5) there are no public lands worth mentioning 
    in all my territory.
        I requested an assignment to the Committee on Appropriations, 
    where I hoped that I might serve in connection with agricultural 
    appropriations, or to the Committee on Agriculture. I know that 
    they are important committees, and that it is not ordinarily 
    considered that a new Congressman has a right to demand them. I did 
    not ask for them because of any personal interest or virtue of my 
    own. I asked them in the name of my people, who form one of the 
    largest and most important agricultural communities in the country. 
    I felt that if I did not get some such assignment, then I could be 
    more useful by leaving myself free to devote whatever talents and 
    energy I possess to the war, to national affairs, and to things in 
    which my people are directly concerned. I certainly should feel 
    that I was not representing my people if I permitted myself to be 
    tied down with the details of five such committees as these.
        I assure you, Mr. Speaker, that in taking this action I hold no 
    resentment against anybody. I have been told that it is an unusual 
    action for a new Congressman to take. If so, my answer is (1) that 
    these are unusual times; and (2) that it ought not to be unusual 
    for any Congressman to insist on devoting his time and energy to 
    the purposes for which he is elected.
        I assure you that in all matters which appear to me to be in 
    the interest of the war effort, the welfare of my people, and the 
    national good, you shall have my support.

              Yours very truly,

                                                James H. Morrison,

                                               Member of Congress.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

[[Page 463]]

    On Jan. 14, 1937,(8) the following letter of resignation 
of Rep. Usher L. Burdick, of North Dakota, from certain committees was 
laid before the House and read by the Clerk. The letter emphasized Mr. 
Burdick's dissatisfaction with the committees to which he had been 
assigned:
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 8. 81 Cong. Rec. 245, 75th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following communication:

                                                 Washington, D. C.

            Mr. Speaker: The Republican minority having filed its 
        resolution on committee appointments, and the same having been 
        duly adopted by the House, I hereby tender my resignation from 
        all committees to which I was named by the Republican minority 
        for the following reasons, to wit--

        Mr. [Bertrand H.] SNELL [of New York]. Mr. Speaker, reserving 
    the right to object, is it proper to give the reasons for resigning 
    from committees?
        The SPEAKER.(9) It has been done before. The Clerk 
    will proceed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9. William B. Bankhead (AL).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The Clerk continued reading:

            First. I received no committee assignments from the 
        minority in the Seventy-fourth Congress, save three minor 
        committees. I endeavored to serve on these to the best of my 
        ability, believing that in the Seventy-fifth Congress I might 
        be advanced.
            Second. Instead of being advanced I was left on the same 
        committees and actually demoted in rank to the tail-end kite of 
        a discredited political party. I was fully advised of the 
        punishment in store for me if I did not support Mr. Snell for 
        the speakership. I refused to support him for the good of the 
        Republican Party, and this action has been the result.
            Third. I am not in sympathy with the present leadership of 
        the Republican Party in this House and will not accept this 
        demonstration of party punishment.

                                                 Usher L. Burdisk.

        The resignation was accepted.

Change of Party Affiliation

Sec. 7.7 A resignation from a committee based on a change in a Member's 
    political party affiliation was, in the earlier practice, subject 
    to acceptance by the House.

    On Mar. 27, 1972,(1) the Speaker laid before the House a 
letter from a Member by which the Member, having changed his political 
party affiliation, submitted his resignation as a member of two 
committees of the House.
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 1. 118 Cong. Rec. 10198, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.

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                                                 Washington, D.C.,

                                                   March 23, 1972.

                                                   Hon. Carl Albert,

                                           House of Representatives,

                                                    Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Having changed my registration yesterday from 
    Republican to Democrat, I hereby resign from the Committee on 
    Education and Labor and the Committee on Government Operations, as 
    a Republican member.

[[Page 464]]

        With warm regard,

              Sincerely,

                                                    Ogden R. Reid.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

    On Jan. 20, 1958,(2) a Member, having submitted his 
resignation from a House committee, took the floor immediately before 
the Clerk read his resignation letter to explain that he had changed 
his party affiliation. He enunciated the steps he had taken to ensure 
that records and proceedings of the House would properly portray his 
changed affiliation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. 104 Cong. Rec. 673, 674, 85th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Speaker then laid Mr. Dellay's resignation from the Committee 
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries before the House.

        Mr. [Vincent J.] DELLAY [of New Jersey]. Mr. Speaker, on 
    October 27, 1957, I notified the people of my constituency that 
    henceforth I considered myself a member of the Democratic Party and 
    would support the candidate of that party and its policies and 
    program. Inasmuch as I had been elected to the 85th Congress as a 
    Republican, I did, on November 1, 1957, notify the Republican 
    leader in the House of Representatives, the Honorable Joseph W. 
    Martin, Jr., that thereafter I would consider myself an affiliate 
    of the Democratic Party and would, if permitted to do so, attend 
    and become a member of the Democratic caucus of the House of 
    Representatives. I was invited to attend such a caucus on January 
    14, 1958. I make this statement at this time, Mr. Speaker, so that 
    the records and proceedings of this House will properly portray my 
    present party affiliation. I insert at this point a copy of the 
    letter I addressed to the Honorable Joseph W. Martin, Jr., on 
    November 1, 1957.

                                         House of Representatives,

                               Washington, D.C., November 1, 1957.

                                         Hon. Joseph W. Martin, Jr.,

                      Minority Leader of the United States House of 
                Representatives, United States Capitol, Washington, 
                                                                D.C.

        Dear Mr. Martin: This is to ask that my name be withdrawn from 
    the rolls of the House as a Republican Congressman. After I vote 
    for the Democrat gubernatorial candidate as well as the entire 
    Democrat ticket for Hudson County, N. J., in the general election 
    on November 5, 1957, I will officially become a member of the 
    Democrat Party.
        I have notified the Democrat State committeeman and the 
    Democrat State committeewoman to list me as a member of the 
    Democrat State organization and to notify the chairman of the 
    National Democrat Committee, the Speaker of the House, and the 
    majority leader of the House that I will sit on the Democrat side 
    of the House when the next session of Congress convenes.
        Thanking you for your many past courtesies and with every good 
    wish.

              Sincerely yours,

                                                Vincent J. Dellay.

[[Page 465]]

                                   -------------------RESIGNATION FROM 
                                   COMMITTEE

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following resignation 
    from committee.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                                                 January 16, 1958.

                                                   Hon. Sam Rayburn,

        The Speaker, United States House of Representatives, United 
                                   States Capitol, Washington, D. C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Having changed my politics from Republican to 
    Democratic during the gubernatorial campaign in New Jersey last 
    year, this is my official resignation from the House Merchant 
    Marine and Fisheries Committee as a Republican member.

              Sincerely,

                                                Vincent J. Dellay.

        The SPEAKER. Without objection, the resignation will be 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.

    Parliamentarian's Note: After Mr. Dellay's resignation from the 
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries as a Republican, and after 
the Clerk listed Mr. Dellay as a member of his new party, Mr. Dellay 
was, on Jan. 27, 1958, elected as a Democratic member to two 
committees.(3)
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 3. See H. Res. 452. Id. at p. 1073.
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Committee Membership Dependent on Continued Caucus or Conference 
    Affiliation

Sec. 7.8 A Member's membership on a standing committee is contingent on 
    the Member's continuing membership in the nominating party caucus 
    or conference.

    On Sept. 7, 2004,(1) the Speaker pro 
tempore(2) laid before the House communications reflecting 
the operation of clause 5(b) of Rule X.(3) Under clause 5(b) 
of Rule X, membership on a standing committee is contingent on 
continuing membership in the party caucus or conference that nominated 
the Member for election thereto. When a Member ceases to be a member of 
a party caucus or conference, pursuant to clause 5(b) of Rule X, the 
chairman of the caucus or conference notifies the Speaker, and the 
Speaker notifies the chairman of each standing committee to which the 
Member was elected on the nomination of that caucus or conference that 
the Member's election to the committee is automatically vacated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 150 Cong. Rec. 17535, 17536, 108th Cong. 2d Sess.
 2. Mike Pence (IN).
 3. House Rules and Manual Sec. 760 (2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

            COMMUNICATION FROM THE HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ, CHAIRMAN, 
                               DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
    communication from the Honorable Robert

[[Page 466]]

    Menendez, Chairman, Democratic Caucus:
                                                Democratic Caucus,
                                         House of Representatives,
                                   Washington, DC, August 9, 2004.
                                             Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
        Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington, 
                                                                 DC.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to clause 5(b)(1) of Rule X, I am 
    writing to inform you that Rep. Rodney Alexander has ceased to be a 
    member of the House Democratic Caucus.

            Sincerely,
                                                  Robert Menendez,
            Chairman.                          -------------------

                         COMMUNICATION FROM THE SPEAKER

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
    communication from the Speaker:

                                            Office of the Speaker,
                                         House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, August 16, 2004.
                                                 Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
                       Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, House of 
                                    Representatives, Washington, DC.

        Dear Mr. Chairman: This is to advise you that Representative 
    Rodney Alexander's election to the Committee on Agriculture has 
    been automatically vacated pursuant to clause 5(b)(1) of rule X 
    effective August 9, 2004.

            Sincerely,
                                                J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House.                          -------------------

                         COMMUNICATION FROM THE SPEAKER

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
    communication from the Speaker:

                                            Office of the Speaker,
                                         House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, August 16, 2004.
                                                 Hon. Duncan Hunter,
                    Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
                                    Representatives, Washington, DC.

        Dear Mr. Chairman: This is to advise you that Representative 
    Rodney Alexander's election to the Committee on Armed Services has 
    been automatically vacated pursuant to clause 5(b)(1) of rule X 
    effective August 9, 2004.

            Sincerely,
                                                J. Dennis Hastert,
                                             Speaker of the House.

    On Sept. 13, 2000,(4) Speaker pro tempore Michael K. 
Simpson, of Idaho, laid before the House correspondence reflecting a 
change of party affiliation by Rep. Matthew G. Martinez, of 
California.(5)

 4. 146 Cong. Rec. 17832, 17833, 106th Cong. 2d Sess.
 5. For other recent examples see: 150 Cong. Rec. p. 17536, 108th Cong. 
        2d Sess., Sept. 7, 2004 (Rodney Alexander [LA]); 150 Cong. Rec. 
        65, 108th Cong. 2d Sess., Jan. 20, 2004 (Ralph M. Hall [TX]); 
        146 Cong. Rec. 401, 106th Cong. 2d Sess., Feb. 1, 2000 (Virgil 
        Goode [VA]); 145 Cong. Rec. 16586, 106th Cong. 1st Sess. July 
        19, 1999 (Michael P. Forbes [NY]); James A. Hayes (LA), Dec. 
        12, 1995, 141 Cong. Rec. 36172, 36173, 104th Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Dec. 12, 1995 (James A. Hayes [LA]); 141 Cong. Rec. 32627, 
        104th Cong. 1st Sess., Nov. 15, 1995 (Michael Parker [MS]); 141 
        Cong. Rec. 24717, 104th Cong. 1st Sess., Sept. 12, 1995 (W.J. 
        [Billy] Tauzin [LA]); 141 Cong. Rec. 18252, 18253, 104th Cong. 
        1st Sess., July 10, 1995 (Gregory H. Laughlin [TX]); and 141 
        Cong. Rec. 12396, 18397, 104th Cong. 1st Sess., May 10, 1995 
        (J. Nathan Deal [GA]).

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                                    Congress of the United States,

                                         House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, July 27, 2000.


[[Page 467]]


                                                 Hon. Jeff Trandahl,

              Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, H-154, Capitol, 
                                                     Washington, DC.

        Dear Mr. Trandahl: Effective July 26, 2000, please change my 
    party designation on your official records and databases to 
    ``REPUBLICAN.''
        Your assistance is appreciated.

              Sincerely,

                                              Matthew G. Martinez,

  Member of Congress.                          -------------------

           COMMUNICATION FROM THE HONORABLE MARTIN FROST, CHAIRMAN, 
                               DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
    communication from the Honorable Martin Frost, Chairman of the 
    Democratic Caucus:
                                                Democratic Caucus,

                                         House of Representatives,
                                               September 13, 2000.

                                                Hon. Dennis Hastert,

                                  Speaker, House of Representatives,

                                                     Washington, DC.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: This is to notify you that the Honorable 
    Matthew Martinez of California has resigned as a Member of the 
    Democratic Caucus.

              Sincerely,

                                                     Martin Frost,

            Chairman.                          -------------------

                         COMMUNICATION FROM THE SPEAKER

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
    communication from the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

                                            Office of the Speaker,

                                    U.S. House of Representatives,

                               Washington, DC, September 13, 2000.

                                            Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman,
         Chairman, Committee on International Relations, U.S. House 
                                of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Chairman: This is to advise you that Representative 
    Matthew G. Martinez's election to the Committee on International 
    Relations has been automatically vacated pursuant to clause 5(b) of 
    rule X effective today.

              Sincerely,

                                                J. Dennis Hastert,

Speaker of the House.                          -------------------

                    ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the foregoing 
    communications, the party affiliation of Representative Martinez 
    has been switched for informational voting record purposes and

[[Page 468]]

    his committee memberships have been vacated.
        Had the foregoing communication of July 27, 2000, from 
    Representative Martinez to the Clerk been laid before the House at 
    that time, the party affiliation for voting informational purposes 
    would have been changed or, as has been the case in the past, the 
    process would have been timely noticed in writing to the chairman 
    of the Democratic Caucus who, in turn, would notify the Speaker by 
    letter pursuant to clause 5(b) of rule X.

Allegations of Improprieties

Sec. 7.9 The chairman of a special investigating committee, having been 
    accused of accepting fees for appearing before a government agency, 
    tendered his resignation from such committee after taking the floor 
    in defense of his position.

    On Sept. 30, 1943,(1) Speaker Sam Rayburn, of Texas, 
recognized Mr. Edward E. Cox, of Georgia, to offer his resignation as 
chairman of a special committee to investigate the Federal 
Communications Commission after he was charged with accepting a fee for 
appearing before a government agency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 89 Cong. Rec. 7936, 7937, 78th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia 
    [Mr. Cox].
        Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I never gave my heart and my hand to 
    another in friendship but that they were his forever, and nothing 
    has delighted me more than hazarding injury by going to his aid in 
    time of stress. This sweet manner of receiving me with such 
    gracious applause evidences to me that the Members of the House 
    have this same devotion to this highest of human relationships.
        Mr. Speaker, for more than a year, now, I have been the object 
    of bitter and scurrilous attacks.
        Day after day the poisoned shafts of slander have been driven 
    through my heart. Every effort to tear down and to destroy a 
    reputation I have spent a lifetime in building has been put forth. 
    All this is something that I have been compelled to endure in 
    silence. My hands have been tied--tied by the chairmanship of the 
    select committee of this House to investigate the F.C.C.
        This chairmanship has compelled me to maintain a judicial 
    attitude which cannot longer be done in the face of the insults and 
    the slander being hurled at me from day to day.
        Mr. Speaker, that which is being dealt out to me is a sorry 
    wage for a service I have tried to render in the interests of my 
    fellow men. . . .
        Mr. Speaker, moved by these considerations, and fortified by 
    the concurrence of friends in this House in whose friendship and 
    judgment I have the utmost confidence, I tender you my resignation 
    as chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the Federal 
    Communications Commission. Its work thus far has been well done. 
    Its membership is excellent. Its staff is composed of men and women 
    who are able,

[[Page 469]]

    conscientious, and skilled in the work they have undertaken. This 
    committee must continue its work under a new chairman, freed of any 
    possible embarrassment of my personal problems or controversies. I 
    thank you for the honor of having named me chairman of the 
    committee, and for your expressed confidence in my administration 
    of its affairs. I urge the House to support, to continue and to 
    stand solidly back of the work of the committee under its new 
    chairman, whoever he may be.
        So far as I am personally concerned, my love and admiration for 
    this House, my devotion to its ideals, make it a matter of pride 
    with me that I, as one of its Members, efface myself so that the 
    work of one of its committees may go forward. Let no man mistake 
    me. I shall continue to make the fight where I find it. I leave the 
    well of this House today with my head unbowed and with my devotion 
    to my duties undimmed.
        The SPEAKER. The resignation of the gentleman from Georgia is 
    accepted.

Sec. 7.10 Form of final speech by the former Majority Leader engineered 
    via debate on the question of resignation from committee that was 
    accepted by unanimous consent.

    On June 8, 2006,(1) the following letter of resignation 
was laid before the House:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 152 Cong. Rec. 10498, 10500, 109th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

              RESIGNATION AS MEMBER OF COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
    resignation as a member of the Committee on Appropriations:
                                         House of Representatives,
                                     Washington, DC, June 8, 2006.

                                             Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
                             Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives,
                                                     Washington, DC.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: Please accept my resignation, effective 
    immediately, from the House Committee on Appropriations.
        It has been my great pleasure to serve on the committee under 
    the fine leadership of Chairman Jerry Lewis and Chairman Bill 
    Young.
        Thank you for your attention to this request.

            Sincerely,
                                                        Tom DeLay,
                                               Member of Congress.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) The question is, Shall 
    the resignation be accepted?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. Michael K. Simpson (ID).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The gentleman from Texas is recognized.

                                {time}  1715

        Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, political careers tend to end in one of 
    three ways: defeat, death, or retirement. And despite the fervent 
    and mostly noble exertions of my adversaries over the years, I rise 
    today to bid farewell to this House under the happiest of the 
    available options. . . .
        I say good-bye today, Mr. Speaker, with few regrets, no doubt. 
    And so with love and gratitude for friends and foe alike, patriots 
    all, I yield back the floor of our beloved House. And I exit as 
    always, stage right.

[[Page 470]]

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the resignation is 
    accepted.
        There was no objection.