TexasKaos.com (formerly Texas KOS)

Broken Promises: The Death of Deliberative Democracy
A Congressional Report on the Unprecedented Erosion of the
Democratic Process in the 108th Congress.
Compiled by the House Rules Committee Minority Office
The Honorable Louise M. Slaughter, Ranking Member

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the 108th Congress, House Republicans became the most arrogant, unethical and
corrupt majority in modern Congressional history. When they took control of the House
after the 1994 elections, Republicans vowed they would be different than previous
Congresses. They promised they would manage the House in a way that fostered what they called “deliberative democracy,” which they defined as “the full and free airing of conflicting opinions through hearings, debates, and amendments for the purpose of developing and improving legislation deserving of the respect and support of the people.”

This report documents how, ten years after their “revolution,” House Republicans
have completely abandoned this standard of deliberative democracy they set for themselves.

Furthermore, they have abandoned any other principle of procedural fairness or democratic accountability. In the opinion of many non-partisan observers of Congress, the 108th Congress not only matched the worst abuses of earlier Congresses; it set a whole new benchmark.

This report examines in detail how, over the past two years, the Republican leadership ignored the House Rules and the basic standards of legislative fairness and regular order with an impunity that is unprecedented in the history of the House of Representatives.

This report shows that:
· Despite their vows to open up the rules process and restore deliberative democracy
to the House chamber, House Republicans took unprecedented steps in the
108th Congress to make the House floor a “democracy-free zone.” They used
closed and highly restrictive rules to prevent Members from offering amendments
that would have provoked real debate and forced Members to go on the record on
real issues. The end result of this policy was that special interests, not U.S.
Representatives, wrote the major bills in the 108th Congress. Even former Speaker
Newt Gingrich recently suggested House Republicans “should open up the rules
more.”
2
· House Republicans continued to squeeze out real debate on controversial
issues in the House by devoting more and more floor time to suspension bills.
In the 108th Congress, Republican leaders apparently decided that the House should
spend two out of the three days of its already abbreviated legislative week on noncontroversial
legislation, such as bills that name post offices and congratulate sports
teams. At the same time, they allowed less time and fewer amendments and votes on
the serious, substantive legislation the House considers.
· Rules Committee Republicans intentionally used emergency meeting
procedures and late-night meetings in the 108th Congress to discourage
Members and the press from participating in the legislative process. These
tactics not only discouraged Members from bringing amendments to the Committee
and participating in the legislative process; they also appeared to be drive Republican Rules Members off the Committee.
· House Republicans repeatedly embarrassed the House by granting blanket
waivers to conference reports and rushing them through the House before
Members could read them. The 108th Congress was repeatedly ridiculed for the
special-interest provisions Republican leaders stuck into conference bills, such as the infamous “Hooters” provision in the Energy bill and the provision allowing
Congressional staffers to snoop on American citizens’ tax returns.
We conclude this report with some modest recommendations to curtail the most
egregious abuses we observed in the 108th Congress and restore a small measure of
accountability and democratic deliberation to a legislative body that is supposed to be a model of those two values.

Those recommendations are:
· Open up the process by allowing debate and votes on more serious
amendments. The Republican leadership should heed the advice of former Speaker
Newt Gingrich and “open up the House Rules more.” They should allow, and even
encourage, serious amendments that enjoy the support of a “substantial number of
Members” to come to the House floor for debate and up-or-down votes. 3
· Allow more bills to be considered under open rules. In the 109th Congress, the
Republican leadership should increase the percentage of bills it allows to be debated
under an open rule process, and decrease the percentage of bills it jams through the
House under closed rules.
· Spend more time on major, substantive legislation and less time on
suspension bills. Instead of using the suspension of the rules procedure to crowd
out debate on major legislation, the Republican leadership in the 109th Congress
should expand debate time and the consideration of amendments by restricting
suspensions to Mondays and Tuesdays. The House should spend the majority of its
time in session debating and voting on the major policy issues of our day, not
naming post offices and congratulating sports teams.
· Bring back regular order and reduce the number of late-night or earlymorning
“emergencies.” The House Rules Committee should only use the
“emergency meeting” procedure in the small number of cases, before recesses or at
the end of sessions, when the House moves legislation more quickly through the
process than regular order allows. Regular order should be the rule, not the
exception. Instead of meeting late at night or early in the morning, the Rules
Committee should do its business during regular “business” hours so that Members
and the press can attend and participate in the House rule-making process.
· Give Members three days to read conference reports. The Rules Committee
and Republican leadership should end its practice of granting “blanket waivers” to
conference reports. The Committee should protect Members’ rights to know the
content of conference reports by waiving only those provisions that are absolutely
necessary for the orderly consideration of the conference report. The three-day
layover requirement should be waived only in the most exigent circumstances, and
then only by a two-thirds vote of the House.

4 INTRODUCTION – THE “IMPERIAL CONGRESS”
The 108th Congress was not the first in the history of the House in which the
majority leadership abused the House rules to block meaningful deliberation on legislation
with far-reaching effects on the lives of millions of Americans. Nor was it the first to hold
open a vote beyond the customary time limit in order to twist enough arms to turn a losing
margin into a victory. And, to be fair, the Republican leadership of the 108th Congress was
not the first to manipulate House rules to exclude the minority from the legislative process
or to jam through bills that probably wouldn’t have enjoyed majority support in the House if Members had been able to read them.

No, what sets the 108th Congress apart from its predecessors is that stifling
deliberation and quashing dissent in the House of Representatives became the standard
operating procedure. Heavy-handed maneuvers that a few years ago would have inspired
outrage among fair-minded Democratic or Republican Members, became commonplace.
Past Congresses waived the House Rules; the 108th Congress simply ignored them. And
when their tactics led them into conflict with House Rules they could not ignore, they changed them. In an editorial criticizing the way the majority handled the Energy Bill conference report in late 2003, the Washington Post commented: “An occasional illness has become a chronic disease. Tactics once considered egregious have become ordinary.”1 An in-depth investigation by the Boston Globe into House procedures in the 108th Congress reported that “longtime Congress-watchers say they have never seen the legislative process 1 “Uncivil Society,” Washington Post, October 22, 2003.5

so closed to input from minority-party Members, the public, and lobbyists whose agenda is unsympathetic to GOP leadership goals.”2

Week after week in the 108th Congress, we watched as the Rules Committee and the
Republican leadership lowered the standard of what passes for a “fair process” in the U.S. House of Representatives. We watched as non-controversial suspension bills, rather than debate on major legislation, occupied more and more of our already abbreviated weekly schedule. We watched as the Rules Committee routinely ignored regular committee order, opting instead for doing business under “emergency” procedures in the wee hours of the night or early in the morning. We watched as the Rules Committee excluded larger and larger numbers of House Members with amendments from floor debates. We watched as Republican leaders shut down the conference process so completely that the only people who knew the contents of conference reports when they came to the House floor were the special interest lobbyists who had written them.

Outside experts appear to share our assessment. When asked to compare the heavyhanded
control of the majority in the 108th Congress to past Congresses, Brookings
Institution congressional scholar Thomas Mann, commented: “It’s worse…It’s been carried to a new extreme.”3 In July, 2003, Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute commented: “If Democrats, when they were in the House majority, jammed through plenty of bills without Republican participation and turned off moderate Members of the minority, their highhandedness was nothing compared to what House Republicans are doing now.”4

A year further into the 108th Congress, Ornstein’s critique of the Republicans’ management of the House had grown even harsher. He wrote: “It is the middle-finger approach to Susan Mulligan, “Back-room Dealing a Capital Trend. GOP Flexing its Majority Power,” Boston Globe, October 3, 2004.
3 Michael Crowley, “Oppressed Minority,” The New Republic, June 23, 2003, p. 22.
4 Norman Ornstein, “Intervention Time: GOP Should Rein in Chairman Thomas,” Roll Call, July 23, 2003. 6

governing, driven by a mind-set that has brought us the most rancorous and partisan
atmosphere I have seen in the House in nearly 35 years.”5 In short, the current Republican leadership has become the arrogant and corrupt majority they despised and condemned in their minority days. In the 108th Congress, Republicans abandoned any of the moral high ground they still claimed to have from their campaign to reform the way Congress did business in the early 1990s.6 As our former colleague Joe Scarborough wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal:
“Ten years ago, Republican congressional candidates like me were running as
Washington outsiders promising to balance the budget and pay off the federal debt.
We campaigned against the Imperial Congress and promised Americans that if we
got elected, we would be different. We lied.”7
The Members who once, with some justification, railed against a majority
leadership’s abuses of power are now the masters of their own Imperial Congress. As Roll
Call noted in an editorial last year, “Eight years after the takeover, Republicans are blocking
Democratic amendments with as much authoritarian disdain as Democrats ever
demonstrated - or more. And the autocrats in charge are the former complaining victims...”8
To his credit, Chairman Dreier finally admitted during this Congress that he was
using many of the tactics he condemned when he was in the minority. He told USA Today:
"We have had to do some of the things we criticized once…But now that I'm in the
majority, I have this responsibility to govern. It's something I didn't completely understand
5 Norman Ornstein, “GOP's Approach to Continuity: Not Just Unfortunate. Stupid,” Roll Call, June 9, 2004.
6 “In 1994, Republicans won their way back to power in the House on a crusade to topple a party grown
arrogant and corrupt after four decades in power. Yet, once in power, they gradually rolled back many of the
reforms proposed at that time: a ban on gifts from lobbyists, term limits for the House speaker, rules
protecting minority rights, and, most recently, a party rule requiring leaders to step down after a criminal
indictment - as now seems possible for House leader Tom DeLay of Texas…’When you have a victory, there is
a temptation to a sense of arrogance. It makes you less surefooted, wary and prudent. There's a real danger of
overreach,’ says Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University in New Jersey.” Gail R. Chaddock,
“GOP’s Bolder Reign on Hill,” Christian Science Monitor, Nov. 19, 2004.
7 Joe Scarborough, “Pork,” Wall Street Journal, September 23, 2004.
8 “Oppression,” Roll Call, June 18, 2003.
7
when I was in the minority."9 While Chairman Dreier certainly has the right to change his
mind on the question of what constitutes a “fair process” in the House, we will continue to
point to comments he made when his perspective was that of a minority Rules Committee
Member. For example, in 1993, Chairman Dreier and his Republican Rules Committee
colleagues issued a report condemning a number of tactics they argued the majority was
using to shut down “deliberative democracy,” which they defined as: “the full and free airing
of conflicting opinions through hearings, debates, and amendments for the purpose of
developing and improving legislation deserving of the respect and support of the people.”
In quite eloquent words, Chairman Dreier and his colleagues made the following statement:
“When Members are elected to Congress with the expectation that they will be
exercising their rights as lawmakers on behalf of their constituents, only to be told
they may not fully exercise those rights on the House floor, something has gone
radically haywire with the constitutional scheme of things. While the majority party
always has the right to establish the rules and legislative agenda for the House, it
should recognize the need to place responsible limits on those powers which permit
all Members to fully participate in the truly deliberative process and of all the people
to be fully represented in their national legislature.”10
While Chairman Dreier no longer seems interested in holding himself accountable to
the definition of a fair process he and his colleagues set for themselves a decade ago, we
think it is a good one and we will continue to draw attention to their actions that fall below
their standard. A review of House proceedings over the past two years leads us to the
unavoidable conclusion that, if the benchmark is “deliberative democracy” as Chairman
Dreier and House Republicans defined it in the underlined quote above, the 108th Congress
was a miserable failure. This report will discuss in more detail the ways the Republican
leadership and the Rules Committee majority systematically denied House Members and the
American people the “full and free airing” of ideas they deserve. It will also make some
9 Andrea Stone and William M. Welch, “GOP Comes Around to a Majority View,” USA Today, June 17, 2004.
10 Congressional Record, April 21, 1993, p. H 1956.
8
modest recommendations to curtail the most egregious abuses we observed in the 108th
Congress and restore a small measure of accountability and democratic deliberation to a
legislative body that is supposed to be a model of those two values.
9
I. House Republicans Used Restrictive and Closed Rules to Make the
House Floor a Democracy-Free Zone
The purpose of the House Rules is to balance the majority’s right to pass legislation
in a timely way with the minority’s right to offer amendments and to otherwise participate in
the deliberative process.11 The rules of proceeding, Jefferson wrote in the introduction to his
Manual, protect the minority from the “irregularities and abuses” an arrogant majority might
be tempted to commit. In the 108th Congress, Republicans abandoned any semblance of
balance in the House legislative process and became the abusive majority Jefferson feared.
They used the rules not to ensure that the House stayed working on the majority’s agenda;
instead, they manipulated their control over proceedings to make the House chamber a
democracy-free zone---a place where Members’ ability to debate and vote on important
policy ideas was severely curtailed, and often outright denied.
1. The “Infamous Closed Rule”
The most basic measure of how a majority is managing the House is the percentage
of special rules it approves for an open debate and amendment process versus the number
of times it considers legislation under a closed process. The House majority has the right, as
well as the responsibility, to effectively manage business on the floor, but, if it chooses, it can
do so in a way that fosters “the full and free airing of conflicting opinions.” A majority
leadership interested in an open process sends to the House rules that allow both majority
and minority Members with substantive, serious ideas to debate and get votes on their
11 As Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart testified in 1993: “Democracy…I think requires, obviously, rule by the
majority. The majority has to be able to implement its ideas. However, it also requires intrinsically, respect for
the minority, whether it be a minority of 49 percent, or a minority of one member of Congress. It is
indispensable for that minority to have the ability to express him or herself, on behalf of his or her
constituents.” Testimony Before the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, 103rd Congress, S.
Hrg. 103-119, pp. 88-89.
10
amendments on the House floor. It allows debate on some legislation to proceed under an
“open rule,” a rule that allows Members with germane, properly-drafted amendments to
bring their amendments to the floor, debate them under the five-minute rule, and call for
votes on them if they desire. In other situations, a majority interested in a less-than-open
process might choose to debate a bill under a “restrictive rule,” which would limit
consideration, but would still allow debate and votes on amendments addressing the bill’s
key policy questions.12 As now-Chairman Dreier testified before the Joint Committee on the
Organization of Congress in 1993: “If we don’t have completely open rules, we should at
least allow every single area of an issue to be debated, so that we don’t foreclose people who
represent 600,000 constituents here from having the opportunity to at least be heard and
have their ideas considered.”13
On the other hand, a majority interested in jamming legislation through the process
with as little deliberation as possible uses highly restrictive and closed rules to make sure that
Members with “conflicting opinions” have little or no opportunity to bring those opinions
to the House floor for debate and votes. The tools it uses to keep real deliberation in the
House to a minimum are “closed rules,” rules that make no amendments in order, and
unnecessarily restrictive rules, which make only one substitute in order, or exclude
12 As Chairman Dreier testified in 1993: “I can certainly understand the views of the majority. They were
elected to control the agenda and the schedule, and they have an obligation to put forth clear and concise
legislation that represents their vision of government. I also acknowledge that restrictive rules--not closed rules-
-are useful and necessary on occasion when the leadership of both parties agree, such as when we consider
major tax bills and the DOD authorization bill. Nobody in the minority disputes those contentions, and we are
not out to change the principle of `majority rule.' What I and my Republican colleagues are trying to change is a
process that does not give the American public clear and concise legislation. Voters are getting vague,
confusing, contradictory information. Congressional Record, 5/20/93, p. E 1313.
13 Testimony Before the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. 103rd Congress. S. Hrg., p. 86.
11
substantive amendments that would provoke real deliberation and votes on real issues on the
House floor.14
Republicans came to power in 1994 promising to restore “deliberative democracy”
to the House. In the early 1990’s, they bitterly complained about the then-majority’s
increasing use of closed and restrictive rules. At the conclusion of the 102nd Congress, for
example, Rules Committee Republicans wrote that they were “especially concerned about
the increasing trend in the 102nd Congress towards ‘restrictive’ rules–those which limit the
amendment process on bills–and what it portends for deliberative democracy.” They went
on to say, “we are most disturbed by the practice of the Rules Committee today to report
special rules which limit amendments on most major bills.”15
In speech after speech in the Rules Committee and on the House floor, Republicans
hammered the Committee for what they believed to be an excessive number of rules limiting
opportunities to offer amendments on the House floor. In a one-minute speech he
delivered on the House floor in 1993, for example, Rep. Diaz-Balart expressed his disgust
for the “infamous closed rule.” He said:
“You know what the closed rule means... It means no discussion, no amendments,
nobody here; nobody here even when this is full, can present an amendment to
represent their constituents because of that thing called the closed rule. That is
profoundly undemocratic, Mr. Speaker. The American people have got to find out
about it, they have got to put the pressures on the leadership of this institution to
undo and do away once and for all with that most undemocratic principle, most
undemocratic practice called and known as the infamous closed rule.”16
14 Chairman Dreier will sometimes point to “sense of Congress” amendments and amendments calling for
government studies made in order by restrictive rules as evidence that the rule is “bipartisan” or “fair.” To any
observer of Congress, it should be obvious there is a fundamental difference between these types of
amendments and proposals that challenge and/or change a bill’s key implementing sections.
15 Survey of Activities of the House Committee on Rules. 102nd Congress, H. Rept. 102-1101, pp. 107-8.
16 Congressional Record, March 3, 1993, p. H 974.
12
In the beginning of the 104th Congress when the Republicans became the majority
party of the House of Representatives, they announced their intention to significantly
increase the number of open rules. On opening day of the 104th Congress, then-Rules
Committee Chairman Gerald B.H. Solomon (R-NY) made the following statement on the
floor of the House; he said,
“I have been instructed by our new Speaker Gingrich … He has instructed me to try
to have open rules and fair rules be the norm of this Congress … 70 percent of the
rules in the 103rd were restricted or closed rules. We are going to try to turn that
around … I am going to pledge to try to turn this around: Instead of having 70
percent closed rules and restricted rules, we are going to have 70 percent open and
unrestricted rules, if we possibly can.”17
In our past comments, we have documented the Republican majority’s failure to
comply with Chairman Solomon’s 70% open-rule standard.18 We are increasingly
discouraged, however, that the gap between their actual performance and Chairman
Solomon’s 70% standard grows larger every Congress. At the end of the 107th Congress, we
presented a chart showing that in every Congress since 1994, the Republican-controlled
Rules Committee has reported out fewer and fewer open rules.
In the 108th Congress, it continued to get worse. Of the 130 non-conference, nonprocedural
rules the Rules Committee reported out in the 108th Congress, 36 were closed, 64
were restrictive, and only 28 were open. Below is an updated chart showing that the
percentage of open rules reported from the Rules Committee in the 108th Congress (22%) is
the lowest level since Republicans came into the majority in 1995.19
17 Congressional Record, January 5, 1995, pp. H134-135, H137.
18 For example, see the Democratic Views in the Rules Committee’s 108th Congress Oversight Plan, which is
available at: http://www.house.gov/rules/rules_over_108.htm
19 See Appendix 1 to this report. These numbers come from statistics collected by Rules Committee
Democrats. Republicans include in their “open rule” count rules with pre-printing requirements (calling them
“modified open rules”). As we discuss in section 4 below, we consider rules with pre-printing requirements
restrictive rules and score them as such. It should be further noted that in the 108th Congress, only 6 of these
28 open rules were for regular non-appropriations measures. Although it is the House’s custom to consider
most appropriations bills under open rules, the standing rules of the House (in particular, Rule XXI) severely
13
Broken Promise: The Percentage of Open Rules Has
Steadily Declined Since Republicans Took the Majority
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Percentage of Open Rules
In the 104th Congress, Chairman
Solomon promised 70% of rules would
be open.
Congress
104th 105th 106th 107th 108th
Among the 78% of restrictive and closed rules are a number of especially egregious
examples of the majority’s drive to keep real debate and deliberation off the House floor.
One of the first major pieces of legislation to come to the House floor in the 108th
Congress was H.R. 5, the medical malpractice liability bill, which the House took up in early
March, 2003. Although it was the only major bill that came to the floor that week and
although Members submitted more than 30 amendments to the Rules Committee, the rule
governing debate on this very important issue (H. Res. 139) was completely closed. The rule
did not even make in order a substitute amendment co-authored by the two longest-serving
Members of the House, Ranking Members Dingell and Conyers. In addition, several times
restrict the amendment process on all appropriations bills. Republicans occasionally use another tactic to boost
their open rule numbers: they grant open rules to non-controversial measures that should be suspension
measures, such as the open rule (H.Res. 353) they granted in the 107th Congress to a sense of the Congress
regarding migratory mourning doves (H. Con. Res. 275). Ironically, now-Chairman Dreier accused then-
Speaker Foley of just such open-rule “padding” in 1993. Testimony Before the Joint Committee on the
Organization of Congress, 103rd Congress, S. Hrg. 103-119, p. 77.
14
during the 108th Congress, the majority violated the general practice in the House that a rule
on major tax legislation reported from the Ways and Means Committee makes in order a
minority substitute. The rule on the 2003 dividend tax cut package (H.Res. 227) was
completely closed, as was the rule on the FSC/ETI bill (H. Res. 681). On two occasions in
the 108th Congress, the Republican majority took the closed rule one step further by
considering measures under rules (H. Res. 270 and H. Res. 520) that provided for the
consideration of Senate amendments to House bills. These two rules were a deliberate move
to prevent Democrats from one of their most basic parliamentary rights in the House---the
right to recommit a bill before passage.20
It is also worth observing that the Republicans’ promise to reduce the number of
closed rules in the House was a hollow one from the very start. Although they repeatedly
condemned the leadership of the 103rd Congress for considering too many bills under closed
rules, each Republican-controlled Congress since that time has reported more closed rules
than the 103rd. Using the statistics on closed rules compiled by Donald Wolfensberger, a
former Rules Committee Republican Staff Director and currently the Director of the
Congress Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, the chart below shows that
while 10% of the reported rules were closed in the 103rd Congress, by the 106th and 107th
Congresses, closed rules had risen to almost one-quarter of the Rules Committee’s
production.21
20 It is worth noting that when Republicans took the majority in 1995, one of their first “reforms” was to
reaffirm the minority’s right to offer motion to recommit with instructions. See Survey of Activities of the
House Committee on Rules. 104th Congress, H. Rept. 104-868, p. 21.
21 These statistics are available at: http://wwics.si.edu/topics/docs/compdata107.pdf. In the 108th Congress,
28% of the non-procedural, non-conference rules were closed (see Appendix 1).
15
Closed Rules from the 103rd to the 107th
Congress
0
5
10
15
20
25
103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th
Congress
% Closed Rules
A quick comparison of the number of open and closed rules in the 103rd and 108th
Congresses illustrates how much worse the current majority is than the majority they so
roundly condemned in 1993 and 1994. As the table below shows, the Republican leadership
in the 108th Congress imposed twice as many closed rules on the House than their
counterparts in the 103rd Congress, and allowed 21 fewer bills to be considered under open
rules.22 If Republicans thought that the number of open and closed rules in the 103rd
Congress signified the “decline of democracy” in the House of Representatives, then they
should agree that the 108th Congress saw democracy’s utter collapse.
22 See the statistics on the 103rd Congress assembled by Rules Committee Democrats, which is attached as
Appendix 5 to this report.
16
Open and Closed Rules: 103rd vs. 108th Congress
103rd Congress 108th Congress
Open Rules 49 28
Closed Rules 18 36
2. More Votes on Amendments Mean More Democratic Accountability
The ability to amend legislation on the House floor is the heart of the deliberative
process in the House. After a committee has sent a bill to the floor, the amendment process
allows the general House membership to propose changes to the legislation and request
record votes on the ideas that provoke debate and disagreement. Open and full debate also
has the beneficial effect of improving committee-reported legislation. Although we have
not heard him cite it in a while, Chairman Dreier used to quote former House Speaker Sam
Rayburn, who once commented that “there are very few [bills] which are not improved as a
result of discussion, debate, and amendment. There are very few that do not gain
widespread support as a result of being subject to the scrutiny of the democratic process.”23
Another obvious point is that a lively debate and open amendment process force
Members to legislate---to take positions on the controversial and important issues of the day.
Giving Members time and latitude to propose, debate, and vote on amendments allows
constituents to get a clear picture of their Representative’s legislative record. As Chairman
Dreier described this process back in 1993:
23 Congressional Record, April 21, 1993, p. H 1956.
17
“What does the ability to offer an amendment have to do with accountability? If a
Member has the power to offer an amendment, he can no longer claim to support
one thing, but then say that he was blocked in his effort to make a change in the law.
In addition, with more floor votes on more clear issues, Members will be forced to
take clear positions with their votes. That is exactly what the American people want--
fewer excuses, and more elected officials who actually stand for something.”24
By severely restricting the amendment process on all important legislation in the
108th Congress, Rules Committee Republicans destroyed the very accountability mechanism
Chairman Dreier so eloquently described when he was a minority Member.25 Instead of
allowing the House to work its will on a piece of legislation, Republican leaders forced
Members to vote up or down on bills that had been written in secret by small groups of
Members, often with the help of outside special interest groups.
When the House debated the Medicare prescription drug bill, perhaps the most
important legislation it considered in the 108th Congress, Democratic and Republican
Members brought 59 amendments to the Rules Committee. While it would have served the
House well to allow debate on all of them, we hoped the rule could have at least made in
order a smaller group of these amendments that addressed the parts of the legislation that
had provoked the most disagreement and discussion. Instead, the rule (H. Res. 299) allowed
only one Democratic substitute the Republican leadership was confident it could defeat. In
other words, on this bill, a bill that changed the fundamental structure of the federal
government’s largest health care program, the majority did everything it could to prevent the
House from taking “clear positions” on “clear issues” related to Medicare reform. We were
very disappointed, but not surprised, to learn later that the bill contained provisions that
24 Congressional Record, May 20, 1993, p. E 1312.
25 Former Minority Whip and current Vice President Dick Cheney made the same point in a 1989 critique of
the then-majority party in the House. “In the United States, majority control over the rules is used not to
enhance partisan accountability but to screen members from being accountable for exercising partisan power.”
Richard B. Cheney, “What’s Wrong with Wright? When the House Speaker Manipulates the Rules, Democracy
Suffers,” Washington Post, April 9, 1989.
18
would give the pharmaceutical companies billions of taxpayer dollars at the expense of
America’s seniors, and that Energy Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin, one of the authors of
the Medicare bill, had negotiated a $2 million a year job for himself heading the drug
industry lobby during the period the conference was producing its report. The
representatives the American people elected to write their laws had less input into this
legislation than the drug industry and other special interests that stood to benefit from it. At
the end of this secret process, the Republican leadership rushed the final product to the
House floor and forced Members, both Republicans and Democrats, to vote on it before
they knew its contents. It is safe to say that the Medicare prescription drug program would
have been significantly different had Members been able to debate and amend the bill in a
manner consistent with an open, democratic process.
Below is a table of major legislation in the 108th Congress, on which the Rules
Committee completely or almost completely shut out Democratic Members’ amendments:
19
Rules Governing Major Legislation in the 108th Congress Almost
Completely Shut Out Democratic Amendments
Legislation
Democratic
Amendments
Submitted
Democratic
Amendments
Made in Order
H.R. 4 (H.Res. 69) – Welfare Reform Act
21 2
H.R. 5 (H.Res. 139) - Medical Malpractice
Reform Act
29 0
H.R. 2 (H.Res. 227) – Dividend Tax
Reduction Act
15 0
H.R. 2115 (H.Res. 265) – FAA Reauthorization
Act
9 1
H.R. 660 (H.Res. 283) – Small Business
Health Fairness (AHPs)
14 1
H.R. 1 (H.Res. 299) – Medicare Prescription
Drug Act
36 1
H.R. 2210 (H.Res. 336) – Head Start
Reauthorization
25 2
H.R. 4503 (H.Res. 671) – Energy Policy Act
13 0
But it was not just Democrats whose amendments were left on the Rules Committee
floor. The Republican leadership seemed so afraid of the tough votes the deliberative
process might create, it was willing to shut down its own Members’ ability to offer serious
amendments that might have actually forced Members to take “clear positions” on “clear
issues.” One of the more remarkable episodes in the 108th Congress was the rule on a
banking bill (H. Res. 566) that blocked floor consideration of an amendment offered by
former Financial Services Committee Chairman, Rep. Jim Leach, which proposed tougher
20
federal oversight of so-called “industrial loan companies.” During debate on this rule, Rep.
Leach, the author of the historic “Gramm-Leach-Bliley” banking reform legislation, took to
the floor to express his disappointment and anger that the Rules Committee had rejected his
amendment:
“I will tell you, this is a scandal. It is nothing less. It is an embarrassment to the
committee of jurisdiction; it is an embarrassment to the Committee on Rules.
Because all I asked the Committee on Rules to do was allow a single, short
amendment that simply said if the new powers under this act come to be applied, an
institution would have to come under the Federal banking statutes…But the fix was
in. The power groupings did not want this to happen. I will say to you in my time in
the United States Congress, this is the greatest microcosm evidence of special
interest reasoning that does not even allow debate on this subject in an amendment
on the House floor. I happen to be the senior Member of the committee of
jurisdiction, a former chairman. I consider it not particularly uncivil to me that I am
not allowed to offer this amendment, but I consider it an embarrassment to the
House that this issue cannot be debated on the most important banking bill that is
going to be before this Congress this year.”26
The Republican leadership also demonstrated its willingness to muzzle the badlyneeded
institutional debate over what would happen to the House in the case of a mass
disaster that killed or incapacitated a large number of Members of Congress. Although the
Republican leadership allowed the House to consider a constitutional amendment offered by
Rep. Baird (H.J.Res. 83) that would allow Members to appoint their temporary replacements
in the case of a disaster, it did so with a closed rule (H. Res. 657) that blocked consideration
of other constitutional amendment proposals offered by Reps. Lofgren, Larson, and
Rohrabacher. Dr. Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, a close observer
of Congress and an expert on Congressional “continuity” issues, called the process that
produced this closed rule “stupid and ultimately counterproductive.” Ornstein argued that,
given the subject matter, the debate on this amendment should have been “open,
nonpartisan, and deliberative.” Rep. Baird and the other Members offering constitutional
26 Congressional Record, March 18, 2004, pp. H1236-7.
21
amendment proposals (one of whom was a Republican) were not doing so for partisan
advantage, but because they had spent a significant amount of time studying this difficult
issue and had developed interesting ideas for the House to consider. Their continuity ideas
were not intended to embarrass Members or to “structure 30-second campaign
commercials.” They were the kind of ideas the House should debate and consider, even if
they would not ultimately prevail in a final vote. Ornstein wrote:
But the amendments on continuity were different altogether: They were all legitimate
and honest. To force this issue to come up under a closed rule was an insult to
Democrats, and to Rohrabacher. It was utterly unnecessary. Why do it? It is more
than sheer partisanship; it is sheer power. The Republican leadership did it because
they could, and they knew they could hold their own troops on a procedural vote.27
We are somewhat surprised, but also gratified, to learn that former Speaker Newt
Gingrich agrees with us that the Republican leadership has gone too far in blocking
Democratic and Republican Members with thoughtful amendments from getting to the
House floor. He recently criticized the current House leadership for strangling meaningful
House debate. Gingrich said:
“The House Republicans should consciously open the House rules up more. They
should consciously allow minorities, which aren't always just Democrats. I mean,
sometimes there are minority Republicans who want to offer an idea…An example
would be to bring a bill to the floor with a rule which--rules are how you get things
to move in the House; every bill has a rule that accompanies it--to bring a bill to the
floor with a rule that allows any amendment that has a substantial number of
Members supporting it to be voted on or put down, even if that meant on occasion
the Republican majority loses to a combination of some Republicans and the
Democrats. And the purpose of that is to allow new ideas and to build a psychology
of working together.”28
27 Norman Ornstein, “GOP’s Approach to Continuity: Not Just Unfortunate. Stupid,” Roll Call, June 9, 2004.
28 National Public Radio, “Morning Edition,” December 6, 2004. On Monday, January 24, 2005, Speaker
Gingrich told a seminar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars that the House leadership’s
tight rein over House proceedings is an “enormous strategic mistake.” He continued, “ ... the reason it's a big
mistake and not a small mistake is that the great virtue of allowing amendments is that you surface problems
early and you begin to notice that the world is different than you think it is…It's very dangerous to become an
instrumentality of a machine that is insensitive to the need for the opportunity to offer other kinds of choices.”
Congress Daily AM, Jan. 25, 2005.
22
We recently saw the lengths to which the House leadership will go to prevent rank -
and-file House Members from engaging in the creative legislative process Speaker Gingrich
describes. During consideration of the FY 05 Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill, a
“tripartisan” group of Members (Reps. Sanders, Otter, Paul and Nadler) offered an
amendment on the floor addressing a controversial section of the Patriot Act that they
claimed violates Americans’ civil liberties. At the end of the normal 15-minute voting
period, the amendment was prevailing by a narrow vote. Instead of allowing the vote to
close and the majority of the House to express its will on this controversial subject, the
majority leadership held open the vote another 23 minutes and “convinced” enough
Republican Members to switch their votes that the vote lost on a 210-210 tie. Rep. Otter
commented after the vote that, "You win some, and some get stolen."29
Regardless of the position any individual Member took on the substance of this
amendment, all Members of both parties should be outraged that the Republican leadership
demonstrated so little respect for the majority opinion of the House. On this vote, one of
the few instances in the 108th Congress when House Members actually had the opportunity
to seriously debate and vote on an issue of importance, the Republican leadership intervened
to reverse the clear preference of the House. Republican leaders were not happy with the
outcome of the deliberative process, so they vetoed the democratically-decided outcome of
the House and substituted in their own preference.
3. Previous Question Votes Mean the Deliberative Process is Not Working
A useful index measuring the degree to which the majority has stifled meaningful
deliberation in the House is the number of times minority Members call for recorded votes
29 Dan Morgan and Charles Babington, “House GOP Defends Patriot Act Powers;
Partisan Rancor High as Plan to Soften Anti-Terror Law Is Defeated,” Washington Post, July 9, 2004.
23
on moving the previous question at the conclusion of rules debates. This previous question
procedure operates in the following way: at the end of debate on a rule, the majority Rules
Committee Member managing the resolution moves the previous question in order to
proceed to a final vote on a rule. Adopting this motion cuts off debate and forces the
House to immediately vote up or down on the majority’s rule. In other words, the previous
question is a tool the majority uses to set the terms and scope of debate on a bill and, more
generally, to ensure that the House is working on the majority’s agenda.
If the majority wrote rules permitting Members to fairly debate and amend a bill, a
vote on the previous question would not be necessary. When both sides think the rule has
met the test of basic fairness, the House moves the previous question, passes the rule, and
then conducts a substantive debate and amendment process on the underlying bill. But, as
this and our earlier reports have detailed, since Republicans have been in the majority, rules
allowing for a fair debate and amendment process have become an endangered species in the
House. For most legislation, the Republican leadership and Rules Committee majority
report rules that severely restrict or sometimes even totally block the minority’s ability to
debate or amend bills. As we discussed in detail above, the majority’s ever more aggressive
use of severely restrictive and closed rules often blocks debate and voting on ideas that
minority Members (and perhaps many majority Members too) think are important to their
constituents and the country.
In these cases, the minority must resort to forcing a previous question vote so that
the House can vote on the substantive issues the majority has refused to let them address
during regular consideration of the bill. The minority manager of the rule will ask for a
recorded vote on the previous question and will place in the record the amendments he or
she would offer if the previous question were defeated and debate on the rule continued.
24
Both parties have used the previous question vote to force the House to address
issues the majority has decided to avoid. Before the 104th Congress, when Republicans were
in the minority, their Rules Committee Members called for votes on the previous question in
order to get the House on record with regard to amendments and issues the rule did not
make in order. In the early 1990s, now-Chairman Dreier and other Rules Committee
Republicans called for previous question votes in order to force votes on issues such as the
line-item veto and the Balanced Budget Amendment---issues they complained the
Democratic majority was unfairly blocking and ignoring.
The frequency of recorded votes on previous questions in a Congress is therefore a
measure of the majority’s willingness to write rules that deny real deliberation on important
legislation. Viewed from the minority side, the frequency of recorded previous question
votes is a measure of their frustration that the majority’s rules are stifling their ability to
meaningfully participate in the legislative process on the House floor. The record shows that
in the 108th Congress, the number of previous question votes called by the minority
increased sharply over past Congresses. Where in the 107th Congress, Rules Committee
Democrats called for previous question votes 34 times, in the 108th Congress they called for
76 previous question votes, nearly 40% of all reported rules.30 In other words, the index of
minority dissatisfaction with the majority’s rules in the 108th Congress was twice as high as it
was in the 107th Congress. Twice as many of the majority’s rules resolutions unnecessarily
and unfairly silenced Members’ voices in the floor debate and the amendment process.
Descriptions of these recorded previous question votes are included in Appendix 3 attached
to this report.
30 A complete table of these votes is attached as Appendix 3 to this report.
25
The Republican majority wasted no time setting the tone for the 108th Congress,
when the very first rule the Rules Committee reported (H.Res. 14), denied Democrats any
opportunity to offer alternatives to S. 23, a bill temporarily extending unemployment
compensation benefits. Rules Committee Democrats led the effort to defeat the previous
question so the House could debate and vote on Rep. Rangel’s alternative that provided a
26-week extension for unemployed workers who were having trouble finding a new job
during the economic downturn of early 2003. Instead of allowing the House to debate and
vote on the Rangel proposal (and defeating it if they had the votes), the Republican
leadership and Rules Committee Republicans completely closed down the process, denying
Rep. Rangel and the American people the opportunity for a “full and free airing” of a
thoughtful and serious alternative to the underlying bill.
Unfortunately, this pattern of stifling debate continued throughout the 108th
Congress and Democrats continued to call for previous question votes to allow the House to
address serious legislative proposals Republicans preferred to kill behind the closed doors of
the Rules Committee. It is difficult to see how the House and all of our constituents would
not have benefited from the consideration of amendments such as: Rep. Spratt’s amendment
on the Defense authorization bill to speed up the dismantling of weapons of mass
destruction in the former Soviet Union (H. Res. 247), Rep. Lantos’ amendment to give tax
credits to American businesses that continue paying their employees who get called into
active military duty in Iraq (H. Res. 681), or Rep. Collin Peterson’s amendment on the
Intelligence authorization bill to increase the intelligence community’s resources for
counterterrorism activities (H. Res. 686). Democrats called for previous question votes to
bring these and many other serious, thoughtful amendments to the floor of the House for
debate and a vote, but were defeated on party-line votes each time.
26
4. Rules with Pre-Printing Requirements are not “Open Rules”
During the 108th Congress, the Rules Committee reported out four rules with a socalled
“pre-printing” requirement. This provision requires Members to submit their
amendments for publication in the Congressional Record, in accordance with clause 8 of
Rule XVIII, on the day preceding floor debate of the legislation. While the majority
optimistically calls such rules “modified open rules,” we consider them “restrictive” rules
and have scored them as such in the appendices attached to this report.
While we concede that considering a bill with a pre-printing requirement is less
restrictive than the more common tactic of limiting amendments to those printed in the
Rules Committee report,31 there is a significant difference between an open rule and a rule
with a pre-printing requirement. A pre-printing requirement forces Members to reveal their
amendments in advance of floor consideration, something that may assist the floor
managers, but can disadvantage the Member offering it. In addition, a pre-printing
requirement blocks any amendment proposal that might emerge during the course of the
debate. When Chairman Dreier was in the minority, he made the following statement about
the preprinting requirement during debate on a rule on national service legislation:
“This rule also requires amendments to be printed in the Congressional Record. That
might not sound like much, but it is another bad policy that belittles the traditions of
House debate. If amendments must be preprinted, then it is impossible to listen to
the debate on the floor, come up with a new idea to improve the bill, and then offer
an amendment to incorporate that idea. Why do we need this burdensome pre-
31 According to our records, 50% (64) of the non-conference report/non-procedural rules reported by the
Committee in the 108th Congress were rules restricting debate to amendments printed in the Committee report.
In the “Additional Views” they filed in the 102nd Congress Survey of Activities, Republican Rules Committee
members, including Chairman Dreier, complained this type of restrictive rule had become “a favored method
of the majority.” Under this procedure, the Rules Committee “selectively determines which [amendment] to
make in order and which may not be offered on the floor. Usually, the amendments made in order are subject
to strict time limits, as opposed to open debate under the five-minute rule, and are not subject to amendment.
On rare occasions the Rules Committee has allowed all amendments submitted to be offered, but this is the
exception, not the rule.” H. Rept. 102-1101, 102nd Survey, p. 109.
27
printing process? Shouldn't the committees that report these bills have a grasp of the
issues affecting the legislation under their jurisdiction? Again, Mr. Speaker, I think we
can do better.”32
We agree with Chairman Dreier’s statement that the purpose of the amendment
process on the floor is to give duly elected Members of Congress the opportunity to shape
legislation in a manner that they believe is in the best interest of their constituents and the
nation as a whole. It is not to help the floor manager with his or her job. A majority
interested in allowing “the full and free airing of conflicting opinions” would allow at least
some House business to occur in an open format---in a procedural framework that allows
Members to bring their amendments directly to the floor for discussion and debate under
the five-minute rule.33
II. Republicans Expanded the Consideration of Suspension Bills to
Crowd Out Real Deliberation in the House
Another aspect of the disturbing trend towards curtailing real deliberation on
controversial issues in the House has been the Republican leadership’s tendency to devote
more and more floor time to debating bills under the suspension of the rules. In the 108th
Congress, standing House Rule XV permitted the House to consider bills under suspension
of the rules on Mondays and Tuesdays, and during the last six days of a session of Congress.
The suspension procedure allows for 40 minutes of debate, requires a two-thirds vote for a
bill to pass, and allows no amendments except by the floor manager.
The ostensible purpose of the suspension day procedure is, as the Republican
majority describes it in one of its Parliamentary Outreach newsletters, “to dispose of non-
32 Congressional Record, July 20, 1993, p. H4820.
33 As we have noted above, most appropriations bills are debated under technically open rules, but
amendments are subject not just to the normal restrictions of germaneness, but also a number of other
restrictions set out in rule XXI and in the Congressional Budget Act.
28
controversial measures expeditiously.”34 In theory, suspensions allow the House to quickly
dispose of bills that the House leadership knows enjoy broad, bipartisan support and
therefore do not require lengthy debate. The procedure allows the House to clear noncontroversial
bills from its schedule early in the week, so it can deal with more controversial
bills that require more substantive floor debate (including the opportunity to amend the bills)
during the remainder of the week. Typical suspension day items are measures naming
federal buildings, resolutions congratulating individuals or groups, or bills authorizing small
pilot programs or land sales that enjoy near-unanimous support in their originating
committees.
In practice, however, Republicans have used the suspension of the rules to further
reduce debate time on substantive, controversial bills, which should occupy most of the
House’s time and energy when it is in session. As the Republican leadership has honed its
strategy of keeping the amount of real deliberation on the House floor to an absolute
minimum, it has discovered that the suspension of the rules procedure is an excellent tool to
keep the House occupied with other business. The more hours a week the House spends renaming
federal buildings and congratulating groups, the fewer hours it has to fill with real
debate in which Members must deliberate and take positions on important matters that
provoke sharp differences of opinion in the Congress and our country. 35
In the 107th Congress, Republicans had to conduct their strategy of supplanting
debate on divisive bills with suspension bills in the open. On twelve different occasions, the
Rules Committee reported resolutions permitting the suspension of rules on specific
34 Available at: http://www.house.gov/rules/floor_man.htm#VIII
35 Chairman Dreier described very accurately the difference between suspension bills and controversial bills in
a 1993 report: “To emphasize just how important special rules are, one must keep in mind that most minor,
non-controversial legislation is considered under other procedures---either unanimous consent or suspension
of the rules. Special rules are only used for major, controversial bills and involve substantive policy issues and
differences.” Congressional Record, April 21, 1993, p. H 1957.
29
Wednesdays during that session. In the 108th Congress, Republicans took the next step in
their strategy to crowd out real deliberation by including a Wednesday suspensions provision
in the rules package for the first three and a half months of the 108th Congress. At the time,
Chairman Dreier said this temporary Wednesday suspension measure was justified because
“it takes time to organize and report legislation at the beginning of a new Congress...”36 As
the Congress wore on, however, and committees began reporting legislation, the
Republicans continued to use Wednesdays for suspension bills. At the end of June, Rules
Committee Republicans held a hearing on and then reported a resolution (H. Res. 297)
extending Wednesday suspensions through the rest of the Congress, explaining that
Wednesday suspensions were a tool “to effectively manage the flow of legislation through
the House.”
In other words, Republicans rewrote the rules in a way that allowed them to
transform Wednesday from a day when the House debates and amends major legislation into
a day when it names post offices and congratulates sports champions and foreign
governments. The majority took the next logical step in this process when they made the
consideration of suspension bills on Wednesdays part of the standing House Rules in their
package of rules changes for the 109th Congress. Considering suspension bills on
Wednesdays is now the regular order of the House.37
A quick look at the House schedule in the 108th Congress shows the large impact this
seemingly innocuous rules change had on House business. Because the House leadership
36 Congressional Record, Jan. 7, 2003, p. H11
37 Democrats are not alone in expressing their concern about this expansion of the use of the suspension
procedure. Among the rules changes proposed by the Republican Study Committee (RSC) for the 109th
Congress was a proposal to restrict suspension bills to Mondays and Tuesdays. The RSC noted that “some
conservatives may be concerned that expanding the calendar’s use [the RSC refers to the “suspension calendar”
although there is technically no such thing] to Wednesdays led to the passage of more bills that expanded the
size and scope of the federal government, and they might question why this process is being formalized.”
Policy Brief available at: http://johnshadegg.house.gov/rsc/lb.htm.
30
rarely scheduled votes before 6:30 P.M. on Mondays and gave away most of the Fridays they
said the House would be in session, the typical House week consisted of three days in
session---Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. The result of this light schedule, as the
graph below illustrates, was that the 108th Congress spent fewer days in session than any
Congress since Republicans took over the majority in 1995.38
Number of Days in Session Since Republicans Took
Control of Congress
225
250
275
300
104th 105th 106th 107th 108th
Congress
Days in Session
The 108th Congress was in
session 243 days, the fewest
since the GOP takeover
By making Wednesday a suspension day, the Republican leadership effectively
decided that the House would spend two out of the three days of its already abbreviated
legislative week on non-controversial legislation, and only one-third of its time on the major
legislation that deserved and required, in Chairman Dreier’s words, “the full and free airing
38 These figure come from the Congress Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars
(http://wwics.si.edu/topics/docs/compdata107.pdf) and from the “Résumé of Congressional Activity,”
published in the Congressional Record.
31
of conflicting opinions.” As the chart below shows, while the House spent fewer and fewer
days in session, it was considering more and more bills under suspension of the rules.39
Bills Considered Under Suspension of the Rules Since
Republicans Took Control of the House
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
104th 105th 106th 107th 108th
Congress
The 108th Congress considered
924 bills under suspension, the
highest number since the GOP
takeover.
In other words, the statistics bear out the often-repeated claim of Rep. McGovern, a
Democratic Member of the Rules Committee, that: “the House has become a place where
trivial issues are debated passionately and important issues not at all.” By reducing the
number of days in session while at the same time increasing the consideration of suspension
bills, the majority has been making a concerted effort to crowd out and reduce the time
available to the House to consider major, controversial legislation. While the House took
39 These figures come from Congressional Research Service, “Suspension of Rules in the House: Measure
Sponsorship by Party,” Jan. 6, 2005.
32
the time to consider almost 1,000 non-controversial bills, for example, the Republican
leadership only allowed it four hours to debate the Medicare prescription drug bill, a bill
involving hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and affecting the quality of health care for
millions of American seniors.40 In spite of the fact that the War against Terrorism and the
War in Iraq were posing unprecedented new challenges to our armed forces and our national
security during the 108th Congress, House Republicans continued to whittle away at the time
the House spent debating the Department of Defense Authorization bills. Not many
Congresses ago, the House would spend two weeks deliberating on the DOD bill. In 2004,
the House spent only two days on defense policy. We find it ironic that a legislative body
that so often passes bills congratulating other countries for conducting fair and democratic
elections appears to have so little interest in allowing the democratic process to unfold in its
own chamber.
III. Rules Committee Republicans Made Every Effort to Discourage
Members from Participating in the Rules Process
In a letter he wrote introducing the Rules Committee’s “Parliamentary Outreach
Program,” Chairman Dreier wrote: “The House of Representatives is the People’s House
and its legislative process and daily activities should be comprehensible to both its Members
and their constituents.” 41 Unfortunately, this statement is at odds with the way Rules
Committee Republicans operate the Committee. The Rules Committee conducts its
business at times and in a manner that is calculated to make “its legislative process and daily
activities” as inaccessible and incomprehensible as possible to Members, their constituents,
and the media.
40 In contrast, the Senate considered its Medicare prescription drug bill (S. 1) for 9 days and more than a
hundred amendments.
41 Available at: http://www.house.gov/rules/floor_man.htm
33
1. The Committee Operates in a Constant State of Emergency
Rule 2 of the Rules Committee rules for the 108th Congress required the Committee
to conduct its business through regular meetings at 10:30 on Tuesday mornings and at other
times and days the Chair may determine necessary.42 Under “regular meeting” procedures,
the Chair must give Members 48-hours notice of every meeting and supply Members with
materials relevant to that meeting at least 24 hours before the hearing. Rule 2(c) allows the
Chair to call an emergency meeting “at any time on any measure or matter which the Chair
determines to be of an emergency nature.”
We noted two years ago that the Rules Committee considered nearly one-third of its
agenda in the 107th Congress under emergency procedures and we argued this percentage
was excessive. We argued that the rules do not contemplate that the Chair should use the
emergency meeting on such a regular basis to conduct the committee’s business. We noted
that the vast majority of the rules the Committee debates and reports are not emergencies, at
least as Webster’s defines the term “emergency”: An unforeseen combination of circumstances or the
resulting state that calls for immediate action.43
Most bills the Committee handles are foreseeable and do not require action within
periods of less than 48 hours. Committee chairs communicate constantly with the House
leadership about when they will mark up and report out bills. Moreover, the end-of-week
House floor colloquies give the Rules Committee notice of the business the House will
conduct the following week, seemingly plenty of time to schedule Committee hearings under
the 48-hour “regular meetings” rules. Although we acknowledged there are times when
legislation needs to be scheduled in the Rules Committee without the required two-day
42 For the record, the Committee did not meet once at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday morning in the 108th Congress. In
the rules package it recently ratified for the 109th Congress, the Committee changed its regular meeting time to
5:00 P.M. Tuesday afternoon.
43 Available at: http://www.house.gov/rules/rules_over_108.htm
34
notice (especially at the end of a session), we argued that a one-out-of-three proportion was
unjustified.
We are therefore disappointed to report that Rules Committee Republicans further
expanded their use of emergency procedures in the 108th Congress. Of the 191 total rules
the Committee reported for the 108th Congress, 116 were done as emergency measures.44 In
other words, Rules Committee Republicans considered 60% of the committee’s business in
the 108th Congress an emergency.
It seems obvious to us that the Committee conducted more than half of its business
under emergency procedures not because they were reacting to bona fide emergency
situations, but rather because they intended to make it as clear as possible to House
Members that their participation in the rules process was not welcome. Following regular
Rules Committee order gives Members a minimum of 48 hours to examine the text of the
underlying legislation, and then to work with their staffs, legislative counsel, and the House
Parliamentarian to properly draft amendments. Regular order also gives Members time to fit
Rules Committee hearings into their busy schedules. It is difficult for a Member, even one
who feels very strongly about a particular bill, to schedule testimony before the Rules
Committee if he or she receives notice of the hearing just prior to the beginning time of the
hearing. The majority is quite aware of the difficulties short notices create for Members and
we believe Rules Republicans are intentionally increasing their use of Committee Rule 2(c) to
discourage Members from deliberation in the Rules Committee.
44 See Appendix 2 of this report for a complete listing of rules reported under emergency procedures.
35
2. “Vampire Congress” – The Sequel
A complementary tactic to conducting Rules Committee hearings under emergency
procedures is to hold hearings late at night or extremely early in the morning. If short notice
is not enough to discourage a Member from submitting amendments and testifying before
the Rules Committee, then holding hearings at 11 at night or 7 in the morning will surely
convince Members not to bother. In the 108th Congress, 76 of the 191 Rules (nearly 40% of
all rules) were reported after 8:00 PM and 21 of those were done at 7:00 AM on the next
calendar day, but under the legislative fiction that it was still the previous day.
We are sorry to report that the Rules Committee’s terrible hours now seem to have
driven capable, experienced Members off of the Committee itself. Congress Daily recently
reported that our Committee colleague Rep. Deborah Pryce is leaving the Rules Committee
after 10 years of service. One of the reasons Rep. Pryce cited for her departure was “the
bizarre hours that Rules Committee Members must serve.”45 We would also be interested to
know if the Committee’s “bizarre hours” were a factor in the decision of three other
Republican Members to leave the Rules Committee at the end of the 108th Congress.
We concede there are short periods, such as the press of business before recesses
and at the end of sessions, where late-night emergency meetings in the Rules Committee are
unavoidable. But we do not believe the committee should function in this manner for its
normal weekly business. We believe the Committee operates this way as a result of a
conscious decision by the Republican leadership to make it as hard as possible for rank-andfile
Members to take part in the debate and deliberation of legislation in the House. The
reason the Republican leadership considers so few bills under regular order is obvious. If
Members had three days to study committee-reported bills and 48 hours notice of Rules
45 Congress Daily PM, Dec. 2, 2004.
36
Committee meetings, they would be much more likely to draft amendments and insist on
real debate and deliberation in the Rules Committee and on the House floor. To avoid such
an outbreak of deliberative democracy, the Republican leadership rushes bills out of their
committees of jurisdiction, through the Rules Committee process in the dark of night, and
on to the House floor for passage as quickly as possible.
We were disappointed to read recently that Chairman Dreier and the Republican
leadership are developing new, improved tools to discourage rank-and-file Members from
participating in the democratic process in the 109th Congress. According to the report,
Chairman Dreier and Speaker Hastert are implementing a new “early warning system,” that
would allow the House leadership “to identify and resolve controversies” on bills before
they come to the House floor.46 In other words, the Republican leadership and Rules
Committee Republicans are working to make the 109th Congress even more democracy-free
than the 108th.
IV. Republicans Made the Conference Process a Regular Source of
Embarrassment to the House
The conference process in the 108th Congress is a case study in how the Republican
leadership abused the Rules of the House to block Members, both Republicans and
Democrats, from legislating in an informed and thoughtful manner. House-Senate
conferences are a critical part of the deliberative process because they produce the final
legislative product that will become the law of the land. Although Members can follow and
influence legislation as it moves through the committees and then to the House floor, the
46 “Rules Panel Eyes More Active Role in Shaping Legislation,” Congress Daily PM, Jan. 25, 2005.
37
conference is where the final compromises are made and the final statutory language on the
bill’s toughest issues are negotiated and drafted. As Chairman Dreier wrote back in 1993:
“Deliberative democracy is just as important at the end of the legislative process as it
is at the formative subcommittee stages or the amendatory floor stage. In fact, the
case can be made that it is even more important that Congress be fully informed and
deliberate on that final product since that is the version that will become law.”47
Because only a restricted group of House Members participates in conferences and
because conference reports can contain significant policy changes from the House-approved
version of a bill, the standing House Rules provide Members a number of protections
against abuses during the conference process. House conferees are not permitted to
propose modifications that are outside the scope of the House-passed bill48 and they must
comply with numerous provisions of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. In addition,
the standing House rules are designed to prevent the House from rushing a conference
report to the floor for an up-or-down vote without giving Members the chance to read the
final conference product. Also, Rule XXII requires the conference to hold at least one
public meeting49 and requires the conferees to attach a joint explanatory statement to the
report that is “sufficiently detailed and explicit to inform the House of the effects of the
report on the matters committed to conference.”50 Perhaps most importantly, House rules
require conference reports and explanatory statements to lay over for three days after
publication in the Congressional Record.51
Although conference reports are privileged and could come directly to the floor for
consideration without a rule, they are usually considered under a special rule because they are
47 Congressional Reco rd, April 21, 1993, p. H 1958.
48 Rule XII, cl. 9.
49 Rule XXII, cl. 12(a)(1).
50 Rule XXII, cl. 7(e).
51 Rule XXII, cl. 8(a)(1)(A)
38
often in violation of one or more sections of Rule XXII or the Budget Act of 1974. While
we do not oppose the Rules Committee’s waiving certain points of order against the content
or consideration of conference reports in particular situations, we strongly object to the way
the Rules Committee has made a practice of reporting rules that grant “blanket waivers” to
every conference report the House considered in the 108th Congress.52 These blanket
waivers strip the right of Members who did not participate in the conference to insist on
regular order so they can have time to learn what is in the final conference report before they
vote on it.
In the 108th Congress, the Rules Committee reported 28 rules providing for
consideration of conference reports. In every single rule reported, the Rules Committee
waived all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration, which,
among other things, denied Members three days to read the reports. In addition:
· Twenty-four of the 28 rules were done as emergency measures;
· Twelve of the 28 conference report rules were reported from the Rules Committee
after 8:00 p.m. In virtually all 12 of these cases, Democratic Members of the Rules
Committee did not have copies of the reports until the time of the meeting;
· Six conference reports were reported after 6:30 a.m. the following calendar day (but
the same legislative day), and then brought to the House floor within hours of the
Rules Committee’s action;
52 Waiving all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration is not the “traditional
conference report rule” as the majority members of the Rules Committee so often proclaim in their floor
statements. That description suddenly appeared when the Republicans took over the majority of the House in
the 104th Congress.
39
· Twenty-four of the 28 conference report rules provided that the conference report
would be considered as read, thereby waiving Members’ right to have the report read
aloud before the vote takes place.
As the table below shows, the Republican leadership regularly jammed conference
reports on major legislation totaling hundreds and hundreds of pages through the Rules
Committee and the House in a matter of hours. Members interested in the contents of the
conference report on the dividend tax bill, for example, had 40 seconds to read each page of
the 299-page conference report before they were required to vote on it. Members interested
in the FY 04 Defense authorization or FY 04 Omnibus bills would have had to have perused
the conference report at a three-pages-a-minute rate between the time the rule was reported
and the final vote. Because it was just not possible to read through the hundreds of pages of
complex statutory language in the time they were given, Members found themselves in the
uncomfortable position of having to vote up-or-down on legislation that was not familiar to
them. Of the 28 rules reported for the consideration of conference reports, the 10 worst
rules are listed in the table below:
Ten Worst Rules on Conference Reports Rushed
Through the House in the 108th Congress
Description of Conference Report
Number of Printed
Pages of
Conference Report
Time Between
Report from Rules
Committee and Final
Passage on the
House floor
FY 03 Omnibus Appropriations (H.J.
Res. 2)
1,507 12 hours
Dividend Tax/Reconciliation (H.R. 2) 299 3 ¾ hours
40
FY 04 Department of Defense
Authorization (H.R. 1588)
898 5 hours
Energy Bill (H.R. 6)
571 10 hours
Prescription Drugs/Medicare (H.R. 1)
852 20 hours
FY 04 Omnibus Appropriations (H.R.
2673)
1,186 6 ½ hours
FSC/ETI Tax Package (H.R. 4520)
821 6 ¼ hours
FY 05 Department of Defense
Authorization (H.R. 4200)
938 25 ½ hours
FY 05 Omnibus Appropriations (H.R.
4818)
1,645 7 hours
9/11 Commission Recommendations
(S. 2845)
244 4 hours
In April, 1993, Chairman Dreier criticized just such waiving of the 3-day layover
requirement for conference reports for a very sensible reason:
“The House and Senate have been repeatedly embarrassed over the years by
conference reports on voluminous pieces of legislation which have been voted on
before even properly printed or distributed, let alone understood. Only after their
enactment have some of the provisions come back to haunt the Congress.”53
Although he was describing an earlier Congress, Chairman Dreier could have been
describing the conference report process in the 108th Congress, which reconfirmed the truth
of the old saying that “the devil is in the details.” Because the Republican leadership
systematically waived the rules designed to protect the House against the overly hasty
adoption of conference reports, the House was repeatedly embarrassed by the contents of
reports Members had not been given the time to read. Because of the protection the
53 Congressional Record, April 21, 1993, p. H1958.
41
Republican leadership gave them through the use of blanket waivers, conference committees
became unaccountable breeding grounds for special-interest deal making.
One of the earliest actions of the 108th Congress, for example, was to repeal the
embarrassing provision Republican leaders had slipped into the Homeland Security
conference report at the end of the 107th Congress that protected Eli Lilly and a number of
other pharmaceutical companies from civil liability for their production of the vaccine
preservative Thimerosal. Health-care advocates and editorial pages around the country
justifiably asked what this provision had to do with homeland security and how it had been
inserted at the last minute into the bill.54 Republican leaders had no good answers to these
questions and finally allowed the provision to be rescinded in the FY2003 omnibus
conference report at the beginning of the 108th Congress.55
House Republicans were obviously not chastened by this experience. The Energy
Bill conference (H.R. 6), which excluded from its meetings even the House Democratic
conferees who had voted for the bill, added scores of obscure provisions that had not
appeared in the House or Senate bills, including the embarrassing “greenbonds initiative,”
which turned out to be a subsidy to build a Hooters restaurant in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Dubbed by Senator McCain as the “Hooters and Polluters” bill and widely criticized by the
media and a broad range of government-waste groups, this conference report became the
textbook example in the 108th Congress of an unaccountable conference process run amuck.
Of course, Members did not find out about many of the devilish details in the conference
54 For example, the editorial page of the St. Louis Dispatch wrote: “The Eli Lilly protection clauses weren't
contained in competing versions of the Homeland Security bill passed by the House and Senate. They were
added in the dead of night, outside the public view and without debate. Since then, everyone involved has
ducked responsibility. For a group of career politicians who demand accountability from everyone else, that
stance is stunningly hypocritical.” “Gilding the Lilly,” December 11, 2002.
55 In a remarkable refusal to take responsibility for their actions, Republican leaders and Lilly lobbyists refused
to reveal who had actually inserted this language into the conference report. See “A Homeland Security
Whoddunit. In Massive Bill, Someone Buried a Clause to Protect Drug Maker Eli Lilly,” Washington Post,
November 28, 2002.
42
report until after they had voted on it, because the Rules Committee held a 7 A.M. meeting
on November 18, 2003, reported out a rule granting a blanket waiver to the conference
report (H. Res. 443), and then rushed it to the House floor. The House approved the
conference report by 5 P.M. that afternoon, less than twelve hours after the nearly 600-page
conference report had been filed.56
A similar rushed process occurred for the conference report on the Medicare
Prescription Drug bill (H.R. 1), one of the most important pieces of legislation the House
considered in the 108th Congress. The 850-page conference report for H.R. 1 was filed in
the House at 1:17 A.M. on November 21, 2003 and had passed the House by 6 A.M. on the
morning of November 22, 2003. It is not surprising the Republican leadership jammed this
conference report through the House over the objections of Democrats. More surprisingly,
they rushed it through despite the protests of a significant part of the Republican
Conference. On October 29, 2003, 41 Members of the Republican Study Committee wrote
a letter to Speaker Hastert, Majority Leader DeLay, and Majority Whip Blunt requesting that
the Medicare conference report lay over for three days, in accordance with Rule XXII.
These Members made their request for the following reason:
“The general public will evaluate not only what Congress does regarding Medicare
and prescription drugs, but the way in which it does it. A bill proposing such
substantive changes to the Medicare system and costing an estimated $400 billion
over the next decade deserves the careful and thoughtful consideration of all
Members.
Allowing Members adequate time to properly evaluate the Conference Report will
avoid a needless and difficult internal fight on the Rule, and allow Leadership to
concentrate its efforts on final passage of the Conference Report. It will also lead to
56 During debate on this rule in the Rules Committee, Rep. Frost offered an amendment to the rule that would
have not granted a waiver for 3-day layover, but the amendment was rejected on a party-line vote of 6-3. H.
Rept. 108-376, Rules Committee vote # 216. During floor debate on H.Res. 443, Rep. Frost tried to defeat the
previous question in order to insert a 3-day layover requirement, but the motion lost on a party-line vote (vote
# 628).
43
more public confidence in the legislative process and greater acceptance of that
process’ final product.”57
The House leadership apparently decided it would be too risky to let House
Members (including their own Republican Members) have three days to consider the bill as
regular order would require. Instead, they opted to jam the legislation through the House as
quickly as possible, relying on their arm-twisting abilities rather than the merits of the bill.
The infamous 3-hour vote on this conference report, plus the accusations that the
Republican leadership offered bribes and threatened Members for their votes, could not
have improved the “public confidence in the legislative process,” as the Republican Study
Group had hoped. Other blows to the public’s confidence in the process that produced the
new Medicare law came from revelations that the Administration withheld from Congress an
analysis showing the cost of the bill to be more than $500 billion; that Energy and
Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin was negotiating for a $2 million-a-year job with the drug
industry during the conference negotiations; and that the new law gave a $139 billion
windfall for the pharmaceutical industry.
The most recent embarrassment was the conference report for the FY05 Omnibus
appropriations bill, a massive bill of over 1,600 printed pages, for which the Rules
Committee reported out a rule (H. Res. 866) granting the report a blanket waiver at 3:30 PM
on November 20, 2004. By 8 P.M. that evening, enabled by a so-called “martial law” rule
allowing same-day consideration (H. Res. 846), the House had adopted the report. For days
after its passage, press reports surfaced of extraneous provisions that the conferees had
57 Available at: http://johnshadegg.house.gov/rsc/activity.htm. Rules Committee Democrats also attempted
several times to have the Medicare conference report lay over for three days. In the Rules Committee, Rep.
Frost offered a motion for 3-day layover, which the committee rejected on a party-line vote of 4 to 8. H. Rept.
108-394, committee vote # 218. On the House floor, Rep. Slaughter attempted to defeat the previous question
on H. Res. 463 in order to require a 3-day layover, but her motion failed on a party-line vote (vote # 665).
44
slipped into this legislation in the dark of night and rushed to the floor for consideration
before the ink was dry. One particularly egregious provision (which came to be known as
the “Istook Amendment”) gave Congressional staffers access to the confidential tax returns
of U.S. citizens. After days and days of public outcry, the House was forced to pass a
resolution excising this provision from the conference report.58 Unfortunately, other
outrageous provisions slipped into the bill at the last minute in the dark of night remained in
the bill, such as the provision that cut Pell Grants for 90,000 American students and raised
tuition costs on another 1.2 million Pell Grant recipients.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Fully recognizing that Republicans hold the majority of seats again in the
109th Congress, we submit the following recommendations to the Republican House
leadership and the Republican Members of the House Rules Committee for consideration.
Adopting these modest recommendations would in no way diminish the majority’s ability to
move their agenda through the House in a timely way. But they would represent a good first
step in restoring to the U.S. House of Representatives, the “People’s House,” the
deliberative process that House Republicans used to support, that is, “the full and free airing of
conflicting opinions through hearings, debates, and amendments for the purpose of developing and improving
legislation deserving of the respect and support of the people.”
58 For example, the editorial board of the Charleston (WV) Gazette wrote on Nov. 24, 2004: “But the real
outrage is the pro cess that allows congressional leaders to produce such a monster-length measure and then
shove it through with no chance that members know what they're voting for. So it's not surprising that there
were red faces all around when a provision surfaced that would allow congressional staffers to enter the
premises of the Internal Revenue Service and examine individual tax returns.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer
editorialized on Nov. 25, 2004: “So what we have is a $388 billion admission of legislators’ failure to conduct
the peoples’ business in a timely manner; a 1,690-page testimony to the absence of institutional responsibility in
the basic administration of government, a 14-pound unamendable bundle of booty whose total contents are
unknown to any single member before it becomes law.”
45
Open up the Process by Allowing More Serious Amendments
Without giving up their right to control the agenda of the House, the
Republican leadership should heed the advice of former Speaker Newt Gingrich and “open
up the House Rules more.” They should allow, and even encourage, serious amendments
that enjoy the support of a “substantial number of Members” to come to the House floor
for debate and up-or-down votes. Republican leaders should not be afraid of lively debate
and close votes on amendments; instead, they should welcome them as a sign that the
democratic process is working in the House.
Allow More Bills to be Considered Under Open Rules
Again, without giving up their right to control the agenda of the House, the
Republican leadership should increase the percentage of bills it allows to be debated under
an open rules process, and decrease the percentage of bills it jams through the House under
closed rules.
More Consideration of Major, Controversial Legislation and Fewer Suspension Bills
Instead of using the suspension of the rules procedure to crowd out debate on major
legislation, the Republican leadership in the 109th Congress should expand both debate time
and quantity of amendments on bills it considers under special rules by restricting
suspensions to Mondays and Tuesdays. The House should spend the majority of its time in
session debating and voting on the major policy issues of our day, as the American people
expect from their Congress, not naming post offices and congratulating sports teams.
Fewer Late -Night or Early-Morning “Emergencies” and More Regular Order
46
The House Rules Committee should only use the “emergency meeting”
procedure in the small number of cases, before recesses or at the end of sessions, when the
House moves legislation more quickly through the process than regular order allows.
Regular order should be the rule, not the exception. Instead of meeting late at night or early
in the morning, the Rules Committee should do its business during “business” hours so that
Members and the press can attend and participate in the House rule-making process.
Give Members Three Days to Read Conference Reports
The Rules Committee and Republican leadership should end its practice of
granting “blanket waivers” to conference reports. The Committee should endeavor to
protect Members’ rights to know the content of conference reports by waiving only those
provisions that are absolutely necessary for the orderly consideration of the conference
report. In particular, the three-day layover of conference reports should only be waived in
the most exigent circumstances, and then only by a two-thirds vote of the House.
Appendix I-complete breakdown of Rules in 108th Congress
108TH CONGRESS - 191 Rules Reported
1st Session - 101 Rules reported
2nd Session - 90 Rules reported
Summary (includes totals for both sessions)
191 total Rules:
28 open rules (22 of which are appropriations measures)
36 closed rules (+11 included in rules with multiple bills)
28 Conference Report rules (25 of the 28 have waived 3-day layover)
64 Restrictive rules (+2 included in rules with multiple bills)
35 procedural (includes martial law (waiving 2/3rds) and suspension day rules)
Conference report rules - 108th Congress- 28 total
1st Session (18 conference report rules):
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res. 71 Conference Report on H.J. Res.2 - FY03 Omnibus Appropriations Bill & H.Con
Res. 35 to correct enrollment from c/r to omnibus
H.Res. 188 Conference Report on S. 151 - PROTECT Act - a.k.a. AMBER Alert
H.Res. 191 Conference Report on H.Con. Res. 95 Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY04
H.Res. 253 Conference Report on H.R. 2 - Jobs & Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation-a.k.a.
dividend tax bill
H.Res. 276 Conference Report on S, 342 - Keeping Children & Families Safe - a.k.a. child abuse
prevention reauthorization
H.Res. 374 Conference Report on H.R. 2555 - Homeland Security Appropriations. FY04
H.Res. 383 Conference Report on S. 3 - Partial Birth Abortion Ban
H.Res. 418 Conference Report on H.R.2691 - Interior Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 422 Conference Report on H.R. 2115 - Flight 100 Century of Flight FAA Reauth.
H.Res. 424 Conference report on H.R. 3289 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations FY04 -
a.k.a. Iraq/Afghanistan
H.Res. 429 Conference report on H.R. 2559 - Military Con. Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 437 Conference report on H.R. 1588 - National Defense Authorization FY04
H.Res. 443 Conference report on H.R. 6 - Energy Policy Act
H.Res. 444 Conference report on H.R. 2754 - Energy & Water Appropriations
H.Res. 451 Conference report on H.R. 2417 - Intelligence Authorization FY04
H.Res. 457 Conference report on H.R. 1904 - Healthy Forests Restoration
H.Res. 463 Conference report on H.R. 1 - Medicare Prescription Drug & Modernization
H.Res. 473 Conference Report on H.R. 2673 - Agriculture Appropriations FY04 - vehicle for
FY04 Omnibus
2nd Session (10 conference report rules):
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res. 649 Conference for S. Con. Res. 95 - FY05 Concurrent Budget Resolution
H.Res. 730 Conference for H.R. 2443 - Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Reauth.
H.Res. 735 Conference for H.R. 4613 - Department of Defense FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 794 Conference for H.R. 1308 - Child Tax Credit & expiring provisions - middle class tax
bill
H.Res. 822 Conference for H.R. 4850 - DC FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 830 Conference for H.R.4520 - American Jobs Creation Act - a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax
H.Res. 843 Conference for H.R. 4200 - DOD - National Defense Authorization FY05
H.Res. 858 Conference for H.R. 1350 - IDEA - Education for Disabled
H.Res. 866 Conference for H.R. 4818 - Foreign Operations FY05 Appropriations - End of year
Omnibus with 9 Appropriations & H.J. Res. 114 2nd FY05 C/R (through 12/3/04)
H.Res. 870 Conference on S. 2845 - 9/11 Commission Intelligence Commission Reforms
Martial Law Rules (rules waiving 2/3rds for consideration) - 108th Congress - 29 total
1st Session - 12 rules waiving 2/3rds:
Rule Number Bill Number and Description
H.Res. 152 Waiving 2/3rds on March 20, 2003 for H. Con. Res. 95
H.Res. 190 Waiving 2/3rds on April 10, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
Conference Report on H.Con. Res. 95
H.Res. 192 Waiving 2/3rds on April 11, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
Conference Report on H.R. 1559 - Emergency Wartime Supplemental FY03
H.Res. 197 Waiving 2/3rds on April 12, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
Conference Report on H.R. 1559 - Emergency Wartime Supplemental FY03
H.Res. 249 Waiving 2/3rds on May 22, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the bill H.R. 2,
Jobs & Growth Tax Act a.k.a. dividend tax bill, any amendment thereto, any
Conference Report, or amendment reported in disagreement from a conference
H.Res. 292 Waiving 2/3rds on June 24, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the bill H.R
2417 - FY04 Intelligence Reauthorization
H.Res. 340 Waiving 2/3rds on July 25, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the bill H.R
2861 - HUD/VA & Independent Agencies Appropriations. FY04
H.Res. 421 Waiving 2/3rds on October 30, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
conference report on H.R. 3289 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations FY04 -
a.k.a. Iraq / Afghanistan
H.Res. 434 Waiving 2/3rds on November 7, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
conference report on H.R. 1588 - National Defense Authorization FY04
H.Res. 458 Waiving 2/3rds on November 21, 2003 for consideration or disposition of any
joint resolution, bill, amendment or conference report on any FY04 Appropriations
measure
H.Res. 459 Waiving 2/3rds on November 21, 2003 for consideration or disposition of any
conference report on H.R. 1 - Medicare Prescription Drug & Modernization
H.Res. 465 Waiving 2/3rds on or before January 31, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
any joint resolution, bill, amendment or conference report on any FY04
Appropriations measure
2nd Session-17 rules waiving 2/3rds:
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res. 536 Waiving 2/3rds on February 26, 2004 for consideration or disposition of H.R.
3783-2nd temporary highway extension
H.Res. 592 Waiving 2/3rds on April 1, 2004 for consideration or disposition of H.R. 3550 -
Transportation Equity Act-TEA-LU
H.Res. 693 Waiving 2/3rds on June 24, 2004 for consideration of H.R. 4614 for Energy &
Water FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 731 Waiving 2/3rds on July 21, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R. 1308 -
Child Tax Credit
H.Res. 739 Waiving 2/3rds on July 21, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R. 1308 -
Child Tax Credit
H.Res. 740 Waiving 2/3rds on July 22, 2004 for consideration of a bill for an extension of the
highway authorization bill
H.Res. 780 Waiving 2/3rds on September 22, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R.
1308 - Child Tax Credit-2nd 2/3rds rule for this conference
H.Res. 785 Waiving 2/3rds on September 23, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R.
1308 - Child Tax Credit-3rd 2/3rds rule for this conference
H.Res. 807 Waiving 2/3rds on September 30, 2004 for consideration of a bill to provide an
extension of highway bill TEA-21
H.Res. 828 Waiving 2/3rds on October 7, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for
H.R.4520 - American Jobs Creation Act-a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax
H.Res. 831 Waiving 2/3rds on October 8, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for H.R.
4200 - DOD - National Defense Authorization FY05
H.Res. 832 Waiving 2/3rds on October 8, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for
H.R.4837 - Military Construction FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 834 Waiving 2/3rds on October 8, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for H.R.
4567 - Homeland Security FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 846 Waiving 2/3rds on or before November 20, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
any joint resolution, bill, amendment or conference report on any FY05
appropriations measure
H.Res. 860 Waiving 2/3rds on or before November 20, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
a conference report on S. 2845 - intelligence reform
H.Res. 861 Waiving 2/3rds on or before November 20, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
a conference report on H.R. 4548 - FY05 Intelligence Authorization
H.Res. 868 Waiving 2/3rds on December 7, 2004 for consideration or disposition of a
conference report on S. 2845 - intelligence reform
Closed rules in 108TH Congress - 36 closed rules reported
1st Session - 19 closed rules (plus 4 rules included in single rules with multiple bills unless all
were closed):
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res.14 S. 23 - To provide for a 5-month extension of the Temporary Extended
Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002
H.Res.15 C,C 1 rule 2 measures H.J. Res. 1 & H.J. Res. 2 - 6th C/R through 2/1/03 & 7th C/R
and shell for omnibus
H.Res. 29 H.J. Res. 13 - 8th C/R through 2/7/03
H.Res. 48 H.J. Res. 18 - 9th C/R through 2/20/03
H.Res. 126 H.R. 878 - Armed Forces Tax Fairness
H.Res. 139 H.R. 5 - Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH)
a.k.a. medical malpractice
H.Res.227 H.R. 2 - Jobs & Growth Tax Act a.k.a. dividend tax bill
H.Res. 248 H.R. 2185 - Unemployment Compensation Amendments
H.Res. 258 C,C (1 rule 2 measures - S. 222 - Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement &
S. 273 - Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange
H.Res. 270 Relating to consideration of Senate Amendments to H.R. 1308 - Child Tax
Credit
+H.Res. 299 R,C 1 rule, two bills and other miscellaneous issues - H.R. 1 - Medicare
Prescription Drug and Modernization Act & Health Savings and Affordability a.k.a.
medical savings accounts
H.Res. 311 H.R. 2657 - Legislative Branch Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 329 C,C (1 rule 2 measures - H.R. 2738 - US - Chile Free Trade Agreement
Implementation) & (H.R. 2739 - US - Singapore Free Trade Agreement
Implementation - a.k.a. fast track
H.Res. 335 H.R. 2427 - Pharmaceutical Market Access a.k.a. drug reimportation
H.Res. 401 2nd rule - H.R. 3289 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations - FY04 a.k.a. Iraq
/Afghanistan
H.Res. 407 H.J. Res. 73 - 2nd FY04 C/R through 11/07/03 and shell for omnibus
H.Res. 417 H.J. Res. 75 - 3rd FY04 C/R through 11/07/03
H.Res. 430 H.J. Res.76 - 4th FY04 C/R through 11/21/03
H.Res. 450 H.J. Res.78 - 5th FY04 C/R through 11/23/03
H.Res. 464 H.J. Res. 80 - appointing the day for the convening of the 2nd session of 108th
2nd Session - 17 closed rules (plus 7 included in single rules with multiple bills):
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res. 520 H.R. 743 - concur in Senate amendments to Social Security Protection a.k.a. Texas
Teachers penalty
H.Res. 561 H.Res. 557 - Relating to the liberation of Iraqi people & honoring troops
H.Res. 580 H.R. 3966 - ROTC & Military Recruiter Equal Access to Campus
H.Res. 585 H.Res. 581 - Sense of Congress regarding compensation for civilian employees &
members of the uniformed services a.k.a. pay parity
H.Res. 628 H.Res. 627 - Iraqi Prisoner Resolution - deploring treatment of Iraqi Prisoners
+H.Res. 638 R,R,C (1 rule for 3 bills - H.R. 4279 - FSA/HSA, H.R. 4280 - Medical Malpractice
Reform, H.R.4281 - Small Business Association Health Plans AHPs
+H.Res. 645 C,C,C,C,R (1 rule for 5 bills - H.R. 2728, H.R. 2729, H.R. 2730, H.R. 2731-OSHA,
H.R. 2432 - Paperwork reduction
H.Res. 656 1 rule incorporated 3 bills - H.R. 444 - Back to Work Incentive Act - also adds H.R.
4409 & H.R. 4410 - then H.R. 4411
H.Res. 657 H.J. Res. 83 - Continuity of Congress Constitutional amendment to fill vacancies
H.Res. 671 C,C (1 rule for 2 bills - H.R. 4503 - Energy Policy Act, H.R. 4517 - U.S. Refinery
Revitalization)
H.Res. 681 H.R. 4520 - American Jobs Creation Act - a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax
H.Res. 712 H.R. 4759 - US/Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation
H.Res. 734 H.R. 3313 - Marriage Protection Act
H.Res. 738 H.R. 4842 - US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation
H.Res. 801 H.J. Res. 106 - Amending the US constitution to ban gay marriages
H.Res. 802 H.J. Res. 107 - 1st C/R for FY05 Appropriations-through November 20, 2004
H.Res. 803 H.R. 3193 - District of Columbia Personal Protection-repeal DC gun ban
H.Res. 811 H.R. 5183 - Surface Transportation/Highway Extension #6
H.Res. 856 S. 2986 - to increase the public debt ceiling
+H.Res. 866 Cf,C (1 rule for 2 bills - Conference for H.R. 4818 - Foreign Operations FY05
Appropriations - End of year Omnibus with 9 Appropriations & H.J.Res. 114 2nd
FY05 C/R(through 12/3/04)
+these rules are not counted in the overall closed rule totals because they are rules that provided for
consideration two or more bills in one rule where one of the bills was closed but at least one other
was restrictive or a conference report
C-closed rule
R-restrictive rule
CF-conference report rule
Restrictive rules in 108th Congress - 64 restrictive rules reported
1st Session - 33 restrictive rules:
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res. 69 H.R. 4 - Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion a.k.a. welfare reform
H.Res. 105 H.R. 534 - Human Cloning Prohibition
H.Res. 147 H.R. 975 - Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection
H.Res. 151 H. Con. Res. 95 - Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY2004
H.Res. 160 H.R. 1104 - Child Abduction Prevention a.k.a AMBER Alert
H.Res. 168 H.R. 743 - Social Security Protection
H.Res. 181 H.R. 1036 - Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms a.k.a. gun manufacturers
liability
H.Res. 189 H.R. 6 - Energy Policy Act
H.Res. 206 H.R. 1350 - Improving Education Results for Children with Disabilities a.k.a. IDEA
H.Res. 210 H.R. 1298 - United States Leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, & Malaria
H.Res. 221 H.R. 1261 - Workforce Reinvestment & Adult Education Act a.k.a. WIA
H.Res. 230 H.R. 1000 - Pension Security Act
H.Res. 239 H.R. 1904 - Healthy Forests Restoration Act
H.Res. 245 H.R. 1588 - National Defense Authorization FY04 - 1st rule
H.Res. 247 H.R. 1588 - National Defense Authorization FY04 - 2nd rule
H.Res. 255 H.J. Res. 4 Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit Physical Desecration of the US
Flag
H.Res. 257 H.R. 760 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
H.Res. 263 H.R. 2143 - Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition
H.Res. 265 H.R. 2115 - Flight 100-Century of Aviation FAA Reauthorization
H.Res. 269 H.R. 1115 - Class Action Fairness
H.Res. 281 H.R. 8 - Death Tax Repeal Permanency
H.Res. 282 H.R. 1528 - Taxpayer Protection & IRS Accountability
H.Res. 283 H.R. 660 - Small Business Health Fairness a.k.a. Association Health Plans - AHPs
H.Res. 295 H.R. 2417 - FY04 Intelligence Reauthorization
H.Res. 299 1 rule, two bills and other miscellaneous issues - H.R. 1 - Medicare Prescription
Drug and Modernization Act & Health Savings and Affordability a.k.a. medical
savings accounts
H.Res. 309 H.R. 438 - Teacher Recruitment & Retention Act
H.Res. 310 H.R. 2211 - Ready to Teach Act
H.Res. 316 H.R. 1950 - Foreign Relations Authorization a.k.a. state department
H.Res. 336 H.R. 2210 - School Readiness Act-a.k.a. Head Start
H.Res. 339 H.R. 2859 - Emergency Supplemental Disaster Relief Appropriations FY03
H.Res. 360 H.R. 2622 - Fair & Accurate Credit Transactions-a.k.a. fair credit reauthorization
H.Res. 370 H.R. 7 - Charitable Giving Act
H.Res. 375 H.R. 2557 - Water Resources Development Act
108th Congress - 2nd Session - 31 Restrictive rules:
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res. 503 S. 1920 - 6 month extension of Chapter 12 of Title 11-Family Farm Bankruptcy
H.Res. 513 H.R. 3030 - Improving the Community Service Block Grant a.k.a.CSBG
H.Res. 529 H.R. 1997 - Unborn Victims of Violence a.k.a. Laci & Conner’s Law
H.Res. 546 H.R. 3752 - Commercial Space Launch Amendments
H.Res. 547 H.R. 1561 - U.S. Patent & Trademark Fee Modernization
H.Res. 552 H.R. 339 - Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption a.k.a. obesity/fat liability
H.Res. 554 H.R. 3717 - Broadcast Decency Enforcement-a.k.a. FCC penalty fine increase
H.Res. 566 H.R. 1375 - Financial Services Regulatory Relief
H.Res. 574 H.Con.Res. 393 - FY05 Concurrent Budget Resolution
H.Res. 593 H.R. 3550 - Transportation Equity Act-TEA-LU
H.Res. 602 H.R. 2844 - Continuity in Representation
H.Res. 607 H.R. 4181 - Permanent extension of Marriage Penalty bill
H.Res. 619 H.R. 4227 - Middle-Class Alternative Minimum Tax AMT Relief
H.Res. 637 H.R. 4275 - Permanent Extension of 10% Income Tax Bracket
+H.Res. 638 R,R,C (1 rule for 3 bills-H.R. 4279-FSA/HSA, H.R. 4280-Medical Malpractice
Reform, H.R.4281-Small Business Association Health Plans AHPs
H.Res. 644 H.R. 4359 - Child Credit Preservation & Expansion Act
+H.Res. 645 C,C,C,C,R (1 rule for 5 bills - H.R. 2728, H.R. 2729, H.R. 2730, H.R. 2731 - OSHA,
H.R. 2432 - Paperwork reduction
H.Res 648 H.R. 4200 - DOD - National Defense Authorization FY05
+H.Res. 672 R,R (1 rule for 2 bills - H.R. 4513 - Renewable Energy Project Siting Improvement,
H.R. 4529 - Arctic Coastal Plain & surface Mining Improvement
H.Res. 686 H.R. 4548 - Intelligence Authorization FY05
H.Res. 692 H.R. 4663 - Spending Control Act a.k.a. budget enforcement
H.Res. 706 H.R. 3598 - Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness
H.Res. 707 H.R. 4755 - Legislative Branch FY05 Approps
H.Res. 711 H.R. 2828 - Water Supply, Reliability, & Environmental Improvement a.k.a. CalFed
water bill
H.Res. 725 H.R. 3574 - Stock Option Accounting Reform
H.Res. 766 H.R. 4571 - Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act
H.Res. 781 H.R. 2028 - Pledge Protection Act
H.Res. 814 S. 878 - Bankruptcy Judgeship Act
H.Res. 819 H.R. 5212 - FEMA FY05 Supplemental for hurricane storm damage
H.Res. 823 Justice for All Act, a.k.a. Debbie Smith DNA
H.Res. 827 H.R. 10 - 9/11 (Commission) Recommendations Implementation Act
Open rules in 108TH Congress - 28 closed rules reported
1st Session - 16 open rules
Rule Number Bill Number and Title
H.Res. 172 H.R.1559 - FY03 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations
H.Res. 219 H.R. 766 - the Nanotechnology Research & Development Act
H.Res. 229 H.R. 1527 - National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization
H.Res. 256 H.R. 1474 - Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act
H.Res. 293 H.R. 2555 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 298 H.R. 2559 - Military Construction Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 312 H.R. 2660 - Labor/HHS/Ed Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 319 H.R. 2691 - Interior & Related Agencies Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 326 H.R. 2799 - Commerce, Justice, State & Judiciary Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 327 H.R. 2800 - Foreign Operations, Export Financing Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 334 H.R. 2765 - District of Columbia Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 338 H.R. 2861 - HUD/VA, & Independent Agencies Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 351 H.R. 2989 - Transportation/Treasury Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 396 1st rule - H.R. 3289 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations FY04 -
Iraq/Afghanistan
H.Res. 416 H.R. 2443 - Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation
H.Res. 428 H.R. 1829 - Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting
2nd Session - 12 open rules:
Rule Number Bill Number & Title
H.Res. 502 S. 610 - NASA Workforce Flexibility
H.Res. 674 H.R. 4568 - Interior FY05 Appropriations.
H.Res. 675 H.R. 4567 - Homeland Security FY05 Appropriations.
H.Res. 683 H.R. 4613 - Department of Defense FY05 Appropriations - also allows July
adjournments
H.Res. 694 H.R. 4614 - Energy & Water FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 701 H.R. 4754 - Commerce, Justice, State FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 710 H.R. 4766 - Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 715 H.R. 4818 - Foreign Operations FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 724 H.R. 4850 - District of Columbia FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 732 H.R. 4837 - Military Construction FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 754 H.R. 5006 - Labor/HHS/Education FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 770 H.R. 5025 - Transportation/Treasury FY05 Appropriations
Rules providing for suspension days - 108th Congress - 5 total rules
H.Res. 449 Providing for a suspension day on November 20, 2003
H.Res. 456 Providing for a suspension day on November 21, 2003
H.Res. 829 Providing for a suspension day on October 7, 2004
H.Res. 833 Providing for a suspension day on October 8, 2004
H.Res. 859 Providing for a suspension day on November 19, 2004
Miscellaneous procedural rules in 108th Congress - 1 rule
H.Res. 377 Recommit to Conference - H.R. 2115 - Conference for Flight - 100 Century of
Aviation FAA Reauthorization
Single rules providing for consideration of multiple bills - 108th Congress - 11 total rules
1st and 2nd session - 11 rules:
Rule Number Bill Numbers and Descriptions
H.Res. 15 H.J.Res. 1 & H.J.Res. 2 - Continuing Resolutions
H.Res. 258 S. 222 & S. 273 - two defeated suspensions from Resources
H.Res. 299 H.R. 1 & H.R. 2596 - Medicare Rx Drugs/Health Savings Accounts
H.Res. 329 H.R. 2738 & H.R. 2739 - Chili & Singapore Free Trade fast track
H.Res. 638 H.R. 4279, H.R. 4280, & H.R. 4281 - Flexible Spending accounts/HEALTH
Act/AHPs
H.Res. 645 H.R. 2728, 2729, 2730, 2731, & H.R. 2432 - 4 OSHA weakening bills/paperwork
reduction
H.Res. 656 H.R. 444 & added two passed suspensions to bill - H.R. 4409 & H.R. 4411 - back to
work accounts and two higher education bills added at end
H.Res. 671 H.R. 4503 & H.R. 4517 - Energy bill/refinery revitalization
H.Res. 672 H.R. 4515 & H.R. 4529 - renewable energy project siting / Arctic Coastal & Surface
mining
H.Res. 683 H.R. 4613 - Department of Defense FY05 Appropriations - also allows July
adjournment
H.Res. 866 Conference for H.R. 4818 - Foreign Operations FY05 Appropriations - End of year
Omnibus with 9 Appropriations & H.J.Res. 114 2nd FY05 C/R (through 12/3/04)
Appendix II-Complete Listing of Emergency Rules in the 108th Congress
Emergency Rules granted in 108th Congress- 116 total
1st Session- 62 total:
H.Res.14 S. 23 - To provide for a 5-month extension of the Temporary Extended
Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002
H.Res.15 1 rule for 2 bills H.J. Res. 1 & H.J. Res. 2 - 6th C/R through 2/1/03 & 7th C/R and
shell for omnibus
H.Res. 126 H.R. 878 - Armed Forces Tax Fairness
H.Res. 139 H.R. 5 - Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) a.k.a.
medical malpractice
H.Res. 151 H. Con. Res. 95 - Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY2004
H.Res. 152 Waiving 2/3rds on March 20, 2003 for H. Con. Res. 95
H.Res. 168 H.R. 743 - Social Security Protection
H.Res. 172 H.R.1559 - FY03 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations
H.Res. 188 Conference Report on S. 151 - PROTECT Act - a.k.a. AMBER Alert
H.Res. 189 H.R. 6 - Energy Policy Act
H.Res. 190 Waiving 2/3rds on April 10, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
Conference Report on H. Con. Res. 95
H.Res. 191 Conference Report on H. Con. Res. 95 Concurrent Budget Resolution for FY04
H.Res. 192 Waiving 2/3rds on April 11, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
Conference Report on H.R. 1559 - Emergency Wartime Supplemental FY03
H.Res. 197 Waiving 2/3rds on April 12, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
Conference Report on H.R. 1559 - Emergency Wartime Supplemental FY03
H.Res.227 H.R. 2 - Jobs & Growth Tax Act a.k.a. dividend tax bill
H.Res. 239 H.R. 1904 - Healthy Forests Restoration Act
H.Res. 248 H.R. 2185 - Unemployment Compensation Amendments
H.Res. 249 Waiving 2/3rds on May 22, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the bill H.R. 2,
Jobs & Growth Tax Act a.k.a. dividend tax bill, any amendment thereto, any
conference report, or amendment reported in disagreement from a conference
H.Res. 253 Conference Report on H.R. 2 - Jobs & Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation-a.k.a.
dividend tax bill
H.Res. 258 1 rule for 2 measures - S. 222 - Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement & S. 273 -
Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange
H.Res. 270 Relating to consideration of Senate Amendments to H.R. 1308 - Child Tax
Credit
H.Res. 282 H.R. 1528 - Taxpayer Protection & IRS Accountability
H.Res. 283 H.R. 660 - Small Business Health Fairness a.k.a. Association Health Plans - AHPs
H.Res. 292 Waiving 2/3rds on June 24, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the bill H.R.
2417 - FY04 Intelligence Reauthorization
H.Res. 297 Original Jurisdiction - H. Res. 297 Providing for motions to suspend the rules on
Wednesdays through the end of the 108th Congress
H.Res. 298 H.R. 2559 - Military Construction Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 299 1 rule, two bills and other miscellaneous issues - H.R. 1 - Medicare Prescription
Drug and Modernization Act & Health Savings and Affordability a.k.a. medical
savings accounts
H.Res. 312 H.R. 2660 - Labor/HHS/Ed Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 326 H.R. 2799 - Commerce, Justice, State & Judiciary Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 327 H.R. 2800 - Foreign Operations, Export Financing Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 329 1 rule for 2 measures - H.R. 2738 - US-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation
and H.R. 2739 - US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation-a.k.a. fast
track
H.Res. 334 H.R. 2765 - District of Columbia Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 335 H.R. 2427 - Pharmaceutical Market Access a.k.a. drug reimportation
H.Res. 338 H.R. 2861 - HUD/VA, & Independent Agencies Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 339 H.R. 2859 - Emergency Supplemental Disaster Relief Appropriations FY03
H.Res. 340 Waiving 2/3rds on July 25, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the bill H.R.
2861 - HUD/VA & Independent Agencies Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 374 Conference Report on H.R. 2555 - Homeland Security Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 377 Recommit to Conference - H.R. 2115 - Conference for Flight - 100 Century of
Aviation FAA Reauthorization
H.Res. 383 Conference Report on S. 3 - Partial Birth Abortion Ban
H.Res. 396 1st rule - H.R. 3289-Emergency Supplemental Appropriations FY04 a.k.a. Iraq /
Afghanistan
H.Res. 401 2nd rule - H.R. 3289 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations FY04 a.k.a. Iraq /
Afghanistan
H.Res. 407 H.J. Res. 73- 2nd FY04 C/R through 11/07/03 and shell for omnibus
H.Res. 417 H.J. Res. 75 - 3rd FY04 C/R through 11/07/03
H.Res. 418 Conference Report on H.R.2691 - Interior Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 421 Waiving 2/3rds on October 30, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
conference report on H.R. 3289 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations FY04
a.k.a. Iraq / Afghanistan
H.Res. 422 Conference Report on H.R. 2115 - Flight 100 - Century of Flight FAA
Reauthorization
H.Res. 424 conference report on H.R. 3289 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations FY04
a.k.a. Iraq/Afghanistan
H.Res. 429 Conference report on H.R. 2559 - Military Con. Appropriations FY04
H.Res. 430 H.J. Res.76 - 4th FY04 C/R through 11/21/03
H.Res. 434 Waiving 2/3rds on November 7, 2003 for consideration or disposition of the
conference report on H.R. 1588 - National Defense Authorization FY04
H.Res. 437 Conference report on H.R. 1588 - National Defense Authorization FY04
H.Res. 443 Conference report on H.R. 6 - Energy Policy Act
H.Res. 449 Providing for a suspension day on November 20, 2003 - with consultation with
Minority Leader
H.Res. 450 H.J. Res.78 - 5th FY04 C/R through 11/23/03
H.Res. 451 Conference report on H.R. 2417 - Intelligence Authorization FY04
H.Res. 456 Providing for a suspension day on November 21, 2003 - with consultation with
Minority Leader
H.Res. 457 Conference report on H.R. 1904 - Healthy Forests Restoration
H.Res. 458 Waiving 2/3rds on November 21, 2003 for consideration or disposition of any
joint resolution, bill, amendment or conference report on any FY04 appropriations
measure
H.Res. 459 Waiving 2/3rds on November 21, 2003 for consideration or disposition of any
conference report on H.R. 1 - Medicare Prescription Drug & Modernization
H.Res. 463 Conference report on H.R. 1 - Medicare Prescription Drug & Modernization
H.Res. 464 H.J. Res. 80 - appointing the day for the convening of the 2nd session of 108th
H.Res. 465 Waiving 2/3rds on or before January 31, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
any joint resolution, bill, amendment or conference report on any FY04
appropriations measure
2nd Session-54 total:
H.Res. 536 Waiving 2/3rds on February 26, 2004 for consideration or disposition of H.R.
3783 - 2nd temporary highway extension
H.Res. 574 H. Con. Res. 393 - FY05 Concurrent Budget Resolution
H.Res. 585 H. Res. 581 - Sense of Congress regarding compensation for civilian employees &
members of the uniformed services a.k.a. pay parity
H.Res. 592 Waiving 2/3rds on April 1, 2004 for consideration or disposition of H.R. 3550 -
Transportation Equity Act - TEA-LU
H.Res. 593 H.R. 3550 - Transportation Equity Act - TEA-LU
H.Res. 628 H. Res. 627 - Iraqi Prisoner Resolution - deploring treatment of Iraqi Prisoners
H.Res. 649 Conference for S. Con. Res. 95 - FY05 Concurrent Budget Resolution
H.Res. 674 H.R. 4568 - Interior FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 675 H.R. 4567 - Homeland Security FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 681 H.R. 4520 - American Jobs Creation Act-a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax
H.Res. 686 H.R. 4548 - Intelligence Authorization FY05
H.Res. 692 H.R. 4663 - Spending Control Act a.k.a. budget enforcement
H.Res. 693 Waiving 2/3rds on June 24, 2004 for consideration of H.R. 4614 for Energy &
Water FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 694 H.R. 4614 - Energy and Water FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 706 H.R. 3598 - Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness
H.Res. 707 H.R. 4755 - Legislative Branch FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 710 H.R. 4766 - Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 711 H.R. 2828 - Water Supply, Reliability, & Environmental Improvement a.k.a. CalFed
water bill
H.Res. 712 H.R. 4759 - US/Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation
H.Res. 715 H.R. 4818 - Foreign Operations FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 730 Conference for H.R. 2443 - Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation
Reauthorization
H.Res. 731 Waiving 2/3rds on July 21, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R. 1308 -
Child Tax Credit
H.Res. 735 Conference for H.R. 4613 - Department of Defense FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 738 H.R. 4842 - US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation
H.Res. 739 Waiving 2/3rds on July 21, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R. 1308 -
Child Tax Credit
H.Res. 740 Waiving 2/3rds on July 22, 2004 for consideration of a bill for an extension of the
highway authorization bill
H.Res. 770 H.R. 5025 - Transportation/Treasury FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 780 Waiving 2/3rds on September 22, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R.
1308 - Child Tax Credit - 2nd 2/3rds rule for this conference
H.Res. 785 Waiving 2/3rds on September 23, 2004 for consideration of Conference for H.R.
1308 - Child Tax Credit - 3rd 2/3rds rule for this conference
H.Res. 794 Conference for H.R. 1308 - Child Tax Credit & expiring provisions-middle class tax
bill
H.Res. 802 H.J. Res. 107 - 1st C/R for FY05 Appropriations through November 20, 2004
H.Res. 807 Waiving 2/3rds on September 30, 2004 for consideration of a bill to provide an
extension of highway bill TEA-21
H.Res. 811 H.R. 5183 - Surface Transportation/Highway Extension #6
H.Res. 819 H.R. 5212 - FEMA FY05 Supplemental for hurricane storm damage
H.Res. 822 Conference for H.R. 4850 - DC FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 823 Justice for All Act, a.k.a. Debbie Smith DNA
H.Res. 827 H.R. 10 - 9/11 (Commission) Recommendations Implementation Act
H.Res. 828 Waiving 2/3rds on October 7, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for
H.R.4520 - American Jobs Creation Act a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax
H.Res. 829 Providing for a suspension day on October 7, 2004 - with consultation with
Minority Leader
H.Res. 830 Conference for H.R.4520 - American Jobs Creation Act a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax
H.Res. 831 Waiving 2/3rds on October 8, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for H.R.
4200 - DOD - National Defense Authorization FY05
H.Res. 832 Waiving 2/3rds on October 8, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for
H.R.4837 - Military Construction FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 833 Providing for a suspension day on October 8, 2004 - with consultation with
Minority Leader
H.Res. 834 Waiving 2/3rds on October 8, 2004 for consideration of the Conference for H.R.
4567 - Homeland Security FY05 Appropriations
H.Res. 843 Conference for H.R. 4200 - DOD - National Defense Authorization FY05
H.Res. 846 Waiving 2/3rds on or before November 20, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
any joint resolution, bill, amendment or conference report on any FY05 approps
measure
H.Res. 856 S. 2986 - to increase the public debt ceiling
H.Res. 858 Conference for H.R. 1350 - IDEA - Education for Disabled
H.Res. 859 Providing for a suspension day on November 19, 2004 - with consultation with
Minority Leader
H.Res. 860 Waiving 2/3rds on or before November 20, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
a conference report on S. 2845 - intelligence reform
H.Res. 861 Waiving 2/3rds on or before November 20, 2004 for consideration or disposition of
a conference report on H.R. 4548 - FY05 Intelligence Authorization
H.Res. 866 Conference for H.R. 4818 - Foreign Operations FY05 Appropriations - End of year
Omnibus with 9 Appropriations & H.J. Res. 114 2nd FY05 C/R (through 12/3/04)
H.Res. 868 Waiving 2/3rds on December 7, 2004 for consideration or disposition of a
conference report on S. 2845 - intelligence reform
H.Res. 870 Conference on S. 2845 - 9/11 Commission Intelligence Reforms
Appendix III-Complete listing of Previous Question Votes Called by Democrats in the 108th congress
Previous Question Fights in the 108th Congress
Res # Bill # Bill Title Vote &
Date **
Previous Question Offered
1)
H.Res. 14
S. 23 Extension of the Temporary Extended
Unemployment Compensation Act of
2002
Closed rule
1/8/2003
H72-4
roll #5
224-196
Slaughter-Makes in order Rangel Substitute - Emergency
Unemployment Compensation Act (extend unem ployment benefits
by 26 weeks instead of 13 & provide an additional 13 weeks to those
who exhausted extend ed benefits last year).
2)
H.Res. 15
H.J.Res.1 & 2
(6th & 7th C/R)
2 Continuing Resolutions for FY2003
H.J.Res l C/R through 2/1/03 &
H.J.Res.2 was shell for omnibus bill
Closed rule
1/08/03
H96-97
roll #8
225-198
McGovern-would waive section 302©) of the Congressional Budget
Act against the motions to recommit. (302©) prohibits consideration
of an appropriations bill and amendments before the filing of 302(b)
suballocations-- it was waived against the two resolutions only).
3)
H.Res. 139
H.R. 5 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost,
Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of
2003 (a.k.a. Medical Malpractice)
Closed rule
3/13/03
roll #61
225-201
Hastings (FL)-makes in order Conyers/Dingell substitute to allow a
comprehensive approach to the rising insurance rates for malpractice
insurance.
4)
H.Res. 160
H.R. 1104 The Child Abduction Prevention Act of
2003 (a.k.a. AMBER plus)
Restrictive rule
3/26/03
roll #86
218-198
Frost- provide that immediately after the H ouse passes the Child
Abduction Prevention Act, it will take up S. 121 the Senate passed
version of the AMBER Alert legislation (in the House under a closed
rule).
5)
H.Res. 168 H.R. 743 Social Security Protection Act of 2003
a.k.a. Texas Teachers
Restrictive rule
4/02/03
roll #99
245-177
Frost-makes in order the Doggett substitute amendment to reduce
the Government Pension Offset of Social Security spousal and
survivors benefits from two-thirds to one-third of the government
pension. It would hold the tru st funds harmless for the cost of this
benefit improvement by making annual transfers from the general
funds to the Social Security Trust Fu nds.
6)
H.Res. 172 H.R. 1559 Emergency Wartime Supplemental
Appropriations Act FY2003
Open rule
4/03/03
roll #103
221-200
Frost-makes in order Obey Homeland Security Amendments to add
$2.5 billion (3% increase to bill) to protect military facilities; for
nuclear security; for port and infrastructure security; and for state
and local first responders.
7)
H.Res. 189 H.R. 6 Energy Policy Act of 2003
Restrictive rule
4/10/03
roll #130
226-202
Slaughter-makes in order the 40 Democratic and bipartisan
amendments not allowed by the Republican Rules Committee.
8)
H.Res. 221 H.R. 1261 Workforce Reinvestment & Adult
Education Act of 2003 (a.k.a. WIA)
Restrictive rule
5/08/03
roll #170
222-199
McGovern-makes in order Van Hollen amendment to restore
current law which prohibits the use of Federal fund s to discrim inate
in hiring based on religion. Strikes the offending provision from the
bill.
9)
H.Res. 227 H.R. 2 Jobs & Growth Reconciliation Tax Act
of 2003 (a.k.a. 2003 dividend tax)
Closed rule
5/09/03
roll #178
219-203
Frost-makes in order Rangel Democratic Substitute-“Rebuilding
America Through Jobs”, to extend unemployments benefits, expand
the child tax credit, provide assistance to state and local government,
& offer job creating incentives for businesses. The substitute is fully
paid for.
10)
H.Res. 230 H.R. 1000 Pension Security Act of 2003
Restrictive rule
5/14/03
roll #186
218-201
Slaughter-provide that immediately after the House passes the
Pension Security Act, it will take up H.R. 1652, the Rangel-Cardin
Unemployment Benefits Extension Act to extend Federal
Unemployment benefits by 26 weeks and give an additional 13 weeks
to those whose benefits have run out. (in the House under a closed
rule).
11)
H.Res. 229 H.R. 1527 National Transportation Safety Board
Reauthorization Act of 2003
Open rule
5/15/03
roll #190
220-205
McGovern-provide that immediately after the House passes the
National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization A ct, it will
take up H.R. 1652, the Rangel-Cardin Unemployment Benefits
Extension Act to extend Federal Unemployment benefits by 26
weeks and give an additional 13 weeks to those whose benefits have
run out. (in the House under a closed rule).
12)
H.Res. 245
1st rule
H.R. 1588 National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004
Restrictive rule
5/21/03
roll #201
225-203
McGovern-makes in order the Rahall/Dingell amendment which
strikes anti-environmental provisions in the bill relating to ESA
(Endangered Species Act) & MMPA (Marine Mammal Protection
Act).
13)
H.Res. 247
2nd rule
H.R. 1588 National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004
Restrictive rule
5/22/03
roll #207
224-198
Frost-makes in order Cooper/Davis(IL)/VanHollen amendment bill
of rights amendment for civilian employees of the Department of
Defense.
14)
H.Res. 248 H.R. 2185 Unemployment Compensation
Amendments of 2003
Closed rule
5/22/03
roll #213
217-203
McGovern-makes in order as a substitute text of H.R. 1652, the
Rangel-Cardin Unemployment Benefits Extension Act to extend
Federal Unemployment benefits by 26 weeks and give an additional
13 weeks to those whose benefits have run out.
15)
H.Res. 249
Martial Law
on H.R. 2
Conference
report
waiving 2/3rds Conference Report for
Jobs and Growth Tax Act a.k.a.
dividend tax bill
Procedural rule
5/22/03
roll #211
221-202
1 Dem yes
Frost-provide that immediately after the H ouse passes H .Res. 249 it
will immediately consider H.R. 2046, the Rangel Democratic
“Rebuilding America Through Jobs”, to extend unemployments
benefits, expand the child tax credit, provide assistance to state and
local government, & offer job creating incentives for businesses.
The bill is fully paid for.
16)
H.Res. 253 H.R. 2
Conference
Report
Conference Report for Jobs and Growth
Tax Act a.k.a. dividend tax bill
Conference Report
5/22/03
roll #224
221-205
Frost-provide that immediately after the House passes the
conference report it will immediately consider H.R.2156 to allow a
temporary increase in the debt ceiling and require a balanced budget
before the end of the fiscal year.
17)
H.Res. 256 H.R. 1474 Check Clearing for the 21st Century
a.k.a. Check 21
Open rule
6/5/03
roll #243
220-198
1 Rep no
McGovern-provide that immediately after the House passes H.R.
1474 it will immediately consider H.R.2286 the Working Families
Tax Credit Act to restore refundable child tax cred it and help military
families.
18)
H.Res. 258
1 rule
providing
for 2 bills
both
closed
S. 222 &
S. 273
Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights
Settlement & Grand Teton National Park
Land Exchange two failed suspension
bills
Closed rule
6/5/03
roll #244
220-194
McGovern-provide that immediately after the House passes H.Res.
258 it will immediately consider H.R.2286 the Working Families Tax
Credit Act to restore refundable child tax credit and help military
families.
19)
H.Res. 263 H.R. 2143 Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding
Prohibition
Restrictive rule
6/10/03
roll #252
222-196
Hastings (FL)-provide that immediately after the House passes
H.R. 2143 it will immediately take from the Speaker’s table the
Senate passed version of H.R. 1308 which restores the refundable
child tax credit which was removed at the last minute from the
Republican tax bill H.R. 2.
20)
H.Res. 265 H.R. 2115 Flight 100-Century of Aviation FAA
Reauthorization Act
Restrictive rule
6/11/03
roll #257
219-195
McGovern-provide that immediately after the House passes H.R.
2143 it will immediately take from the Speaker’s table the Senate
passed version of H.R. 1308 which restores the refundable child tax
credit which was removed at the last minute from the Republican tax
bill H.R. 2.
21)
H.Res. 269 H.R. 1115 Class Action Fairness Act of 2003
Restrictive rule
6/12/03
roll #265
229-193
4 Dem yes
Frost-makes in order two additional amendments 1)
Conyers/Delahunt to delete bill’s retroactive provisions and 2)
Delahunt/Scott (VA) to prevent corporations from using
interlocutory appeals to run out the clock on class action lawsuits.
22)
H.Res. 270
selfexecuting
provision
consideration
of Senate
amendment on
H.R. 1308
Concur in Senate Amendment and
provide motion to go to conference
on Tax Relief, Sim plification, and Equity
Act of 2003 a.k.a. child tax credit
Closed rule
6/12/03
roll #273
225-201
Frost-provide that immediately after the H ouse passes H .Res. 270 it
will 1) immediately take from the Speaker’s table the Senate passed
version of H.R. 1308 which restores the refundable child tax credit
which was removed at the last m inute from the Republican tax bill
H.R. 2 and 2) immediately after the H ouse passes H .R. 1308 it will
take from the Speaker’s table the Senate passed version of H.R. 1307
the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act.
23)
H.Res. 276 S. 342
Conference
Report (HR14)
Conference report on Keeping Children
and Families Safe A ct a.k.a. Child
Abuse Prevention reauthorization
Conference Report Rule
6/17/03
roll #279
226-200
Hastings (FL)-provide that immediately after the House passes the
conference report it will imm ediately take from the Speaker’s table
the Senate passed version of H.R. 1307 the Armed Forces Tax
Fairness Act and add to it the Senate passed version of H.R. 1308
which restores the refundable child tax credit which was removed at
the last minute from the Republican tax bill.
24)
H.Res. 281 H.R. 8 The Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act
of 2003-a.k.a. estate tax
Restrictive rule
6/18/03
roll #284
227-200
Slaughter-make in order Pomeroy deficit neutral substitute (the
same as the one made in order under the rule but with offsets)
25)
H.Res. 283 H.R. 660 The Small Business Health Fairness Act
of 2003-a.k.a. Association H ealth
Plans AHPs
Restrictive rule
6/19/03
roll #289
224-198
Frost-provide that immediately after the H ouse passes H .R. 660 it
will immediately take from the Speaker’s table the Senate passed
version of H.R. 1307 the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act and add to
it the Senate passed version of H.R. 1308 which restores the
refundable child tax credit which was removed at the last minute
from the Republican tax bill.
26)
H.Res. 293 H.R. 2555 The Department of Homeland Security
Appropriations Act, FY2004
Open rule
6/24/03
roll #301
221-196
Frost-makes in order 1) amendment by Rep. Edwards (TX) to
prohibit the use of funds for the Office of Air and Marine
Interdiction of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement to support federal, state, or local law enforcement or
humanitarian efforts until the Secretary of Homeland Security
implements written procedures for the use of personnel and
resources for any non-emergency use of Homeland Security services
and 2) amendment by Rep. Jackson-Lee to provide that none of the
funds in the bill may be used for political purposes or any other
purpose not related to protecting homeland security.
27)
H.Res. 299
1 rule two
bills &
other misc.
items
H.R. 1
&
H.R. 2596
The Medicare Prescription Drug &
Modernization Act of 2003
and
Health Savings & Affordability Act of
2003 a.k.a medical savings accounts
Restrictive & Closed rule
6/26/03
roll #321
226-203
1 Dem yes
1 Rep no
Slaughter-make in order Rep. Dooley Substitute to H.R. 1-
Prescription Drug Bill-would cover all senior citizens under Part B of
Medicare with no premium increase.
28)
H.Res. 298 H.R. 2559 Military Construction Appropriations
Act, FY2004
Open rule
6/26/03
roll #324
220-200
McGovern-makes in order Rep. Obey amendment to add
approximately $1 billion for military housing for service members
and their families. The Obey amendment would be paid for by
reducing, from $88,326 to $83,326, the amount that the 200,000
households in the country with incomes over $1 million would get
from their 2004 tax cut.
29)
H.Res. 312 H.R. 2660 Labor/Health & Human Services, and
Education, and related Agencies FY04
Appropriations
Open rule
7/09/03
roll #341
223-200
Slaughter-makes in order two amendments by Ranking Member
Obey. The amendments would (1) restore critical funding to the
many areas the Republican bill short-changes (education; health care;
efforts to combat the threat of bioterrorism; biomedical research;
Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP); Social Security;
programs for the elderly; and programs for the disabled), and (2)
restore cuts to states for their child health care programs under
Medicaid and SCHIP (the State Child H ealth Insurance Program).
Each of these amendm ents would be paid for by a small percentage
of the recent tax break for Am ericans making over $1 m illion a year.
30)
H.Res. 319 H.R. 2691 Interior Appropriations FY04
Open rule
7/16/03
roll #371
219-199
Slaughter-makes in order an amendment by Ranking Member Obey
that would keep Congress' promise to conservation programs by
adding $569 million in conservation funding. The Obey amendment
is paid for by a 3.2% reduction in the tax cut for individu als with
incomes above $1 million.
31)
H.Res. 326 H.R. 2799 Commerce/Justice/State Appropriations
FY04
Open rule
7/22/04
roll #401
221-199
1 Dem yes
Frost-makes in order a Sense-of-Congress amendment by Ranking
Rules Member Frost that would urge the Departm ent of Justice to
adopt a so-called "D eLay Rule," to ensure that the Department's
personnel and resources not be used for political purposes (with
respect to May 12, 2003 Texas search for Democratic
legislators)..
32)
H.Res. 329
1 rule two
bills
The
previous
question
was a
protest vote
with no text
H.R. 2738
&
H.R. 2739
US-Chile Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act
&
US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act
two fast track measures done in one
rule to shorten debate time
Closed rules-2
7/23/03
roll #413
226-200
2 Dem yes
(Hastings
voted yes
but only to
be able to
move the
motion to
reconsider
the vote)
Hastings (FL)-vote only-no text- the vote was to protest the
Republican Leadership refusal to schedule a meeting of the Child
Tax Credit Conference or adopt the Senate Child Tax Credit bill,
which overwhelmingly passed the Senate by a margin of 94 -2.
Democrats called for protest votes throughout the day to
demand that the House not leave for the August recess until
Congress provides a child tax credit for military and working
families.
33)
H.Res. 335
The
previous
question
was a
protest vote
with no text
H.R. 2427 Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of
2003 a.k.a. drug reimportation
Closed rule
7/24/03
roll #439
417-10
192 Dem y
10 Dem n
All R y
Slaughter-vote only-no text- the vote was to protest the Republican
Leadership refusal to schedule a meeting of the Child Tax Credit
Conference or adopt the Senate Child Tax Credit bill, which
overwhelmingly passed the Senate by a margin of 94 -2.
Democrats called for protest votes throughout the day to
demand that the House not leave for the August recess until
Congress provides a child tax credit for military and working
families.
(Vacated
vote)
H.Res. 336
The
previous
question
was a
protest vote
with no text
H.R. 2210 School Readiness Act of 2003 a.k.a.
Head Start reauthorization
Restrictive rule
7/24/03
vote was vacated
34)
H.Res. 339 H.R. 2859 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
for Disaster Relief Act for FY03
Restrictive rule
7/25/03
roll #448
219-200
McGovern-makes in order an amendment offered by Ranking
Member Obey to add $100 million for AmeriCorps to save some
20,000 volunteer positions from being eliminated
35)
H.Res. 351 H.R. 2989 Transportation, Treasury, and
Independent Agencies Appropriations
Act for FY04
Open rule
9/4/03
roll #463
240-173
R 128-92
D 112-80
non-Rules Matheson-to prevent Members from getting the
FY2004 COLA
36)
H.Res. 396
1st rule
H.R. 3289 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
for Defense & the Reconstruction of
Iraq & Afghanistan for FY04
Open rule
10/16/03
roll #544
221-202
(1 R
present)
Frost-makes in order an Obey substitute to take $4.6 billion from the
Iraq reconstruction portion of the bill and ad d this amount to
programs that enhance the quality of life for active and reserve forces
and their families including health care and personal assistance. The
substitute would also add funds to repair and replace equipment used
in operations; allow the Army to increase the number of active duty
troops from 480,000 to 500,000; and construct water treatment
facilities for our troops in Iraq. (2) create accountability by requiring
a detailed report from the President describing how funds in the
previous supplemental have been spent, how funds appropriated in
this bill will be spent, and the level and types of funding needed for
future military and reconstruction initiatives; (3) convert $7 billion to
loans at a trust fund at the World Bank to leverage add itional Work
Bank loans; and (4) pay for the entire $87 billion bill by canceling the
tax rate cut for individ uals with incomes in the top 1%.
37)
H.Res. 401
2nd rule
H.R. 3289 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
for Defense & the Reconstruction of
Iraq & Afghanistan for FY04
Closed rule
10/17/03
roll #559
221-199
(1 R
present)
Frost-make in order Senate passed amendment to concert $10
billion of Iraqi reconstruction funds into loans.
38)
H.Res. 422 H.R. 2115 Conference Report for Flight 100 -
Century of Aviation Reauthorization
Act-FAA Reauthorization
Conference Report rule
10/30/03
roll #586
222-199
McGovern-self-execute a concurrent resolution instructing the
enrolling clerk to make the following changes to the conference
report: 1) insert the language in the Senate-passed FAA bill that
would prohibit the privatization of the air traffic control system, 2)
strike the cabotage language in the bill that would allow foreign
airlines to carry cargo between cities in Alaska and other cities in the
U.S 3) restore the mandatory TSA security and antiterrorism training
guidelines for flight attendants that was in the House-passed version
of the FAA bill, and 4) delete the req uirement for certain
communities to pay a local share for essential air service.
39)
H.Res. 443 H.R. 6 Conference Report for the Energy Policy
Act of 2003
Conference Report rule
11/18/03
roll #628
225-193
4Dems-yes
Frost-modify the rule so it does not waive C lause 8(a)(l)(A) of Rule
XXII which states that “it shall not be in order to consider a
conference report until ... the third calendar day ... on which the
conference report and the accompanying joint explanatory statement
have been available to Members ... in the Congressional Record.”
This would give Members 3 days to read the 1000 page conference
40)
H.Res. 458 waiving 2/3rds
on November
21, 2003
Same day consideration of rules on any
Appropriations amendments, joint
resolutions, and/or conference reports
Procedural rule
11/21/03
roll #661
225-201
Frost--provides that immediately after the House passes H.Res. 458
it will consider H.R. 3568 legislation that would continue to extend
unemployment benefits through the first six months of next year and
increase to 26 weeks the amount of benefits provided under that
program - up from 13 weeks (and help the 1.4 million workers who
have already exhausted their extended benefits). This bill is identical
to H.R. 3244, the Rangel/C ardin unemployment extension, and it
also contains the text of H.R. 3554 by Rep. McDermott which would
fix a flaw in current law that prevents those States with exceptionally
high, long-term unemployment rates from continuing to receive extra
benefits.
41)
H.Res. 459 waiving 2/3rds
on November
21, 2003 for CF
for H .R. 1
Same Day consideration for the
Conference Report on the M edicare
Prescription Drug & Modernization Act
0f 2003
Procedural rule
11/21/03
roll #659
225-201
Slaughter-modify the rule so it does not waive Clause 8(a)(l)(A) of
Rule XXII which states that “it shall not be in order to consider a
conference report until ... the third calendar day ... on which the
conference report and the accompanying joint explanatory statement
have been available to Members ... in the Congressional Record.”
This would give Members 3 days to read the 1000 page conference
42)
H.Res. 463 CF for H .R. 1 Conference Report on the M edicare
Prescription Drug & Modernization Act
0f 2003
Conference report rule
11/21/03
roll #665
228-203
Slaughter-modify the rule so it does not waive Clause 8(a)(l)(A) of
Rule XXII which states that “it shall not be in order to consider a
conference report until ... the third calendar day ... on which the
conference report and the accompanying joint explanatory statement
have been available to Members ... in the Congressional Record.”
This would give Members 3 days to read the 1000 page conference
43)
H.Res. 465 waiving 2/3rds
on any day from
November 22,
2003 through
January 31,
2004 for any
approps. item
Same day consideration for any FY04
appropriations item on or before Janu ary
31, 2004
Procedural rule
12/08/03
roll #672
211-179
1 Dem yes
Slaughter--provides that imm ediately after the House passes H.Res.
465 it will consider H.R. 3568 legislation that would continue to
extend unemployment benefits through the first six months of next
year and increase to 26 weeks the amount of benefits provided under
that program - up from 13 weeks (and help the 1.4 m illion workers
who have alread y exhausted their extended benefits). This bill is
identical to H.R. 3244, the Rangel/Cardin unemployment extension,
and it also contains the text of H.R. 3554 by Rep. McDermott which
would fix a flaw in current law that prevents those States with
exceptionally high, long-term unemployment rates from continuing
to receive extra benefits.
44)
H.Res. 473 CF for H.R.
2673
Conference report on Agriculture
Appropriations for FY04-also is the
vehicle for the FY04 Omnibus
Appropriations bill
Conference report rule
12/08/03
roll #675
216-189
1 Dem yes
1 Rep no
Frost--provides that immediately after the House passes the
conference on H.R. 2673 it will consider H.R. 3568 legislation that
would continue to extend unemployment benefits through the first
six months of next year and increase to 26 weeks the amount of
benefits provided under that program - up from 13 weeks (and help
the 1.4 million workers who have already exhausted their extended
benefits). This bill is identical to H .R. 3244, the Rangel/C ardin
unemployment extension, and it also contains the text of H.R. 3554
by Rep. McDermott which would fix a flaw in current law that
prevents those States with exceptionally high, long-term
unemployment rates from continuing to receive extra benefits.
End of 1st session of 108th Congress
2nd Session of 108th Congress
45)
H.Res. 520 Concur in
Senate
amendment to
H.R. 743
Social Security Protection Act
a.k.a. Texas Teachers
Closed rule
2/11/04
roll #22
226-197
1 Rep no
1 Dem yes
Frost- 1) strike Section 218, the portion of the bill that prevents
certain public employees from receiving the fu ll amount of their
deceased spouse’s Social Security survivor benefits – benefits to
which they are otherwise entitled and 2) add to the base bill (H.R.
743), the text of H .R. 594, the Social Security Fairness Act which will
once and for all elim inate the pension offsets that so unfairly
diminish the retirement benefits of our valued public employees
(H.R. 594 is a broad ly bipartisan bill that has 285 co-sponsors)
46)
H.Res. 561 H.Res. 557 Relating to the liberation of the Iraqi
people and the valiant service of the
United States Armed Forces and
Coalition forces
Closed rule
3/17/04
roll #62
217-196
Hastings (FL)-add a motion to recommit with instructions that
would add the following:urges the President to: take all steps necessary to
ensure that all members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq receive the best
force protection equipment available; ensure that all members of the Armed Forces
who are injured while serving in Iraq receive complete, timely and high-quality health
care; address the disparity that exists for many Reserve and Guard personnel between
the pay they receive in civilian life and the military compensation they receive when
ordered to active duty; acknowledge that there were serious deficiencies in the U.S.
pre-war intelligence on Iraq and to take steps to improve these deficiencies; request
sufficient funding immediately to fully support U.S. military operations in Iraq and the
surrounding region; obtain far-reaching international participation in the securing,
reconstruction, and political development of Iraq; and take steps to correct the failure
of the U.S. government to plan adequately for the post-war occupation of Iraq;
Expresses deep sorrow and regret for the deaths of more than 550 and the wounding
of more than 5,300 members of the U.S. Armed Force; Expresses sorrow and regret
for the deaths in Iraq of U.S. civilians, UN personnel, unknown numbers of Iraqi
civilians, and other noncombatants.
47)
H.Res. 574 H.Con.Res. 393 FY05 Concurrent Budget Resolution
Restrictive rule
3/25/04
roll #84
222-201
Frost-make in order an amendment that would extend the “pay-asyou-
go” budget enforcement to both mandatory spending and tax
cuts
48)
H.Res. 580 H.R. 3966 ROTC and Military Recruiter Equal
Access to Campus Act of 2004
Closed rule
3/30/04
roll #98
223-202
McGovern-provides that immediately after the House passes H.R.
3966 it will consider a bill to extend Federal unemployment benefits
through September 2004
49)
H.Res. 593 H.R. 3550 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (TEA-LU) a.k..a Federal
Highway/surface transportation
reauthorization
Restrictive rule
4/1/04
roll #105
229-194
5 Rep no
14 Dem y
Frost-make in order the the Lincoln Davis / Menendez /
Blumenauer / Baird Amendment that would increase highway and
transit investment by $37.8 billion, a evel equal to that of the Senatepassed
bill. The amendment includes the Senate-passed Highway
Trust Fund financing mechanisms (no gas tax increase) and offsets
these investments by cracking down on abusive tax shelters,
preventing American corporations from avoiding paying U.S. taxes
by moving to a foreign country, and extending customs-user fees.
50)
H.Res. 602 H.R. 2844 Continuity in Representation Act of 2003
a.k.a. continuity in Congress
Restrictive rule
4/22/04
roll #126
210-198
Frost-provide that immediately after the H ouse passes H .R. 2844, it
will take up H.J.Res. 83, pursuant to the text of H.Res. 572,
legislation to amend the Constitution to provide for an emergency
procedure to keep the House of Representatives working should a
significant majority of this House be killed or incapacitated due to a
terrorist attack.
51)
H.Res. 619 H.R. 4227 Middle-Class Alternative Minimum Tax
Relief Act of 2004 a.k.a. AMT
Restrictive rule
5/5/04
roll #142
220-200
Hastings (FL)-make in order Baird Sales Tax Equity amendment to
allow taxpayers who itemize their deductions the option of deducting
state income tax or state sales taxes in a given year.
52)
H.Res. 628 H.Res. 627 Iraqi Prisoner Resolution
Closed rule
5/6/04
roll #147
218-201
McGovern-make in order a Skelton amendment affirming the need
for bipartisan Congressional investigations into these allegations of
abuse, including those by U.S. civilian contractor personnel or other
U.S. civilians, and into chain of command and other deficiencies that
contributed to such abuse.
53)
H.Res. 637 H.R. 4275 Permanent Extension of 10% Income
Tax Bracket
Restrictive rule
5/12/04
roll #156
221-203
2 Rep no
Frost-make in ord er text of B rady (TX) bill H.R. 720 which would
allow taxpayers who itemize their deductions the option to deduct
their state income tax or sales taxes paid in a given year (similar to
vote #142).
54)
H.Res. 638
3-bill rule
H.R. 4279, H.R.
4280, & H.R.
4281
1) to amend the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 to provide for the disposition of
unused health benefits in cafeteria plans
and flexible spending arrangements
2) The H.EA.L.T.H Act of 2004-
medical malpractice liability
3)The Small Business Health Fairness
Act of 2004-AHPs
1 Closed rule (M ed mal)
2 Restrictive rules
5/12/04
roll #157
222-202
Slaughter-adds two more bills to be considered under the rule: 1)
H.R. 2427 bipartisan, drug re-importation legislation and 2) H.R.
3672 which would amend the Medicare Prescription D rug Act to
provide for negotiation of fair prices for Medicare prescription drugs.
55)
H.Res. 649 S.Con.Res. 95
Conference
Report
(H.Con.Res.
393
Conference on FY05 Concurrent Budget
Resolution
Conference Report rule
5/19/04
roll #191
220-204
McGovern-would allow a separate vote on the increase of the
statutory debt limit, last year, the GOP adopted the Hastert
Rule to automatically pass a Joint Resolution in the House to
raise the debt limit upon approval of the Budget Conference
Report. Therefore, a vote to support the GOP Budget
Conference Report is a vote to increase the debt limit up to
$8.074 trillion.
56)
H.Res. 648 H.R. 4200 National Defense Authorization Act for
FY05
Restrictive rule
5/19/04
roll #193
220-204
Frost-to allow consideration of an amendment by Rep. Spratt
that would provide $414 million for targeted pay raises,
reimbursement of life insurance premiums for service
members that are in imminent danger, three Marine Corps’
troop protection unfunded requirements, and improvements
to the PAC-3 ballistic missile defense system. These increases
would be offset by targeted cuts to four ballistic missile
defense (BMD) program elements, the Ground-based
Midcourse Defense system, BMD Products, BMD
Technology, and the BMD Systems Interceptor.
57)
H.Res 657 H.J.Res. 83 Proposing an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States
regarding the appointm ent of individu als
to fill vacancies in the House of
Representatives
Closed rule
6/2/04
roll #213
215-195
McGovern-no text, protest vote on unfair, closed rule
58)
H.Res 656 H.R. 444 Back to Work Incentive Act of 2003
Closed rule
6/2/04
roll #217
220-196
1Dem - y
Slaughter-makes in order Ryan (OH) am endment to authorize state
grants to hire and train 100,000 new first responders.
59)
H.Res. 671
1 rule for 2
bills
H.R. 4503 &
H.R. 4517
Energy Policy Act
Refinery Revitalization
Both bills done under Closed rules
6/15/04
roll #236
218-197
1Rep - n
McGovern-vote only, no text
60)
H.Res. 672
1 rule for 2
bills
H.R. 4513 &
H.R. 4529
Renewable Energy Project Siting
Improvement
Arctic Coastal Plain & Surface Mining
Improvement
Both bills done under Restrictive
rules
6/15/04
roll #238
221-198
Hastings (FL)-vote only, no text
61)
H.Res. 675 H.R. 4567 Homeland Security Appropriations FY05
Open rule
6/16/04
roll #243
224-205
Slaughter-makes in order Obey amendment to provide an additional
$3 billion to the Department of Homeland Security for a contingent
emergency reserve fund.
62)
H.Res. 681 H.R. 4520 American Jobs Creation Act of 2004
a.k.a. FSC /EIT Tax (foreign sales)
Closed rule
6/17/04
roll #256
233-193
8Dem-y
McGovern-makes in order Lantos/McGovern amendment that give
a tax credit to those employers who continue to pay activated Guard
and Reserve em ployees.
63)
H.Res. 683
(contained
selfexecuting
provision
to increase
debt
ceiling)
H.R. 4613 Department of Defense Appropriations
FY05
Open rule
6/22/04
roll #279
220-196
Frost-to strike from the ru le the self-executing provision in the Rule
that is a backdoor attempt to increase the debt ceiling. This unrelated
self-executing provision would allow for an increase in the debt
ceiling by almost $690 billion for the next fiscal year (and a national
statutory debt limit of $8 trillion)
64)
H.Res. 686 H.R. 4548 Intelligence Authorization for FY2005
Restrictive rule
6/23/04
roll #286
217-197
Slaughter- makes in order the amendment by Representative
Peterson (MN) to fully fund the counterterrorism needs of the
intelligence community by increasing by 100% the funds authorized
in the Contingency Emergency Reserve
65)
H.Res. 692 H.R. 4663 Spending Control Act of 2004 a.k.a.
budget enforcement control
Restrictive rule
6/24/04
roll #302
217-197
Slaughter-makes in order Stenholm/
Matheson/Thompson(CA)/Hill/Moore/Tanner Substitute.
Reinstates for two years the provisions of the Budget Enforcement
Act which expired in 2002. Provides for a pay-as-you-go rule for
legislation that would increase the deficit and set discretionary
spending limits. The discretionary spending limits would be set at the
levels proposed in the Presidents budget for two years, with separate
categories for highway and mass transit funding to reflect the Housepassed
transportation bill. A separate vote would be required to
consider legislation that would increase the discretionary spending
limits or waive the pay-as-you-go requirement. Makes amendments
to the Budget Act to apply budget act points of order to unreported
legislation and provide more information regarding budget act
waivers
66)
H.Res. 694 H.R. 4614 Energy & Water Appropriations FY05
Open rule
6/25/04
roll #320
209-182
McGovern-allow amendment by Rep.Eshoo to require that Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission order refunds whenever sellers of
electricity charge rates that are not just and reasonable. It also
requires FERC to order refunds stemming from the market
manipulation that occurred in the California and Pacific Northwest
in 2000 and 2001. It requires FERC to disclose documents and
evidence that it has obtained in its investigation of Enron and
manipulation in the W estern Energy market, and it requires FERC to
allow states to fully participate in FERC proceedings and
negotiations on market manipulation.
67)
H.Res. 711 H.R. 2828 Water Supply, Reliability, &
Environmental Improvement a.k.a.
CalFed water bill
Restrictive rule
7/9/04
roll #350
216-180
2Dem-y
McGovern-allow amendment that during consideration of H.R.
2828, a record vote by electronic device shall not be held open for
the sole purpose of reversing the outcome of a vote.
68)
H.Res. 732 H.R. 4837 Military Construction FY05
Appropriations
Open rule
7/21/04
roll #400
217-197
1Rep-n
Frost-allow amendment to protect from a point of order a provision
in the bill to lift the cap on the military housing privatization program
that provides housing for 50,000 military families.
69)
H.Res. 754 H.R. 5006 Labor/HHS/Education FY05
Appropriations
Open rule
9/8/04
roll #424
209-190
Slaughter-allow amendment by Rep. Obey to increase funding for
program s and services throughout the bill that are insufficiently
funded by the bill. It pays for these increases totaling $7.364 billion
by scaling back the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for those with incomes
above $1 million. Under this amendment, their average tax cut
would go from $127,000 to $89,000. .
70)
H.Res. 770 H.R. 5025 Transportation, Treasury, and
Independent Agencies FY05
Appropriations
Open rule (rule did not grant any
waivers to the bill)
9/14/04
roll #451
235-170
91Rep-n
114Dem-y
non-Rules Matheson-to prevent Members from getting the
FY2005 COLA
Member in favor of a COLA voted yes
Members opposing a COLA voted no
71)
H.Res. 785 waiving 2/3rds
on September
23, 2004 for
conference on
H.R. 1308
waiving 2/3rds on Conference Report on
Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004
a.k.a. Child Tax Credit
Procedural rule
9/23/04
roll #469
211-196
Slaughter-instruct the enrolling clerk to fix conference to allow lowincome
military families for five years (instead of the tw o in the bill)
to count combat pay as income for both the child tax credit and the
earned income tax credit (EITC)
72)
H.Res. 794 Conference on
H.R. 1308
Conference Report on Working Families
Tax Relief Act of 2004 a.k.a. Child Tax
Credit
Conference report rule
9/23/04
roll #470
212-193
Slaughter-instruct the enrolling clerk to fix conference to direct the
Secretary of the Treasury to pay for the cost of the bill by rolling
back part of the tax breaks for those with incomes exceeding $1
million annually
73)
H.Res. 814 S. 878 Bankruptcy Judgeship A ct-a bill to
create additional Federal judgeships
Restrictive rule
10/5/04
roll #490
198-171
Slaughter-vote only, no text
74)
H.Res. 819 H.R. 5212 FY05 Supplemental Appropriations for
additional disaster assistance relating to
storm damage a.k.a. hurricane
Restrictive rule
10/7/04
roll #499
216-186
Hastings (FL)-make in order Stenholm Amendment to provide
natural disaster assistance to farmers w ithout cutting crucial farm
conservation programs.
75)
H.Res. 843 Conference on
H.R. 4200
Department of Defense Authorization
for FY05
Conference report rule
10/8/04
roll #524
225-175
5Rep-n
19D-y
Non-rules Taylor- instruct the enrolling clerk to amend the
conference report to reinsert language that was in the House passed
bill that would postpone the 2005 round of base closures and
realignm ents until 2007.
76)
H.Res. 856 S. 2986 To amend title 31, USC, to increase the
public debt limit a.k.a. raise debt
ceiling
Closed rule
11/18/04
roll #534
205-191
Slaughter-to allow consid eration of an amendment that would
reinstate the pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget enforcement rules that
were effective in the 1990s to maintain responsible budgetary
discipline.
**votes are straight party line votes unless otherwise noted
Appendix IV-Complete List and Descriptions
of all Rules Reported in the 108th Congress
108th Congress statistics
Floor Procedure in the 108th Congress 1st Session; Compiled by the Rules Committee
Democrats
BILL #
TITLE
RESOLUTION
#
PROCESS USED FOR FLOOR
CONSIDERATION
AMENDMENTS IN
ORDER
S. 23
1/7/03
*8:30 pm
E
NR
PQ
Closed rule
To Provide for a 5-month
extension of the Temporary
Extended Unemployment
Compensation Act of 2002 and
for a transition period for
individuals receiving
compensation when the program
under such Act ends.
Ways & Means
H.Res. 14
Slaughter/Session
s
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; bill considered as read;
Section 2 allows allocations referred to in
3(a)(4)(B)(i) of H.Res. 5 may be submitted
by Rep. Nussle (IA)
bill not reported
Rangel substitute submitted but
not made in order
1 Dem. denied
H.J.Res. 1
&
H.J.Res. 2
+2 bills 1 rule
1/7/03
*8:30 pm
both NR
PQ
Closed rule (s)
Making Further Continuing
Appropriations for FY 2003 (6th
C/R through 2/1/03)
Making Further Continuing
Appropriations for FY 2003 (7th
C/R and shell for omnibus)
Appropriations
H.Res. 15
McGovern/Linde
r
voice
Closed-consideration in the House of
H.J.Res. 1; waives all points of order
against consideration ; Sec. 2
consideration in the House of H.J.Res. 2;
waives all points of order against
consideration
bills not reported (2)
Obey denied necessary waivers
to offer amendment or motion
to recommit (budget act waiver
that prohibits consideration of
appropriations bills or
amendments prior to the filing
of 302(b) sub-allocations
1 Dem denied
H.J.Res. 13
1/27/03
6:00 pm.meeting
postponed until
6:50
NR
SH
Closed rule
Making Further Continuing
Appropriations for FY 2003 (8th
C/R through 2/7/03)
Appropriations
H.Res. 29
Frost/Linder
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; Sec. 2 makes in order
motion to disagree with Senate
amendment and request or disagree to a
conference
bill not reported
Materials for meeting not
received until 5:30 pm
H.J.Res. 18
2/4/03
6:30 pm
NR
NT
Closed rule
Making Further Continuing
Appropriations for FY 2003 (9th
C/R through 2/20/03)
Appropriations
H.Res. 48
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Rule tabled by
u/c on 2/13/03
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
bill not reported
5-minutes notice for text of
H.J.Res. 18
Rule not used, bill done by
u/c on House Floor
Rule tabled by u/c on
2/13/03
H.R. 4
2/12/03
3:00 pm
NR
Restrictive rule
Personal Responsibility, Work &
Family Promotion Act of 2003 -
a.k.a. welfare reform
reauthorization
Education & the Workforce,
Ways & Means, & Energy &
Commerce
H.Res. 69
Slaughter/Pryce
voice
Restrictive-two hours general debate, 50
to Ways & Means, 40 to Education &
Workforce, and 30 to Energy &
Commerce; waives all points of
consideration against bill; bill considered
as read for amendment; makes in order
only those amendments printed in the
Rules’ report as specified in the report;
waives all points of order against
amendments except that adoption of a
substitute shall end the amendment
process
bill not reported
24 amendments submitted, 3R
and 21D
2 Democratic amendments in
order
CF for H.J.Res. 2
(and H.Con.Res.
35 to correct
enrollment)
2/13/03 (leg day
12th )
^*7:00 am mtg.
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report to
accompany and provide for
correction in the enrollment of
H.J.Res. 2-a.k.a. FY03
Omnibus Appropriations bill
Appropriations
H.Res. 71
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Conference report rule-waives all points
of order against the conference report and
against its consideration; provides the
conference considered as read; provides
that upon adoption of the conference
report the House shall have adopted
H.Con.Res. 35
3-day layover waived
One copy of text presented just
prior to 7:00 am meeting
H.R. 534
2/26/03
2:30 pm
Restrictive rule
Human Cloning Prohibition Act
of 2003
Judiciary
H.Res. 105
McGovern/Myric
k
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order only
those amendments printed in the Rules’
report as specified; waives all points of
order against the amendments
3-day layover waived
7 amendments submitted, 5D,
1R, 1Bi
3 amendments in order 1D, 1R,
1Bi
H.R. 878
3/5/03
*8:30 pm
E
SE
PQ (prepared but
not used)
Closed rule
Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act
of 2003
Ways & Means
H.Res. 126
Frost/Myrick
6-4
tabled by
H.Res. 139
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; self-executes text in Rules’
report into base text
3-day layover waived
10 amendments offered
1R amendment in order
rule not used-tabled by
H.Res. 139-new text (H.R.
1307) done by suspension
instead on 3/19/03
H.R. 5
3/12/03
*9:00 pm
NT
E
SE
PQ
Closed rule
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low
Cost, Timely Healthcare
(HEALTH) Act of 2003-a.k.a.
medical malpractice
Judiciary, Energy & Commerce
H.Res. 139
Hastings(FL)/
Reynolds
voice
Closed-waives all points of order against
consideration; two hours general debate,
80 minutes to Judiciary, 40 minutes to
Energy & Commerce; self-executes new
text printed in Rules’ report, tables
H.Res. 126
bill announced for Floor on 3/6/03 but
meeting still deemed Emergency
3-day layover waived
No announcement on
amendment process
31 amendments submitted,
29D, 2R (substitute)
1 R amendment in order
(substitute)
H.R. 975
3/18/03
6:00 pm
Restrictive rule
The Bankruptcy Abuse
Prevention and Consumer
Protection Act of 2003
Judiciary
H.Res. 147
Frost/Sessions
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Judiciary substitute which shall be
considered as read; makes in order only
amendments printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments in report
3-day layover waived
14 amendments submitted, 12
D (3 withdrawn), 2 Bi
3D and 2 Bi amendments in
order
H.Con.Res. 95
3/19/03
*10:00 pm
E
NT
SE
Restrictive rule
Concurrent Resolution on the
Budget, FY2004
Budget
H.Res. 151
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; three hour general
debate, two for Budget and one hour on
economic goals by Saxton & Stark; selfexecutes
the substitute printed in Part A
of the Rules’ report; makes in order only
the amendments printed in part B of the
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendments and provides
that if a substitute is adopted the
amendment process stops; after the
amendment process a final period of
general debate of 20 minutes is provided;
permits Chairman of Budget to offer
amendments to achieve mathematical
consistency; provides that the budget is
not subject to division
3D and 2R amendments in
order
Waiving 2/3rds
for H.Con.Res. 95
on March 20th
3/19/03
10:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
waiving 2/3rds on March 20,
2003 for Concurrent Resolution
on the Budget, FY2004
(Budget)
H.Res. 152
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Tabled by u/c
3/27/03
Procedural rule
N/A
rule not used-tabled by u/c
3/27/03
H.R. 1104
3/25/03
5:00 pm
SH
PQ
Restrictive rule
Child Abduction Prevention Act
of 2003-a.k.a. AMBER Alert
Judiciary
H.Res. 160
Frost/Myrick
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of against
consideration; one hour general debate, 45
to Judiciary, 15 to Education &
Workforce; makes in order Judiciary
substitute which shall be considered as
read; waives all points of order against
substitute; makes in order only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against amendments; provides after
passage to take S. 151 strike all and insert
text of H.R. 1104, insist on amendment
and request conference
12 amendments submitted, 5
D, and Frost substitute rule
motion to take S. 121 from
Speaker’s table instead (Senate
AMBER bill)
8 amendments in order 5R, 3D
H.R. 743
4/1/03
1:00 pm
E
SE
PQ
Restrictive rule
Social Security Protection Act of
2003
Ways & Means
H.Res. 168
Frost/Linder
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; self-executes Ways &
Means reported text; makes in order
Green amendment printed in Rules’
report as specified; waives all points of
order against amendment
3 D amendments offered
1D amendment in order
the bill had failed under
suspension of the rules on
3/5/03
H.R. 1559
4/2/03
5:30 pm
E
PQ
Open rule
Emergency Wartime
Supplemental Appropriations Act
FY03
Appropriations
H.Res. 172
Frost/Myrick
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against provisions in the bill
3-day layover waived
H.R. 1036
4/8/03
1:30 pm
Restrictive rule
Protection of Lawful Commerce
in Arms Act of 2003-a.k.a. gun
manufacturers liability
Judiciary
H.Res. 181
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Judiciary substitute which shall be
considered as read; makes in order only
those amendments printed in Rules’
report as designed; waives all points of
order against amendments
3-day layover waived
13 D amendments submitted
5D amendments in order
CF for S. 151
4/9/03
2:30 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report on
PROTECT Act-a.k.a. AMBER
Alert
Judiciary
H.Res. 188
Frost/Myrick
voice
Conference Report rule-waives all points
of order against the conference report and
against its consideration; provides the
conference report is read
3-day layover waived
H.R. 6
4/10/03 (Leg day
9th )
^*7:00 am
E
NR
PQ
Restrictive rule
Energy Policy Act of 2003
Energy & Commerce primary
(with time given to Science,
Resources, & Ways and Means)
H.Res. 189
Slaughter/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; 1 ½ hours general
debate, 30 minutes to Energy &
Commerce, 20 minutes each to Science,
Resources, and Ways & Means; makes in
order only those amendments printed in
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendments
bill not reported
3-day layover waived
78 amendments submitted,
22 amendments in order, 8R,
10D, 4Bi
Waiving 2/3rds
for CF on
H.Con.Res. 95 on
April 10th
4/10/03 (Leg day
9th )
^*7:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on April 10,
2003 for the Conference Report
on the Concurrent Resolution on
the Budget FY04
Budget
H.Res. 190
McGovern/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Procedural rule
N/A
CF for H.Con.Res.
95
4/10/03
*10:00 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report on the
Concurrent Resolution on the
Budget FY04
Budget
H.Res. 191
McGovern/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Conference Report rule-waives all points
of order against the conference report and
against its consideration; provides that the
conference report is read
3-day layover waived
Waiving 2/3rds
for CF on H.R.
1559
4/10/03
*10:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on April 11,
2003 for the Conference Report
on Emergency Wartime
Supplemental FY03
Appropriations
H.Res. 192
Frost/Myrick
voice
Procedural rule N/A
rule not used
Waiving 2/3rds
for CF on H.R.
1559
4/11/03
1:10 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on April 12,
2003 for the Conference Report
on Emergency Wartime
Supplemental FY03
Appropriations
H.Res. 197
Frost/Myrick
voice
Procedural rule N/A
rule not used-conference
done by u/c
H.R. 1350
4/29/03
5:00 pm
Restrictive rule
Improving Education Results for
Children with Disabilities Act of
2003 a.k.a. IDEA
reauthorization
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 206
McGovern/Myric
k
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of
consideration; makes in order Education
Committee substitute which is considered
as read; allows only those amendments
printed in Rules’ report as specified;
waives all points of order against
amendments
3-day layover waived
33 amendments submitted,
10D, 23R, 1Bi
14 amendments in order 3D,
10R, 1Bi
H.R. 1298
4/30/03
2:00 pm
Restrictive rule
United States Leadership Against
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and
Malaria Act of 2003
International Relations
H.Res. 210
Hastings(FL)/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Restrictive-makes in order International
Relations Committee substitute which is
considered as read; makes in order only
those amendments in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments
14 amendments submitted, 7D,
5R, 2Bi
11 amendments in order 4D,
5R, 2Bi
H.R. 766
5/6/03
5:00 pm
Open rule
Nanotechnology Research &
Development Act of 2003
Science
H.Res. 219
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; makes in order Science
Committee substitute to be read by
section
3-day layover waived
H.R. 1261
5/7/03
3:30 pm
PQ
Restrictive rule
Workforce Reinvestment &
Adult Education Act of 2003
a.k.a.WIA
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 221
McGovern/Pryce
voice
Restrictive-makes in order Education
Committee substitute which shall be
considered as read; allows only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against amendments
27 amendments submitted,
23D, 3R, 1Bi
8 amendments in order 5D, 3R
H.R. 2
5/8/03
*9:00 pm
E
SE
PQ
Closed rule
Jobs and Growth Reconcilliation
Tax Act of 2003 a.k.a. dividend
tax bill
Ways & Means
H.Res. 227
Frost/Reynolds
9-4
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration and against the bill; self
executes the Ways & Means substitute
3-day layover waived
15 amendments submitted all
D
no amendments in order
H.R. 1527
5/13/03
5:00 pm
PQ
Open rule
National Transportation Safety
Board Reauthorization Act of
2003
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 229
McGovern/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Open-bill read by section
H.R. 1000
5/13/03
5:00 pm
SE
PQ
Restrictive rule
Pension Security At of 2003
Education & the Workforce
Ways & Means
H.Res. 230
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
self-executes the Education Committee
substitute; waives all points of order
against the bill; makes in order only Miller
substitute printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendment
9 amendments submitted 7D,
2R
1 amendment in order, 1D
H.R. 1904
5/19/03
7:00 pm
E
SE
Restrictive rule
Healthy Forests Restoration Act
of 2003
Agriculture, Resources, Judiciary
H.Res. 238
Hastings(FL)/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Restrictive-consideration in House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; 1 hour general debate 30
for Agriculture, 20 for Resources, 10 for
Judiciary; self-executes amendment
printed in part A Rules’ report; makes in
order Miller amendment printed in part B
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendment
10D amendments submitted
1 amendment in order, 1D
H.R. 1588-1st rule
5/20/03
*9:30 pm
PQ
Restrictive rule
National Defense Authorization
Act for FY04-rule 1
Armed Services
H.Res. 245
Frost/Myrick
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against bill; 2 hours general debate; makes
in order Armed Services Committee
substitute which shall be considered as
read; waives all points of order against
substitute; makes in order only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against amendments; allows Chair of
Committee of the Whole to recognize any
amendment out of order with one hours
notice from Armed Services Chair; limits
motion to strike enacting clause; provides
that after disposition of amendments that
the Committee of the Whole shall rise
bill done with 2 rules-see
H.Res. 247
99+ amendments submitted,
40+D
9 amendments in order, 3D, 6R
H.R. 1588-2nd
rule
5/21/03
*9:30 pm
PQ
Restrictive rule
National Defense Authorization
Act for FY04-rule 2
Armed Services
H.Res. 247
Frost/Myrick
voice
Restrictive-further consideration of bill;
allows only those amendments printed in
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendments; allows Chair
to consider en bloc certain amendments;
allows Chair of Committee of the Whole
to recognize any amendment out of order
with one hours notice from Armed
Services Chair
bill done with 2 rules-see
H.Res. 245
99+ amendments submitted,
40+D
30 amendments in order,
12D,16R,2Bi
H.R. 2185
5/21/03
*9:30 pm
NR
E
PQ
Closed rule
Unemployment Compensation
Amendments of 2003
Ways & Means
H.Res. 248
McGovern/
Diaz-Balart
8-3
Closed-consideration in House; waives all
points of order against consideration
bill not reported
1D amendment submitted
no amendments in order
Waiving 2/3rds
for the CF on
H.R.2 on May 22nd
5/21/03
*9:30 pm
E
PQ
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on May 22nd
for CF on the Jobs & Growth
Tax Act a.k.a. dividend tax bill
Ways & Means
H.Res. 249
Frost/Myrick
voice
Procedural rule N/A
CF for H.R. 2
5/22/03
*10:15 pm
E
PQ
Conference Report
rule
Conference report for the Jobs &
Growth Tax Act a.k.a. dividend
tax bill
Ways & Means
H.Res. 253
Frost/Reynolds
voice
Conference report rule-waives all points
of order against the conference report and
against its consideration; provides the
conference report is read
3-day layover waived
H.J.Res. 4
6/2/03
5:30 pm
Restrictive rule
Constitutional Amendment
Authorizing Congress to Prohibit
the Physical Desecration of the
Flag of the United States
Judiciary
H.Res. 255
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
5-4
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; two hours general debate;
makes in order Conyers substitute for one
hour
3-day layover waived
1D amendment in order
H.R. 1474
6/3/03
5:00 pm
Open rule
Check Clearing for the 21st
Century Act
Financial Services
H.Res. 256
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; makes in order Financial
Services substitute which is read by
section
H.R. 760
6/3/03
5:00 pm
SH
Restrictive rule
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of
2003
Judiciary
H.Res. 257
Slaughter/Myrick
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
bill considered as read; makes in order
only amendment printed in Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against the amendment; makes in order a
motion to take S.3 strike all and insert text
of H.R. 760; waives all points of order
against motion
4 amendments submitted, 3D.
1Bi
1D amendment in order
S. 222 &
S. 273
+2 bills 1 rule
6/4/03
*8:50 pm
E
PQ
Closed rule (2)
Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights
Settlement Act &
Grand Teton National Park Land
Exchange Act
both bills previously defeated
under suspension
Resources
H.Res. 258
Hastings(FL)/
Hastings(WA)
8-3
Rule done by
McGovern on
Floor
Closed-S. 222-consideration in the
House; waives all points of order against
consideration
Closed-S. 273-consideration in the
House; waives all points of order against
consideration
1D motion to add S. 763-Birch
Bayh Fed. Courthouse defeated
no amendments allowed
Original
Jurisdiction
H.Con.Res. 190
6/4/03
8:50 pm
Original
Jurisdiction
measure
To establish a joint committee to
revie House and Senate rules
joint rules, and other matters
assuring continuing
representation and congressional
operations for the American
people a.k.a. continuity of
Congress
Rules Committee
Frost/Dreier
voice
Done by unanimous consent on Floor
N/A
H.R. 2143
6/9/03
5:00 pm
PQ
Restrictive rule
Unlawful Internet Gambling
Funding Prohibition Act
Financial Services
H.Res. 263
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
voice
Restrictive-bill considered as read; allows
only those amendments printed in the
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendments
5 amendments submitted 1D,
2R, 2Bi
3 amendments in order, 1D,
1R, 1Bi
H.R. 2115
6/10/03
7:15 pm
SE
PQ
Restrictive rule
Flight 100 - Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act a.k.a. FAA
Reauthorization
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 265
McGovern/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Transportation Committee substitute as
modified by self-executing provision in
part A of Rules’ report; waives all points
of order against substitute; allows only
those amendments printed in part B of
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendments
19 amendments submitted 9D,
9R, 1Bi
6amendments in order, 1D, 5R
H.R. 1115
6/11/03
7:00 pm
PQ
Restrictive rule
Class Action Fairness Act of
2003
Judiciary
H.Res. 269
Frost/Pryce
voice
Restrictive-makes in order Judiciary
Committee substitute which shall be
considered as read; waives all points of
order against substitute; allows only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against the amendments
8 amendments submitted 5D,
2R(1 withdrawn), 1Bi
4 amendments in order, 3D, 1R
H.R. 1308 (motion
on Senate passed
version)
6/11/03
7:00 pm
E
NT
SE
PQ
Closed rule
Relating to the Consideration
of Senate Amendments to the
Tax Relief, Simplification, and
Equity Act of 2003-a.k.a.
motion to take Senate version
and insert new text of tax bill
Ways & Means
H.Res. 270
Frost/Reynolds
9-4
Closed-provides that upon adoption of
the rule the House has taken from the
Speaker’s table the bill HR 1308(as passed
by the Senate) and has agreed to an
amendment (printed in the Rules’ report);
insisted on its amendment and requested a
conference with the Senate
1Bi amendment submitted
no amendments allowed except
R SE provision
CF on S. 342
6/16/03
6:15 pm
PQ
Conference Report
rule
Conference to Accompany S.
342-Keeping Children and
Families Safe Act of 2003 a.k.a.
child abuse prevention
reauthorization
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 276
Hastings(FL)
/Sessions
voice
Conference report rule-waives all points
of order against the conference report and
against its consideration
H.R. 8
6/17/03
1:00 pm
NR
PQ
Restrictive rule
Death Tax Repeal Permanency
Act of 2003
Ways & Means
H.Res. 281
Slaughter/Reynol
ds
voice
Restrictive-consideration in House; bill
considered as read; makes in order
Pomeroy substitute printed in Rules’
report; waives all points of order against
substitute amendment
bill not reported
2D amendments submitted
1D amendment in order
H.R. 1528
6/17/03
1:00 pm
E
SE
Restrictive rule
Taxpayer Protection & IRS
Accountability Act of 2003
Ways & Means
H.Res. 282
Slaughter/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; makes in order Ways &
Means substitute as modified by the selfexecuting
provision in part A of the Rules’
report; waives all points of order against
the bill as amended; makes in order the
amendment by Rep. Rangel printed in the
part B of the Rules’ report; waives all
points of order against the amendment
2 amendments submitted 2D
1R
2 amendments in order 1D, 1R
H.R. 660
6/18/03
1:30 pm
E
SE
PQ
Restrictive rule
Small Business Health Fairness
Act of 2003-a.k.a. AHP’s
Association Health Plans
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 283
Frost/
Diaz-
Balart
6-3
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; self-executes Education
Committee substitute; makes in order the
substitute by Rep. Kind printed in the
Rules’ report; waives all points of order
against the substitute amendment
15 amendments submitted
14D, 1R
1D amendment in order
Waiving 2/3rds
for H.R. 2417 on
June 24, 2003
6/23/03
*after 8:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on June 23,
2003 for legislation to Authorize
Appropriations for the FY04 for
Intelligence and Intelligence
related Activities of the US
Government, the Community
Management Account, and the
Central Intelligence Agency
Retirement and Disability System
Intelligence
H.Res. 292
Hastings(FL)
/Myrick
voice
Procedural rule
N/A
H.R. 2555
6/23/03
*after 8:00 pm
PQ
Open rule
Department of Homeland
Security Appropriations, FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 293
Frost/Diaz-Balart
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; bill read by paragraph;
waives section 501 of H.Con.Res. 95 and
clause 2, Rule XXI against the bill except
where specified in the resolution
3-day layover waived
14D amendments submitted,
none given waivers
H.R. 2417
6/24/03
2:00 pm
Restrictive rule
Intelligence Authorization Act
for FY04
Intelligence
H.Res. 295
Hastings(FL)/My
rick
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Intelligence Committee substitute; waives
all points of order against substitute;
allows only those amendments printed in
the Rules’ report as specified; waives all
points of order against the amendments
10 amendments submitted, 8D,
1R, 1Bi (2D withdrawn)
6 amendments in order, 5D, 1R
Original
Jurisdiction
H.Res. 297
6/27/03 (leg day
6/26)
*12:50 am
E
Original
Jurisdiction
measure
Providing for consideration of
motions to suspend the rules on
Wednesdays for the remainder of
the 108th Congress
Rules
H.Res. 297
McGovern/Linde
r
voice
Original jurisdiction-consideration in
the House for one Hour
N/A
H.R. 2559
6/27/03 (leg day
6/26)
*12:50 am
E
PQ
Open rule
Military Construction
Appropriations Act for FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 298
McGovern/Myric
k
voice
Open-bill read by paragraph; waives
clause 2, Rule XXI against provisions in
the bill
1 D submitted, no waiver
granted
H.R. 1
&
H.R. 2596
+2 bills 1 rule
6/27/03 (leg day
6/26)
*12:50 am
(reported 5:00 am)
NT,NR
NR
E
SE
PQ
Restrictive rule &
Closed rule
Medicare Prescription Drug &
Modernization Act of 2003
and
Health Savings and Affordability
Act of 2003
Energy & Commerce, Ways &
Means
Ways & Means
H.Res. 299
Slaughter/Pryce
7-3
Restrictive-consideration in the House of
H.R. 1; waives all points of order against
consideration; allows substitute
amendment by Rep. Rangel printed in
Rules’ report; waives all points of order
against amendment; Sec. 2 consideration
in the House of H.R. 2596 on June 26 or
27; waives all points of order against
consideration; adds H.R. 2596 text to H.R.
1; allows chair to postpone further
consideration of either bill; allows
concurrent resolutions to adjourn in July;
allows the Approps. Committee to file by
midnight on July 3, 2003
bills not reported (2)
59 amendments submitted,
36D, 18R, 5Bi, (2R withdrawn)
1D amendment in order
H.R. 438
7/8/03
7:45 pm
Restrictive rule
Teacher Recruitment &
Retention Act of 2003

Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 309
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; makes in order Education
Committee substitute and provides it be
considered as read; waives all points of
order against substitute; only allows Miller
amendment printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendment
11 amendments submitted,
10D, 1Bi
1Bi amendment in order
H.R. 2211
7/8/03
7:45 pm
Restrictive rule
Ready to Teach Act a.k.a.
reauthorization of Title II
Higher Ed Act
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 310
McGovern/Myric
k
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Education Committee substitute which is
considered as read; waives all points of
order against substitute; allows only those
amendments printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments
8 amendments submitted 7D,
1R
5 amendments in order, 4D, 1R
H.R. 2657
7/8/03
7:45 pm
rule amended on
Floor
SE (after
amendment)
Closed rule
Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 311
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against the bill
4 amendments submitted 1D,
3R
no amendments in order
rule amended on Floor by
u/c to self-execute language
preventing funds in the bill
from being used for
additional dental/vision
benefits to Member & staff
H.R. 2660
7/8/03
7:45 pm
E
PQ
Open rule
Departments of Labor, Health &
Human Services, and Education,
and Related Agencies
Appropriations FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 312
Slaughter/Pryce
7-2
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; bill read by paragraph; all
points of order are waived against bill
except section 217(b)pertaining to
Medicaid fee
Chairman Young (FL) by u/c before
the rule adoption requested 3 hours
general debate.
In addition, in a separate u/c he
requested specific limits on
amendments. Both u/c’s were done
with agreement with Ranking Member
Obey
3-day layover waived
2D amendments submitted by
Obey
waivers not given to 2D
bill not filed until 4:10 pm, 20
minutes before start of
hearing portion of Rules’
meeting
H.R. 1950
7/14/03
*10:00 pm
Restrictive rule
Foreign Relations Authorization
Act, FY04-05 a.k.a. State
Department
Foreign Relations
H.Res. 316
McGovern/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
International Relations Committee
substitute as modified by Armed Services
committee and Energy & Commerce
Committee (as reported by both); waives
all points of order against substitute;
makes in order only those amendments
printed in Rules’ report as specified;
waives all points of order against
amendments and en bloc amendments;
authorizes IR Chair to offer amendments
en bloc as specified; allows amendments
out of order after 60 minutes notice from
IR Chair
77 amendments submitted,
35D, 32R, 10Bi
42 amendments in order 12D,
23R, 7Bi
amendment process
unusually complicated-see
file
H.R. 2691
7/15/03
6:30 pm
PQ
Open rule
Department of Interior, and
Related Agencies Appropriations
Act FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 319
Slaughter/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against bill except for specified portions;
waives clause 2(e), Rule XXI against
amendments
1D amendment submitted by
Obey
waivers not given to 1D
H.R. 2799
7/21/03
*after 8:00 pm
E
PQ
Open rule
Commerce/Justice/State, and the
Judiciary Appropriations FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 326
Frost/Linder
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against bill except for specified portions
3-day layover waived
6D amendments submitted
waivers not given to any
amendment
H.R. 2800
7/21/03
*after 8:00 pm
E
Open rule
Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 327
McGovern/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against bill except for specified portions
3-day layover waived
9D, 1R amendments submitted
waivers not given to any
amendment
H.R.2738
&
H.R. 2739
+2 bills 1 rule
7/22/03
4:30 pm
E
PQ (vote only)
Closed rule(s)(2)
United States-Chile Free Trade
Agreement Implementation Act
&
United States-Singapore Free
Trade Agreement
Implementation Act
a.k.a. fast track items done by
rule to shorten debate time
Ways & Means and Judiciary
H.Res. 329
Hastings(FL)/Dr
eier
voice
Closed-consideration in the House of
H.R. 2738; waives all points of order
against consideration; two hours general
debate 1 hour 40 minutes for Ways &
Means and 20 minutes for Judiciary
(pursuant to section 151(f)(2) of Trade
Act of 194 there is no motion to
recommit)
Closed-consideration in the House of
H.R. 2739; waives all points of order
against consideration; two hours general
debate 1 hour 40 minutes for Ways &
Means and 20 minutes for Judiciary
(pursuant to section 151(f)(2) of Trade
Act of 194 there is no motion to
recommit)
Allows Chair to postpone further
consideration of the bills to a time
designated by the Speaker
3-day layover waived against
both bills
no amendments or recommital
allowed under fast track
measures
H.R. 2765
7/24/03 (leg day
7/23)
**1:45 am
E
Open rule
District of Columbia
Appropriations FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 334
Slaughter/Linder
voice
rule not usedrule
tabled by
7/25/03 u/c
request
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against bill except for specified provisions;
makes in order Davis (VA) amendment in
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendment;
allows only one motion to adjourn per
legislative day and only one motion to
strict the enacting clause per day
D motion to strike Davis
amendment and restrictions on
vote not made in order
1 R amendment given waiver
rule not used, u/c done on
Floor 7/25/03 to bring up
bill, 3 of 4 unprotected
provisions in bill protected
under u/c-rule tabled by
7/25/03 u/c request
H.R. 2427
7/23/03
*11:50 pm
E
NR
PQ (vote only)
Closed rule
Pharmaceutical Market Access
Act of 2003
Energy & Commerce
H.Res. 335
Slaughter/Session
s
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
Allows Chair to postpone further
consideration of the bills to a time
designated by the Speaker
Bill not reported
1 D and 1 R amendments
submitted
a D motion to increase debate
to two hours was not allowed
no amendments were allowed
H.R. 2210
7/24/03 (leg day
7/23)
**1:45 am
NT
PQ (vote only that
was offered and
vacated)
Restrictive rule
School Readiness Act of
2003a.k.a. Head Start
reauthorization
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 336
Hastings(FL)/Pry
ce
voice
Restrictive-makes in order substitute
printed in part A of Rules’ report; waives
all points of order against substitute;
makes in order only those amendments
printed in Part B of Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments;
allows only one motion to adjourn per
legislative day and only one motion to
strict the enacting clause per day
26 amendments submitted,
25D, 1R
2 D, 1 R amendments allowed
H.R. 2861
7/25/03 (leg day
7/24)
**1:00 am
E
Open rule
Departments of Veterans Affairs,
and Housing & Urban
Development, and Independent
Agencies Appropriations Act
FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 338
Slaughter/Pryce
8-4
Open rule-waives all points of order
against consideration; waives clause 2,
Rule XXI against bill except for specified
provisions
3-day layover waived
1D & 1Bi amendment
submitted
waivers not given to any
amendments
H.R. 2859
7/25/03 (leg day
7/24)
**1:00 am
E
PQ
rule amended on
Floor
Restrictive rule
Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations for Disaster
Relief Act FY03
Appropriations
H.Res. 339
McGovern/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; only allows Toomey
amendment if printed in the Congressional
Record as specified; waives all points of
order against amendment
3-day layover waived
1D & 1R amendment
submitted
1 R given waivers
Rule amended on Floor
because Toomey did not
print amendment, amended
rule allowed consideration of
Toomey (across the board
cut) amendment as if it had
been printed
Waiving 2/3rds
for H.R. 2861 on
July 25, 2003
7/25/03 (leg day
7/24)
**1:00 am
E
Procedural rule
waiving 2/3rds on July 25,
2003 for Departments of
Veterans Affairs, and Housing &
Urban Development, and
Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 340
Slaughter/Pryce
voice
rule not used
Procedural rule N/A
rule done to protect against
procedural votes and dilatory
tactics
rule not used
H.R. 2989
9/3/03
*8:30 pm
PQ
Open rule
Departments of Transportation
and Treasury, & Independent
Agencies Appropriations Act
Appropriations
H.Res. 351
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Open rule-waives all points of order
against consideration; waives clause 2,
Rule XXI against bill except for specified
provisions
7 Democratic amendments
submitted
waivers not given to any
amendments
much of this bill was
exposed to points of order
because of TI authorizing
committee dispute
H.R. 2622
9/9/03
5:00 pm
PP
Restrictive rule
Fair & Accurate Credit
Transactions Act of 2003 a.k.a.
fair credit reporting
reauthorization
Financial Services
H.Res. 360
Frost/Sessions
voice
Restrictive: waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Financial Services substitute which is
considered as read; waives all points of
order against the substitute; makes in
order only those amendments preprinted
in the Congressional Record prior to
consideration (allows 2nd degree
amendments).
2 Democratic, 1 Bipartisan
amendments submitted
needing waivers
waivers not given to any
amendments
H.R. 7
9/16/03
5:00 pm
SE
Restrictive Rule
Charitable Giving Act of 2003
Ways & Means
H.Res. 370
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Restrictive: consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; makes in order Ways &
Means substitute as amended by selfexecuting
provision printed in Part A of
the Rules’ report; makes in order Cardin
substitute printed in Part B of Rules’
report; waives all points of order against
substitute
3-day layover waived
4D, 2R amendments submitted
1R & 1D amendment in order
CF on H.R. 2555
9/23/03
7:45 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report on the
Department of Homeland
Security Appropriations for FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 374
Slaughter/Diaz-
Balart
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
H.R. 2557
9/23/03
7:45 pm
Restrictive rule
Water Resources & Development
Act of 2003 a.k.a. WRDA
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 375
McGovern/
Hastings (WA)
voice
Restrictive: makes in order
Transportation & Infrastructure substitute
which is considered as read; waives all
points of order against substitute; allows
only amendments printed in Rules’ report;
waives all points of order against
amendments
6D, 4R amendments submitted
2R and 1D amendments in
order
manager’s amendment
accommodated most of the
amendments submitted
Recommit CF on
HR2115
9/24/03
6:30 pm
E
SE
Procedural rule
Motion to recommit to
conference the Conference
Report on Air 100-Century of
Aviation Reauthorization a.k.a.
FAA reauthorization
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 377
McGovern/Diaz-
Balart
voice
Procedural: provides that upon adoption
of rule the conference shall be
recommitted to the conference committee
N/A
CF on S. 3 (a.k.a
H.R. 760)
10/1/03
4:00 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report on the Partial
Birth Abortion Ban Act
Judiciary
H.Res. 383
Slaughter/Myrick
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
H.R. 3289-1st rule
10/15/03
7:30 pm
E
PQ
Open rule
Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations for Defense and
for the Reconstruction of Iraq &
Afghanistan FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 396
Frost/Hastings
(WA)
9-4
Open: waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against bill except for specified provisions;
3-day layover waived
80+ amendments submitted, all
but 8 by Democrats, many
needed waivers including Obey
substitute
waivers not given to any
amendments
H.R. 3289-2nd
rule
10/17/03(leg day
10/16)
**12:30am
E
PQ
Closed rule
Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations for Defense and
for the Reconstruction of Iraq &
Afghanistan FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 401
Frost/Hastings
(WA)
voice
Closed: provides that bill is considered as
read and no further motion or amendment
is in order
waivers not given to any
amendments
H.J.Res. 73
10/20/03
7:15 pm
NR
E
Closed rule
Making Continuing
Appropriations FY04-2nd C/R -
through 11/7/03
Appropriations
H.Res. 407
Frost/Linder
voice
Closed: consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
Bill not reported
This C/R is being used as a
shell for the forthcoming
FY04 Omnibus spending bill
H.R. 2443
10/28/03
*8:00 pm
Open rule
Coast Guard & Maritime
Transportation Act of 2003
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 416
Hastings(FL)/Dia
z-
Balart
voice
Open: makes in order Transportation
Substitute; substitute considered as read;
all points of order waives against
substitute
H.J.Res. 75
10/28/03
*8:00 pm
NR
E
Closed rule
Making Continuing
Appropriations FY04-3rd C/R -
through 11/7/03
Appropriations
H.Res. 417
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
voice
Closed: consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
Bill not reported
CF on H.R. 2691
10/28/03
*8:00 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report on the
Department of Interior &
Related Agencies Appropriations
for FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 418
Slaughter/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
Waiving 2/3rds
for CF for H.R.
3289 on October
30, 2003
10/29/03
5:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on October 30,
2003 for the Conference Report
for the Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations for Defense and
for the Reconstruction of Iraq &
Afghanistan FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 421
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
9-3
Procedural rule N/A
CF for H.R. 2115
10/29/03
5:00 pm
E
PQ
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report on Flight 100
- Century of Aviation
Reauthorization FAA
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 422
McGovern/Diaz-
Balart
9-3
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waiver
an amendment to the rule to
add a self-executing
concurrent resolution to
correct the conference was
denied by a party line vote of
3-9
CF for H.R. 3289
10/30/03
2:00 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for the
Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations for Defense and
for the Reconstruction of Iraq &
Afghanistan FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 424
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
an amendment to the rule to
add a self-executing
concurrent resolution to
correct the conference was
denied by a party line vote of
4-8
H.R. 1829
11/04/03
5:30 pm
Open rule
Federal Prison Industries
Competition in Contracting Act
of 2003
Judiciary
H.Res. 428
Hastings(FL)/
Myrick
voice
Open: makes in order Judiciary substitute;
bill read by section
waivers not given to
Scott(VA) amendment
CF for H.R. 2559
11/03/03
5:30 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for Military
Constructions Appropriations
Act of FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 429
McGovern/Myric
k
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
H.J.Res. 76
11/03/03
5:30 pm
NR
E
Closed rule
Making Continuing
Appropriations FY04-4th C/R -
through 11/21/03
Appropriations
H.Res. 430
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Closed: consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
Bill not reported
Waiving 2/3rds
for CF for H.R.
1588 on
November 7, 2003
11/06/03
4:30 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on November
7, 2003 Conference Report for
National Defense Authorization
Act for FY04
Armed Services
H.Res. 434
Frost/Myrick
voice
Procedural rule N/A
CF for H.R. 1588
11/07/03(leg day
11/06/03)
^**7:00 am
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for National
Defense Authorization Act for
FY04
Armed Services
H.Res. 437
Frost/Myrick
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
CF for H.R. 6
11/18/03 (leg day
11/17/03)
^**7:00 am
E
PQ
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for Energy
Policy Act of 2003
Energy & Commerce
H.Res. 443
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
A Frost motion to amend
the rule to not waive clause
8(a)(l)(A) (requiring 3-day
layover) was defeated 3-6
#216, party-line vote
CF for H.R. 2754
11/18/03 (leg day
11/17/03)
^**7:00 am
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for Energy &
Water Appropriations FY04
Appropriations
H.Res. 444
Hastings(FL)
/Reynolds
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration
Providing for
suspension day on
November 20th
11/19/03
*8:45 pm
E
Procedural rule
Providing for Consideration of
Motions to Suspend the Rules
H.Res. 449
Slaughter/Session
s
voice
Procedural rule: allows suspensions on
Thursday, November 20, 2003; The
Speaker shall consult with the Minority
Leader on items to be considered
N/A
H.J.Res. 78
11/19/03
*8:45 pm
E
NR
Closed rule
Making Further Continuing
Appropriations for Fiscal Year
2004-5th C/R through
November 23, 2003
Appropriations
H.Res. 450
Frost/Linder
voice
Closed: consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
Bill not reported
CF for H.R. 2417
11/19/03
*8:45 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for
Intelligence Authorization Act
for FY04
Intelligence
H.Res. 451
Hastings(FL)/Go
ss
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
Providing for
suspension day on
November 21st
11/20/03
*9:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Providing for Consideration of
Motions to Suspend the Rules
H.Res. 456
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Procedural rule: allows suspensions on
Thursday, November 21, 2003; The
Speaker shall consult with the Minority
Leader on items to be considered
N/A
CF for H.R. 1904
11/20/03
*9:00 pm
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for Healthy
Forests Restoration Act of 2003
Resources
H.Res. 457
Hastings(FL)/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
Waiving 2/3rds
for any FY04
appropriations
item on
November 21st
11/20/03
*9:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on November
21, 2003 for any FY04
appropriations item
Appropriations
H.Res. 458
Frost/Linder
voice
Procedural rule: allows same day
consideration, on November 21, 2003, of
any rule for a C/R for FY04, any FY04
general appropriations bill, joint
resolution, amendment thereto, or
conference report thereon
N/A
provides for waiving 2/3rds
for numerous items
Waiving 2/3rds
for H.R. 1 on
November 21st
11/20/03
*9:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on November
21, 2003 for the Conference
Report for the Medicare
Prescription Drug and
Modernization Act of 2003
Ways & Means/Energy &
Commerce
H.Res. 459
Slaughter/Pryce
7-3
Procedural rule N/A
CF for H.R. 1
11/21/03
10:00 am
E
Conference Report
rule
Conference Report for the
Medicare Prescription Drug and
Modernization Act of 2003
Ways & Means/Energy &
Commerce
H.Res. 463
Slaughter/Pryce
8-3
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
3-day layover waived
H.J.Res. 80
11/21/03
7:40 pm
E
NR
Closed rule
Providing for consideration of a
joint resolution appointing the
day for the convening of the
second session of the 108th
Congress (January 20, 2004)
H.Res. 464
McGovern/Diaz-
Balart
voice
Closed: consideration in the House; joint
resolution considered as read; previous
question ordered to final passage except 1-
hour divided between Majority Leader &
Minority Leader; one motion to commit
bill not reported
rule not used, H.J.Res. 80
done by U/C on November
22nd (legislative day of
November 21st)(reconvening
likely to be January 20, 2004)
Waiving 2/3rds
for any FY04
appropriations
item on or before
1/31/04
11/21/03
7:40 pm
E
PQ
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for any FY04
appropriations bill/joint
resolution/amendment
thereto/conference report on or
before 1/31/04
Appropriations
H.Res. 465
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Procedural rule: allows same day
consideration, through January 31, 2004,
of any rule for a C/R for FY04, any FY04
general appropriations bill, joint
resolution, amendment thereto, or
conference report thereon
N/A
This martial law rule is for
numerous appropriations
items from November 22,
2003 through January 31,
2004
CF for H.R. 2673
12/08/03
9:00 am
PQ
Conference Report
rule
Conference report for
Agriculture Appropriations
FY04-also vehicle for FY04
Omnibus Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 473
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Conference Report rule: waives all
points of order against the conference
report and against its consideration;
provides that the conference report is read
A Frost motion to amend
the rule to add a concurrent
resolution instructing the
enrolling clerk to include
Harkin Senate language
barring implementation of
DOL new overtime
regulations, defeated 3-8
end of 1st session
2nd Session-108th
S. 610
1/27/04
5:30 pm
Open rule
NASA Workforce Flexibility Act
of 2003
Science & Government Reform
H.Res. 502
Hastings(FL)/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Open: 40 minutes of general debate for
Science Committee; 20 minutes for
Government Reform equally divided; bill
considered as read for amendment
S. 1920
1/27/04
5:30 pm
Restrictive rule
To Extend for 6 months the
period for which chapter 12 of
title 11 of the U.S. Code is
reenacted-a.k.a. Farmers’
Bankruptcy protection
extension, shell for House
passed Bankruptcy bill H.R. 975
Judiciary
H.Res. 503
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Restrictive: makes in order substitute
consisting of the text of H.R. 975 for the
purposes of amendment; waives all points
of order against substitute; makes in order
only the amendments printed in the Rules’
report as specified; waives all points of
order against amendments in report;
provides for a motion to request a
conference with Senate
2R, 1D amendments in order
H.R. 3030
2/3/04
5:30 pm
PP
Restrictive rule
Improving the Community
Service Block Grant Act of 2003-
a.k.a. CSBG Reauthorization
Education & Labor
H.Res. 513
Slaughter/Myrick
voice
Restrictive: makes in order Education
Committee substitute; bill considered as
read; requires amendments to the bill be
pre-printed in the Congressional Record
H.R. 743
2/10/04
5:30 pm
Closed rule
Concur in Senate Amendment
to Social Security Protection Act
of 2003 a.k.a. Texas Teachers
Ways & Means
H.Res. 520
Frost/Linder
voice
Closed-make in order a motion to take
H.R. 743 from Speaker’s Table and
concur in Senate amendment; waives all
points of order against consideration of
motion; one hour debate by Ways &
Means
2 Democratic amendments to
rule denied
H.R. 1997
2/24/04
7:10 pm
SE
Restrictive rule
Unborn Victims of Violence Act
of 2004 a.k.a. Laci & Conner’s
Law
Judiciary
H.Res. 529
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
two hours general debate; makes in order
Judiciary substitute as modified by selfexecuting
provision in Part A of Rules’
report; allows only Lofgren substitute
printed in Part B of Rules’ report for 1
hour general debate; waives all points of
order against Lofgren substitute
2 amendments submitted and
made in order (1R & 1D)
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
or disposition of
H.R. 3783 on
2/26/04
2/25/04
3:45 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration or disposition of
legislation to provide an
extension of highway, highway
safety, motor carrier safety,
transit, and other programs
funded out of the Highway Trust
fund pending enactment of
highway reauthorization
Transportation/Rules
H.Res. 536
Frost/Reynolds
voice
Procedural rule- allows same day
consideration, on February 26, 2004 of
any rule for consideration or disposition
of H.R. 3783 or any amendment thereto.
N/A
Rule not used, a subsequent
temporary highway bill ,
H.R. 3850, was passed by
U/C on Floor on 2/26/04
H.R. 3752
3/2/04
5:30 pm
PP
Restrictive rule
Commercial Space Launch
Amendments Act of 2004
Science
H.Res. 546
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Restrictive-waives clause 4(a), Rule XIII
against consideration; bill considered as
read; allows only those amendments to the
bill that preprinted in the Congressional
Record
3-day layover waived
H.R. 1561
2/10/04-1st mtg
3/2/04-2nd mtg
7:00 reporting
Restrictive rule
U.S. Patent & Trademark Fee
Modernization Act of 2003
Judiciary
H.Res. 547
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
8-1
vote to report
called by Hastings
(WA)
Restrictive-makes in order Judiciary
Committee substitute; waives all points of
order against substitute; allows only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as designated; waives all points of order
against amendments
8 amendments submitted
(5D/3R)
3 withdrawn
2R & 1D in order
rule amended by u/c on
Floor (Sensenbrenner
amendment modified)
H.R. 339
3/9/04
6:46 pm
PP
Restrictive rule
Personal Responsibility in Food
Consumption Act-burger bill
Judiciary
H.Res. 552
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Restrictive-makes in order Judiciary
Committee substitute; bill considered as
read; waives all points of order against the
substitute; allows only those amendments
to the bill that preprinted in the
Congressional Record
H.R. 3717
3/10/04
6:00 pm
Restrictive rule
Broadcast Decency Enforcement
Act of 2004
Energy & Commerce
H.Res. 554
Frost/Myrick
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; 90 minutes general
debate; makes in order Energy &
Commerce substitute which is considered
as read; waives all points of order against
the substitute; allows only those
amendments printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments
8 amendments submitted (6D,
2R)
1D & 2 R in order
H.Res. 557
3/16/04
5:30 pm
NR
PQ
Closed rule (no
instructions on
recommit)
Relating to the liberation of the
Iraqi people and the valiant
service of the US Armed Forces
& Coalition forces
International Relations
H.Res. 561
Hastings(FL)/Dr
eier
voice
Closed-consideration in House; four
hours general debate; motion to recommit
may not contain instructions; during
consideration of resolution the Speaker
may postpone further consideration until a
time designated
bill not reported
instructions not allowed on
motion to recommit
H.R. 1375
3/17/04
*8:30 pm
Restrictive rule
Financial Services Regulatory
Relief Act of 2003
Financial Services/Judiciary
H.Res. 566
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration except Budget Act
(except it waives 302(f)); makes in order
Financial Services/Judiciary substitutes
considered as read; waives all points of
order against substitute except Budget Act
(except it waives 302(f)); allows only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against amendments
13 amendments submitted,
5D, 8R
6 amendments in order, 3D,
3R
H.Con.Res. 393
3/24/04
6:00 pm
E
PQ
Restrictive rule
Concurrent Resolution on the
Budget, Fiscal Year 2005
Budget Committee
H.Res. 574
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
voice
Restrictive-further consideration; makes
in order only those amendments printed
in the Rules’ report as specified; waives all
points of order against amendments;
provides 10 minutes of additional general
debate after conclusion of amendments;
permits Budget Chair to offer
amendments to achieve mathematical
consistency; budget not subject to a
demand for the division of the question
35 amendments submitted,
22D, 2R, 1Bi
4 amendments in order, 3D,
1R
6 hours of general debate
done pursuant to u/c
request on Floor on
3/23/04
H.R. 3966
3/29/04
5:00 pm
PQ
Closed rule
ROTC and Military Recruiter
Equal Access to Campus Act of
2004
Armed Services
H.Res. 580
McGovern/Myric
k
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration except Budget Act; makes in
order Armed Services substitute
no amendments submitted
H.Res. 581
3/30/04
2:00 pm
E
NR
Closed rule
Expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives
regarding rates of compensation
for civilian employees and
members of the uniformed
services of the United States
a.k.a. pay parity for Federal
employees
Government Reform
H.Res. 585
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
voice
Closed-consideration in the House bill not reported
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of H.R. 3550 on
4/1/04 H.Res. 592
4/1/04 (leg day
3/31/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration or disposition of
the Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (TEALU)
a.k.a. highway/surface
transportation authorization
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 592
Frost/Dreier
voice
Procedural rule-allowing for same day
consideration of H.R. 3550
H.Res. 3550
4/1/04 (leg day
3/31/04)
^*7:00 am
E
SE
PQ
Restrictive rule
Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (TEALU)
a.k.a. highway/surface
transportation authorization
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 593
Frost/Dreier
voice
Restrictive-provides for further
consideration; no additional debate except
final ten minutes following amendment
process; makes in order Transportation
substitute and self-executes Ways &
Means amendment and rule change
amendment printed in Part A of Rules’
report; bill as amended considered as read;
waives all points of order against bill;
makes in order only those amendment
printed in Part B of Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments; Sec. 2 of resolution
considered as adopted as if offered under
sec. 411 of H.Con.Res. 95
59 amendments submitted,
23D, 34R, 2bi
25 amendments in order, 8D,
16R, 1Bi
6 hours of general debate
done pursuant to u/c
request on Floor on
3/30/04
H.R. 2844
4/21/04
6:00 pm
SE
A
PQ
Restrictive rule
Continuity in Representation Act
of 2004 a.k.a. continuity of
Congress
House Administration/Judiciary
H.Res. 602
Frost/Hastings(
WA)
6-3
Restrictive-60 minutes general debate; 40
for House Administration, 20 for
Judiciary; waives clause 3 )c)(4) of Rule
XIII against consideration; makes in order
Judiciary substitute as modified by selfexecuting
provision in part A of Rules’
report; allows only those amendments
printed in part B of the Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments
14 amendments submitted, all
D
5 amendments in order 4D
and 1R(self executing
provision)(which was removed
and added to
Skelton/Maloney amendment
pursuant to u/c request during
Floor consideration of rule
rule amended on Floor
H.R. 4181
4/27/04
5:00 pm
NR
SE
Restrictive rule
To amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to permanently
extend the increased standard
deduction, and the 15-percent
individual income tax rate
bracket expansion, for married
taxpayers filing joint returnsa.
k..a. make permanent the
elimination of the marriage tax
penalty
Ways & Means
H.Res. 607
McGovern/Myric
k
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House,
self-executes the substitute printed in Part
A of Rules’ report; bill considered as read;
allows only Rangel substitute printed in
Part B of Rules’ report as specified; waives
all points of order against substitute
bill not reported
1D amendment submitted and
made in order
H.R. 4227
5/4/04
5:00 pm
NR
PQ
Restrictive rule
Middle-Class Alternative
Minimum Tax Relief Act of
2004-a.k.a. AMT
Ways & Means
H.Res. 619
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
allows only Rangel substitute printed in
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against substitute
bill not reported
1D amendment submitted and
made in order
H.Res. 627
5/6/04(leg day
5/5/04)
^* 7:00 am
E
NR
PQ
Closed rule
Deploring the abuse of persona
in the U.S. custody in Iraq,
regardless of the circumstances
of their detention, urging the
Secretary of the Army to bring to
swift justice any member of the
Armed Forces who has violated
the Uniform Code of Military
Justice, expressing the deep
appreciation of the Nation to the
courageous and honorable
members of the Armed Forces
who have selflessly served, or are
currently serving, in Operation
Iraqi Freedom, and for other
purposes
Armed Services
H.Res. 628
McGovern/Hasti
ngs(WA)
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
motion to recommit may not contain
instructions
bill not reported
recommit with instructions
denied
H.R. 4275
5/11/04
5:00 pm
NR
PQ
Restrictive rule
To amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to permanently
extend the 10-percent income tax
rate bracket
Ways & Means
H.Res. 637
Frost/Sessions
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
allows only Rangel substitute printed in
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against substitute
bill not reported
1D amendment submitted and
made in order
H.R. 4279-R
H.R. 4280-C
H.R. 4281-R
(3 bills-1 rule)
5/11/04
NR-all
PQ
Restrictive rule
Closed rule
Restrictive rule
1) To Provide for disposition of
unused health benefits in
cafeteria plans and Flexible
spending arrangements
2) Help Efficient, Accessible,
Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare Act
(HEALTH) of 2004
3) Small Business Health Fairness
Act (AHPs) of 2004
Ways & Means
Energy & Commerce
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 638
Slaughter/Pryce
voice vote
Restrictive-H.R. 4279-consideration in
House; Rangel substitute with all points of
order waived
Closed-H.R. 4280-consideration in House
Restrictive-H.R. 4281-consideration in
House; Kind substitute with all points of
order waived
combines text of all bills into H.R. 4279
All 3 bills not reported
1D amendment submitted and
made in order
12 D & 1R submitted none
made in order
3D amendments submitted,
1D made in order
3 bills in 1 rule
H.R. 4359
5/17/04
7:45 pm
NR
Restrictive rule
Child Credit Preservation &
Expansion Act of 2004
Ways & Means
H.Res. 644
Slaughter/Pryce
voice vote
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
allows only Rangel substitute printed in
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against substitute
bill not reported
1D amendment submitted and
made in order
H.R 2728-C
H.R. 2729-C
H.R. 2730-C
H.R. 2731-C
H.R. 2432-R
(5-bills-1 rule)
5/17/04
SE-4 bills
Closed rule
Closed rule
Closed rule
Closed rule
Restrictive rule
1) The Occupational Safety
&Health Small Business Day in
Court Act
2) The Occupational Safety &
Health Review Commission
Efficiency Act
3) The Occupational Safety and
Health Independent Review of
OSHA Citations Act
4) The Occupational Safety
&Health Small Employer Access
to Justice Act
5) The Paperwork & Regulatory
Improvements Act
Education & the Workforce (1-4)
Government Reform(5)
H.Res. 645
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
voice
Closed-H.R. 2728-self executes
committee reported bill with amendment;
consideration in House
Closed-H.R. 2729-self executes
committee reported bill with amendment;
consideration in House
Closed-H.R. 2730-self executes
committee reported bill with amendment;
consideration in House
Closed-H.R. 2731-self executes
committee reported bill with amendment;
consideration in House
Restrictive-H.R. 2432; makes in order
Ose and Waxman amendments and
waives all points of order against
amendments
combines text of all bills into H.R. 2728
4-education bills had no D
amendments submitted; made
in order and self executed 4 R
amendments
Government reform bill had
1R & 1D submitted, both
made in order
5 bills in 1 rule
H.R. 4200
5/19/04 (leg day
5/18/04)
^*7:00 am
PQ
Restrictive rule
National Defense Authorization
Act for FY05-DoD
authorization
Armed Services
H.Res. 648
Frost/Myrick
voice
Restrictive-two hours general debate;
makes in order Armed Services substitute
considered as read; allows only those
amendment printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments; allows en bloc if offered by
Chairman of Armed Services; allows
statements to be inserted when en bloc
126 total amendments
submitted
28 amendment in order, 16R,
9D, & 3 bi
4 additional amendments
added by u/c on Floor
CF for S.Con.Res.
95
5/19/04 (leg day
5/18/04)
^*7:00 am
E
SE
PQ
Conference Rule
plus
Conference Report for
Concurrent Resolution on the
Budget for FY05-1 year budget
agreement
Budget Committee
H.Res. 649
McGovern/
Hastings(WA)
7-4
Conference report plus-waives all points
of order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read; provides that
House passed conf. shall have force of
passed conf; provides nothing in sec..2 is
construed to engage rule XXVII;
discharges conference for H.R. 2660
(Labor/HHS FY04)
3-day layover waived
conference discharges
unrelated Labor/HHS
approps conf to stop Dems
from motions to instruct
H.R. 444
6/1/04
*8:00 pm
SE
NT
A
PQ
Closed rule
Back to Work Incentive Act of
2003
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 656
Slaughter/Pryce
8-2
Closed-consideration in the House; selfexecutes
text of H.R. 4444 as base bill;
section 2 provides that in the engrossment
of H.R. 444 the texts of H.R. 4409 & 4410
(as passed under suspension) are
incorporated into H.R. 444 and lays those
two bills on table
4 amendments submitted, 3D
& 1R
no amendments in order
Rule amended on Floor to
change H.R. 4410 to H.R.
4411
H.J.Res. 83
6/1/04
*8:00 pm
PQ (no text)
Closed rule
Proposing an amendment to the
Constitution of the US regarding
the appointment of individuals to
fill vacancies in the House of
Representatives(a.k.a.
continuity of congress)
Judiciary Committee
H.Res. 657
McGovern/
Hastings(WA)
8-2
Closed-consideration in the House.
Resolution considered as read; previous
question order except for 90 minutes of
general debate controlled by Judiciary
2R amendments submitted
no amendments in order
H.R. 4503
H.R. 4517
6/14/04
*8:00 pm
1 rule-2 bills
both NR
PQ (vote only)
Closed rule (s)
both
Energy Policy Act of 2004
(identical to Energy
Conference passed by House
last fall)
&
Refinery Revitalization Act of
2004
Energy &
Commerce/Resources/Ways &
Means
H.Res. 671
McGovern/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Closed-H.R. 4503-consideration in the
House; 40 minutes debate for Energy &
Commerce; 10 minutes for Resources; 10
minutes for Ways & Means
Closed-Sec 2-H.r. 4517--consideration in
the House; 60 minutes debate for Energy
& Commerce
Both bills not reported
16 amendments submitted(14
for H.R. 4503, 13D, 1Bi
no amendments in order to
either bill
Energy bill identical to
passed conference report on
H.R. 6
H.R. 4513
H.R. 4529
6/14/04
*8:00 p.m
1 rule-2 bills
both NR
PQ (vote only)
Restrictive rule(s)
both
Renewable Energy Project Siting
Improvement Act of 2004
&
Arctic Coastal Plain & Surface
Mining Improvement Act of
2004
Resources/Ways & Means
H.Res. 672
Hastings(FL)/
Reynolds
voice
Restrictive-H.R. 4513-consideration in
the House; allows only Pombo mgrs.
amendment printed in Part A of Rules’
report as specified; all points of order
against amendment
Restrictive-Sec 2-consideration in the
House; allows only Pombo mgrs.
amendment printed in Part B of Rules’
report as specified; all points of order
against amendment
Both bills not reported
H.R. 4568
6/15/04
5:30 pm
Open rule
Department of the Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations
Act FY2005
Appropriations
H.Res. 674
Slaughter/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against specified portions of the bill
3-day layover waived
2R, 1D amendments
submitted
no waivers given
H.R. 4567
6/15/04
5:30 pm
E
PQ
Open rule
Department of Homeland
Security Appropriations FY2005
Appropriations
H.Res. 675
Slaughter/
Diaz-Balart
7-4
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against specified portions of the bill
3-day layover waived
1R, 8D amendments
submitted
no waivers given
H.R. 4520
6/17/04(leg day
6/16/04)
^*7:00 am
E
SE
PQ
Closed rule
American Jobs Creation Act of
2004 a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax bill
Ways and Means
H.Res. 681
McGovern/Reyn
olds
9-3
Closed-consideration in the House;
makes in order Ways & Means substitute
as modified by self-executing provision in
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against the bill as amended and
against its consideration
3-day layover waived
21 amendments, 2R, 18D, 1Bi
Only R Mgrs. self-executing
amendment made in order
H.R. 4613
6/21/04
7:00 pm
SE
PQ
Open rule
Department of Defense
Appropriations FY2005
Appropriations
H.Res. 683
Frost/Myrick
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; self-executes amendment in
Rules’ report; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against the bill
Sec. 2- allows the House/Senate to
adjourn during the month of July
2D amendments submitted
only self-executing
amemdment allowed(would
allow for increase in debt
ceiling)
H.R. 4548
6/22/04
*8:00 pm
E
PQ
Restrictive rule
Intelligence Authorization Act
for FY2005
Intelligence
H.Res. 686
Slaughter/Myrick
6-3
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Intelligence Committee substitute; allows
only those amendments printed in the
Rules’ report as specified; waives all points
of order against amendments
18 amendments submitted, 1
withdrawn
7R & 3D amendments in
order
H.R. 4663
6/24/04(leg day
6/23/04)
^*7:00 am
NR
E
PQ
Restrictive rule
Spending Control Act of 2004
a.k.a budget enforcement
Budget
H.Res. 692
Slaughter/
Hastings(WA)
9-2
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; allows only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against amendments; if a substitute is
adopted only the last amendments will be
in order
bill not reported
28 amendments submitted,
20R, 4D, 4, Bi
19 amendments in order, 16R,
1D, 2Bi
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of H.R. 4614
6/24/04 (leg day
6/23/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of Energy &
Water Development
Appropriations Act of FY2005
Appropriations
H.Res. 693
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of H.R. 4614 on June 24,
2004
rule not used
H.R. 4614
6/24/04
*11:00 pm
E
PQ
Open rule
Energy & Water Development
Appropriations Act of FY2005
Appropriations
H.Res. 694
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against specified portions of the bill
1D submitted
no waivers given
See out of order page for
next rule, H.Res. 711
H.R. 4759
7/13/04
6:30 pm
E
Closed rule
United States-Australia Free
Trade Agreement
Implementation Act
a.k.a. fast track items done by
rule to shorten debate time
Ways & Means
H.Res. 712
McGovern/Dreie
r
voice
Closed-consideration in House; waives all
points of order against consideration; 2
hours general debate; pursuant to section
151(f)(2) of Trade Act of 1974 previous
question ordered to final passage without
intervening motion; allows Speaker to
postpone further consideration of bill
3-day layover waived
no amendments or
recommital allowed under fast
track measures
H.R. 4818
7/14/04
3:00 pm
E
Open rule
Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs
FY05 Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 715
Frost/Diaz-Balart
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against specified portions of the bill
3-day layover waived
4D amendments submitted
no waivers given
H.R. 4850
7/19/04
7:10 pm
Open rule
District of Columbia FY04
Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 724
Hastings(FL)/Lin
der
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against specified portions of the bill
3-day layover waived
H.R. 3574
7/19/04
7:10 pm
Restrictive rule
Stock Option Accounting
Reform Act
Financial Services
H.Res. 725
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; allows only
amendments printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments
2R, 3D amendments
submitted (2R’s nearly
identical)
1R, 3D in order
CF for H.R. 2443
7/20/04
4:30 pm
E
Conference
Report rule
Conference report on Coast
Guard and Maritime
Transportation Act of 2004
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 730
Hastings(FL)/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for H.R.
1308
7/20/04
6:45 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of the Conference
report to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to
accelerate the increase in the
refundability of the child tax
credit
Ways & Means
H.Res. 731
Hastings(FL)/
Reynolds
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R.
1308 on July 21, 2004
rule not used
H.R. 4837
7/20/04
6:45 pm
PQ
Open rule
Military Construction FY04
Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 732
Frost/Myrick
voice vote
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against specified portions of the bill
2D amendments submitted
plus Frost motion to protect
military housing provision
no waivers given
H.R. 3313
7/21/04
5:50 pm
SE
Closed rule
Marriage Protection Act of 2004
anti-gay marriage
Judiciary
H.Res. 734
McGovern/Myric
k
7-3
Closed-consideration in House; 90
minutes debate; self-executes Judiciary
substitute
no amendments submitted (all
withdrawn)
CF for H.R. 4613
7/21/04
5:50 pm
E
Conference
Report rule
Conference report on
Department of Defense FY04
Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 735
Frost/Myrick
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
H.R. 4842
7/22/04 (leg day
7/21/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Closed rule
US-Morocco Free Trade
Agreement Implementation Act
a.k.a. fast track items done by
rule to shorten debate time
Ways & Means
H.Res. 738
Slaughter/
Diaz-Balart
voice
Closed-consideration in House; waives all
points of order against consideration; 2
hours general debate; pursuant to section
151(f)(2) of Trade Act of 1974 previous
question ordered to final passage without
intervening motion; allows Speaker to
postpone further consideration of bill
3-day layover waived
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for H.R.
1308
7/22/04(leg day
7/21/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of the Conference
report to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to
accelerate the increase in the
refundability of the child tax
credit
Ways & Means
H.Res. 739
Hastings(FL)/
Reynolds
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R.
1308 on July 22, 2004
rule not used
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for bill to
extend highway
bill
7/22/04(leg day
7/21/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of a bill providing
for a short-term extension of
highway bill (TEA-21) on
7/22/04
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 740
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of a short-term extension
of highway bill (TEA-21) on July 22, 2004
rule not used, new bill done
by u/c on 7/22/04 (H.R.
4916)
H.R. 5006
9/7/04
6:45 pm
PQ
Open rule
Department of
Labor/HHS/Education &
Related Agencies FY05
Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 754
Slaughter/Pryce
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration; waives clause 2, Rule XXI
against specified portions of the bill
3-day layover waived
waivers not given to Obey
amendment
H.R. 4571
9/13/04
*8:10 pm
SE
Restrictive rule
Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of
2004
Judiciary
H.Res. 766
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; self-executes Judiciary
substitute; allows only Turner substitute
printed in Rules’ report as specified;
waives all points of order against
amendment
3-day layover waived
1D amendment submitted and
made in order
*****out of order
in chart
H.R. 2828
7/8/04
5:40 pm
E
SE
PQ
Restrictive rule
Water Supply, Reliability, and
Environmental Improvement Act
a.k.a. CafFed water
Resources
H.Res. 711
McGovern/
Hastings (WA)
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; self-executes Resources
substitute; waives all points of order
against bill as amended; allows only
Calvert/Pombo substitute printed in
Rules’ report; waives all points of order
against amendment
6 amendments submitted, all
but 1 withdrawn
H.R. 5025
9/14/04
12:45 pm
SD
E
PQ
Open rule
Transportation, Treasury, &
Independent Agencies FY05
Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 770
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Open-waives all points of order against
consideration
Rule considered on the
Floor on the same day as
reported from Rules but
without martial law rule.
Consideration done by
voice vote on Floor
Substantial dispute between
authorizers and
appropriators caused bill to
go to Floor with no
protection from Rule XXI or
other Rule
3 Democratic
amendments/motions
offered but not given
waivers
2nd - Waiving
2/3rds for
consideration of
CF for H.R. 1308
9/21/04
7:15 pm
E
Procedural rule
2nd -Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of the Conference
report to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to
accelerate the increase in the
refundability of the child tax
credit
Ways and Means
H.Res. 780
Slaughter/Reynol
ds
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R. 1308
on September 22, 2004
2nd martial law (2/3rds) rule
done for conference for H.R.
1308
rule not used
H.R. 2028
9/21/04
7:15 pm
Restrictive
Pledge Protection Act of 2004
Judiciary
H.Res. 781
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Judiciary substitute; waives all points of
order against substitute; allows only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against amendments
3-day layover waived
2R & 2D amendments
submitted
1R, 2D in order
3rd Waiving
2/3rds for
consideration of
CF for H.R. 1308
9/22/04
6:45 pm
E
PQ
Procedural rule
3rd -Waiving 2/3rds on
Sepember 23, 2004 for
consideration of the Conference
report to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to
accelerate the increase in the
refundability of the child tax
credit
Ways and Means
H.Res. 785
Slaughter/Reynol
ds
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R. 1308
on September 23, 2004
3rd martial law (2/3rds) rule
done for conference for H.R.
1308
CF for H.R. 1308
9/23/04
5:15 pm
E
PQ
Conference
Report rule
Conference Report for The
Working Families Tax Relief Act
of 2004 a.k.a. to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to accelerate the increase in
the refundability of the child
tax credit
Ways and Means
H.Res. 794
Slaughter/Reynol
ds
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
due pursuant to 2/3rds rule
H.Res. 785
H.J.Res. 106
9/28/04
7:15 pm
NR
Closed rule
Proposing an amendment to
theConstitution of the United
States relating to Marriage a.k.a.
to ban gay marriages
Ways and Means
H.Res. 801
McGovern/Myric
k
6-2
Closed-consideration in the House; 2 ½
hours general debate controlled by
Majority & Minority leaders; Chair may
post pone consideration until a time
designated by the Speaker
bill not reported
5R amendments submitted,
none in order
1st C/R H.J.Res.
107
9/28/04
7:15 pm
NR
E
Closed rule
1st Making Continuing
Appropriations for FY05
(through November 20, 2004)
Appropriations
H.Res. 802
Frost/Linder
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
bill not reported
1st FY05 C/R through
November 20, 2004
H.R. 3193
9/28/04
7:15 pm
NR
SE
Closed rule
District of Columbia Personal
Protection Act a.k.a. repeal DC
gun ban
Judiciary
H.Res. 803
Slaughter/
Hastings(WA)
voice
Closed-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; self-executes amendment
printed in Rules’ report
bill not reported
Rule managed on Floor by
McGovern
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of a highway
extension
9/29/04
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of a bill to
provide an extension of TEA-21
highway bill (6th extension)
Transportation & Infrastructure
H.Res. 807
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of highway extension on
September 30, 2004
H.R. 5183
9/30/04
10:00 am
NR
E
Closed rule
Surface Transportation Act of
2004 Part V a.k.a. 6th Highway
Extension
Transportation and Infrastructure
H.Res. 811
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Closed -consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
bill not reported
due pursuant to 2/3rds rule
H.Res. 807
S. 878
10/4/04
7:00 pm
PQ (vote only)
Restrictive rule
Bankruptcy Judgeship Act
a.k.a. a bill to create additional
Federal Judgeships
Judiciary
H.Res. 814
Slaughter/Session
s
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Judiciary substitute; allows only
amendments printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
amendments
2D, 3R, 1Bi amendment
submitted
2R amendments in order
H.R. 5212
10/6/04 (leg day
10/5/04)
^*7:00 am
NR
E
A
Restrictive rule
Making Emergency FY05
Supplemental Appropriations for
additional disaster assistance
relating to storm damage a.k.a.
FEMA hurricane
Appropriations
H.Res. 819
Hastings(FL)/
Putnam
voice
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; allows only Hensarling
amendment printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
the report
rule amended on Floor to provide
consideration in the Committee of the
Whole and to include Neugebauer
drought relief with offset from Farm
bill conservation program
7D, 2R amendments
submitted
2R in order (one added after
rule was amended on Floor)
CF for H.R. 4850
10/6/04 (leg day
10/5/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Conference rule
Conference report for District of
Columbia FY05 Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 822
Hastings(FL)/
Linder
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
H.R. 5107
10/6/04(leg day
10/5/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Restrictive rule
Justice for all Act a.k.a. Debbie
Smith DNA
Judiciary
H.Res. 823
Hastings(FL)/
Myrick
Restrictive-consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration; allows only Sensenbrenner
amendment printed in Rules’ report as
specified; waives all points of order against
the amendment
1R submitted and made in
order
H.R. 10
10/7/04 (leg day
10/6/04)
^*7:00 am
NT
E
Restrictive rule
9/11 Commission
Recommendations
Implementation Act
Intelligence/Armed
Services/Financial Services/
Government Reform/
Judiciary/International Relations
/Transportation/Homeland
Security
H.Res. 827
Frost/Linder
voice
Restrictive-waives all points of order
against consideration; makes in order
Rules Committee print as original text;
waives all points of order against
substitute; provides 3 hours and 40
minutes of general debate as follows:
Intelligence-40, Armed Services-30,
Financial Services-30, Government
Reform-30, Judiciary-20, International
Relations-20, Transportation-20, and
Homeland Security-20, allows only those
amendments printed in the Rules’ report
as specified; waives all points of order
against amendments
New text as base bill
50 amendments submitted, all
D withdrawn except
Menendez substitute,
remaining were mostly R with
a few bipartisan amendment
1D (substitute), 2 Bi, 19 R
amendments in order
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for
H.R.4520
10/7/04 (leg day
10/6/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on October 7,
2004 for consideration of CF
for America Jobs Creation Act
a.k.a. FSC/ETI Tax
Ways and Means
H.Res. 828
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R. 4520
on October 7, 2004
Providing for
suspension day on
October 7, 2004
10/7/04 (leg day
10/6/04)
^*7:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Providing for Consideration of
Motions to Suspend the Rules on
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Rules
H.Res. 829
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
voice
Procedural rule: allows suspensions on
Thursday, October 7, 2004; The Speaker
shall consult with the Minority Leader on
items to be considered
rule not used
CF for H.R. 4520
10/7/04
3:30 pm
E
Conference report
rule
Conference Report for America
Jobs Creation Act a.k.a.
FSC/ETI Tax
Ways and Means
H.Res. 830
McGovern/Reyn
olds
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
due pursuant to 2/3rds rule
H.Res. 828
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for
H.R.4200
10/7/04
3:30 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on October 8,
2004 for consideration of CF
for Department of Defense
Authorization for FY05
Armed Services
H.Res. 831
Frost/Myrick
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R. 4200
on October 8, 2004
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for
H.R.4837
10/7/04
*9:30 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on October 8,
2004 for consideration of CF
for Military Construction FY05
Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 832
Frost/Myrick
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R. 4837
on October 8, 2004
rule passed 10/8/04 but
conference done by u/c on
Floor on 10/9/04
Providing for
suspension day on
October 8, 2004
10/7/04
*9:30 pm
E
Procedural rule
Providing for Consideration of
Motions to Suspend the Rules on
Friday, October 8, 2004
Rules
H.Res. 833
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
vote
Procedural rule: allows suspensions on
Friday, October 8, 2004; The Speaker shall
consult with the Minority Leader on items
to be considered

rule not used
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for H.R.
4567
10/7/04
*9:30 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on October 8,
2004 for consideration of CF
for Homeland Security FY05
Appropriations
Appropriations
H.Res. 834
Frost/Diaz-Balart
vote
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R. 4567
on October 8, 2004
rule not used
conference done by u/c on
Floor on 10/9/04
CF for H.R. 4200
10/8/04
1:15 pm
E
PQ
Conference report
rule
Conference Report for
Department of Defense
Authorization for FY05
Armed Services
H.Res. 843
Frost/Myrick
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
due pursuant to 2/3rds rule
H.Res. 831
Waiving 2/3rds
for any FY05
appropriations
item on or before
11/20/04
10/9/04
^*9:00 am
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds through
November 20, 2004, of any rule
for a C/R for FY05, any FY05
general appropriations bill, joint
resolution, amendment thereto,
or conference report thereon
Appropriations
H.Res. 846
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
voice
Procedural rule: allows same day
consideration, through November 20,
2004, of any rule for a C/R for FY05, any
FY05 general appropriations bill, joint
resolution, amendment thereto, or
conference report thereon
This martial law rule is for
numerous appropriations
items through November
20, 2004
S. 2986
11/17/04
5:00 pm
E
NR
PQ
Closed rule
A bill to Increase the Public Debt
(ceiling)
Ways & Means
H.Res. 856
Slaughter/Reynol
ds
voice
Closed -consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
1D amendment offered
No amendments in order
CF for H.R. 1350
11/18/04
*9:00 pm
E
Conference report
rule
Conference Report for
Individuals with Disabilities
Improvement Act of 2004 a.k.a.
IDEA
Education & the Workforce
H.Res. 858
McGovern/Sessi
ons
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
Providing for
suspension day
on November 19,
2004
11/18/04
*9:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Providing for Consideration of
Motions to Suspend the Rules
on Friday, November 19, 2004
Rules
H.Res. 859
Hastings(FL)/
Sessions
voice
Procedural rule: allows suspensions on
Friday, November 19, 2004; The Speaker
shall consult with the Minority Leader on
items to be considered
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for S. 2845
on November 20,
2004
11/18/04
*9:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on November
20, 2004 for consideration of
CF for consideration or
disposition of a conference report
to reform the intelligence
community and intelligencerelated
activities of the U.S.
Government-9/11 Commission
recommendations
Intelligence (& seven others)
H.Res. 860
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on S. 2845 on
November 20, 2004
rule not used
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for H.R.
4548 on
November 20,
2004
11/18/04
*11:00 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on November
20, 2004 for consideration of
CF for consideration or
disposition of a conference report
to authorize appropriations for
intelligence and intelligence
related activities for the US
government.
Intelligence
H.Res. 861
Hastings(FL)/
Myrick
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on H.R. 4548
on November 20, 2004
rule not used
CF for H.R. 4818
& H.J.Res. 114
+2 bills 1 rule
11/20/04
9:00 am
E
NR-c/r
A
Conference report
rule & closed rule
Conference Report for
Consolidated Appropriations Act
FY2005 (Omnibus
appropriations)
&
Continuing Resolution for FY05
through December 3, 2004
Appropriations
H.Res. 866
Frost/Putnam
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read & Section 2.
Closed -consideration in the House;
waives all points of order against
consideration
3-day layover waived on
conference report
Continuing Resolution not
reported
2 bills - one rule
done pursuant to H.Res. 846
Waiving 2/3rds
for consideration
of CF for S. 2845
on December 7,
2004
12/6/04
6:18 pm
E
Procedural rule
Waiving 2/3rds on December
7, 2004 for consideration of CF
for consideration or disposition
of a conference report to reform
the intelligence community and
intelligence-related activities of
the U.S. Government-9/11
Commission
recommendations
Intelligence (& seven others)
H.Res. 868
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Procedural-Waiving 2/3rds for
consideration of conference on S. 2845 on
December 7, 2004
CF for S. 2845
3:34 pm
12/7/04
E
Conference report
rule
Conference report for National
Intelligence Report Act of 2004-
9/11 Commission
recommendations
Intelligence (& seven others)
H.Res. 870
Slaughter/Linder
voice
Conference report -waives all points of
order against the conference report and
against its consideration; conference
report considered as read
3-day layover waived
amendments counted include manager’s amendments and self-executing amendments
SH-Senate hook-up
PQ-previous question offered on Rule
NR-bill not reported from Committee
NT-new text made in order as base bill
SE-self-executing rule
E-emergency measure
OJ-original jurisdiction
PP-requires amendments be preprinted in Co ng re s sio nal Re c o rd
* rule reported after 8:00 pm (same legislative day)
^ rule reported after 6:30 a.m. (same legislative day)
+ rule provides for consideration of more than one measure
* rule reported after 8:00 p.m. (including same legislative day but new calendar day)
^ rule reported after 6:30 a.m. or later (same legislative day, new calendar day)
**new text presented at Rules meeting
This chart does not include conference reports or generic procedural bills (i.e. waiving 2/3 rds, providing for suspension
days)
This conference report is included in the statistics because it incorporates two other non-related items
This conference report was included in the statistics because it was not a traditional conference report but a vehicle for a massive
omnibus appropriations/end of year bill
Committee(s) listed under legislation title is primary committee of jurisdiction.
Rules Committee
l08th Congress Statistics summary for open vs. restrictive vs. closed rules:
In the first session of the 108th Congress–FINAL
(includes multiple bills in one rule, excludes conference reports & general procedural bills)
68 Rules
19 closed – 27.9%
33 restrictive – 48.5%
16 open – 23.5%
In the second session of the 108th Congress-FINAL
(includes multiple bills in one rule, excludes conference reports & general procedural bills)
60 Rules
17 closed -28.3 %
31 restrictive - 51.7 %
12 open - 20 %
Both sessions of the 108th Congress - FINAL
(includes multiple bills in one rule, excludes conference reports & general procedural bills)
128 Rules-
36 closed - 28 %
64 restrictive - 50 %
28 open - 22 %
This chart does not include conference reports or procedural bills (i.e. waiving 2/3 rds, providing for suspension days),
the Rules Committee granted a total of 27 rules for conference reports and 34 procedural rules [28 rules waiving
same/day 2/3rds consideration, 5 rules providing for suspension days, & 1 rule to recommit conference]
Appendix V
103rd Congress - 193 Rules Reported
1st Session - 99 Rules reported
2nd Session - 94 Rules reported
Summary (includes totals for both sessions)
193 total Rules:
49 open rules (21 of which are appropriations measures)
18 closed rules (+1 included in rules with multiple bills)
69 restrictive rules (+1 included in rules with multiple bills)
41 conference report rules
16 procedural rules (includes 6 general debate rules/9 rules waiving 2/3rds/1 rule
providing for a suspension day)
Percentages based on 136 rules
(excluding procedural & conference report rules):
36% open rules
13% closed rules
51% restrictive rules
Rule breakdown for 103rd Congress
1st Session:
H.Res. 18, 19, 20, 23, 30, 52-all original jurisdiction measures dealing with select
committees
H.Res. 58-R (H.R. 1-Family & Medical Leave Act)
H.Res. 59-R(H.R. 2-National Voter Registration-motor voter)
H.Res. 61-P(waiving 2/3ds-Family & Medical Leave)
H.Res. 71-C( motion agreeing to Senate amendment to H.R. 1-Family & Medical
Leave)
H.Res. 81-R(H.R. 670-Family Planning Amendments Act)
H.Res. 103-C(H.R. 920-Emergency Unemployment Compensation)
H.Res. 106-R(H.R. 20-Federal Employees Political Activities Act-hatch act)
H.Res. 111-P(waiving 2/3rds-H.R. 920-Emergency Unemployment Compensation)
H.Res. 115-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment H.R. 920-Emergency
Unemployment Compensation))
H.Res. 119-R(H.R. 4-NIH Revitalization Act)
H.Res. 130-P(general debate only rule H.R. 1335-Emergency Supplemental Approps.)
H.Res. 131-P(general debate only rule H.Con.Res. 64-FY94 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 132-R(2nd rule -H.R. 1335-Emergency Supplemental Approps.)
H.Res. 133-R(2nd rule-H.Con.Res. 64-FY94 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 138-R(2nd rule-H.R. 670-Family Planning Amendments Act)
H.Res. 142-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.Con.Res. 64-FY94 Budget)
H.Res. 145-Cf(Conference report on FY94 Budget)
H.Res. 147-C(H.R. 1430-Temporary Increase in the Public Debt Limit)
H.Res. 149-R(H.R. 1578-Expedited Rescissions Act FY93)
H.Res. 150-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 1335-FY93 Emergency Supplemental)
H.Res. 153-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 1335-FY93 Emergency Supplemental)
H.Res. 163-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2-National Voter Registration)
H.Res. 164-O(H.R. 820-National Competitive Act)
H.Res. 171-O(H.R. 873-Gallatin Range Consolidation & Protection Act)
H.Res. 172-O(H.R. 1159-Passenger Vessel Safety Act)
H.Res. 173-R(S.J.Res. 45-Authorizing U.S. Armed Forces in Somalia)
H.Res. 179-Cf(Conference on S.1-NIH Revitalization Act)
H.Res. 183-O(H.R. 2244-Second FY93 Supplemental Appropriations)
H.Res. 186-R(H.R. 2264-Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)
H.Res. 192-R(H.R. 2348-FY94 Legislative Branch Approps)
H.Res. 193-O(H.R. 2200-NASA Authorization Act)
H.Res. 195-R(H.R.5-National Labor Relations Act & Railway Labor Act)
H.Res. 196-P,P(1 rule for 2 bills–general debate rules only-H.R. 2333-State
Department & H.R. 2404-USIA Authorization)
H.Res. 197-R,R(1 rule for 2 bills–2nd rule-H.R. 2333-State Department & H.R. 2404-
USIA Authorization)
H.Res. 199-C(H.R. 1876-Extension of Fast Track for GATT)
H.Res. 200-R(H.R. 2295-FY94 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 201-O(H.R. 2403-FY94 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 203-O(H.R. 2445-FY94 Energy & Water Approps)
H.Res. 204-O(H.R. 2446-FY94 Military Construction Approps)
H.Res. 206-O(H.R. 2150-Coast Guard Authorization)
H.Res. 208-O(H.R. 2491-FY94 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 210-O(H.R. 2492-FY94 District of Columbia Approps)
H.Res. 211-O(H.R. 2490-FY94 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 214-O(H.R. 2520-FY94 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 215-P(general debate rule only-H.R. 2010-National Service Trust Act)
H.Res. 216-Cf(Conference on H.R. 2118-FY93 Supplemental Approps).
H.Res. 217-R(2nd rule-H.R. 2010-National Service Trust Act)
H.Res. 218-O(H.R. 2530-Bureau of Land Management Authorization)
H.Res. 220-R(H.R. 2667-Emergency Supplemental for Midwest Flooding)
H.Res. 221-O(2nd rule-H.R. 2490-FY94 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 226-R(2nd rule-H.R. 2667-Emergency Supplemental for Midwest Flooding)
H.Res. 229-R(H.R. 2330-Intelligence Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 230-O(H.R. 1964-Maritime Administration Authorization)
H.Res. 233-P(general debate rule only-H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization
FY94)
H.Res. 240-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2264-Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993)
H.Res. 241-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2010-National Service Trust Act)
H.Res. 246-R(2nd rule-H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 248-R(3rd rule-H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 250-R(H.R. 1340-Resolution Trust Corporation Completion)
H.Res. 251-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment to H.R. 20-Federal Employees
Political Activities-Hatch act)
H.Res. 252-O(3rd rule-H.R. 2750 -FY94 Transportation Approps-first two rules on H.R.
2490)
H.Res. 254-R(4th rule- H.R. 2401-FY94 National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 259-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2295-FY94 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 260-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment with an amendment to H.R.
2493-FY94 Agriculture Approps)
H.Res. 261-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2403-FY94 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 262-O(H.R. 1845-National Biological Survey Act)
H.Res. 263-O(H.R. 3116-FY94-Department of Defense Approps)
H.Res. 264-R(H.R. 2351-National Foundation on the Arts & Humanities, & the Museum
Services Act)
H.Res. 265-R(H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation Extension)
H.Res. 268-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2491-FY94 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 269-R(H.R. 2739-Aviation Infrastructure Investment)
H.Res. 273-R(2nd rule-H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation Extension)
H.Res. 274-R(H.R. 1804-Goals 2000-Educate America Act)
H.Res. 275-Cf(2nd rule-Conference report on H.R. 2491-FY94 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 276-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2519-FY94 Commerce/Justice/State/Judiciary
Approps)
H.Res. 279-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2520-FY94 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 282-C(H.J.Res. 281-Making further FY94 Continuing Approps)
H.Res. 283-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2492-FY94 District of Columbia Approps)
H.Res. 286-O(H.R. 334-Lumbee Recognition Act)
H.Res. 287-C(H.J.Res. 283-Making further FY94 Continuing Approps)
H.Res. 289-O(H.R. 2152-Maritime Security & Competitiveness Act)
H.Res. 293-R(H.Con.Res. 170-Removal of Armed Forces From Somalia)
H.Res. 298-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation
Amendments)
H.Res. 299-R(H.R. 1036-Employment Retirement Security Act-ERISA)
H.Res. 301-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 3116-FY94 Department of Defense Approps)
H.Res. 302-R(H.R. 1025-Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act-3-day waiting period)
H.Res. 303-O(H.R. 322-Mineral Exploration & Development Act)
H.Res. 304-C(H.J.Res. 288-Making further FY94 Continuing Approps)
H.Res. 305-Cf(Conference on H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 311-C(H.R. 3450-To Implement the North American Free Trade Agreement-
NAFTA)
H.Res. 312-R(H.R. 3425-Department of Environmental Protection)
H.Res. 313-R(H.R. 796-Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances)
H.Res. 314-R(H.R. 3351-Alternative Punishments for Young Offenders-SAFE streets)
H.Res. 316-R(H.R. 51-New Columbia Admission Act)
H.Res. 317-Cf(Conference on S. 714-Resolution Trust Corporation Act)
H.Res. 319-R(H.R. 3-Campaign Finance Reform Act)
H.Res. 320-R(H.R. 3400-Government Reform & Savings Act)
H.Res. 321-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation Amendments)
H.Res. 322-P(agreeing to Senate request for a conference on/and waiving 2/3rds on
rule to consider a conference on-H.R. 1025-Brady Handgun Violence Prevention
Act)
2nd Session Rules–103rd Congress
H.Res. 336-R(H.R. 3759-FY94 Emergency Supplemental Approps)
H.Res. 352-R(H.R. 811-Independent Counsel Reauthorization)
H.Res. 356-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 3759-Emergency Supplemental
Approps)
H.Res. 357-R(H.R. 3345-Federal Workforce Restructuring Act)
H.Res. 366-R(H.R. 6-Improving America’s Schools-elementary/secondary
reauthorization)
H.Res. 374-C(provide for Senate hookup with House text and request conference-S.
636-Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances)
H.Res. 384-R(H.Con.Res. 218-FY95 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 388-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3345-Federal Workforce Restructuring Act)
H.Res. 393-Cf(Conference on H.R. 1804-Goals 2000:Educate America Act)
H.Res. 395-P(general debate only rule-H.R. 4092-Violent Crime Control & Law
Enforcement)
H.Res. 397-P(providing for suspension day to consider/&motion to go to conference-
S, 349-to provide for disclosure of lobbying activities)
H.Res. 401-R( 2nd rule-H.R. 4092-Violent Crime Control & Law Enforcement)
H.Res. 410-R(H.R. 3221-Iraq Claims Act)
H.Res. 414-O(H.R. 3254-National Science Foundation Authorization)
H.Res. 416-C(H.R. 4296-Public Safety & recreational Firearms Use Protection Act)
H.Res. 417-Cf(Conference on S. 636-Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act)
H.Res. 418-Cf(Conference on H.Con.Res. 218-FY95 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 420-O(H.R. 2442-Economic Development Administration Reauthorization)
H.Res. 421-Cf(Conference on S. 2000-Head Start & Community Services Block Grant
Reauth)
H.Res. 422-R(H.R. 518-California Desert Protection Act)
H.Res. 423-O(H.R. 2473-Montana Wilderness Act)
H.Res. 428-R(H.R. 2108-Black Lung Benefits Restoration Act)
H.Res. 429-R(H.R. 4301-National Defense Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 431-R(2nd rule-H.R. 4301-National Defense Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 433-O(H.R. 4453-FY95 Military Construction Approps)
H.Res. 439-Cf(Conference on S. 24-Independent Counsel Reauthorization)
H.Res. 440-R(H.R. 4385-National Highway System Designation Act)
H.Res. 441-P(waiving 2/3rds-H.R. 4426-FY95 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 443-R(H.R. 4426-FY95 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 444-R(H.R. 4454-FY95 Legislative Branch Approps)
H.Res. 447-O(H.R. 4539-FY95 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 449-O(H.R. 4506-FY95 Energy & water Approps)
H.Res. 454-O(H.R. 4556-FY95 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 455-O(H.R. 4554-FY95 Agriculture Approps)
H.Res. 458-O(H.R. 4602-FY95 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 461-O(H.R. 4603-FY95 Commerce/Justice/State Approps)
H.Res. 465-O(H.R. 4624-FY95 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 466-O(H.R. 4649-FY95 District of Columbia Approps)
H.Res. 467-R(H.R. 4600-Expedited Rescissions Act of 1994)
H.Res. 468-R(H.R. 4299-Intelligence Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 469-O(H.R. 4650-FY95 Defense Department Approps)
H.Res. 470-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4454-FY95 Legislative Branch Approps)
H.Res. 474-R(H.R. 3937-Omnibus Export Administration Act)
H.Res. 475-O(H.R. 1188-Anti-Redlining Insurance Disclosure Act)
H.Res. 482-O(H.R. 3838-Housing & Community Development Act)
H.Res. 483-O(H.R. 3870-Environmental Technologies Act)
H.Res. 484-R(H.R. 4604-Budget Control Act)
H.Res. 491-O(H.R. 2448-Radon Awareness & Disclosure Act)
H.Res. 492-O(S. 208-National Park Service Concession Policy Reform)
H.Res. 494-R(H.R. 4801-Small Business Reauthorization)
H.Res. 495-C(H.Con.Res. 275-waiving Sec. 132 requirement for July sine die
adjournment)
H.Res. 500-R(H.R. 4003-Maritime Administration & Promotional Reform)
H.Res. 501-O(S. 1357-Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians & Little River Band
of Ottawa Indians Act)
H.Res. 502-O(S. 1066-Restoration of Federal Services to Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
Indians)
H.Res. 504-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4426-FY95 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 505-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3841-Interstate Banking Efficiency Act)
H.Res. 506-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3474-Community Development Banking & Financial
Institutions)
H.Res. 507-R(H.R. 4217-Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act)
H.Res. 509-C,R(1 rule for 2 bills-1st- H.J.Res. 373&H.R. 4590-Disapproving of
Extension of MFN to the People’s Republic of China & 2nd-H.R. 4590-to
providing conditions for renewing MFN treatment to the PRC)
H.Res. 512-R(H.R. 4907-Full Budget Disclosure Act-baseline budgeting reform)
H.Res. 513-R(H.R. 4906-Emergency spending Control Act)
H.Res. 514-R(H.R. 4822-Congressional Accountability Act)
H.Res. 515-O(H.R. 4980-Hydrogen, Fusion and High Energy & Nuclear Physics
Research Act)
H.Res. 516-R(H.R. 3433-provide management of Presidio under the Interior Secretary)
H.Res. 517-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3355-Violent Crime Control & Law Enforcement)
H.Res. 521-Cf(Conference on S. 2182-National Defense Authorization Act FY95)
H.Res. 522-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 3355-Omnibus Crime Control & Safe
Streets)
H.Res. 523-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4603-FY95 Commerce/Justice/State Approps)
H.Res. 526-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3355-Omnibus Crime Control & Safe Streets
H.Res. 532-O(H.R. 4448-Lowell National Historical Park)
H.Res. 535-O(H.R. 4422-Coast Guard Authorization Act)
H.Res. 536-R(H.R. 2866-Headwaters Forest Act)
H.Res. 537-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4539-FY95 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 542-O(H.R. 4008-National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Reauthorization)
H.Res. 543-O(H.R. 4926-National Treatment in Banking Act)
H.Res. 544-O(H.R. 3171-Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act)
H.Res. 547-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4602-FY95 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 550-Cf(Conference on S. 349-Lobbying Disclosure Act)
H.Res. 551-R(H.R. 4779-State & Local Government Interstate Waste Control Act)
H.Res. 552-O(H.R. 4683-Flow Control Act)
H.Res. 553-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4556-FY95 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 554-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4650-FY95 Defense Department Approps)
H.Res. 555-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4299-Intelligence Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 556-Cf(Conference on H.R. 6-Improving America’s Schoolselementary/
secondary reauthorization
H.Res. 562-R(H.R. 5044-American Heritage Area Partnership Act)
H.Res. 563-R(H.Con.Res. 301-Sense of Congress Regarding Entitlements)
H.Res. 564-C(H.R. 5110-Uruguay Round Agreements Act-fast track)
H.Res. 565-R(S. 455-Payment in Lieu of Taxes Act)
H.Res. 568-Cf(Conference on S.21-California Desert Protection Act)
H.Res. 570-R(H.J.Res. 416-Limited Authorization for US led Force in Haiti)
H.Res. 574-Cf(Conference on S. 1569-Minority Health Improvement Act)
H.Res. 575-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment-H.R.1348-Quinebaug &
Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Center)
H.Res. 576-C(H.R. 5231-provide management of Presidio under the Interior Secretary)
H.Res. 579-C(H.Res. 578-amending the Rules of the House to apply certain laws to the
House)
103rd Congress rule breakdown by category:
Restrictive rules - 69 Total
Restrictive rules -1st Session 103rd (37 restrictive rules):
H.Res. 58-R (H.R. 1-Family & Medical Leave Act)
H.Res. 59-R(H.R. 2-National Voter Registration-motor voter)
H.Res. 81-R(H.R. 670-Family Planning Amendments Act)
H.Res. 106-R(H.R. 20-Federal Employees Political Activities Act-hatch act)
H.Res. 119-R(H.R. 4-NIH Revitalization Act)
H.Res. 132-R(2nd rule -H.R. 1335-Emergency Supplemental Approps.)
H.Res. 133-R(2nd rule-H.Con.Res. 64-FY94 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 138-R(2nd rule-H.R. 670-Family Planning Amendments Act)
H.Res. 149-R(H.R. 1578-Expedited Rescissions Act FY93)
H.Res. 173-R(S.J.Res. 45-Authorizing U.S. Armed Forces in Somalia)
H.Res. 186-R(H.R. 2264-Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)
H.Res. 192-R(H.R. 2348-FY94 Legislative Branch Approps)
H.Res. 195-R(H.R.5-National Labor Relations Act & Railway Labor Act)
H.Res. 197-R,R(1 rule for 2 bills–2nd rule-H.R. 2333-State Department & H.R. 2404-
USIA Authorization)
H.Res. 200-R(H.R. 2295-FY94 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 217-R(2nd rule-H.R. 2010-National Service Trust Act)
H.Res. 220-R(H.R. 2667-Emergency Supplemental for Midwest Flooding)
H.Res. 226-R(2nd rule-H.R. 2667-Emergency Supplemental for Midwest Flooding)
H.Res. 229-R(H.R. 2330-Intelligence Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 246-R(2nd rule-H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 248-R(3rd rule-H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 250-R(H.R. 1340-Resolution Trust Corporation Completion)
H.Res. 254-R(4th rule- H.R. 2401-FY94 National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 264-R(H.R. 2351-National Foundation on the Arts & Humanities, & the Museum
Services Act)
H.Res. 265-R(H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation Extension)
H.Res. 269-R(H.R. 2739-Aviation Infrastructure Investment)
H.Res. 273-R(2nd rule-H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation Extension)
H.Res. 274-R(H.R. 1804-Goals 2000-Educate America Act)
H.Res. 293-R(H.Con.Res. 170-Removal of Armed Forces From Somalia)
H.Res. 299-R(H.R. 1036-Employment Retirement Security Act-ERISA)
H.Res. 302-R(H.R. 1025-Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act-3-day waiting period)
H.Res. 312-R(H.R. 3425-Department of Environmental Protection)
H.Res. 313-R(H.R. 796-Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances)
H.Res. 314-R(H.R. 3351-Alternative Punishments for Young Offenders-SAFE streets)
H.Res. 316-R(H.R. 51-New Columbia Admission Act)
H.Res. 319-R(H.R. 3-Campaign Finance Reform Act)
H.Res. 320-R(H.R. 3400-Government Reform & Savings Act)
Restrictive rules 2nd Session –103rd Congres (32 restrictive rules):
H.Res. 336-R(H.R. 3759-FY94 Emergency Supplemental Approps)
H.Res. 352-R(H.R. 811-Independent Counsel Reauthorization)
H.Res. 357-R(H.R. 3345-Federal Workforce Restructuring Act)
H.Res. 366-R(H.R. 6-Improving America’s Schools-elementary/secondary
reauthorization)
H.Res. 384-R(H.Con.Res. 218-FY95 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 401-R( 2nd rule-H.R. 4092-Violent Crime Control & Law Enforcement)
H.Res. 410-R(H.R. 3221-Iraq Claims Act)
H.Res. 422-R(H.R. 518-California Desert Protection Act)
H.Res. 428-R(H.R. 2108-Black Lung Benefits Restoration Act)
H.Res. 429-R(H.R. 4301-National Defense Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 431-R(2nd rule-H.R. 4301-National Defense Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 440-R(H.R. 4385-National Highway System Designation Act)
H.Res. 443-R(H.R. 4426-FY95 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 444-R(H.R. 4454-FY95 Legislative Branch Approps)
H.Res. 467-R(H.R. 4600-Expedited Rescissions Act of 1994)
H.Res. 468-R(H.R. 4299-Intelligence Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 474-R(H.R. 3937-Omnibus Export Administration Act)
H.Res. 484-R(H.R. 4604-Budget Control Act)
H.Res. 494-R(H.R. 4801-Small Business Reauthorization)
H.Res. 500-R(H.R. 4003-Maritime Administration & Promotional Reform)
H.Res. 507-R(H.R. 4217-Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act)
H.Res. 509-C,R(1 rule for 2 bills-1st- H.J.Res. 373&H.R. 4590-Disapproving of
Extension of MFN to the People’s Republic of China & 2nd-H.R. 4590-to
providing conditions for renewing MFN treatment to the PRC)
H.Res. 512-R(H.R. 4907-Full Budget Disclosure Act-baseline budgeting reform)
H.Res. 513-R(H.R. 4906-Emergency spending Control Act)
H.Res. 514-R(H.R. 4822-Congressional Accountability Act)
H.Res. 516-R(H.R. 3433-provide management of Presidio under the Interior Secretary)
H.Res. 536-R(H.R. 2866-Headwaters Forest Act)
H.Res. 551-R(H.R. 4779-State & Local Government Interstate Waste Control Act)
H.Res. 562-R(H.R. 5044-American Heritage Area Partnership Act)
H.Res. 563-R(H.Con.Res. 301-Sense of Congress Regarding Entitlements)
H.Res. 565-R(S. 455-Payment in Lieu of Taxes Act)
H.Res. 570-R(H.J.Res. 416-Limited Authorization for US led Force in Haiti)
Open rules - 49- Total
Open rules -1st Session 103rd (22 open rules):
H.Res. 164-O(H.R. 820-National Competitive Act)
H.Res. 171-O(H.R. 873-Gallatin Range Consolidation & Protection Act)
H.Res. 172-O(H.R. 1159-Passenger Vessel Safety Act)
H.Res. 183-O(H.R. 2244-Second FY93 Supplemental Appropriations)
H.Res. 193-O(H.R. 2200-NASA Authorization Act)
H.Res. 201-O(H.R. 2403-FY94 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 203-O(H.R. 2445-FY94 Energy & Water Approps)
H.Res. 204-O(H.R. 2446-FY94 Military Construction Approps)
H.Res. 206-O(H.R. 2150-Coast Guard Authorization)
H.Res. 208-O(H.R. 2491-FY94 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 210-O(H.R. 2492-FY94 District of Columbia Approps)
H.Res. 211-O(H.R. 2490-FY94 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 214-O(H.R. 2520-FY94 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 218-O(H.R. 2530-Bureau of Land Management Authorization)
H.Res. 221-O(2nd rule-H.R. 2490-FY94 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 230-O(H.R. 1964-Maritime Administration Authorization)
H.Res. 252-O(3rd rule-H.R. 2750 -FY94 Transportation Approps-first two rules on H.R.
2490)
H.Res. 262-O(H.R. 1845-National Biological Survey Act)
H.Res. 263-O(H.R. 3116-FY94-Department of Defense Approps)
H.Res. 286-O(H.R. 334-Lumbee Recognition Act)
H.Res. 289-O(H.R. 2152-Maritime Security & Competitiveness Act)
H.Res. 303-O(H.R. 322-Mineral Exploration & Development Act)
Open rules - 2nd Session 103rd (27 open rules):
H.Res. 414-O(H.R. 3254-National Science Foundation Authorization)
H.Res. 420-O(H.R. 2442-Economic Development Administration Reauthorization)
H.Res. 423-O(H.R. 2473-Montana Wilderness Act)
H.Res. 433-O(H.R. 4453-FY95 Military Construction Approps)
H.Res. 447-O(H.R. 4539-FY95 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 449-O(H.R. 4506-FY95 Energy & water Approps)
H.Res. 454-O(H.R. 4556-FY95 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 455-O(H.R. 4554-FY95 Agriculture Approps)
H.Res. 458-O(H.R. 4602-FY95 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 461-O(H.R. 4603-FY95 Commerce/Justice/State Approps)
H.Res. 465-O(H.R. 4624-FY95 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 466-O(H.R. 4649-FY95 District of Columbia Approps)
H.Res. 469-O(H.R. 4650-FY95 Defense Department Approps)
H.Res. 475-O(H.R. 1188-Anti-Redlining Insurance Disclosure Act)
H.Res. 482-O(H.R. 3838-Housing & Community Development Act)
H.Res. 483-O(H.R. 3870-Environmental Technologies Act)
H.Res. 491-O(H.R. 2448-Radon Awareness & Disclosure Act)
H.Res. 492-O(S. 208-National Park Service Concession Policy Reform)
H.Res. 501-O(S. 1357-Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians & Little River Band
of Ottawa Indians Act)
H.Res. 502-O(S. 1066-Restoration of Federal Services to Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
Indians)
H.Res. 515-O(H.R. 4980-Hydrogen, Fusion and High Energy & Nuclear Physics
Research Act)
H.Res. 532-O(H.R. 4448-Lowell National Historical Park)
H.Res. 535-O(H.R. 4422-Coast Guard Authorization Act)
H.Res. 542-O(H.R. 4008-National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Reauthorization)
H.Res. 543-O(H.R. 4926-National Treatment in Banking Act)
H.Res. 544-O(H.R. 3171-Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act)
H.Res. 552-O(H.R. 4683-Flow Control Act)
Closed rules - 18 Total
Closed rules - 1st Session-103rd Congress (11 closed rules):
H.Res. 71-C( motion agreeing to Senate amendment to H.R. 1-Family & Medical
Leave)
H.Res. 103-C(H.R. 920-Emergency Unemployment Compensation)
H.Res. 115-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment H.R. 920-Emergency
Unemployment Compensation))
H.Res. 147-C(H.R. 1430-Temporary Increase in the Public Debt Limit)
H.Res. 199-C(H.R. 1876-Extension of Fast Track for GATT)
H.Res. 251-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment to H.R. 20-Federal Employees
Political Activities-Hatch act)
H.Res. 260-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment with an amendment to H.R.
2493-FY94 Agriculture Approps)
H.Res. 282-C(H.J.Res. 281-Making further FY94 Continuing Approps)
H.Res. 287-C(H.J.Res. 283-Making further FY94 Continuing Approps)
H.Res. 304-C(H.J.Res. 288-Making further FY94 Continuing Approps)
H.Res. 311-C(H.R. 3450-To Implement the North American Free Trade Agreement-
NAFTA)
Closed rules - 2nd Session–103rd Congress (7 closed rules):
H.Res. 374-C(provide for Senate hookup with House text and request conference-S.
636-Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances)
H.Res. 416-C(H.R. 4296-Public Safety & recreational Firearms Use Protection Act)
H.Res. 495-C(H.Con.Res. 275-waiving Sec. 132 requirement for July sine die
adjournment)
(The following rule contained a closed rule but is not included in the closed
rules totals–it is included in the total for restrictive rules-H.Res. 509-C,R(1
rule for 2 bills-1st- H.J.Res. 373&H.R. 4590-Disapproving of Extension of MFN
to the People’s Republic of China & 2nd-H.R. 4590-to providing conditions for
renewing MFN treatment to the PRC)
H.Res. 564-C(H.R. 5110-Uruguay Round Agreements Act-fast track)
H.Res. 575-C(motion agreeing to Senate amendment-H.R.1348-Quinebaug &
Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Center)
H.Res. 576-C(H.R. 5231-provide management of Presidio under the Interior Secretary)
H.Res. 579-C(H.Res. 578-amending the Rules of the House to apply certain laws to the
House)
Conference report rules - 41 total
Conference report rules 1st Session 103rd (18 rules):
H.Res. 145-Cf(Conference report on FY94 Budget)
H.Res. 163-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2-National Voter Registration)
H.Res. 179-Cf(Conference on S.1-NIH Revitalization Act)
H.Res. 216-Cf(Conference on H.R. 2118-FY93 Supplemental Approps).
H.Res. 240-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2264-Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993)
H.Res. 241-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2010-National Service Trust Act)
H.Res. 259-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2295-FY94 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 261-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2403-FY94 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 268-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2491-FY94 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 275-Cf(2nd rule-Conference report on H.R. 2491-FY94 VA/HUD Approps)
H.Res. 276-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2519-FY94 Commerce/Justice/State/Judiciary
Approps)
H.Res. 279-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2520-FY94 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 283-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 2492-FY94 District of Columbia Approps)
H.Res. 298-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation
Amendments)
H.Res. 301-Cf(Conference report on H.R. 3116-FY94 Department of Defense Approps)
H.Res. 305-Cf(Conference on H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization FY94)
H.Res. 317-Cf(Conference on S. 714-Resolution Trust Corporation Act)
H.Res. 321-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3167-Unemployment Compensation Amendments)
Conference report rules 2nd Session 103rd (23 rules):
H.Res. 388-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3345-Federal Workforce Restructuring Act)
H.Res. 393-Cf(Conference on H.R. 1804-Goals 2000:Educate America Act)
H.Res. 417-Cf(Conference on S. 636-Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act)
H.Res. 418-Cf(Conference on H.Con.Res. 218-FY95 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 421-Cf(Conference on S. 2000-Head Start & Community Services Block Grant
Reauth)
H.Res. 439-Cf(Conference on S. 24-Independent Counsel Reauthorization)
H.Res. 470-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4454-FY95 Legislative Branch Approps)
H.Res. 504-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4426-FY95 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 505-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3841-Interstate Banking Efficiency Act)
H.Res. 506-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3474-Community Development Banking & Financial
Institutions)
H.Res. 517-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3355-Violent Crime Control & Law Enforcement)
H.Res. 521-Cf(Conference on S. 2182-National Defense Authorization Act FY95)
H.Res. 523-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4603-FY95 Commerce/Justice/State Approps)
H.Res. 526-Cf(Conference on H.R. 3355-Omnibus Crime Control & Safe Streets
H.Res. 537-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4539-FY95 Treasury/Postal Approps)
H.Res. 547-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4602-FY95 Interior Approps)
H.Res. 550-Cf(Conference on S. 349-Lobbying Disclosure Act)
H.Res. 553-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4556-FY95 Transportation Approps)
H.Res. 554-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4650-FY95 Defense Department Approps)
H.Res. 555-Cf(Conference on H.R. 4299-Intelligence Authorization FY95)
H.Res. 556-Cf(Conference on H.R. 6-Improving America’s Schoolselementary/
secondary reauthorization
H.Res. 568-Cf(Conference on S.21-California Desert Protection Act)
H.Res. 574-Cf(Conference on S. 1569-Minority Health Improvement Act)
Procedural rules - 16 - Total
Procedural rules 1st Session 103rd ( 11 rules):
H.Res. 61-P(waiving 2/3ds-Family & Medical Leave)
H.Res. 111-P(waiving 2/3rds-H.R. 920-Emergency Unemployment Compensation)
H.Res. 130-P(general debate only rule H.R. 1335-Emergency Supplemental Approps.)
H.Res. 131-P(general debate only rule H.Con.Res. 64-FY94 Budget Resolution)
H.Res. 142-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.Con.Res. 64-FY94 Budget)
H.Res. 150-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 1335-FY93 Emergency Supplemental)
H.Res. 153-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 1335-FY93 Emergency Supplemental)
H.Res. 196-P,P(1 rule for 2 bills–general debate rules only-H.R. 2333-State
Department & H.R. 2404-USIA Authorization)
H.Res. 215-P(general debate rule only-H.R. 2010-National Service Trust Act)
H.Res. 233-P(general debate rule only-H.R. 2401-National Defense Authorization
FY94)
H.Res. 322-P(agreeing to Senate request for a conference on/and waiving 2/3rds on
rule to consider a conference on-H.R. 1025-Brady Handgun Violence Prevention
Act)
Procedural rules 2nd Session–103rd (5 rules):
H.Res. 356-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 3759-Emergency Supplemental
Approps)
H.Res. 395-P(general debate only rule-H.R. 4092-Violent Crime Control & Law
Enforcement)
H.Res. 397-P(providing for suspension day to consider/&motion to go to conference-
S, 349-to provide for disclosure of lobbying activities)
H.Res. 441-P(waiving 2/3rds-H.R. 4426-FY95 Foreign Operations Approps)
H.Res. 522-P(waiving 2/3rds-Conference on H.R. 3355-Omnibus Crime Control & Safe
Streets)

TexasKaos.com (formerly Texas KOS)

Thursday, May 11, 2006

TexasKOS.com is open for business

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Texas KOS has over 200 members

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Broken Promises

Links

About Me

Blog Archive