Waiving Requirement of Clause 6(a) of Rule XIII With Respect to Consideration of Certain Resolutions and Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules

Floor Speech

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Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1752 waives the requirement of clause 6 of rule XIII requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee. This would allow for the same day consideration of any resolution reported through the legislative day of December 18, 2010. Finally, the rule allows the Speaker to entertain motions to suspend the rules through the legislative day of December 18, 2010. The Speaker or her designee shall consult with the minority leader or his designee on the designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this resolution.

Today, Mr. Speaker, as we near the end of the historic 111th Congress, key legislation remains to be completed. This rule will provide flexibility to allow bipartisan negotiations to continue and put the finishing touches on important initiatives before our 111th Congress. This rule will allow the House to act as fast as it can when receiving legislation from the Senate which, as we all know, can arrive on a very unpredictable time frame. The unpredictability of the Senate thus far this Congress, the lengthy negotiations process, and the partisanship affects the prospects and drastically reduces our ability to take on so many important bills.

This rule today is critical so that we can move forward to consider middle class tax cuts, the DREAM Act, food safety, defense authorization, regardless of where Members of this body stand on particular issues, and I think we owe it to our country to bring them forward in a timely manner for full consideration by this body.

I am very proud to be a Member of the 111th Congress. This Congress has been one of the most productive bodies in half a century and our work is not complete. We've passed several historic bills that will improve the lives of every American and help dig us out of an economic disaster leading to our recovery. We've also passed legislation to make college loans more affordable, to protect consumers from usurious credit card interest rates, to make it easier for women to challenge pay discrimination, to finally regulate tobacco products under the FDA, to crack down on waste in the Pentagon; from giving business tax incentives to hire unemployed workers and giving tax credits to first-time homebuyers which realtors in my district have told me really helped get the market going again.

But despite these historic accomplishments, there remains much work to be done in our final weeks. I could stand here as many Members of this body could for hours talking about the many bills we would like to take up and the programs we need to reauthorize, bills that would create jobs in America, strengthen our national security, fixing our broken immigration system, feeding our children, and repairing our highways. By extending same day and suspension authority until December 18, the day when government funding runs out, we're making a commitment to the country that will uphold our constitutional responsibility and stay on task and keep the government running. We're also keeping the promises that we made to our communities and our nation.

If it comes down to the wire, Mr. Speaker, this rule would give us the flexibility to act in a timely fashion. We know that to consider a bill under a rule, there needs to be a one-day layover and that suspensions are only considered Monday through Wednesday. Without this rule, if the Senate sends us a government funding measure on Saturday, December 18, we would have to literally let the government shut down. This rule is a matter of efficiency. We're all aware of the time constraints before us and the limited time remaining in this session as well as the work that needs to be done. It will do the American people no service if their elected representatives are here debating multiple procedural rules, wasting our taxpayer dollars when government shuts down. That's why we've extended the authority through the end of the current CR. Let us save the remaining time of the 111th Congress to debate the important initiatives that are still pending and pass this rule today.

Mr. Speaker, these are not unusual procedures. I want to point out that in the 109th Congress, the Republican majority reported at least 21 rules that allowed for same day consideration. In fact, five of those rules waived this requirement against any rule reported from the committee.

Mr. Speaker, this will also be the last rule that I have the honor of co-managing with my good friend and colleague from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), and I just want to say a few words on his behalf. It has been a great pleasure serving with the gentleman from Florida on the Rules Committee, having managed a number of rules together on the floor. I have always appreciated his thoughtful and incisive remarks on the Rules Committee and on the floor. His championing of developing American capital, developing the economy in Florida, in Miami; his dedication to foreign relations and affairs, to help restore democracy to a country from which he derives his heritage. Lincoln Diaz-Balart is truly a great American. I look forward to staying in touch with him in his future journeys, because I know that his career in Congress is not the end of his professional career or his life journey but it is merely a stage and a beginning and we will hear many great things in the future from one of the most respected, talented, insightful Members of this Chamber. It has truly been an honor to have been his colleague on the Rules Committee.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, this is a simple and important vote. The 111th Congress has done a great deal, and it has been one of the most accomplished Congresses in decades. However, there are critical needs that must be met before this body adjourns and gives way to the next United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, it's been said that as a Member of the House one's true opponent is not the opposing party, but rather the Senate. This has never been more true, as the most deliberative body has unfortunately pushed some very complicated and yet critical decisions to the last minute, down to the wire, forcing the House and the American people in the position we find ourselves in today.

Mr. Speaker, Congress is riddled with ways to obstruct and delay progress on bills. Just a few weeks ago, the House barely scraped together the votes to pass a child nutrition bill. In the Senate, a minority of Members continue to stall the defense authorization act, the DREAM Act, as well as their work, necessary work on making sure that middle class Americans don't face an increase in taxes come January.

Gridlock is typical of Congress. And of course discussion is an important part of the political process. But never before have so many within government set out to stop progress for political gain at a great cost to our Nation. This rule will simply allow the necessary work of this House to continue, both proactively and reactively with regards to the United States Senate.

The American people want Congress to create jobs and grow the economy by working together. It's not a small task. But it certainly can't be accomplished if we yield to those who would stand in the way of progress. That's why we must pass this rule today, Mr. Speaker, to allow this body to pass critical provisions to allow government to continue to operate essential services for our citizens, defending our borders and our Nation from threats here and abroad, to make sure that middle class Americans don't face the largest tax increase in history come January. Not only do we need to make hard, well-informed decisions about what to do with regard to our tax code, but we need to make tough decisions about many other tax provisions that are scheduled to expire at the end of this calendar year.

It is that calendar, that 10-year clock that necessitates the 111th Congress getting this work done prior to the end of the year. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and the rule.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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