Relating to Early Organization of the House of Representatives For the 109th Congress

RELATING TO EARLY ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 109TH CONGRESS -- (House of Representatives - October 06, 2004)

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 824) relating to early organization of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Ninth Congress, and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the title of the resolution.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio?

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I want to thank the chairman for his timely handling of this matter.

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I also wanted to ensure that the legislative purposes of this resolution are clear.

One purpose of this resolution is to continue the practice of allowing the House party leaders to call an early organizing caucus of their respective party members, and to do so before the statutorily established date of December 1st. Each party leader can schedule the caucus to begin on any date of his or her choosing after the date of the election. While it is customary to schedule the caucuses to begin at the same time, it is up to each party leader to make that decision for his or her party caucus. If the House has adjourned sine die, then each incumbent Members-elect, and a designated staff person, can be paid for their transportation expenses to attend the caucus. If the House has not adjourned sine die, then there are no travel expenses paid for incumbent Members-elect or their staff. New Members-elect, and a designated staff person from the district, can also attend with all attendance expenses paid by the House.

The resolution also has the purpose of continuing the practice of allowing the House Leadership's orientation program(s), hosted by the Committee on House Administration, to be conducted at any time, or at multiple times, after the date of the election, and allows each Member-elect, and a designated staff person, to be reimbursed for the expenses of attendance. The orientation program has usually been conducted as a part of, and during the same time period as the party caucuses. However if the caucuses are conducted at different times, then the orientation program could be conducted before, during, or after each caucus, with the Member-elect's, and designated staff person's expenses of attendance paid by the House.

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Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

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