H. Res. 441

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

March 16, 2000.

Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule

XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the

Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of

the bill (H.R. 2372) to simplify and expedite access to the

Federal courts for injured parties whose rights and privileges,

secured by the United States Constitution, have been deprived by final actions of Federal agencies, or other government officials or entities acting under color of State law; to

prevent Federal courts from abstaining from exercising Federal jurisdiction in actions where no State law claim is alleged; to permit certification of unsettled State law questions

that are essential to resolving Federal claims arising under

the Constitution; and to clarify when government action is

sufficiently final to ripen certain Federal claims arising under

the Constitution. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. General debate shall be confined to the bill and

shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by
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the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee

on the Judiciary. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. It shall be

in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of

amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the

nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the

Judiciary now printed in the bill. The committee amendment

in the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. No

amendment to the committee amendment in the nature of a

substitute shall be in order except those printed in the report

of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution.

Each amendment may be offered only in the order printed in

the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in

the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for

the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled

by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to

amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division

of the question in the House or in the Committee of the

Whole. All points of order against the amendments printed in

the report are waived. The Chairman of the Committee of the

Whole may: (1) postpone until a time during further consideration in the Committee of the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment; and (2) reduce to five minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on any postponed question that follows another electronic vote without
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intervening business, provided that the minimum time for

electronic voting on the first in any series of questions shall

be 15 minutes. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill

for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill

to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House

on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole

to the bill or to the committee amendment in the nature of

a substitute. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage

without intervening motion except one motion to recommit

with or without instructions.

Attest:

Clerk.