IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 324 

Disapproving the manner in which Representative Sensenbrenner has responded to the minority party’s request under rule XI of the House 

of Representatives for an additional day of oversight hearings on the 

reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act and the manner in which 

such hearing was conducted. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 16, 2005 

Mr. NADLER submitted the following resolution; which was laid on the table 

RESOLUTION 

Disapproving the manner in which Representative Sensenbrenner has responded to the minority party’s request 

under rule XI of the House of Representatives for an 

additional day of oversight hearings on the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act and the manner in 

which such hearing was conducted. 

Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner willfully and intentionally violated the Rules of the House of Representatives by abusing and exceeding his powers as chairman; 

Whereas subsequent to receiving a request for an additional 

day of hearings by members of the minority party pursuant to rule XI, Representative Sensenbrenner scheduled 

such hearing on less than 48 hours notice; 
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Whereas such hearing occurred on Representative Sensenbrenner’s directive at 8:30 a.m., on Friday, June 10, 

2005, a date when the House was not in session and 

votes were not scheduled; 

Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner directed his staff to 

require that the witnesses’ written testimony be made 

available on less than 18 hours notice; 

Whereas, during the course of the hearing, Representative 

Sensenbrenner made several false and disparaging comments about members of the minority party in violation 

of rule XVII; 

Whereas, Representative Sensenbrenner failed to allow members of the committee to question each witness for a period of five minutes in violation of rule XI; 

Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner refused on numerous 

and repeated occasions throughout the hearing to recognize members of the minority party attempting to raise 

points of order; 

Whereas when Representative Nadler and Representative 

Jackson-Lee sought recognition to raise a point of order, 

Representative Sensenbrenner refused to recognize Representative Nadler or Representative Jackson-Lee, and 

intentionally and wrongfully adjourned the committee 

without obtaining or seeking either unanimous consent or 

a vote of the committee members present in violation of 

rule XVI; 

Whereas subsequent to Representative Sensenbrenner’s improper adjournment of the hearing, his staff turned off 

the microphones and the electronic transmission of the 

proceedings, and instructed the court reporter to stop 

taking transcription, even though the committee hearing 
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had not been properly adjourned, and members of the minority party and invited witnesses continued to speak; 

and 

Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner willfully trampled the 

right of the minority to meaningfully hold an additional 

day of hearings in violation of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, and brought discredit upon the House of 

Representatives: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the House strongly condemns the manner in 

3 which Representative Sensenbrenner has responded 

4 to the minority party’s request for an additional day 

5 of oversight hearings on the reauthorization of the 

6 USA PATRIOT Act, and the manner in which such 

7 hearing was conducted; and 

8 (2) the House instructs Representative Sensen9 brenner, in consultation with Representative Con10 yers, to schedule a further day of hearings with wit11 nesses requested by members of the minority party 

12 concerning the reauthorization of the USA PA13 TRIOT Act. 

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