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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 324 Laid on Table in House (LTH)]

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;
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 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
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the House strongly condemns the manner in which 
        Representative Sensenbrenner has responded to the minority 
        party's request for an additional day of oversight hearings on 
        the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act, and the manner in 
        which such hearing was conducted; and
            (2) the House instructs Representative Sensenbrenner, in 
        consultation with Representative Conyers, to schedule a further 
        day of hearings with witnesses requested by members of the 
        minority party concerning the reauthorization of the USA 
        PATRIOT Act.
                                 <all>
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