IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 324 
Disapproving the manner in which Representative Sensenbrenner has re-
sponded 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 Sensen-
brenner 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 reauthoriza-
tion of the USA PATRIOT Act and the manner in 
which such hearing was conducted. 
Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner willfully and inten-
tionally violated the Rules of the House of Representa-
tives 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 pursu-
ant to rule XI, Representative Sensenbrenner scheduled 
such hearing on less than 48 hours notice;
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Whereas such hearing occurred on Representative Sensen-
brenner’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 com-
ments about members of the minority party in violation 
of rule XVII; 
Whereas, Representative Sensenbrenner failed to allow mem-
bers of the committee to question each witness for a pe-
riod of five minutes in violation of rule XI; 
Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner refused on numerous 
and repeated occasions throughout the hearing to recog-
nize 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 Rep-
resentative 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 im-
proper 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
•HRES 324 LTH 
had not been properly adjourned, and members of the mi-
nority 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 Sensen-
brenner, in consultation with Representative Con-
yers, to schedule a further day of hearings with wit-
nesses requested by members of the minority party 
concerning the reauthorization of the USA PA-
TRIOT Act. 
Æ