Date: 2008-02-14
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. it is with great regret. but I must rise today for a question of personal privilege. An article appeared today. Madam Speaker. on the Web site of a publication called The Politico reprinting a statement by a spokesperson for the majority leader of this House describing actions of mine as "incomprehensible" and "unjustifiable" and insinuating that I purposely brought disrespect to the House and to the memory of my dear friend and colleague. Congressman Tom Lantos. It was not my actions which were incomprehensible or unjustifiable. Madam Speaker. but rather the actions of the majority which deprived all Members of this House the opportunity to debate or even consider or vote on the contempt resolutions brought to the floor today by the majority in an absolutely totally unprecedented fashion. The majority knows that the rule we considered earlier is totally and absolutely unprecedented. Its sole purpose was to prevent us from even debating or voting on these contempt resolutions. And further. the majority denied us the opportunity to take up the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act amendments passed by the Senate. which we feel very strongly are in the supreme national interest of the United States. The majority knew that the minority was strongly of the belief that the only options available to us were procedural votes. The majority knew that we intended to utilize our procedural options to register our displeasure with this uncalledfor process. We purposely refrained from all procedural motions during the opening moments of the session today precisely to show respect for our friend and departed colleague. We were assured by the majority that we would not begin consideration of the rule. in other words. that the House would not reconvene until 11:30 a.m. or the conclusion of Mr. Lantos memorial service. Tom Lantos. Madam Speaker. was an extraordinary man. a great man. and he was my friend. It was an honor for me to be present today at his memorial service in �tatuary Hall. I was suddenly summoned out of the memorial service for my friend Mr. Lantos to perform my responsibilities as a member of the Rules Committee. to manage the rule for the minority side for the contempt resolutions. The majority had decided to resume the session during the memorial service. Madam Speaker. I am a member of the minority. Neither I nor my leadership control when the House convenes. What we saw today was an uncalledfor effort by the majority to force the minority to give up our rights to protest a process we feel is blatantly unfair. The majoritys decision to reconvene the House interrupted the tribute to my good friend Mr. Lantos. It is the majority that decides when to convene the House. It is the majority that chose to convene the House even though many speakers remained to speak in the memorial for Mr. Lantos. I was told by my good friend Mr. DREIER that he does not recall any memorial being interrupted by a House session. and he has been here more years than I have. I have been here 15. and obviously I dont recall any either. Madam Speaker. the statement attacking me today by a spokesperson for the majority leader was totally uncalled for and unacceptable. I yield such time as he may consume to the ranking member of*the Rules Committee. the gentleman from California.