Chief Deputy Whip
Rep. Diana DeGette
DeGette is a fourth generation Coloradoan, educated at Denver's South High School and Colorado College. Read More...

The Daily WhipLine

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 : PRINT

Floor Schedule and Procedure

• H. Res. 86 - Rule to provide for consideration of H. Res. 78: The House will first consider a Modified Open Rule on the resolution amending the rules of the House of Representatives to permit Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to the Congress to have a symbolic vote in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.  The Modified Open Rule makes in order every Republican amendment submitted to the Rules Committee.  Specifically, the Rule makes in order an amendment offered by Rep. Kirk or his designee and waives all points of order against the amendment.  The Rule will be managed by Rep. James P. McGovern and will be considered in the following order:

• One hour of debate on the Modified Open Rule.
• Possible vote on the Democratic motion to move the previous question.  Democrats are urged to vote YES.
• Vote on adoption of H.Res. 86.  Democrats are urged to vote YES.

• H.Res. 78 : Next, the House will consider the resolution to amend the rules of the House of Representatives to permit Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to the Congress to have a symbolic vote in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.  The bill will be managed by Rep. Alcee Hastings.  Under the Modified Open Rule, the bill will be considered in the following order:

• One hour of general debate.
• 20 minutes of debate on an amendment if offered by Rep. Kirk or his designee (see below).
• Possible vote on Kirk amendment.  Democrats are urged to vote NO.
• Vote on motion to recommit without instructions.  Democrats are urged to vote NO.
• Vote on adoption of H.Res. 78.  Democrats are urged to vote Yes. 

Bill Summary and Key Issues

• H. Res. 78:  The resolution will amend the rules of the House to allow four delegates (District of Columbia, Guam, America Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner to have a symbolic vote in the Committee of the Whole.  This resolution gives Delegates representing U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals the right to express the views of their constituents on the House Floor in the Committee of the Whole but does not allow those votes to affect the final outcome or substance of legislation.  This resolution is the exact same resolution enacted in 1993 and removed in 1995 by the Republican Congress. 

• By passing this resolution, the House will honor our commitment to expand, not limit, democracy.  Delegates represent U.S. citizens (American Samoans are “U.S. nationals”) who serve our country – just like other Americans – and they deserve a voice in Congress. They serve in our military.  For example, 30,000 residents of Guam (out of approximately 166,000 total residents) are military personnel and dependents.  They are fighting for us right now in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2,427 soldiers from the territories and the District of Columbia are deployed abroad with our military.  They have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend our country.  American Samoa has the highest per capita casualty rate of any state or territory in the war in Iraq. The Iraq war death rate per 1 million people in the population is almost as high for American Samoa as for the 10 highest states combined.

• Kirk amendment:  Rep. Kirk or his designee may offer an amendment that would deny delegates even a symbolic vote in the Committee of the Whole by requiring the constituents of the Delegates or Resident Commissioner to pay the same federal income taxes of other House Members even if they don’t enjoy the same benefits. 

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