Bob Goodlatte

Mr. GOODLATTE

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I take them very much to heart as has our leadership. In fact, in recognition of the gentleman's concern, I mentioned in my comments that only two Members would be recognized out of order to read sections. One is the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who will read the first article of section 3 dealing with the judiciary. The other is the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), who many regard as the foremost advocate for civil rights in the Congress, he will read the 13th Amendment. In that regard, we hope to address the concern that you raised.

Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, as a part of the opening remarks, I will explain and I hope answer the question of the gentleman from Washington. This morning, for the first time in the history of the House of Representatives, we will read aloud the full text of the Constitution of the United States. We hope this will inspire many more Americans to read the Constitution. The text we are reading today reflects the changes to the document made by the 27 amendments to it. Those portions superseded by amendment will not be read. In order to ensure fairness for all those interested in participating, we have asked Members to line up on a first-come first- served basis. I will recognize Members based on this guidance. In order to ensure relative parity and fairness, I may recognize Members out of order to ensure bipartisanship and balance. Two Members, one from each party, will be recognized out of order. Each Member will approach the podium and read the passage laid out for him or her. The Speaker and two members of the leadership of each party will begin the reading, and then I will recognize Members in order. I thank the Members of both parties in advance for their participation in this historic event. Parliamentary Inquiries

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Southerland).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves).

Mr. GOODLATTE. Amendment 10: ``The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.'' I now yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Rigell).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt).

Mr. GOODLATTE. I now yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).

Mr. GOODLATTE

Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, earlier today, the historic occasion of the first reading of the United States Constitution here on the floor of the House took place, and it was a very good bipartisan occasion where nearly one-third of all the Members of the House of Representatives participated in that reading. Unfortunately, during the reading, one of the Members, while he was reading from the notebook at the podium, turned two of the pages, and two pages of the Constitution were not read. So I ask unanimous consent that I now read those pages and that they be placed into the reading of the Constitution as it occurred earlier today so that we have a complete reading of the Constitution.