Henry Hyde

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 84, as amended, which provides funding for the committees of the House of Representatives in the first session of the 107th Congress. At the outset, I, too, would like to commend and thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), chairman of the Committee on House Administration, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the ranking Democratic member, and other members of this committee in guiding a thoughtful and well- crafted resolution to the House floor today. The task before them is by no means an easy one and is often complicated by the many different committee demands and requirements for resources. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the Committee on House Administration have deliberated long hours to produce a resolution which strikes a balance between fiscal belt-tightening and funding allocation priorities. In particular, I think I speak for most Members of the House when I say we appreciate the unflagging efforts of both the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), as well as the entire Committee on House Administration in bringing to the floor today a product which is predicted to receive wide, bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, the work of the Committee on International Relations is as important to the national interests as is the work of any department or agency our committee oversees. The decisions we make with respect to our policy and involvement towards other countries are as important as any decisions this Congress makes. Although, I, of course, wish the Committee on International Relations had received its entire request, I believe we can work within the amount allocated to us in this resolution and still achieve a record of accomplishments of which the Congress and the American people can be proud. I wish to take this opportunity to weigh in a very real problem all Members face in the House. I am speaking about the physical office and meeting space availability or, rather, unavailability. When I appeared before the Committee on House Administration earlier this month, I suggested that perhaps it is not too visionary to contemplate another office building. The Senate has three office buildings to serve the interests of 100 Senators. On the House side, we have three buildings that are overutilized to serve the interests of 435 Members. Mr. Speaker, I bring this up now so we might think about remedies for the very near future. In closing, I urge the Members of the House to support H. Res. 84 as reported from the Committee on House Administration so the committees of the House can discharge their responsibilities and get on with the very important business we are sent here to do.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, Today I bring attention to a valuable member of my International Relations Committee staff, Shelly Livingston, who is retiring tomorrow. Shelly has worked on the Committee for over 25 years, serving under six chairmen. When Shelly started with the Committee in 1974, Thomas ``Doc'' Morgan was Chairman. Clem Zablocki, Dante Fascell, Lee Hamilton, and Ben Gilman were fortunate to have Shelly work for them. In her capacity as our fiscal and budget administrator, she has been invaluable in her knowledge of the House rules, and the complexities of everything from personnel procedures and health care options to payroll and travel vouchers. Actually, Shelly started her career here on Capitol Hill right out of college in 1973 working as a Capitol tour guide--one of the ``red coats'' as she likes to refer to her former position. She has served as treasurer for the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group for over 20 years, and many members know her from having traveled with her. Without Shelly's hard work and dedication, we would not have our state-of-the-art audio visual main committee hearing room. Shelly spent many long hours ensuring that this major renovation project ran smoothly. Shelly has been indispensable in putting together the bi-annual committee budget since 1980. She has a keen mind for numbers, and has been able to work in a bipartisan manner with all members and staff. Her expertise and institutional memory will be missed. Shelly is a die-hard Texan, who is going to retire tomorrow and spend the next couple of years travelling around the world. We thank her for her service and dedication to this institution, and I know I speak for many on both sides of the aisle when I say we will miss her witty humor and loyal friendship. We wish her well, and know that with her great love for the arts, she will be doing interesting work in the future.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, I submit for printing in the Record the Rules of the Committee on International Relations which were adopted by the committee on this date. Rules of the Committee on International Relations, 107th Congress (Adopted February 14, 2001) rule 1. general provisions The Rules of the House of Representatives, and in particular, the committee rules enumerated in clause 2 of Rule XI, are the rules of the Committee on International Relations (hereafter referred to as the ``Committee''), to the extent applicable. A motion to recess from day to day, and a motion to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed copies are available, is a privileged non-debatable motion in Committee. The Chairman of the Committee on International Relations (hereinafter referred to as the ``Chairman'') shall consult the Ranking Minority Member to the extent possible with respect to the business of the Committee. Each subcommittee of the Committee is a part of the Committee and is subject to the authority and direction of the Committee, and to its rules to the extent applicable. rule 2. date of meeting The regular meeting date of the Committee shall be the first Tuesday of every month when the House of Representatives is in session pursuant to clause 2(b) of Rule XI of the House of Representatives. Additional meetings may be called by the Chairman as he may deem necessary or at the request of a majority of the Members of the Committee in accordance with clause 2(c) of Rule XI of the House of Representatives. The determination of the business to be considered at each meeting shall be made by the Chairman subject to clause 2(c) of Rule XI of the House of Representatives. A regularly scheduled meeting need not be held if, in the judgment of the Chairman, there is no business to be considered. rule 3. quorum For purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence, two Members shall constitute a quorum. One-third of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for taking any action, except: (1) reporting a measure or recommendation, (2) closing Committee meetings and hearings to the public, (3) authorizing the issuance of subpoenas, and (4) any other action for which an actual majority quorum is required by any rule of the House of Representatives or by law. No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the House of Representatives unless a majority of the Committee is actually present. A record vote may be demanded by one-fifth of the Members present or, in the apparent absence of a quorum, by any one Member. rule 4. meetings and hearings open to the public (a) Meetings Each meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of legislation, of the Committee or a subcommittee shall be open to the public except when the Committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public, because disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person or otherwise violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives. No person other than Members of the Committee and such congressional staff and departmental representatives as they may authorize shall be present at any business or markup session which has been closed to the public. This subsection does not apply to open Committee hearings which are provided for by subsection (b) of this rule. (b) Hearings (1) Each hearing conducted by the Committee or a subcommittee shall be open to the public except when the Committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of that hearing on that day should be closed to the public because disclosure of testimony, evidence or other matters to be considered would endanger the national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or otherwise would violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a majority of those present, there being in attendance the requisite number required under the rules of the Committee to be present for the purpose of taking testimony-- (A) may vote to close the hearing for the sole purpose of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be received would endanger the national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or violate paragraph (2) of this subsection; or (B) may vote to close the hearing, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection. (2) Whenever it is asserted by a Member of the Committee that the evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, or it is asserted by a witness that the evidence or testimony that the witness would give at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate the witness-- (A) such testimony or evidence shall be presented in executive session, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, if by a majority of those present, there being in attendance the requisite number required under the rules of the Committee to be present for the purpose of taking testimony, the Committee or subcommittee determines that such evidence or testimony may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person; and (B) the Committee or subcommittee shall proceed to receive such testimony in open session only if the Committee, a majority being present, determines that such evidence or testimony will not tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person. (3) No Member of the House of Representatives may be excluded from nonparticipatory attendance at any hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee unless the House of Representatives has by majority vote authorized the Committee or subcommittee, for purposes of a particular series of hearings, on a particular article of legislation or on a particular subject of investigation, to close its hearings to Members by the same procedures designated in this subsection for closing hearings to the public. (4) The Committee or a subcommittee may be the procedure designated in this subsection vote to close 1 subsequent day of hearing. (5) No congressional staff shall be present at any meeting or hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee that has been closed to the public, and at which classified information will be involved, unless such person is authorized access to such classified information in accordance with Rule 20. rule 5. announcement of hearings and markups Public announcement shall be made of the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing or markup to be conducted by the Committee or a subcommittee at the earliest possible date, and in any event at least 1 week before the commencement of that hearing or markup unless the Committee or subcommittee determines that there is good cause to begin that meeting at an earlier date. Such determination may be made with respect to any markup by the Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as appropriate. Such determination may be made with respect to any hearing of the Committee or of a subcommittee by its Chairman, with the concurrence of its Ranking Minority Member, or by the Committee or subcommittee by majority vote, a quorum being present for the transaction of business. Public announcement of all hearings and markups shall be published in the Daily Digest portion of the Congressional Record. Members shall be notified by the Chief of Staff of all meetings (including markups and hearings) and briefings of subcommittees and of the full Committee. The agenda for each Committee and subcommittee meeting, setting out all items of business to be considered, including whenever possible a copy of any bill or other document scheduled for markup, shall be furnished to each Committee or subcommittee member by delivery to the member's office at least 23 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) before the meeting. Bills or subjects not listed on such agenda shall be subject to a point of order unless their consideration is agreed to by a two-thirds vote of the Committee or subcommittee or by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or subcommittee.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), a new Member of the House and a new member of the committee, brought the idea of this resolution to me as well as to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). It was a helpful suggestion and one which demonstrates the leadership quality the gentleman's constituents have recognized by electing him to the House. Accordingly, I would like to accord him the responsibility for managing the time. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) be permitted to control the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 34, a measure which congratulates Prime Minister-elect, Ariel Sharon, of Israel, calls for an end to violence in the Middle East, and reaffirms the friendship between the United States and Israel. I am pleased to have sponsors of this resolution on behalf of myself and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking Democratic member of our Committee on International Relations; and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), one of our freshmen Members; the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia; and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), the ranking Democratic member of that subcommittee; as well as several other Members. H. Res. 34 recalls the abiding alliance between Israel and the United States, which is grounded in our shared commitment to democratic values. In over 50 years of Israel's existence, it has stood as a beacon of democracy in a tension- and trouble-filled region. On February 6, 2001, the citizens of Israel once again went to the polls to elect a Prime Minister in a competitive, free, and open election. That election was decisively won by Ariel Sharon. Accordingly, this legislation congratulates him on his election as Prime Minister and extends to him the best wishes of the people of the United States. It also commends the people of Israel for reaffirming, through their participation in that election, their dedication to democratic ideals. Mr. Speaker, the violence that has wracked Israel and the disputed territories for months is indeed deplorable. While H. Res. 34 urges Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat to use his influence and resources to see that violence in the Middle East is brought to an end, the legislation also restates the U.S. commitment to a secure peace for Israel. Our measure calls upon the countries that neighbor Israel and upon the international community to respect the freely expressed will of the people of Israel and to be prepared to engage in constructive relations with the new government of Israel. The future will surely bring many new challenges to Israel, including the continued threat of terrorism and the added danger imposed by weapons of mass destruction. It is critical the United States and Israel maintain an unshakeable alliance to further our many mutual interests. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 34) congratulating the Prime Minister-elect of Israel, Ariel Sharon, calling for an end to violence in the Middle East, reaffirming the friendship between the Governments of the United States and Israel, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 34, the resolution under consideration.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I insert into the Record, a letter from Chairman Oxley, concerning his committee's jurisdiction over H. Con. Res. 15 and his willingness to waive that committees referral of the bill, to permit us to proceed to its consideration. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, January 31, 2001. Hon. Henry J. Hyde, Chairman, Committee on International Relations, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Henry: I understand that you intend to bring H. Con. Res. 15, a resolution expressing sympathy for the victims of the Indian earthquake, to the floor today for consideration under the suspension calendar. As you know, the Committee on Financial Services was granted an additional referral upon the resolution's introduction pursuant to the Committee's jurisdiction over international financial and monetary organizations under Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives. Because of the importance of this matter, I recognize your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and will waive consideration of the resolution by the Financial Services Committee. By agreeing to waive its consideration of the resolution, the Financial Services Committee does not waive its jurisdiction over H. Con. Res. 15. In addition, the Committee on Financial Services reserves its authority to seek conferees on any provisions of the resolution that are within the Financial Services Committee's jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be convened on this legislation. I ask your commitment to support any request by the Committee on Financial Services for conferees on H. Con. Res. 15 or related legislation. I request that you include this letter and your response as part of the Record during consideration of the legislation on the House floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters. Sincerely, Michael G. Oxley, Chairman.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 15) expressing sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck India on January 26, 2001, and support for ongoing aid efforts.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Ferguson). (Mr. FERGUSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul). (Mr. PAUL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Ose).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 15.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), one of the coauthors of this resolution.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the distinguished chairman emeritus of the Committee on International Relations. (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 15, which expresses the sympathy and the condolences of the American people and the Congress of the United States following the devastating earthquake that struck western India January 26, 2001. This earthquake, the most severe in India in the past 50 years, registered 7.9 on the Richter scale and caused incalculable human suffering and devastation. The resultant loss of life is estimated to be in the tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands are homeless and injured. President Bush has pledged to provide immediate assistance to India, which is in urgent need of medical supplies, food, and emergency relief equipment. H. Con. Res. 15 supports the efforts of our government, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the international development community, in their endeavors to provide assistance to the Government of India and private voluntary organizations that are engaged in relief efforts. Mr. Speaker, India is the most populous democracy on earth and a strategic partner of the United States. It is, therefore, fitting that the United States Congress express its sympathy and condolences to the people of India for the tragic loss of life and devastating destruction caused by this earthquake and support all bilateral and multilateral efforts to ease the human suffering in India and provide assistance in the reconstruction effort. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 15. I urge its adoption by the House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, my friends, I join you in the joyous realization that we have reached the end of a very tortuous political campaign, and today is the final act in choosing our national leader. The United States Supreme Court very unusually had an important role in bringing this to its stated finality. But it did, among several things, one very important thing, and that is reassert the primacy of the legislative branch, the elected legislature, rather than the appointed judicial branch. That is very important. Today, we can approach this as Americans, not as Republicans, not as Democrats, not as conservatives, not as liberals, but as Americans. We can serve the public good, the common good. We are elected to do that. Let us put the bitterness and rancor behind us, and let us move forward to do the job we are sworn to do. God bless America.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. I thank the gentleman for his explanation.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, the pending rules package proposes to amend clause 3 of rule X to give the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence the ``exclusive'' authority to ``review the sources and methods of entities described in clause 11(b)(1)(A).'' Included in that list is the National Foreign Intelligence Program as defined in section 3(6) of the National Security Act of 1947. The term National Foreign Intelligence Program, as defined by the 1947 Act, ``refers to all programs, projects, and activities of the intelligence community, which includes the Treasury Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other governmental agencies that impact matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary.'' See 50 U.S.C. 401a(4). As you know, pursuant to House rule X, the House Committee on the Judiciary has jurisdiction over all provisions of criminal law, espionage, and subversive activities affecting the internal security of the United States. Will the adoption of these proposed changes alter in any way the oversight jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary? I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).