Authorizing the printing as a House document of the transcripts of the proceedings of "The Changing Nature of the House Speakership: The Cannon Centenary Conference", sponsored by the Congressional Research Service on November 12, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the concurrent resolution sponsored by the distinguished Chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing and the House Administration Committee, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Ney]. On November 12, 2003, it was my pleasure to attend the Congressional Research Service's conference exploring the transformation of the House speakership during the last 100 years. I was able to attend nearly all of this very interesting conference and was able to gain a much greater understanding of the way the speakership has changed over the years as well as the history of this great institution. I am hopeful that by printing the remarks made at this event and distributing copies to our colleagues, they will also be able to similarly benefit from it as well.

Entitled ``The Changing Nature of the House Speakership: The Cannon Centenary Conference,'' the symposium offered those of us keenly interested in the history of this institution a remarkable insight into the development of the speakership in the modern period. Under the leadership of Daniel Mulhollan, the Director of the Congressional Research Service, participants enjoyed remarks by our distinguished present speaker [Mr. Hastert], and all the living former speakers, Newt Gingrich, Tom Foley, and Jim Wright. Several other former members of the House, and a number of scholars, delivered remarks, including Dr. Robert Remini, author of the preeminent biographer of Henry Clay, a seminar figure in the development of the speakership during the 19th Century. Dr. Remini's presentation was, as always, especially thoughtful and entertaining, whetting the appetite of all of us eager to read the congressionally authorized history of the House, which he is now writing.

The resolution provides for the printing of the transcript of the conference as a House document, thus ensuring that the remarks and other materials discussed in this historic event will remain available for present and future Members, scholars, and others intrigued by the ongoing history of this honorable institution in which we have the pleasure to serve today.

I want to thank Dan Mulhollan and CRS for organizing the conference, and all who participated. I would also like to commend the chairman and his very able majority staff director for the Joint Committee on Printing, Maria Sophia Robinson, for introducing this printing resolution. I would also like to note the hard work of Mike Harrison who covers Joint Committee on Printing matters for me and whom I consider to be the minority staff director of the Joint Committee for the House. Just last month we expedited a housekeeping bill to resolve a longstanding problem affecting the Congressional Record Index Office. I am delighted that we have again moved so quickly to take up another issue under our joint committee's jurisdiction, I would like to call on my colleagues to join in urging the passage of this resolution.

The concurrent resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 345) authorizing the printing as a House document of the transcripts of the proceedings of ``The Changing Nature of the House Speakership: The Cannon Centenary Conference,'' sponsored by the Congressional Research Service on November 12, 2003, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 345 which is at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.

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 the subject of H. Con. Res. 345.