Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1102 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

(Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1102 waives clause 6(a) of rule XIII, requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee, against certain resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The resolution applies the waiver to any special rule reported on this legislative day.

The rule also provides that suspensions will be in order at any time on the legislative day. The resolution also provides that the Speaker or his designee shall consult with the minority leader or her designee on any suspension considered under the rule.

Madam Speaker, we have before us this morning a simple rule that will allow for the consideration of important final measures that must be addressed before we adjourn sine die. Most important is the consideration of the continuing resolution, which will continue funding of the government until February of 2007.

Although I am disappointed this Congress was unable to complete its spending bills for fiscal year 2007, we must consider and pass this continuing resolution before we leave tonight. It is my hope that in future Congresses we can work together with the other body to ensure we finish the appropriating process on schedule and in a fiscally responsible manner.

This balanced rule provides the minority with the ability to consult with the Speaker on any suspension that is offered, ensuring that their input and views are duly considered before any legislation considered under this rule is brought to the floor. This rules also allows for consideration of special rules reported on this day.

We are nearing the end of our session, always a chaotic time, and this rule will allow the House to finish its business in a timely fashion. I now ask my colleagues to support this rule so that we may continue the work of the American people in a timely fashion today. Completing consideration of these suspensions and remaining bills ensures that we may accomplish as much as possible in the final days of this Congress, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this balanced rule.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from West Virginia, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, it is disappointing we are adjourning after passing only 2 of the 13 appropriation bills that fund the Federal Government. We should have done better, and clearly we could have done better. Instead, we are leaving this year's unfinished business to the next Congress. That is far from the ideal way of handling our constitutional responsibilities.

Nonetheless, that is a reality, and we will deal with it as such when Congress returns next year under new leadership. But the American people should be assured that such a turn of events will not alter the focus of the next Congress. We will remain focused on the critical priorities of American families, priorities that were made clear in the recent election: a sensible energy policy, affordable health care for working families, reforming prescription drug benefits, honest wages for honest work, increasing homeland security, and responsible oversight of and a change in direction of our policy in Iraq.

I hope those issues will be addressed next year in a bipartisan manner, with open debate and a focus on concrete results for the American people.

The time to deal with those will come soon. The problem before us now is that the Federal Government shuts down at midnight tonight unless we invoke martial law under this rule. It concludes the 109th Congress on a less than satisfactory note, but it is nonetheless necessary

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.