Disapproving the manner in which Representative Sensenbrenner has responded to the minority party's request under rule XI of the House of Representatives for an additional day of oversight hearings on the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act and the manner in which such hearing was conducted.

        [Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 324 Laid on Table in House (LTH)]

109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 324

Disapproving the manner in which Representative Sensenbrenner has
responded to the minority party's request under rule XI of the House of
Representatives for an additional day of oversight hearings on the
reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act and the manner in which such
hearing was conducted.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 16, 2005

Mr. Nadler submitted the following resolution; which was laid on the
table

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Disapproving the manner in which Representative Sensenbrenner has
responded to the minority party's request under rule XI of the House of
Representatives for an additional day of oversight hearings on the
reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act and the manner in which such
hearing was conducted.

Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner willfully and intentionally violated the
Rules of the House of Representatives by abusing and exceeding his
powers as chairman;
Whereas subsequent to receiving a request for an additional day of hearings by
members of the minority party pursuant to rule XI, Representative
Sensenbrenner scheduled such hearing on less than 48 hours notice;
Whereas such hearing occurred on Representative Sensenbrenner's directive at
8:30 a.m., on Friday, June 10, 2005, a date when the House was not in
session and votes were not scheduled;
Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner directed his staff to require that the
witnesses' written testimony be made available on less than 18 hours
notice;
Whereas, during the course of the hearing, Representative Sensenbrenner made
several false and disparaging comments about members of the minority
party in violation of rule XVII;
Whereas, Representative Sensenbrenner failed to allow members of the committee
to question each witness for a period of five minutes in violation of
rule XI;
Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner refused on numerous and repeated occasions
throughout the hearing to recognize members of the minority party
attempting to raise points of order;
Whereas when Representative Nadler and Representative Jackson-Lee sought
recognition to raise a point of order, Representative Sensenbrenner
refused to recognize Representative Nadler or Representative Jackson-
Lee, and intentionally and wrongfully adjourned the committee without
obtaining or seeking either unanimous consent or a vote of the committee
members present in violation of rule XVI;
Whereas subsequent to Representative Sensenbrenner's improper adjournment of the
hearing, his staff turned off the microphones and the electronic
transmission of the proceedings, and instructed the court reporter to
stop taking transcription, even though the committee hearing had not
been properly adjourned, and members of the minority party and invited
witnesses continued to speak; and
Whereas Representative Sensenbrenner willfully trampled the right of the
minority to meaningfully hold an additional day of hearings in violation
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and brought discredit upon
the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the House strongly condemns the manner in which
Representative Sensenbrenner has responded to the minority
party's request for an additional day of oversight hearings on
the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act, and the manner in
which such hearing was conducted; and
(2) the House instructs Representative Sensenbrenner, in
consultation with Representative Conyers, to schedule a further
day of hearings with witnesses requested by members of the
minority party concerning the reauthorization of the USA
PATRIOT Act.
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