Raising a question of the privileges of the House.

Whereas at approximately 11:30 a.m. on the 23rd of January, 2007, the Committee on Rules began consideration of a special order of business providing for consideration of H. Res. 78;

Whereas the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) submitted an amendment to the Committee for its consideration;

Whereas during a recess of the Committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) submitted a letter to the Chairwoman of the Committee on Rules requesting that his amendment be withdrawn from further consideration;

Whereas that letter was date stamped in the customary practice of the Committee;

Whereas it has been the long standing practice of the Committee to not further consider amendments that have been so withdrawn;

Whereas the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) made a motion to report a special order of business providing for consideration of the amendment by Mr. Kirk despite its withdrawal;

Whereas when the issue of the withdrawal of the amendment was being debated by the Committee, the Ranking Republican Member attempted to obtain a copy of the letter from the Majority and the Majority willfully refused to produce a copy of the letter after repeated requests; and

Whereas the wrongful refusal of the Majority to produce a copy of the letter under debate constituted a breach of the dignity and integrity of the Committee’s proceedings: Now, therefore, be it