III
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 19
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 25 (legislative day, January 5), 2011
Mr. Ensign submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
RESOLUTION
To require that a descriptive summary of each provision of any legislative matter be available 72 hours before consideration by any subcommittee or committee of the Senate or on the floor of the Senate.
Public availability of a descriptive summary of each provision of legislation
Committees
Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:
It shall not be in order in a subcommittee or committee to proceed to any legislative matter unless the legislative matter and a descriptive summary of each provision of the legislative matter has been publically available on the Internet as provided in subparagraph (b) in searchable form 72 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays except when the Senate is in session on such a day) prior to proceeding.
With respect to the requirements of subparagraph (a), the legislative matter and descriptive summary of each provision shall be available on the official website of the committee.
This paragraph may be waived or suspended in the subcommittee or committee only by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Members of the subcommittee or committee. An affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Members of the subcommittee or committee shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this paragraph.
It shall not be in order in the Senate to proceed to a legislative matter if the legislative matter was proceeded to in a subcommittee or committee in violation of this paragraph.
This subparagraph may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this subparagraph.
In this paragraph, the term legislative matter means any bill, joint resolution, concurrent resolution, conference report, or substitute amendment.
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Senate
Rule XVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:
It shall not be in order in the Senate to proceed to any legislative matter unless the legislative matter and a descriptive summary of each provision of the legislative matter has been publically available on the Internet as provided in subparagraph (b) in searchable form 72 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays except when the Senate is in session on such a day) prior to proceeding.
With respect to the requirements of subparagraph (a), the legislative matter and descriptive summary of each provision shall be available on the official website of the committee with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the legislative matter.
This paragraph may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this paragraph.
In this paragraph, the term legislative matter means any bill, joint resolution, concurrent resolution, conference report, or substitute amendment.
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Protection of classified information
Nothing in this resolution or any amendment made by this resolution shall be interpreted to require or permit the declassification or posting on the Internet of classified information in the custody of the Senate. Such classified information shall be made available to Members in a timely manner as appropriate under existing laws and rules.