Tuesday, October 2, 2007

4:50 P.M.

_____________________________________________

H.R. 3648                   Ways and Means        

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007     

The Committee granted, by a non-record vote, a closed rule providing one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.  The rule considers as adopted the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, modified by the amendment printed in the committee report, and considers the bill, as amended, as read.  The rule waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended.  The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.  Finally, the rule permits the Chair, during consideration of the bill, to postpone further consideration of it to a time designated by the Speaker.

H.R. 3246                   Transportation and Infrastructure             Financial Services        

Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007   

The Committee granted, by a voice vote, a closed rule providing one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.  The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, modified by the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report, shall be considered as adopted.  The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.  The rule waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended.

The rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 3246 with or without instructions.  Finally, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, during consideration of H.R. 3246, the Chair may postpone further consideration until a time designated by the Speaker.

H.R. 928                     Oversight and Government Reform           

The Improving Government Accountability Act

The Committee granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI.  The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read.  All points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived except clause 10 of rule XXI.

The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report.  The amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.  All points of order against the amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived.  The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.  Finally, the rule provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker.

H.R. 2740                   Judiciary       

MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007     

The Committee granted, by a vote of 8 to 4, a structured rule providing one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.  The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of further amendment and shall be considered as read.  The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. 

The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report.  Such amendments may be offered only in the order printed in the report, only offered by the Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.  The rule waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.  The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.  Finally, the rule permits the Chair, during consideration of the bill in the House, to postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker.