House Proceeding on Jan 24th, 2007 :: 0:53:13 to 1:00:49
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0:52:58 to 0:53:13( Edit History Discussion )

opportunity is there. what the gentleman needs to do is read the rule. i yield 2 1/2 minutes to the gentlewoman from guam, ms. bordallo. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from

0:53:13 to 0:53:26( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: guam is recognized by the chair. ms. bordallo: mr. speaker, i rise in support of the rule under consideration if adopted will allow this house openly and fairly debate an issue important

0:53:13 to 1:00:49( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Eleanor Holmes Norton

0:53:26 to 0:53:46( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: to my constituents and to our fellow americans who reside right here in the shadow of the capitol dome, the citizens of our nation's capital city and our fellow americans who reside in the u.s.

0:53:46 to 0:54:04( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: territories. i urge a yes vote on the rule because it means we can move forward with this important debate. our participation in this committee of the whole, a symbolic vote, in the manner

0:54:04 to 0:54:18( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: proposed by the amendment to the rules, would be consistent with the very foundations of our representative democracy. this issue is about elected public office for which we, as members

0:54:18 to 0:54:32( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: and delegates alike, take a solemn oath. like all members we, too, solemnly affirm to support and defend the constitution of the united states. and to well and faithfully discharge the

0:54:32 to 0:54:48( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: duties inherent with that responsibility. mr. speaker, it is i in keeping with this oath i come to the floor today to appeal for support on the rule and the resolution on principle and on

0:54:48 to 0:55:02( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: the merits of this issue. this is about representation. the very core of this institution. this is about a symbolic but meaningful jest chur. it is about inclusion. it is about the principle that

0:55:02 to 0:55:15( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: every american deserves to be represented with a vote in congress. this is a step in the right direction. it is not without precedent and it has survived review by the judicial branch. the history

0:55:15 to 0:55:29( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: of service by delegates to congress from the territories dates back almost to the founding of our country. the noted and well-respected historian robert remini, in his excellent history of the house,

0:55:29 to 0:55:42( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: published just last year, notes one of the most unique features of the house of representatives under the constitution is the fact that delegates from the territories can participate and

0:55:42 to 0:55:54( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: have participated in all and most important debates. i urge a yes vote on this rule in the spirit of this tradition. mr. price: would the gentlelady yield. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's

0:55:54 to 0:56:09( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i'm very happy to yield a minute to our hard working friend from pittsburgh, mr. murphy. mr. murphy: i thank the gentleman from

0:56:09 to 0:56:23( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: for yielding. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. mr. murphy: we certainly appreciate and admire all citizens of the united states and those from territories.

0:56:23 to 0:56:38( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: they participate in debate here. one of the things that helps us understand what takes place, i would like to go back to allegheny county. we have a council that meets in the city of

0:56:38 to 0:56:52( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: pittsburgh. some members of that council are citizens of the city of pittsburgh, but their jurisdiction was not the city of pittsburgh. what happened if they decided to vote on issues on

0:56:52 to 0:57:05( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: matters that affect that city, taxation and other matters that take place. just because you are citizens disease not mean your jurisdiction of your elected body extends to that city and,

0:57:05 to 0:57:20( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: of course, would strike it down. this is not an issue of whether or not we respect and admire our friends and fellow citizens it is the matter of the rules of what our constitution states,

0:57:20 to 0:57:32( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: what people can represent and what should be allowed on this body. on the boards it does not say whether or not someone is a full member or a delegate. that will mislead the american public

0:57:32 to 0:57:43( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: as to vote totals. to vote on issues that affect my constituents, taxation or other issues of representation, it is not in our constitution to have that there. i urge members to vote no. the

0:57:43 to 0:57:55( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. mcgovern: i would like to yield four minutes to the gentlewoman from district of columbia, ms. norton, where there is taxation,

0:57:55 to 0:58:18( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: but not full representation. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from dictdict is recognized. ms. norton: i thank the gentleman for yielding and reminding this house of the bottom line. the

0:58:18 to 0:58:32( Edit History Discussion )

delegate vote resolution on the floor will confuse many, anger others and needlessly divide the people's house about a right to vote settled by the federal courts 14 years ago. mr. speaker,

0:58:32 to 0:58:46( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: during the 103th congress i just finished my freshman year when the democrats were in the majority i submitted a legal memorandum and requested the right to vote in the committee of the whole

0:58:46 to 0:58:58( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: for the residents of the district of columbia. the house decided to include delegates because we normally have all been treated the same. of course we had no objection. the democrats, however,

0:58:58 to 0:59:16( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: sent the matter to outside attorneys and experts who confirmed the delegate vote would be constitutional and the house acted. the republican minority then sued the house. however, the u.s.

0:59:16 to 0:59:32( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: district court of the district of columbia, the u.s. court of appeals confirmed the constitutionality of the house's action in allowing delegate voting in the committee of the whole just

0:59:32 to 0:59:49( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: as congress has long done in subject matter committees created by the house. the republicans took control in the 104th congress and withdrew the only vote the residents of the district of columbia

0:59:49 to 1:00:04( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: have ever had on the floor for more than 200 years. i say to my friends on the other side there is nothing left to debate about. the courts have now spoken. you had your say. in a debate

1:00:04 to 1:00:17( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: when the democrats did it the right way. they simply put in the rules and allowed full debate. you debated then. you took it to the courts. you debated again and took it to the court of appeals

1:00:17 to 1:00:34( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: and you debated it again. if there was to be a debate it should have been on january 4, but for reasons i have not been able to find, it wasn't in the rules the way it was in the rules when

1:00:34 to 1:00:49( Edit History Discussion )

Eleanor Holmes Norton: i first got this vote. i want to be clear, this was a breakthrough for the district of columbia. when, after my first term, i got this vote. my residents seeing the first thing brought out of this

1:00:49 to 1:01:06( Edit History Discussion )

Bill Shuster: house, not 328 where for four years we have tried to get the full vote, but the vote i got 14 years ago was a setback for the district of columbia. this house and the senate in 2006 re-authorized

1:00:49 to 1:02:53( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bill Shuster