Hearing of the Committee on Rules
Open Hearing to receive Member testimony on proposed changes in House Rules
Good Morning. Thank you Mr. Chairman for allowing me to testify today on the potential to amend the standing Rules of the House to further bring a sense of equity in their application towards the Delegates and the Resident Commissioner. I come here today to once again draw attention to issues surrounding the extending of certain privileges expressly granted to the 435 voting members of this House to the Delegates and Resident Commissioner. And in particular I come to specifically support the amending of House Rule 1, Clause 8(a) to permit the Speaker to appoint the Delegates and Resident Commissioner of the House to perform the duties of the Chair in his or her absence. Affording the privilege of serving as Speaker pro tempore to the Delegates and Resident Commissioner would only be right, just, and fair. It would be a logical extension of the inclusion already afforded to the Delegates and Resident Commissioner of the House elsewhere in the Rules of the House.
Excluding the Delegates and Resident Commissioner from the possibility of serving as Speaker pro tempore as the current House rules do, is to effectively eliminate and prohibit their participation in this capacity. This discriminatory treatment of the Delegates and Resident Commissioner only serves to isolate us from the rest of the body.
Any attempt to suggest that amending the rule to allow us to serve as Speaker pro tempore would somehow establish bad precedent or tarnish, erode, degrade, or undermine the history or tradition of the House is simply misguided. Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution states that "the House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers." Specific requirements for one to be named Speaker of the House are not specified anywhere else in the Constitution. Based on this reading, it would not be unconstitutional for the House of Representatives to choose anyone in the world to be its Speaker. It follows then that, if the House so decides, the Constitution allows for the Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to be named Speaker of the House of Representatives. However, Rule 1, Clause 8 restricts the appointment of being Speaker Pro Tempore only to the 435 members.
Mr. Chairman, precedents can be traced to the 103rd Congress when Delegates were allowed to serve as chairs of the Committee of the Whole House. As some of you may recall, Mr. de Lugo, our colleague from the U.S. Virgin Islands at the time, assumed the Chair back on October 6, 1994 to preside over the debate to authorize the U.S.-led force in Haiti. The following day, October 7, 1994, our colleague, the distinguished gentle lady from the District of Columbia, Ms. Norton, took to the Chair as well.
It simply defies logic that current House Rules do not allow the Delegates or the Resident Commissioner to serve as Speaker pro tempore. This in my opinion is akin to suggesting that one who is qualified or even hired as a teacher could not act or serve as a substitute teacher, or that a certified and licensed pilot could not function as a co-pilot of an airplane. I surely hope the circumstances surrounding this rule are closely examined by this Committee in its deliberation on refining the rules and practice of this House and I look forward to receiving a news rules package on the opening day of the 107th Congress that no longer discriminates against the Delegates and Resident Commissioner from serving in this most privileged but essential capacity.
Let me say this as an individual who, under the United States Constitution, is eligible to serve as and be elected as Speaker of this House, it does not make sense for House Rules to prohibit a Delegate or the Resident Commissioner from serving as Speaker pro tempore. Thank you for your time.
