Congressional Record, Volume 162 Issue 109 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)

[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 109 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4482-H4497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 524,
COMPREHENSIVE ADDICTION AND RECOVERY ACT OF 2016; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I
call up House Resolution 809 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

H. Res. 809

Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be
in order to consider the conference report to accompany the
bill (S. 524) to authorize the Attorney General to

[[Page H4483]]

award grants to address the national epidemics of
prescription opioid abuse and heroin use. All points of order
against the conference report and against its consideration
are waived. The conference report shall be considered as
read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on
the conference report to its adoption without intervening
motion except: (1) one hour of debate; and (2) one motion to
recommit if applicable.
Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution--
(a) the House shall be considered to have: (1) taken from
the Speaker's table the bill (S. 2943) to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to
prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year,
and for other purposes; (2) stricken all after the enacting
clause of such bill and inserted in lieu thereof the
provisions of H.R. 4909, as passed by the House; and (3)
passed the Senate bill as so amended; and
(b) it shall be in order for the chair of the Committee on
Armed Services or his designee to move that the House insist
on its amendment to S. 2943 and request a conference with the
Senate thereon.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama is recognized for
1 hour.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis),
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose
of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. BYRNE. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Alabama?
There was no objection.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 809 facilitates the process
to allow us to go to conference with the Senate on the National Defense
Authorization Act. The resolution also provides for consideration of a
conference report related to our efforts to combat the opioid crisis
that is wreaking havoc in communities all across the United States.
I want to talk first about the need to get to conference with the
Senate on the National Defense Authorization Act. For 54 straight
years, the House and Senate have come together to fulfill our most
important responsibility: to provide for the common defense.
My colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk a lot about regular
order. Well, there is no greater example of regular order than the
National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation has gone from the
subcommittee level to the full committee, to the full bodies of both
Houses; and now we need to continue the process by allowing for this
House to enter into negotiations with the Senate.
Between the House and the Senate, hundreds of amendments have been
adopted to this legislation. Members from both sides of the aisle have
had an opportunity to have their input on this legislation, and the
separate bills passed both by the House and the Senate have bipartisan
support.
Now, there are some differences between the House and the Senate
versions of the National Defense Authorization Act, and that is why we
have to have the conference committee process. This will allow us to
iron out our differences.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I can personally attest
to just how important it is we get a strong, reform-based NDAA signed
into law this year.
Our military is in the midst of a readiness crisis. Aircraft cannot
fly due to maintenance issues. There are even reports of mechanics
having to take parts off of planes inside museums in an effort to
repair damaged aircraft.
Think about that for a minute. The United States, home to the
greatest fighting force on the face of the Earth, is having to use
plane parts from museums in an effort to keep some of our aircraft
operational. That is simply stunning.
And readiness is so important these days given the serious threat
posed by radical Islamic terrorism. Every morning, it seems we wake up
to reports of another attack. Whether it is in Bangladesh, Baghdad,
Istanbul, Kabul, Saudi Arabia, or right here in Orlando, or San
Bernardino, these attacks just reinforce the fact that radical Islamic
terrorism must be defeated.
The NDAA is also important because it is a great opportunity to put
reforms in place at the Pentagon. Whether it is reducing bureaucratic
obstacles, improving military health care, or updating the command
structure, the NDAA is the perfect tool to ensure efficiency and
effectiveness from the Pentagon.
So I hope my colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me in
voting to get us to conference so we can keep the streak alive of
passing a strong NDAA each year.
The other portion of this rule provides for consideration of the
conference report dealing with the opioid crisis.
I recently heard a story of a young man from southwest Alabama who
suffered an injury playing sports. He was prescribed opioid-based pain
medication by his doctor, but, unfortunately, he became addicted. Next
thing he knew, his addiction had spiraled out of control and he found
himself using heroin. Ultimately, he became seriously ill.
Thankfully, this young man was able to enter a treatment program and
receive help, but not everyone who suffers from opioid addiction is so
fortunate.
Studies show that approximately 46,000 Americans die because of a
drug overdose each year. That number adds up to over 130 deaths a day.
Tragically, young Americans are disproportionately impacted.
One of the worst things about opioid abuse is that it can start so
innocently. Whether it is a high school athlete who suffers an injury
or an individual who undergoes a medical procedure as simple as dental
work, no American is immune from this tragedy.
That is why this legislation is so very important. It authorizes new
programs and reforms others to ensure that those struggling with opioid
addition can get the help that they need.
The bill includes new grants to States to carry out comprehensive
opioid abuse responses with education, treatment, and recovery efforts,
and prescription drug monitoring programs.
The bill also has multiple provisions dealing with prevention,
including a new intergovernmental task force to identify, review, and,
as appropriate, determine whether there are gaps or inconsistencies
between best practices for chronic and acute pain management.
Treatment and recovery are also a priority, with reforms to multiple
existing grant programs and a new grant program to provide grants to
community organizations to develop, expand, and enhance recovery
services and build connections between recovery networks, including
physicians, the criminal justice system, and employers.

{time} 1245

The bill also helps women, families, and veterans. This includes
reauthorization of a grant program for residential treatment for
pregnant and postpartum women who have an opioid abuse disorder and a
new pilot program to enhance the flexibility of funds so States can
more broadly support family-based services for pregnant and postpartum
women and their children.
Moreover, this bill contains other commonsense reforms such as
clarifying that pharmacists coordinating with a doctor and patient may
not fill the entire amount of a prescription for a Schedule II
substance, such as opioids.
Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the numerous and important pieces
of this legislation. I am pleased to report that 200 different
organizations from every corner of our country have already come out in
support of this conference report.
Now, this bill probably doesn't do everything that every Member would
like for it to do. In my time up here, I have yet to see a perfect
bill. But this is a good bill, and I honestly doubt there is anything
in this bill that my colleagues disagree with.
I understand some of my colleagues have concerns over funding, but
let me remind my colleagues about the important distinction between
appropriations and authorizing. This bill authorizes programs to
address the opioid crisis. The Appropriations Committee has made clear
that they are going to do everything that they can to provide funding
for these programs, and I take them at their word. But putting funding
in an authorization bill is not the proper way to address this issue.

[[Page H4484]]

Mr. Speaker, I worry we are seeing a larger issue here that started
with the Zika virus legislation a few weeks ago. My colleagues on the
other side demand action on issues, the process plays out, the House
and Senate work together on legislation, and then my colleagues on the
other side announce their opposition to very similar bills to the ones
they previously supported.
Let's not forget that the House passed our opioid legislation by a
vote of 400-5, and the Senate passed their bill by a vote of 94-1.
Neither of those bills included funding. So it is stunning that now
many of my colleagues on the other side say that they are going to
oppose this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I worry that this is about politics instead of policy. I
fear that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want an issue to
debate on the campaign trail instead of actual solutions to the
problems facing our country.
I sincerely hope that that is not the case because the American
people deserve better than that. They can turn on their TVs every night
and get enough political theater. But here in this body we should rise
above that temptation and actually work on solutions.
The minority will not get everything they want. That is the nature of
compromise, and that is the realty of being in the minority. But this
has been a truly bipartisan process, and I hope it will not fall victim
to political grandstanding.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 809 and
the underlying legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule today providing for
consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year
2017, a bill that the President has said he would veto, and the
conference report to accompany S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and
Recovery Act of 2016. Many of us support the underlying bill, but,
unfortunately, it doesn't allow for--despite nine times having funding
being waived--any funding to deal with defeating the cycle of addiction
or the health issues around opioid abuse. So while it is an innocuous
bill and might help a little bit, it is in no way commensurate with the
challenge that families across our country face in dealing with opioid
addiction.
Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an
amendment to the rule that would require the House to consider the
bipartisan no fly, no buy legislation which would bar the sale of
firearms and explosives to those on the FBI's terrorist watch list.
My amendment would not prevent the House from considering either of
the underlying measures of this rule. It would simply give the House an
opportunity to finally vote on keeping terrorists from assembling
arsenals of weapons legally in our country.
Mr. Speaker, we can't wait any longer for Congress to take meaningful
action.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the
amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately
prior to the vote on the previous question.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. POLIS. Without question, the NDAA is a very important and serious
bill. However, the bill before us today is one that the President has
said he would veto. I have argued on this floor in an amendment that I
supported a 1 percent cut to the authorization levels. By spending more
on the military than we can afford as a country and plunging ourselves
deeper into debt, we make ourselves less secure, not more secure. By
making ourselves economically beholden to countries like China and
Saudi Arabia, we are less secure rather than more secure. Frankly, this
bill is more of the same, and if it passes and were to become law--
which it won't because the President would veto it--it would also make
it less secure.
But this rule and this day it is notable for what we are not doing
rather than what we are doing. We are not under this rule considering
two simple, plain, commonsense pieces of legislation that everybody
knows will help protect American lives and prevent terrorist attacks in
our Nation. One is simply to require a background check when a person
obtains a gun. Another would prevent terrorists from assembling
arsenals of weapons.
In my home State of Colorado, we already have universal background
checks, and they have led to law enforcement arresting 114 fugitives
since the beginning of the year.
It is our duty to simply vote on these bills that strengthen and
enhance our Second Amendment rights by ensuring that law-abiding gun
owners will continue to be able to purchase guns and keeping guns out
of the hands of violent criminals and those who don't have the legal
right to own them. Both of these bills do this, and each has over 100
cosponsors, including Members on both sides of the aisle.
As we stand here today, we are still reeling from the deadliest mass
shooting in our country's history nearly 1 month ago. Pulse nightclub
in Orlando was a targeted act of terror against the gay community, our
allies, and the entire Nation.
In my home State of Colorado, we have been hard hit with mass
shootings: Columbine, Aurora, and the Planned Parenthood center in
Colorado Springs to name a few. It is time for action, and the simple,
commonsense measures before us offer a good first step to ensure that
we get that done.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for
the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation to honor
the memory of Xavier Arnold, a victim of gun violence who never ever
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to the gentleman from
California----
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend for one moment.
The Chair would advise that all time has been yielded for the purpose
of debate only.
Does the gentleman from Alabama yield for the purpose of this
unanimous consent request?
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I reiterate my earlier announcement that all
time yielded is for the purpose of debate only, and I will not yield
for any other purpose.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama does not yield;
therefore, the unanimous consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Thompson) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation to honor the memory of Kelly Russler; Jayden, her son, and
Laing, her son; victims of gun violence who never received a moment of
silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands that the gentleman
from Alabama has not yielded for that purpose; therefore, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms.
Kelly) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request. She is a leader
on the issue of reducing gun violence.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring
up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background check legislation to
honor the memory of Serge Pierre Dumas, a victim of gun violence who
never received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands that the gentleman
from Alabama has not yielded for that purpose; therefore, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. I ask the gentleman from Alabama: How many of us have to
come down requesting this until you grant it?
Well, your silence speaks words.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hahn)
for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation in honor of the
memory of my friend, Michele Love, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.

[[Page H4485]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands that the gentleman
from Alabama has not yielded for that purpose; therefore, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut
(Ms. Esty) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request. She is a
leader on the issue of reducing gun violence.
Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation in honor of
Elizabeth Janie Woods, a victim of gun violence who never received a
single moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands that the gentleman
from Alabama has not yielded for that purpose; therefore, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Judy Chu) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation to honor the memory of Trooper Chad P. Dermyer, a victim of
gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands that the gentleman
from Alabama has not yielded for that purpose; therefore, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Lee) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation to honor the
memory of Jamie Wilson, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands that the gentleman
from Alabama has not yielded for that purpose; therefore, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al
Green) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring
up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation to
honor the memory of Mr. Rayland ``Ray Ray'' Maryland, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to inquire of the gentleman from
Alabama how many people we need to have more come down here until our
request is granted?

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. BYRNE. May I ask the Chair if I am on the time of the gentleman
from Colorado in answering his question?
Mr. POLIS. You are. It is my time. I am yielding for an answer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado is speaking on
his time.
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, the parliamentary inquiry in his
asking about the time should not be detracted from my time, so that, as
well as this, need to be subtracted.
Now, we go back to my time, and I yield to the gentleman to ask him
how many people we need to come down here so we can have our vote?
Mr. BYRNE. We are here today to consider----
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, that is not an answer. It is a simple
question with a number.
I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) for the purpose of
a unanimous consent request.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation to honor
the memory of Davon Jones, a victim of gun violence who never received
a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms.
Schakowsky) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation to honor the memory
of Dajae Coleman from my district, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms.
Edwards) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation to honor
the memory of Keiwuan Murray, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Moulton) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation to honor
the memory of Dana Rhoden, a victim of gun violence who never received
a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Michael F. Doyle) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background
checks legislation to honor the memory of Gino Nicholas, a victim of
gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I just received devastating news in a story
that was just broken by Politico: House Republicans indefinitely delay
gun control votes. They have indefinitely postponed a vote on the
antiterrorism package leaving Congress with no legislative response to
last month's massacre in Orlando.

{time} 1300

I would hope that this new information will lead the gentleman from
Alabama to consider this very important request from my colleague, Mr.
Huffman.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman)
for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Tanya Skeen, a victim of gun violence who never received
a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, given the new information that I entered,
with regard to what has just broke a the Politico article, I think it
would be important to hear from Mr. Byrne again about whether he would
entertain a unanimous consent request at this time, understanding his
previous answer was no.
So I would like, Mr. Speaker, if you will, you to pose that question
to him for consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman from Colorado yielding to
the gentleman from Alabama?
Mr. POLIS. I am not yielding. I am asking the Chair to confirm that,
in fact, his stated preference is still valid, and if he would ask the
gentleman from Alabama if that is still the case.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is still the Chair's understanding that
the gentleman from Alabama will not yield for such a request.
Therefore, the previous unanimous consent request cannot be
entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut
(Mr. Larson) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, in honor of the memory of Delhaun Jackson, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the floor.

[[Page H4486]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts
(Ms. Clark) for a unanimous consent request.
Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Damond Dawson, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island
(Mr. Cicilline) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Hanna Rhoden and Christopher Roden, Sr., victims of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman from
Alabama how many people we need to have come down until the gentleman
from Alabama would be willing to simply entertain a unanimous consent
request to have the vote?
I understand that the gentleman from Alabama is opposed to the
underlying measures. If a majority of the House is, so be it. But at
least I would like to know how many requests we need to make until we
can simply have this vote.
I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Alabama for an answer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair continues to understand that the
gentleman from Alabama has not yielded for the purpose of these
unanimous consent requests.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield the gentleman from
Alabama from my time to ask how many more unanimous consent requests we
need to have until we can have this vote.
Reclaiming my time, his silence continues to speak volumes, as does
the silence of the Republican majority and the Speaker in the wake of
an unprecedented wave of violence and terrorism in our country.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano)
for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Anpha Nguyen, a victim of gun violence who never received
a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Norcross) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Andres Camacho, III, the son of a dear friend of mine and
a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the
House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Thompson) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Chris Rhoden, Jr., a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York
(Miss Rice) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring
up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to
honor the memory of Natalie, Sienna, and MJ Srinivasan with the shooter
Jeremy Srinivasan, three victims of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Lee) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the
memory of Rheba Mae Dent, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Aguilar) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. AGUILAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Angelo Barboza, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr.
Perlmutter) for a unanimous consent request.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of AJ Boik, the nephew of a friend of mine, Police Sergeant
Dave Hoover, who was killed at the Aurora movie theater during the
premier of the Batman movie.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Hahn) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the
memory of Kenneth Rhoden, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Brownley) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Roosevelt Burns, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor. God
bless Mr. Burns.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Levin) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Lizzy Williams, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr.
Hoyer), the minority whip, for the purpose of a unanimous consent
request.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation. I do so,
Mr. Speaker, in honor of Shelly Williams, a victim of gun violence who
never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire again of the
gentleman from Alabama how many more requests we need to make until
this very simple request is granted to allow us a vote on these bills.
I am happy to yield for an answer as to how many more people we need
to request a vote on these bills.

[[Page H4487]]

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, we are here today on House Resolution 809----
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, I am in control of the time. I yielded
for an answer. The gentleman from Alabama didn't give it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms.
DeLauro) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent request
that would save lives and prevent terrorism.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Roderick Nelms, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Swalwell) for a unanimous consent request to prevent terrorist attacks
in our country.
Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Recco Cobb, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Pelosi), the Democratic leader, for the purpose of a unanimous
consent request.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Carolyn Ann Sanders, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, now that, in addition to so many rank-and-
file Members having made this request, the Democratic leader and the
Democratic whip have joined in this request personally and have come
down here, I would like to ask the gentleman from Alabama if he would
be willing to consider the unanimous consent request at this point.
I am happy to yield for an answer.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 809 is on the National
Defense Authorization Act----
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, again, I think no matter how the
gentleman from Alabama says it, the simple translation of that is: no,
we won't consider that request.
So at this point, we have a very important request that would save
lives and help prevent terrorist attacks in our country.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
McGovern) for a unanimous consent request.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Devin Hamb, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Crowley), the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, for a unanimous
consent request.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Billie Jo, Courtney, and Collin Hettinger, victims of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina
(Mr. Clyburn), the assistant Democratic leader, for a unanimous consent
request to fight terrorism.
Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
3051, a bill that would close the Charleston loophole that allowed the
assassination of Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney and eight of his
parishioners.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Danny K. Davis) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request to save
lives.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

The SPEAKER pro tempore. First, the Chair will make an announcement.
As the Chair advised on January 15, 2014, and March 26, 2014, even
though a unanimous consent request to consider a measure is not
entertained, embellishments accompanying such a request constitute
debate and will become an imposition on the time of the Member who
yielded for that purpose.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado will state his
parliamentary inquiry.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear that the various speakers
have not embellished to this point; is that correct?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair has not deducted time to this
point.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Danny K. Davis) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Laquan McDonald, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Rush) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor of the
memory of Gladys Tordil, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.

{time} 1315

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Kennedy) for a unanimous consent request to fight against
terrorism and save lives.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of the memory of Mike Dawid, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Mrs. Davis) for the purpose of a very important and timely unanimous
consent request.
Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Cora Wilson, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, that strikes close to home, I would say to
Mrs. Davis. That is the name of my daughter as well, Cora; so that is
particularly emotional to me as a father.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr.
Langevin) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Alicia Norman, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr.
Blumenauer) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up

[[Page H4488]]

H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in
honor of the memory of Reid Williams, a victim of gun violence who
never received his moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan
(Mrs. Lawrence) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent
request to combat the terrorist threat to our country.
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of Zanyrah Taylor, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment
of silence on the floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I inquire of the gentleman from Alabama how
many more motions for unanimous consent we need to make until it is
granted and we, simply, allow an up-or-down vote on this issue?
Again, the silence speaks volumes not only from the gentleman from
Alabama but from the Republican majority that continues to prevent a
vote on these commonsense measures to reduce deaths and violence and
terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) for
the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Malcolm Winffel, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Becerra) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request. He is the
chair of the Democratic Caucus.
Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent--because it is more
than just time for a moment of silence--that we bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Shannon Johnson, a victim of gun violence, who died during the mass
shooting in San Bernardino, California, who never received a moment of
silence on this House floor, to dignify the passing and the need to do
something for him and his family.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentleman from Colorado will be charged.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Mrs. Capps) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, which is the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation. I
do so to honor the memory of Welland ``Buddy'' Short, a victim of gun
violence who, himself, never received a moment of silence on the House
floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Sherman) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent request.
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Gerardo Hernandez of Chatsworth, a victim of gun violence
who never received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms.
Schakowsky) for a very important and timely unanimous consent request.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Justin Michael Murray, from my district--a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms.
Clarke) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Councilman James E.
Davis, who was assassinated at the New York City Council on July 23,
2003, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan
expanded background checks legislation, to honor his memory.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Brendan F. Boyle) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request
that would save lives and prevent terrorist attacks in our country.
Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background
checks legislation, to honor the memory of Jerome Wright, a victim of
gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms.
Edwards) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Jadarrion Spinks, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, given that not only have we had so many
Members from across the country make this unanimous consent request but
that they have been joined by every member of the Democratic
leadership, I inquire of the gentleman from Alabama if he would be
willing to entertain the next unanimous consent request that will be
made shortly by the gentlewoman from California.
I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, we are here to speak on House Resolution 809,
the National Defense Authorization Act.
Mr. POLIS. In reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez), who has a very
important unanimous consent request that would save lives and prevent
terrorist attacks.
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my colleague from
Colorado.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Kiara Kinard, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment
of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr.
Van Hollen) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of the memory of Mercy Cordova, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence here on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I point out, on my own time, that granting this request does not take
away from considering the other two underlying bills. They, too, will
be considered, but it simply means that these additional two bills to
reduce gun violence, preventing terrorists from assembling arsenals
legally in our own country, and making sure that convicted felons can't
legally acquire firearms, are common sense. I think they

[[Page H4489]]

would pass this House fairly overwhelmingly.
We are simply saying, in addition to the bills that are already being
considered--which some of us may personally be opposed to in the case
of NDAA, but we are not standing in the way of those. We are simply
allowing for the consideration of these additional bills.
Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of a unanimous consent request only, I
yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty).
Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor of Gary
Rhoden, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence
on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms.
Titus) for a unanimous consent request that would prevent terrorists
from assembling arsenals that they would use to cause harm to our
fellow Americans.
Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of the memory of Jones Pidcock, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I was truly hoping that the motion by Ms.
Titus would be accepted because, frankly, Ms. Titus' unanimous consent
request would have saved lives, prevented convicted felons from
acquiring firearms and would have prevented people on the terrorist
watch list from silently assembling arsenals for them to commit
terrorist acts in our country.
While I am disappointed that Ms. Titus' unanimous consent request was
rejected out of hand, I yield to--and I am hopeful that the gentleman
from Alabama will accept--the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson)
for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent request.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Christopher Houston, a victim of
gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, a point of parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from Alabama yield for a
parliamentary inquiry?
Mr. BYRNE. I do not.
Mr. Speaker, I note far the record----
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, a point of parliamentary inquiry.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Chair to bring the House to order.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, a point of parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama is recognized on
his own time.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I note for the record that the Member who
just spoke has made the same unanimous consent request three times. I
would also note that other Members have made the same unanimous consent
requests multiple times, and the Chair has indicated that he cannot
entertain that request.
Mr. Speaker, for the record, at some point, this ceases to be an
effort to debate the issue before the House and, rather, becomes an
effort to obstruct the House from completing its work.
I reserve the balance of my time.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, a point of parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, how is the gentleman from Alabama able to
seize my time before I have even made my opening statement and simply
speak on his own time while I control the time?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair was alternating recognition
between the minority manager and the majority manager. The gentleman
from Alabama was recognized using his own time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, we have a gentleman with us here today from
the great State of Missouri, who has a very important unanimous consent
request that would save lives and prevent terrorists from doing harm to
our fellow countrymen.
I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) for the purpose of
a unanimous consent request.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the
memory of Michael Brown, one of my constituents and a victim of gun
violence at the hands of a trigger happy policeman. Michael Brown never
received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentleman from Missouri will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.

{time} 1330

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out on my own time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized.
Mr. POLIS. The gentleman from Alabama mentioned the word
``obstruction.'' And, Mr. Speaker, I would like you to consider--and,
Mr. Speaker, I would like the American people to consider--who and
which party is obstructing here when there is a very simple request for
a vote that so many Members of this body feel fervently about.
Those who stand in the way of that vote are those who are
obstructing, not those who simply seek a vote to prevent terrorists
from acquiring explosives and firearms.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-
Allard) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up
H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to
honor the memory of Jordan Croft, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Matsui) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of the memory of Lana Carlson, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman from
Alabama how long he plans to continue obstructing this body and
preventing this body from going about its business to vote on these
underlying bills by objecting to these very simple, commonsense,
unanimous consent requests to prevent terrorists from acquiring
explosives and firearms.
Again, the silence speaks volumes. It sounds like the Republicans and
the gentleman from Alabama plan on continuing to obstruct this body
from going about their business.
However, luckily, thanks to the gentlewoman from New Jersey, there is
another chance for this body to accept a very important unanimous
consent request.
I yield to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for
the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up
H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to
honor the memory of Tre Lane, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on this floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin
(Ms. Moore) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent
request to prevent terrorists from silently acquiring arsenals that
they would kill our fellow Americans with.

[[Page H4490]]

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation.
Here is Zina Daniel, who was murdered when her ex-husband bought a
weapon from the Internet.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman will be deducted from the gentleman from
Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, we are joined by the ranking member of the
Rules Committee, and I hope that my colleague from Alabama will be
willing to grant her very important request that she is about to make
that will prevent convicted felons from acquiring guns legally and also
help keep explosives and weapons out of the hands of terrorists.
I am proud to yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter)
for a unanimous consent request.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I
ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded
background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Valerie Short, a
victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the
House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Eddie Bernice Johnson) for the purpose of a critical and timely
unanimous consent request.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to bring up H.R. 1217, a bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, in honor of Kendrick Forrest, a victim of gun violence
from my district who never received a moment of silence on the House
floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, in the face of Republican obstructionism on
this important issue, I am joined by a colleague from the great State
of California. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano)
for the purpose of a unanimous consent request in an attempt to break
through this gridlock.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Jerry Nguyen, a victim of gun violence who never received
a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Neal) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the
memory of Simon Carrillo, a victim of gun violence who never received
his moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, would that we run out of victims. Mr.
Speaker, would that we run out of victims, but, tragically, that is not
the case.
I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross) for the
purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Davon Barrett, a victim of gun violence who never
received his moment of silence here on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Huffman) for the purpose of a very important unanimous
consent request that would save lives.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of the memory of two of my constituents: former Deputy Sheriff Rick Del
Fiorentino and former Fort Bragg Councilman Jere Melo. They are both
victims of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this
House floor.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Aguilar) who has a very important and timely unanimous consent request
to prevent terrorists from acquiring arsenals to attack our fellow
Americans.
Mr. AGUILAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of Kenneth Cornelious Loggins, a victim of gun violence.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Brownley) who has a very important and timely unanimous consent
request that would save lives.
Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Joanne Woods, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of action on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Byrne) how many more Members need to make this very simple
request until it is a simple courtesy they agree to simply hold these
votes.
I would be happy to yield for an answer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado yields to the
gentleman from Alabama.
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, I hear nothing but silence.
Mr. BYRNE. Well, I thought he yielded to me for----
Mr. POLIS. Not to yield for an answer--absolutely. How many more----
Mr. BYRNE. Do you yield or not?
Mr. POLIS. I did. You were standing----
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama is recognized.
Mr. BYRNE. You didn't allow me to say a word.
Mr. POLIS. How many more requests----
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama is recognized.
Mr. POLIS. Do we need to make?
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, we are here to talk about House Resolution
809 that deals with the National Defense Authorization Act----
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. BYRNE. And an opioid bill and not anything else. And I----
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is out of order.
Mr. BYRNE. I can yield----
Mr. POLIS. The gentleman is out of order. I reclaim my time, Mr.
Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized.
Mr. POLIS. Yes. And yet the gentleman from Alabama continues to
obstruct the consideration of those very underlying measures by not
granting this simple request, this very simple request to consider
these two bills.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price)
for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. I thank my colleague.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, a
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Tony and Quinn Carlson, victims of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island
(Mr. Cicilline) who has a unanimous consent to break through this
Republican obstruction and allow these bills to come forward.
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of my constituent, Essence Christal, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of action on the House Floor.

[[Page H4491]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Brady) for the purpose of a very important and timely unanimous
consent request.
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, in honor of the memory of Cory James Connell, a victim of
gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this House
floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Hahn) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217,
the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor of the
memory of Reginald Williams, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of action on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lowenthal) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request to prevent
terrorists from acquiring explosives and firearms.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez, a victim of gun violence
who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts
(Ms. Clark) for the purpose of a timely, important, and critical
unanimous consent request.
Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Claudina Molina, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of action on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Capuano) for a unanimous consent request to prevent convicted
felons from legally acquiring firearms.
Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Officer Steven Todd Dooley, a victim of gun violence who
never received a moment of action on this House floor.
And, Mr. Speaker, I would like to know: What are you afraid of? Why
won't you give Officer Dooley his time? What are you afraid of, Mr.
Speaker? Bring the bill to the floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentleman will be subtracted from the gentleman from
Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, would that we ran out of victims. Sadly, that
is not the case.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) for
the purpose of a very important unanimous consent request that would
save lives.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Laseam Hogan from my district, a victim of gun violence
who never received a moment of action on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to inquire of the
gentleman from Alabama: When will the Republican obstructionism end?
I am happy to yield for an answer.
Mr. BYRNE. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, I yield to the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) for the purpose of a unanimous consent
request.
Ms. DeLAURO. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Elton Wayne Madison, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of action on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.

{time} 1345

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Butterfield) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent
that would save lives and prevent convicted felons from acquiring
weapons.
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up
H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to
honor the memory of Mr. Tevin Eugene Crosby, who was a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of silence on this House floor,
unlike other victims in this country.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. McGovern), my colleague on the Committee on Rules, for the purpose
of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Rigoberto Jose Castillo, a victim of gun violence who
never received a moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Mrs. Capps) for a unanimous consent request.
Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to please bring up H.R. 1217. It
is a bipartisan bill, the expanded background checks legislation, and I
am doing this today in honor of this beautiful young mother of 2 from
Chicago, a victim of gun violence. She never received a moment of
silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from California will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Levin) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request only.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, hoping you will change your misinformed
judgment, again, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Enedia Branch, a victim of gun violence who never received one
moment of silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Pallone) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent request
that will save lives.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Jamar Small; Tamara, or Tammy, Wilson-Seidle; and both
Cristina LoBrutto and Bryan Breen. These are Cristina and Bryan. They
are four victims of gun violence from my district who never received a
moment of action on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Keating) for the purpose of a very important and timely unanimous
consent request that will save lives.
Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Alison Parker, a victim of gun violence whose family
wants more than a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.

[[Page H4492]]

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Maxine Waters) for the purpose of a very important unanimous
consent request that will save lives.
Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of 5-year-old Aaron Shannon, Jr., a
victim of gun violence shot down in his backyard, who never received a
moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island
(Mr. Langevin) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent
request.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, as someone with a background in law
enforcement and someone who lives with the damaging effects of what
guns can cause every day, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, also to
honor the memory of Doris Dooley, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of action on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentleman from Rhode Island will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I wish that we had the time to adequately
remember all of these victims like Doris Dooley and so many others, but
given the limited time we have, I think our priority at this point is
breaking through the Republican obstruction and achieving a simple up-
or-down vote on these commonsense, bipartisan bills.
To that end, I yield to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards)
for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Betty Mungin; her daughter, Alexis Mungin; her daughter,
8-year-old Armani Mungin, victims of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on the House floor. Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms.
Kaptur) for a very important unanimous consent request that will save
lives.
Ms. KAPTUR. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Javier Jorge-Reyes, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of action on this House floor. In his memory, we beg the
Republican leadership, please, let us have a vote on a bill that has
been awaiting passage for years.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from Ohio will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, we have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of
Mr. Kildee, and I am glad to say that he is not only here, but he has
an excellent idea to break through this Republican obstruction and save
lives.
I am honored to yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for
a very important unanimous consent request.
Mr. KILDEE. I thank my friend for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Cederrius Hastings, a victim of gun violence who never received a
moment of silence on the floor of the United States House of
Representatives.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the local hometown representative,
the esteemed representative from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton)
who has a very important unanimous consent request.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of the memory of Brishell Jones, who at 16, with her friends, was
gunned down in a drive-by shooting, but who never received a moment of
silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia will be
deducted from the gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman from
Alabama how many more unanimous consent requests we need to make until
the Republicans stop this obstruction and allow the bill to come
forward. I am happy to yield for an answer.
Mr. BYRNE. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. Well, Mr. Speaker, you know, I think it is clear that we
will not allow the Republicans to continue to obstruct these
commonsense, bipartisan bills to prevent terrorists from assembling
arsenals to kill our fellow Americans and to prevent convicted felons
from legally acquiring firearms.
We are joined by a leader from New York, and I yield to the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) for the purpose of a unanimous
consent request.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring
up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan--that means Democrats and Republicans--
expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Jonathon
Edwards, 22 years old, from Georgia. He was a victim of gun violence
who never received a moment of action here in the House of
Representatives. He is deserving of that action, Mr. Speaker. Twenty-
two years. No action. Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to act. The
American people need for us to act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from New York will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Jackson Lee) for a very important unanimous consent request that will
save lives.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up
H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, which
would fall under the Committee on the Judiciary on which I serve as the
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland
Security, and Investigations, to honor the memory of Ronald McPhatter,
a child of some mother and some father, and honor the memory of Ronald
McPhatter, a victim of gun violence, who never received a moment of
silence or action on this House floor. Ronald McPhatter needs justice.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from Texas will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Sean Patrick Maloney) for the purpose of a very important unanimous
consent request that would save lives.
Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to bring H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to the floor to honor the memory of David Washington.
David Washington is a victim of gun violence. He can't speak for
himself anymore, and he never received a moment of silence or a moment
of action on this House floor, but he deserves one.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentleman from New York will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Wilson) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request only that would
save lives.
Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring
up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to
honor the memory of Trayvon Martin from my district, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of

[[Page H4493]]

silence on this House floor. And to all the mothers of murdered
children in Miami-Dade County and Broward County, I extend to them a
moment of silence now.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from Florida will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr.
Blumenauer) for the purpose of a very important and timely unanimous
consent request.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor
of the memory of Leatrick Benjamin, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor, let alone a moment of
action.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Castor) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent request.
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call
up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to
honor the memory of 14-year-old Richard Newton from my district, a
victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this
House floor, let alone a moment of action.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Mrs. Torres), who has a very important and timely unanimous consent
request.
Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Pomona Police Officer Shaun Diamond, murdered at the
hands of a Mongol gang member. The silence has to stop. We need action.
To honor his memory, I would like the House to take up this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from California will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Jersey
(Mrs. Watson Coleman) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up
H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, and
this is to honor the memory of Carl Batie, a former Mercer County
corrections officer who was an innocent bystander killed in a hail of
gunfire in a gang-related fight in the city of Trenton in my district.
I do this to honor Mr. Batie, who was that victim, and I do this
because he never received a moment of silence and he has never received
a moment of action on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from New Jersey will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.

{time} 1400

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, the definition of obstruction in the
dictionary is ``a thing that impedes or prevents passage or progress;
an obstacle or blockage.''
The only obstruction here is the failure of the Republicans to simply
remove that blockage or that thing that prevents passage of this
commonsense measure to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons
and prevent terrorists from quietly assembling arsenals to conduct
their terrorist acts.
I hope that, now that my colleague from New York (Mr. Engel) has
joined us and he will be making a very important unanimous consent
request in just moments, that will finally allow this body an
opportunity to break through this obstruction, move to consideration of
both bills under this rule, and move to consideration of the bipartisan
bill that will prevent convicted felons from acquiring weapons.
I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for the purpose of
a unanimous consent request.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of this brave soldier, Captain Antonio Davon Brown.
I also want to honor the memory of people in my district who were
victims of gun violence: Brandon Lawrence, New Rochelle, New York;
Charles Smith, Mount Vernon, New York; Wilbert Francis, Mount Vernon,
New York; Kevin Shaw, Mount Vernon, New York; Allashun Clay, Mount
Vernon, New York.
We want to honor their memories. They are all victims of gun violence
who never received a moment of silence on the House floor. We ought to
be passing sensible gun control legislation in a bipartisan fashion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentleman from New York will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington
State (Ms. DelBene) for the purpose of a very important unanimous
consent request.
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Amanda Alvear, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of action on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
McDermott) for the purpose of an important and timely unanimous consent
request.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, bipartisan expanded background checks legislation. It is really
to honor the memory of Paul Terrell Henry. He was a victim of gun
violence in Orlando, who never received a moment of silence on this
House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Brownley), who has a request that will break through this
Republican obstruction and save lives, for the purpose of a unanimous
consent request.
Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Landon Dooley, a victim of gun
violence who never received a moment of action on this House floor.
Enough is enough. Put this commonsense legislation forward today.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ribble). As previously announced the
unanimous consent request cannot be entertained.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. POLIS. Point of parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. POLIS. It is a new Speaker pro tempore, and I was wondering if
the new Speaker pro tempore would be willing to pose a unanimous
consent request to the gentleman from Alabama.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair has been informed that the
gentleman from Alabama will not yield for the purpose of the
gentleman's request.
Mr. POLIS. Very well.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter)
who has a very important unanimous consent request.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the
memory of Elbert L. Merrick, III, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of action on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman from
Alabama how many more unanimous consent requests we need to make until
he agrees to allow for consideration of this bill.
I am happy to yield for an answer.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H4494]]

Mr. POLIS. Sadly, the gentleman from Alabama is unable to reserve or
stop criminals from legally acquiring weapons or terrorists from
silently assembling arsenals to conduct terrorist acts in our country.
The only way the gentleman from Alabama can prevent those acts is to
prevent the obstruction of this body by granting this very simple
unanimous consent request that is about to be made by the gentleman
from Florida.
I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch) for the purpose of
a unanimous consent request.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the
memory of Stanley Almodovar, III, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts
(Ms. Clark) for the purpose of a very important and timely unanimous
consent request.
Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation to honor the memory of Lori Dooley and Brooke Dooley, a
mother and daughter, victims of gun violence who never received
legislative action on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. McGovern) for the purpose of an important unanimous consent
request to save lives.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Eugene Liscomb, a victim of gun violence who never
received a moment of silence and never received a moment of action on
this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Serrano) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera, a victim of gun violence who
never received a moment of silence or who never received any action on
the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts
(Ms. Tsongas) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Luis Vielma, a victim of gun violence who never received
a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Chu) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent request
that will save lives.
Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, a victim
of gun violence who never received a moment of action on the House
floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman from
Alabama how many more requests we need to make until the Republicans
stop their obstructionism and allow a simple vote on the bill.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr.
Perlmutter) for the purpose of a very important unanimous consent
request that would save lives.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank my friend from Colorado.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Daniel Mauser. He is a young man who was a victim of gun violence at
Columbine High School and was the son of a friend of mine, Tom Mauser.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, in a just-breaking Politico article, it says
that House leader infighting has forced GOP leaders to indefinitely
postpone a vote on an antiterrorism package.
You know, I don't know who is going to tell the terrorists that we
are postponing a vote on an antiterrorism package. I would hope that
the Republicans would join us Democrats in trying to prevent terrorists
from quietly assembling arsenals of explosives and guns and weapons to
conduct coordinated attacks on the people of our country--that is what
we are hoping to do--and break through this Republican obstructionism
on this issue.
Hopefully, there will be a new, breaking story based on the
acceptance of a unanimous consent request that is forthcoming from my
colleague from Ohio.
I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for the purpose of
a unanimous consent request.
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan King-Thompson expanded backgrounds checks
legislation, to honor the memory of Juan Ramon Guerrero, a victim of
gun violence who never received either a moment of silence or a moment
of action on this House floor. We ask Speaker Ryan to allow the vote.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Maxine Waters) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks
legislation, in honor of the memory of Darryl R. Burt, II, yet another
Black man who lost his life to senseless violence. He never received a
moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from California will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.

Parliamentary Inquiries

Mr. POLIS. Point of parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. POLIS. The Chair has stated the last several times that the
unanimous consent requests cannot be received. Is it that it cannot be
accepted or that it is willfully not accepted by the gentleman from
Alabama?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time has been yielded for the purpose of
debate.
Mr. POLIS. Further parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. POLIS. When a unanimous consent request is made, is it not at the
discretion of the gentleman controlling the time, the gentleman from
Alabama, to agree to that request?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama has yielded time
for debate only.
Mr. POLIS. Further parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. POLIS. Can the gentleman from Alabama accept a unanimous consent
request to yield for the purpose of a bill being brought forth?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama has not yielded
for that purpose.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. POLIS. Does the gentleman from Alabama have the ability to yield
for that purpose?

[[Page H4495]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama has control of
the time on his side.
Mr. POLIS. Reclaiming my time, again, the gentleman from Alabama can
agree to these unanimous consent requests. The way that the answer has
been framed, he has not agreed to them.
The gentleman from Alabama and the Republicans are obstructing this
body and preventing us from going about our business and getting to
these bills, but it is certainly well within the authority under this
rule for a unanimous consent request to be accepted.
With that, I am actually glad to say we have a unanimous consent.
I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) for the
purpose of a unanimous consent request.

{time} 1415

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217. It is a bipartisan piece of legislation called the expanded
background checks bill, and I do so today in honor of a particular
person who was a victim in the Orlando massacre. Her name is Mercedez
Marisol Flores, a young woman who has never received her own moment of
silence on this House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
The time of the gentlewoman from California will be deducted from the
gentleman from Colorado's time.
Mr. POLIS. Well, Mr. Speaker, they could be entertained, if the
gentleman from Alabama would simply agree to them.
We actually have a forthcoming unanimous consent request. I would
hope, Mr. Speaker, that you are willing to pose it to the gentleman
from Alabama to see if he would, in fact, agree to what I think is a
very reasonable request, to bring forward a bipartisan bill.
I am glad to yield to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson
Coleman) for the purpose of just such a unanimous consent request.
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. I thank my colleague for yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the
bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory
of Edward Sotomayor, Jr., a victim of gun violence in Orlando at the
Pulse Nightclub who never, ever has received a moment of action on this
floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, would the Chair be willing to pose the
question as to whether that unanimous consent request is accepted to
the gentleman controlling the time?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands that the gentleman
from Alabama will not yield for any such request.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, again, I know that the previous Speaker pro
tempore had posed that question some time ago; but I was hoping, by
this point, the gentleman from Alabama would have been moved to change
his position.
I am not going to ask every single time, but I would appreciate if
the Chair would pose that question to the gentleman from Alabama about
whether he would be willing to accept the most recent unanimous consent
request of the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) to
save lives.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado may yield to the
gentleman from Alabama for a response.
Mr. POLIS. I would be happy to yield if the gentleman from Alabama
would be willing to accept the unanimous consent request from Mrs.
Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Mr. BYRNE. All time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. I will take that as no. And, sadly, we are not about to
run out of victims, Mr. Speaker.
I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the
Democratic leader.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from California is
recognized for 1 minute.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background check legislation, to honor,
once again, the memory of Carolyn Ann Sanders, a victim of gun violence
who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms.
Bordallo) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R.
1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor
the memory of Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, a victim of gun violence who
never received a moment of silence on the House floor.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously announced, the unanimous
consent request cannot be entertained.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, so many of us have made unanimous consent
requests.
I have asked the gentleman from Alabama how many times we have to
make this motion until the Republicans end their obstructionism. I have
not received an adequate answer.
I was hopeful that the gentleman from Alabama would have accepted
this unanimous consent request by now.
I was hopeful that the Chair would have posed a question to him
multiple times, rather than accept his very first answer, now that the
Democratic leaders and rank-and-file Members have all come forward in
support of bringing forward this bill and breaking through the
Republican obstructionism.
I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Thompson).
Mr. THOMPSON of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, we have been trying all day to convince the Republican
leadership to bring up H.R. 1217. The reason being is that, for the
last 3\1/2\ years, we have been trying to get a vote on this
bipartisan, pro-Second Amendment bill. And in the course of those 3\1/
2\ years, 34,000 people have been killed in our country by someone
using a gun; 34,000. That is someone's child, someone's brother,
someone's loved one, someone's wife, someone's husband, someone's
partner; and it is absolutely shameful.
Now we heard yesterday on the steps of the Capitol a terrifying story
from a woman whose 10-year-old daughter was murdered by someone with a
gun, someone who couldn't legally buy a gun because he couldn't pass a
background check. He was a felon. But he got around that law because he
went online. He found the same gun that you could buy in a gun store
online but without the requirement to pass a background check. He
bought that gun. He shot that brave woman, and he murdered her
daughter.
We can take a step today to do something about that. We can bring up
the background check bill. It is bipartisan, pro-Second Amendment. It
has 186 coauthors in this House. We can bring it up for a vote, and we
can pass it. That will provide the first line of defense against people
who shouldn't be able to buy guns from buying guns.
Who are these people? Criminals, domestic abusers, terrorists, those
who are dangerously mentally ill. They should not be able to get their
hands on a gun.
Now, can we stop it in every instance? No. But we know that
background checks work. We know that we can make a real difference.
Every day, every day in the United States of America, 170 felons are
stopped from buying guns because of the background check program. Every
day in the United States of America, 50 domestic abusers are stopped
from buying a gun because of the background check system. It works. We
know it works.
Why won't we bring that bill up for a vote?
That woman stood on the steps of the Capitol yesterday. That was a
courageous stand she took. She lost her daughter. She watched her
daughter be murdered right in front of her eyes. She, herself, was
shot. But she is out advocating for sensible, pro-Second Amendment,
reasonable gun laws that will protect people. That is brave.
What is brave about avoiding a vote on this bill, a bipartisan bill,
a bill that

[[Page H4496]]

supports the Second Amendment, a bill that has both Democrats and
Republicans as coauthors: 186 coauthors, a background check bill,
perfectly constitutional, perfectly reasonable, supported by gun
owners, both Democrats and Republicans, supported by 90 percent of the
American people.
Ninety percent of the people that we collectively represent are
asking us: Do something about this tragedy that is taking place over 30
times a day in the streets of America. Ninety percent. That is
unbelievable support.
And what has the Republican leadership done? Nothing.
Thirty-four thousand deaths in the last 3\1/2\ years that we have
been trying to take up this bill; 1,182 mass shootings since we have
tried to take up this bill; 30 moments of silence on the floor of this
House; zero, zero votes to protect the people that we represent; zero
votes to do anything regarding responsible, Second Amendment gun laws
that will protect the people that we represent.
Mr. Speaker, we are not asking for a lot. We are asking for a vote.
We know that background checks work. Your side knows it, and our side
know it.
One of the previous speakers on the underlying bill today said: It is
time to put politics aside and look at the policy.
What in the world is going on with background checks? The policy is
solid. They work. One hundred and seventy felons a day are stopped from
getting a gun because of background checks. Fifty domestic abusers a
day are stopped from getting a gun because of background checks.
It sounds like pretty solid policy to me, Mr. Speaker. It must be the
politics on the other side that are getting in the way. And the
American people do not want that to continue.
Ninety percent of the people who we represent are with us. They say
that criminals, terrorists, domestic abusers, and the dangerously
mentally ill should not be able to get guns and that the men and women
who they send to the Congress of the United States of America should
take responsible action to stop that from happening.
Please, give us a vote on the background check bill. Help keep our
constituents safe.
Mr. POLIS. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
We are here on House Resolution 809. House Resolution 809 deals with
two underlying bills. The first one is a conference report related to
efforts to combat the opioid crisis that is wreaking havoc in
communities across the United States. 46,000 people die----
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I have a point of
parliamentary procedure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from Alabama yield for a
parliamentary inquiry?
Mr. BYRNE. I do not.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. I am not asking the gentleman to yield.
Mr. Speaker, I am asking you for a point of parliamentary procedure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama is under
recognition. The gentleman from California may not make a parliamentary
inquiry unless yielded to for that purpose.
The gentleman from Alabama is recognized.
Mr. BYRNE. As I was saying, 46,000 people die every year of drug
overdose. That is one of the things that is covered in the bills that
are underlying in this resolution, and we just had over 2 hours of
obstruction to try to keep us from considering that bill.
The resolution also contains the effort to get us to a conference on
the National Defense Authorization Act, which is the policy that
defends the United States of America. If we want to keep terrorists
from murdering people in the United States, we need to defeat them over
there so that they don't come over here.
I would ask everybody in this House to get back focused on what this
resolution is about: trying to save people who are tragically dying
from drug overdose and protecting the people of the United States of
America, the number one thing that we in this Congress are here to do.
So I am glad that we are back to that because that is important
business for this House.
Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support House Resolution
809 and the underlying bill.
The material previously referred to by Mr. Polis is as follows:

An Amendment to H. Res. 809 Offered by Mr. Polis of Colorado

At the end of the resolution, add the following new
sections:
Sec. 3. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution the
Speaker shall, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare
the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on
the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R.
1076) to increase public safety by permitting the Attorney
General to deny the transfer of a firearm or the issuance of
firearms or explosives licenses to a known or suspected
dangerous terrorist. The first reading of the bill shall be
dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of
the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the
bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on the Judiciary. After general debate the bill
shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule.
All points of order against provisions in the bill are
waived. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for
amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the
House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill
and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening
motion except one motion to recommit with or without
instructions. If the Committee of the Whole rises and reports
that it has come to no resolution on the bill, then on the
next legislative day the House shall, immediately after the
third daily order of business under clause 1 of rule XIV,
resolve into the Committee of the Whole for further
consideration of the bill.
Sec. 4. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the
consideration of H.R. 1076.
____

The Vote on the Previous Question: What It Really Means

This vote, the vote on whether to order the previous
question on a special rule, is not merely a procedural vote.
A vote against ordering the previous question is a vote
against the Republican majority agenda and a vote to allow
the Democratic minority to offer an alternative plan. It is a
vote about what the House should be debating.
Mr. Clarence Cannon's Precedents of the House of
Representatives (VI, 308-311), describes the vote on the
previous question on the rule as ``a motion to direct or
control the consideration of the subject before the House
being made by the Member in charge.'' To defeat the previous
question is to give the opposition a chance to decide the
subject before the House. Cannon cites the Speaker's ruling
of January 13, 1920, to the effect that ``the refusal of the
House to sustain the demand for the previous question passes
the control of the resolution to the opposition'' in order to
offer an amendment. On March 15, 1909, a member of the
majority party offered a rule resolution. The House defeated
the previous question and a member of the opposition rose to
a parliamentary inquiry, asking who was entitled to
recognition. Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (R-Illinois) said:
``The previous question having been refused, the gentleman
from New York, Mr. Fitzgerald, who had asked the gentleman to
yield to him for an amendment, is entitled to the first
recognition.''
The Republican majority may say ``the vote on the previous
question is simply a vote on whether to proceed to an
immediate vote on adopting the resolution. . . . [and] has no
substantive legislative or policy implications whatsoever.''
But that is not what they have always said. Listen to the
Republican Leadership Manual on the Legislative Process in
the United States House of Representatives, (6th edition,
page 135). Here's how the Republicans describe the previous
question vote in their own manual: ``Although it is generally
not possible to amend the rule because the majority Member
controlling the time will not yield for the purpose of
offering an amendment, the same result may be achieved by
voting down the previous question on the rule. . . . When the
motion for the previous question is defeated, control of the
time passes to the Member who led the opposition to ordering
the previous question. That Member, because he then controls
the time, may offer an amendment to the rule, or yield for
the purpose of amendment.''
In Deschler's Procedure in the U.S. House of
Representatives, the subchapter titled ``Amending Special
Rules'' states: ``a refusal to order the previous question on
such a rule [a special rule reported from the Committee on
Rules] opens the resolution to amendment and further
debate.'' (Chapter 21, section 21.2) Section 21.3 continues:
``Upon rejection of the motion for the previous question on a
resolution reported from the Committee on Rules, control
shifts to the Member leading the opposition to the previous
question, who may offer a proper amendment or motion and who
controls the time for debate thereon.''
Clearly, the vote on the previous question on a rule does
have substantive policy implications. It is one of the only
available tools for those who oppose the Republican
majority's agenda and allows those with alternative views the
opportunity to offer an alternative plan.

Mr. Byrne. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I
move the previous question on the resolution.

[[Page H4497]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous
question.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

____________________