[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)] [House] [Page H8276] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] NOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING A QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I hereby notify the House of my intention to offer a resolution as a question of the privileges of the House. The form of my resolution is as follows: Authorizing and directing the Speaker to appoint a bipartisan task force to investigate the circumstances and cause of the decision to place professional staff of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct on indefinite administrative leave, and for other purposes. Whereas the Constitution of the United States authorizes the House of Representatives to ``determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member''; Whereas in 1968, in compliance with this authority and to uphold its integrity and ensure that Members act in a manner that reflects credit on the House of Representatives, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct was established; Whereas the ethics procedures in effect during the 111th Congress were enacted in 1997 in a bipartisan manner by an overwhelming vote of the House of Representatives upon the bipartisan recommendation of the ten member Ethics Reform Task Force, which conducted a thorough and lengthy review of the entire ethics process; Whereas, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct adopted rules for the 111th Congress; Whereas rule 6(a) of the Rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct states ``the staff is to be assembled and retained as professional, nonpartisan staff'; Whereas rule 6(c) of the Rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct states ``the staff as a whole and each individual member of the staff shall perform all official duties in a nonpartisan manner''; Whereas rule 6(f) of the Rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct states ``All staff members shall be appointed by an affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the Committee, Such a vote shall occur at the first meeting of the membership of the Committee during each Congress and as necessary during the Congress''; Whereas, on November 19, 2010 two members of the professional staff of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct were placed on indefinite administrative leave; Whereas, on November 19, 2010 the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct canceled and has not rescheduled the adjudicatory hearing for a Member of Congress, previously scheduled for November 29, 2010; Whereas all of these actions have subjected the Committee to public ridicule and weakened the ability of the Committee to properly conduct its investigative duties, all of which has brought discredit to the House; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That-- (1) the Speaker shall appoint a bipartisan task force with equal representation of the majority and minority parties to investigate the circumstances and cause of the decision to place professional staff of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct on indefinite administrative leave and to make recommendations to restore public confidence in the ethics process, including disciplinary measures for both staff and Members where needed; and (2) the task force report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives during the second session of this Congress. {time} 1340 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The resolution of the gentlewoman from California will appear in the Record. The Chair's customary announcement will also appear in the Record. Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed. Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentlewoman from California will appear in the Record at this point. The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution. ____________________