Alan Grayson: “I would ask the gentleman to consider the consequences of his action and withdraw the point of order. The Acting CHAIR.…”

“I would ask the gentleman to consider the consequences of his action and withdraw the point of order. The Acting CHAIR. Are there any other Members who wish to be heard on the point of order? If not, the Chair will rule. The gentleman from Texas makes a point of order that the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida proposes to change existing law in violation of clause 2 of rule XXI. Under settled precedent, where legislative language is permitted to remain in a general appropriation bill, a germane amendment merely perfecting that language and not adding further language is in order, but an amendment effecting further legislation is not in order. The Chair finds that section 202 of the bill contains a legislative limitation on the use of funds in the bill for abortion. Section 202 exempts from the limitation on funds those abortions involving rape and those involving endangerment of the life of the mother were the fetus carried to term. The amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida seeks to expand the exemptions to include cases of incest. The Chair finds the ruling of July 16, 1998, instructive. On that date, the Committee considered a general appropriation bill prescribing legislative exceptions to a limitation on certain funding for abortion. Those legislative exceptions included rape, incest, and the life of the mother.…”