Debbie Dingell: “I begin my comments by paying tribute to my dear friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton). He is a gentleman and…”

“I begin my comments by paying tribute to my dear friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton). He is a gentleman and a fine Member. He is also a dear friend of mine, and I grieve to see him placed in a position of handling a turkey like this. This is one of the most extraordinary examples of legislative bait and switch that I have ever seen. The House Committee on Commerce reported by 40 to 6 a good bill which did all the things that my friend from Michigan was speaking on behalf of. The bill, in a curious process of bait and switch, had a substitute of the Senate bill put in its place last night under a closed rule. No Member will have opportunity to perfect the bill, and the bill does not do any of the things that my good friend from Michigan says it does. One of the most remarkable things about this is not just that it is legislative bait and switch and that it does not do anything or the false representations, but my poor friend from Michigan is stuck with handling this bill because neither the chairman of the full committee nor the subcommittee have chosen to handle a bill that, quite frankly, stinks. Now, having said that, let us recognize that we have here a remarkable procedure. Nothing similar to S. 1287 has been considered by any committee of the House. The bill was voted out from the other body last month, held at the desk, and brought to the floor under a closed rule. None of the committees of jurisdiction have consented to this approach.”