Jerry Nadler: “last year, along with the former Committee on Rules chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon), I introduced…”

“last year, along with the former Committee on Rules chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon), I introduced House Resolution 529, the Plain English In Law Rule. When we introduced the resolution, there was a broad consensus that the idea was sound; and I was assured by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon) that the House Republican leadership was in agreement with the proposal and that it would be incorporated into the rules package in the 106th Congress. I do not know why this was not done. I am not aware of any opposition whatsoever to this proposal, and I offer it as an amendment now. Mr. Speaker, we all know that most of our amendments and bills are practically incomprehensible consisting, as they do, of a series of provisions adding a word or phrase in the middle of line 3 or line 5 on page 8 of the bill. My amendment would require that any bill or amendment clearly show the changes that would be made in the law by the bill or amendment.”