Tony Hall: “This is a structured rule. It will allow for consideration of H.R. 1905, which is a bill that makes appropriations for…”

“This is a structured rule. It will allow for consideration of H.R. 1905, which is a bill that makes appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the year 2000. The rule permits only one amendment. That amendment assures that any unspent funds in a Member's representational allowance will be returned to the Treasury and used to reduce the national debt. If this amendment passes, any Member who feels that his or her office allowance is too high can in essence make a cut by not spending that money. This rule will allow the House to consider funding for the operations of the House of Representatives, the Congressional Budget Office, the Architect of the Capitol, the Library of Congress and Congressional Research Service, the Government Printing Office and the General Accounting Office. The money provided in this bill funds the office of every Member of this body. Each Member's office provides service to our constituents and represents their interests in Washington, and we depend on CBO and the Library of Congress and the Congressional Research Service to assist in the representational duties assigned to us by the Constitution.”