Greg Walden: “I raise a point of order against the motion because the instruction contains matter in the jurisdiction of a committee…”

“I raise a point of order against the motion because the instruction contains matter in the jurisdiction of a committee to which the bill was not referred, thus violating clause 7 of rule XVI, which requires the amendment to be germane to the measure being amended. Committee jurisdiction is a central test of germaneness, and I am afraid I must insist on my point of order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does any other Member wish to be heard on the point of order? If not, the Chair is prepared to rule. The gentleman from Oregon makes a point of order that the instructions proposed in the motion to recommit offered by the gentleman from Kentucky are not germane. Clause 7 of rule XVI--the germaneness rule--provides that no proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment. One of the central tenets of the germaneness rule is that an amendment may not introduce matter within the jurisdiction of a committee not represented in the pending measure. The bill, H.R. 2666, as amended, addresses rates for broadband Internet access service, which is a matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The instructions in the motion to recommit propose an amendment consisting of a special order of business of the House, which is a matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules.…”