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[Page H74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES
Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise for a parliamentary inquiry or a
series thereof.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, am I correct that H. Res. 755 was passed
by vote of the House on December 18, 2019?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will not verify the status of a
measure not currently pending.
Mr. GRIFFITH. A measure not currently pending.
Additional parliamentary inquiry, please.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, since H. Res. 755 passed on December 18,
2019, and the motion to reconsider H. Res. 755 was laid on the table on
that same date, December 18, 2019, is there any action the House of
Representatives can now take on H. Res. 755?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair does not respond to hypothetical
questions.
Mr. GRIFFITH. It is not a hypothetical.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair does not respond to hypothetical
questions.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Additional parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. I am not inquiring hypothetically. I may wish to take
action. Is there any action currently available to a Member of the
House in regard to H. Res. 755?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair does not issue advisory opinions.
Mr. GRIFFITH. All right. Further parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Is H. Res. 755 currently within the bosom of the U.S.
House?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is inquiring about the status
of a measure not currently pending on the House floor.
Mr. GRIFFITH. I thank the Speaker.
Additional parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Since 21 calendar days, 12 working days, and seven
legislative days have gone by since H. Res. 755 passed the House and
the Speaker of the House has not been physically able to deliver H.
Res. 755 to the United States Senate, does clause 8(b)(3)(C) of rule I
of the House rules automatically cause a vacancy in the Office of the
Speaker, or what action does the House need to take since the Speaker
has not been able to physically do an essential part of her
administrative duties as the Speaker of the House?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has stated the form of clause
8(b)(3) of rule I. However, the gentleman is not stating a
parliamentary question within the purview of the Chair at this point.
The gentleman is free to consult the rule and its accompanying
legislative history for further clarification.
Mr. GRIFFITH. I thank the Chair.
Additional parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Reviewing its parliamentary history, I would ask the
Chair, is there any precedent, other than incapacity, of a Speaker not
timely transmitting action of the House to the United States Senate?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will not issue an advisory
opinion. The Chair is prepared to entertain one more parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Additional parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, clause 8(b)(3)(C) says that a physical
incapacity to do the job of Speaker causes or may cause a vacancy. I am
asking if there is any precedent related to that rule that the Chair
can direct me to, having found none on my own?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will again respond that she will
not issue an advisory opinion.
Mr. GRIFFITH. I respectfully disagree that it is an advisory opinion
and thank the Chair for her indulgence.
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