Nice to see you. Kids all grown up today. Thank you, mr. Speaker. You two. Here. Lefthand here, righthand up. These guys, these two are really bad. Come on. Lets go. Where do you want me to be . . Right here. 1, 2, 3. Perfect. Good job. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, how are you doing . Im doing well. Who am i going to hold . [laughter] you could be a member of our caucus. Righthand up. [laughter] this is by far the best photo of the whole thing. [laughter] hey mr. Speaker, how are you . Lefthand here, righthand u p. Welcome. Glad you are all here. Thank you. Thank you so much. See you all. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute] the 113th congress has 84 memebers. 35 are republicans and orting nine are democrats. 49 democrats. Republican senator of north dakota and another senator will talk about the legislative agenda. Today marked the arrival of new members and also senator mark kirk. He has been absent from the senate while he underwent is a cold therapy. Physical therapy. He was escorted by Vice President biden. Thank you. How are you . [cheers and applause] are you kidding me . Im happy as can be right now. Come on. [cheers and applause] lets go to work you guys. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [no audio] heres a look at the makeup of the senate in the 113th congress. Democrats increased their majority plus two independents. Republicans hold 45 seats, the average age in the senate is 62. There are 14 freshman. The senate began the new session at noon with Vice President biden. N unexpired term and the certificates of election of 33 senators elected for sixyear terms beginning on january 3, 2013. All certificates, the chair is advised, are in the form suggested by the senate or contain all the essential requirements of the form suggested by the senate. If there be no objection, the reading of the certificates will be waived and they will be printed in full in the record. If the senators to be sworn will now present themselves at the desk of four as their names are called in alphabetical order, the chair will administer the oath of office. The clerk will read the names of the first group. The clerk miss baldwin of wisconsin. Mr. Barrasso of wyoming. Mr. Brown of ohio. Ms. Cantwell of washington. The Vice President please raise your right hands. Do you solemnly swear that you will suppo and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegiance to the sa; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group i do. The Vice President congratulations. [applause] the Vice President the clerk will call the names of the next group. The clerk mr. Cardin of maryland. Mr. Carper ofelaware. Mr. Casey of pennsylvania. Mr. Corker of tennessee. The Vice President please raise your right hands. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegiance to the same that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god the group i do. The Vice President congratulations. [applause] the Vice President the clerk will call the names of the next group. The clerk mr. Cruz of texas. Mr. Donnelly of indiana. Mrs. Feinstein of california. Mrs. Fischer of nebraska. The Vice President please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group i do. The Vice President congratulations, senators. [applause] the Vice President the clerk will call the names of the next group. The clerk m flake of arizona. Mrs. Gillibrand of new yk. Mr. Hatch of utah. Mr. Heinrich of new mexico. ThVice President please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group i do. The Vice President congratulations, senators. Welcome. [applause] the Vice President the clerk wi call the names of the next group. The clerk ms. Heitkamp of north dakota. Mr. Heller of nevada. Ms. Hirono of hawaii. Mr. Kaine of virginia. The Vice President please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation eely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group i do. The Vice President congratulations, senators. [applause] the Vice President the clerk will call the names of the next group. The clerk mr. Ing of maine. Ms. Klobhar of minnesota. Mr. Manchin of west virginia. Mrs. Mccaskill of missouri. The Vice President ease raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; thatou bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the ofce on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group i do. The Vice President congratulations, senators. [applause] the Vice President the clerk will call the names of the next group. The clerk mr. Menendez of new jersey. Mr. Murphy of connecticut. Mr. Nelson of florida. Mr. Sanders of vermont. The Vice President please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegice to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group i do. The Vice President congratulations, senators. [applause] the Vice President the clerk will call the names of the next group. The clerk mr. Scott of South Carolina. Ms. Stabenow of michigan. Mr. Tester of montana. Ms. Warren of massachusetts. The Vice President please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of thoffice on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group i do. The Vice President congratulations, senators. [applause] the Vice President the clerk will call the names of the next group. Thclerk mr. Whitehouse of rhode island. Mr. Wicker of mississippi. The Vice President please raise your right hand. The Vice President please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and dend the constitution of the United States against all enees, foreign and domestic; that you bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligion freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . The group io. The Vice President congratulations, senators. [applause] senators will carry out constitutional duties on friday when they walk over for a joint session of congress. They will count the local college votes. Live cove on cspan 1 00 p. M. Eastern. More with Vice President biden who met with new and reelected senators in the old senate chamber. The Vice President does this at the start of each congress so the senators can have their photos of their swearing in with their families. Congratulations, senator. Thank you. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear that you will support and defend constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic and thank you bear allegiance to the same. And that you you will discharge the duties to the position that your about to enter so help you god. Bring the family in, of course. Nice to meet you. How old are you . Thank you. Thanks for the avoid. Advice. Right here. Stand on this one . You are standing right there. Do you solemnly swear youll support and defend the constitution of the eight years states against all enemies, foreign and domestic. If you take this obligation freely and without any mental reservation. And that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office about which you are going to enter. So help you god. Congratulations. Good to see you. Come forward a little bit. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear youll support and defend constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic and it will take this obligation freely without any mental reservation and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which were about to enter. Congratulations. How are you . This is the vicepresident of the added states. United states. What is your name . Picture. Lets get a stand right in front here. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . Congratulations. Nice to see you again. How are you . Welcome. Would please raise your right. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Nice to see you. Thank you. Great to see you again. Ok. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . Congratulation. Congratulations. What is your name . How are you . Good to see you. Good to see you. Thank you. Good seeing you. Stand right there. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Your the best. You are the best. My granddaughter. How are you . What a beautiful smile. How are you . Good to see you. All right. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Thank you. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Good to see you. How are you . Ok. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . Thank you. These are six of our seven children. How are you . Great to see you. Great to see you. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Congratulations. How are you . Congratulation. Congratulations. Good to see you. [in distinct conversations] please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . Congratulations. There is one more. Thank you. If you put your left hand on the bible. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Congratulations. [indistinct conversations] thank you. Years from now when i show my kids this picture you have to come and sign it. [indistinct conversations] good to see you. Good to see you, man. Thank you. Stand right there. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Thank you. How are you . Lets do this. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . Congratulations. Happy new year. How are you doing . How old are you . Ok, ready . Ok. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Enjoy. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . Congratulations. [indistinct conversations] please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. [indistinct conversations] please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. This is the finest lady i had rever known other than my mother. How are you . Good to see you. Great to see you. Ok. [indistinct conversations] great to see you. [indistinct conversations] anyone else want to be sworn in as a senator today . Ok. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. [indistinct conversations] we will do a picture like this, ok . Come over to the side. Ok. Give us a heads up, guys. All right. [indistinct conversations] please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. How are you . [indistinct conversations] please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . Congratulations. [indistinct conversations] [indistinct conversations] how are you, good to see you. We are going to do this again. Left hand on the bible. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Great to see you. [indistinct conversations] good to see you. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. [indistinct conversations] thank you. [indistinct conversations] congratulations. Were going to have you stand right there. Put your left hand on the bible. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend states against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Congratulations. [indistinct conversations] ok. Ready . Thank you so much. Congratulations. A pleasure to meet you. Best wishes. [indistinct conversations] put your left hand on the bible. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. Congratulations. [indistinct conversations] thank you. This is my mother. How are you . [indistinct conversations] do you solemnly swear to protect the Diocese Constitution . Reach the United States constitution . The United States constitution . I do. This is my daughter. Hello, mali, how are you . Molly, how are you . How are you . Do not hide. She is a start. Star. Quest congratulations, everybody. Enjoy the day. Congratulations, everybody. Enjoy the day. Thank you again. Thank you. We go back. I have been here for 200 years. I will tell you a story about that. They are just plain old nuts and bolts. All right. To you solemnly swear you will support and defend the constitution of the United States . Do you take this obligation freely . So help you god . I do. [indiscernible] how are you. . You will be forest. Spread your legs. You will be frisked. Spread your legs. Good to see you. Hello. How are you . What is your name . You are ok. I will be darned. You look great. Ok. What you will do we will reenact this. Ready . Do you solemnly swear you will support and defend the constitution of the United States . You take this obligation without any reservation . So help you god . I hope you enjoy as much as i do. Thank you. This is my husband. Right in the middle. Hold it up. Do you solemnly swear you will support and defend the constitution of the united truees and you will bear fo faith. You take this obligation freely . Thank you. Thank you. How are you . Good to see you. How are you . I want you two guys right in the middle. You can still play. On the other side. Ok. Thank you so much. Which way . That way . I do not doubt that. Darn right. Thank you. Thank you. [laughter] i promise you. Thank you. Thank you. Good to see you. I do. You will stand on the other side. You put your left hand at the bottom. We will do this. Do you solemnly swear to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all things foreign and domestic . Do you take this obligation freely . So help you god . I do. Nice to meet you. We will have you stand back and you stand there. All right. Do you solemnly swear to support and defend the constitution of the United States and you take this obligation freely . They came from hawaii and need to be in this picture. They are coming. Good to see you. Take your time. Come over the side. How are you . I would be delighted. What have we got here . Great to see you guys. Ok. Exactly right. Thank you. How are you . Welcome. I will have you stand right in the middle. I do. The have and if do you have any family . Ok. What is your name. Brian . How are you . Good to see you. How are you doing, man . Good to see you, man. Effec[indiscernible] thank you for your patience. I appreciated. See you all later. See you guys. Republican senator john hoeven. Also tomorrow, the government releases the unemployment report for november. The big discussion i remember it was what will Richard Nixon do . This was like a time bomb. It is a disaster for all of us. An investigation. That is a pleasant thing that happened. After the farewell speech, i would be interested in reading it. I thought the best way 30th i was not a nixon specials. For the players, from that era to tell the story. I thought, the best way to do this was to start a video Oral History Program that involved nixon players. To have them tell the story. Used for some of the story in the museum. Democrats unsuccessfully put limits for voters on lunch today and allowed delegates to vote on the house floor. Members debated the measure for an hour before casting a vote. Here is that debate. We have incorporated a number of significant improvements, including a proposal from the chairman of the republican policy committee, James Langford from oklahoma, to identify duplicative programs and examine the usefulness of existing government programs. This will help insure hard working taxpayer dollars are not wasted and we remain focused on making the government smarter and more efficient. Similarly, to proposals from the channel one from michigan will improve transparency of the legislative process by making it easier to see how proposed legislation would interact with existing law. Additional proposals from the Republican Study Committee chairman from a louisiana will help bring more transparency to the regulatory process. American families and Small Business when Small Businessmen and women already suffer from too much red tape coming out of washington. This will insure the Regulatory Burden of any proposed bill is part of our deliberations. Under the current administration, we have also seen an explosion in spending for welfare programs. For the first time, we will require an annual budget resolution, include information about the growth of means testing and nonmeans tested entitlement programs. This important reform will allow us to begin to responsibly to control the growth of these programs and insurer they can help those who need them most. I look forward to a productive 113th congress where we can Work Together and make life work for more americans. I yield back to the john from texas and now the jomon of the rules committee. We reserve our time. Thank you madam speaker and i think the gentleman for yielding me 30 minutes. I want to begin by congratulating my colleagues on his new role as chair of the rules committee. Ive worked with mr. Sessions for many years and look forward to working with him even more closely leigh the months and years to come. We will welcome a new class of legislators as well today and will go through the procedures that has governed our nations since the Thomas Jefferson first road is manual. Im pleased to welcome our newest colleagues and welcome back old friends. It is a great honor to be chosen by our fellow americans who we represent in congress. Our neighbors to place our trust in us and we messed never take such an honor for granted. With this honor comes a solemn responsibility. We have the opportunity to move our nation ford and in the words are nations founders, provide for our common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. Our work begins today and one of the first orders of business is considering the new rules package for the incoming congress. During the last congress, we promised an open and transparent process. Under the majority leadership, more than a third of the rules were imposed and at times, brinksmanship endangered our economy. Today provides an opportunity for the majority to put these behind them and govern in a bipartisan way and we are willing to meet them every step of the way. With fiscal in mind, i must say i look at it with a little bit of trepidation. Most troubling for me is a proposal to adopt the ryan budget. That would keep alive dangerous budget proposals, including the repeal of parts of the chronic care act. This makes it easier for members of congress to use private planes. Beont think members should flying around in corporate jets. It continues over the fast and furious operation. To begin by this should not be the priorities of congress. With todays resolution, the majority continues their efforts to impose a marriage quality. In an age where it is recognized by americans across the country, chambers shall not be using taxpayer money to be standing on the wrong side of history. We could start our new beginning by joining our democratic colleagues and finally reforming our broken election laws and i know Everyone Wants to do that. In the years since the Supreme Court handed down the Citizens United case, unlimited amounts of money from billionaires have flooded our elections. Led by secret political spending hidden by public views carl wealthy special interests have tried to buy the airwaves and fund expensive campaigns and try to sway the outcome of countless elections. The Sunlight Foundation reports during the 2012 collection cycle alone, superpacs spent 620 million. Nobody believes corporations are people. They should not be able to use unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections. My democratic colleagues and i will provide the house with an opportunity to consider a constitutional amendment to overturn the flawed Citizens United decision. To finally remove the donations from our system. In addition to addressing the uncontrolled money, congress should be ensuring every american citizen can easily exercise their right to vote. Voting is fundamental to what it means to be an american but in recent years, losing a concerted efforts to discourage voters from casting a ballot. Under the claim that voter fraud is a serious threat, they have methodically advanced. Methods range from enacting voter i. D. Laws to reducing the number of Voting Machines in lowincome neighborhoods. Unfortunately, these discriminatory practices have indeed made a harder for citizens to vote. This past november, there were numerous voters being turned away from the polls and many had to wait in line for hours, sometimes as many as eight hours before they could cast a ballot. Is clear as day keeping people waiting in long lines is purely intended to make them give up and go home. Later today, my colleagues and i will ask the house to bring to the floor a streamlined and improve methods at polling locations and the early voting act or simple voting act. This legislation would guarantee no voter would have to wait more than one hour to cast their ballot and require every polling station to find the resources to run a smooth and fair election. When taken together, the overwhelming influence of money in politics and the discriminatory attacks on american rights to vote have created a broken legislation process that fails to serve the american public. As we open the 113th congress, my colleagues and i stand ready to work with the majority unfixing the electoral system and getting back to a process worth the have the citizens here. I could not be happier or more honored to serve in the 113th congress. I look forward to serving with all my colleagues and its my sincere hope we have an open, transparent, and bipartisan house so we can produce meaningful results for those we represent and i reserve the balance of my time. The gentleman from texas. Thank you very much. I have a section by section analysis of the resolution. Madam speaker, i want to thank the gentlewoman from rochester, new york. We will Work Together day and night, perhaps and she will be the Ranking Member and i will be the chairman of. I have told the gentleman before today that it will be my hope and her hope that we will work for the betterment of the institution and members said they stand a better chance to make sure our committee, the rules committee, is one where we can look at each other and know we have done a job that would be fair and appropriate on behalf of the minority leader and majority leader of the speaker of the house of representatives. The rules would make the work of the house as open, transparent and streamlined as possible. This work began in 112 congress under the leadership of former chairman david dreier. A number of important reforms were implemented. He made sure they work. Today, we will continue the tradition of that transparency initiated by the chairman. The nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation recently praised our endeavors in that effort by saying that its clear the house has become a more Transparent Institution over the last two years. The accolades go to the gentleman from california. This body is wholeheartedly committed to advancing their reform process and i am as its new chairman. Our work must begin and must always be directed to accountability to the people who granted us the privilege of serving in this body. But the imperative for accountability is never higher than when we face tough economic times. Economic times because of the demand of the people we represent. As our National Debt skyrockets, our economy dems sluggishly along and unemployment remains predictably high. The need for fully transparent and the total process is in this institution to help win the effort of helped and unemployment in this country and gain more jobs is one of the things this rules committee and the floor, the work of the floor should be about. The rules package we focus on today for the 113th congress will help us achieve that goal. It achieves the important reforms would made a Previous Congress while adding a few perfecting amendments and several other ideas. One such amendment will help streamline and expedite for voting procedures. It is important to note these are used to expedite consideration of questions of the house while insuring no member is denied an adequate opportunity to vote. Section 2 makes improvements and clarifications in the code of conduct in order to more efficiently hold each member of this body accountable. For example, it expands the current rules to conform to current loral and add grandchildren to the rule who are not currently covered under house rules or current law. This is a strongly held a bipartisan measure that has received praise from a number of transparency groups, including the Sunlight Foundation. This rules package also amends the restrictions the use of private aircraft so as to harmonize house and senate rules. These changes provide more flexibility to members, whose district including rural and remote locations are not easily reached by car and do not have scheduled air service. They will also facilitate travel during extraordinary circumstances such as an emergency or aftermath of a natural disaster. At the same time, the revised rules keep in place safeguards to help insure such trouble is fully consistent with house and ethics guidelines and rules. The new rules will simply ensure members pay a fair market rate for air travel, regardless of the type of air travel you use. Together, the amendments and clarifications to the code of conduct contained in this resolution will better insure electives representation rep officials and employees of the house can execute their official duties in efficient, ethical and transparent ways. Section three makes a number of separate orders. The most significant among them eliminates provisions contained in the Affordable Care act that limit the ability of the house to respond to recommendations from the independent payment Advisory Board. House republicans have made it very clear we oppose obamacare. We have acted repeatedly to repeal and replace this controversial law. But regardless of where any member may stand on this issue, the question of preserving the prerogative of the house of representatives to its work and will without dispute or controversy must be achieved. Article one section 5 of the constitution very clearly states that this body has the right and responsibility to determine the rules of its proceedings. This will ensure as we proceed with regards to health care reform, the ability to respond to the independent payment Advisory Board is not a bridge. Sections 3 and 4 go on to make a number of adjustments that enhance our budgetary process, preserve the oversight rules, and strengthen our ethics procedures. Finally, section 5 allows the speaker allows the reading of the constitution on any legislative day. Every member of this body sworn in today, sworn in to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States, is a very worthwhile endeavor to review the inspiring words of our nations founding documents. The rules package i have outlined for you will better enable each of us as an institution to perform our constitutional duties and obligations with integrity, transparency, and accountability while streamlining its operations. Presenting this package to the house is my First Official act as chairman of the rules committee and i think it exemplifies our commitment to an open, delivered a process that empowers the majority to work its will while preserving the ability of individual members, particularly those in the minority, to present their ideas and engage in meaningful debate. I urge my colleagues to support this rules package and i reserve the balance of my time. Madam speaker, and pleased to yield two minutes to the democratic whip. I think the Ranking Member for the work she is doing and has been doing over the years as our representative at leader of the rules committee. I also want to congratulate my friend, mr. Sessions, on obtaining the chairmanship of the rules committee, an important and that sets the parameters for debate and consideration for the house. I also want to thank him for his discussions with me and his willingness to Work Together. Im looking forward to a positive relationship and make sure we consider legislation on this floor, getting everybody on both sides of the aisle the opportunity to make their case. I also want to thank the gentleman who explained we are affecting the rules and i want to think rules committee and chairman in particular and the speaker for making changes so that existing individuals are not adversely affected. Having said that, i am disappointed to know the majority is calling of their rules package that embraces what i believe to be a partisan budget. There is obviously significant disagreement to compromise toward restoring fiscal stability in our country. Despite bipartisan agreements and the budget control act, the continuing resolutions this week on the fiscal cliff, to return to the partisan stance republicans brought on fiscal issues. In particularly on the budget. Teams the amount in a rise in budget to be the default funding levels this year. Levels well below this weeks compromise agreement. We saw that in the last budget process as well. We made an agreement and of low and behold, the budget came out with numbers substantially below that agreement. Ideal another two minutes. It also exempts the cost of policies we know cannot become law massive tax cuts as well as the cost of repealing the Health Reform act. We voted on at 30 times in this house and the American People have an opportunity to vote on that. We ought to be focused on making that act as good as it can be, making it affordable and providing access to Affordable Quality Health care. After more than 30 votes to repeal, it did not happen. Yet this proposed rule signals 113 will continue along a path that has been rejected. Another provision continues the policy of denying to 5 million american citizens living in our territories, the District Of Columbia miss norton is year and will speak, pr and the district columbia, as well as a bomb, the u. S. Virgin islands and the northern mariana islands. We have extended and congress has passed when i was the majority leader the ability for those representatives to vote on this floor. Not to vote on final passage. The constitution would have to do that. To vote in the coming minute to vote in the committee as a whole, we ought to give them that right here as a show of respect to honor their service to american citizens in territories and the District Of Columbia. As this congress begins, we have an opportunity to commit ourselves to the spirit of compromise. Our nation continues to face a number of challenges that can only be addressed by working together and giving every family the opportunity, as our leader said, to make it in america. Lets take advantage of this new session to start off on the foot and show americans we are ready to come together to tackle our greatest challenges. I think the gentle lady for time and i yield back the balance of my time. Thank you very much. I want to address the minority leader if i can. He is a very dear and find a friend of mine. We have for a long time i have enjoyed the many years in this house to know him and work with him and what he said is true, i have offered myself to him in a way that would be fair and good, not just for every member of this body but those he represents. I will try and do my very best with in a limit and i have in my attitude to always be stellar and i hope he knows he can count on that. I thank fed gentleman. I would also extend that to other members who are here that have come down to express their ideas about how to make this a better place is always important. Yesterday, the republican conference had the biggest time yesterday afternoon as we debated the house rules and offered our ideas and debated how we can make this a better place, not just transparent, but work to the efficiency of the people who sent us here. I am fresh from that wonderful and invigorating time where we talked about the ideas and defended what we did and changed the things that needed to be done and our members were afforded not just equal time but a chance to bring their ideas perhaps from back home. It was a good time not just for me as a member but for all of us in our body and today, we enjoy that same opportunity as we come together, democrats and republicans on the floor to talk about the rules of the house. I am pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized. Thank you. Madam speaker, today is a day of great pride for every member that has just been sworn in. Particularly our newly elected members. Its a great honor to be elected to serve in this body. On election day, our constituents want to their polling places and voted for us. We should be thankful for that. Particularly so, far too many constituents voting on election day with an unnecessarily burdensome time consuming and unpleasant experience. In my home county in South Carolina, voters reported waiting in line for over four hours. One young voter thought ahead of time, brought an ipad, and watched the entire hundred games movie while in line. Others, understandably did not have three hours to spare on a workday. In detroit, michigan, one person waited in line for three hours before giving up. Another gave up after waiting for four hours. In florida, she went to her polling place with her infant son. Seeing the line, she decided to come back later. After finding a baby sitter, she returned in the afternoon, at which point, the line had grown to five and a half hours. On able to be away from her infant son that long, she left without voting. As president obama said on election night, we have to fix that. After finding a babysitter, she returned in the afternoon, at which point the line had grown to 5. 5 hours. To be away from her infant son that long, she left without voting. As president obama said on election night, we have to fix that. As we take our presence in this congress that we turned on election day, now is the time to fix it. This motion to commit would assure that no broker has to wait longer than one hour to cast their ballot. We have a long history of struggle over the right to vote in this country. Yet time and again we have reaffirmed the principle that if an american has an equal right to cast a ballot without discrimination a 3 hour line is discrimination against those who have to work, those who have to take care of their kids, and those whose health prevents them from waiting in line for such a long time. Long lines of the 21st century version of poll taxes and literacy tests, disenfranchising the leased and managed least advantaged and most honorable citizens. We have an obligation to make sure each american has the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote. My good friend and lifelong colleague, john lewis, has called the right to vote almost sacred. And the most powerful nonviolent tool you have to create a more perfect union. John could not be here to speak on this motion today, but im proud to stand with mr. Miller. It is a small but important step to our fulfilling our obligation to protect the right to vote. And i urge the passage of this commitment. That the so much. I yield back. The gentleman from texas. I appreciate the gentleman coming down today. The gentleman mentioned a motion to commit we have yet to see that. If there is one, i would appreciate if the gentlewoman new york or the clerk could provide that to me. The chance for us today if i could just address that, if i may . I would yield. The motion at the proper time we will give the motion. We are not yet. Reclaiming my time when that is available we would appreciate that opportunity. Today what we are talking about, madam speaker, is how were going to make sure the rules committee, the rules of the house worked effectively. Later we will be calling the rules Committee Meeting i will be announcing the gentlewoman n. C. , virginia foxx, will join the rules committee. The gentlewoman from rochester will have the chance to bring her team up. We will begin the process of working together. Many of the ideas which have been brought forth here are very good ideas. The rules of the house or how we are going to proceed a lot of what has been talked about is legislation we really need to work on and look at and analyze. Not one election have i not learn something that we need to make better. I would say that i think that john boehner, our great young the speaker, is energized to look at all the ideas that might come from legislation and would be pleased, as i would, to make sure we look at these. Because the integrity of who serves with in this house and the ability people have at home to vote is important. Im reminded on a regular basis by the gentleman, gentlewoman, virginia foxx, will be appointed vice chairman how important it is that we serve at the pleasure of others. Our election to this republic in the votes we make are very important. It is always good to come down to the floor and be reminded of that as we remember our duty as we move forward. So i enjoyed the opportunity to debate these issues and talk about them. I reserve my time. The gentlelady from new york. I am delighted to yield two minutes to the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Mcgovern. The gentleman is recognized. I want to thank the Ranking Member for the time and her extraordinary leadership. I also want to congratulate mr. Sessions. Im hopeful be 113th chris will be more collaborative and civil than the 112th. I am not particularly optimistic, but im always hopeful. Hopeful that we return to some semblance of regular order. That bills coming to the floor, the amendment Office Members have the opportunity to reflect the will of their constituents. At the very least i hope the outrageous and partisan and closed process we saw during the fiscal cliff crisis is not repeated. That is no way to legislate, and it is no wonder after that theater that the American People have so little regard for congress. One of the best ways we can help the country is to improve the way we conduct our elections. Because that election bad elections lead to that lawmakers. In 2012 taught us anything, is that we need Campaign Finance reform. Democrats will amend the resolution to give the house a vote on a congressional constitutional amendment to control the corrupting influence of money on politics. The Supreme Courts Citizens United decision opened the floodgates, and we are awash in a sea of millions of dollars of unregulated money drowning out the voice of individual citizens. Politicians are increasingly beholden to wealthy special interests a Multinational Oil company that does not like a particular member of congress can just write a big, undisclosed check to americans for apple pie and puppies and watch the american advertising work its magic. There are a variety of ways to solve this problem. I introduced a amendment that would overturn Citizens United and put a stop to the corporate personhood nonsense it represents. Despite what governor romney said on the campaign trail, corporations are not people, and they do not deserve the same Constitutional Rights of american citizens. Other members will have other ideas, but at the very least we need to have this debate and i urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question. The gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Thank you, madam speaker. Once again we have a lot of political dogma taking place here. I was a worker in a corporation for a number of years and i felt like i was a vital part of the success of not only that company and the things that it did, but i felt that in my 16 years that i never missed a day of work, i contributed to the success of customers and other people. Just like here in this body there may be some organization somebody does not like that serve this house of representatives, but everybody is here, they show up at work, they get their work done. So i would say that corporations, employees, are very important to this country. The ability that all people have just as they were going to vote, to have a say in the process of what happens there is a lot of attacking that its done in this house of representatives against employers, against people who go to work and provide honest services. A lot of people who spend a lot of time demeaning others. I would like to see that stop. But it is not going to. So people like myself will stand up and hopefully talk about the rights and responsibilities we all have in a open society to make our country Even Stronger and better part of what the rules package is about. The gentle lady from new york. I am pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from colorado, mr. Polis. Santa, madam speaker. House republicans are seeking to authorize lawyer fees for a costly federal takeover of marriage that would single out legally married couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law. I am so disappointed that in the midst of this crisis, House Republicans want to continue to waste millions of dollars of taxpayer money defending a lot of the Obama Administration has already said they will not spend a penny on. Typical taxandspend republican policies. Last congress finished with the majority of republicans voting for the biggest tax increase in the history of our country by opposing the fiscal cliff tax relief bill. Now here we are sticking taxpayers with millions of dollars of unnecessary costs right on day one in the house itself. At least one democrat spend money we build a house homes and bridges and provide health care. Republican spending goes right into the pockets of lawyers. Big spending republicans on day one are spending millions of dollars of taxpayer money on a federal takeover of marriage and a lawyer stimulus. Wrong foot to start off on. I yield back. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Thank you, madam speaker. I reserve my time. The gentlelady from new york. I am pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from california, the Ranking Member of the committee on education. The gentleman is recognized. I thank the gentlewoman for recognition. I rise in favor of the motion to commit i will be offering with mr. Cliburn before the house later today so that we can take the small but very important step to provide the right of every american to vote. I was appalled in the past election by widespread reports across the country of voters forced to wait an hourslong line simply to exercise one of our most fundamental rights, the right to vote. Even in some states with early voting, they were forced to choose between waiting for hours or missing work and taking care of their children to cast their vote, or giving up their right to vote altogether. Some precincts with the miami, hundreds of voters stood in line for hours, past the closing time of the polls. Even after president obama declared was declared the winner of the election. It offends our basic values that americans would be denied the right to vote because of lastminute illness or change in the work schedule or any to pick up a child from school or some other unavoidable emergency, meaning they could not afford to wait in a line for several hours simply to exercise that right. Right