COMMITTEE ON RULES - H.Res. 1304: Rule Providing for H.R. 6052 - Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008

COMMITTEE ACTION: REPORTED BY RECORD VOTE 8-4 on Wednesday, June 25, 2008.
FLOOR ACTION: ADOPTED BY RECORD VOTE 230-196 AFTER AGREEING TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION BY RECORD VOTE 228-198 on Thursday, June 26, 2008.

MANAGERS: Castor/Diaz-Balart, Lincoln

110th Congress
2nd Session

H.RES. 1304

[Report No. 110-734]

H.R. 6052 – Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 Motions to Suspend the Rules

Provides for consideration of H.R. 6052 under a structured rule.

Provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.

Provides that the bill shall be considered as read.

Waives all points of order against provisions in the bill. This waiver does not affect the point of order available under clause 9 of rule XXI (regarding earmark disclosure).

Makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution.

Provides that the amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.

Waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report except for those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.

Provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker.

Allows the Speaker to entertain motions to suspend the rules on the legislative day of Thursday, June 26, 2008, relating to (1) a measure concerning the Commodity Exchange Act and energy markets; (2) a measure concerning the issuance of oil and gas leases on Federal lands or waters.

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RESOLUTION

Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6052) to promote increased public transportation use, to promote increased use of alternative fuels in providing public transportation, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no amendment to the bill shall be in order except those printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Each such amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such amendments are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Sec. 2. During consideration in the House of H.R. 6052 pursuant to this resolution, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to such time as may be designated by the Speaker.

Sec. 3. It shall be in order at any time on the legislative day of Thursday, June 26, 2008, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules relating to:

(a) a measure concerning the Commodity Exchange Act and energy markets;

(b) a measure concerning the issuance of oil and gas leases on Federal lands or waters.

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

(summaries derived from information provided by sponsors)

*select the name of the amendment sponsor to retrieve amendment text in .pdf format.

1. Oberstar (MN):	Would add a finding that public transportation stakeholders should engage local communities in promoting the importance of using public transportation. It would amend section 3 (grants to improve public transportation services) to clarify that transit agencies may use these new grants to offset the increased cost of fuel to transit agencies. It also clarifies that intercity bus service and acquiring facilities or equipment to improve fuel efficiency are eligible activities under the bill. It would require the Transportation Secretary to carry out consumer awareness programs on the benefits of alternative transportation.	(10 minutes)
2. Davis, Tom (VA)/McGovern (MA):	Would amend section 5 (transportation fringe benefits) to authorize increasing the transit portion of the transportation fringe benefit so it is equal to the maximum limit of the parking portion of the transportation fringe benefit.	(10 minutes)
3. Mahoney (FL):	Would provide an exception to section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (regarding procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels) by exempting contracts for generally available fuels that are not predominantly produced from nonconventional petroleum sources if (1) the contract does not require the contractor to provide alternative fuels, (2) the purpose of the contract is not to obtain an alternative fuel, and (3) the contract does not provide incentives for a refinery upgrade or expansion to allow a refinery to use or increase its use of fuel from a nonconventional petroleum source.	(10 minutes)
4. Reichert (WA):	Would amend section 7 (federal share for fixed guideway stations) to create a 100% Federal share for park-and-ride lots that serve fixed route commuter bus routes of more than 20 miles in length.	(10 minutes)
5. Hodes (NH):	Would allow funds authorized in section 3 of the bill (regarding grants to improve public transportation services) to be used by states to establish or expand commuter matching services to provide commuters with information about alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use.	(10 minutes)