The 109th Congress convened for its first session on January 4, 2005. Members-elect of the United States House of Representatives took the Oath of Office and re-elected Representative J. Dennis Hastert as Speaker of the House. Members also adopted a rules package which outlines the general procedures to govern the terms of debate, consideration of legislation and amendments, and conduct of members over the next two years.
The new rules of the House created a House Committee on Homeland Security and established a procedure to be followed in the event a catastrophe kills or incapacitates a large number of members.
The rules package did not, however, contain language originally proposed to prevent the Ethics Committee from reprimanding members for conduct which-while not in violation of specific House rules-would bring "discredit" upon the House. This language was withdrawn due to the opposition of many members, including Representative Todd Platts. In addition, a provision in internal Republican Conference rules was reinstated to require a Republican leader to step down in the event of an indictment for a felony. Representative Platts had voted against the removal of this rule in December 2004 and supported its reinstatement in January 2005.
On January 4, 2005, both the House and the Senate approved without objection resolutions (H. Res. 12 and S. Res. 4) expressing condolences to the families hurt by the Indian Ocean tsunami and applauding the humanitarian response to it. Subsequently, on January 6, 2005, Congress approved without objection legislation (H.R. 241) allowing taxpayers making tsunami-aid contributions this month to deduct those contributions from their taxable income for 2004. President George W. Bush signed the measure into law on January 7, 2005.
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Tsunami and Earthquake Disaster Assistance
A statement by Rep. Platts' regarding the Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as links for those who want to help, have been posted to the web site.
(http://www.house.gov/platts/tsunami.shtml)
Representative Todd Platts has awarded military service academy nominations to 26 outstanding students from Adams, York, and Cumberland counties.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/academy2004.html)
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