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119-hres-997119th Congress

Enabling the House of Representatives to be responsive to its membership.

Sponsored By: Representative McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthen House rules and oversight by requiring strict compliance with House and committee rules and by narrowing when the House can suspend its rules.

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  • Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and employees would be required to follow both the letter and the spirit of House rules and the rules of duly constituted committees. This codifies a written standard of conduct for people who work in the House.
  • Suspending House rules would face tighter limits: suspensions could pass only by a two-thirds vote of Members voting with a quorum present, and suspension motions would be debatable for 40 minutes split evenly between supporters and opponents. The Speaker could only consider suspension motions on early weekdays and during the final days of a session, and while a suspension is pending the Speaker may allow one motion to adjourn but no other motions.
  • The Clerk would install clocks in the House Chamber showing every U.S. time zone in real time, placed where Members can see them and implemented under rules from the Committee on House Administration.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Clocks showing all U.S. time zones

If adopted, the resolution would direct the Clerk of the House to place clocks in the House Chamber that show each United States time zone in real time. The clocks would be placed where Members can clearly see them, and the Clerk would follow rules from the Committee on House Administration. This requirement would take effect upon adoption.

House officials must follow rules

If adopted, the resolution would require every Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, and employee of the House to follow the House Rules and the rules of duly constituted committees in both spirit and letter. This requirement would take effect upon adoption.

New limits on suspending rules

If adopted, the resolution would amend House procedure so a rule could only be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the Members voting, a quorum being present. The Speaker could only entertain a motion to suspend the rules on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and the last six days of a session. While a suspension motion is pending, the Speaker could allow one motion to adjourn and no other motions until the suspension vote. A suspension motion would be debatable for 40 minutes, split evenly for and against. These changes would take effect upon adoption.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

MA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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