House Assistant Minority Leader Neguse: “Republicans have literally presided over the most ineffective session of Congress in history. Not hyperbole.”
Washington, D.C. — House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse led House Democrats’ debate on the Rule for four bills, including providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7888) to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. Congressman Neguse led debate on these bills following House Republican leadership’s failure to pass another Rule when it first came to the Floor on Wednesday, April 10th. His opening remarks are as follows:
Assistant Leader Neguse: “Mr. Speaker, today's Rule, as Mr. Massie articulated, again provides for the consideration of four bills. I suspect that you will be familiar with these four bills because these four bills were under a Rule two days ago. What happened to that Rule? It failed. Part in parcel of the chaos and the dysfunction that House Republicans have engulfed this august chamber in for the better part of the last 15 months.
“As of two days ago, seven rules — seven — have failed on the House Floor, Mr. Speaker. You might be wondering — those watching from home might be wondering — How many rules failed when Democrats had the majority? Under Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi? The answer is none. Zero. In fact, from 1999 to 2023, only two rules failed on the House Floor. Neither of which happened when House Democrats were in control of this chamber.
“The last bill, Mr. Speaker, to pass the Rules Committee and make its way to the President's desk without suspension of our rules was almost one year ago. Unprecedented. Republicans have literally presided over the most ineffective session of Congress in history. Not hyperbole. Despite, by the way, Mr. Speaker, the pressing challenges that our nation faces. They repeatedly show that they have no capacity or desire to govern.
“Instead, prioritizing unwarranted censures, sham impeachments, non-binding resolutions after nonbinding resolutions after nonbinding resolutions. Instead of debating core issues like lowering costs, growing the middle class, building safer communities, addressing our critical national security needs.
“We have spent yet another week here in Washington wasting time. This is the third time, third time that we are considering a variation of one of these non-binding resolutions today. Stunts over solutions, Mr. Speaker. That has become, unfortunately, their motto. This is not how governing is supposed to work. I know — I served in this body for some time — I know there are serious members on the other side of the aisle. I wish they would pull back their caucus and institution from the brink and work with us in a bipartisan way to address core needs of the American people. Unfortunately, they have yet to show any desire to do so. But hope springs eternal.”
For a full video of the Assistant Leader’s opening remarks, click HERE. Additional excerpts from his time on the Floor, include:
“I’m confounded by the audacity of any House Republican to come to the Floor and lecture any of us about national security when they have held hostage a bill that passed the United States Senate on a bipartisan basis to address the national security needs of this country. For months, they have held that bill hostage.”
“I certainly agree with [Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin)] about the preservation of liberty and the importance of liberty in our founding documents and as the core fabric – the core thread in our country. But I must also just say that I don’t think the American people share House Republicans’ priorities. And let me explain why. On Monday, the Rules Committee will be meeting to consider a number of bills. House Republicans put out a notice yesterday what those bills would include. Let me just give you a sampling Mr. Speaker: the Refrigerator Freedom Act, the Hands Off our Home Appliances Act, the Clothes Dryers Reliability Act, and – this may be my favorite – the Liberty in Laundry Act. Liberty in Laundry Act. So, while I appreciate the Gentleman from Wisconsin’s very impassioned defense of liberty, I’m not so sure the American people have that in mind.”
“I think [the American people] expect this House Republican majority to actually address the consequential challenges that face our country. Not waste time on petty games and nonsense bills.”
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