Hoyer Floor Remarks on House Republicans' Extreme Rules Package Targeting Federal Employees

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) spoke on the House Floor this evening to oppose H. Res. 5, House Republicans' Rules package for the 118th Congress:

Click here for a link to the full video.

"Mr. Speaker, these Rules are largely the Rules that we've had for some period of time over the years, but they have important changes. Unfortunately, I feel those changes are not facilitating our work but seeking to impede our work. I think that's unfortunate. They are also designed to target federal employees if Members of Congress don't like what they do. There is, of course, a process to do that, but as the Leader on the other side did at one point in time, he just cut out the salary for an employee who he didn't like or thought was acting improperly. That was not appropriate and of course that did not prevail.

"I regret that we don't have an opportunity to look at these Rules in the way that so many on this Floor talked about doing. First of all, of course, they are not single issues, it's a lot of issues, it's the Rules.

"Secondly, there are ways and means to provide for consideration in a transparent, open fashion in which I can offer an amendment to a Rule that I thought that was to the benefit of this House or the American people. Unfortunately the process, which is the very first process, under which we considered a piece of business, necessary legislation, and that is ironic – but it is what it is. But it will, as such a process does, force us to vote against a piece of organizational rules because we don't agree with some of those Rules and that's what I will do. I yield back the balance of my time."

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