Chairman Miller: Roadblock Republicans Shamefully Obstruct Legislation They Support

Thursday, March 6, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, during floor consideration of bipartisan legislation that would renew the nation’s community service and volunteer programs, House Republicans offered a measure that would have amended the bill to require background checks on anyone participating in federally-funded volunteer and community service programs – a requirement that is already in place under federal regulations. House Democrats would support this measure, but Republicans offered it as a motion to recommit the bill to committee “promptly”, a procedural move which would have effectively killed the bill.

House Republicans used an obstructionist procedural move to kill a vote on legislation that was crafted in an open, bipartisan manner and was strongly supported by both Democratic and Republican members of Congress and by the Bush administration. Republicans had ample opportunity to raise this issue, and if they had raised it, Democrats would have supported it. For example:

• In June, the Committee passed the legislation, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act (H.R. 2857), by a unanimous bipartisan vote of 44-0. The background check measure was never raised during that markup.

• In addition, every Republican amendment that was offered before the House Rules Committee earlier this week was made in order. The background check measure was never submitted for consideration before the Rules Committee.

• Democrats would have supported the motion to recommit had it been offered “forthwith”, meaning it could be incorporated into the legislation so the House could then proceed to a final vote on the bill.

“It looks like roadblock Republicans are even willing to kill legislation they agree with and that most of them would support,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. “Today’s motion is just more of the same obstructionist tactics from a party that is out of steam, out of ideas, and has absolutely no interest in accomplishing anything meaningful on behalf of the American people.

“This legislation would help support the tens of millions of volunteers who dedicate their time to help meet some of the most important challenges facing our country: Mentoring at-risk youth and helping children succeed in school, working to make our streets safer and cleaner, and rebuilding communities devastated by natural disasters. It is shameful that Republican leadership is more interested in playing political games than in giving hope and promise to millions of Americans through volunteer programs.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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