The
Committee on Rules
At the beginning of the 110th Congress, I was appointed to the House Rules Committee, which serves as the gateway for all major legislation considered on the House floor. Having a seat at the table on this Committee gives me a strong platform from which to advocate for the interests and values of California's Central Valley because nearly every piece of legislation must be reviewed by the Rules Committee before arriving on the House floor.
The most important work on the Rules Committee happens behind the scenes, before the Committee hearings take place. During these sessions I act to rein in elements of the agenda that would be harmful to my district and are objectionable to moderate Democrats, many of whom are members of the Blue Dog Coalition. I have a direct line to inform House leadership when I and my moderate colleagues have objections to provisions within a specific bill that is not in line with our values and beliefs. This level of access to House leadership is something that the Blue Dogs never enjoyed before I joined the Rules Committee. Through my role, I am often able to help broker compromises that are favorable to moderate democrats on legislation headed to the floor.
More importantly, my position on the Rules Committee is crucial for my district because I have increased leverage to propose and receive floor votes on amendments that I know are priorities back home. As legislation moves through the Committee, I help decide which amendments are adopted and look for opportunities to address problems in the Valley. Following are a few examples of my efforts:
• During debate on the Department of Homeland Security Reauthorization Act, I was able to include an amendment that addresses interoperability problems amongst emergency personnel. This will help fire fighters and police in the Central Valley communicate during an emergency situation.
• On the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, I was able to include an amendment that provided for a five-year, 50% discount of flood insurance premiums for homeowners that will be mandated to purchase flood insurance as a result of the new flood maps.
• On the Expanding American Homeownership Act, I was able to include an amendment that makes FHA loan insurance available in moderately-priced home markets, which provided relief to distressed borrowers across the country, including here in the Valley. My amendment was included as part of the economic stimulus package that passed earlier this year.
To learn more about the Committee on Rules Click Here. |
