Lowey Statement on Proposed House Republican Rules Package

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-Rockland/Westchester), the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on the proposed House Republicans Rules package for 115th Congress: 

“It is shameful that the first action of the Republican majority in the 115th Congress will be to advance a rules package gutting the independent Office of Congressional Ethics.  In the dark of night, in a secret vote, the majority breached public trust by disempowering the sole independent investigatory body holding lawmakers accountable for ethics violations.  This action exposes Republicans’ campaign pledge of ‘drain the swamp’ as absolute parody.

"Furthermore, instead of protecting American families from the devastating effects of gun violence, House Republicans have responded to last year's historic Democratic sit-in by proposing potentially unconstitutional punishments for Members who participate in similar actions in the future. This is unacceptable, and Democrats will not be intimidated out of fiercely advocating for policies that save American lives.

"The Republican rules package includes brazen assaults on the integrity of the House, and I urge all of my colleagues to reject this package."

###