McGovern Reacts to Democratic Caucus Approving his Nomination to Serve as Chairman of the House Rules Committee

The House Democratic Caucus today approved Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) nomination of Rules Committee Ranking Member James P. McGovern (D-MA) to serve as chairman of the committee for the 116th Congress. In reaction, McGovern released the following statement

Pelosi and McGovern Announce Agreement on Reforms with Problem Solvers Caucus Democrats

Rules Committee Democrats Endorse Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House

Ranking Member McGovern Condemns Republicans for Using a Rules Change to Prevent a Debate on the United States’ Support of Saudi Arabia’s War in Yemen

On the House Floor today, Rules Committee Ranking Member and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Jim McGovern (D-MA) condemned House Republicans for using a rules change to prevent Congress from exercising its oversight powers under the War Powers Resolution to debate the United States’ support of Saudi Arabia’s War in Yemen.

Ranking Member McGovern on House Floor: Republicans’ Tax Scam 2.0 Doubles Down on Policy that Rewards the Wealthy & Well-Connected

Ranking Member McGovern Condemns Republicans’ Restrictive Process as Committee Republicans Report the 99th, 100th, and 101st Closed Rules of This Congress

Ranking Member McGovern Calls for More Accommodating Process as Subcommittee Examines Possible Rules Changes for the 116th Congress

Rules Committee Ranking Member James P. McGovern (D-MA) this morning called for a more accommodating process that restores integrity to the House of Representatives as the Subcommittee on Rules and Organization held a members’ day hearing examining possible rules changes for the 116thCongress. This Republican Congress has already become the most closed Congress in history, with the House considering the 97th closed rule of this Congress later today. 

Ranking Member McGovern Applauds Bipartisan Conference Process with NDAA Bill

Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) this morning applauded the bipartisan conference process that brought the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report to the House Floor today. This process is a break from how Republican leaders normally operate, where bills often come before the Rules Committee without even being considered by the relevant committees first. More than half of the rules that the Republican Majority has brought to the floor this Congress have been unamendable. McGovern voted for the rule today in recognition of this improved process, with the exception of the lack of a new Authorization for Use of Military Force.

Ranking Member McGovern Calls on Republicans to Reverse Cut Zeroing Out Funding to Help Protect Elections from Cyber-Hacking

On the House Floor today, Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) called on Republicans to reverse their cut zeroing out funding for critical grants that would help fortify and protect election systems from cyber-hacking by hostile foreign powers like Russia. This cut is $380 million less than the FY18 enacted level and equal to President Trump’s request. Last night in the Rules Committee, the Republicans blocked an amendment from Rep. Quigley (D-IL) restoring this funding from getting a vote on the House Floor. 

Ranking Member McGovern Condemns House Republicans for Considering Resolution Designed to Undermine the Special Counsel’s Investigation

Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) today condemned House Republicans for considering H.Res. 970, a resolution designed to undermine the credibility of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 Presidential Election. By bringing this resolution to the House Floor, Republican leaders are enabling the extreme wing of their party to spread conspiracy theories while ignoring many very real oversight issues.  

Ranking Member McGovern: Passage of Partisan Farm Bill a Sad Day for Struggling Americans Trying to Improve Their Lives

Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) released the following statement in reaction to passage of the Republican Farm Bill in the House today. This partisan bill would cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by more than $20 billion. These cuts would slash nutrition assistance for millions of people – including working families, children, and the most vulnerable among us – and cause many others to lose assistance entirely. 

Ranking Member McGovern Condemns Republicans for Rushing to Pass Appropriations Package Without Passing a Budget

As consideration begins on the House Floor of Republicans’ minibus spending package today, Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) condemned Republican leaders for rushing to pass this package filled with harmful, partisan policy riders. McGovern also called out Republicans for bringing the Energy and Water Development, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bills to the floor without passing a budget. 

Ranking Member McGovern Condemns House Republicans’ Refusal to Allow Votes on Major Issues as the 115th Congress Becomes the Most Closed Congress in History

Today, House Rules Committee Ranking Member James P. McGovern (MA-02) condemned House Republicans’ restrictive process as they break their own closed rule record, making the 115th Congress the most closed Congress in American history. There have now been 84 closed rules this Congress, which block all amendments from both Democratic and Republican Members. A new report released by Rules Committee Democrats highlights how Republican leaders have used restrictive rules to block measures to create jobs, bring down the cost of prescription drugs, and make education more affordable. These important policies deserve a debate on the House Floor, yet they are routinely blocked from even being considered.  

Ranking Member McGovern: The Cruel Republican Farm Bill will Hurt the Most Vulnerable Americans

On the House Floor today, Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) spoke out against the Republican Farm Bill, which would cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by more than $20 billion. These cuts would slash nutrition assistance for millions of people – including the most vulnerable among us – and cause many others to lose assistance entirely. The Republican Farm Bill proposes these drastic cuts to SNAP to pay for forcing states to implement an unproven and vastly under-funded workforce bureaucracy experiment.  

Ranking Member McGovern Urges Republicans to Defeat the Farm Bill, Which Would Hurt the Most Vulnerable Americans

On the House Floor today, Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) spoke out against the Republican Farm Bill, which would cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by more than $20 billion. These cuts would slash nutrition assistance for millions of people – including the most vulnerable among us – and cause many others to lose assistance entirely. Ranking Member McGovern urged the House to reject this partisan bill, which would hurt families across the country.  

Rules Committee Democrats to Chairman Sessions: Reject Call for Trump-Style Loyalty Pledge

Rules Committee Democrats, led by Ranking Member James P. McGovern (D-MA), today asked Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) to reject a call from Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) for a Trump-style loyalty pledge from members to vote for the Farm Bill just to be able to propose their amendments to the bill. A report from Politico today said Chairman Conaway “expects a debate rule that would allow only lawmakers who plan to vote for the [Farm Bill] to offer amendments.” This would mark an extraordinary break with Rules Committee tradition, which historically has encouraged all members to bring their best ideas forward for consideration.  

Ranking Member McGovern Speaks Out Against GOP Efforts Putting Social Safety Net Programs at Risk & Undermining the Wall Street Reform Law

On the House Floor today, Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) spoke out against Republicans’ proposed balanced budget amendment that would put social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at risk and H.R. 4790, their latest attempt to undermine the Wall Street reform law.

Ranking Member McGovern Statement on Speaker Paul Ryan Not Seeking Re-Election

House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (MA-02) released the following statement on House Speaker Paul Ryan's (WI-01) announcement that he will not be seeking re-election.

Ranking Member McGovern Welcomes Congresswoman Torres to House Rules Committee

Ranking Member McGovern issued the following statement to welcome Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35) to the House Rules Committee following the Democratic Caucus vote Tuesday night.

McGovern Statement on Appointment as Ranking Member of House Rules Committee

Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-2) was appointed Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Tuesday night.

Rules Committee Republicans Vote Against Republican Amendment to Fight Sexual Assault

During a House Committee on Rules meeting late last night on the Republican bill to provide tax cuts for the wealthy, committee Republicans voted against making several amendments in order under their closed rule, including a Republican amendment to fight sexual assault.

Ranking Member Slaughter Statement as Republicans Work to Jam their Tax Cut for the Wealthy Through the House

House Committee on Rules Ranking Member Louise M. Slaughter (NY-25) gave the following statement at a committee meeting this evening as House Republican leaders work to jam their bill to provide a massive tax cut for the wealthy through the House.

House Republicans Break the Record, Making this Session of Congress the Most Closed

Ranking Member Slaughter Welcomes Republican’s Request for an Open Rule on the Health Care Repeal Bill

Rules Committee Ranking Member Louise Slaughter (NY-25) issued the following statement in reaction to Republican Representative Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) request for an open rule for the Republican health care bill. 

Slaughter Responds to Republicans Blocking Consideration of Legislation to Rescind the President’s Executive Order on Immigration

Rules Committee Ranking Member Louise Slaughter (NY-25) reacted to House Republicans voting tonight to block consideration of The Statue of Liberty Values Act, legislation to defund and rescind President Donald Trump’s harmful executive order banning travel from Muslim countries and suspending the refugee program. In voting for the previous question, Republicans prevented a debate on this bill.

Slaughter Reacts to Republican Rules Package for 115th Congress

Rules Committee Ranking Member Louise Slaughter (NY-25) released the following statement in reaction to the House Republicans' rules package for the 115th Congress: