Ranking Member James P. McGovern

House Committee on Rules

Representing Massachusetts' 2nd District

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

Follows Agriculture Committee Chairman Conaway’s comments that he expects a rule allowing only lawmakers who pledge to vote for the Farm Bill to offer amendments

Would mark an extraordinary break with Rules Committee tradition

WASHINGTON, DC — 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.

“Institutional matters such as this one affect both parties, and a policy to silence all voices of dissent will shut out Democrats and Republicans, and the millions of American citizens that they represent. During this Congress we have witnessed the continued erosion of our great democracy, and watched our government inch further and further towards authoritarianism. Requiring members of Congress to take a Trump-style loyalty pledge just to get a chance to offer their amendments is, in a word, shocking,” the members wrote.

“We fear statements such as Chairman Conaway’s damage the Rules Committee and our institution far beyond the Farm Bill, and have a chilling effect on the People’s House,” they continued.

Republican leaders have used restrictive rules to block more than 1700 amendments from Republicans and Democrats alike so far this Congress, including measures prohibiting funds for the 2001 Authorization of Use of Military Force, protecting DACA recipients, restricting funding for President Trump’s border wall, strengthening maternity leave, and fighting climate change.

Shortly after becoming Speaker, Paul Ryan said, “The way I am trying to do this job is the way I always thought it should have been done, and that is to make this a more open process so that every citizen of this country through their elected representatives has the opportunity to make a difference. … So I wanted to have a process that is more open, more inclusive, more deliberative, more participatory — and that's what we're trying to do.”

Despite Speaker Ryan’s pledge, this Congress is on track to become the most closed Congress ever.

A copy of the letter is included below and is available online here:

Dear Chairman Sessions,

We were extremely troubled to learn today that Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway “expects a debate rule that would allow only lawmakers who plan to vote for the [Farm Bill] to offer amendments,” according to Politico’s Morning Agriculture report.

To completely shut out any member who won’t promise to vote with Republican leadership would be an extraordinary break with tradition by the Rules Committee, which historically has encouraged all members to bring their best ideas for consideration. Democrats may not even want to submit amendments to the Farm Bill because of the rigged, partisan process that has already taken place – which Chairman Conaway has brought further into the daylight with this outrageous plan – but it goes much deeper than Democratic amendments to one bill. Institutional matters such as this one affect both parties, and a policy to silence all voices of dissent will shut out Democrats and Republicans, and the millions of American citizens that they represent.

During this Congress we have witnessed the continued erosion of our great democracy, and watched our government inch further and further towards authoritarianism. Requiring members of Congress to take a Trump-style loyalty pledge just to get a chance to offer their amendments is, in a word, shocking. Perhaps this Republican majority has become so used to blocking all amendments that they’ve forgotten the simple fact that with a more open process, members may not know how they will vote on final passage until amendment consideration concludes on the House floor.

We fear statements such as Chairman Conaway’s damage the Rules Committee and our institution far beyond the Farm Bill, and have a chilling effect on the People’s House. Please provide a written response making crystal clear that it is not the policy of the Rules Committee to administer a litmus test of loyalty before members can be allowed even to pose their ideas to the House. This is still a democracy. Congress needs to act like it.

Sincerely,

James P. McGovern                                                      Congressman Alcee Hastings

Ranking Member                                                          Member of Congress

Congressman Jared Polis                                              Norma Torres

Member of Congress                                                    Member of Congress

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