Republicans have unveiled a new House rules package for the upcoming 119th Congress, which includes a plethora of items from their political wishlist. Notably, the proposal aims to make it more challenging to oust the House speaker. Under the new rules, only members of the majority party would be permitted to introduce motions to vacate, with a stipulation that at least eight cosponsors from the majority party must support such motions. Additionally, the proposal seeks to dismantle the congressional Diversity and Inclusion Office and grants authority to issue subpoenas for Attorney General Merrick Garland and other officials linked to the investigation into the Biden family’s financial matters.
Democratic lawmakers have strongly criticized the resolution, with the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee accusing Republicans of introducing partisan extremism into the rules. U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, expressed his disappointment in a statement on Wednesday, criticizing House Republicans for their lack of willingness to collaborate with Democrats to address the country’s pressing issues.
The rules package also includes 12 bills slated for consideration under a closed rule, meaning amendments cannot be proposed. These bills align with several Republican priorities, including the requirement for individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and the protection of biological sex distinctions in sports under Title IX regulations. Furthermore, some bills aim to authorize the deportation of migrants residing in the U.S. unlawfully if they have committed offenses such as domestic violence, sex crimes, or assaults on law enforcement. Another provision mandates the Department of Homeland Security to detain migrants charged with theft.
Moreover, the legislation would render sanctuary cities ineligible for federal funding for migrant services, bar any prohibitions or pauses on hydraulic fracking, and oblige physicians to provide appropriate care to infants born alive after failed abortion attempts. While many Republicans support these measures, some have raised objections to certain aspects of the package.
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky expressed concerns about a proposed bill allowing the U.S. government to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court if it targets any protected person of the United States and its allies. Massie specifically questioned the inclusion of provisions aimed at safeguarding Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently under investigation by the court for potential war crimes.
As the House prepares to vote on the package on Friday, January 3, alongside the swearing-in of its members and the election of a Speaker, tensions between the two parties continue to escalate. McGovern reiterated the Democrats’ commitment to preventing the House of Representatives from becoming a mere rubber stamp for the Republicans’ extreme policies, emphasizing that the American people did not endorse such actions.
The impending House rules package vote underscores the deep ideological divides within Congress, with Republicans pushing for their policy priorities while Democrats remain steadfast in their opposition to what they perceive as partisan and extreme measures. The outcome of the vote will shape the dynamics of the 119th Congress and set the tone for legislative battles to come.
