(WASHINGTON, DC.) – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) applauded the inclusion of two rule changes that he championed in H.Res.6, the rules package for the 116th Congress.
Raskin coauthored a provision to eliminate the Holman Rule, a centuries-old mechanism revived by House Republicans at the start of the 115th Congress to undermine the federal workforce by attaching restrictions on federal programs and individual salary reductions to essential appropriations bills.
“The scrapping of the Holman Rule is a hard-fought and welcome victory for federal workers, including more than 88,000 of them who live and work in my District,” said Raskin. “Congress should be back in the business of helping civil servants do their jobs rather than subjecting them to partisan intrigue, political vendettas and ideological crusades. I’m proud to have worked with my Capital Region colleagues to champion this return to common sense and I look forward to making a lot more progress for America and our federal work force in the new Congress.”
Raskin also coauthored a proposal requiring a committee hearing and markup on bills and joint resolutions reported to the House Rules Committee for consideration.
“We need to return the House of Representatives to Regular Order and open up the legislative process,” said Raskin. “Prior to my time in Congress, I spent a decade in the Maryland State Senate, where regular order ruled the day and we passed major legislation with bipartisan support. When I arrived in Congress, I was dismayed to find the legislative process had been completely usurped by Republican partisans who had no desire to engage in an open, bipartisan, or constructive process. Democrats plan to have public, bipartisan discussions to come up with the best ideas, hold hearings to solicit expert input, provide opportunities to amend bills during committee markups, and engage every Member – and the American people – in an open and transparent legislative process.”
The House will vote on the rules package when the 116th Congress convenes on January 3, 2019.
Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee, Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the Committee on House Administration. He is also the Caucus Leadership Representative for the House Democratic Caucus in the 116th Congress.