Hearing Information
Meeting Information
Thursday, May 14, 2020 - 11:00am 1100 Longworth House Office Building View Announcement »
Thursday, May 14, 2020 - 11:00am 1100 Longworth House Office Building View Announcement »
(as introduced)
Summary of H. Res. 965 PDF
Dear Colleague: Resolution Introduced to Ensure Congress Can Continue its Work During the Coronavirus Pandemic Link
(as reported)
H. Rept. 116-420 PDF
Report from the Committee on Rules to accompany H. Res. 965.
Amendments Offered to H. Res. 965
Remote Voting by Proxy Regulations PDF
(as submitted for printing in the Congressional Record)
Remote Committee Proceedings Regulations PDF
(as submitted for printing in the Congressional Record)
COMMITTEE ACTION:
REPORTED BY A RECORD VOTE OF 8-4 on Thursday, May 14, 2020.
FLOOR ACTION ON H. RES. 967:
Agreed to by record vote of 207-199, after agreeing to the previous question by record vote of 219-182, on Friday, May 15, 2020.
MANAGERS: McGovern/Cole
1. Closed rule for H. Res. 965.
2. Provides that upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider H. Res. 965.
3. Provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules.
4. Provides that the resolution shall be considered as read.
5. Closed rule for H.R. 6800.
6. Provides that upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider H.R. 6800 without intervention of any question of consideration.
7. Provides two hours of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.
8. Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill.
9. Provides that the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
10. Waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended.
11. Provides that clause 2(e) of rule XXI shall not apply during consideration of the bill.
12. Provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
13. Provides that until completion of proceedings enabled by the first two sections of the resolution, (a) the Chair may decline to entertain any intervening motion (except as expressly provided herein), resolution, question, or notice; and (b) the Chair may decline to entertain the question of consideration.
14. Section 4 provides that on any legislative day during the period from May 19, 2020, through July 21, 2020: the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day shall be considered as approved; and the Chair may at any time declare the House adjourned to meet at a date and time to be announced by the Chair in declaring the adjournment.
15. Provides that the Speaker may appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the duration of the period addressed by section 4 of the resolution.
16. Provides that each day during the period addressed by section 4 of the resolution shall not constitute a calendar day for the purposes of section 7 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1546).
17. Provides that each day during the period addressed by section 4 of the resolution shall not constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of rule XIII (resolutions of inquiry).
18. Section 8 provides that each day during the period addressed by section 4 of the resolution shall not constitute a calendar or legislative day for the purposes of clause 7(c)(1) of rule XXII (motions to instruct conferees).
19. Provides that each day during the period addressed by section 4 shall not constitute a legislative day for the purposes of clause 7 of rule XV (Consensus Calendar).
20. Provides for consideration of concurrent resolutions providing for adjournment during the month of July, 2020.
21. The resolution provides that it shall be in order at any time through the calendar day of July 19, 2020, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule XV, and that the Speaker or her designee shall consult with the Minority Leader or his designee on the designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this section.
22. Waives the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House with respect to any resolution reported through the legislative day of July 21, 2020.
Amendment (no. 1) offered by Mr. Woodall to ensure the resolution doesn't go into effect until the Clerk of the House certifies that a system is in place for the secure receipt and validation of the designation of proxies by Members under this resolution. Defeated: 4–6
Amendment (no. 2) offered by Mr. Cole to require the concurrence of the Minority Leader to designate a covered period. Defeated: 4–7
Amendment (no. 3) offered by Mr. Cole to sunset the covered period on June 30, 2020. The amendment also requires a two-thirds vote to extend the covered period beyond June 30, 2020. Defeated: 4–8
Amendment (no. 4) offered by Mr. Woodall to strike the provisions allowing Members to record the presence of other Members who designated them as their proxy. Defeated: 4–8
Amendment (no. 5) offered by Mr. Woodall to require a report by the General Counsel on defending proxy voting against claims of unconstitutionality. Defeated: 4–8
Amendment (no. 6) offered by Mr. Burgess to require the Committee on House Administration to submit a report analyzing the accuracy and integrity of the votes cast by Members in the House, including the votes cast by designated proxies under this resolution, and shall include in the report a description of any errors in the votes cast by designated proxies under this resolution. The Committee on House Administration shall submit this report not later than 30 days after the end of the year. Defeated: 4–8
Amendment (no. 7) offered by Mr. Cole to limit measures for which votes may be cast or presence recorded by proxy to measures designated by the Speaker or her designee, in consultation with the Minority Leader or his designee, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic; any vote related to a question of the privileges of the House under rule IX; any vote on a question unrelated to a specific measure or matter; or a quorum call. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 8) offered by Mr. Woodall to prohibit a Member from casting the vote or recording the presence of another Member as a designated proxy with respect to any bill or resolution considered under the suspension of the rules, unless the bill or resolution is designated by the Speaker or her designee, in consultation with the Minority Leader or his designee, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 9) offered by Mr. Cole to prohibit a Member from casting a vote or recording the presence of another Member as a designated proxy under this resolution with respect to any bill or resolution which has not been reported by a committee of the House. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 10) offered by Mrs. Lesko to prohibit a Member from casting the vote or recording the presence of another Member as a designated proxy under this resolution with respect to any bill or resolution relating to impeachment, censure, or contempt. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 11) offered by Mrs. Lesko to require the Committee on House Administration to reduce the amount available under the Members' Representational Allowance by the amount which would have been paid from the Allowance for the Member's travel expenses if the Member casts a vote or records the presence of another Member by proxy or attends a proceeding remotely at any time during that fiscal year. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 13) offered by Mr. Cole to require the regulations under Section 6 in the resolution to include a requirement that, not later than 24 hours prior to the vote or quorum call involved, the Speaker notify Members that votes may be cast or presence may be recorded by designated proxies. The amendment also requires that these regulations include the establishment of minimum periods of time for the casting of votes and the recording of presence by designated proxies, and a requirement for the use of contingency plans which may be implemented in the event of failure of any technology to carry out sections 1, 2, or 3. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 14) offered by Mrs. Lesko to limit the number of proxies any Member can hold to two. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 15) offered by Mrs. Lesko to strike section 4 of this resolution, authorizing remote proceedings in committees. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 16) offered by Mrs. Lesko to exclude the Committee on Ethics and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from the provisions authorizing remote proceedings in committees. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 17) offered by Mr. Cole to prohibit committee members from recording their presence remotely. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 18) offered by Mr. Cole to strike "to the greatest extent practicable" in the provision requiring committees to ensure the ability of members to participate remotely to the greatest extent practicable. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 19) offered by Mrs. Lesko to ensure the guidance referenced in section 4(h) outlines how the committee intends to address specific time zones of members; how the committee intends to address technological limitation that may exist that preclude members from full participation in remote sessions; rules on decorum including attire and how the chair would handle witnesses and members who go over their time limit, and the muting of member microphones; and how the chair plans to control platform access, including providing the ranking member a list of those with participatory access to the platform 24-hours in advance of the scheduled committee meeting. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 20) offered by Mrs. Lesko to prohibit a committee from conducting a markup remotely. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 21) offered by Mrs. Lesko to prohibit a committee from taking depositions remotely. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 22) offered by Mr. Cole to create a point of order against consideration of legislation reported by a committee under any remote proceeding if the committee in marking up or reporting the legislation violated any rule of the House, the committee, or any provision of this resolution. It shall not be in order to consider a rule or order that waives the application of this point of order. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 23) offered by Mr. Cole to require in the guidance referenced in section 4(h) that the chair of a committee wishing to conduct remote proceedings publish guidance in the Congressional Record on how the chair intends to authenticate and validate member participation. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 24) offered by Mr. Woodall to require that under the regulations referenced in section 4(h), the chair of a committee conducting proceedings remotely shall ensure that members of the committee have the right to offer a motion to adjourn and have the right to offer a motion to postpone consideration. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 25) offered by Mr. Woodall to require that under the regulations referenced in section 4(h), the chair of a committee conducting proceedings remotely shall ensure that members of the committee have the right to demand words be taken down. Defeated: 3–7
Amendment (no. 26) offered by Mr. Woodall to require that under the regulations referenced in section 4(h), the chair of a committee conducting proceedings remotely shall ensure that there is 7-day notice before any hearing and 24-hour availability of such text of any matter to be considered by the committee. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 27) offered by Mr. Woodall to require that, under the regulations referenced in section 4(h), the chair of a committee conducting proceedings remotely shall ensure that members of the committee shall have the right to offer motions to appeal the ruling of the chair. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 28) offered by Mr. Woodall to require that under the regulations referenced in section 4(h), the chair of a committee conducting proceedings remotely shall ensure that members of the committee have the right to offer second degree amendments, but may not require the pre-filing of amendments. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 30) offered by Mrs. Lesko to require the chair to notify the Members of the committee of the circumstances which required a recess to be declared within 24 hours of recessing committee proceedings. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 31) offered by Mr. Woodall to require that under the regulations referenced in section 4(h), the chair of a committee conducting proceedings remotely shall ensure that Members have access to dedicated technical support from the Chief Administrative Officer during the proceedings. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 32) offered by Mr. Cole to require committees to include in any report filed with the House with respect to any proceeding conducted remotely a description of any issues arising from conducting the proceeding remotely. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 33) offered by Mrs. Lesko to prohibit any committees from conducting remote proceedings until the Committee on House Administration has submitted to the House a plan under which committees will be able to make greater use of other facilities in the United States Capitol Complex to conduct hearings and markups in person. Defeated: 3–8
Amendment (no. 34) offered by Mr. Woodall to amend section 5 to only require the chair of the Committee on House Administration, in consultation with the ranking minority member, to study the feasibility of using technology to conduct remote voting in the House. Defeated: 3–8
Motion to order H. Res. 965 reported favorably to the House. Agreed to: 8–4
Motion by Mr. Cole to report an open rule for H. Res. 965. Defeated: 4–8
Motion by Mr. Woodall to strike "and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question" from the appropriate section of the rule for H. Res. 965. Defeated: 4-8
Motion by Mrs. Lesko to provide four hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Rules for H. Res. 965. Defeated: 4–8
Motion by Mrs. Torres to report the rule. Adopted: 8–4