Congressman Tom Suozzi (D -- Long Island, Queens) and fellow members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, introduced a package of changes to the House Rules to make Congress work for the American people. The proposed rule changes reward openness and transparency, encourage a willingness to reach across the aisle, create debate on divisive issues, and empower lawmakers to find real solutions concerning our nation's most pressing matters.
"The public wants Congress to "Get it Done' and solve problems. To break the gridlock, our bipartisan group is proposing a set of rule changes that will give every member of Congress a voice to help get things done," said Suozzi, who is Vice-Chairman of the Problem Solvers Caucus.
The package includes, among others, proposals to give fast-track priority consideration to bipartisan legislation and guarantees markups on bipartisan legislation from every member of Congress.
The Problem Solvers Caucus plans to work with other House Caucuses in the coming weeks to collaborate and help build consensus around House rules changes ahead of the next Congress.
For nearly two years, the 48 members of the Problem Solvers Caucus have worked together finding bipartisan agreement on the toughest issues facing Congress. The Caucus proposed a health care compromise to help stabilize the individual marketplace; an agreement on our nation's DREAMERs and border security; support for gun and school safety legislation, and recommendations for a bipartisan infrastructure package.
However, their progress and bipartisan cooperation has often faced large obstacles for passage because of House Rules that enable a few members to prevent bipartisan ideas from being brought to the House Floor.