IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1018 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 19, 2010 Mr. McDermott (for himself, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Welch, Mr. Honda, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Berman, Mr. Becerra, Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of California, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Connolly of Virginia, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Nadler of New York, Ms. Eshoo, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Braley of Iowa, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, and Mr. Farr) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules RESOLUTION Requesting the Senate to adjust its rules to reflect the intent of the framers of the Constitution by amending the Senate’s filibuster rule, Rule 22, to facilitate the consideration of bills and amendments.

Whereas the Constitution requires a super majority in certain circumstances only and, in all other votes, a simple majority was intended to be sufficient; Whereas the procedural filibuster rule of the Senate effectively removes the Vice President’s constitutional right to cast a vote when the Senate is equally divided; Whereas the Senate’s filibuster rule, Rule 22, extends the power of individual Senators and the minority in the Senate beyond the power intended by the Constitution; Whereas the Constitution does not contemplate in letter or spirit allowing a single member of Congress in either house, or the party in the minority in either house, to prevent votes from being taken on bills and amendments; and Whereas the Senate’s filibuster rule prevents the majority from governing and, therefore, distorts the outcome of elections: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives requests the Senate to adjust its rules to reflect the intent of the framers of the Constitution by amending the Senate’s filibuster rule, Rule 22, to facilitate the consideration of bills and amendments.