[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17337]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          THE HOUSE NEEDS LESS PARTISANSHIP AND MORE SOLUTIONS

  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, during his first speech, our new Speaker 
made a commitment to return the U.S. House of Representatives to 
regular order. What does that mean? Think ``Schoolhouse Rock,'' an 
orderly process where bills are introduced, debated in a bipartisan 
committee process, amendments are allowed, and legislation is actually 
brought up for a vote.
  I could not agree with the Speaker more. This Congress, this country 
would benefit from a more open debate, where voices from both parties 
are heard, where every Member is empowered to fully be a part of the 
legislative process, to do the work that they were sent here to do on 
behalf of the people they work for.
  I know I have introduced many bills that have not been brought up in 
committee, have never seen the light of day on the floor, and I know 
other Members share that frustration. That needs to end. We need to 
have a more open process.
  Just last week, 313 Members of this body voted to reauthorize the 
Export-Import Bank. Almost every Democrat and a majority of Republicans 
came together, and the legislative process worked.
  Mr. Speaker, I do call on you to continue to keep that promise. Keep 
this an open process. This is what the Framers imagined, and it is what 
the American people expect.

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