Return to Regular Order

Floor Speech

Mr. NOLAN. Madam Speaker, the simple truth is that this Congress is the most unaccomplished Congress in the history of the country. The fact is the people's House has become a very undemocratic institution where bills are brought to the floor without hearings, without authorizing committee consideration, where a few leaders make all the major decisions, and where the people's business is constantly ignored in favor of legislation advanced solely for political purposes.

The fact is we need to return to and restore regular order, where every bill brought to the floor of the House is required to be considered by committee, with open rules, where every amendment, every idea is debated, voted on, and fully considered. To do that, the Congress needs to go to work 5 days a week, like everybody else in America.

With that in mind, Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in support of my Restore Democracy Act, H. Res. 695. This bill represents a roadmap to change the way we do politics in America, take the corruptive effect of money out of our politics and return to regular order.

Madam Speaker, it is about time we restore democracy right here in the House of Representatives, the people's Chamber.

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