Doris Matsui: “today we consider H. Res. 632, a martial-law rule allowing the House to bring bills to the floor on the same day that…”

“today we consider H. Res. 632, a martial-law rule allowing the House to bring bills to the floor on the same day that the Rules Committee meets to report that bill. But significantly, the martial-law rule does not specify which bills may be brought up. Instead, it is a blank check for the majority party to bring up virtually any bill in Congress up until the speaker gavels this legislative day to a close. Mr. Speaker, this is a highly unusual procedure. I would like to take a moment to explain to the American people exactly how out of the ordinary it is. This is the first time that a totally open-ended blanket martial-law rule has been brought to the House floor. Every other rare use of this procedure has specified at least a category of legislation. This rule is unprecedented for the power it grants the majority. Mr. Speaker, some Members may argue that the blanket nature of this rule allows them to conduct business efficiently by allowing them to bring up the first thing that is ready to pass. I, however, take a different view. This will tarnish the honor of this institution by restricting the democratic process. It will allow bills to come up with absolutely no prior notice to Members. Members may not have time to examine what is in the bill. They may not have even heard of the bill before. There is a risk that last-minute language could be written incorrectly, or that it could have unintended consequences.…”