Virginia Foxx: “Once again, we find ourselves in a position in which we must correct the record. Over the last 4 years, Republicans have…”

“Once again, we find ourselves in a position in which we must correct the record. Over the last 4 years, Republicans have implemented reforms to make the U.S. House of Representatives more open and transparent than ever. Under this GOP majority, Members on both sides of the aisle have been allowed to offer significantly more amendments--and the House has operated under far more open rules--than were allowed under the previous Democrat-controlled House. The GOP majority allowed nearly 1,500 amendments to be considered on the House floor in the 113th Congress. Under Speaker Pelosi, the House did not consider a single bill under an open rule throughout the 111th Congress. That is the definition of a closed process, Mr. Speaker, and it is precisely what Speaker Boehner successfully changed to start the 112th Congress and to continue throughout the 113th Congress. Under the current GOP majority, the House has considered 38 open or modified open rules. When you compare the record of the Republican majority and the most recent Democrat majority, any fair analysis will show that Republicans are running a more open, transparent House of Representatives that allows for greater participation by all Members. The problem throughout the last Congress resided in the Senate and its failure to act on almost everything passed by the House.…”