Louise Slaughter: “House Resolution 352 would allow the House to consider bills on the suspension calendar on Wednesday and Thursday of…”

“House Resolution 352 would allow the House to consider bills on the suspension calendar on Wednesday and Thursday of this week instead of the normal Monday and Tuesday consideration. Because both the Democratic Caucus and the Republican Conference held their annual retreats on this week's normal suspension days, the resolution seems like a reasonable housekeeping rule. However, the resolution itself does not include the usual protection for Members that is often included in such resolutions; the requirement that Members be notified at least one hour in advance that a bill would be called up on the suspension calendar. While the majority has given us a list of three bills to be considered, we have no assurance that we will not be surprised by additional legislation. Two of the three bills on the calendar do not meet the usual criteria for suspension of the rules, which is noncontroversial bills with agreed-upon language, thereby obviating the need for floor amendments. H. Con. Res. 202 was introduced less than a month ago. The committee of jurisdiction held no hearings and had no markup. The Children's Defense Fund has sent a memo to each House office outlining factual errors in the resolution's original language.”