Brian Babin: “This bloc of amendments we are now considering includes 51 bipartisan provisions that were handpicked by the Rules…”

“This bloc of amendments we are now considering includes 51 bipartisan provisions that were handpicked by the Rules Committee and Democrat leadership out of more than 600 amendments that Members submitted for consideration. I appreciate these Members taking a page out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's playbook and working across the aisle to try to move these provisions forward. {time} 1730 If the entire bill had been done in this way, we would certainly have a more focused and effective legislation that could have garnered bipartisan support. This block of amendments includes several provisions that have gone through the proper channels of being marked up and reported out of the committee. Unfortunately, it also includes provisions that have not gone through regular order. Members weren't given the opportunity to review, improve, and vote on these policies in committee. Having a Democrat and Republican cosponsor an amendment does not mean they are fully vetted or bipartisan either. But by tossing together a massive partisan package, the Speaker has made it clear that she does not value regular order. And by ignoring regular order, she has limited Member input. So Members feel the need to take advantage of any opportunity to move their priorities, even if they have nothing to do with increasing our competitiveness with China.…”