On the recordJuly 23, 1997
The primary function of the Committee on Rules is to manage bills on the House floor. In doing that, of course we did have a Committee on Rules when the Republicans were in the minority, and that was run by the Democratic Party. In fact, during that period of time when the minority, which was the Republicans, had a motion to recommit, they were not allowed at times to offer that motion to recommit with instructions. We changed that. The Republicans changed that because we wanted to see more fairness on the floor, more openness on the floor. When we took office, what we did is we always guaranteed the minority a motion to recommit with instructions. What does that mean? That means that the minority has the right to be heard.
Source
govinfo.gov
