WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) voted in favor of Title II of the 116th Congress Rules Package, which includes pieces of their legislation to create a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress and would create a Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. The Committee will be charged with investigating ways to make reforms to Congress, so it can work more efficiently and effectively for the American people.
“During my tenure in Congress, I have seen the dysfunction of Washington first-hand. However, the facts show us that this dysfunction has stretched for decades—regardless of which party has been in control. When the governing process fails to function, reform is necessary. That is why over the last two years, I have been proud to join my colleague Rep. Dan Lipinski to champion legislation to create a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, which would be charged with a mandate to investigate the workings of Congress and come up with solutions,” stated Rep. LaHood. “While I am disappointed that this legislation we voted on today does not call for a bicameral committee to include the Senate, it is a step in the right direction and I am pleased portions of our legislation were included.”
Rep. Lipinski, a former American Government professor, said the way Congress operates today is nowhere near what our framers envisioned.
“When I taught American Government I was always pointing out that the Constitution established Congress in Article I, before the executive and judicial branches, because the drafters understood the critical importance of Congress leading in our representative democracy,” said Rep. Lipinski. “Congressional dysfunction increasingly turns more power over to the president and to the courts, which takes power away from the people. Congress needs reform so it can function as it was intended. I thank my friend and colleague Rep. LaHood for leading this charge with me to return power to the American people.”
This legislation will create a Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, which will be comprised of twelve members, six Democrats and six Republicans. The Committee will be charged with investigating and a studying options for modernizing Congress. The Committee is required to file a final report at the end of the first session of the 116th Congress. It passed the House with a vote of 418-12.
In both the 114th and 115th Congress, Reps. LaHood and Lipinski introduced legislation to establish a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. You can read more about it here.
Related:
LaHood presents Congress of Tomorrow Project on WLDS
Opinion: The Time to Reform Congress and Our Political System Is Now
Rep. Darin LaHood On Creating a Congress of Tomorrow
