Bill Summary
This resolution aims to enhance the responsiveness and operational procedures of the House of Representatives.
**Title I** focuses on two key areas:
1. **Code of Official Conduct (SEC. 101)**: It emphasizes the requirement for all Members, Delegates, Resident Commissioners, officers, and employees of the House to comply with both the spirit and letter of the Rules of the House and relevant committee rules, reinforcing accountability and ethical conduct.
2. **Suspension of the Rules (SEC. 102)**: This section modifies the existing rules regarding the suspension of House rules, stipulating that such a suspension can only occur with a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting. It also restricts the Speaker from entertaining suspension motions outside specific days (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and the last six days of a session), and allows for a 40-minute debate on suspension motions, divided equally between proponents and opponents.
**Title II** (SEC. 201) mandates the Clerk of the House to install real-time clocks in the House Chamber that display the time for each U.S. time zone, ensuring that Members are aware of time differences during discussions and votes.
Overall, the resolution seeks to improve legislative efficiency, adherence to rules, and time management within the House of Representatives.
Possible Impacts
The legislation outlined in the resolution can affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Accountability and Ethical Standards**: By establishing a Code of Official Conduct that requires members of the House of Representatives to adhere to both the letter and spirit of the rules, this legislation promotes higher ethical standards among elected officials. This can lead to greater public trust in government as constituents see their representatives behaving more responsibly and transparently, ultimately impacting how citizens engage with and view their government.
2. **Restricting Legislative Flexibility**: The new rules regarding the suspension of rules may limit the ability of the House to quickly respond to urgent issues. With the requirement of a two-thirds vote and restrictions on when motions can be made, this could hinder the House's capacity to pass important legislation in a timely manner, which might affect constituents who rely on government action for immediate needs, such as disaster relief or public health responses.
3. **Enhanced Awareness of Time Zones**: The placement of U.S. time zone clocks in the House Chamber can improve the awareness of time-sensitive issues among members, especially when discussions involve different regions of the country. This could help ensure that representatives are more considerate of their constituents' schedules and needs, fostering better communication and decisions that take into account the diverse time zones across the nation. This may ultimately lead to policies that better reflect the regional dynamics of the country.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 997 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 997
Enabling the House of Representatives to be responsive to its
membership.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 14, 2026
Mr. McGovern submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the
Committees on Rules, and Ethics, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Enabling the House of Representatives to be responsive to its
membership.
Resolved,
TITLE I
SEC. 101. CODE OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.
In rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, strike
clause 2 and insert the following:
``2. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House shall adhere to the spirit and the letter of the
Rules of the House and to the rules of duly constituted committees
thereof.''.
SEC. 102. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.
In rule XV of the Rules of the House of Representatives, strike
clause 1 and insert the following:
``1.(a) A rule may not be suspended except by a vote of two-thirds
of the Members voting, a quorum being present. The Speaker may not
entertain a motion that the House suspend the rules except on Mondays,
Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and during the last six days of a session of
Congress.
``(b) Pending a motion that the House suspend the rules, the
Speaker may entertain one motion that the House adjourn but may not
entertain any other motion until the vote is taken on the suspension.
``(c) A motion that the House suspend the rules is debatable for 40
minutes, one-half in favor of the motion and one-half in opposition
thereto.''.
TITLE II
SEC. 201. PLACEMENT OF U.S. TIME ZONE CLOCKS IN HOUSE CHAMBER.
(a) Responsibilities of Clerk.--The Clerk of the House of
Representatives shall place clocks displaying each United States time
zone in real time in the House Chamber in clear view of the Members.
(b) Regulations.--The Clerk shall carry out this resolution in
accordance with regulations promulgated by the Committee on House
Administration.
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