Rep. Rogers: Proxy Voting Legislation is a “Blatant Partisan Move”

***Click here to download the video.*** WASHINGTON – Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), House Homeland Security Committee ranking member, spoke on the House floor opposing H.Res. 965. “I don’t understand why Speaker Pelosi doesn’t trust her chairmen and women to negotiate with their ranking members on ways to accommodate committee business during this pandemic. I guess she just doesn’t trust them,“ Rogers said. Rogers, along with the Ranking Members of all standing and select committees, sent a letter to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-M.D.) yesterday opposing this partisan assault on the rights of the House Minority.

Watch the Full Speech Here

Rogers’ full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.Res. 965.

This blatant partisan move to fundamentally alter the way the House and its committees operate completely undermines the rights of the minority and over 200 years of precedent.

As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, I am particularly concerned with how this resolution overrides the rules of our committee.

At the beginning of this Congress, our committee negotiated a set of rules that protected minority rights.

Now our rules are being thrown out and replaced by regulations written by the Chairman of the Rules Committee. Regulations that the minority first saw only hours ago.

I don’t understand why Speaker Pelosi doesn’t trust her chairmen and women to negotiate with their ranking members on ways to accommodate committee business during this pandemic. I guess she just doesn’t trust them.

One of the things that concerns me the most about this resolution is that nothing guarantees Republican Members are properly notified and able to fully participate in a virtual committee meetings.

I know that sounds petty, but it’s the unfortunate reality on my committee.

For the last two weeks, Homeland Security Democrats have been holding virtual hearings without notifying Republican Members. To make matters worse, they’ve restricted participation to only a chosen handful of Members.

I fear this resolution will only further empower the misconduct on my committee and cause it to spread to others.

Worst of all, this is being done for the short-term benefit of the Majority, and not the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert into the record a letter from all Ranking Members opposing this resolution.

Many of my constituents are showing up to work every day – from grocery store clerks to nurses and doctors, to farmers and first responders.

If the House had the courage to do the same, we wouldn’t need this partisan resolution.

I urge all Members to oppose it and I yield back.

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