Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Introduces VOTE Resolution to Restore Sanity and Order to the House of Representatives

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today introduced the Vote Overtime Tarnishes Everyone (VOTE) Resolution, which would amend the rules of the House of Representatives to ensure no voting period extends longer than twice the length directed by the Speaker of the House. 

This resolution is in response to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent abuse of House rules and precedent. On Friday, November 5, 2021, Speaker Pelosi adjourned the House for a 15-minute vote at 8:12am. The vote, which then remained open for seven hours and six minutes, broke the record for being the longest vote in modern history. Later that same day, Pelosi again called for a 15-minute vote that was held open for four hours and 35 minutes. The practice of keeping the House of Representatives tied up in a single vote indefinitely is not only irresponsible and inefficient, it also prevents the minority party from exercising their rights under House rules and prevents Members from meeting other obligations to serve their constituents. 

“Speaker Pelosi continues to undermine and erode the democratic process. She increasingly lacks the moral authority and support of the American people as a result. Last week, as she scrambled to find support for her partisan agenda, the Speaker opened a 15-minute vote series that lasted seven hours and six minutes, breaking the record for the longest vote in the House. This is not a record we should be honored to break. This move sets a harmful precedent that will only lead to further dysfunction and partisanship in the future. It is no way to govern. I am introducing the VOTE Resolution to ensure an efficient Congress that works for all Americans, not just the Speaker and her party.”

Summary of the VOTE Resolution: 

• Amends the House rules to say that no vote may go longer than twice the length directed by the Speaker. This ensures the Speaker has the flexibility to call for a longer vote if needed but prevents them from keeping a vote open indefinitely as happened recently. 
   
• Requires the Speaker to announce more accurate vote times for each vote, giving Members of the House a better view of timing so they can continue to fulfill the needs of their constituents. 
   
• Applies to recorded votes and quorum calls within the House. 

Full text of the VOTE Resolution can be found here. 

Joining Tenney to introduce the resolution are Reps. Scott Perry (PA-10) and Michael Guest (MS-03).

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