19/x “En bloc” is when we vote on several amendments together as a package. It's most common when amendments are similar in nature or less controversial. For example, this morning, several amendments tried to limit how states and localities could spend the proposed COVID relief.
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20/x As this mark-up goes on, everybody on a device is plugging in. I started fully charged, plugged in a few hours ago, but video takes so much battery that I’m down to 3%!
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21/x I carry 3 cell phones and an iPad and try to have at least two of the devices fully charged at the start of the morning for exactly this reason.
I challenge tech innovators to make a battery that can hold up to the partisanship of Congress!
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22/x We are taking a 5 minute recess. This is recess in the same sense as in school. It’s a chance to take a break.
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23/x Chairs particularly need a lot of stamina to run a hearing—they must remain in place and preside, or else ask someone to chair temporarily. I’ve never gotten to do it but think it looks like fun. Probably less fun remotely when the actual gavel stays in the hearing room...
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24/x We are nearing the 7th hour of this mark-up. Still, many of the amendments being offered are unrelated to the main point of the legislation: funding for state and local governments.
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25/x So far, we have had amendments filed on a range of favorite hot button Republican issues: Keystone XL, Paris Climate Accord, mail-in ballots, abortion, fracking, immigration, census data, etc. None of these are relevant to state and local government funding or the pandemic.
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26/x Admittedly, a couple amendments (of the 40!) were on topic. For example, we debated whether smaller cities should receive funds directly from the U.S. Treasury via a not yet established system, or should receive funds via distributions to each state, as prior bills did.
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27/x As is sadly typical, the mark-up has devolved into both sides grumbling that this mark-up is taking too long—and blaming each other for that.
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28/x Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) used her time to talk about how she serves on 3 committees in Congress and that she has noticed that Democrats and Republicans are not voting together.
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29/x Rep. Comer just lauded his “colleague from Florida who ran to fight for taxpayers of Florida.” He was referring to Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents South Carolina. It's been a long day for everyone. 😬
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30/x One bright side of a long and “robust” mark-up: hearing from new voices, like Byron Donalds and Yvette Harrell. Junior members question last and rarely address the full House, so a mark-up is a real chance to hear their perspectives. I may not agree, but I’m listening. 👂
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31/x Rep. Comer, who is the Ranking Member of the Committee (highest ranking Republican), is talking about the World Health Organization and how it is responsible for COVID. Attacking international public health efforts is not how to solve a global pandemic.
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32/x We have now passed 8 hours in this mark up, and I have a little bit of a confession... This is probably the fewest average words per hour that I have ever uttered. It’s been nothing but “yes” or “no,” and we all know that is just not like me.
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33/x I did speak up earlier in this meeting to emphasize how desperately and urgently families need help. Watch 👇👇
Quote Tweet
My message during today's @OversightDems meeting:
Americans need help. It doesn’t matter if they’re conservative or liberal. It doesn’t matter if they live in a big city, a suburb, or a small rural town. They are all struggling—and will continue to struggle—unless we act now.
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34/34 After 9 hours, the mark-up is finally over! 🙏
We approved our parts of the COVID relief bill by a vote of 23-18 (other committees are in charge of looking at other aspects of COVID relief). Next: votes by the full House.
Thank you to everyone who followed along.
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I live for your threads. ❤️ Thank you for working and FIGHTING so hard for us.
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I was hoping for retroactive unemployment benefits. Is that in there anywhere? It would really help us.
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Please tell us that you are writing a book. I want to read something well-written, literate, entertaining, and edfying written by a legislator. You are my last hope.
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