BRIDGE to Congress Resolution

Bill Number

H.Res. 28

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Last Updated

2025-02-03T18:19:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 28) aims to remove a limitation in current House rules that requires committee chairs to approve remote appearances by witnesses during committee proceedings. By doing so, it seeks to make it easier for a wider range of people to participate in congressional hearings without needing special permission, promoting broader input into legislative discussions.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The resolution is titled the "Bringing Real Ideas, Data, and Genuine Experience to Congress Resolution" or the "BRIDGE to Congress Resolution."
• Amendment to Existing Rules: It modifies Section 3(i)(1) of House Resolution 5 (adopted on January 3, 2025) by deleting the phrase "at the discretion of the chair of the committee and." This eliminates the requirement for chair approval for remote witness participation.
• Scope: The change applies specifically to proceedings of committees in the House of Representatives, allowing witnesses to appear remotely as a standard option.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Prior to this resolution, House rules (as set in House Resolution 5) allowed remote appearances by witnesses only if the committee chair decided to permit it, which could limit participation based on the chair's judgment.
• The amendment shifts this to a more permissive framework, removing the discretionary barrier and enabling remote appearances without needing the chair's explicit approval. This represents a procedural update to modernize how committees conduct hearings, likely influenced by advancements in remote technology.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies and Congress: House committees may hold more efficient and frequent hearings by reducing logistical barriers, potentially leading to faster information gathering and decision-making. It could lower costs associated with travel and in-person logistics for federal operations.
• On Citizens: Everyday people, experts, or witnesses from distant locations (including rural areas or other states) can more easily testify, increasing public access to the legislative process and encouraging diverse voices in policy discussions.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could facilitate testimony from international experts or witnesses abroad without travel complications, indirectly supporting U.S. engagement on global issues through committees like Foreign Affairs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• House Committee Members and Chairs: They will have less control over remote participation decisions, potentially altering hearing dynamics but streamlining operations.
• Witnesses and Testifiers: Individuals, experts, organizations, or citizens invited to provide testimony benefit from greater flexibility, especially those facing travel barriers due to distance, cost, health, or other reasons.
• Broader Public and Advocacy Groups: Enhanced accessibility could lead to more inclusive input on legislation, affecting how policies reflect varied perspectives.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal and Procedural: As a House resolution, this is an internal rule change enforceable only within the House of Representatives; it does not create new statutory law but updates chamber operations under the Constitution's allowance for each house to determine its rules (Article I, Section 5). It promotes equity in participation without infringing on core legislative powers.
• Constitutional: No direct constitutional challenges, as it aligns with Congress's authority to self-regulate procedures, potentially enhancing transparency and representation principles.
• Political: This could reduce partisan gatekeeping by chairs (who are often from the majority party), fostering more bipartisan or diverse hearings. It may signal a post-pandemic shift toward hybrid governance, though it could spark debates over the value of in-person interactions for building rapport or assessing credibility in testimonies.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
• 2025-01-09: Submitted in House
• 2025-01-09: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Bringing Real Ideas, Data, and Genuine Experience to Congress Resolution — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (2 pages)