Morelle Led Committee Dems in Full Committee Markup

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25), the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, led Committee Democrats during a full committee markup of bipartisan legislation to withhold Members’ pay during a shutdown, and previously bipartisan legislation to advance the American Women's History Museum. 
 
Ranking Member Morelle highlighted the importance of strengthening congressional capacity and working in a bipartisan manner in his opening statement. 
 
“I think wherever we can, on issues that all of us care deeply about, come together in a bipartisan way and demonstrate that we can, in fact, move ahead on many issues that our Committee, the Congress, and more importantly, the American people care about,” said Ranking Member Morelle. 
 
The markup began with consideration of H.R. 5891, Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, as the government shutdown continues due to Republicans’ apparent unwillingness to negotiate commonsense reforms to the Department of Homeland Security. The Committee unanimously reported the bill.
 
During consideration of H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, Committee Democrats fought to protect the original bipartisan bill to advance the design and construction of the museum on the National Mall, as Congress—and this Committee—intended. 
 
“I support H.R. 1329, as introduced by my colleague from New York, Representative Malliotakis, as well as her companion bill, H.R. 1330, which would make the same legislative fix to the National Museum of the American Latino Act,” said Ranking Member Morelle. “Unfortunately, that is not the bill before us today, and I am very disappointed the majority has needlessly politicized what has, for years, been bipartisan and patriotic process.”
 
Congresswoman Norma J. Torres offered an amendment that would combine two bipartisan bills, H.R. 1329 and H.R. 1330, and correct a statutory anomaly that has stalled both the American Women's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino. 
 
Ranking Member Morelle supported Rep. Torres’ amendment and emphasized that the changes would also grant the President with “unilateral say over where these extraordinary institutions ought to go.” 
 
Ultimately, Committee Republicans rejected the Torres amendment as they prioritized partisanship and President Trump’s directives. All Committee Democrats voted in support of adopting the amendment. 
 
Despite Committee Democrats’ fight for the bipartisan version, the Republican amended version of H.R. 1329 was reported by the Committee on party lines.
 

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