The House adopted the second part of a rules package Friday proposed by Democrats that shapes the way the House will conduct business over the next two years.
The legislation creates a select committee to “improve and modernize” Congress and was passed with overwhelming support, 418-12.
The vast majority of the rules package was adopted on Thursday but in a largely party-line vote, with only three Republicans joining Democrats to pass it. That’s because the package backs Democratic priorities, such as defending Obamacare in court and creating a select committee on climate change.
Here are a few of the provisions in the overall rules package:
- Requires the text of a bill to be public for 72 hours before the House votes on it.
- Makes slight changes to the names of the Oversight and Education committees.
- Requires support from a majority of Democrats for a motion to vacate the speaker, rather than just one lawmaker.
- Expedites consideration of measures with broad bipartisan support.
- Creates a bipartisan select committee to “modernize and improve Congress.”
- Allows Congress to suspend the debt limit by passing a budget – also known as the Gephardt Rule.
- Bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Allows people to wear religious headgear in the House chamber.
- Requires a pay-as-you-go provision, designed to make it harder for legislation to pass if it raises the budget deficit or reduces the surplus (the rule can be waived).
- Bans members of Congress and employees from sitting on corporate boards.
This story has been updated with additional developments from Friday.