Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

December 29, 2006

"The Minority Bill of Rights includes guidelines for a bipartisan administration of the House and for the regular democratic order for legislation. The principles are fair, and will provide for the full and open debate that the American people expect and deserve."

--Then-Minority Leader Pelosi, June 24, 2006 

Dear Republican Colleague:

Roughly 140 million Americans will be represented in the House by a Republican during the 110^th Congress.  Our fundamental duty is to guarantee that they receive just and meaningful representation in Congress. This can only be accomplished with bipartisan administration of the House, respect for customary and regular order in considering legislation, and establishing that the rights of the minority party will be respected.

Unfortunately, as you are well aware, the Democrats' forty-year reign over the House was plagued by consistent, systematic efforts to usurp the rights and privileges of the Republican minority. Despite repeated statements to the contrary, we can only expect that the Democrats will return to their old abusive ways as they assume control in the coming Congress. That is, of course, unless we hold them accountable for their past promises.

With that in mind, please join us in co-sponsoring the Minority Bill of Rights, which we plan to introduce next week.  This Bill of Rights is identical - in both letter and spirit - to a 2004 proposal made by then-Minority Leader Pelosi, and lays out guidelines to ensure that our constituents are represented as, in Speaker Pelosi's own words, "[they] expect and deserve."  It includes:

*Bills should only come to the Floor after full hearings, open subcommittee and committee markup, and with Members having a full 24 hours to review legislation prior to consideration at the subcommittee level.

*Bills should normally be considered under a procedure that allows open, full, and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants all members the right to offer amendments or substitutes.

*Members should be allowed a full 24 hours to examine bills and conference reports before they come to the floor; and rules governing debate must be reported before 10:00 p.m. for a bill to be considered the next day.

Sincerely,

Patrick McHenry      Eric Cantor               Tom Price, M.D.

Member of Congress    Member of Congress    Member of Congress