Rule on start-up funding for Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress approved

On January 29, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), chair of the Committee on House Administration, introduced H. Res. 86, “providing amounts for the expenses of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.”

The bill designates “not more than $50,000 for the expenses of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress established under title II of House Resolution 6, as agreed to January 9, 2019, to be available during the period beginning at noon on January 1, 2019, and ending on March 31, 2019.”

The Modernization Committee will presumably receive its full budget in March, when the Committee on House Administration allots funding for House committees (that process is explained here.) In the meantime, the Modernization Committee, which must issue its final report at the end of this year, needs start-up funding to hire staff and begin work.

Yesterday, the House Committee on Rules held a hearing on H. Res. 86 and passed H. Res. 105, which provides that “H. Res. 86 is hereby adopted.” The rule (which also includes H. Res. 840, the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act) “shall be in order at any time through the legislative day on February 15, 2019, for the Speaker to entertain notions that the House suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of Rule XV. The Speaker or her designee shall consult with the Minority Leader or his designee on the designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this section.”

Bottom line: $50,000 in start-up funding for the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress should be approved by the House by the end of next week.

Update: The House approved the start-up funding.