Washington, DC - Congressman Tom Rice (R-SC) released the following statement on H. Res. 8, Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress.

 "The changes the Democrats are making to the House Rules is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing. Through these House Rules changes, Democrats are further isolating American voices from being heard. This package includes unprecedented censorship, erasing minority rights present for last 100 years, and institutionalizing corrupt proxy voting."

 "Democrats want to gut the longstanding Motion to Recommit, a right afforded to the minority for over 100 years. Destroying the Motion to Recommit means that it will no longer serve as the final opportunity to amend the underlying bill." 

 "The package includes eliminating opposing ideas. It creates a novel ethics violation for information shared online, even in an unofficial capacity, deemed unfounded or inappropriate by, which would likely be enforced in a way that creates a double standard between the majority and the minority."

 "Democrats even go as far as to break 230 years of precedent by allowing Members of Congress to vote by proxy. Not only is this a huge power grab attempt, it violates the Constitution."

 "The effectiveness of Congress relies on free and open debate, and these rule changes are damaging to the tradition and function of the People’s House."