Minority News

July 24, 2023

Fischer Announces Rules Committee Staff Changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, announced today that Jackie Barber will serve as Republican Staff Director of the Committee on Rules and Administration, replacing Rachelle Graves who has been named theDirector of Government Relations for the Smithsonian Institution.“Rachelle Graves has been a steadfast leader on the Rules Committee for the last five years, and I commend her for … Continue Reading


June 28, 2021

Blunt Announces Rules Committee Staff Changes

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), top Republican on the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today announced that Rachelle Schroeder will serve as Republican Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, replacing Fitzhugh Elder IV who has been named Republican Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee.“Fitz Elder has done a remarkable job leading the Republican staff of the Rules Committee over the past three years,” said … Continue Reading


May 11, 2021

Blunt Delivers Opening Statement at Rules Committee Markup of S.1

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, delivered his opening statement at the committee markup of S.1, Senate Democrats’ partisan, 800+ page election bill.Following Are Blunt’s Remarks:“As we prepare for this markup, my staff actually went back and reviewed transcripts of previous Rules Committee business meetings. As most of you know on this committee, we work primarily through consultation, courtesy, and … Continue Reading


March 24, 2021

Blunt Questions Panel Regarding S.1’s Unworkable Mandates, Partisan Changes to the FEC & More

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.),Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, questioned a panel of experts regarding provisions of S.1 that impose costly, unworkable mandates on states, raise serious constitutional concerns, and turn the Federal Election Commission into a partisan body.Video of Blunt’s Q&A is below. The full video of the hearing and list of witnesses can be found … Continue Reading


March 24, 2021

Blunt Delivers Opening Statement at Rules Committee Hearing on S.1

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.),Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, delivered his opening statement at a hearing on S.1, Senate Democrats’ partisan, 800+ page election bill.Following Are Blunt’s Remarks:“Good morning to everybody here, and pleased others will be attending as the morning goes on.“Before I begin my comments on today's hearing, I'd like to congratulate Chairwoman Klobuchar on becoming head of our committee. Senator Klobuchar … Continue Reading


February 13, 2019

Senators Blunt, Lankford Resolution to Reduce Needless Delays for Senate-Confirmed Nominees Passes Rules Committee

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Senator James Lankford's (Okla.) resolution (S. Res. 50) to update the Senate rules for most Senate-confirmed nominees passed out of the committee in a vote of 10 to 9. The resolution will reduce the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time to two hours for most nominees, including many Executive Branch nominees and district court judges, while maintaining 30 hours for high-level … Continue Reading


February 06, 2019

Chairman Blunt, Senator Lankford Introduce Resolution to Reduce Needless Delays for Senate-Confirmed Nominees

WASHINGTON - Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chairman Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Senator James Lankford (Okla.) today introduced a resolution to update the Senate rules for most Senate-confirmed nominees. The resolution would reduce the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time to two hours for most nominees, including many Executive Branch nominees and district court judges, while maintaining 30 hours for high-level nominees, including Supreme Court Justices and Cabinet-level officials. The … Continue Reading


January 09, 2019

Blunt Selected as Senate Rules Committee Chair for 116th Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement after he was selected to continue serving as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.“The Rules Committee has a big job to do when it comes to upholding the integrity of the legislative process in the Senate,” said Blunt. “Every day brings a new challenge, and a new opportunity to make this institution even stronger. I look forward to continuing to lead those efforts and work with my colleagues … Continue Reading


June 20, 2018

VIDEO: Blunt Chairs Rules Committee Hearing on State and Local Election Security

Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and a former Missouri Secretary of State, held a hearing focused on state and local election security preparations. Blunt questioned state and county election officials, including Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, regarding steps they are taking to secure election infrastructure and ensure confidence in our … Continue Reading


June 13, 2018

Rules Committee to Hold Hearing on Election Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, will hold a hearing titled, "Election Security Preparations: A State and Local Perspective" at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Room 301 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The committee will hear from state and local election officials about the steps they are taking to secure election infrastructure and ensure confidence in our … Continue Reading


April 25, 2018

Blunt Applauds Rules Committee Passage of Resolution to Improve the Confirmation Process

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today applauded committee passage of S. Res. 355, legislation introduced by Senator James Lankford (Okla.) to expedite the confirmation process for executive and judicial nominees. "Senate Democrats' needless delays in the confirmation process are wasting hours of time we should be using to focus on the big issues facing our nation," said Blunt. "President Trump's nominees have faced … Continue Reading


December 21, 2017

Senate Rules and Appropriations Committees Release OOC Harassment Settlement Data

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, on behalf of Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (R-Minn.), and the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, on behalf of Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), today released information provided by the Office of Compliance (OOC) regarding the statistical breakdown of awards and settlements involving Senate employing offices from 1997-2017. "Harassment in … Continue Reading


December 19, 2017

Chairman Shelby Holds Hearing to Improve Senate Nominations Procedure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today conducted a full committee hearing to review Senator James Lankford's (R-Okla.) resolution, S. Res. 355, "Improving procedures for the consideration of nominations in the Senate." The hearing included testimony from Lankford regarding his proposal to reinstate the 2013 Harry Reid rule that reduced Senate post-cloture debate time on certain nominations. The … Continue Reading


November 09, 2017

Rules Committee Members Praise Senate Passage of Anti-Harassment Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Senate Rules Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today announced the passage of the "Anti-Harassment Training Resolution." This resolution was introduced by the Ranking Member and cosponsored by the remaining 18 members of the Senate Rules Committee and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). "Making harassment training mandatory in the Senate sends a clear message: harassment of any kind is not and will not … Continue Reading


June 09, 2016

Rules Committee Approves Nomination of Dr. Carla D. Hayden to Serve as Librarian of Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, released the following statement today after the committee voted to approve the nomination of Dr. Carla D. Hayden to serve as Librarian of Congress: "Leading the Library of Congress requires multitasking on a scale rarely seen in other government organizations," Blunt said. "I am confident Dr. Hayden will bring a great background and skill set to the job." Dr. Hayden was nominated in … Continue Reading


September 09, 2014

Senator Roberts: The First Amendment Must Itself be Preserved

WASHINGTON, DC - Taking to the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senator Pat Roberts today defended the First Amendment against Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid's attempts to silence opposition. Audio and video here. Senator Roberts is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration which has jurisdiction over federal election law. "Our founding fathers knew that those in power would be inclined to retain it and, unless constrained, would use their power to punish those who … Continue Reading


July 23, 2014

Senator Roberts: DISCLOSE Act Suppresses Free Speech

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Ranking Member of the SenateCommittee on Rules and Administration today made the following remarks at ahearing titled "The DISCLOSE Act (S.2516) and the Need for Expanded PublicDisclosure of Funds Raised and Spent to Influence Federal Elections: "For those of us who opposed the McCain Feingold bill, it is always aninteresting experience to hear concerns being expressed about the current stateof our campaign finance system. I opposed that … Continue Reading


April 30, 2014

Senator Roberts: The First Amendment Doesn't Allow us to Silence Opposition

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today said McCain-Feingold was a failed attempt to regulate free speech and further attempts to restrict political speech infringe upon the First Amendment. Roberts made these remarks at a Senate Rules Committee hearing entitled "Dollars and Sense: How Undisclosed Money and Post-McCutcheon Campaign Finance Will Affect the 2014 Election and Beyond." The following is Senator Roberts' … Continue Reading


December 11, 2013

Senator Roberts' Statement at Rules Committee Hearing on EAC Nominations

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today issued the following statement at a hearing on the nominations of Thomas Hicks and Myrna Perez to the Election AssistanceCommission (EAC). (Audio and video of Senator Roberts' remarks here.) "This Commission is redundant and ought to be eliminated. If the majority sees the light maybe we can finally get rid of this commission and save the taxpayers some money," Senator … Continue Reading


November 22, 2013

Democrats Have Reduced Senate to a Rubber Stamp of the Obama Administration

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today spoke on the Senate floor against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) use of the nuclear option to radically change the rules of the U.S. Senate. Audio and video of Senator Roberts' floor speech is here. The following is text of the Senator's prepared remarks: "Mr. President, under the rules of this body, it takes 67 votes to end debate on a rules change. As a continuing … Continue Reading

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