Overview
Title
Providing for the announcement of pairs from a written list furnished to the Clerk, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
In Congress, sometimes two members agree not to vote on something at the same time, and this is called a "pair." H. RES. 293 says that these pairs will be read out loud by a special person called the Clerk just before the results of the vote are shared, and this list will be written down in a big book for everyone to see.
Summary AI
H. RES. 293 outlines a procedure for the announcement of "pairs" during votes in the 119th Congress. This resolution states that the Clerk will announce pairs, which are agreements between two Members to not vote on an issue, just before the official vote results are announced. The list of these pairs, provided by the Member and signed by them, will be published in the Congressional Record. Importantly, the pairs will only be announced once per legislative day.
Published
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
House Resolution 293, introduced in the 119th Congress during its first session, addresses the procedure for announcing voting pairs in the U.S. House of Representatives. A voting pair is an arrangement where two members agree to not vote on a particular issue, effectively canceling each other out, typically when one or both members are absent. This resolution stipulates that during the 119th Congress, these pairs shall be announced by the Clerk just before the results of a vote are declared. Notably, this announcement relies on a written list furnished and signed by a member, which is then published in the Congressional Record, but each pair is announced only once per legislative day.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several significant issues have been identified within this resolution:
Lack of Financial Clarity: The bill does not address any financial implications or expenditures, leaving ambiguity around potential unnecessary spending or favoritism.
Potential for Procedural Confusion: The directive for the Clerk to announce the pairs immediately before the Chair announces the vote results could lead to confusion, especially under time-sensitive circumstances. There needs to be a clear process to manage this.
Complexity of Language: The sentence structures in the resolution are complex. This complexity could hinder understanding of the procedural guidelines among some audiences.
Clarification Needed for Procedure Updates: The stipulation that pairs be announced only once per legislative day lacks guidance on how to handle any changes or updates to pairs during the day.
Detailed Publication Requirement: More details concerning the timing and handling of potential delays in publishing the pair list in the Congressional Record could provide clarity.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the resolution attempts to provide transparency in the legislative process by formally documenting the practice of voting pairs. This ensures that constituents have access to information about how their representatives are handling particular votes, even if they are not physically present to vote. However, the complexity of the language and procedural details might limit the accessibility and comprehension of this transparency for the general audience.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For lawmakers, the clear documentation and announcement process potentially allow for accountability and justification for absences that result in voting pairs. This could positively affect their public image by demonstrating responsible legislative conduct.
For the Clerk of the House, the bill mandates an additional duty, which could present challenges if the procedures are not clearly managed or if unexpected changes occur during the legislative day. Proper implementation would require clear internal guidelines and possibly additional support to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Overall, while the resolution aims to strengthen transparency and accountability, the clear articulation of procedures and enhanced readability are crucial for its effective implementation and understanding both within Congress and by the public.
Issues
The section does not mention any financial spending. Without explicit spending details, it's difficult to identify potentially wasteful expenses or favoritism. (Section 1)
The instruction regarding 'announcement by the Clerk immediately before the announcement by the Chair of the result of the vote' could cause confusion if not properly managed in practice, especially under circumstances where timing is critical. (Section 1)
The sentence structure is complex, which may make it difficult for some readers to understand the process being described. (Section 1)
The phrase 'pairs shall be announced but once during the same legislative day' could be clearer, for example by explaining what happens if pairs need to be updated or changed during the legislative day. (Section 1)
The provision about publishing in the Congressional Record could benefit from additional detail concerning the exact timing and potential delays. (Section 1)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Announcement of pairs from a written list furnished to the Clerk Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
During the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, the Clerk will announce voting pairs from a list signed by a Member, before the voting results are revealed. This list, including those not voting, will be published in the Congressional Record, but pairs will only be announced once per legislative day.