Rep. Nye: Public Needs More Time to Read Bills

10/06/09 -- Washington, DC – Congressman Glenn Nye is committed to making government as transparent and open as possible, and on Monday he sent a letter to House leaders, urging them to guarantee that all bills are made available to the public for at least seventy-two hours before Congress votes on them.

The letter, signed by twenty-three members of the House, emphasizes the importance of bringing “ordinary Americans back into the public debate over important issues.”

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“Every time I cast a vote, I draw upon the advice and input from my constituents in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore, and it’s essential that everyone has the time to read and understand legislation before it comes to a vote,” said Congressman Glenn Nye. “If we’re passing a bill to assist small businesses, I want the time to talk with small business owners to make sure the bill will help them create jobs and grow their companies.”

Nye has consistently supported extending the amount of time that bills are available to the public prior to a vote. In February, he voted to give his constituents more time to read the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) prior to the final vote on the bill.

Nye has voted for similar measures in relation to numerous other bills, including the Homeland Security Authorization Act (H.R. 2892) and the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (H.R. 2918).

Source: Congressman Glenn Nye