House Rules Committee Provides Open Rule for HR 2610

The same rule from the House Rules Committee that governs the floor debate for HR 2397 also addresses the debate for HR 2610, the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2014. In this case, however, the Committee adopted an open rule like those that the Republican leadership has been using since regaining control of the House.

The rule provides that any time after HR 2397 has been considered the House may begin consideration of HR 2610. There will be an hour of general debate on the bill and then the reading of the bill will begin. At any point during that reading, amendments may be offered from the floor on the areas currently being read. When there are conflicts for recognition, the Chair may give priority to amendments that have been published in the Congressional Record (none had been offered as of yesterday).

At this point there is no telling when this bill will come to the floor. Consideration may start this week and carry over until next week, or it could be held until next week. And we are still waiting to see when HR 2410, the Ag spending bill, will be brought to the floor.