Wittman: Restore Accountability in Congress, End August Recess
by Congressman Rob Wittman
If you’re here on Capitol Hill this morning, as I am, you might have noticed that things are a bit slow. The usual crowd of constituents, advocacy groups, civilian and military leaders, members of the press, and staffers is noticeably thinner than usual. In the halls of most of the House office buildings, you could hear a pin drop. Why? Because, once again, lawmakers have departed for “August recess,” and this year, it’s even longer than usual. Nothing is happening today in Congress, and no legislative business will be conducted until we return in September.
The archaic practice of adjourning in August began, according to tradition, during the 2nd Congress in 1791. We didn’t have the modern conveniences then that we have now, and the lack of air conditioning, methods of quick communication, and transit options made it impossible for Members to get home to spend time with their families and hear from their constituents without a significant break in the legislative calendar. But those obstacles have been overcome by technology, and it’s time for us to re-think the practice.
Folks have been unequivocal about what they expect from Congress (and about why they’ve been disappointed in Congress’s performance in recent years): they expect action, they expect urgency, and they expect commitment to the task at hand. Those expectations are dashed as year after year Congress adjourns for August recess without having completed the people’s work.
It has become habit for Congress to abandon a long “to do” list of important work and rush to get out of town. Then we end up passing short-term, stop gap spending measures. Instead of creating opportunities for progress, continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills halt progress in its tracks.
That’s why, once again, I have advocated for Congress to skip August recess and stay in session until the appropriations process has concluded. As it stands, the House has completed consideration of only five of the twelve appropriations bills it considers each year, leaving only eight weeks on the legislative calendar for us to act on the other seven appropriations bills. That’s not acceptable. We shouldn’t be rushing to get out of Washington with so much important work left undone.
We have to shift focus back to what’s important. We have to reintroduce some measure of accountability for Congress. This week, I sent a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan asking him to keep the House in session to finish the people’s work and to urge the Senate to remain in session until the appropriations process is complete. I also introduced the Stay On Schedule (S.O.S.) resolution to change congressional procedures to prohibit the House from taking an August recess unless it has passed all regular appropriations bills by July 31.
This is where it has to start. Our national priorities are too important to delay until after August. Advocating for more accountability hasn’t always made me popular with House leadership, but I think we all know there is a better way. I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in fighting against Congress’ pattern of governing by crisis. Short-term funding is no way to execute long-term vision, and I believe that ending August recess is a positive first step in restoring public confidence in the people’s House.
Rob Wittman represents Virginia’s 1st District in the United States House of Representatives.
