News Home

Contact: 202-225-2071

Foxx joins Rules Committee Republicans to Press Pelosi to Honor C-SPAN Request for Coverage of Health Care Debate
The “absolute minimum the majority must do”

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5) today joined her House Rules Committee Republican colleagues in pressing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to honor the request of C-SPAN to cover the remainder of the healthcare debate. 

In a letter to Speaker Pelosi, Foxx along with Ranking Republican David Dreier (R-CA), Congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Pete Sessions (R-TX), pointed out that while the negotiations so far have been kept from public view, there is still an opportunity to honor the pledges for openness and transparency made by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi. 

The letter to Pelosi states: “Despite President Obama’s pledge as a candidate that negotiations on any healthcare reform would be broadcast on C-SPAN, both the House and Senate sent versions to the floor that had been hammered out behind closed doors.  In the House, in particular, the floor proceedings that were broadcast were nothing more than a formality.  Unfortunately, your decision to drastically restrict the amendments allowed for consideration meant there was little real debate for the public to see.”

Foxx also underscored her support for H.Res. 869, a  measure sponsored by Congressman Charles Dent (R-PA), which would direct the House CAO to install cameras in the Rules Committee hearing room to allow for live broadcasts.  Barring that, the letter also makes clear that honoring C-SPAN’s request on behalf of the American people is the “absolute minimum the majority must do on behalf of keeping the American people informed about a process that will affect every healthcare decision made by every family, doctor, and small business for decades to come.”

The full text of the letter is available here.