Chairman McGovern Welcomes Members to the House Rules Committee for the 117th Congress

Press Release

Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern (D-MA) today welcomed members appointed to the committee for the 117th Congress. The following Democratic members were appointed this afternoon: Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL-20), Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-7) Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), Rep. Joseph D. Morelle (NY-25), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), and Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02).

"Serving on the House Rules Committee is an honor that gives members an extraordinary opportunity to shape major legislation before it goes to the House Floor. This committee will play an important role in the 117th Congress, including providing a whole of government response to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic hardship. I congratulate my colleagues on their appointment today and I look forward to working with them to provide results for the American people. I also want to thank Congresswoman Matsui and Congresswoman Shalala for their invaluable leadership on this committee over the last two years," said Chairman McGovern.

Congressman Alcee Hastings represents Florida's 20th District where he advocates for Floridians, fighting for health care, a cleaner environment, and social equity. Continuing his role from the 116th Congress, Representative Hastings will also serve as the Vice Chair of the committee.

Congresswoman Norma Torres represents California's 35th District, where she previously served as a State Senator, Assembly Member, and as a Mayor and Council Member in the City of Pomona. Representative Torres serves on the House Appropriations Committee in addition to the Rules Committee, where she advocates for immigrants, government transparency and diversity efforts.

Representative Ed Perlmutter represents Colorado's 7th District, where he advocates for American ingenuity and innovation to create new jobs, greater economic prosperity and a safer and more secure future for all Americans. He serves on three committees in the House: Financial Services; Science, Space and Technology; and Rules. Representative Perlmutter also was a strong advocate for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act and the SAFE Banking Act, historic cannabis reforms passed last Congress.

Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Maryland's 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives and is a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Prior to his time in Congress, Raskin was the State Senate Majority Whip in Maryland. A constitutional law professor at American University for more than 25 years, Congressman Raskin is a vocal advocate for executive oversight and accountability.

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon represents Pennsylvania's 5th District. Prior to serving in Congress, Congresswoman Scanlon practiced public interest law for nearly 35 years, where she represented families, children, immigrants and asylum seekers, veterans and seniors. In Congress, she has been a vocal advocate for the rights of children, families, veterans and older Americans, helping to pass historic legislation including H.R. 5, the Equality Act, in the previous Congress.

Congressman Joe Morelle represents New York's 25th District. He is a former small business owner and was previously elected to the Monroe County Legislature as well as the New York State Assembly, where he served as Majority Leader. In Congress, Representative Morelle has worked to expand health care access, grow the American economy, and protect communities by helping pass legislation to ban assault weapons and strengthen gun background checks.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier represents California's 11th District and has served at nearly every level of government from mayor to the California assembly and senate. Representative DeSaulnier serves on the Committee on Oversight and Reform, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Education and Labor in addition to the Rules Committee. Throughout his service, Congressman DeSaulnier has been an advocate for workers, working to identify and solve the most pressing problems facing our nations' workforce.

Congresswoman Deborah Ross represents North Carolina's 2nd District and has served her community for more than 25 years, as an attorney and a State Legislator with a record of bipartisan accomplishment. As a civil rights lawyer and director for the North Carolina ACLU for seven years, Representative Ross fought for fairness and justice, from passing the South's first anti-racial-profiling law to reforming the juvenile justice system and fighting for women's rights. As a leader in the NC House of Representatives and a Democratic Whip, Representative Ross built on her record of working to gain bipartisan support for progressive goals, including protecting voting rights, funding local transit and transportation projects, and increasing access to affordable housing and health care.

The Committee on Rules is among the oldest standing committees in the House, having been first formally constituted on April 2, 1789. An appointment to the committee gives Members significant ability to craft virtually all major legislation as it heads to the House Floor for a vote.

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