McCarthy: House will adhere to three-day rule for border bill

Incoming House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Friday that Republicans would adhere to their “three-day rule” for a bill addressing the surge of child migrants crossing the border.

Upon winning the House majority, Republicans established a rule requiring legislative text be available for at least three calendar days before considering it on the House floor so members would have adequate time to review it.

{mosads}The rule has, at times, been taken to a minimum in recent years, however.

Legislation has been released late at night two days before the vote, leaving only one full day for members to review a bill. So, for example, a bill could theoretically be released at 11:59 p.m. on a Monday and get a House vote by Wednesday morning.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) pressed McCarthy during their weekly floor colloquy about the upcoming week’s schedule on when the text would be released. 

Earlier during their back-and-forth conversation, McCarthy said a vote on a supplemental appropriations package regarding the border issue was possible. He would not commit to a definite vote.

“You have put the possibility that we’re going to have a bill on the floor next week dealing with the crisis — your word — at the border. When we will see text of that legislation that might possibly be on the floor?” Hoyer asked.

McCarthy indicated that the House will follow the three-day rule. 

“When the majority changed over here, one of the No. 1 things we said we would do is a three-day process,” McCarthy said. “We made a commitment to the American people, and we have kept our commitment. Just as we will keep our commitment that we will end this crisis.”

The House is scheduled to leave for the five-week August recess on July 31. In order for a vote on a House GOP border bill by Thursday, a bill would have to be released by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

House Republicans met Friday morning to discuss their path forward on the issue. They do not appear to have reached a consensus yet.

McCarthy said the House next week will also consider four bills regarding the Endangered Species Act and a resolution authorizing the GOP lawsuit against President Obama for his use of executive action.