Press Releases

Today, Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) joined his fellow members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus to introduce a package of changes to the House Rules to break the partisan logjam in Congress and make the Institution work for the American people. The proposed rule changes encourage transparency, bipartisanship, debate on divisive issues, while empowering lawmakers to find real solutions concerning our nation’s most pressing matters.

 “Our Founders warned of the dangerous effect two polarizing factions would have on our government,” Curbelo said. “From my work on some of the most urgent and challenging issues facing our society, like immigration reform and gun safety, I’ve seen firsthand how partisanship and polarization continues to be the enemy of consensus and progress. We need our Institution to encourage more Members of Congress to be able to participate in the process– one that values compromise, problem-solving and solutions-oriented debate. Without it, the perfect will continue to be the enemy of the good and solutions to these challenges will remain politically elusive.”

 The package includes – among others – proposals to give fast-track priority consideration to bipartisan legislation and guarantees markups on bipartisan legislation from every Member of Congress. To encourage consensus driven governing, the package would also modify the current “Motion to Vacate the Chair." The full list of goals and proposals in “Break the Gridlock” can be found here.

 The Problem Solvers Caucus plans to work with other House Caucuses in the coming weeks to collaborate and help build consensus around House rules changes ahead of the next Congress.

 For nearly two years, the 48 Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus have worked together finding bipartisan agreement on the toughest issues facing Congress. The Caucus proposed a health care compromise to help stabilize the individual marketplace; an agreement on our nation’s DREAMERs and border security; support for gun and school safety legislation, and recommendations for a bipartisan infrastructure package. 

 However, their progress and bipartisan cooperation has often faced large obstacles for passage because of House Rules that enable a few Members to prevent bipartisan ideas from being brought to the House Floor. 

 BACKGROUND