Rep. Kiley Proposes Change to House Rules to Assure Committee Seats for Independent Members

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) testified before the House Rules Committee and proposed a change that would enable a Member of Congress who does not belong to either party caucus or conference to serve fully on House standing committees. This would restore the historical practice, which was changed in the 1970s and 1980s when the parties took control of committee assignments.

Rep. Kiley’s proposed rule would guarantee a Member one committee assignment from an unranked list of six eligible standing committees submitted by the Member and a second standing committee assignment upon request.

Additionally, a Member who leaves a party caucus or conference would retain existing committee and subcommittee assignments rather than having them automatically vacated.

“Committee seats should not be the property of the parties. They belong to the American people,” said Rep. Kiley. “The House Rules should be changed to allow a greater measure of independent representation in Congress and give greater voice to the 50 percent of Americans who don’t identify with either party.”

Rep. Kiley is the only Independent in the House. To fulfill his commitments on his existing committees, including his chairmanship of a House Education & Workforce Subcommittee, he was forced by the House Rules to affiliate with the Republican Conference as a formality for the remainder of this term.

You can watch Rep. Kiley’s full testimony here.

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