The U.S. House of Representatives convened at 10:00 AM for a new legislative day, handling key resolutions, debates, and procedural votes before adjourning at 3:56 PM. The most significant action of the day included the passage of H. Con. Res. 11, which formally set the date for President Donald J. Trump’s first State of the Union (SOTU) address of his second term on March 4, 2025, at 9:00 PM. Additionally, the House voted on H. Res. 122, which governed the consideration of H.R. 77, a bill targeting “midnight rules” from outgoing administrations.
Key Legislative Actions & Votes
✅ H. Con. Res. 11 – Setting the State of the Union Date
- What It Does: This resolution formally schedules a joint session of Congress to receive the President’s message—in this case, the State of the Union address.
- Vote Outcome: Passed without objection, meaning no member present formally opposed it.
- Why It Matters: This will be President Trump’s first SOTU address of his second term, setting the stage for his administration’s agenda. The date, March 4, is historically significant because it was the traditional Inauguration Day before the 20th Amendment, which moved inaugurations to January 20.
✅ H. Res. 122 – Providing for the Consideration of H.R. 77
- What It Does: Sets the rules for debating H.R. 77, which allows Congress to overturn multiple midnight rules in one vote rather than addressing them individually.
- Key Votes:
- Motion to Proceed: Agreed to by a recorded vote of 216-205 (Roll No. 39).
- Ordering the Previous Question (Procedural Vote): Agreed to by 210-184 (Roll No. 38).
- Why It Matters: This was a strictly party-line vote, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats opposing it. This indicates deep partisan disagreement over how Congress should handle last-minute executive actions from previous administrations.
Procedural and Routine Business
🔹 Morning-Hour Debate (10:00 AM – 10:35 AM): Members of Congress were given time for short speeches on various topics before the House recessed.
🔹 Pledge of Allegiance (12:02 PM): Led by Rep. Subramanyam.
🔹 Approval of the Journal (12:02 PM): The official record of House proceedings from the previous session was approved without objection.
🔹 One-Minute Speeches (12:02 PM & 2:05 PM): Members were given one minute each to speak on issues of their choice, typically political statements or acknowledgments.
🔹 Special Order Speeches (2:14 PM – Adjournment): After legislative business concluded, members gave longer speeches on topics of their choosing.
🔹 Adjournment (3:56 PM): The House agreed to adjourn following a motion by Rep. Schweikert (R-AZ), passed by voice vote.
Understanding the Votes and Procedures
1️⃣ What is a “Privileged Matter”?
- Both H. Res. 122 and H. Con. Res. 11 were considered as privileged matters, meaning they were given priority over regular business and moved to immediate consideration.
- This is often used for procedural resolutions, such as setting the rules for debating bills or scheduling major events like the State of the Union.
2️⃣ What is a “Motion to Reconsider Laid on the Table”?
- This is a standard procedural move that prevents a passed measure from being reconsidered.
- It ensures that once the House has approved something—like H. Con. Res. 11—it cannot be brought back for a second vote, effectively finalizing the decision.
3️⃣ What is “Ordering the Previous Question”?
- This is a procedural vote to end debate and move to an immediate vote on a resolution.
- In this case, the Republican majority voted to end debate on H. Res. 122, forcing a final vote on whether the resolution would be adopted.
Looking Ahead
📌 Next House Meeting: The House will reconvene on February 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
📌 What’s Next for H.R. 77? With the passage of H. Res. 122, the House is now set to debate and vote on H.R. 77, which could significantly alter how Congress overturns last-minute executive rules.
📌 March 4, 2025: President Trump’s State of the Union Address will take place before a joint session of Congress. Expect major policy announcements and legislative priorities to be outlined.
Stay tuned for further updates as Congress continues its legislative work!
Bills at the Hill 
Leave a comment