Providing for Sufficient Time to Read Bills Before the Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of the recent release of the $1.5 trillion spending package, U.S. Senator Rand Paul renewed his calls for the Senate to pass his Read the Bills resolution (S. Res. 20), which would provide sufficient time for legislation to be thoroughly reviewed. Dr. Paul’s resolution would require bills, amendments, and conference reports to be filed for 1 day for every 20 pages before they can be considered, while leaving legislators room to act in emergencies. 

“Do you think there is a single person in the U.S. who believes that Congress is filled with speed readers capable of digesting thousands of pages in a matter of hours?” said Dr. Paul. “The 2741-page omnibus with a $1.5 trillion price tag that was released in the middle of the night is a perfect example of why Congress needs time to read the bills.”

If Dr. Paul’s resolution was enacted, the current omnibus bill would take 137 days to be called for a vote in the Senate. 

"I stand by my pledge to increase transparency and accessibility in the U.S. Senate, and my resolution will not only give members ample time to read all legislation before they vote but also incentivize legislation to be shorter,"said Dr. Paul. You can read Dr. Paul’s resolution to ensure Congress has time to Read the Bills HERE.

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