Today, @OversightDems is "marking up" the COVID relief bill, including state & local funding, paid leave for postal workers, and other issues in our jurisdiction. I’m live tweeting to pull back the curtain for the American people, on how Congress works—and sometimes doesn’t 1/x

2/x The hearing is virtual (we use WebEx). It was to start at 12pmEST, and I logged on 3 entire minutes early, seeking extra credit for good attendance. Virtual hearings save time because we don't have to wait 30 or more minutes for members to physically get to the hearing room.

3/x That isn’t to say Congress is ready to go full virtual Senate like in Star Wars, although a girl can dream. We just had staff tell a member they weren't on video. “I don’t know what to do. I see a button ‘start my video.’ Do you think I should hit that to start my video?”

4/x Does wearing glasses help you do good oversight? Maybe. Proud to be part of the club.

(PS This is my favorite picture of Jim Jordan ever taken.)

5/x Great question from comments: What is a mark up?

Answer: When a bill is introduced, it's given a number and referred to relevant committees. We'll get feedback from stakeholders. Sometimes we'll have hearings on the bills. Then, we debate and amend (or "mark up") the bill.

6/x Chair @RepMaloney's opening includes letters from mayors in Republican districts, including Bob Gibbs' and Jim Jordan's, asking for help. Example of non-responsive Congressional speechifying: top Republican says sending resources to state and local governments is “wasteful.”

7/x I've heard from nearly every city in my district, all but one of which has a Republican mayor and Republican majority city council, that they strongly support local funding.

8/x One GOP mayor wrote to me: "communities like mine are not asking for a 'bail-out.' Local governments do not expect the federal government to make up for every loss of... revenue. Instead, we seek an additional lifeline... to put off and ultimately avoid last resort options."

9/x Rep. Grothman is making an amendment that would say something the bill already says. Regardless of one’s beliefs, this is just wasting time. It doesn't improve the bill. Our communities have waited and waited for help; now they have to wait through these redundant amendments.

10/x Amendments must be "germane," i.e. fall under the committee's jurisdiction to amend the bill. An amendment offered today to expand paid leave for Capitol Police isn't germane. While we have to vote no, I hope my colleagues overseeing the Capitol Police consider this measure.

11/x Why does mark-up take hours? The first factor is the number of amendments. The more proposed changes, the longer the process takes. Each person who puts forth an amendment is given 5 minutes to explain their amendment. Today, we expect about 40 amendments.

12/x The second factor is how much debate occurs. After the amendment’s author speaks, a member from the other party is recognized for up to 5 minutes, and then it alternates back and forth between members, for 5 minutes each. Then also add openings and votes. See whiteboard

13/x Will it go 24 hours? Probably not. Some amendments may not be raised. My best guess is 10 hours. This kind of uncertainty is why being a scheduler is the hardest job on the Hill. And note: you can tune in at home (but don’t hold that against me...)

14/x Chair @RepMaloney again reminds members to “go on mute” because of background noise. Two observations here: (1) this problem isn't limited to virtual hearings. People often discuss amendments among themselves in-person. This can be productive but can also become distracting.

15/x Second observation: “Go on mute” is my new phrase for when my kids need to be quiet. I’ve been saying “turn down your volume knob,” but sometimes I really mean “silent!”

16/x We paused considering amendments to switch to voting. This is actually the second vote on each amendment. Right after debate, we take a “voice” vote (everyone who agrees says “yes”). The Chair then rules, normally for the party with more members. In this case, the Democrats.

17/x Any member can then request a recorded vote. What is a “recorded vote?” It's where the clerk of the Committee calls each member by name and we respond either “yes/aye” or “no/nay.”

18/x Republicans have requested recorded votes for all their amendments from the 3 hours of mark-up so far. Committee rules say we can roll these to a fixed time. Several amendments were taken together “en bloc.” What is “en bloc?”

19/x “En bloc” is when we vote on several amendments together as a package. It's most common when amendments are similar in nature or less controversial. For example, this morning, several amendments tried to limit how states and localities could spend the proposed COVID relief.

20/x As this mark-up goes on, everybody on a device is plugging in. I started fully charged, plugged in a few hours ago, but video takes so much battery that I’m down to 3%!

21/x I carry 3 cell phones and an iPad and try to have at least two of the devices fully charged at the start of the morning for exactly this reason.

I challenge tech innovators to make a battery that can hold up to the partisanship of Congress!

22/x We are taking a 5 minute recess. This is recess in the same sense as in school. It’s a chance to take a break.

23/x Chairs particularly need a lot of stamina to run a hearing—they must remain in place and preside, or else ask someone to chair temporarily. I’ve never gotten to do it but think it looks like fun. Probably less fun remotely when the actual gavel stays in the hearing room...

24/x We are nearing the 7th hour of this mark-up. Still, many of the amendments being offered are unrelated to the main point of the legislation: funding for state and local governments.

25/x So far, we have had amendments filed on a range of favorite hot button Republican issues: Keystone XL, Paris Climate Accord, mail-in ballots, abortion, fracking, immigration, census data, etc. None of these are relevant to state and local government funding or the pandemic.

26/x Admittedly, a couple amendments (of the 40!) were on topic. For example, we debated whether smaller cities should receive funds directly from the U.S. Treasury via a not yet established system, or should receive funds via distributions to each state, as prior bills did.

27/x As is sadly typical, the mark-up has devolved into both sides grumbling that this mark-up is taking too long—and blaming each other for that.

28/x Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) used her time to talk about how she serves on 3 committees in Congress and that she has noticed that Democrats and Republicans are not voting together.

29/x Rep. Comer just lauded his “colleague from Florida who ran to fight for taxpayers of Florida.” He was referring to Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents South Carolina. It's been a long day for everyone.

30/x One bright side of a long and “robust” mark-up: hearing from new voices, like Byron Donalds and Yvette Harrell. Junior members question last and rarely address the full House, so a mark-up is a real chance to hear their perspectives. I may not agree, but I’m listening.

31/x Rep. Comer, who is the Ranking Member of the Committee (highest ranking Republican), is talking about the World Health Organization and how it is responsible for COVID. Attacking international public health efforts is not how to solve a global pandemic.

32/x We have now passed 8 hours in this mark up, and I have a little bit of a confession... This is probably the fewest average words per hour that I have ever uttered. It’s been nothing but “yes” or “no,” and we all know that is just not like me.

33/x I did speak up earlier in this meeting to emphasize how desperately and urgently families need help. Watch https://twitter.com/RepKatiePorter/status/1360375951381590021?s=20

34/34 After 9 hours, the mark-up is finally over!

We approved our parts of the COVID relief bill by a vote of 23-18 (other committees are in charge of looking at other aspects of COVID relief). Next: votes by the full House.

Thank you to everyone who followed along.