1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

As your constituent, I am asking you to defend the right of every member of the U.S. House of Representatives to act on properly raised business, rather than allowing House leadership to block action by canceling a scheduled legislative day. Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the House’s final scheduled voting day before members left Washington until after the November election, delaying consideration of Rep. Thomas Massie’s privileged resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Such a resolution requires expedited House action. Whatever your position on Hegseth or impeachment, difficult questions should be resolved through House procedures, not by eliminating the opportunity for members to act. LEADERSHIP SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PREVENT HOUSE ACTION The Constitution entrusts the House itself with control over its proceedings. That authority belongs to the institution, not merely its leadership. If leadership can block controversial business by canceling legislative days, the same tactic could be used against either party whenever a difficult issue arises. Representatives cannot exercise the power their constituents gave them on questions the House prevents them from confronting. Massie’s resolution alleges violations of federal war-powers law and other abuses of office. They deserve examination and a public record, whatever the outcome. CANCELING LEGISLATIVE DAYS WEAKENS THE POWER OF EVERY REPRESENTATIVE Allowing leadership to block properly raised business weakens the power of every representative. MEMBERS CAN ACT NOW TO RESTORE THE HOUSE’S AUTHORITY I urge you to work across party lines and use every lawful means to bring the House back into session and allow this matter to be considered: (1) ORGANIZE MEMBERS. Build a public, bipartisan coalition of representatives calling for the House to reconvene immediately and continue pressing leadership until it does. (2) PURSUE RECONVENING. Identify and use every procedure available to members to seek an earlier House session rather than relying solely on leadership to schedule one. (3) STAND TOGETHER. Hold an ongoing series of group press conferences at the Capitol calling for the House to reconvene and explaining why members must be allowed to act. (4) HOLD PUBLIC FORUMS. If committees will not hold hearings, organize livestreamed public forums with constitutional experts and former House parliamentarians on the House’s handling of privileged business and the case for and against Hegseth’s impeachment. (5) USE HOUSE PROCEDURES. When proceedings resume, pursue every lawful means to obtain consideration, debate, hearings, and recorded votes. (6) CHANGE THE RULES. Propose House rules preventing privileged matters from being blocked by canceled legislative days. Thank you.