House Democratic leadership is encouraging lawmakers to attend Tuesday’s informal pro forma session, just hours before the federal government is expected to shut down, NOTUS has learned.
It’s unusual for many members of Congress to show up to a pro forma, a standard recess procedure where no roll call votes are conducted that usually lasts only a few minutes. It’s one of the ways in which House Democrats are going above and beyond to protest Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to keep the House out of session right before a looming shutdown.
In a closed-door caucus meeting Monday night, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries advocated for lawmakers to attend the session in an effort to show that Democrats are in town, one House Democrat told NOTUS. Three others confirmed that leadership is encouraging it.