House Rules Committee approves debate rules for four major spending and policy bills after heated exchanges

The House Rules Committee on June 22 set the terms for floor debate on four major measures — H.R.9022 (Energy and Water), H.R.8595 (National Security/State Department), H.R.9237 (Take Care of America’s Veterans Act) and H.R.1181 (Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act) — approving structured and closed rules that govern how each bill may be amended and how long debate will run.

Committee members traded sharp partisan charges in a three‑hour hearing that ranged from technical budget choices to moral judgment. Ranking Member James McGovern said Republican priorities “gut diplomacy” and humanitarian aid and criticized offsets in the veterans bill; Chairman Mario Diaz‑Balart and bill sponsors countered that their packages prioritize national security, modernize infrastructure and deliver targeted improvements while reducing waste.

Witnesses and members also debated H.R.1181, which would bar payment‑card networks from using merchant category codes that single out firearm retailers. Supporters told the panel that the change shields lawful purchasers from an intrusive tracking mechanism; opponents warned it would remove a data point law enforcement and banks can use to flag unusual spending tied to mass shootings.

On veterans legislation, lawmakers clashed over how to pay for a broad package of more than 60 bills packaged in H.R.9237. Chairman Bost said offsets in the bill preserve pay‑as‑you‑go discipline while enabling a large bipartisan package; Ranking Member Takano and several veterans service organizations said the offsets would reduce benefits for current and future veterans and increase mortgage and loan fees for some service members.

After debate and multiple recorded votes on amendments to the rules, the majority adopted the committee’s package: rules for each bill were reported to the House floor with the debate times, amendment procedures and motions to recommit summarized by the Rules Committee. The Committee adjourned after final roll calls on procedural rulings.