As of today, 150 members of the 111th Congress of the United States have the dubious dishonor of not having introduced a single substantive bill for consideration. The following members of the House of Representatives have not introduced a single House bill or joint resolution:
Rep. Robert B. Aderholt, Republican of Alabama District 4. District office phone number: 256-546-0201
Rep. Todd Akin, Republican of Missouri District 2. District office phone number: 314-590-0029
Rep. Robert E. Andrews, Democrat of New Jersey District 1. District office phone number: 856-546-5100
Rep. Steve Austria, Republican of Ohio District 7. District office phone number: 937-325-0474
Rep. Spencer Bachus, Republican of Alabama District 6. District office phone number: 205-280-0704
Rep. Melissa Bean, Democrat of Illinois District 8. District office phone number: 847-925-0265
Rep. Brian Bilbray, Republican of California District 50. District office phone number: 858-350-1150
Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Democrat of Georgia District 2. District office phone number: 706-320-9477
Rep. John Boccieri, Democrat of Ohio District 16. District office phone number: 330-489-4414
Rep. John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio District 8. District office phone number: 513-779-5400
Rep. Jo Bonner, Republican of Alabama District 1. District office phone number: 251-943-2073
Rep. John Boozman, Republican of Arkansas District 3. District office phone number: 479-782-7787
Rep. Allen Boyd, Democrat of Florida District 2. District office phone number: 850-561-3979
Rep. Corrine Brown, Democrat of Florida District 3. District office phone number: 407-872-0656
Rep. Dave Camp, Republican of Michigan District 4. District office phone number: 989-631-2552
Rep. Eric I. Cantor, Republican of Virginia District 7. District office phone number: 804-747-4073
Rep. Joseph Quang Cao, Republican of Louisiana District 2. District office phone number: 504-589-2274
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, Republican of West Virginia District 2. District office phone number: 304-264-8810
Rep. Russ Carnahan, Democrat of Missouri District 3. District office phone number: 314-962-1523
Rep. Christopher Carney, Democrat of Pennsylvania District 10. District office phone number: 570-644-1682
Rep. Andre Carson, Democrat of Indiana District 7. District office phone number: 317-283-6516
Rep. Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana District 6. District office phone number: 225-929-7711
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Republican of Utah District 3. District office phone number: 801-851-2500
Rep. Travis Childers, Democrat of Mississippi District 1. District office phone number: 662-449-3090
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Democrat of Missouri District 5. District office phone number: 816-842-4545
Rep. James E. Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina District 6. District office phone number: 803-854-4700
Rep. Howard Coble, Republican of North Carolina District 6. District office phone number: 336-333-5005
Rep. Mike Coffman, Republican of Colorado District 6. District office phone number: 720-283-9772
Rep. Gerry Connolly, Democrat of Virginia District 11. District office phone number: 703-256-3071
Rep. Jim Cooper, Democrat of Tennessee District 5. District office phone number: 615-736-5295
Rep. Ander Crenshaw, Republican of Florida District 4. District office phone number: 904-598-0481
Rep. John A. Culberson, Republican of Texas District 7. District office phone number: 713-682-8828
Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, Democrat of Pennsylvania District 3. District office phone number: 814-456-2038
Rep. Danny Davis, Democrat of Illinois District 7. District office phone number: 773-533-7520
Rep. Geoff Davis, Republican of Kentucky District 4. District office phone number: 859-824-3320
Rep. Nathan Deal, Republican of Georgia District 9. District office phone number: 706-638-7042
Rep. Charles W. Dent, Republican of Pennsylvania District 15. District office phone number: 610-861-9734
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida District 25. District office phone number: 305-225-6866
Rep. Joe Donnelly, Democrat of Indiana District 2. District office phone number: 574-288-2780
Rep. Michael F. Doyle, Democrat of Pennsylvania District 14. District office phone number: 412-664-4049
Rep. Steve Driehaus, Democrat of Ohio District 1. District office phone number: 513-684-2723
Rep. Donna Edwards, Democrat of Maryland District 4. District office phone number: 301-562-7960
Rep. Bobby Etheridge, Democrat of North Carolina District 2. District office phone number: 910-814-0335
Rep. John Fleming, Republican of Louisiana District 4. District office phone number: 337-238-0778
Rep. Bill Foster, Democrat of Illinois District 14. District office phone number: 309-944-3558
Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, Democrat of Ohio District 11. District office phone number: 216-522-4900
Rep. Alan Grayson, Democrat of Florida District 8. District office phone number: 407-841-1757
Rep. Parker Griffith, Democrat of Alabama District 5. District office phone number: 256-551-0190
Rep. Deborah DeFrancesco Halvorson, Democrat of Illinois District 11. District office phone number: 815-726-4998
Rep. Gregg Harper, Republican of Mississippi District 3. District office phone number: 662-324-0007
Rep. Martin Heinrich, Democrat of New Mexico District 1. District office phone number: 505-346-6781
Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut District 4. District office phone number: 203-210-7711
Rep. Paul Hodes, II, Democrat of New Hampshire District 2. District office phone number: 603-358-1023
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland District 5. District office phone number: 301-843-1577
Rep. Bob Inglis, Republican of South Carolina District 4. District office phone number: 864-582-6422
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Democrat of Illinois District 2. District office phone number: 708-798-6000
Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, Republican of Illinois District 15. District office phone number: 618-262-8719
Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, Democrat of Rhode Island District 1. District office phone number: 401-729-5600
Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick, Democrat of Michigan District 13. District office phone number: 734-246-0780
Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, Democrat of Ohio District 15. District office phone number: 614-294-2196
Rep. Larry Kissell, Democrat of North Carolina District 8. District office phone number: 704-786-1612
Rep. Ron J. Klein, Democrat of Florida District 22. District office phone number: 561-544-6910
Rep. John Kline, Republican of Minnesota District 2. District office phone number: 952-808-1213
Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, Democrat of Florida District 24. District office phone number: 407-208-1106
Rep. Frank Kratovil, Jr., Democrat of Maryland District 1. District office phone number: 443-262-9136
Rep. Leonard Lance, Republican of New Jersey District 7. District office phone number: 908-518-7733
Rep. James R. Langevin, Democrat of Rhode Island District 2. District office phone number: 401-732-9400
Rep. Rick R. Larsen, Democrat of Washington District 2. District office phone number: 800-562-1385
Rep. Tom Latham, Republican of Iowa District 4. District office phone number: 515-232-2885
Rep. Sander M. Levin, Democrat of Michigan District 12. District office phone number: 586-498-7122
Rep. Jerry Lewis, Republican of California District 41. District office phone number: 800-233-1700
Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, Republican of New Jersey District 2. District office phone number: 800-471-4450
Rep. Frank D. Lucas, Republican of Oklahoma District 3. District office phone number: 580-256-5752
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Republican of Missouri District 9. District office phone number: 573-886-8929
Rep. Cynthia Lummis, Republican of Wyoming District 0. District office phone number: 307-261-6595
Rep. Dan Lungren, Republican of California District 3. District office phone number: 916-859-9906
Rep. Stephen Lynch, Democrat of Massachusetts District 9. District office phone number: 508-586-5555
Rep. Connie Mack, Republican of Florida District 14. District office phone number: 239-252-6225
Rep. Dan Maffei, Democrat of New York District 25. District office phone number: 315-423-5657
Rep. Kenny Marchant, Republican of Texas District 24. District office phone number: 972-556-0162
Rep. Eric J.J. Massa, Democrat of New York District 29. District office phone number: 585-218-0040
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California District 22. District office phone number: 661-327-3611
Rep. Tom McClintock, Republican of California District 4. District office phone number: 916-786-5560
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, Republican of Michigan District 11. District office phone number: 248-685-9495
Rep. Patrick McHenry, Republican of North Carolina District 10. District office phone number: 828-765-2729
Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon, Republican of California District 25. District office phone number: 661-274-9688
Rep. Michael McMahon, Democrat of New York District 13. District office phone number: 718-356-8400
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Democrat of New York District 6. District office phone number: 718-725-6000
Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, Democrat of West Virginia District 1. District office phone number: 304-292-3019
Rep. Jerry Moran, Republican of Kansas District 1. District office phone number: 785-628-6401
Rep. Christopher Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut District 5. District office phone number: 203-759-7541
Rep. John P. Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania District 12. District office phone number: 724-852-2209
Rep. Pete Olson, Republican of Texas District 22. District office phone number: 281-240-3700
Rep. John W. Olver, Democrat of Massachusetts District 1. District office phone number: 413-442-0946
Rep. Erik Paulsen, Republican of Minnesota District 3. District office phone number: 952-405-8510
Rep. Ed Perlmutter, Democrat of Colorado District 7. District office phone number: 303-274-7944
Rep. Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan District 9. District office phone number: 248-273-4227
Rep. Chellie Pingree, Democrat of Maine District 1. District office phone number: 207-774-5019
Rep. Jared Polis, Democrat of Colorado District 2. District office phone number: 303-484-9596
Rep. Dave Reichert, Republican of Washington District 8. District office phone number: 206-275-3438
Rep. Laura Richardson, Democrat of California District 37. District office phone number: 562-436-3828
Rep. David (Phil) Roe, Republican of Tennessee District 1. District office phone number: 423-317-7459
Rep. Harold Rogers, Republican of Kentucky District 5. District office phone number: 606-439-0794
Rep. Mike Rogers, Republican of Michigan District 8. District office phone number: 877-333-6453
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, Democrat of California District 39. District office phone number: 562-860-5050
Rep. Mark Schauer, Democrat of Michigan District 7. District office phone number: 517-780-9075
Rep. Kurt Schrader, Democrat of Oregon District 5. District office phone number: 503-588-9100
Rep. David Scott, Democrat of Georgia District 13. District office phone number: 770-210-5073
Rep. John Shimkus, Republican of Illinois District 19. District office phone number: 618-344-3065
Rep. Bill Shuster, Republican of Pennsylvania District 9. District office phone number: 724-463-0516
Rep. Adrian Smith, Republican of Nebraska District 3. District office phone number: 308-633-6333
Rep. Vic Snyder, Democrat of Arkansas District 2. District office phone number: 501-324-5941
Rep. Hilda A. Solis, Democrat of California District 32. District office phone number: 323-307-9904
Rep. Mark Edward Souder, Republican of Indiana District 3. District office phone number: 800-959-3041
Rep. Gene Taylor, Democrat of Mississippi District 4. District office phone number: 228-864-7670
Rep. Todd Tiahrt, Republican of Kansas District 4. District office phone number: 316-262-8992
Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi, Republican of Ohio District 12. District office phone number: 614-523-2555
Rep. John Tierney, Democrat of Massachusetts District 6. District office phone number: 781-595-7375
Rep. Dina Titus, Democrat of Nevada District 3. District office phone number: 702-387-4941
Rep. Paul Tonko, Democrat of New York District 21. District office phone number: 518-465-0700
Rep. Tim Walz, Democrat of Minnesota District 1. District office phone number: 507-206-0643
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat of Florida District 20. District office phone number: 954-437-3936
Rep. Melvin L. Watt, Democrat of North Carolina District 12. District office phone number: 336-275-9950
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Republican of Georgia District 3. District office phone number: 770-683-2033
Rep. Edward Whitfield, Republican of Kentucky District 1. District office phone number: 270-826-4180
Rep. Charles Wilson, Democrat of Ohio District 6. District office phone number: 330-533-7250
Rep. Frank R. Wolf, Republican of Virginia District 10. District office phone number: 800-945-9653
Rep. C. W. (Bill) Young, Republican of Florida District 10. District office phone number: 727-893-3191
The following members of the U.S. Senate have failed to introduce even Senate bill or joint resolution as principal sponsor:
Senator Mark Begich, Democrat of Alaska. District office phone number: 907-271-5915
Senator Michael F. Bennet, Democrat of Colorado. District office phone number: 719-587-0096
Senator Jim Bunning, Republican of Kentucky. District office phone number: 859-219-2239
Senator Roland Burris, Democrat of Illinois. District office phone number: 312-886-3506
Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia. District office phone number: 304-342-5855
Senator Thomas R. Carper, Democrat of Delaware. District office phone number: 302-856-7690
Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma. District office phone number: 918-581-7651
Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine. District office phone number: 207-945-0417
Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee. District office phone number: 423-756-2757
Senator Michael Enzi, Republican of Wyoming. District office phone number: 307-527-9444
Senator Kay Hagan, Democrat of North Carolina. District office phone number: 919-856-4630
Senator Mike Johanns, Republican of Nebraska. District office phone number: 402-476-1400
Senator Ted Kaufman, Democrat of Delaware. District office phone number: 302-573-6345
Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana. District office phone number: 225-389-0395
Senator Mel Martinez, Republican of Florida. District office phone number: 239-774-3367
Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon. District office phone number: 503-326-3386
Senator Mark Pryor, Democrat of Arkansas. District office phone number: 501-324-6336
Senator Jim Risch, Republican of Idaho. District office phone number: 208-342-7985
Senator Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas. District office phone number: 913-451-9343
Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama. District office phone number: 251-414-3083
Senator Richard C. Shelby, Republican of Alabama. District office phone number: 251-694-4164
Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia. District office phone number: 276-628-8158
[A caveat: I'm not counting procedural H.Res or S.Res bills noting that a quorum is present or celebrating Bruce Jones' election into the Football Hall of Fame. I'm only counting actual substantive bills here.]
That’s a long list, isn’t it?
Some members of Congress have an excuse for their inaction. Hilda Solis, for one, is currently working through a difficult nomination process to become the next Secretary of Labor. Roland Burris has the dubious excuse of fighting off perjury charges to maintain his Senate seat.
What about all those new members of the House and Senate? Shouldn’t we give them a break and let them get their bearings for a bit longer? Maybe. But some new members have hit the ground running. Take the Udall brothers, who just got elected to the Senate. Senator Mark Udall has already introduced three bills to protect specific wildlife areas in the state of Colorado, and one more to smooth out the kinks in national efforts at trail building. Senator Tom Udall of next-door New Mexico has written and introduced a bill to set some terms and standards for the burgeoning industry of “renewable” energy, in an effort to prevent greenwashing. Senatorial newbie Jeanne Shaheen has a put forth a bill to increase veterans’ access to health care. Over in the House, Bobby Bright has got a tax depreciation adjustment bill and another bill to preserve natural and historical value in the Chattahoochee River Basin. John Adler‘s written one of those insubstantial bills to rename a post office, yes, but he’s also the author of a bill to designate funds in that stimulus bill for recipients of disability payments. Harry Teague has written bills extending tax credits for use of renewable energy and for parents of dependent kids.
I’m not saying all of those bills I just mentioned are great ideas. What I am saying is that at least these members of Congress, including a number of new members of Congress, are rolling up their sleeves and getting to work to do something to further their vision of what would make this nation better. If you’re not going to roll up your sleeves and try do something better than just show up and vote as you’re told, then what are you doing in Washington DC?
If you find your Representative or one of your Senators is on this list, look to the right of their name for an office phone number near you. If you’re lucky, you won’t even have to pay a toll when you ring up their office tomorrow morning and start a conversation that begins, “Good morning. I noticed last night that _________ hasn’t introduced any legislation before the Congress. Could you please let me know what __________’s agenda is, and when s/he plans to get take action?”
Just to pick one, say Boehner, from the list: they sure have a lot to say about the stimulus (and actually suggest we include MORE corporate and fat cat tax breaks, which have worked so well since Reagan . . .).
If the list includes a lot of Republicans, i’m not surprised. That it includes ANY democrats suggests (unless they are of the ilk of Lieberman) these dolts are only in it for the money and perks – certainly not doing anything on our behalf – is simply disheartening and cause for concern. Let’s hope they at least support the dems who ARE suggesting and sponsoring new, progressive legislation.
These Congresspeople live in such a bubble. If they would just watch the news or listen to their constituents (you know, do their job) they’d see, hear and feel what they COULD do as a “public servant”, someone actually concerned for the plight of their citizens. But they’re protected by the cocoon of FREE health care, a real salary (though most of them are wealthy already, and may not even need it) and a guaranteed job (despite their malaise and misfeasance – much like the Wall Street gang and their former target of scorn, “welfare queens”) all provided by us.
Congress used to be made up of statesmen at one time – maybe not all of them, but enough to be able to think, feel, and act on the behalf of the welfare of the country.
Now it’s a bunch of industrial cronies, wined and dined by lobbyists (of which we have exactly none standing up or in for the citizens and consumers), who contribute mightily (because it’s in their best interest to do so) to the campaigns of the puppets they wish to control. In other words, i’m really beginning to think that this institution has been corrupted by the corporate sector to such an extent that we the people in effect no longer have much, if any, say in the matter of what gets on their agenda and what gets passed.
i would like this Congress and president to live up to their constituents’ wishes and PROSECUTE all of the perpetrators of the financial and governmental collapse they’ve engineered. [And don't gimme that "everyone is guilty" bullshit.] Secondly, they better reverse (in a hurry) their stance and leadership on climate change, energy policy, domestic and foreign policy, agriculture (the way it’s subsidized and it’s current mismanaged policies – see Michael Pollen’s NY Times mag article of late), health care, education, homeland security, their whole relationship to the corporate sector and the vested interest religious establishments, and THINK of something to sponsor!
Granted it’s only been a month, but I see numerous co-sponsors of several bills, and even more that have introduced successful amendments to larger bills.
I’m hardly a proponent of Congress, but fair is fair and this charge isn’t in my humble opinion.
Saying “me too” is not the same as leadership. This information is what it is. You don’t have to consider this pattern condemnable to find it notable, or to contact a member of Congress who last fall laid out all of his or her plans on the stump and ask when those plans are going to actually see the light of day.
Jim, again, I’m with you in principle. But some of these guys have been there forever, and some a month.
I’m from NC, so let me take two on your list for example.
Mel Watt, has written nothing this month. That’s your point, and I agree.
Here’s what he’s done in Congress though.
Melvin Watt has sponsored 39 bills since Jan 5, 1993. of which 36 haven’t made it out of committee and 1 were successfully enacted. Watt has co-sponsored 1291 bills during the same time period.
Good or bad, given how long he’s been there is up to you.
Now let’s take Kissell. He’s been there 4 weeks, and even though Freshman don’t usually get to write bills, he’s already successfully gotten the BUY AMERICAN rules passed as an amendment into the stimulus plan.
Love it or hate it, that’s amazing work for a Freshman on your “do nothing” list.
Just saying.
That’s fine. Look, I point out some similar exceptions. Another exception you might note is John Boehner, who may not be introducing bills because he is in Republican party leadership. And I agree that some people who are long-term congressional veterans, who fully know the ropes, and are not being active legislators is especially galling.
The “Do-Nothing” label, while accurate in reference to bill sponsorship, may have exceptions when considering broader context. But it is meant to be provocative, to provoke. I’d like it to provoke people into contacting their members of Congress and finding out just what their representative in Washington, DC plans to do and is doing.
Cool.
“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”
– Cicero – 55 BC
If we haven’t learned this lesson in 2063 years, maybe it’s good that they aren’t writing more legislation.
“I am a well-off slaveholder.”
- Cicero, 55 BC
If we haven’t learned to live more like Cicero in 2063 years, then…
And by “cool” I mean you’re an idiot not worth arguing with because you prove yourself wrong by opening your mouth.
Have a nice blog.
It’s not the first time I’ve been called an idiot. Maybe I am. I mean, if I was, I wouldn’t recognize it, would I? Well, thanks for the picker-upper. You have a nice day, too.
Gee Gosh, golly durn…..
anyway, my guy Rep. Michael McMahon, Democrat of New York District 13. District office phone number: 718-356-8400
is still finding his sea legs. frosh rep dem from fairly conservative county. voted for stimulus.
not too worried that a new rep didn’t start any bills. The house works from the top down…
My Congressman, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Missouri’s 9th District is our NEW Representative. His mailing introduction states,
“I am your voice in Washington,and I will always represent the best interests of the citizens of the 9th District.”
I in person will ask what is his agenda and what is his plan of action in person at his Washington, Mo. office Thursday, and his Tele-Town hall meeting. My bottom line for me NO MORE APATHY.
I’m noticing that people tend to make excuses for their OWN Representative, while not doing the same for other people’s representatives.
Jim,
In any value system there is detritus and there is gold. At the time Cicero wrote his comment, slavery was an acceptable practice and continued for almost the next 1900 years. The development of human ideas of freedom throughout the past two thousand years has lead us to despise slavery. However to impose our value system on people of two thousand years ago, is foolish. Then to discount wisdom that has passed the test of time, is ignorant.
Show me the folly in the statement, don’t smear it by association.