{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-kim-reintroduce-buds-resolution-bolster-bipartisan", "Reps. Cleaver, Kim Reintroduce BUDS Resolution to Bolster Bipartisan Collaboration in Congress", "2025-06-11", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Emanuel Cleaver", "C001061", "cleaver.house.gov", "cleaver", "https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Young Kim (R-CA), along with Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA), William Timmons (R-SC), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), and Mike Carey (R-OH), reintroduced the Building Unity through Dual Sponsors (BUDS) Resolution to bolster bipartisan collaboration in Congress. While current rules of the House of Representatives only allow for one lawmaker to serve as a sponsor of legislation, the BUDS Resolution would formally change the rules of the House of Representatives to authorize two Members of the chamber to serve as joint sponsors of a bill, resolution, or joint resolution if they are from opposing political parties.\n\n\u201cIn these deeply polarizing times, it is important that lawmakers help bridge the divides in our nation by focusing on bipartisan solutions that will benefit hardworking families in every community across the country,\u201d said Congressman Cleaver. \u201cAs a member of the former Modernization Committee, I\u2019ve seen firsthand that bipartisanship is still possible if we foster the environment that enables it to grow. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to join my friend Rep. Kim in reintroducing the BUDS Resolution to incentivize more cross-party collaboration in the House of Representatives.\u201d\n\n\u201cBipartisanship isn\u2019t a bad word. In fact, it\u2019s more important than ever to find common ground to improve the lives of the American people and move this country forward. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud of my record and to be ranked the most effective federal lawmaker from the state of California,\u201d said Congresswoman Kim. \u201cI hope the BUDS Act can encourage more collaboration in Congress that will advance more impactful policy solutions.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe BUDS Act will encourage members to reach across the aisle and find bipartisan solutions to the toughest challenges facing Americans,\u201d said Fix Congress Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Scott Peters. \u201cWe know that great ideas often come from collaboration, and by simply allowing dual sponsorship, Congress will generate a lot more of those ideas and modernize an outdated system. At a time of hyper-partisanship and record low congressional approvals, we should be doing everything we can to boost bipartisanship and Americans\u2019 trust in the legislature.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn today\u2019s hyper-partisan environment, the BUDS Act represents a refreshing and necessary modernization of how Congress operates. By empowering lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to serve as joint sponsors, we are structurally reinforcing our commitment to collaboration\u2014something the American people overwhelmingly support. As a co-lead on this resolution, I am proud to stand alongside colleagues to send a clear message: delivering results for our constituents means working together, not working apart,\u201d said Rep. Timmons.\n\n\u201cWe need to rebuild a politics of the common good, where actual bipartisan progress is possible to meet our most serious challenges.\u201d said Rep. Mullin. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what the BUDS Resolution is about\u2014modernizing our Congressional rules so we can value cooperation over conflict. The American people are tired of dysfunction. They want to see their representatives working together to solve real problems. The BUDS Resolution is a practical step toward that goal, and I\u2019m proud to support it.\u201d\n\n\u201cDelivering for my constituents is my biggest priority in Congress, and that often stems from bipartisan cooperation. For that reason, I re-launched and serve as Co-Chair of the Civility and Respect Caucus in the House,\u201d Rep. Carey said. \u201cThis legislation will make it easier to identify bipartisan measures and build support for their passage. That means real results for our constituents, and I am proud to support it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is much more bipartisan collaboration in Congress than Americans see on the news, but it flies under the radar partly because there is no way for members to share equal credit for working together. This resolution from Rep. Cleaver (D-MO) and Rep. Kim (R-CA) fixes that by amending House rules to allow bills to have two sponsors, provided that each is from a different political party. With this change, it will be much clearer to constituents when their representatives put divisive politics aside to achieve bipartisan legislative wins. Bipartisan co-sponsorship was a key recommendation from the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and this resolution will make it a reality,\u201d saidMichele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action\n\n\"We commend Representative Cleaver for recognizing the need for legislation that fosters greater bipartisanship in Congress. At a time when public trust in Congress is at historic lows, the Joint Sponsorship legislation charts a path toward consensus by encouraging cross-party collaboration \u2014 helping ensure that Congress fulfills its Article I responsibilities on behalf of the American people,\" said Jamie Neikrie, Legislative Director of Issue One\n\n\u201cThis is an obvious solution to a needless hurdle blocking genuine bipartisanship in Congress,\u201d said Demand Progress Executive Director Sean Vitka. \u201cThis relatively simple, commonsense rule change would go a long way towards helping lawmakers showcase needed policy solutions with broad political support from the get-go. We thank Reps. Cleaver and Kim for introducing this resolution and modeling the kind of bipartisanship that the American people deserve.\u201d\n\n\"Tackling our nation\u2019s pressing fiscal and governance challenges demands both bipartisan cooperation on fact-finding oversight and legislation. I commend Representatives Cleaver and Kim for working across the aisle and sponsoring this important resolution,\" said Dan Lips, Senior Fellow of the Foundation for American Innovation\n\n\"Congress runs on collaboration and the BUDS resolution facilitates collaboration among members of all political stripes,\" said Daniel Schuman, Executive Director of the American Governance Institute.\n\nThe legislation is also cosponsored by Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), James Moylan (R-GU), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Don Bacon (R-NE).\n\nThe BUDS Resolution is endorsed by the American Governance Institute, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Demand Progress, Foundation for American Innovation, and Issue One.\n\nOfficial text of the BUDS Resolution is available here.\n\nEmanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-kim-reintroduce-buds-resolution-bolster-bipartisan"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.111012279987335, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}