Quick Breakdown: Committee Markups

A lot of what happens in Congress doesn’t always make it onto TV—but it’s important. This week, I wanted to take a moment to explain a key part of the legislative process: the committee markup. A markup is when a committee formally debates, amends, and votes on a bill before it moves to the House floor. During this process, members can offer changes—called amendments—including something called an "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute" or ANS, which replaces the entire bill with a new version. Once the committee agrees by majority vote, the bill is officially reported out and ready for further action. It’s a critical step in shaping the laws that impact our lives, and its important to me that this process is accessible and transparent for you.