Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any committee from sending more than 999 copies of any mass mailing to addresses within the same Congressional district, from sending any mass mailing to an address within a Congressional district if the mailing is postmarked fewer than 90 days immediately before the date of a House election in the district, and from sending any mass mailing as franked mail which does not meet the standards applicable to franked mail sent by elected officers of the House.

Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 8, 2004

Amends rule XI (Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit House Committees from sending: (1) more than 999 copies of any mass mailing to addresses within the same congressional district, unless authorized to do so by resolution of the House with respect to the specific mailing; (2) any mass mailing to an address within a congressional district if the mailing is postmarked fewer than 90 days immediately before the date of a House election held in such district; or (3) any mass mailing as franked mail which does not conform to the rules, regulations, and standards prescribed by the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards for franked mail sent by elected officers of the House.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27] · D–CA

Committees

Rules Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 8, 2004
Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
Oct 8, 2004
Introduced in House
Oct 8, 2004
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Oct 8, 2004 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Res.851 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.851, 108th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any committee from sending more than 999 copies of any mass mailing to addresses within the same Congressional district, from sending any mass mailing to an address within a Congressional district if the mailing is postmarked fewer than 90 days immediately before the date of a House election in the district, and from sending any mass mailing as franked mail which does not meet the standards applicable to franked mail sent by elected officers of the House.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-resolution/851

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hres851/BILLS-108hres851ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:30:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Res.851 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Res.851 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.851, 108th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any committee from sending more than 999 copies of any mass mailing to addresses within the same Congressional district, from sending any mass mailing to an address within a Congressional district if the mailing is postmarked fewer than 90 days immediately before the date of a House election in the district, and from sending any mass mailing as franked mail which does not meet the standards applicable to franked mail sent by elected officers of the House.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-resolution/851

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hres851/BILLS-108hres851ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:30:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.851 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Res.851 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.851, 108th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any committee from sending more than 999 copies of any mass mailing to addresses within the same Congressional district, from sending any mass mailing to an address within a Congressional district if the mailing is postmarked fewer than 90 days immediately before the date of a House election in the district, and from sending any mass mailing as franked mail which does not meet the standards applicable to franked mail sent by elected officers of the House.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-resolution/851

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hres851/BILLS-108hres851ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:30:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.851 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Res.851 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.851, 108th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any committee from sending more than 999 copies of any mass mailing to addresses within the same Congressional district, from sending any mass mailing to an address within a Congressional district if the mailing is postmarked fewer than 90 days immediately before the date of a House election in the district, and from sending any mass mailing as franked mail which does not meet the standards applicable to franked mail sent by elected officers of the House.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-resolution/851

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-10-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hres851/BILLS-108hres851ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:30:14Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.851 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.