(Washington, DC) –Today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) and Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13) sent a letter to each of the newly-appointed members of the Super Committee requesting that Committee proceedings be open to the public. The letter asks that all meetings and hearings be conducted in a transparent manner through advanced public notification, public attendance and live television broadcasts. 

“Congress should have seized the moment to pass a debt reduction plan that not only placed our nation on a path towards fiscal sustainability, but also set the foundation for economic growth. Congress still has an opportunity to do this. However, the American people deserve a responsive government that is fully accountable. Most Americans would agree that because of the magnitude of the decisions this Committee has been tasked with, proceedings should be transparent and open to the public,” said Senator Heller.

“This is a pivotal point in our nation’s history,” said Congressman Buchanan. “The critical decisions made by the joint committee should be conducted under the watchful eye of the American people.”

Senator Heller introduced the Budget Control Joint Committee Transparency Act (S.1501), which requires all proceedings of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction to be open to the public and available for television broadcast. Rep. Vern Buchanan introduced similar legislation in the House as H.R. 2796. 

In the days after the Budget Control Act was signed into law, Senator Heller and a group of five Senators also wrote to Senate leadership requesting that they require transparency from the Super Committee. To read the text of that letter, please click here.

Attached are the letters sent to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Jeb Hensarling (TX-5). Similar letters were sent to each member of the Super Committee.