Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry, whose 10th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives includes Caldwell County, is backing a bipartisan bill (H.R. 554) that would require all legislation be made available to the public 72 hours prior to consideration by the full House.

Currently cosponsored by 139 Republicans and 42 Democrats, the bill has been advanced by Brian Baird, D-Wash., and Greg Walden, R-Ore. At this point, however, the Democratic leadership within the House has declined to schedule a vote on the legislation.

At numerous town hall events this past summer, participants frequently called upon legislators to read and publicly disclose pending bills, in particular the mammoth health care reform bill that contains more than 1,000 pages.

"If you want to know how out of touch Washington really is, look no further," McHenry said. "Congress is debating some of the most sweeping policy changes in our nation's history, but some believe the legislation should be hidden from the American people."