GOP lawmaker calls for 40-hour congressional workweek

Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) wants the House schedule to more closely resemble a typical American workweek. 

Jolly, who is running for Senate, has introduced a resolution to change House rules so that the chamber must be in session for at least 40 hours a week while lawmakers are in Washington. 

“This ‘try-nothing’ Congress needs a reality check. A work week in Washington should be no different than a work week in every other town across the nation,” Jolly said in a statement.

{mosads}However, the Florida Republican’s measure would not apply to recess weeks, when lawmakers spend time with constituents in their districts.

During a typical Washington workweek, House members come in Monday evenings for votes at 6:30 p.m. and depart for their districts by early afternoon Thursday. Alternately, the House convenes on Tuesdays and remains in session until Friday.

Jolly has proposed changing House rules before to make lawmakers’ schedules more like a typical five-day, 9-to-5 workweek. Last year, he unsuccessfully suggested that the House work five days a week — from 8 a.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Friday — whenever it is in session.

Such proposals have proven to be bipartisan, with lawmakers in both parties trying to campaign against Washington. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), one of the most vulnerable House Democrats this election cycle, also authored a resolution in March calling for five-day congressional workweeks.

Jolly faces many competitors for the Florida Republican Senate nomination: Rep. Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and former military officer Todd Wilcox.

The candidates are vying to replace Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is passing on another term in the upper chamber to run for president.