Motorcoach Safety NOW!

The bill is introduced, and automatically referred to a Committee.

The committee has the option of holding hearings on the bill, but this isn’t always necessary. I think in this bill’s case, hearings will be a good avenue, and we’ve already begun discussing the possibility with committee members.

Once in committee, it is “marked up,” which literally means edited until it reaches the satisfaction of a majority of Senators on the committee. Then it is voted “out of committee” and placed onto a legislative calendar.

The majority leader (in this case, Senator Reid from Nevada) determines the schedule for legislation pending on the legislative calendar.

Once the bill passes the Senate, it goes to the House. Once passed in the house, it is sent to the President to be signed into law.