Heinrich & Heller Encouraged By Joint Caucus Meeting This Week, Call For More Bipartisanship

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following a rare bipartisan meeting of the whole chamber this week, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Dean Heller (R-NV) asked Senate leadership to consider instituting similar joint bipartisanship activities on a regular basis.

In a letter to Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell, Heinrich and Heller expressed that the more than three-and-half-hour joint caucus meeting held in the old Senate chamber this week allowed Senators from both sides of the aisle to have a frank and open conversation.

"This occasion provided a unique opportunity for Members of this deliberative body to engage with one another in a significant way. Senators from both sides of the aisle were able to have a respectful, yet frank and open discussion about issues that substantially impact the Rules that govern this Chamber.  We believe it was a productive meeting, and that similar gatherings should be repeated in the future. We respectfully ask that you consider instituting joint bipartisan activities on a more consistent basis," Heinrich and Heller wrote.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell:

We write to express our appreciation and support for convening a Joint Caucus meeting in the Old Senate Chamber this week. This occasion provided a unique opportunity for Members of this deliberative body to engage with one another in a significant way. Senators from both sides of the aisle were able to have a respectful, yet frank and open discussion about issues that substantially impact the Rules that govern this Chamber. We believe it was a productive meeting, and that similar gatherings should be repeated in the future.

We respectfully ask that you consider instituting joint bipartisan activities on a more consistent basis. Establishing regular face-to-face bipartisan conversations as an institutional norm would allow Members to build a stronger rapport with one other, and thus, provide more of an opportunity to find common ground and room for compromise.

Our constituents sent us to Washington to solve the problems and challenges that they face every day. By putting partisanship aside, we can deliver a better America if we work together. We believe that fostering relationships made possible through regular bipartisan interactions is one of the most essential ways to achieve that goal.

Sincerely,

MARTIN HEINRICH
United States Senator

DEAN HELLER
United States Senator