Getting Support from your Colleagues: Bill Reintroduction in the U.S. House

What happens to bills that fail to become law in a given Congress? Which are reintroduced in the next, and why? As legislative success becomes increasingly difficult, understanding bill reintroduction is crucial. We propose a utility-based theory, arguing that members of the House (MCs) value both the extent and intensity of external support when making the decisions of reintroduction. Specifically, MCs are more likely to reintroduce bills with a higher number of cosponsors. In addition, they prioritize support from copartisans and members of the bill’s referred committee, viewing it as more intense and valuable. Using a text reuse approach, we analyze all bills introduced in the House from 2003 to 2019, and find strong evidence to support these arguments. Our findings deepen the understanding of the dynamics behind legislation and provide insights into the internal workings of the U.S. House.