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“Amen, and a woman.” That was LITERALLY how Rep. Cleaver (D-MO) concluded his opening prayer for the 117th Congress yesterday. You just can’t make this stuff up.

Amen originates from the Hebrew language and (more or less) translates to mean “so be it” or “may it be so.” The word, of course, has NOTHING to do with gender. Or gender identity. Or gender inclusivity. Or gender politics. As a pastor, Rep. Cleaver obviously knew that, but still chose to sully the closing of his prayer to make some odd political statement. It’s all very strange.

On a separate but similar note, we also have a new “Rules Package” before the House. (With each new session of Congress, the House must approve a new set of rules under which it will operate for the next two years.) Since Democrats still control the House, Nancy Pelosi is in the driver’s seat.

Under her new rules, words that are gender specific will no longer be allowed in official documents like legislation. So for example, there are no more sisters or brothers. Instead, there are siblings. Your uncle or aunt will now be known as your parent’s sibling. And your niece? Well, she’s now your sibling’s child. How progressive.

Someone needs to tell Elaine that she and I are no longer husband & wife, but instead are spouse & spouse.

Additionally, Pelosi’s new rules strip away the ability for Republicans to propose amendments to a bill on the House floor. Under what’s known as a “Motion to Recommit”, Republicans in the minority had been able to propose amendments before a final vote. Most of those motions failed, of course, because Democrats control the House. But every once in a while, there would be a Republican amendment that resonated across the aisle, helping make the legislation stronger. When those motions passed, the amendment was incorporated into the final bill, which would then be voted on.

Well, not any longer. Under Pelosi’s new rules, a Motion to Recommit can only be used to delay a vote by sending it back to committee without any changes. Republicans can no longer use this tool to propose amendments before a vote, even if those amendments would appeal to more moderate Democrats.

Ultimately, this will make it even easier for far-left legislation to pass the House. That’s not a good thing.