House Republicans Weakening Stock Act ‘Behind Closed Doors’?

As we learned in social studies classes back in the day, Congress is a “bicameral” legislature, with the Senate and the House both having to pass a bill for it to take the next step toward becoming a law. So, when the Senate passed the STOCK Act to block insider trading by members of Congress and their staffs, we were only half-way there. It was significant when some wondered whether House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) was killing the STOCK Act, although Cantor later agreed to allow the House to consider the bill this week. 

Now, though, Congressman Tim Walz and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, are charging that Cantor and House Republican Leadership are making changes to the STOCK Act “behind closed doors at the 11th hour.”
 
"For weeks now, GOP Majority Leader Eric Cantor has promised to end his delay of this bill and add provisions to 'strengthen' the bill. Today, I read in the paper—not in a committee hearing or on the House floor—that he is actually delaying the process and, in secret, behind closed doors, brokering deals for special interests," said Walz. "How ironic—insiders now appear to be writing a bill meant to ban insider trading. Majority Leader Cantor doesn't get it. This bill is supposed to be about restoring faith and trust in government; what he is doing could accomplish the exact opposite. Therefore, I am calling on Majority Leader Cantor to bring the secret bill he's crafting into the light. Let's apply good government principles to writing good government legislation."
 
"You can't make this stuff up." said Slaughter. "This bill is designed to make our Congress better, yet House Republican Leadership is shutting out minority opinions and changing a popular piece of legislation behind closed doors. Apparently, they're giving K Street the chance to weigh in. The House Republican leadership is hoping to vote on this issue in two days, on a bill we haven't seen yet. We can't possibly comment on a bill that hasn't emerged from the back room."

There are only a few more days in "this week" to see if the House will consider the STOCK Act. And then we will have to see if whatever they vote on is stronger or weaker than the version of the bill that passed the Senate. This is how a bill becomes a law. Right?