Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, and for other purposes.
Description
Establishes rules for the 119th Congress, modifying procedures for vacating the Speaker, committee operations, and House administration.
Summary
What it does
This resolution establishes the formal rules governing the House of Representatives for the 119th Congress by adopting the previous session's rules with several specific modifications. Key changes include new requirements for motions to vacate the Office of Speaker, prohibitions on waiving germaneness rules for amendments, and the elimination of the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion and certain collective bargaining rights for House employees. Additionally, the measure reauthorizes several select committees and commissions while setting specific schedules for motions to suspend the rules and limits on measures with high long-term budget impacts.
Who is affected
This resolution directly affects Members of the House of Representatives and House committees by establishing the procedural rules for the 119th Congress. It impacts House employees through the elimination of certain collective bargaining rights and the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Additionally, the rules affect non-executive branch witnesses appearing before committees and international democratic parliaments that receive advisory assistance from the House Democracy Partnership.
Key provisions
- Modifications to the motion to vacate the Office of Speaker. Establishes that a resolution to vacate the Office of Speaker is only considered privileged if it is introduced by a member of the majority party and supported by eight additional cosponsors from the same party.
- Changes to floor and committee procedures. Restricts motions to suspend the rules to specific weekdays, prohibits the waiver of germaneness requirements for amendments, and authorizes the use of electronic voting within House committees.
- Fiscal and budgetary constraints. Prohibits the House from considering measures that exceed specific long-term budget impact thresholds as determined by the Congressional Budget Office.
- Administrative and workforce adjustments. Eliminates the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion and removes certain collective bargaining rights for employees of the House of Representatives.
- Reauthorization of select committees and commissions. Extends the mandates for the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and the House Democracy Partnership.
- Remote witness participation. Authorizes non-executive branch witnesses and their legal counsel to appear remotely during committee proceedings.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
The resolution establishes the rules for the House of Representatives for the duration of the 119th Congress.
Relationship to existing law
This resolution adopts the standing rules of the House of Representatives from the 118th Congress with specific modifications for the 119th Congress. It reauthorizes and renames several existing entities, including the House Democracy Assistance Commission, and eliminates certain collective bargaining rights and administrative offices established under prior House operations.
Stated purpose
This resolution establishes the formal rules of procedure for the House of Representatives during the 119th Congress. It aims to govern legislative operations by adopting and modifying existing rules regarding leadership motions, committee proceedings, budgetary constraints, and the authorization of specific House offices and commissions.