Overview

Title

Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H. RES. 5 is like setting up special rules for how the House of Representatives should work, including using new technology like AI, making sure everything is fair, and handling money wisely, while making sure everyone feels included and respected.

Summary AI

H. RES. 5 sets the rules and procedures for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 119th Congress, including amendments to the rules from the previous Congress. It addresses various aspects like electronic voting in committees, changes the names of certain committees, and provides guidelines for handling legislation involving federal land and budgetary matters. It also establishes transparency reforms, restricts discrimination settlements funded by taxpayers, and incorporates artificial intelligence technologies to improve legislative processes. Additionally, it outlines how former Members who are lobbyists cannot access certain House facilities and requires all House offices to adopt anti-discrimination policies.

Published

2025-01-03
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Engrossed in House
Date: 2025-01-03
Package ID: BILLS-119hres5eh

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
5
Words:
7,386
Pages:
34
Sentences:
118

Language

Nouns: 2,360
Verbs: 511
Adjectives: 356
Adverbs: 47
Numbers: 291
Entities: 540

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.46
Average Sentence Length:
62.59
Token Entropy:
5.59
Readability (ARI):
34.58

AnalysisAI

The resolution in question involves the adoption of new rules for the 119th Congress of the United States House of Representatives. These rules act as an organizational framework for how the House will operate, including changes in procedures, committee structures, and various governance areas critical to legislative processes.

General Summary of the Bill

The resolution begins by adopting the procedures and structures of the previous Congress, the 118th, with some amendments. Key changes introduced include modifications to rules regarding committee operations, such as permitting electronic voting and potentially changing how the Speaker's position can be declared vacant. Renaming and restructuring of certain committees and offices also feature prominently, including the elimination of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Additionally, there are detailed provisions related to budgetary processes, transparency reforms, the use of technology, and procedural changes regarding legislation.

Significant Issues

Numerous issues are juxtaposed throughout the resolution. One notable modification is the requirement for a member of the majority party and eight cosponsors from the same party to instigate a vote to declare the Speaker's office vacant. This could centralize power and make leadership changes more complex.

Another significant point is the elimination of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This move may be seen as a step backward in promoting inclusivity across the congressional workforce. Controversies could also stem from the reinstatement of traditional family-centric language in House rules, sparking discussions about inclusivity of non-traditional family dynamics.

Particularly contentious may be the requirement for defining sex solely based on "reproductive biology and genetics at birth" in relation to Title IX amendments. This could prompt debates about gender identity and potentially lead to legal challenges.

Impact on the Public

The changes in the resolution will likely affect how efficiently and fairly legislative processes are conducted within the House. By allowing electronic voting in committees, there's potential for increased efficiency and flexibility, particularly as digital transformation becomes commonplace. However, such changes require clear guidelines and robust infrastructure to prevent disruptions.

The amendments related to requirements for discrimination settlement payments by House members may increase accountability but require strict enforcement measures. Also, the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies to streamline processes could offer practical efficiencies but necessitates careful implementation to avoid undermining human oversight.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Stakeholders affected positively include committee members and staff who could benefit from increased process efficiency due to electronic voting and technological integration. However, these methods must be thoroughly defined and managed.

Potentially negative effects may be felt by individuals advocating for diversity and inclusion within Congress, as the removal of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion might be perceived as a retrenching of prior commitments to fostering an inclusive environment. Non-traditional family structures could feel excluded by the reversion to "family-centric" language.

The requirement of proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration could lead to administrative burdens on those seeking to register, affecting voter participation rates, especially in marginalized communities.

Overall, while the resolution provides a structural framework for the House of Representatives, its execution and impact will heavily depend on the detailed rules enforcement and the clarity of communications regarding the modus operandi. Each stakeholder will need to navigate these changes carefully to ensure that operations within Congress and their broader implications unfold positively.

Financial Assessment

In reviewing the financial references within H. RES. 5, various provisions address how money is allocated and managed across the House of Representatives' operations. These references are critical to understanding the fiscal impact and priorities set forth by this resolution.

Spending Reduction Account

Within Section 3, there is a notable provision regarding a "spending reduction account". This account is designed to manage funds within general appropriation bills more efficiently. Specifically, this section outlines that a general appropriation bill must include a spending reduction account as its last section. It further clarifies that any recitation of excess in budget authority should be noted as "$0", if applicable. This mechanism aims to enhance fiscal responsibility by ensuring that there is transparency in how much budget authority exceeds what is proposed in congressional spending bills.

Long-Term Spending and Budgetary Concerns

The resolution also addresses long-term spending concerns by introducing a process for identifying bills that would lead to a net increase in direct spending over a 40-year period. As part of this process, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is tasked with preparing estimates to assess the impact of proposed legislation. Under Section 3(c)(1)(B), it stipulates that no bill should be considered if it results in a net increase in direct spending exceeding $2,500,000,000 in any of these designated periods. This financial threshold is aimed at keeping long-term government spending in check, which relates to concerns about fiscal accountability and economic sustainability identified in the Issues section.

Miscellaneous Financial Measures

Additionally, Section 3(d) addresses the use of Members' Representational Allowance (MRA), allowing certain funds to be transferred for employee duties to dedicated accounts administered by Congressional Member Organizations. This offers a structured financial system that ensures these funds are used appropriately while maintaining transparency. Furthermore, Section 3(j) highlights investment in the integration of artificial intelligence, though this lacks specific monetary allocations, suggesting an ongoing commitment to technological advancement that requires careful oversight to avoid unintended financial implications.

Evaluation of Impacts

While the resolution's financial provisions focus on maintaining budget discipline, such as through the creation of spending reduction accounts and thresholds for long-term spending, it falls short in providing robust enforcement mechanisms or complete transparency in some areas. For instance, the rule requiring Members to personally cover the cost of discrimination settlements involves serious ethical and financial considerations; however, details on enforcement are not fully developed, potentially impacting compliance and accountability.

In conclusion, the financial elements within H. RES. 5 emphasize enhancing fiscal transparency and responsibility within the legislative process. Despite these efforts, certain areas—such as enforcement measures for ethical stipulations—might benefit from further clarity to ensure adherence to these financial guidelines and bolster the resolution's overall effectiveness in managing congressional funds.

Issues

  • Section 2: The elimination of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion could be controversial as it may be seen as diminishing the House's commitment to diversity and inclusion, which could have significant ethical and political ramifications.

  • Section 2: The restoration of 'family-centric' language in rules might be viewed as archaic and could potentially exclude non-traditional family structures, thereby raising ethical and inclusivity concerns.

  • Section 5: The bill related to Title IX, which recognizes sex based solely on 'reproductive biology and genetics at birth', could lead to legal and scientific disputes, given its implications on gender identity debates.

  • Section 5: The requirement of proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration could have political implications and might affect state and local election policies, leading to potential legal disputes over jurisdictional inconsistencies.

  • Section 3: The provision on remote appearance of witnesses could affect the perceived accountability and integrity of congressional hearings, especially as it does not apply to witnesses representing the executive branch, raising legal and political issues.

  • Section 3: The integration of artificial intelligence without detailed guidelines or defined parameters could pose ethical and long-term political challenges due to the potential consequences of AI use in legislative processes.

  • Section 1: The ambiguity concerning the ‘other orders’ and which laws or resolutions are being referred to in the adoption of rules could lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of the rules, impacting transparency and legal clarity.

  • Section 3: The rule regarding Members paying for discrimination settlements personally addresses serious ethical considerations but lacks clarity on enforcement mechanisms, potentially impacting accountability and compliance.

  • Section 3: The analysis of inflationary impacts lacks clear criteria and thresholds which could affect the transparency of budgetary accountability, posing economic and political issues.

  • Section 4: Ambiguity around past House Resolutions and the conversion of the Office of Congressional Ethics could cause confusion about the implications of these changes, affecting legal understanding and congressional ethics.

  • Section 3: The lack of specific measures to address the integrity and security of remote communications during witness appearances points to potential security and accountability issues in legislative processes.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Adoption of the rules of the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The House of Representatives has decided to adopt the rules from the previous Congress with some changes. They are carrying over the rules from the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress to the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, but they will make amendments and add other orders as outlined in the resolution.

2. Changes to the standing rules Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines various changes to the rules concerning House procedures, including new requirements for declaring the Speaker's office vacant, allowing electronic voting in committees, renaming certain committees, eliminating the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, codifying existing orders, modifying family-related terminology, and specifying the days when the House can suspend rules. Additionally, it includes technical corrections regarding interim funding and day count rules.

3. Separate orders Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The text outlines various procedural rules and guidelines for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, including how to handle spending reductions in appropriations bills, budgetary considerations, transparency reforms, and the use of artificial intelligence and other technologies in House operations. It addresses the requirements for non-disclosure agreements, discrimination settlements, as well as the procedures for remote witness appearances and deposition authorities, among other legislative and administrative measures.

Money References

  • (5) For purposes of this subsection, the term “spending reduction account” means an account in a general appropriation bill that bears that caption and contains only— (A) a recitation of the amount by which an applicable allocation of new budget authority under section 302(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 exceeds the amount of new budget authority proposed by the bill; or (B) if no such allocation is in effect, “$0”. (c) Budget matters.— (1) LONG TERM SPENDING POINT OF ORDER.
  • — (A) CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ANALYSIS OF PROPOSALS.—The Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall, to the extent practicable, prepare an estimate of whether a bill or joint resolution reported by a committee (other than the Committee on Appropriations), or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, would cause, relative to current law, a net increase in direct spending in excess of $2,500,000,000 in any of the 4 consecutive 10-fiscal year periods beginning with the first fiscal year that is 10 fiscal years after the current fiscal year.
  • (B) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be in order to consider any bill or joint resolution reported by a committee, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that would cause a net increase in direct spending in excess of $2,500,000,000 in any of the 4 consecutive 10-fiscal year periods described in subparagraph (A).

4. Committees, commissions, and House offices Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines how various committees and offices within the House of Representatives will operate during the 119th Congress. It includes the continuation of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, defines the functions of the House Democracy Partnership and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and renames the Office of Congressional Ethics to the Office of Congressional Conduct, detailing its roles and rules.

5. Orders of business Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines the procedure for considering specific bills in the House, including waiving points of order against them and detailing the bills' topics, which range from immigration issues and law enforcement to voting registration and tax rules. Each bill will have an hour of debate split between leaders and one chance for recommitment.