Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States must act urgently to end the political and economic dominance of billionaire oligarchs, halt the corporate subsidies and tax advantages that fortify their power, and reinvest in the needs of the American people to defend democracy from authoritarianism.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1028
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T08:08:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1028), introduced on January 30, 2026, expresses the non-binding opinion of the House of Representatives. It urges urgent action to reduce the political and economic influence of billionaire oligarchs (extremely wealthy individuals who control significant power) and corporations, end government subsidies and tax benefits that support them, and redirect resources to meet the needs of ordinary Americans. The goal is to protect democracy from authoritarianism (rule by a small elite group) by promoting economic equality and public investment.
Key Provisions Outlined
The resolution includes a series of "Whereas" clauses providing historical and current context on threats to democracy from wealth concentration, corruption, and inequality. It then resolves that the House believes the following actions are necessary:
- Defund oligarchs to protect democracy: The federal government must cut funding to wealthy elites to safeguard individual freedoms.
- Restrict rewards for corruption: The President should deny public contracts, loans, and grants to oligarchs or corporations involved in corrupt deals, unfair competition, or violations of labor, environmental, or anti-discrimination laws.
- Protect elections: Implement public financing for elections using small donations to prevent billionaire and corporate money from overpowering voters' voices.
- Break up monopolies: Dismantle economic and political concentrations, especially in media, finance, and tech; ensure national security areas like AI, cloud computing, and space are publicly controlled, not by private oligarchs.
- Reduce inequality through taxes: Raise taxes on corporations and the ultra-rich, introduce a wealth tax (a tax on total assets, not just income), and close loopholes; use revenues for universal health care, affordable housing, debt-free education, and climate protection.
- Reform the Supreme Court: Ensure a majority of justices interpret the Constitution to allow Congress to regulate corporate power, rather than protecting oligarchs' rights.
- Expand unions: Support union growth to counter corporate influence, share economic benefits with workers, and enable collective action by ordinary people.
- Promote alternative ownership models: Encourage cooperatives, nonprofits, community-owned, or public entities to replace corporate dominance and build a more democratic economy.
- Invest public funds in people: Use government money for affordable health care, housing, food, and education to improve living standards.
The resolution was referred to multiple committees, including Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for review.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This is a resolution, not a bill, so it introduces no legal changes or enforceable requirements. It serves as a symbolic statement to guide future legislation, potentially inspiring bills on taxation, antitrust enforcement (breaking up monopolies), campaign finance reform, or court restructuring. No immediate alterations to laws like tax codes, election rules, or corporate regulations are made.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Could pressure agencies like the IRS (tax authority), FTC (antitrust regulator), and FEC (election overseer) to prioritize anti-corruption and inequality reduction, though without binding force. It might lead to increased scrutiny of subsidies in sectors like energy and tech.
- On citizens: Aims to benefit working people by potentially lowering costs for housing, health care, and education through redirected funds, while reducing the influence of wealth on politics. However, as non-binding, direct effects are limited to raising awareness and sparking debate.
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, but calls to regulate Big Tech, AI, and crypto could affect global tech standards or U.S. leadership in emerging technologies. Criticism of oil and gas subsidies might influence climate diplomacy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Billionaires and oligarchs: Targeted for reduced tax advantages, subsidies, and political influence; specific mentions include figures like President Trump and industries like oil, tech, and crypto.
- Corporations: Face potential loss of government support, monopoly breakups, and stricter regulations on labor, environment, and competition.
- Working people and low-income households: Intended beneficiaries through investments in social programs, union support, and inequality reduction.
- Labor unions: Supported for expansion to counter corporate power.
- Government and elected officials: Urged to act on reforms; the President and Congress are directly called out.
- Supreme Court and judiciary: Highlighted for potential reform to align with democratic priorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Proposes actions like wealth taxes and monopoly breakups that would require new laws, potentially facing challenges under current antitrust statutes or tax rules. Public financing of elections could conflict with Supreme Court precedents like Citizens United (2010), which equated campaign spending with free speech.
- Constitutional: Calls for Supreme Court reform raise questions about judicial independence and Article III (judicial branch powers). It argues the Constitution should empower Congress to regulate wealth for democracy, not protect oligarchs, but this could spark debates on separation of powers.
- Political: Highly partisan, with direct criticism of President Trump, Republicans, and specific industries' 2024 election spending. As a "sense of the House" resolution, it signals progressive priorities (introduced by Democrats like Rep. Tlaib) but lacks enforcement, potentially fueling divides in Congress or public discourse on inequality and democracy without bipartisan support.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-30: Submitted in House
- 2026-01-30: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States must act urgently to end the political and economic dominance of billionaire oligarchs, halt the corporate subsidies and tax advantages that fortify their power, and reinvest in the needs of the American people to defend democracy from authoritarianism. — issued 2026-01-30 — PDF (7 pages)