Providing amounts for the expenses of the Committee on Ethics in the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress.

Bill Number

H.Res. 131

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Last Updated

2025-12-12T21:26:40Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution (H. Res. 131) authorizes funding for the operational expenses of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Ethics during the 119th Congress (2025-2027). The committee investigates and enforces ethical standards for House members and staff.

Key Provisions

• Total Funding: Allocates up to $9,276,290 from the House's general accounts for committee salaries, staff expenses, and other costs.
• Session Breakdown:
• Up to $4,530,566 for the first session (January 3, 2025, to January 3, 2026).
• Up to $4,745,724 for the second session (January 3, 2026, to January 3, 2027).
• Payment Process: Funds are disbursed via vouchers approved by the Committee on Ethics (signed by its Chair) and the Committee on House Administration.
• Expenditure Rules: All spending must follow guidelines set by the Committee on House Administration.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This resolution does not amend existing laws but establishes a new funding cap for the 119th Congress, replacing prior authorizations from previous Congresses. It maintains standard procedures for House committee budgets without introducing substantive alterations.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Enables the Committee on Ethics to function smoothly, supporting oversight of House members' conduct without disruptions due to funding shortages.
• On Citizens: Indirectly promotes transparency and accountability in Congress, as the committee handles ethics complaints that could affect public trust in government.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is an internal House matter focused on domestic ethics enforcement.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Committee on Ethics: Primary beneficiary, gaining resources for investigations, hearings, and staff support.
• House of Representatives: Overall institution, including members and leadership, as the funding comes from shared House accounts.
• Taxpayers: Indirectly affected, as funds are drawn from federal appropriations for congressional operations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal/Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's constitutional authority (Article I) to organize its internal operations, including committee funding. No challenges to separation of powers or rights are evident.
• Political: Reinforces bipartisan ethics oversight (introduced by Representatives Guest and DeSaulnier from different parties), potentially enhancing public confidence in congressional self-regulation. As a simple resolution, it requires only House approval and does not need Senate or presidential action.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• 2025-02-13: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Providing amounts for the expenses of the Committee on Ethics in the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress. — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (2 pages)