Providing the sense of the House of Representatives that the House should not adjourn until the annual appropriation bills within the jurisdiction of all the subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations for the current fiscal year are enacted into law.

Bill Number

H.Res. 19

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Economics and Public Finance

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Last Updated

2025-01-22T14:43:28Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution (H. Res. 19) expresses the non-binding opinion of the U.S. House of Representatives that it should not take a break (adjourn) until all annual spending bills—known as appropriation bills—for the current fiscal year have been passed into law. These bills fund federal government operations and are handled by subcommittees under the House Committee on Appropriations.

Key Provisions

• The resolution consists of a single statement declaring it the "sense of the House" that adjournment should be delayed until all appropriation bills within the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee's subcommittees are enacted.
• It was introduced on January 7, 2025, by Representative Ogles (along with cosponsors Representatives Clyde and Luna) and referred to the Committee on Appropriations for review.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This resolution introduces no changes to existing law, as it is a "sense of the House" measure. Such resolutions are symbolic and do not create enforceable rules, obligations, or amendments to statutes. They serve only to guide or express congressional intent without legal force.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Could encourage timely passage of funding bills, reducing the risk of government shutdowns that disrupt agency operations and services.
• On citizens: May help avoid interruptions in federal programs (e.g., Social Security payments, national parks access, or disaster aid) that occur during funding lapses, providing more stability for public services.
• On international relations: Minimal direct impact, though delayed appropriations could indirectly affect U.S. foreign aid or diplomatic efforts if funding for international programs is stalled.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Members of Congress: Primarily House members, especially those on the Appropriations Committee, who would face pressure to complete work before recesses.
• Federal agencies and employees: Agencies dependent on annual appropriations (e.g., Defense, Health and Human Services) could benefit from avoided shutdowns.
• The public and advocacy groups: Citizens and organizations relying on government funding, such as veterans, educators, or environmental groups, who are impacted by funding delays.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal/Constitutional: No binding effect under the U.S. Constitution, which requires Congress to pass appropriations for federal spending (Article I, Section 9). It reinforces the constitutional duty to fund the government but lacks enforcement mechanisms.
• Political: Highlights internal House priorities for fiscal responsibility and timely budgeting, potentially influencing negotiations or party dynamics. As a partisan or procedural statement, it could signal intent to avoid past issues like shutdowns but may face opposition if seen as limiting legislative flexibility.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
• 2025-01-07: Submitted in House
• 2025-01-07: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Providing the sense of the House of Representatives that the House should not adjourn until the annual appropriation bills within the jurisdiction of all the subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations for the current fiscal year are enacted into law. — issued 2025-01-07 — PDF (1 pages)