Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the effect on local economies and communities of the Department of Government Efficiency and newly-imposed tariffs.

Bill Number

H.Res. 302

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-08: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2025-05-22T17:57:34Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution (H. Res. 302) aims to gather information from the executive branch about the economic effects on local communities from actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and recently imposed tariffs. It seeks to promote transparency and oversight by requesting specific documents to assess impacts on employment, gross domestic product (GDP), and costs of imported goods.

Key Provisions

• Request to the President: The President is requested to provide copies of any relevant documents, records, audio recordings, memos, call logs, correspondence, agreements, reports, studies, or communications in their possession.
• Directions to Cabinet Secretaries: The Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor are directed to transmit the same types of materials they possess.
• Timeline: All materials must be sent to the House of Representatives within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.
• Scope of Requested Information:
• Reductions in local, regional, or state GDP due to mass layoffs of federal workers (e.g., IRS employees and Social Security office staff) and lease terminations recommended by DOGE.
• Increases in unemployment rates, duration of unemployment, total claims, and effects on federal unemployment insurance performance in communities hit by reductions in force (RIFs), probationary employee terminations, or large federal contract cancellations since January 20, 2025—broken down by state, region, or locality.
• Projected increases in costs for imported goods affected by tariffs on Canada, Mexico, or other countries since January 20, 2025, analyzed at national, state, regional, or local levels.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a House resolution of inquiry, which does not amend or create new laws. It operates under Congress's constitutional oversight authority to request information from the executive branch but is non-binding on the President (as a "request") and directive only for the specified secretaries. It introduces no statutory changes but could influence future legislative or budgetary actions based on the information received.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: May increase administrative burden on the Treasury and Labor Departments to compile and review documents; could lead to enhanced congressional scrutiny of DOGE's efficiency initiatives and tariff policies.
• On Citizens and Communities: Provides data that could highlight economic hardships from federal layoffs or higher import costs, potentially informing relief measures for affected workers, businesses, and regions (e.g., areas reliant on federal jobs or cross-border trade).
• On International Relations: By focusing on tariffs' effects, it could spotlight tensions with trading partners like Canada and Mexico, possibly affecting ongoing trade negotiations or diplomatic efforts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Congress (House of Representatives): Primary beneficiary, gaining access to data for oversight and potential legislation.
• Executive Branch Officials: The President, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of Labor, who must respond to the inquiry.
• Federal Workers and Agencies: Employees at IRS, Social Security offices, and others impacted by DOGE-recommended layoffs or contract terminations.
• Local Economies and Communities: States, regions, and localities experiencing unemployment spikes or GDP declines from federal actions and tariffs.
• Businesses and Consumers: Importers, retailers, and households facing higher costs for tariff-affected goods.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal/Constitutional: Relies on Congress's implied power under Article I to investigate executive actions for legislative purposes; however, the President's response is voluntary, potentially raising issues of executive privilege if sensitive materials are withheld. The directive to secretaries could test separation of powers if challenged.
• Political: Introduced by a bipartisan group of Democrats, it signals partisan oversight of Trump administration policies (e.g., DOGE and tariffs post-January 20, 2025). Could fuel debates on government efficiency versus economic stability, influencing midterm elections or budget fights, but risks escalating executive-congressional tensions without guaranteed compliance.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-08: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-04-08: Submitted in House
• 2025-04-08: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the effect on local economies and communities of the Department of Government Efficiency and newly-imposed tariffs. — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (3 pages)