Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the effect on taxpayer and child privacy of the seizure by the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" of legally-protected identity and financial data stored in the National Directory of New Hires and the Federal Parent Locator Service.

Bill Number

H.Res. 314

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2025-05-22T18:23:31Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 314) aims to investigate potential privacy violations by requesting documents from the President and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide information on the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE)'s access to sensitive personal and financial data stored in federal databases. It focuses on protecting taxpayer and child privacy by examining unauthorized or improper seizures of legally protected information.

Key Provisions

• Document Transmission Request: The President is requested, and the HHS Secretary is directed, to send copies of relevant documents, records, communications, and logs to the House of Representatives within 14 days of the resolution's adoption, if such items are in their possession.
• Scope of Documents: The resolution specifies six categories of materials related to DOGE's activities:
• Requests and authorizations for DOGE to access protected worker information in the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH), governed by the Social Security Act (section 453) and Internal Revenue Code (section 6103).
• Locations and security measures for any copies of NDNH data made by DOGE.
• Legal opinions or internal discussions on accessing NDNH data without proper legal basis, such as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that limits access, requires training, background checks, or specifies authorized purposes.
• Requests by DOGE for confidential financial or personal data on over 40 million Americans, including data in the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), which helps locate parents for child support payments.
• Staff changes (terminations, retirements, or resignations) at HHS involving employees responsible for FPLS or NDNH after DOGE's initial data requests.
• Attempts by DOGE to access information under Social Security Act section 453(a)(2), which covers child support enforcement data.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws. It is a non-binding investigative tool (a "resolution of inquiry") used by Congress to gather information from the executive branch, without enacting new rules or amending statutes.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Could increase scrutiny and accountability for HHS and DOGE, potentially leading to enhanced data security protocols or internal reviews. It may also prompt HHS to reassess staff retention and training related to sensitive databases.
• On Citizens: Aims to safeguard privacy for millions of Americans by highlighting risks to personal financial data and child support information; revelations could result in stronger protections against unauthorized access.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the resolution focuses on domestic data privacy and federal operations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Congress (House of Representatives): Gains access to documents for oversight, particularly the Committee on Ways and Means, to which the resolution was referred.
• Executive Branch Officials: The President, HHS Secretary, and DOGE employees, who must respond to the request or directive.
• Federal Agencies: HHS (managing NDNH and FPLS) and DOGE (a proposed efficiency initiative), facing potential exposure of operational practices.
• Citizens: Over 40 million Americans whose personal, financial, and child-related data is stored in NDNH and FPLS, including workers, parents, and children involved in support enforcement.
• Sponsors and Co-Sponsors: Democratic House members (e.g., Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Neal), who introduced the resolution to address privacy concerns.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes protections under the Social Security Act and Internal Revenue Code, which restrict access to sensitive data to specific purposes like child support enforcement. Unauthorized access could raise violations of privacy laws, potentially leading to legal challenges or audits.
• Constitutional: Invokes Congress's oversight authority under Article I (legislative power) and the separation of powers, as it requests information from the executive branch without coercive enforcement (the President's response is voluntary, but HHS's is directed).
• Political: Represents partisan oversight of a Trump-era initiative (DOGE, associated with efficiency reforms), potentially fueling debates on government transparency, data privacy, and executive accountability. It could escalate tensions between Congress and the administration if documents reveal improper data handling.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

Cosponsors (18)

Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-04-09: Submitted in House
• 2025-04-09: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the effect on taxpayer and child privacy of the seizure by the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" of legally-protected identity and financial data stored in the National Directory of New Hires and the Federal Parent Locator Service. — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (3 pages)