Of inquiry requesting the President, and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to transmit respectively, to the House of Representatives certain documents relating to the elimination of the Administration for Community Living-.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 344
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution (H. Res. 344) aims to obtain transparency from the executive branch regarding potential changes to the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It requests documents from the President and directs the HHS Secretary to provide information on any plans or actions to eliminate, downsize, or alter the ACL's operations, ensuring Congress can oversee compliance with laws supporting vulnerable populations.
Key Provisions
- Document Requests: The President is requested, and the HHS Secretary is directed, to send unredacted copies of all relevant documents (including memos, legal opinions, meeting notes, emails, phone records, and other communications) to the House of Representatives within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.
- Specific Topics Covered:
- Proposals to eliminate the ACL entirely.
- Any staff reductions or downsizing efforts at the ACL.
- Impacts from the HHS announcement on March 27, 2025, titled "HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again," including any changes to the ACL's roles or duties.
- Dismissals of career (long-term, non-political) staff in leadership positions at the ACL.
- Assessments by the President’s office, HHS Secretary, ACL leadership, or staff on whether remaining personnel after any cuts would be adequate to carry out key laws, such as:
- The Older Americans Act of 1965 (supports services for older adults).
- The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (promotes access to devices for people with disabilities).
- The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (protects rights and provides aid for those with developmental disabilities).
- The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (ensures equal opportunities for people with disabilities in employment and services).
- Actions to end grants awarded by HHS through the ACL.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution does not amend or create new laws; it is a non-binding tool for congressional oversight. It exercises the House's constitutional authority to request information from the executive branch but does not enforce penalties for non-compliance, relying instead on political pressure or further legislative action.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could compel HHS and the ACL to disclose internal plans, potentially delaying or altering restructuring efforts. It promotes accountability but might strain executive-legislative relations if documents are withheld.
- On Citizens: Affects services for older Americans, people with disabilities, and their families by highlighting risks to programs under the ACL, such as community support, assistive technology, and rights protections. If downsizing occurs without adequate staffing, service delivery could be disrupted.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this focuses on domestic health and human services.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congress (House of Representatives): Gains access to information for oversight, particularly the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
- Executive Branch Officials: The President, HHS Secretary, ACL Administrator (or acting equivalent), and Assistant Secretary for Aging must respond.
- ACL Staff and HHS Employees: Career leaders and personnel at risk of dismissal or reduced roles.
- Beneficiaries: Older adults, individuals with developmental or other disabilities, and organizations receiving ACL grants, who rely on these programs for essential support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's oversight role under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which allows the legislative branch to investigate executive actions. However, the President's response is a request (not a mandate), testing the balance of powers if refused—potentially leading to subpoenas or court challenges.
- Political: Introduced by Democratic representatives, it signals partisan concerns over a Republican-led administration's (implied by the 2025 context) agency reforms. Could escalate debates on federal bureaucracy reduction, affecting future funding or reorganization bills for HHS and disability/aging programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-04-24: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-24: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Of inquiry requesting the President, and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to transmit respectively, to the House of Representatives certain documents relating to the elimination of the Administration for Community Living. — issued 2025-04-24 — PDF (3 pages)