Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 36
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- Last Updated
- 2025-02-07T01:24:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution, titled the "Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution," aims to create a temporary committee in the U.S. House of Representatives focused on identifying and recommending changes to federal programs that are underperforming or no longer essential. The goal is to promote efficiency and reduce unnecessary government spending by studying and proposing eliminations or modifications.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Committee: Adds a new standing committee called the "Committee on the Elimination of Nonessential Federal Programs" to the House Rules (Rule X). The committee will exist only until the end of the 120th Congress (approximately four years from its potential creation).
- Duties of the Committee:
- Research, review, and study federal programs to determine which are underperforming or nonessential.
- Develop recommendations for the House to modify or eliminate such programs.
- Submit at least one annual report to the House, including findings, conclusions, and a list of targeted programs.
- Propose legislation to eliminate identified programs and suggest rescissions (cancellations) of related funding.
- Composition:
- 17 members total: Four from each of the House Committees on Appropriations, Budget, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means (with two from the minority party per committee).
- One additional member appointed by the Speaker as Chair (not from the above committees).
- One additional member appointed by the Minority Leader as Vice Chair (not from the above committees).
- The Chair and Vice Chair must be from different political parties to ensure bipartisanship.
- Expedited Procedures for Legislation:
- Bills or resolutions from the committee become "highly privileged" (meaning they get priority consideration) after a 7-day waiting period (excluding non-session days).
- Debate is limited to 10 hours, split equally between supporters and opponents; no motions to extend or further limit debate.
- No amendments, motions to recommit (send back to committee), or reconsiderations are allowed, streamlining the process.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Rule X of the House Rules by inserting a new paragraph for the committee's jurisdiction (focusing on program elimination), adding its specific duties, expanding membership rules, and creating a new clause (12) for expedited handling of its proposals.
- This introduces a novel, time-limited committee not previously in House rules, shifting from standard legislative processes to faster tracks for fiscal reforms. It redesignates existing paragraphs in Rule X to accommodate the addition.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could result in reviews and potential cuts to various federal programs, leading to reduced funding, program closures, or restructurings that affect agency operations and priorities.
- On Citizens: Beneficiaries of reviewed programs (e.g., in education, health, or social services) might face disruptions or losses of services, while taxpayers could see savings through eliminated spending. Broader economic effects might include job changes in affected sectors.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, unless programs involving foreign aid or international cooperation are targeted for elimination, potentially altering U.S. commitments abroad.
- Overall, it promotes fiscal restraint but risks hasty decisions due to limited debate.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- House of Representatives: Members, especially those on the specified committees, who will staff and influence the new committee.
- Federal Agencies and Programs: Entities under review, such as those funded through appropriations, facing potential scrutiny and cuts.
- Citizens and Interest Groups: Taxpayers seeking spending reductions; advocacy groups, workers, and recipients of federal programs that could be deemed nonessential.
- Political Parties: Majority and minority leaders, who appoint key roles, potentially using the committee for partisan fiscal agendas.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Operates within the House's constitutional authority (Article I, Section 5) to set its own rules, but the expedited procedures limit standard democratic deliberation (e.g., no amendments), which could face challenges if seen as bypassing oversight.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's power of the purse (control over spending), aligning with fiscal responsibility mandates, but raises questions about balanced representation due to the committee's temporary and partisan appointment structure.
- Political: Signals a push for government downsizing, likely appealing to fiscal conservatives; however, the lack of amendments and short debate window could spark controversy over reduced input from opponents, potentially polarizing debates on program value and efficiency. The committee's sunset provision limits long-term entrenchment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- 2025-01-13: Submitted in House
- 2025-01-13: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution — issued 2025-01-13 — PDF (5 pages)