Authorizing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in civil actions on behalf of the House of Representatives regarding section 213 of title II of division C of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 892
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-19: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T17:05:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 892) authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives to start or join lawsuits in federal court on behalf of the House. The goal is to challenge section 213 of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (a temporary funding law). The challenge claims this section violates the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prevents changes to congressional pay from taking effect until after a House election. Specifically, it argues that section 213 provides unusual financial awards to senators, amounting to a pay change without an election.
Key Provisions
- Authorization for Legal Action (Section 1): The Speaker can initiate or intervene in civil lawsuits (non-criminal court cases) arguing that section 213 and its changes are unconstitutional under the 27th Amendment.
- Notification Requirement (Section 2): The Speaker must inform the full House before starting or joining any lawsuit.
- Legal Representation and Costs (Section 3): The House's General Counsel (chief legal advisor) will handle the cases under the Speaker's direction. Outside lawyers or experts can be hired. Every three months, the House Administration Committee chair must publish total spending on these services in the Congressional Record (an official daily report of House proceedings).
- Ongoing Updates (Section 4): The Speaker must regularly update the House on lawsuit progress.
- Reimbursement Demand (Section 5): If a court rules section 213 unconstitutional due to House involvement, the Speaker can calculate all related House costs (like legal fees and admin expenses) and send a formal demand letter to the Senate's majority leader for full repayment from Senate funds. This letter must also be printed in the Congressional Record.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution does not amend any laws but grants specific authority to the House leadership for this one issue. It builds on the House's general power to authorize lawsuits (under House rules) by targeting a particular funding provision. No broad changes to appropriations law or constitutional processes are made; it's a targeted tool for litigation.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could lead to court scrutiny of federal funding laws, potentially delaying or altering how Congress handles temporary budgets. House legal costs would be covered by existing funds, with possible Senate repayment if successful.
- On Citizens: Minimal direct impact, as it focuses on internal congressional pay rules. Indirectly, it might influence future debates on lawmakers' compensation and government spending transparency.
- On International Relations: None apparent; this is a domestic constitutional matter.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- House of Representatives: Directly empowered to act, with costs and updates involving the full body, Speaker, General Counsel, and House Administration Committee.
- Senate and Senators: Targeted by the challenge, as section 213 provides them financial awards; they may face reimbursement demands if the provision is struck down.
- Federal Courts: Will handle any resulting lawsuits, interpreting the 27th Amendment.
- Congressional Leadership: Speaker and Senate majority leader are key figures in notifications and demands.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a process for House-led constitutional challenges to specific laws, relying on the 27th Amendment (ratified in 1992, it protects against mid-term pay hikes for Congress). Success could invalidate financial benefits for senators, setting precedent for future pay disputes.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about what counts as "varying the compensation" under the 27th Amendment—here, "defying typical legal concepts" suggests the awards are seen as improper perks rather than standard pay.
- Political: Highlights tensions between the House and Senate, potentially escalating partisan divides over funding bills. As a resolution introduced in November 2025 (119th Congress), it reflects House efforts to check Senate actions, but it requires House approval to take effect and may not bind courts. If pursued, it could strain inter-chamber cooperation on budgets.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-19: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-19: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-19: Submitted in House
- 2025-11-19: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Authorizing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in civil actions on behalf of the House of Representatives regarding section 213 of title II of division C of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026. — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (4 pages)