Providing for the expulsion of Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick from the United States House of Representatives.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 901
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-14T16:02:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution (H. Res. 901) aims to expel Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick from the U.S. House of Representatives due to federal criminal charges alleging she stole and misused over $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funds for her 2021 congressional campaign. It invokes the House's constitutional authority to remove a member for conduct that undermines public trust.
Key Provisions
- Background Allegations: Details a federal indictment from November 19, 2025, in the Southern District of Florida, charging Cherfilus-McCormick with felonies including theft of government funds, wire fraud (using electronic communications for deceptive schemes), money laundering (hiding the illegal source of funds through transactions), unlawful campaign contributions, and false tax filings.
- Specific Misconduct Described:
- Her family-owned company, Trinity Health Care Services, received an overpayment of about $5 million in FEMA funds for COVID-19 vaccination services in 2021.
- She and co-defendants allegedly conspired to keep the overpayment, divert it for personal benefit, and launder it to fund her campaign via personal loans and "straw donor" schemes (routing money through others to bypass campaign finance limits).
- Potential prison sentence of up to 53 years if convicted on all counts.
- Ongoing Ethics Probe: Notes a separate House Ethics Committee investigation into her 2022 campaigns for possible violations of campaign finance laws, failure to disclose financial information, and improper use of unpaid volunteers for official work.
- Broader Context: Emphasizes the betrayal of taxpayer-funded disaster relief meant for emergencies, her duty under House rules to uphold integrity, and past social media statements by her affirming "no one is above the law."
- Expulsion Clause: Directly resolves to expel her under Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which allows the House to remove a member by a two-thirds vote.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution does not amend or create new laws; it is a specific disciplinary action under the Constitution and House rules. It relies on existing federal criminal statutes (e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 for theft, 1956 for money laundering) and House Rule XXIII (requiring ethical conduct) without introducing alterations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could prompt stricter oversight by FEMA and the Department of Justice on fund distribution to contractors, especially those linked to public officials, to prevent similar diversions.
- On Citizens: May erode public trust in Congress if perceived as politicized, but could also reinforce accountability for elected officials. Her expulsion would trigger a special election in Florida's 20th Congressional District, affecting representation for constituents.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic ethics and criminal matter.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick: Directly faces removal from office, loss of salary/benefits, and ongoing legal proceedings.
- Constituents in Florida's 20th District: Loss of their elected representative, requiring a special election to fill the vacancy.
- U.S. House of Representatives: The full House votes on expulsion; passage would set a precedent for handling indicted members.
- Department of Justice and FEMA: Their indictment and fund management are central, potentially influencing future enforcement and audits.
- Taxpayers and Disaster Victims: Indirectly affected, as the allegations involve misuse of relief funds intended for public health crises like COVID-19.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Expulsion occurs alongside a pending indictment and ethics probe; conviction is not required, but the House can act independently. This highlights tensions between criminal trials (presumption of innocence) and legislative discipline.
- Constitutional: Relies on the expulsion clause (Article I, Section 5, Clause 2), a rarely used power (only 21 expulsions in House history, mostly for treason or corruption). It underscores Congress's self-governing authority without judicial oversight.
- Political: Could intensify debates on ethics enforcement in a divided Congress, potentially viewed as a response to maintain institutional credibility amid scandals. The resolution was referred to the House Ethics Committee, suggesting it may not proceed immediately without further review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- 2025-11-20: Submitted in House
- 2025-11-20: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Providing for the expulsion of Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick from the United States House of Representatives. — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (4 pages)