Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a supermajority vote of Members present and voting to subject a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to the censure or disapproval of the House, or removal from committee membership.

Bill Number: H.Res. 906
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Congress
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-11-21: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
Last Updated: 2025-12-03T09:06:31Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution aims to raise the voting threshold for certain disciplinary actions in the U.S. House of Representatives, making it harder to censure (formally reprimand), disapprove of, or remove a House member from committee assignments. The goal is to require broader consensus among House members before such measures can be taken.

Key Provisions

Amends Rule XVII of the House Rules by adding a new clause (Clause 11).
Specifies that censure, disapproval by the House, or removal from committee membership of a Member, Delegate (non-voting representative from territories like Puerto Rico or D.C.), or Resident Commissioner (non-voting representative from Puerto Rico) requires approval by at least 60% of Members voting, with a quorum (minimum number of members present to conduct business, typically 218 out of 435) present.
Applies only to resolutions proposing these actions; other House business remains under existing voting rules.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Under current House rules, disciplinary actions like censure or committee removal typically require only a simple majority (more than 50% of those voting).
This introduces a supermajority requirement (60% threshold), which is a higher bar than the previous standard, applying specifically to these three types of penalties but not to expulsion (which already requires a two-thirds vote under the U.S. Constitution).

Potential Impacts

On government agencies: Minimal direct impact, as this affects internal House procedures rather than executive or judicial branches.
On citizens: Indirectly promotes stability in congressional committees, which oversee laws affecting public policy (e.g., budgets, investigations), potentially reducing partisan disruptions but possibly making it harder to hold members accountable for misconduct.
On international relations: No direct impact, as this is an internal rule change focused on U.S. domestic legislative operations.
Overall, it could lead to fewer instances of censure or removals, fostering a more collegial House environment but risking prolonged committee tenures for controversial members.

Main Stakeholders Affected

House Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners: Directly protected by the higher threshold, making it tougher for the majority party or factions to target them.
House Committees: Benefit from greater stability in membership, as removals become rarer, potentially smoothing legislative work but hindering quick responses to ethical issues.
House Leadership and Political Parties: Both major parties (e.g., Democrats and Republicans) may find it harder to use these tools against opponents, encouraging bipartisan sponsorship (as seen with the resolution's diverse introducers).
The Public and Advocacy Groups: Could influence oversight of issues like ethics or policy, depending on whether the change is viewed as protecting accountability or shielding misconduct.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens procedural protections within House rules, which are self-governed and not subject to external judicial review unless they violate broader laws (e.g., free speech under the First Amendment). The change aligns with precedents for internal discipline but raises questions about balancing party control with minority protections.
Constitutional: Consistent with Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution, which allows each chamber of Congress to set its own rules. It does not alter constitutional expulsion rules (two-thirds vote) or broader ethics standards.
Political: Promotes bipartisanship by deterring low-threshold partisan attacks, as evidenced by the resolution's cross-party sponsors (e.g., from both Democrats and Republicans). However, it could spark debates on accountability, especially in a polarized Congress, potentially leading to challenges if perceived as entrenching power imbalances. Referred to the House Committee on Rules for further consideration, its adoption would require a House vote.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

Cosponsors (34)

Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

Recent Actions

2025-11-21: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
2025-11-21: Submitted in House
2025-11-21: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a supermajority vote of Members present and voting to subject a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to the censure or disapproval of the House, or removal from committee membership. — issued 2025-11-21 — PDF (2 pages)