Congress Desk
Congress Bills
41 bills in the Congress desk, ordered for current relevance and readability.
CongressHJRES-5-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20252 readersIn Committee
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms an individual may serve as a Member of Congress.
Sponsored by Brian Fitzpatrick
The Constitution currently contains no limit on the number of terms a member of Congress may serve. Members of the House of Representatives and Senate can run for reelection indefinitely, allowing some lawmakers to serve for decades. This has led to calls from reform advocates who argue that term limits would reduce incumbent advantage, increase turnover, and create opportunities for new candidates. Opponents contend that term limits would diminish legislative experience and empower unelected staff and lobbyists. This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit House members to six consecutive two-year terms (12 years total) and Senators to two consecutive six-year terms (12 years total). The amendment defines service of more than one year in any House term or more than three years in any Senate term as a complete term for purposes of the limit. Congress must approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority in both chambers before it goes to the states for ratification. The amendment would require approval by legislatures in three-fourths of the states within seven years to become part of the Constitution. If ratified, the amendment would take effect immediately but would not apply to anyone who served in Congress before the 118th Congress (which began in January 2023), grandfathering in current and former members. Beginning with the 2026 midterm elections and beyond, affected members would become ineligible to run for reelection once they reach their term limits. The change would fundamentally alter congressional composition by forcing regular turnover and preventing long-serving incumbents from remaining in office. State legislatures, not voters, would control the ratification process, making passage dependent on state-level political dynamics rather than direct public vote.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congress
CongressHCONRES-2-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20252 readersIn Committee
Reclaiming Congress’s Constitutional Mandate in Trade Resolution
Sponsored by H. Griffith
Under the Constitution's Article I, Section 8, Congress holds the power to regulate foreign commerce and set tariffs. Historically, however, the President has delegated significant trade authority to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), an executive branch agency established in 1974. This arrangement has allowed the executive branch to lead trade negotiations, implement trade agreements, and manage trade disputes with other nations—functions that some argue have drifted from Congress's constitutional role as the primary architect of trade policy. This concurrent resolution establishes a Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Trade Responsibilities, composed of nine House members and five Senators, to develop a plan for transferring USTR's functions and responsibilities to the legislative branch. The committee must consult with a Congressional Advisory Board on Trade Responsibilities, which includes experts on constitutional trade authority and representatives from labor, agriculture, industry, and consumer groups. The Joint Ad Hoc Committee has 16 months from full appointment to submit its transfer plan to Congress, with the actual transfer to occur no earlier than four years after the plan's submission or July 1, 2028, whichever is later. The committee will operate for up to two years, funded through House and Senate accounts, with authority to hire staff, subpoena witnesses, and gather documents. The Congressional Advisory Board, composed of 21 members appointed by congressional leaders and the USTR, will advise the committee but cannot hire its own staff. Both bodies terminate one year after the committee submits its report. The USTR and other executive agencies must provide information and assistance as requested. This resolution does not immediately transfer any functions; it creates a planning mechanism to study how such a transfer might occur and what legislative structures would be necessary to assume trade responsibilities currently held by the executive branch.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Submitted in House
Congress
CongressHJRES-7-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20252 readersIn Committee
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a fiscal year unless both Houses of Congress have agreed to a concurrent resolution on the budget for that fiscal year prior to the beginning of that fiscal year.
Sponsored by Brian Fitzpatrick
Congress currently operates without a constitutional requirement to adopt a budget before the fiscal year begins. Members receive their salaries regardless of whether the House and Senate have agreed on a concurrent budget resolution—a nonbinding blueprint that outlines spending priorities and revenue estimates. In practice, budget resolutions are often delayed or not completed until months into the fiscal year, or sometimes not adopted at all. This disconnect means Congress can function and pay its members even when no formal agreement exists on the government's overall fiscal direction, which some argue removes incentive to complete budgeting work on schedule. This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during any fiscal year unless both the House and Senate have agreed to an identical concurrent resolution on the budget before that fiscal year begins. The amendment would apply only to fiscal years beginning after the amendment is ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures. The mechanism is straightforward: no budget agreement by October 1 means no paychecks for representatives and senators until one is reached. This creates a direct financial consequence tied to completing the budget resolution process, theoretically incentivizing timely action. If ratified, the amendment would take effect for the first fiscal year beginning after state ratification is complete. There is no funding mechanism because the provision operates through withholding existing compensation rather than appropriating new money. The downstream effect would be substantial: members would face immediate personal financial pressure to reach budget agreement before each fiscal year starts. This could accelerate negotiations and reduce delays in the budget resolution process, though it might also create pressure to adopt resolutions hastily without adequate deliberation. The amendment requires no action by federal agencies—it is self-executing once ratified.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congress
CongressHR-157-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20252 readersIn Committee
CLEAN Congress Act
Sponsored by Brian Fitzpatrick
Congress currently operates under rules that allow multiple unrelated subjects to be bundled into a single bill or joint resolution sent to the President. This practice, known as "omnibus" or "logrolling," enables lawmakers to attach provisions on disparate topics—such as defense spending, environmental regulations, and tax policy—into one legislative package. Additionally, federal law contains numerous provisions that exempt Members of Congress and their staff from requirements that apply to other Americans, including workplace safety rules, labor standards, and certain financial disclosure obligations. These exemptions have accumulated over decades through various statutes. The CLEAN Congress Act prohibits Congress from presenting any bill, joint resolution, or other measure to the President that addresses more than one subject. The legislation requires that each bill embrace a single, clearly identifiable subject and that the title of the measure accurately describe that subject. Simultaneously, the bill eliminates all federal law provisions that grant exceptions to Members of Congress or congressional staff from laws applicable to the general public. The measure carves out a narrow exception: it does not eliminate rules permitting Members and employees to perform official duties tied directly to lawmaking, such as accessing the Capitol building and congressional facilities. The prohibition on multi-subject bills takes effect immediately for the 119th Congress and all subsequent Congresses, meaning any measure presented to the President must satisfy the single-subject requirement or face potential constitutional challenge. The bill contains no new funding mechanism, as it operates through legislative procedure rather than appropriations. The elimination of congressional exemptions from federal law takes effect upon enactment, though the narrow carve-out for official duties preserves access and operational necessities. The practical effect would reshape how Congress structures legislation, potentially requiring separate votes on distinct policy areas and subjecting Members to the same legal obligations as other federal employees and citizens.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congress
CongressSRES-3-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersAdopted
A resolution to elect Charles E. Grassley, a Senator from the State of Iowa, to be President pro tempore of the Senate of the United States.
Sponsored by John Thune
The President pro tempore of the Senate is the second-highest-ranking officer in the legislative branch, serving as the Senate's presiding officer when the Vice President is absent. This position has existed since the founding of the Senate and is filled through a formal resolution voted on by all senators. The role carries significant ceremonial and procedural authority, including the ability to recognize senators seeking to speak and to break ties on procedural matters. Traditionally, the position goes to the longest-serving member of the majority party, though the Senate retains the constitutional power to elect any sitting senator to the office. This resolution directs the Senate to elect Charles E. Grassley, a Republican senator from Iowa, as President pro tempore of the Senate. The election occurs through a simple majority vote on the resolution itself. Grassley, first elected to the Senate in 1980, is the longest-serving Republican senator at the time of this resolution's passage in January 2025. The resolution formalizes the Senate's choice through the constitutional process outlined in Article I of the Constitution, which grants the Senate the power to elect its own officers. The resolution takes effect immediately upon passage and agreement by the Senate. No additional funding or implementation timeline is required, as the position and its duties are already established under Senate rules and constitutional authority. Grassley assumes the title and responsibilities of President pro tempore, which include presiding over Senate sessions, maintaining order during debates, and serving in the presidential line of succession. The election does not affect existing Senate operations, committee assignments, or legislative procedures, though it does formally establish the Senate's leadership structure for the 119th Congress.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Congress
CongressSRES-4-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersAdopted
A resolution notifying the President of the United States of the election of a President pro tempore.
Sponsored by John Thune
The Constitution designates the Vice President as President of the Senate, but the Senate has long established the position of President pro tempore to preside over the chamber when the Vice President is absent. This role, traditionally held by the majority party's most senior member, carries ceremonial and procedural responsibilities. Senate rules require formal notification to the President whenever a new President pro tempore takes office, establishing an official record of the succession line and ensuring clarity about who holds this constitutional backup position. This resolution directs the Senate to notify the President of the United States that Charles E. Grassley has been elected President pro tempore of the Senate. The election occurred during the organizational proceedings of the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025. This formal notification fulfills a constitutional and procedural requirement, confirming Grassley's assumption of the role and establishing the official record of Senate leadership for the new Congress. The notification takes effect immediately upon passage of the resolution. No funding is required, as this is a routine administrative communication between chambers of Congress. The President pro tempore position carries no direct budgetary implications but establishes the line of succession should the Vice President become unable to perform Senate duties. This resolution is a standard procedural measure adopted at the beginning of each new Congress when Senate leadership changes.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Congress
CongressHJRES-4-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersIn Committee
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that debate upon legislation pending before the Senate may not be brought to a close without the concurrence of a minimum of three-fifths of the Senators.
Sponsored by Brian Fitzpatrick
The Senate currently operates under a filibuster rule that allows any senator to extend debate indefinitely on most legislation. Under current Senate rules, debate can be ended through a process called cloture, which requires 60 votes—a three-fifths supermajority of senators present and voting. This threshold has been in place since 1975, though it was modified in 2013 and 2017 to exclude most presidential nominations and judicial appointments. The filibuster has long been a tool for senators in the minority to block or delay legislation they oppose, and the 60-vote cloture requirement means that legislation typically needs bipartisan support to advance. This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would constitutionalize the current 60-vote cloture threshold for Senate legislation. Congress would need to pass this resolution by a two-thirds supermajority in both the House and Senate, then the amendment would go to the states for ratification. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, the amendment would embed the three-fifths voting requirement directly into the Constitution itself, explicitly excluding presidential nominations from this rule. This would prevent future Senates from changing the cloture threshold through ordinary rules changes, as they have done in the past. Implementation would occur only upon ratification by 38 states. Once ratified, the constitutional amendment would lock the 60-vote threshold into the nation's fundamental law, making any future change to Senate debate rules require another constitutional amendment rather than a simple rules change. This would effectively entrench the current filibuster structure and prevent either party from unilaterally lowering the threshold to a simple majority, as has been proposed or attempted in recent years. The amendment contains no sunset provision and would remain in effect indefinitely unless superseded by a subsequent constitutional amendment.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congress
CongressSRES-6-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersAdopted
A resolution expressing the thanks of the Senate to the Honorable Patty Murray for her service as President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate and to designate Senator Murray as President Pro Tempore Emerita of the United States Senate.
Sponsored by Charles Schumer
The President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate is a constitutional officer who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. Traditionally, this role goes to the longest-serving senator of the majority party. Senator Patty Murray of Washington served as President Pro Tempore during the 118th Congress, when Democrats held the Senate majority. The position carries significant ceremonial and procedural responsibilities, including maintaining order during Senate proceedings and representing the chamber at official functions. Upon the change of congressional sessions or party control, the role typically transitions to a new senator. This resolution directs the Senate to formally express gratitude to Senator Murray for her service as President Pro Tempore and establishes a new honorary title: President Pro Tempore Emerita. The designation recognizes her tenure in the role and honors her contributions to the Senate's operations. The resolution does not create new powers, duties, or statutory authority; rather, it is a ceremonial measure that acknowledges her service through an emeritus designation—a practice used to honor former officeholders who have completed significant roles. The resolution takes effect immediately upon passage and agreement by the Senate. No funding is required, as this is a ceremonial designation without programmatic or budgetary implications. The emerita title carries no official duties or compensation but serves as a formal recognition within Senate protocol and records. This type of resolution does not affect existing Senate operations, other legislative programs, or external agencies. It is a symbolic gesture that becomes part of the Senate's historical record and may influence how Senator Murray is addressed or recognized in future Senate proceedings and official communications.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Congress
CongressSRES-7-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersAdopted
A resolution fixing the hour of daily meeting of the Senate.
Sponsored by John Thune
The Senate operates under standing rules that establish when daily sessions begin. Historically, the chamber has adjusted its meeting time through resolutions adopted at the start of each Congress, allowing flexibility in scheduling based on the needs and preferences of Senate leadership. The current practice requires a formal resolution to set the daily convening hour, which then remains in effect unless the Senate votes to change it or passes a new resolution in a subsequent Congress. This resolution directs the Senate to establish 12 o'clock noon as the fixed hour for daily meetings, effective immediately upon adoption. The change applies to all regular Senate sessions unless the chamber votes to suspend or modify the schedule on a particular day. Senate leadership retains the authority to call special sessions at different times or to adjourn early as circumstances warrant, but the default start time becomes midday rather than any earlier hour. The resolution takes effect upon passage and requires no funding or implementation by external agencies. The change affects only the Senate's internal operations and does not alter House procedures, committee schedules, or other legislative processes. Senators and staff will adjust their daily routines to accommodate the noon start time, which may shift when floor votes occur, when committee meetings can be scheduled, and when legislative business concludes each day. The resolution remains in force for the duration of the 119th Congress unless superseded by a subsequent resolution.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Congress
CongressSRES-8-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersAdopted
A resolution electing Jackie Barber as Secretary of the Senate.
Sponsored by John Thune
The Secretary of the Senate is a constitutional officer elected by the full Senate to serve as the chamber's chief administrative and record-keeping official. The position, established under the Senate's internal governance rules, oversees legislative records, manages Senate operations, and serves as custodian of the Senate seal. The Secretary also certifies legislation, maintains official documents, and performs ceremonial duties on behalf of the chamber. This election occurs at the start of each new Congress, typically during the opening session when senators take their oaths of office. This resolution elects Jackie Barber of South Dakota as Secretary of the Senate, effective January 3rd, 2025. The Senate, through this formal resolution, designates Barber to assume the duties and responsibilities of the office for the 119th Congress. The election requires a majority vote of senators present and voting. Once adopted, the resolution makes Barber the official Secretary, granting her authority to execute all functions associated with the position, including legislative certification, record management, and administrative oversight of Senate operations. Barber assumes office immediately upon passage of the resolution on January 3rd, 2025, the opening day of the 119th Congress. As Secretary, she will oversee the Senate's legislative documentation, manage the chamber's official records and archives, and coordinate with the Clerk of the House and other federal agencies on matters requiring inter-chamber coordination. The position carries no separate appropriation; the Secretary's salary and office operations are funded through the Senate's existing administrative budget. Barber's election does not alter existing Senate procedures, legislative authority, or the powers of individual senators—it simply fills the elected administrative office for the new Congress.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Congress
CongressHRES-11-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersIn Committee
Fair Representation Amendment
Sponsored by Warren Davidson
Federal agencies currently exercise significant discretion when implementing laws passed by Congress. Statutes often contain broad language, general standards, or delegated authority that allows executive officials to interpret legislative intent and apply rules flexibly across different circumstances. This discretion enables agencies to adapt policies to changing conditions and individual cases, but it also means that the same law can be applied differently depending on which administration is in power or how agency officials interpret ambiguous statutory language. This resolution directs 16 House committees—covering agriculture, armed services, energy, education, financial services, foreign affairs, judiciary, natural resources, oversight, science, small business, transportation, veterans affairs, taxes, and intelligence—to review all laws within their jurisdiction and identify provisions that grant excessive discretion to executive agencies. Within six months of the resolution's adoption, each committee must submit proposed legislative changes to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that would constrain or eliminate that discretion. The changes should make agency authority more specific, narrow, or rule-bound rather than allowing officials to exercise judgment in applying the law. Once all 16 committees submit their recommendations, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform must immediately draft comprehensive legislation incorporating all proposed changes without substantive revision and report it to the full House under the title "Article One Restoration Act." The resolution does not specify funding requirements or implementation timelines beyond the initial six-month review period. The resulting legislation would likely increase specificity in federal statutes, potentially limiting agencies' ability to adapt policies through regulation or guidance, and could require Congress to revisit and rewrite numerous existing laws to reduce executive flexibility.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Submitted in House
Congress
CongressSRES-9-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersAdopted
A resolution notifying the President of the United States of the election of a Secretary of the Senate.
Sponsored by John Thune
The Secretary of the Senate is a constitutional officer elected by the full Senate to serve as the chamber's chief administrative official. This position, established under the Senate's internal governance rules, oversees Senate operations, maintains official records, manages the chamber's budget and staff, and serves as custodian of the Senate seal. The Secretary is elected at the beginning of each new Congress, typically during the opening session when senators are sworn in and organizational matters are addressed. This resolution directs the Senate to formally notify the President of the United States that the Honorable Jackie Barber has been elected to serve as Secretary of the Senate. The notification requirement is a constitutional courtesy—it informs the executive branch of the Senate's internal leadership structure. The resolution itself contains no substantive policy changes, funding allocations, or amendments to existing law; it is a procedural measure that documents the Senate's organizational action. Once agreed to by the Senate, this resolution is transmitted to the President's office as official notice of the election. The Secretary of the Senate assumes office immediately upon election and begins performing administrative duties, including oversight of Senate staff, records management, and budget execution. This is a routine organizational step taken at the start of each Congress and carries no direct downstream effects on federal programs, appropriations, or external policy.
Congress
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Congress