[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 185 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 185

 Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should issue, and 
    Congress should hold hearings on, a report and a certification 
    regarding the responsibilities, authorities, and powers of his 
                               ``czars''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 15, 2009

Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Mrs. Lummis, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Smith 
  of New Jersey, Mr. Coble, Mr. Stearns, Ms. Fallin, Mr. Schock, Mrs. 
 Schmidt, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Inglis, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Rehberg, Mr. 
 Tiahrt, Mr. Wamp, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Pence, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. 
 Price of Georgia, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mr. Campbell, 
Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Scalise, 
     Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. 
Whitfield, Mr. Paul, Mr. Aderholt, Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Olson, Mr. Cassidy, 
   Mr. Boustany, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Rooney, Mr. Souder, Mr. 
Marchant, Mr. Bishop of Utah, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mrs. 
  Miller of Michigan, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Duncan, Mr. 
 Cole, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Coffman of Colorado, Mr. Latta, 
 Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Terry, Mr. Jordan of Ohio, Mr. Heller, 
 Mr. McCarthy of California, Mr. Platts, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, 
  Mr. Gary G. Miller of California, Ms. Granger, Mr. Hensarling, Mr. 
  LoBiondo, Mr. Nunes, Mrs. Emerson, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Austria, 
 Mrs. Bachmann, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mr. Upton, Mr. 
    Sullivan, Mr. Walden, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Shadegg, Mr. Carter, Mr. 
  Thornberry, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Linder, Mr. Pitts, Mr. 
Lamborn, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Akin, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Kingston, Mr. 
 McClintock, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Young of Florida, 
   Mr. Bonner, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Davis of Kentucky) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                    Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should issue, and 
    Congress should hold hearings on, a report and a certification 
    regarding the responsibilities, authorities, and powers of his 
                               ``czars''.

Whereas Congress recognizes that the Constitution vests in the executive branch 
        the power to appoint Presidential advisers whose communications to the 
        President are protected under executive privilege;
Whereas Congress recognizes the importance of coordinating executive agencies, 
        and recognizes that Presidents often appoint special assistants, 
        commonly referred to as ``czars'', to manage this coordination with 
        regard to important areas of national policy, and to advise the 
        President;
Whereas at least 36 czars have been appointed in 2009, raising concerns about 
        the Federal government's provision of adequate transparency and 
        accountability to the public; and
Whereas members of Congress are concerned that the appointment of these czars 
        and their actions may subvert the legislative and oversight authority of 
        Congress under article I of the Constitution: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the President should--
                    (A) issue a report to Congress clearly outlining 
                the responsibilities, qualifications, and authorities 
                of the special assistants to the President, commonly 
                referred to as ``czars'', that he has appointed; and
                    (B) certify to Congress that such czars have not 
                asserted and will not in the future assert any powers 
                other than those granted by statute to a commissioned 
                officer on the President's staff; and
            (2) Congress should hold hearings on such report and such 
        certification within 30 days after the date of their receipt.
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