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

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.