[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 507 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 507

  Affirming the validity of subpoenas duly issued and investigations 
 undertaken by any standing or permanent select committee of the House 
      of Representatives pursuant to authorities delegated by the 
      Constitution and the Rules of the House of Representatives.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 23, 2019

 Mr. Raskin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                         the Committee on Rules

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Affirming the validity of subpoenas duly issued and investigations 
 undertaken by any standing or permanent select committee of the House 
      of Representatives pursuant to authorities delegated by the 
      Constitution and the Rules of the House of Representatives.

Whereas Congress' power to conduct oversight and investigations is firmly rooted 
        in its legislative authority under Article I of the Constitution, which 
        commits to the House of Representatives alone the authority to establish 
        its rules governing the procedures and methods for the conduct of 
        oversight and investigations, as well as to determine the powers that it 
        delegates to its various committees;
Whereas those powers delegated to the committees include the power to conduct 
        oversight into and to investigate, pursuant to the legitimate 
        legislative purposes of the respective committees, matters involving, 
        referring, or related, directly or indirectly, to the persons, entities, 
        and organizations specified in this resolution;
Whereas committees of the House, pursuant to the authority delegated by clause 
        2(m) of rule XI and clause 11(d) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives, have undertaken investigations and issued related 
        subpoenas seeking personal, financial, banking, and tax information 
        related to the President, his immediate family, and his business 
        entities and organizations, among others;
Whereas the validity of some of these investigations and subpoenas has been 
        incorrectly challenged in Federal court on the grounds that the 
        investigations and subpoenas were not authorized by the full House and 
        lacked a ``clear statement'' of intent to include the President, which 
        the President's personal attorneys have argued in Federal court is 
        necessary before the committees may seek information related to the 
        President; and
Whereas while these arguments are plainly incorrect as a matter of law, it is 
        nevertheless in the interest of the institution of the House of 
        Representatives to avoid any doubt on this matter and to unequivocally 
        reject these challenges presented in ongoing or future litigation: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives ratifies and affirms 
all current and future investigations, as well as all subpoenas 
previously issued or to be issued in the future, by any standing or 
permanent select committee of the House, pursuant to its jurisdiction 
as established by the Constitution of the United States and rules X and 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, concerning or issued 
directly or indirectly to--
            (1) the President in his personal or official capacity;
            (2) his immediate family, business entities, or 
        organizations;
            (3) the Office of the President;
            (4) the Executive Office of the President;
            (5) the White House;
            (6) any entity within the White House;
            (7) any individual currently or formerly employed by or 
        associated with the White House;
            (8) any Federal or State governmental entity or current or 
        former employee or officer thereof seeking information 
        involving, referring, or related to any individual or entity 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (7); or
            (9) any third party seeking information involving, 
        referring, or related to any individual or entity described in 
        paragraphs (1) through (7).
                                 <all>