[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1733-H1734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    BLOCKING RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY

  (Ms. Bonamici of Oregon was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the decision of my 
colleagues to block the House from

[[Page H1734]]

considering resolutions of inquiry, a procedure that is designed to get 
Members of Congress factual information from the executive branch.
  Education Committee Ranking Member Scott and I introduced a 
resolution of inquiry that was scheduled to be considered yesterday 
during the Committee on Education and Workforce's reconciliation 
markup.
  Unfortunately, while the markup was in recess, the Republicans 
adopted a rule that blocks resolutions of inquiry from being 
considered. It was especially frustrating because we could have debated 
the resolution yesterday morning, but apparently the majority delayed 
consideration so they could pass this language in fine print that 
blocks us from conducting important oversight of policies and programs 
that are in the committee's jurisdiction.
  Our resolution is simple. It asks the President and the Department of 
Health and Human Services to tell Congress why they plan to eliminate 
the Administration for Community Living, an agency that administers 
programs designed to support older adults and people with disabilities 
and helps them stay in their homes. The public deserves to know what 
will happen if these programs are eliminated.

  The Administration for Community Living, known as ACL, was founded 
around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all 
ages with disabilities should, whenever possible, be able to live where 
they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to 
participate fully in their communities. Bringing programs that serve 
those two populations together and sharing expertise actually made the 
programs work better and more efficiently.
  Unfortunately, at the end of March, the Trump administration 
announced a dramatic restructuring of the Department of Human Services 
that includes the elimination of the Administration for Community 
Living. Now is not the time to dismantle an agency that supports older 
adults and people with disabilities.
  More than 11,000 people turn 65 every day. In 2022, the people who 
are age 65 and older represented at least 17 percent of the U.S. 
population, and more than one in four adults experience a disability, 
including most adults over 75.
  The Administration for Community Living's programs improved the lives 
of millions of older adults and people with disabilities and also 
benefits their families and their caregivers. It is the only government 
entity that advocates across the Federal Government for these 
populations.
  Because my colleagues blocked consideration of this resolution, I 
want to take this opportunity to tell you more about what is at risk.
  Through the Older Americans Act, the Administration for Community 
Living runs senior centers and distributes more than 200 million meals 
every year to older adults and people with disabilities through the 
Meals on Wheels program.
  Seniors need access to nutritious food so they can lead healthy 
lives. It is not just the food. The person delivering the meal is often 
the only social contact the client will have that day, which is 
especially important in addressing social isolation.
  It is disheartening to see this administration advocating for 
policies that will put essential food assistance for older Americans at 
risk.
  The ACL does more than food assistance. They support paid and unpaid 
caregivers, including family caregivers and Native American caregivers. 
They study better ways to support older adults living with HIV. They 
protect seniors from abuse through the Adult Protective Services 
Program. They provide programming to reduce social isolation and 
loneliness. They support protection and advocacy programs for people 
with disabilities. They conduct research into fall prevention, chronic 
disease management, and Alzheimer's disease. They safeguard vulnerable 
adults through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, and they address 
elder justice issues like abuse, neglect, and exploitation. They 
provide legal assistance for disabled people and more.

                              {time}  1030

  These are just some of the reasons that we introduced the resolution 
of inquiry: to ask what will happen to these important programs with 
the administration's plan to eliminate ACL. We are a coequal branch of 
government, and we need this information to make prudent decisions on 
behalf of our constituents. Yet, as of yesterday, the majority blocked 
our ability to get those questions answered.
  Unfortunately, the Republican majority is also using the same shady 
tactic to take away the authority of Congress to legislate tariff 
policy, likely because Republicans know their positions are wildly 
unpopular and proper oversight would highlight these failings.
  This is yet another example of the erosion of separation of powers 
that we are seeing in this administration and this Congress.
  I have heard many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle 
talk about the importance of transparency and accountability. I hope my 
Republican colleagues live up to that and prove that by stopping the 
block on resolutions of inquiry.

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