H.Res. 173House115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Congress

Providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:31 PM UTC

H.Res. 173 sets the budget for each House committee for the 115th Congress. It caps how much each committee can spend in total and divides that amount between the first and second year of the Congress. The resolution also creates a small reserve fund for unexpected costs and gives the Committee on House Administration authority to oversee payments and make adjustments.

Key Provisions

Specifies a total expense limit for each committee for the full two‑year Congress (e.g., Energy and Commerce gets $20.5 million, Ways and Means $17.9 million).
Divides each committee’s total limit into separate caps for the first session (Jan 3 2017‑Jan 3 2018) and the second session (Jan 3 2018‑Jan 3 2019).
Requires committee chairs or ranking minority members to testify before the Committee on House Administration about first‑session spending before March 15 2018, unless waived.
Creates a $2.5 million reserve fund for unanticipated expenses, split evenly between the two sessions, to be allocated by the Committee on House Administration.
Mandates that payments be made on vouchers signed by the committee chair and approved according to House Administration rules.
Allows the Committee on House Administration to adjust committee allocations if required by presidential budget orders or changes in appropriations.

Legislative Activity

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10 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 17, 2017 • 9:14 AM

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 7, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

March 7, 2017

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Committee on House Administration

March 8, 2017

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 115-38.

Committee on House Administration

March 15, 2017

HouseCalendars

Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 20.

March 15, 2017

HouseFloor

Considered as privileged matter. (consideration: CR H2154-2155)

March 17, 2017 • 9:10 AM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 173.

March 17, 2017 • 9:11 AM

HouseFloor

The previous question was ordered without objection.

March 17, 2017 • 9:14 AM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H2154-2155)

March 17, 2017 • 9:14 AM

HouseFloor

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H2154-2155)

March 17, 2017 • 9:14 AM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 17, 2017 • 9:14 AM

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.Res. 173 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. Gregg HarperR-MS-3 · Mar 17, 2017

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on House Administration, I call up House Resolution 173 and ask for its immediate consideration. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the…

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on House Administration, I call up House Resolution 173 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady), the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on House Resolution 173.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 173, a resolution which authorizes House Committee budget levels for the 115th Congress.

Each Congress, the House looks to the Committee on House Administration to carry out the responsibility of determining the amount needed to fund standing House committees for this year and next.

Our committee began this process by holding a hearing to receive input from the chairmen and ranking members of the various standing committees.

I thank each of them and their staffs for providing us and our colleagues with the information needed to help our committee determine the appropriate funding levels.

I also want to extend my sincere thanks for the collaborative manner in which the chairmen and ranking members worked together to create a budget request that is really targeted to meet their legislative and important oversight responsibilities.

My colleagues and I took the priorities laid out in the hearing we held into account; and together, our committee passed, by unanimous voice vote, the bipartisan funding resolution that is before us today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to express my appreciation to the ranking member of the committee, Mr. Brady. The cooperation that we have had, I think, is a good model to follow. I thank him for that support.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Rep. Robert A. BradyD-PA-1 · Mar 17, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution before us. The credit for this bipartisan legislation goes to my colleague and…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in HouseIssued March 17, 2017

H. RES. 173

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

March 17, 2017

RESOLUTION

Committee Expenses for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress

(a)

In General

With respect to the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, there shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives, in accordance with this primary expense resolution, not more than the amount specified in subsection (b) for the expenses (including the expenses of all staff salaries) of each committee named in such subsection.

(b)

Committees and Amounts

The committees and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $11,437,517; Committee on Armed Services, $16,188,340; Committee on the Budget, $10,380,424; Committee on Education and the Workforce, $14,454,212; Committee on Energy and Commerce, $20,531,442; Committee on Ethics, $6,681,326; Committee on Financial Services, $16,580,450; Committee on Foreign Affairs, $15,673,986; Committee on Homeland Security, $15,007,846; Committee on House Administration, $10,343,130; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $12,100,000; Committee on the Judiciary, $15,350,572; Committee on Natural Resources, $13,758,344; Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, $18,259,682; Committee on Rules, $6,460,562; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $10,969,956; Committee on Small Business, $6,287,037; Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $17,416,000; Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, $7,958,062; and Committee on Ways and Means, $17,940,692.

First Session Limitations

(a)

In General

Of the amount provided for in section 1 for each committee named in subsection (b), not more than the amount specified in such subsection shall be available for expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 2017, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2018.

(b)

Committees and Amounts

The committees and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $5,699,668; Committee on Armed Services, $8,094,170; Committee on the Budget, $5,190,212; Committee on Education and the Workforce, $7,146,429; Committee on Energy and Commerce, $10,265,721; Committee on Ethics, $3,340,663; Committee on Financial Services, $8,290,225; Committee on Foreign Affairs, $7,836,993; Committee on Homeland Security, $7,503,923; Committee on House Administration, $5,021,565; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $6,050,000; Committee on the Judiciary, $7,625,286; Committee on Natural Resources, $6,879,172; Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, $9,129,841; Committee on Rules, $3,230,281; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $5,484,978; Committee on Small Business, $3,037,400; Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $8,655,500; Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, $3,979,031; and Committee on Ways and Means, $8,954,346.

Second Session Limitations

(a)

In General

Of the amount provided for in section 1 for each committee named in subsection (b), not more than the amount specified in such subsection shall be available for expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 2018, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2019.

(b)

Committees and Amounts

The committees and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $5,737,849; Committee on Armed Services, $8,094,170; Committee on the Budget, $5,190,212; Committee on Education and the Workforce, $7,307,783; Committee on Energy and Commerce, $10,265,721; Committee on Ethics, $3,340,663; Committee on Financial Services, $8,290,225; Committee on Foreign Affairs, $7,836,993; Committee on Homeland Security, $7,503,923; Committee on House Administration, $5,321,565; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $6,050,000; Committee on the Judiciary, $7,725,286; Committee on Natural Resources, $6,879,172; Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, $9,129,841; Committee on Rules, $3,230,281; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $5,484,978; Committee on Small Business, $3,249,637; Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $8,760,500; Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, $3,979,031; and Committee on Ways and Means, $8,986,346.

(c)

Review of Use of Funds in First Session

(1)

Review

None of the amounts provided for in section 1 for a committee named in subsection (b) may be available for expenses of the committee after March 15, 2018, unless the chair or ranking minority member of the committee appears and presents testimony at a hearing of the Committee on House Administration held prior to such date to review the committee's use of the amounts provided for in section 1 during the first session of the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress and to determine whether the amount specified in subsection (b) with respect to the committee should be updated on the basis of the review.

(2)

Waiver

The Committee on House Administration may waive the application of paragraph (1) to any or all of the committees named in subsection (b).

Vouchers

Payments under this resolution shall be made on vouchers authorized by the committee involved, signed by the chairman of such committee, and approved in the manner directed by the Committee on House Administration.

Regulations

Amounts made available under this resolution shall be expended in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on House Administration.

Reserve fund for unanticipated expenses

(a)

Establishment

There is hereby established a reserve fund for unanticipated expenses of committees for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress.

(b)

Amount

The reserve fund under this section shall have a balance of $2,500,000, of which—

(1)

$1,250,000 shall be available for unanticipated expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 2017, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2018; and

(2)

$1,250,000 shall be available for unanticipated expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 2018, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2019.

(c)

Allocation to Committees

Amounts in the reserve fund under this section shall be paid to a committee pursuant to an allocation approved by the Committee on House Administration.

Adjustment authority

The Committee on House Administration shall have authority to make adjustments in amounts under section 1, if necessary to comply with an order of the President issued under section 251A or 254 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or to conform to any change in appropriations for the purposes of such section 1.

Clerk.