H.Res. 245House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed Congress

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

Introduced March 21, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:15 AM UTC

H.Res. 245 sets the budget limits for the expenses of each House committee during the 116th Congress. It specifies how much each committee can spend in total and divides that amount between the first session (2019‑2020) and the second session (2020‑2021). The resolution also creates a reserve fund for unexpected costs and gives the Committee on House Administration authority to adjust allocations.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes a total expense ceiling for each House committee for the full two‑year Congress.
  • Divides each committee’s ceiling into separate limits for the first session (Jan 3 2019‑Jan 3 2020) and the second session (Jan 3 2020‑Jan 3 2021).
  • Requires committee chairs or ranking members to testify before the Committee on House Administration after the first session to review spending, unless the review is waived.
  • Creates an $8 million reserve fund for unanticipated committee expenses ($1.5 million for the first session, $6.5 million for the second).
  • Allows the Committee on House Administration to allocate reserve funds to committees and to adjust expense limits if required by a presidential order or changes in appropriations.
  • Mandates that payments be made on vouchers signed by committee chairs and processed according to House Administration regulations.

Legislative Activity

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10 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

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

March 27, 2019 • 5:38 PM

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 21, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

March 21, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

March 25, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

March 25, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 116-20.

March 26, 2019

HouseCalendars

Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 14.

March 26, 2019

HouseFloor

Ms. Lofgren asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.

March 27, 2019 • 5:37 PM

HouseFloor

Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H2875-2876)

March 27, 2019 • 5:38 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H2875-2876)

March 27, 2019 • 5:38 PM

HouseFloor

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H2875-2876)

March 27, 2019 • 5:38 PM

HouseFloor

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

March 27, 2019 • 5:38 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.Res. 245 on the floor

1 Democrat
Zoe Lofgren
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-19 · Mar 27, 2019

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H. Res. 245 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Bill Text

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Engrossed in HouseIssued March 27, 2019

H. RES. 245

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

March 27, 2019

RESOLUTION

1.

Committee expenses for the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress

(a)

In General

With respect to the One Hundred Sixteenth 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, $11,513,328; Committee on Armed Services, $16,350,222; Committee on the Budget, $10,380,424; Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, $3,781,500; Committee on Education and Labor, $14,578,714; Committee on Energy and Commerce, $21,147,384; Committee on Ethics, $7,015,392; Committee on Financial Services, $17,077,862; Committee on Foreign Affairs, $16,240,724; Committee on Homeland Security, $15,308,002; Committee on House Administration, $10,644,422; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $12,463,000; Committee on the Judiciary, $15,860,594; Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, $487,500; Committee on Natural Resources, $13,895,926; Committee on Oversight and Reform, $18,990,068; Committee on Rules, $6,654,378; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $11,079,654; Committee on Small Business, $6,196,296; Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $17,830,330; Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, $8,276,384; and Committee on Ways and Means, $18,266,864.

2.

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, 2019, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2020.

(b)

Committees and Amounts

The committees and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $5,756,664; Committee on Armed Services, $8,175,111; Committee on the Budget, $5,190,212; Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, $1,890,750; Committee on Education and Labor, $7,289,357; Committee on Energy and Commerce, $10,573,692; Committee on Ethics, $3,507,696; Committee on Financial Services, $8,538,931; Committee on Foreign Affairs, $8,120,362; Committee on Homeland Security, $7,654,001; Committee on House Administration, $5,172,211; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $6,231,500; Committee on the Judiciary, $7,930,297; Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, $450,000; Committee on Natural Resources, $6,947,963; Committee on Oversight and Reform, $9,495,034; Committee on Rules, $3,327,189; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $5,539,827; Committee on Small Business, $3,098,148; Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $8,915,165; Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, $4,138,192; and Committee on Ways and Means, $9,133,432.

3.

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, 2020, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2021.

(b)

Committees and Amounts

The committees and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $5,756,664; Committee on Armed Services, $8,175,111; Committee on the Budget, $5,190,212; Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, $1,890,750; Committee on Education and Labor, $7,289,357; Committee on Energy and Commerce, $10,573,692; Committee on Ethics, $3,507,696; Committee on Financial Services, $8,538,931; Committee on Foreign Affairs, $8,120,362; Committee on Homeland Security, $7,654,001; Committee on House Administration, $5,472,211; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $6,231,500; Committee on the Judiciary, $7,930,297; Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, $37,500; Committee on Natural Resources, $6,947,963; Committee on Oversight and Reform, $9,495,034; Committee on Rules, $3,327,189; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $5,539,827; Committee on Small Business, $3,098,148; Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $8,915,165; Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, $4,138,192; and Committee on Ways and Means, $9,133,432.

(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, 2020, 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 Sixteenth 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).

4.

Vouchers

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

5.

Regulations

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

6.

Reserve fund for unanticipated expenses

(a)

Establishment

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

(b)

Amount

The reserve fund under this section shall have a balance of $8,000,000, of which—

(1)

$1,500,000 shall be available for unanticipated expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 2019, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2020; and

(2)

$6,500,000 shall be available for unanticipated expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 2020, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2021.

(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.

7.

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.