Funding the Select Committees on the Climate Crisis & Modernizing Congress Thru March (H. Res. 86)

What is H. Res. 86?

(Updated February 12, 2019)

This bill would authorize funding for two select congressional committees through the end of March 2019. Specifically, it’d provide up to $70,000 for the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and up to $50,000 for the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. Because they are among the regular congressional committees, they aren’t funded under the most recently enacted legislative branch appropriations package.

As a simple resolution, this bill wouldn’t advance beyond the House if passed.

Argument in favor

The Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress have important duties, and this bill gives them the funding they need to carry out those tasks.

Argument opposed

These select committees are a waste of representatives’ time and taxpayer resources given that they’re focused on policy areas already within the jurisdiction of the House’s standard committees.

Impact

The Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; and the House of Representatives.

Cost of H. Res. 86

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable, but this bill would authorize $120,000 in funding for the relevant select committees.

Additional Info

In-Depth: This bill was introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) to provide funding for the two select committees established by the House when it adopted its rules for the 116th Congress. The Select Committee on the Climate Crisis is a new version of the former Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which existed from 2007 to 2011.

Media:

• National Journal (Context)