Should the House Establish a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis? (H. Res. 935)

What is H. Res. 935?

(Updated June 26, 2020)

This resolution would establish a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a select investigative subcommittee of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. It would be in addition to the existing oversight bodies in the House, and the three major oversight bodies established by the CARES Act for the coronavirus response.

The Select Subcommittee would consist of up to 12 members, delegates, or the resident commissioner appointed by the Speaker of the House. At least five would be appointed by the House Minority Leader. The Select Committee would conduct a full & complete investigation, and issue a final report (and potential interim reports) to the House regarding:

• The efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and transparency of the use of taxpayer funds and relief programs to address the coronavirus crisis, including through federal agencies, state & local government entities, financial institutions and other private businesses, contracts, grants, loans, loan guarantees, investments.

• Reports of waste, fraud, abuse, price gouging, profiteering, or other abusive practices related to the coronavirus crisis.

• The implementation or effectiveness of any federal law applied, enacted, or considered to address the coronavirus crisis and prepare for future pandemics.

• Preparedness for and response to the coronavirus crisis, including the planning for and implementation of testing, containment, mitigation, and surveillance activities, the acquisition of protective equipment & medical supplies, and the development of vaccines and treatments.

• The economic impact of the coronavirus on individuals, communities, small businesses, healthcare providers, states & local governments.

• Any disparate impacts of the coronavirus crisis on different communities and populations, including with respect to race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and geographic region, and any measures taken to address such disparate impacts.

• Executive branch policies, deliberations, decisions, activities, and internal & external communications related to the coronavirus crisis.

• The protection of whistleblowers who provide information about waste, fraud, abuse, or other improper activities related to the coronavirus crisis.

• Cooperation by the executive branch and others with Congress, the inspectors general, the Government Accountability Office, and others in connection with oversight of the preparedness for and response to the coronavirus crisis.

• Any other issues related to the coronavirus crisis.

Argument in favor

There is no such thing as too much oversight, and this House select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis will ensure that the trillions of dollars appropriated by Congress to address the pandemic are free of waste, fraud, and abuse. This select subcommittee will have seven Democratic members and five Republican members to ensure that it is relatively bipartisan despite the election year politics at play.

Argument opposed

There is already ample oversight capacity for recent coronavirus-related spending between the existing congressional committees and the oversight bodies established by the CARES Act: the special Congressional Oversight Commission, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. This will likely be used primarily to attack the president during an election year.

Impact

The House of Representatives.

Cost of H. Res. 935

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) introduced this resolution and spoke in favor of the creation of the select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis:

“Since the start of this pandemic, Congress has provided more than $2 trillion in emergency relief. To get small businesses the financial help they need to survive. To help hospitals and healthcare workers on the frontlines. To expand testing. To provide every American access to an affordable vaccine when it is developed. I could go on and on and on. We need to make sure that these resources are going where Congress intended, that they are helping struggling Americans, small businesses without any rampant fraud or abuse, and companies aren’t taking part in price gouging or profiteering. That’s what the select subcommittee on coronavirus is all about.”

House Rules Committee Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) expressed concern regarding Democrats’ plan to form this select subcommittee, and said:

“The Speaker claims that the select committee will examine all aspects of the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic that the select committee will examine all aspects of the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic and will provide oversight for federal dollars being spent on the response. But Congress already has significant oversight tools at our disposal. The CARES Act established a five-member Congressional Oversight Commission specifically for this purpose, and I note that my good friend from Florida, Representative Shalala, is the House majority’s designee for one of the five seats on that commission. 

This commission is in addition to Congress’ other oversight tools, which include the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the oversight subcommittees that exist on most other permanent House committees. If we already have a separate oversight commission specifically for the CARES Act, and we already have a separate Oversight and Reform Committee, and we already have separate Oversight subcommittees… what, then, is the actual purpose of this proposed select committee? My fear, Mr. Chairman, is that this new select committee will simply turn into another partisan witch hunt into the Trump Administration. I hope I’m wrong.”

The CARES Act established three major oversight bodies responsible for the coronavirus crisis, in addition to:

• A Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery was established within the Treasury Dept. subject to appointment by the president & confirmation by the Senate. They will conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits & investigations on the making, purchase, management, and sale of loans, loan guarantees, and other investments made under the CARES Act. The Special Inspector General will make quarterly reports.

• A Congressional Oversight Commission consisting of five members: one appointed by the House Speaker; one by the House Majority Leader; one by the Senate Majority Leader; one by the Senate Minority Leader; and one appointed by the House Speaker & Senate Majority Leader after consulting with the Senate & House Minority Leaders. The panel can hold hearings, take testimony, and secure information from federal agencies it deems necessary to carry out its responsibility, and would be required to submit reports to Congress every 30 days. The Oversight Commission would terminate on September 30, 2025.

• A Pandemic Response Accountability Committee made up of Inspectors General who will conduct and coordinate audits and investigations to provide accountability and identify waste, fraud, and abuse.

Media:

• House Floor Debate

• House Rules Committee Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) Press Release