Authorizing the enforcement of subpoenas issued by the Chairs of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, or the Judiciary as part of the inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.

#917 | HRES Congress #118

Last Action: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 918, H. Res. 917 is considered passed House. (consideration: CR H6924; text: CR H6924) (12/13/2023)

Bill Text Source: Congress.gov

Summary and Impacts
Original Text
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 917 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 917

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                     December 13, 2023.
    Resolved, That the chairs of each of the Committees on Oversight and 
Accountability, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary are authorized, with the 
approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to initiate or 
intervene in certain judicial proceedings before a Federal court for the purpose 
of advancing the ongoing investigations into whether sufficient grounds exist 
for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach 
Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, including as set forth 
in the memorandum issued by the Chairs of the Committees on Oversight and 
Accountability, Ways and Means, and Judiciary of the House of Representatives, 
entitled ``Impeachment Inquiry'', dated September 27, 2023, and that the Chair 
of each such Committee has had and continues to have the authority to issue 
subpoenas to further this impeachment inquiry.

                               subpoena authority

    Sec. 2. 
    The authority provided by clause 2(m) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives to the Chairs of the Committees on Oversight and 
Accountability, Ways and Means, and Judiciary included, from the beginning of 
the existing House of Representatives impeachment inquiry described in the first 
section of this resolution, and continues to include, so long as the impeachment 
inquiry is ongoing, the authority to issue subpoenas on behalf of such 
Committees for the purpose of furthering the impeachment inquiry.

                        ratifying and affirming subpoenas

    Sec. 3. 
    The House of Representatives ratifies and affirms any subpoenas previously 
issued, pursuant to the authority established by the Constitution of the United 
States and clause 2(m) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
by the Chairs of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, 
or the Judiciary as part of the impeachment inquiry described in the first 
section of this resolution.

               initiation and intervention in judicial proceedings

    Sec. 4. 
    (a) The chairs of each of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, 
Ways and Means, and the Judiciary are authorized, on behalf of such Committees, 
and with the approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to 
initiate or intervene in any judicial proceeding before a Federal court--
            (1) to seek declaratory judgments and any and all ancillary relief, 
        including injunctive relief, affirming the duty of any recipient of a 
        subpoena authorized, described, ratified or affirmed by the second or 
        third section of this resolution to comply with that subpoena, including 
        the subpoenas issued to--
                    (A) Jack Morgan, U.S. Department of Justice; and
                    (B) Mark F. Daly, Senior Litigation Counsel, Tax Division, 
                U.S. Department of Justice; and
            (2) to petition for disclosure of--
                    (A) information relevant to the impeachment inquiry, 
                pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e), including 
                Rule 6(e)(3)(E) (providing that the court may authorize 
                disclosure of a grand-jury matter ``preliminarily to a * * * 
                judicial proceeding''); and
                    (B) materials relevant to the impeachment inquiry currently 
                held by the National Archives and Records Administration, 
                including those to which access may be provided pursuant to 
                section 2205 of title 44, United States Code.
    (b) The chair of each of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, 
Ways and Means, and the Judiciary exercising authority described in subsection 
(a) shall notify the House of Representatives, with respect to the commencement 
of any judicial proceeding thereunder.
    (c) The Office of General Counsel of the House of Representatives shall, 
with the authorization of the Speaker, represent any of the Committees on 
Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary in any judicial 
proceeding initiated or intervened in pursuant to the authority described in the 
subsection (a).
    (d) The Office of General Counsel of the House of Representatives is 
authorized to retain private counsel, either for pay or pro bono, to assist in 
the representation of any of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, 
Ways and Means, and the Judiciary in any judicial proceeding initiated or 
intervened in pursuant to the authority described in subsection (a).
    (e) In connection with any judicial proceeding brought under subsection (a), 
the chair of each of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Ways and 
Means, and Judiciary exercising authority thereunder has any and all necessary 
authority under Article I of the Constitution.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.