Directing Members required to reimburse the Treasury for payments related to certain claims to appear before the Clerk for public disclosure of the reasons for the reimbursement.

Summary of H.Res. 1164 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)

Directive: Directing Members required to reimburse the Treasury for payments related to certain claims to appear before the Clerk for public disclosure of the reasons for the reimbursement.

1) Purpose and intent

• The resolution seeks to increase transparency around payments made by the U.S. Treasury in relation to claims under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), specifically 2 U.S.C. 1415(d) and related provisions.
• It requires public disclosure and public appearance by Members who must reimburse the Treasury for such payments, including the reasons for reimbursement and the status of reimbursement.

2) Key provisions and changes

• Section 1: Obligations of Members Who Must Reimburse the Treasury for Certain Payments
  • After the Executive Director of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) submits a report to the Committee on House Administration, the Committee must transmit the report to the Clerk and distribute:
  • A copy of the report to:
    • Each Member (or former Member) who must reimburse the Treasury for a payment related to a claim under 2 U.S.C. 1415(d).
    • The Sergeant-at-Arms.
  • Public Reading (subsection (b)):
  • All Members who receive the report must personally appear in the well of the House during a time determined by the Clerk for a public reading.
  • The Clerk must read aloud: the Member’s name, the amount of any payment to be reimbursed, whether reimbursement has occurred, and the related information in the report.
  • Timing: Public reading cannot occur earlier than 14 days after the Clerk receives the report and must occur at the earliest available date after the Member indicates availability.
  • Enforcement (subsection (c)):
  • If a Member does not comply within 30 days, the Member may face suspension of (i) committee activities to which the Member is appointed, and (ii) duties in leadership positions (as designated by the Speaker or party leaders).
  • After 30 days, the Clerk must notify the Speaker, the Minority Leader, and chairs/ranking members of committees that the Member is not in compliance.
  • Allegations of failure to comply or material deception related to this resolution may be referred to the Committee on Ethics for separate investigation or action.
  • Former Members (subsection (d)):
  • A former Member who receives the report may not be admitted to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto until reimbursement is completed.
  • Once reimbursement is completed, the former Member may regain admission under House rules, with the Clerk assisting as needed.
  • The Clerk must notify the Sergeant-at-Arms if a former Member’s admission privilege has been restored.
  • Definition (subsection (e)):
  • “Member” includes Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners of the House of Representatives.

3) Who or what would be affected

• Affected individuals:
  • Current Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners who are obligated to reimburse the Treasury for payments related to CAA claims.
  • Former Members who have reimbursement obligations under the same authority.
• Affected entities and processes:
  • The Clerk of the House (public readings, publication of reimbursement information).
  • The Committee on House Administration (transmission of OCWR reports; oversight of implementation).
  • The Sergeant-at-Arms (access/entrance privileges for former Members post-reimbursement).
  • The Committee on Ethics (potential investigations for non-compliance or misrepresentation).
  • House leadership (Speaker, Majority/Minority Leaders) in enforcing compliance.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

• Trigger: OCWR report to the House Administration Committee triggers dissemination to Members and publication steps.
• Public disclosure timeline:
  • 14 days minimum after receipt of the report before a reading can occur.
  • Reading occurs at the earliest date the Member is available, as determined by the Clerk.
• Compliance window:
  • Members have 30 days from receipt to comply with the public-reading requirement and reimbursement status disclosure.
• Enforcement and consequences:
  • Non-compliance can suspend committee duties and leadership responsibilities.
  • Notifications to leadership and committee chairs/ranking members occur if non-compliance persists.
  • Ethics Committee may investigate alleged non-compliance or deception.
• Public-facing accountability:
  • Public reading of individual reimbursement details increases transparency around House expenses related to CAA claims.

5) Context and notes

• The resolution emphasizes ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability for Members and former Members regarding payments to the Treasury tied to CAA claims, including sexual misconduct provisions that are referenced in the preamble (Rule XXIII prohibitions against harassment and related conduct).
• The bill does not itself appropriate funds; it governs the disclosure and disciplinary mechanisms tied to existing reimbursements under the Congressional Accountability Act.

If you’d like, I can provide a topic-by-topic comparison with existing House rules or draft a one-page briefing for stakeholders.