HRES-141-119
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Sponsored by Roger Williams (R-TX)
What it does
This resolution would authorize up to $8,629,846 for the House Committee on Small Business's expenses, including staff salaries, for the two-year 119th Congress. It splits the funds between the first session (up to $4,287,634) and second session (up to $4,342,212), and requires payments to be made by voucher, signed by the Chairman and approved under House Administration Committee rules.
Who benefits
Members and staff of the House Committee on Small Business, who receive funding for salaries and operating expenses. Small businesses and trade associations that interact with the committee indirectly benefit from continued committee operations, oversight, and legislative activity on their behalf.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully harmed. This is a routine internal funding authorization drawn from existing House administrative accounts, not new taxpayer spending beyond standard congressional operations.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this routine resolution simply ensures the Committee on Small Business has the staff and resources needed to conduct oversight, hold hearings, and process legislation affecting small businesses across the country. They note such funding resolutions are passed every Congress for every committee and are necessary for basic legislative functioning.
Opponents argue
Opponents, to the extent any exist, might argue that committee budgets should be scrutinized more closely for efficiency or that funding allocations across committees should better reflect workload, though this is rarely a point of serious contention for standard biennial funding resolutions.
Constitutional context
This resolution falls under Congress's authority to govern its own internal proceedings and administration under Article I, Section 5's Rules of Proceedings Clause, which courts have treated as largely a political question not subject to judicial review, as in United States v. Ballin (1892).
Checks and balances
The House alone controls this funding decision through its committee structure and House Administration Committee oversight; no other branch is involved and courts generally do not review internal chamber funding rules.
Historical precedent
Similar committee funding resolutions are routinely adopted at the start of every new Congress for all standing House committees.