H.R.es377 - Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 276) to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘‘Gulf of America”, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 881) to establish Department of Homeland Security funding restrictions on institutions of higher education that have a relationship with Confucius Institutes, and for other purposes. (119th Congress)
Summary
H. Res. 377 is a resolution providing for the consideration of two bills in the House of Representatives. The first bill, H.R. 276, proposes renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." The second bill, H.R. 881, aims to establish funding restrictions by the Department of Homeland Security on higher education institutions with ties to Confucius Institutes.
The resolution waives points of order against both bills, streamlining the process for their consideration. It also outlines specific debate parameters, including time allocation and the allowance of a motion to recommit.
Essentially, this resolution sets the stage for the House to debate and vote on these two distinct pieces of legislation, each addressing different aspects of national interest.
Expected Effects
The resolution will allow the House to consider and potentially pass H.R. 276 and H.R. 881. Passage of H.R. 276 would result in the official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
Passage of H.R. 881 would impose funding restrictions on universities with Confucius Institutes, potentially impacting academic and cultural exchange programs. The specific impact will depend on the details of the bills as amended and ultimately passed.
Potential Benefits
- Streamlines the legislative process for H.R. 276 and H.R. 881 by waiving points of order.
- Allows for debate and potential amendments to the bills.
- Provides a structured framework for considering these issues in the House.
- H.R. 881 could potentially address concerns about foreign influence in higher education, if that is the intent.
- H.R. 276, if passed, may foster a stronger sense of national identity, although this is subjective.
Potential Disadvantages
- Renaming the Gulf of Mexico (H.R. 276) may be seen as unnecessary and could face international criticism or confusion.
- Funding restrictions on universities with Confucius Institutes (H.R. 881) could stifle academic freedom and cultural exchange.
- Waiving points of order could bypass important procedural safeguards and lead to poorly considered legislation.
- The resolution itself does not guarantee a thorough or balanced debate, as the terms are pre-defined.
- Potential for unintended consequences from both bills, depending on their final form and implementation.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution itself is procedurally aligned with the Constitution, as Article I, Section 5 grants each House the power to determine the rules of its proceedings. Waiving points of order is a common practice within the legislative process and does not inherently violate any constitutional principles.
The constitutional alignment of H.R. 881 depends on its specific provisions and whether it infringes upon academic freedom or freedom of speech (Amendment I). H.R. 276 does not appear to raise any immediate constitutional concerns.
However, the potential impact of both bills on individual rights and freedoms would need to be carefully scrutinized to ensure full compliance with the Constitution.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).