H.Res. 853: Authorizing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in a civil action regarding the compliance of the executive branch with the provision of law prohibiting relinquishment of the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with respect to Internet domain name system functions.

H.Res. 853: Authorizing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in a civil action regarding the compliance of the executive branch with the provision of law prohibiting relinquishment of the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with respect to Internet domain name system functions.

114th Congress · introduced 2016-09-08 · Congress · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-09-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Authorizing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in a civil action regarding the compliance of the executive branch with the provision of law prohibiting relinquishment of the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with respect to Internet domain name system functions.

Plain summary

Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in civil actions in a federal court of competent jurisdiction to seek appropriate relief regarding the failure of the President, any department or agency head, or any other executive branch officer or employee to act in a manner consistent with that official's duties with respect to the implementation of provisions of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, or any related provision, regarding the relinquishment of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's responsibility with respect to Internet domain name system functions. The Speaker shall notify the House of any decision to initiate or intervene in any such civil action. The House's Office of the General Counsel, at the direction of the Speaker, shall represent the House in any such civil action and may employ the services of outside counsel and other experts. The chair of the Committee on House Administration shall publish in the Congressional Record a statement setting forth the aggregate amounts expended by the Office on outside counsel and other experts for each calendar quarter.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Authorizing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate or intervene in a civil action regarding the compliance of the executive branch with the provision of law prohibiting relinquishment of the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with respect to Internet domain name system functions.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3] · 30 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Ryan K. Zinke (R-MT), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), David Rouzer (R-NC), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Tom Cole (R-OK)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3] reported raising $1.4 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hres853.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hres>

Record fed-us-cong114-hres853 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114