Last month, a resolution (H.Res. 496) was introduced in the House of Representatives to “condemn and censure” President Trump for “his inadequate response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.” No action has been taken on the resolution, which was sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler and 77 Democratic colleagues.
The history of such resolutions of censure was reviewed last week by the Congressional Research Service.
On only four occasions has a censure resolution ever been passed by the House or Senate, CRS found, though numerous attempts have been made since 1800 when the House proposed to charge President John Adams with interfering in judicial proceedings. All of the last three presidents prior to Trump have been targets of censure resolutions that were not adopted.
See Resolutions Censuring the President: History and Context, 1st-114th Congresses, CRS Insight, September 14, 2017.
And see, relatedly: Congressional Consideration of Resolutions to “Censure” Executive Branch Officials, CRS Insight, September 14, 2017.
* * *
The ranks of qualified US Air Force pilots are being depleted due in part to increasing demand for commercial airline pilots, another new CRS publication reported. “According to current Air Force statistics, the service is 1,947 pilots short of its authorized strength,” CRS said. See U.S. Air Force Pilot Shortage, CRS Insight, September 11, 2017.
Other noteworthy new or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Military Sexual Assault: A Framework for Congressional Oversight, September 12, 2017
Unauthorized Childhood Arrivals: Legislative Options, CRS Insight, September 14, 2017
Social Security: The Trust Funds, updated September 12, 2017
Social Security: What Would Happen If the Trust Funds Ran Out?, updated September 12, 2017
NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet, updated September 11, 2017
Taylor Force Act: Palestinian Terrorism-Related Payments and U.S. Aid, CRS Insight, September 12, 2017
CRISPR Gene Editing Research in Embryos Generates Scientific and Ethics Debate, CRS Insight, September 12, 2017
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, updated September 14, 2017
FAS commends the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for clearing a historic 75 pieces of legislation, including multiple crucial bills to confront the wildfire crisis.
The United States needs a strategic investment fund (SIF) to shepherd promising technologies in nationally vital sectors through the valley of death.
Standardizing support for Accessibility & Accommodations in federally funded research efforts would open opportunities for disabled scientists and their research programs.
The incoming administration must act to address bias in medical technology at the development, testing and regulation, and market-deployment and evaluation phases.