HRES 477119th CongressIntroduced

Establishing the Select Committee on President Biden's Cognitive Decline.

Introduced: Jun 4, 2025

Defense & National Security

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This House resolution would establish a temporary, 13-member Select Committee in the House of Representatives to investigate and report on alleged cognitive decline of President Biden and any “coverup” related to that decline. The committee would be chaired by the Speaker, with five members appointed after consultation with the minority leader. Its stated purposes include determining who within the government may have acted on presidential powers during any coverup, reviewing related evidence from federal and other government sources, and building on other investigations to avoid duplication. The committee would have broad investigatory powers (including access to intelligence information, the ability to subpoena witnesses and compel deposition) but would not have legislative authority to pass laws. A final report is due by September 25, 2026, with interim reports possible, and the committee would terminate 30 days after the final report. All reports and proposals must be publicly released in accessible formats within 10 days of the final report. In short, the resolution creates a partisan, time-limited investigatory body aimed at producing findings, recommendations, and potential legislative proposals related to alleged cognitive decline and any related coverup, while avoiding any direct power to enact laws.

Key Points

1Establishment and leadership
2- Creates the Select Committee on President Biden's Cognitive Decline in the House, consisting of 13 members; the Speaker selects the chair, and five members are appointed after consultation with the minority leader. Vacancies are filled in the same manner as original appointments.
3Purposes and scope
4- Aims to investigate the alleged coverup of President Biden’s cognitive decline, determine who was exercising presidential powers during the coverup, review evidence from federal, state, and local entities, and build on or review other investigations to avoid duplication.
5Functions and investigations
6- Authorized to investigate a broad range of topics, including activities of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the Armed Forces, technology and online platforms, foreign influence operations, and other relevant public/private sector entities. It can identify causes and lessons about government command, control, coordination, policies, and procedures; and it can submit legislative proposals to the House.
7Procedures and powers
8- Although it has no legislative jurisdiction to enact laws itself, the committee may issue subpoenas, take depositions, and access classified or sensitive information under House rules. It may hold hearings with limited quorums and can publish reports with unclassified content and classified annexes.
9Reporting and transparency
10- Requires a final report by September 25, 2026, and may issue interim reports with findings and legislative proposals. All final reports and proposals must be public in widely accessible formats within 10 days of submission.
11Administration and termination
12- Provides for staffing, funding, and travel under House rules; termination occurs 30 days after filing the final report, with records disposition outlining what happens to committee records after termination.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Members of the House (especially the Speaker and leadership), the Select Committee members, and the broader congressional oversight community. Federal, state, and local governmental agencies (including intelligence and law enforcement entities) that may be asked to provide information or testify.Secondary group/area affected- The executive branch and its agencies, including those involved in intelligence and national security, which may be asked to detail information or provide access to sensitive materials. The public, whose trust and understanding of presidential health and governance could be influenced by the committee’s findings.Additional impacts- Potential shifts in political dynamics and public discourse around presidential fitness and accountability. Resource implications for Congress (staffing, security, and funding for investigations). Legal and constitutional considerations related to oversight, executive branch information access, and the balance of powers. Possible implications for privacy and civil liberties in the course of high-profile investigations.Select Committee: A temporary, focused congressional committee created to study a specific issue.Subpoena: A legal order requiring someone to testify or produce documents.Depositio n: A sworn, recorded testimony taken outside of a courtroom, often under oath.Classified annex: A restricted portion of a report containing sensitive national security information.Quorum: The minimum number of members needed to conduct certain business (rules specify two members for testimony, one-third for actions other than testimony).25th Amendment reference: The bill mentions the constitutional mechanism for declaring a President unable to discharge duties, as part of the context for discussing presidential fitness.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 3, 2025