HRES 377119th CongressIn Committee

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.

Introduced: May 5, 2025

Defense & National SecurityEducation

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H. Res. 377 is a House resolution that does not itself enact policy but sets the order and procedure for considering two separate bills in the current session: H.R. 276 (to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”) and 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). The resolution waives typical procedural objections, adopts specific substitute amendments for each bill, and schedules a limited debate with a single opportunity to recommit. In short, it is a rules package designed to expedite consideration and potential passage of the two bills, rather than to enact policy directly.

Key Points

1The resolution makes it in order to consider H.R. 276 and H.R. 881 on the floor, waiving all points of order against their consideration.
2For H.R. 276, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources shall be considered as adopted.
3For H.R. 881, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 119-2 shall be considered as adopted.
4Each bill, once amended, shall be considered as read, with all points of order against provisions in the bill waived.
5The previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendments to final passage, with limited exceptions: (1) one hour of debate (divided equally) controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the respective committee or their designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
6Specific control of debate time: H.R. 276 will be under the jurisdiction and time management of the Committee on Natural Resources (via its chair and ranking member or designees); H.R. 881 will be under the jurisdiction and time management of the Committee on Homeland Security (via its chair and ranking member or designees).

Impact Areas

Primary affected group/area: Members and staff of the House, particularly the committees (Natural Resources for H.R. 276 and Homeland Security for H.R. 881) and any Members engaged in floor consideration of these bills.Secondary affected group/area: Institutions of higher education and related academic partners (in the context of H.R. 881’s provisions about Confucius Institutes) and any stakeholders in Gulf naming politics (H.R. 276).Additional impacts: The resolution itself does not create policy changes; it accelerates or facilitates potential policy changes by enabling expedited consideration and adoption of substitutes. If the bills advance, H.R. 276 could have symbolic and political implications around the Gulf naming; H.R. 881 could affect federal funding decisions tied to Confucius Institutes and campus international partnerships, with potential broader debates about academic freedom, U.S.-China relations, and federal funding to higher education.

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