Condemning the Members of Congress constituting the leadership team of the House Republican Conference.
H. Res. 216 is a non-binding House resolution introduced in the 119th Congress (March 11, 2025) that condemns the leadership team of the House Republican Conference for allowing a political-arm post on the X platform to call a fellow member’s citizenship and patriotism into question. Specifically, it targets Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, House Republican Chair Lisa McClain, Republican Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern, House Republican Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore, Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler, and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson. The resolution argues that the post about Rep. Adriano Espaillat was xenophobic and inconsistent with congressional oaths, and it directs a condemnation of these leaders for permitting such rhetoric from their caucus’ political arm. The measure was introduced by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) with a broad slate of Democratic co-sponsors and referred to the House Ethics Committee. This resolution does not change law or impose penalties. Instead, it serves as a formal, public rebuke and political statement signaling disapproval of the conduct and urging accountability among the named leaders. It could influence public perception and possibly inform future ethics considerations, but it does not create new legal sanctions by itself.
Key Points
- 1The resolution condemns eight named leaders of the House Republican Conference (Speaker Johnson; Majority Leader Scalise; Majority Whip Emmer; Chair Lisa McClain; Policy Committee Chair Kevin Hern; Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore; Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler; NRCC Chair Richard Hudson) for allowing their caucus’s political arm to publish a false, xenophobic statement about a colleague.
- 2It centers on a March 5, 2025 post on X that questioned Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s immigration status and patriotism, calling it xenophobic rhetoric that the resolution deems beneath the oath of office.
- 3The text frames the rhetoric as inconsistent with the duties and decorum expected of Members of Congress and emphasizes that the rhetoric should have no place in the House.
- 4The resolution asserts the leadership’s responsibility for the post by stating they "allow" or “permit” the political arm to make such statements about a colleague.
- 5The measure has been referred to the House Ethics Committee, indicating it may intersect with ongoing or future ethics review processes, but it remains a symbolic condemnation rather than a punitive action.