69–008 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 115–89 

DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO TRANSMIT 

CERTAIN DOCUMENTS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RELATING 

TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S RESEARCH, INTEGRATION, AND ANALYSIS ACTIVITIES RELATING TO RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT 

INTERFERENCE IN THE ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE HELD 2016 

APRIL 7, 2017.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr.MCCAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security, 

submitted the following 

ADVERSE REPORT 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H. Res. 235] 

The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the 

resolution (H. Res. 235) directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit certain documents to the House of Representatives 

relating to the Department of Homeland Security’s research, integration, and analysis activities relating to Russian Government interference in the elections for Federal office held in 2016, having 

considered the same, reports unfavorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the resolution not be agreed to. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................... 2 

Background and Need for Legislation ....................................................... 2 

Hearings ....................................................................................................... 2 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................... 2 

Committee Votes ......................................................................................... 2 

Committee Oversight Findings .................................................................. 3 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 3 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ...................................................... 3 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives ....................... 4 

Duplicative Federal Programs ................................................................... 4 

Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 

Benefits ..................................................................................................... 4 

Federal Mandates Statement ..................................................................... 4 

Preemption Clarification ............................................................................ 4 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ........................................................ 4 

Advisory Committee Statement ................................................................. 4 


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Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................... 4 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ......................................... 5 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ........................ 5 

Supplemental, Minority, Additional, or Dissenting Views ...................... 6 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

On March 30, 2017, Representative Thompson of Mississippi introduced H. Res. 235, a resolution of inquiry requesting the Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit certain documents to the 

House of Representatives relating to the Department of Homeland 

Security’s research, integration, and analysis activities relating to 

Russian Government interference in the elections for Federal office 

held in 2016. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

A resolution of inquiry is a House resolution directing the President or the head of an executive department to provide to the 

House specific information in the possession of the Administration. 

Clause 7 of House Rule XIII provides that, if properly drafted, a 

resolution of inquiry is provided special parliamentary status allowing the Committee to which the measure was referred to be discharged if the Committee has not reported the measure back to the 

House within 14 legislative days after is introduction. 

The Committee notes that the consideration of this resolution of 

inquiry is to have the Committee comply with Rule XIII, it does not 

affect the Committee’s obligation or commitment to investigate and 

require documentation from the Administration on issues within 

the Committee’s jurisdictional authorities. 

This Resolution of Inquiry is unnecessary. The Committee has 

been conducting oversight in this area and has received briefings 

by the Administration numerous times regarding cybersecurity and 

interference into our elections. Members were given the opportunity to question the Administrations regarding Russian interference in the elections on numerous occasions. The Committee will 

continue to conduct robust oversight over the Department and any 

threats to homeland security that fall within the Committee’s jurisdiction. 

HEARINGS

No hearings were held on H. Res. 235 in the 115th Congress. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee met on April 5, 2017, to consider H. Res. 235, 

and ordered the measure to be reported to the House of Representatives with an unfavorable recommendation, without amendment, 

by a recorded vote of 14 yeas and 12 nays. The Committee took the 

following actions: 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. 


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The Committee on Homeland Security considered H. Res. 235 

on April 5, 2017, and took the following votes: 

ROLL CALL NO. 6 

H. Res. 235 

On reporting H. Res. 235 to the House of Representatives 

with an unfavorable recommendation. 

Agreed to: 14 yeas and 12 nays. 

Representative Yea Nay Representative Yea Nay 

Mr. McCaul, 

Chair.

X Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, 

Ranking Member.

X 

Mr. Smith of Texas ........................ Ms. Jackson Lee ........................... X 

Mr. King of New York .................... Mr. Langevin ................................. X 

Mr. Rogers of Alabama ................. X Mr. Richmond ............................... X 

Mr. Duncan of South Carolina ...... X Mr. Keating ................................... X 

Mr. Marino ..................................... X Mr. Payne ...................................... X 

Mr. Barletta ................................... X Mr. Vela ........................................ X 

Mr. Perry ........................................ X Mrs. Watson Coleman .................. X 

Mr. Katko ....................................... X Miss Rice of New York ................. X 

Mr. Hurd ........................................ Mr. Correa ..................................... X 

Ms. McSally ................................... X Mrs. Demings ............................... X 

Mr. Ratcliffe .................................. Ms. Barraga ́ n ................................ X 

Mr. Donovan .................................. X 

Mr. Gallagher ................................. X 

Mr. Higgins of Louisiana ............... X 

Mr. Rutherford ............................... X 

Mr. Garrett ..................................... X 

Mr. Fitzpatrick ............................... X 

Vote Total: 14 12 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight hearings and 

made findings that are reflected in this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that had 

H. Res. 235 been adopted, it would result in no new or increased 

budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, a cost estimate provided by the Congressional 

Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974 was not made available to the Committee in time for 


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the filing of this report. The Committee estimates that this resolution of inquiry resolution would not result in any significant costs. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, had H. Res. 235 been adopted, it would have 

required the Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit specified 

copies of any document, record, memo, correspondence, or other 

communication or any portion of any such communication of the 

Department of Homeland Security (in a classified format, if necessary) to the U.S. House of Representatives. 

DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c) of Rule XIII, the Committee finds that 

H. Res. 235 as reported does not contain any provision that establishes or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another Federal program. 

CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED

TARIFF BENEFITS

In compliance with Rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, this resolution, as reported, contains no congressional 

earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 

in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the Rule XXI. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Committee believes 

that no Federal mandates are included in this resolution. 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 

resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the bill or 

joint resolution is intended to preempt State, local, or Tribal law, 

the Committee finds that H. Res. 235 does not preempt any State, 

local, or Tribal law. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that H. Res. 235, had it been adopted, 

would require no directed rule makings. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 


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accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

This resolution, if adopted, would require the Secretary of Homeland Security provide to the House of Representatives copies of any 

document, record, memo, correspondence, or other communication 

or any portion of any such communication of the Department of 

Homeland Security (in a classified format, if necessary), that refers 

or relates to the following: 

1. Research, integration, and analysis activities of the Department relating to interference with the elections for Federal 

office held in 2016 by or at the direction of the Russian 

Government, as announced in a joint statement with the 

Office of the Director of National Intelligence on October 7, 

2016, and December 29, 2016. 

2. Dissemination by the Department of information regarding 

interference with the elections for Federal office held in 

2016 by or at the direction of the Russian Government, as 

announced in a joint statement with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on October 7, 2016, and December 29, 2016. 

3. Research into cyber compromises of emails of United 

States persons and institutions by or at the direction of the 

Russian Government to interfere with the elections for 

Federal office held in 2016. 

4. Integration, analysis, and dissemination of the Joint Analysis Report detailing the tools and infrastructure used by 

Russian intelligence services to compromise and exploit 

networks and infrastructure associated with the elections 

for Federal office held in 2016 issued by the Secretary of 

Homeland Security and the Director of the Federal Bureau 

of Investigation on December 29, 2016. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H. Res. 235 makes no changes to existing law. 


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1 Joint Statement from DHS, ODNI on Election Security (Oct. 7, 2016), https://www.dni.gov/ 

index.php/newsroom/press-releases/215-press-releases-2016/1423-joint-dhs-odni-election-securitystatement?tmpl=component&format=pdf. 2Statement by Secretary Jeh Johnson on the Designation of Election Infrastructure as a Critical Infrastructure Subsector (January 6, 2017), https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/01/06/statementsecretary-johnson-designation-election-infrastructure-critical. 

SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS

DISSENTING VIEWS 

On behalf of Committee Democrats, I submit the following dissenting views regarding the Committee’s 14 to 12 vote to order H. 

Res. 235 reported to the House of Representatives (House) with an 

unfavorable recommendation. 

I introduced H. Res. 235, which is cosponsored by all Committee 

Democrats, on March 30 to expedite the initiation of a Committee 

investigation into Russia’s campaign to influence the outcome of 

the 2016 Presidential election. If enacted, the resolution would 

have compelled the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) to provide the Committee with any documents in its possession regarding Russian Government interference in the election. 

The Committee needs to see the information that DHS collected, 

received, and analyzed to not only investigate the Russian interference campaign but also to ensure that the country is positioned 

to prevent future attacks on our electoral systems. 

The materials sought under the resolution, which included documents detailing ‘‘the tools and infrastructure used by Russian intelligence services to compromise and exploit networks and infrastructure associated with the elections,’’ not only informed the joint 

statements issued by DHS and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on October 7, 2016 and December 29, 2016 but 

also the Department’s efforts to secure election infrastructure. In 

October 2016, DHS began offering assistance to States to help 

them secure their election systems, following the discovery that 

some voting systems had been scanned and probed by Russianhired hackers.1 In January, DHS designated ‘‘election infrastructure’’ as ‘‘critical infrastructure’’ and prioritized assistance to States 

to secure this infrastructure.2

During consideration of H. Res. 235, Chairman Michael McCaul 

asserted that this resolution was ‘‘unnecessary’’ since Committee 

Members have received classified briefings from the Administration 

where Members could ask questions regarding the Russian interference campaign. One-off conversations in a classified space are no 

substitute for a comprehensive investigation in which Committee 

Members would be able to review materials generated by not only 

the Department but also its Federal partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Intelligence Community. 

Such an investigation should seek to answer the following questions: 


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• What is the full scope of the hacking activities that the Russians took against our electoral systems? • What, if any, operational impacts did these activities have on 

our electoral systems, including voter rolls and voting equipment? • What information did DHS have to determine that the Russian 

activities did not directly impact vote tallying? 

At this time, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) is the only House Committee investigating the 

2016 attack on our election by Russia. Putting aside that HPSCI 

has struggled to carry out a bipartisan investigation, it seems unlikely the answers that Committee Democrats seek regarding the 

security of election infrastructure would be addressed, even if 

HPSCI is able to produce a bipartisan report. 

Additionally, during consideration of H. Res. 235, Chairman 

McCaul argued that the use of a resolution of inquiry was not appropriate to conduct bipartisan oversight since the Department has 

been responsive and transparent. I take issue with this assertion. 

Since January, the timeliness and completeness of responses to 

oversight letters by the Department has significantly fallen off with 

letters submitted by Committee Democrats being met with responses that were neither punctual nor complete. In fact, at this 

time, there are at least ten letters that have received no responses. 

Furthermore, there is another significant advantage of the resolution of inquiry: it would avoid bureaucratic hurdles that would 

likely arise if the Committee sent a letter requesting that DHS furnish documents that originated outside of the Department. If this 

resolution was enacted into law, DHS would have to furnish the requested documents to the Committee regardless of whether one or 

more of its Federal partners objected. 

This Committee has a unique responsibility to conduct oversight 

into DHS’ efforts to mitigate, respond to, and recover from attacks 

on critical infrastructure. Consequently, this Committee has an obligation to conduct oversight of the decision-making and actions 

that the Department took before, during, and after the election to 

protect this critical infrastructure. Further, if, as FBI Director 

James Comey and others have warned, the Russians will be back 

to try and interfere with future elections, we need to know what 

vulnerabilities exist so that they can be eliminated or mitigated. 

Approval of H. Res. 235 would have been the first step towards 

providing answers to the American people about Russia’s attack on 

our democracy. As such, Committee Democrats are disappointed 

that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle rejected this measure, thereby inhibiting our efforts to jumpstart an investigation. 

BENNIE G. THOMPSON. 

Æ 


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