Analyses / Whip Count Analysis / 119 · HRES 831 Whip Count Analysis

119-HRES-831 DC Insider Whip Count Analysis

119 · HRES 831 Expressing support for the designation of October 2025 as "National Down Syndrome Awareness Month".

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H.Res. 831 is a low‑risk, bipartisan House‑only simple resolution with a GOP sponsor and Democratic co‑sponsor, referred to Energy & Commerce. If the Majority Leader places it on a suspension calendar, it should clear easily with broad bipartisan votes; the real gating factor is scheduling speed this late in October. Leadership control (Speaker/Scalise; E&C Chair Guthrie) and a favorable external environment (White House and advocacy groups celebrating DS Awareness Month) point to adoption, with timing the only meaningful risk. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – All Information (Except Text) for H.Res. 8…[2]House Radio-TV Gallery — House Radio-TV Gallery – House Leadership (119th)[3]House Committee on Energy & Commerce — House Energy & Commerce (R) – Chairman G…[4]Congressional Research Service — CRS – Suspension of the Rules in the House: Pr…[5]WhiteHouse.gov — White House – Presidential Message on Down Syndrome Awareness…

Analyzed as
DC Insider
Published
28 Oct 2025
Updated
28 Oct 2025
Tags
whip-count · House simple resolution · Energy & Commerce
Unvetted
01 · Section

Breakdown: expected support/opposition

H.Res. 831 expresses House support for designating October 2025 as National Down Syndrome Awareness Month; it was introduced October 24, 2025 by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R‑NY) with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D‑NJ) as the initial co‑sponsor and referred to Energy & Commerce. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – All Information (Except Text) for H.Res. 8…

  • Republicans: Broad support expected; the bill’s sponsor is a Republican and the committee of referral is chaired by a Republican (Rep. Brett Guthrie). The White House issued a supportive presidential message for Down Syndrome Awareness Month on October 10, 2025, signaling no partisan headwinds. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – All Information (Except Text) for H.Res. 8…[3]House Committee on Energy & Commerce — House Energy & Commerce (R) – Chairman G…[5]WhiteHouse.gov — White House – Presidential Message on Down Syndrome Awareness…
  • Democrats: Broad support expected; the resolution has a Democratic original co‑sponsor (Gottheimer). Energy & Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone leads the Democratic side on the committee of referral. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – All Information (Except Text) for H.Res. 8…[6]House Committee on Energy & Commerce (Democrats) — Energy & Commerce Democrats…
  • Caucus alignments: The bipartisan Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus is a natural reservoir of yes votes; the sponsor (Garbarino) lists membership. Mainstream center‑left blocs (e.g., New Dems) and bipartisan groups (Problem Solvers) create additional cross‑party lift via co‑sponsor Gottheimer’s leadership role. [7]House.gov — Rep. Andrew Garbarino – Committees and Caucuses (includes Down Synd…[8]Problem Solvers Caucus — Problem Solvers Caucus – Caucus Members (leadership)
  • Procedure/threshold: As a non‑privileged, noncontroversial simple resolution, the likeliest path is consideration under suspension of the rules (40 minutes debate, no floor amendments, two‑thirds required of those present and voting). Historically, suspension items pass at very high rates. [4]Congressional Research Service — CRS – Suspension of the Rules in the House: Pr…[9]Web search · turn 2 #2
  • Opposition: Organized opposition is unlikely; the main risk is that leadership does not allocate floor time before or soon after October. Similar awareness‑month resolutions sometimes die without floor action (e.g., H.Res. 791 in the 118th). [10]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.Res. 791 (118th): DS Awareness Month (hi…
Status
1Introduced (House-only simple resolution)
Introduced
2025Oct 24 (referred to Energy & Commerce)
Current listed co-sponsors
1(Gottheimer, D-NJ)
Expected floor vehicle
1Suspension of the rules (2/3 present & voting)
02 · Section

Key legislators (pivotal for outcome)

Given the measure’s bipartisan profile, pivotal actors are gatekeepers for scheduling and committee handling rather than ideological swing votes.

  • Brett Guthrie (R‑KY), Chair, Energy & Commerce — gatekeeper for committee-level handling and floor managers on suspension. Publicly identified as Chair for the 119th. [3]House Committee on Energy & Commerce — House Energy & Commerce (R) – Chairman G…[11]House Committee on Energy & Commerce — House Energy & Commerce (R) – 119th Orga…
  • Frank Pallone (D‑NJ), Ranking Member, Energy & Commerce — ensures Democratic floor management and signals to caucus; official committee site lists him as Ranking Member. [6]House Committee on Energy & Commerce (Democrats) — Energy & Commerce Democrats…
  • Steve Scalise (R‑LA), Majority Leader — controls suspension calendar packaging; decisive for whether it gets time this week/next. Official House leadership roster confirms role. [2]House Radio-TV Gallery — House Radio-TV Gallery – House Leadership (119th)
  • Tom Emmer (R‑MN) and Katherine Clark (D‑MA), party whips — relevant if a recorded vote is demanded on suspension; leadership roster confirms roles. [2]House Radio-TV Gallery — House Radio-TV Gallery – House Leadership (119th)
  • Andrew Garbarino (R‑NY), sponsor — member of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus, can mobilize caucus members and bipartisan allies. [7]House.gov — Rep. Andrew Garbarino – Committees and Caucuses (includes Down Synd…
  • Josh Gottheimer (D‑NJ), original co‑sponsor — in Problem Solvers Caucus leadership, useful for cross‑party outreach and to help deliver Democratic votes for the 2/3 threshold. [8]Problem Solvers Caucus — Problem Solvers Caucus – Caucus Members (leadership)
03 · Section

Leadership influence and procedural dynamics

Institutional control and procedure, not ideology, will make or break timing.

  • Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise set suspension slates. With Johnson as Speaker and a GOP chair at Energy & Commerce, there’s no intra‑party veto point visible; pace depends on floor crowding. [2]House Radio-TV Gallery — House Radio-TV Gallery – House Leadership (119th)
  • Suspension mechanics favor quick passage if scheduled: limited debate, no floor amendments, and a single two‑thirds vote of Members present and voting. Most suspension measures historically pass, often by voice vote. [4]Congressional Research Service — CRS – Suspension of the Rules in the House: Pr…[12]Web search · turn 2 #1
  • House‑only simple resolution: No Senate or presidential action is required; adoption is complete once the House agrees. [13]U.S. House of Representatives — House.gov – Bills & Resolutions (Forms of Congr…
  • Advocacy environment: External validators are aligned — the White House issued a supportive DS Awareness Month message on Oct. 10, 2025, and NDSS publicizes October as DS Awareness Month annually — reducing reputational risk for leadership to schedule. [5]WhiteHouse.gov — White House – Presidential Message on Down Syndrome Awareness…[14]National Down Syndrome Society — NDSS – Down Syndrome Awareness Month
  • Scheduling risk illustrated by precedent: In the 118th Congress, a similar DS Awareness Month resolution (H.Res. 791) never reached the floor after referral; late‑October introductions are vulnerable to calendar congestion. [10]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.Res. 791 (118th): DS Awareness Month (hi…
04 · Section

Assessment: likelihood of passage

Bottom line from a whip perspective: the votes are there; the clock and floor space are the only real variables.

  • Vote outlook: If placed on a suspension calendar, expect overwhelming bipartisan support clearing the two‑thirds bar in either a voice vote or a comfortable recorded vote. [4]Congressional Research Service — CRS – Suspension of the Rules in the House: Pr…
  • Timing: Introduced Oct. 24, 2025 and still in committee referral; leadership can bring it up without a committee report under suspension. Relevance is highest before month‑end, but adoption after October is still procedurally fine. [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – All Information (Except Text) for H.Res. 8…[4]Congressional Research Service — CRS – Suspension of the Rules in the House: Pr…
  • Estimated likelihood of House adoption: High (confidence: high) contingent on being added to a suspension package within the next 1–2 legislative weeks.
05 · Section

Key sourcing (public positions, roles, and rules)

Core references underpinning the whip assessment.

  • Bill status, sponsor/co‑sponsor, referral: Congress.gov H.Res. 831 (Introduced 10/24/2025; to Energy & Commerce). [1]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – All Information (Except Text) for H.Res. 8…
  • Energy & Commerce leadership (Chair Guthrie; Ranking Pallone) and committee notices confirm institutional gatekeepers this Congress. [3]House Committee on Energy & Commerce — House Energy & Commerce (R) – Chairman G…[11]House Committee on Energy & Commerce — House Energy & Commerce (R) – 119th Orga…[6]House Committee on Energy & Commerce (Democrats) — Energy & Commerce Democrats…
  • House leadership roster (Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Scalise, Whips Emmer/Clark). [2]House Radio-TV Gallery — House Radio-TV Gallery – House Leadership (119th)
  • Procedure: Suspension of the rules — requirements and historical pass rates (CRS). [4]Congressional Research Service — CRS – Suspension of the Rules in the House: Pr…[9]Web search · turn 2 #2
  • Simple resolution scope (House‑only; no Senate/President). [13]U.S. House of Representatives — House.gov – Bills & Resolutions (Forms of Congr…
  • Advocacy/issue environment: White House message (10/10/2025) and NDSS DS Awareness Month materials. [5]WhiteHouse.gov — White House – Presidential Message on Down Syndrome Awareness…[14]National Down Syndrome Society — NDSS – Down Syndrome Awareness Month
  • Precedent of stalled prior DS Awareness Month resolution (H.Res. 791, 118th). [10]Library of Congress — Congress.gov – H.Res. 791 (118th): DS Awareness Month (hi…
Sources cited
  1. [1] Congress.gov – All Information (Except Text) for H.Res. 831 (119th) Library of Congress
  2. [2] House Radio-TV Gallery – House Leadership (119th) House Radio-TV Gallery
  3. [3] House Energy & Commerce (R) – Chairman Guthrie Announces 119th Oversight Plan Markup House Committee on Energy & Commerce
  4. [4] CRS – Suspension of the Rules in the House: Principal Features (98-314) Congressional Research Service
  5. [5] White House – Presidential Message on Down Syndrome Awareness Month (Oct. 10, 2025) WhiteHouse.gov
  6. [6] Energy & Commerce Democrats – Meet the Ranking Member (Frank Pallone) House Committee on Energy & Commerce (Democrats)
  7. [7] Rep. Andrew Garbarino – Committees and Caucuses (includes Down Syndrome Caucus) House.gov
  8. [8] Problem Solvers Caucus – Caucus Members (leadership) Problem Solvers Caucus
  9. [9] Web search · turn 2 #2
  10. [10] Congress.gov – H.Res. 791 (118th): DS Awareness Month (history) Library of Congress
  11. [11] House Energy & Commerce (R) – 119th Organizational Meeting Notice House Committee on Energy & Commerce
  12. [12] Web search · turn 2 #1
  13. [13] House.gov – Bills & Resolutions (Forms of Congressional Action) U.S. House of Representatives
  14. [14] NDSS – Down Syndrome Awareness Month National Down Syndrome Society
  15. [15] Web search · turn 5 #1

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