This resolution, HR193, would formally censure Representative Al Green of Texas for interrupting the President during a joint session of Congress in March 2024. It directs Green to appear in the well of the House for the pronouncement of the censure and requires the Speaker to publicly read the resolution as part of the sanction.
Introduced March 5, 2025 by Rep. Elijah Crane and cosponsors, the measure was referred to the Ethics Committee and is currently in the introduction stage.
The bill signals the House’s intent to use a formal, internal sanction to address decorum violations, absent any criminal penalties or external enforcement mechanisms.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill would officially censure Rep. Al Green and mandate his appearance in the House well for the pronouncement, with the censure publicly read by the Speaker.
Who It Affects
Affects Rep. Al Green directly and, more broadly, the House of Representatives, including the Speaker, the Sergeant at Arms, and other Members who participate in or observe decorum enforcement.
Why It Matters
Sets a formal precedent for handling decorum violations within the House and defines a procedural pathway for censures, signaling how serious breaches of conduct are addressed in internal House governance.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill is a formal House resolution that targets a specific incident: Rep. Al Green interrupted the joint session of Congress during the State of the Union in March 2024.
If enacted, HR193 would censor Green and require him to appear in the well of the House for the pronouncement of the censure. The Speaker would publicly read the resolution as part of the sanction.
The measure was introduced by Rep. Crane on March 5, 2025 and sent to the Ethics Committee to consider.
This is an internal House action, designed to uphold decorum and the dignity of proceedings, without imposing criminal penalties or external enforcement. The bill frames decorum as essential to the legislative process and provides a formal mechanism to address breaches going forward.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill would designate Rep. Al Green’s conduct as a House censure.
It requires Green to appear in the House well for the pronouncement of the censure.
The Speaker would publicly read the text of the resolution as part of the sanction.
The measure was introduced on March 5, 2025 and referred to the Ethics Committee.
There are no criminal penalties; this is a formal House sanction.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Censure of Rep. Al Green
The resolution designates Rep. Al Green’s conduct during the March 2024 joint session as a breach of decorum warranting a formal censure. It requires Green to present himself in the well of the House for the pronouncement of the censure and directs that the public reading of the resolution by the Speaker accompany the sanction.
Process and referral
Introduced March 5, 2025 by Rep. Crane and cosponsors, HR193 was referred to the Committee on Ethics. The resolution contextualizes the incident within ongoing decorum norms and establishes a procedural pathway for enforcement if the measure advances.
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Explore Government in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Speaker of the House — gains a clear mechanism to enforce decorum and carry out the pronouncement.
- House Ethics Committee — gains a defined case and procedural role in censures.
- Other Members prioritizing orderly proceedings — benefit from a formal standard and potential deterrent against disruptions.
- House staff and chamber officers — benefit from a codified process for implementing decorum sanctions.
- The House as an institution — gains a standardized tool to uphold procedural norms during sessions.
Who Bears the Cost
- Rep. Al Green — faces formal censure and reputational impact.
- Green’s staff and district operations — resources may be diverted to address fallout and communications.
- Opportunity cost in House floor time and attention diverted to this action and its proceedings.
- Political capital tied to the sponsoring majority party — potential costs associated with pursuing decorum enforcement in a partisan environment.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing the House’s duty to maintain orderly proceedings with the possibility that censuring a single member for interrupting a session could chill dissent or escalate partisan conflict, rather than simply sanctioning a misstep in decorum.
The bill creates a formal internal sanction for a decorum violation, which raises questions about the balance between preserving robust debate and enforcing decorum rules. It relies on the House’s internal procedures rather than any external penalties, meaning the consequences are reputational and procedural.
The measure also depends on the Speaker’s and chamber staff’s ability to perform the public pronouncement and manage the associated proceedings, which could influence how future disruptions are handled. These tensions highlight potential trade-offs between swift response to disruptions and the risk of politicizing decorum enforcement.
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