The bill is H. Res. 874 in the 119th Congress, introduced November 12, 2025 by Rep.
Harold Rogers (R). It expresses the House’s profound sorrow at the death of Richard B.
Cheney, former Vice President of the United States. The resolution also directs formal communications to the Senate and Cheney’s family and requests that the House adjourn today as a further mark of respect.
This is a ceremonial measure with no policy impact or fiscal implications beyond routine chamber operations.
At a Glance
What It Does
The resolution expresses profound sorrow over Cheney’s death, directs the Clerk to communicate the expression of condolence to the Senate and to transmit a copy to Cheney’s family, and provides that the House adjourns today in memory of the deceased.
Who It Affects
Directly affects the House of Representatives and its staff, the Senate (through formal communication), Cheney’s family, and the public records of the chamber.
Why It Matters
It creates an official, cross-chamber acknowledgment of a former high-ranking official and establishes a formal moment of reflection within the congressional calendar.
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What This Bill Actually Does
This is a short ceremonial measure. It solemnly expresses the House’s sorrow at the death of former Vice President Richard B.
Cheney and notes his service to the country. The bill then details three concrete actions: first, the Clerk is instructed to communicate the resolution to the Senate and to transmit a copy to Cheney’s family; second, the House is to adjourn today as a mark of respect.
There are no policy directives, funding provisions, or regulatory changes within the text. Its purpose is solely to provide an official parliamentary acknowledgment and to document a moment of collective mourning within the institution.
The Five Things You Need to Know
Introduced November 12, 2025 as H. Res. 874 in the 119th Congress by Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY).
Expresses profound sorrow at the death of Richard B. Cheney, former Vice President.
Directs the Clerk to communicate the resolution to the Senate and to transmit a copy to Cheney’s family.
Instructs the House to adjourn today as a further mark of respect.
Includes an official Attest: Clerk signature clause to certify the record.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Sorrow and expression
This section states the House’s intent to express profound sorrow at the death of Richard B. Cheney, who served as Vice President. It frames the resolution as a formal, respectful acknowledgment of the deceased’s public service and the nation’s loss. The emphasis is on ceremonial reverence rather than policy action, establishing a formal tone for the proceedings.
Communication to Senate and family
The text requires the Clerk to communicate these resolutions to the Senate and to transmit a copy to Cheney’s family. This creates an inter-chamber and familial channel for expressing condolences, ensuring that the memorial message reaches both legislative counterparts and the deceased’s next of kin in an official capacity.
Adjournment as a mark of respect
The resolution directs that when the House adjourns today, it does so as a further mark of respect to Cheney’s memory. This procedural action embeds the tribute into the daily legislative calendar, signaling a shared moment of reflection for Members.
Attestation and formal record
The document culminates with an Attest: Clerk line, completing the formal authentication of the resolution as an official record of the House. This ceremonial signature ensures the measure is captured in the journal and preserved as part of congressional history.
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Who Benefits
- Cheney family — receives an official, public acknowledgment from the House, offering closure and recognition of public service.
- Members of the House — gain a formal mechanism to honor a former Vice President and to observe a moment of collective reflection.
- Senate — receives formal communication, coordinating inter-chamber homage and maintaining ceremonial consistency across chambers.
- Public records and historical memory — the memorial resolution becomes part of the official record documenting congressional response to a former official’s death.
Who Bears the Cost
- House Clerk’s office — administrative time and printing costs to draft, print, and transmit the resolution.
- House members and staff — time spent considering and adopting the ceremonial measure within their schedule.
- Minimal routine chamber costs — standard operating expenses associated with processing a memorial resolution.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing the value of formal mourning and inter-chamber courtesy with the potential for overuse of ceremonial acts to the point of becoming routine background activity instead of meaningful parliamentary practice.
Ceremonial resolutions like this one have little to no policy impact, but they can raise questions about the role of ritual in a busy legislative agenda. While they preserve institutional norms and provide a solemn moment, they also consume a small slice of floor time and administrative effort.
The practice could set expectations for similar memorials in the future, which—depending on frequency—might crowd out substantive debate or scheduling. There are no budgetary allocations or regulatory changes involved, and the resolution relies on established clerical and memorial protocols.
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