Resolution designating the House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol) as the 'Frederick Douglass Press Gallery’

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Bill ID: 119/hres/137
Last Updated: October 8, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

ID: D000032

Follow the money

The bill

Resolution designating the House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol) as the 'Frederick Douglass Press Gallery’

HRES. 137, 119th Congress — read as touching Print & Broadcast Media.

The sponsor

Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$123,150 raised

22 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

June 8, 2025

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

(sigh) Oh joy, another meaningless gesture from the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of HRES 137 is to rename the House Press Gallery after Frederick Douglass, a legendary journalist and abolitionist. How quaint. The objective? To appear virtuous and historically conscious while accomplishing absolutely nothing of substance.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** There are no provisions or changes to existing law. This resolution is purely symbolic, a feel-good exercise in self-aggrandizement. It's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound – it looks nice but does nothing to address the underlying issue.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The only parties affected by this resolution are the politicians who sponsored it and the press corps that will now have to refer to the gallery by its new name. Oh, and Frederick Douglass' legacy, which is being used as a prop to make these self-serving politicians look good.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Zero. Zilch. Nada. This resolution won't change anything in the real world. It's a PR stunt designed to distract from the fact that Congress can't seem to pass meaningful legislation on actual issues affecting Americans. The only impact will be on the politicians' résumés, where they'll proudly list "Renamed Press Gallery after Frederick Douglass" as one of their accomplishments.

Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a severe case of "Symbolic Gesture Syndrome," a disease characterized by meaningless actions designed to appease special interest groups or boost public image. The underlying illness? A lack of courage, vision, and genuine commitment to addressing the real problems facing America.

Treatment: Ignore this resolution and focus on actual policy changes that benefit the country. But don't hold your breath – these politicians are too busy patting themselves on the back for their "accomplishments" to bother with substance.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$123,150
21 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$750
Committees
$0
Individuals
$122,400

No PAC contributions found

1
SHANNON GREEN COLLECTION
1 transaction
$500
2
NAPLES SMART, LLC
1 transaction
$250

No committee contributions found

1
TENEV, VLADIMIR
2 transactions
$10,000
2
COX, JOE B
1 transaction
$6,600
3
STALLINGS, KYLE
1 transaction
$6,600
4
ZALIK, DAVID
1 transaction
$6,600
5
ZALIK, HELEN
1 transaction
$6,600
6
BAUM, DAVID
1 transaction
$6,600
7
WALDRIP, EMORY
1 transaction
$6,600
8
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
1 transaction
$6,600
9
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
1 transaction
$6,600
10
REHNERT, GEOFFREY
1 transaction
$6,600
11
CRISWELL, HARRY E III
1 transaction
$6,600
12
JOHNSON, CHARLES B
1 transaction
$6,600
13
VOCCOLA, FREDERICK J
1 transaction
$6,600
14
WILSON, DONALD R JR
1 transaction
$6,600
15
SACKS, DAVID
1 transaction
$6,600
16
ADAMS, CAROL
1 transaction
$5,000
17
BAPPERT, CORY
1 transaction
$5,000
18
FUENTE, CARLOS
1 transaction
$5,000
19
BHATT, BAIJU
1 transaction
$5,000

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

ID: C001072

Top Contributors

10

1
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
May 22, 2023
2
INDIANA IMPORT LLC
OrganizationFISHERS, IN
$1,000
Nov 11, 2023
3
MNAYMEH, HALA
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualCORAL GABLES, FL
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
4
DE LA CRUZ, FABIO
WESTON PROPERTY MANAGEMENTPARTNER
IndividualINDIANAPOLIS, IN
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
5
KHAN, AZHER M
CALDERON TEXTILESPRESIDENT
IndividualCARMEL, IN
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023
6
HOGAN, ALAN P.
THE HOGAN GROUP, INC.CONSULTANT
IndividualINDIANAPOLIS, IN
$3,300
Feb 22, 2023
7
JOHNSON, LACY M.
ICE MILLERATTORNEY
IndividualINDIANAPOLIS, IN
$3,300
Mar 16, 2023
8
STACK, ANN M.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualINDIANAPOLIS, IN
$3,300
Feb 22, 2023
9
ABDALLA, MIKE A.
MAGNA PROPERTIESPRESIDENT
IndividualINDIANAPOLIS, IN
$3,300
Mar 11, 2024
10
MAMOUN, IHSAN
SDI RADIOLOGYPHYSICIAN
IndividualSEFFNER, FL
$3,300
Jan 23, 2024

Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

ID: H001066

Top Contributors

10

1
TUNICA- BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$5,000
Jun 9, 2024
2
TUNICA- BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$4,600
Jun 10, 2024
3
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationRED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Nov 1, 2024
4
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
5
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationRED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Oct 31, 2023
6
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationRED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
7
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA OF NORTH DAKOTA
OrganizationBELCOURT, ND
$3,300
Oct 31, 2023
8
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Jan 5, 2024
9
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Apr 21, 2023
10
GBS 2, LLC
OrganizationELGIN, IL
$3,300
May 23, 2023

Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38]

ID: H001095

Top Contributors

10

1
HUNT, RAY L.
HUNT CONSOLIDATEDCEO
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Feb 14, 2024
2
CARAYANNOPOULOS, GEORGE
UTMBPHYSICIAN
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$6,600
Mar 29, 2024
3
FLORY, DAVID
NONERETIRED
IndividualMIAMI BEACH, FL
$6,600
May 7, 2024
4
ROWLING, ROBERT B. MR.
TRT HOLDINGSFOUNDER
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Dec 31, 2023
5
HILDEBRAND, MELINDA MRS.
SELF - HILCORP VENTURESPRESIDENT
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$5,000
Mar 20, 2023
6
HLAVINKA, TOBIAS M. MR.
AMERICAN PLANT FOODVP OF SALES/AGRICULTURE
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$5,000
Feb 20, 2023
7
HARTZOGE, ALLISON
ARCHWAY SUPPORTLPC-S
IndividualMIDLAND, TX
$5,000
Apr 11, 2023
8
CHILDERS, DOUGLAS
ARCHROCKMANAGER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$3,435
Mar 31, 2024
9
HARTZOGE, ALLISON
ARCHWAY SUPPORTLPC-S
IndividualMIDLAND, TX
$3,400
Apr 18, 2023
10
DAVIS, PHILLIP
PEOPLES BANKBANKER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$3,300
Oct 15, 2024

Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

ID: O000086

Top Contributors

10

1
UTE INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationFORT DUCHESNE, UT
$3,300
Nov 12, 2024
2
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$2,000
Sep 30, 2024
3
PALMER, JEFFERY
NONERETIRED
IndividualMAPLETON, UT
$13,200
May 29, 2023
4
JENKINS, JAMES W.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualSALT LAKE CITY, UT
$10,000
May 13, 2024
5
HOLSCHER, KELLY
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualPACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$6,600
Aug 22, 2024
6
LISONBEE, DAVID
4LIFE RESEARCHBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualPROVO, UT
$6,600
Mar 19, 2024
7
OVERHOLT, DAVID W. MR.
UNIFIED PURCHASING GROUPPRESIDENT
IndividualSOUTH JORDAN, UT
$6,600
Apr 3, 2024
8
DAICHENDT, JOE
ACI JETBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualLADERA RANCH, CA
$6,600
Mar 16, 2023
9
GRIFFIN, KENNETH
CITADEL LLCFOUNDER CEO
IndividualMIAMI BEACH, FL
$6,600
Apr 10, 2023
10
PALMER, KELLY
NONERETIRED
IndividualMAPLETON, UT
$6,600
Jun 13, 2023

Rep. James, John [R-MI-10]

ID: J000307

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Donor Network - Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 71 nodes and 34 connections (49 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $180,150

Top Donors - Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs19 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.

  • The bill designates the House Press Gallery as the 'Frederick Douglass Press Gallery', honoring a pioneering journalist and recognizing the importance of journalism in American history (Whereas clauses and Resolved section).

Who funds the sponsor on these industries

For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022–present cycles. Donations are not proof of intent — they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.

Industries this bill HELPS

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