Rules Committee advances GOP resolution denouncing 'socialism'; Democrats object to lack of definition

The Rules Committee considered and advanced H.Con.Res.58, a Republican-led concurrent resolution that denounces socialism in ‘‘all its forms,’’ in a session marked by sustained interrogation over what the term means.

Representative French Hill, sponsor of the resolution’s floor testimony, argued the measure is a bipartisan denunciation of authoritarian outcomes rooted in socialist systems. Republican witnesses and members recounted personal or historical examples of socialist and communist regimes and urged the House to send a clear message rejecting the ideology.

Democratic members, led by Ranking Member James McGovern, pressed for a definition. In a rapid series of yes-or-no questions, McGovern asked whether programs such as Medicare, Social Security, SNAP and VA benefits count as 'socialism.' Witnesses' answers varied. Hill acknowledged some programs could be considered state-controlled but said the resolution is aimed at condemning authoritarian forms of socialism and not ordinary government programs.

Minority members offered amendments to the resolution — including one to exclude core federal programs from the resolution’s scope and another to add explicit references to historical atrocities such as the Holocaust — but those amendments failed in committee. Critics argued the lack of clarity could be used to brand mainstream social programs and elected officials as 'socialist.' Supporters said the resolution targets authoritarianism and state domination of the economy.

The resolution was included in the closed-rule package the committee reported to the floor with multiple failed amendments recorded during the hearing.