# 119-sres-597: A resolution providing for the authority to initiate litigation for actions by the President and Department of Justice officials inconsistent with their duties under the laws of the United States.

119-sres-597, A resolution providing for the authority to initiate litigation for actions by the President and Department of Justice officials inconsistent with their duties under the laws of the United States., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (D-NY); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-597
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-sres-597
- Congress: 119
- Title: A resolution providing for the authority to initiate litigation for actions by the President and Department of Justice officials inconsistent with their duties under the laws of the United States.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-02-05
- Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Policy area: Congress
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Would authorize the Senate Majority Leader to sue the Department of Justice to enforce the Epstein Files Transparency Act.** This resolution would let the Majority Leader start or join civil actions in federal court in the Senate's name, require notifying the Senate when any such action is initiated or joined, and designate the Office of Senate Legal Counsel or other counsel to represent the Senate using funds approved from the Senate's miscellaneous line item appropriation.

## Cosponsors (15)

- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Senate could sue DOJ over Epstein files: benefit, low. This resolution would let the Senate Majority Leader start or join federal lawsuits in the Senate's name about DOJ failing to follow Public Law 119-38, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The Majority Leader would have to notify the Senate when it starts or joins any such case. The Office of Senate…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act

## Sources
- [119-sres-597 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/597)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-597 (as of 2026-04-21).