# Plain Language Summary of the PENCIL Resolution

This resolution is a statement of opinion from the House of Representatives calling for Representative Adam Schiff to lose access to classified information. It's not a law that would force anything to happen—it's more like an official declaration of what some members of Congress believe should occur. The resolution argues that Schiff made false claims about Russian involvement in the 2016 Trump campaign, pointing to statements he made in 2017 and 2019 about evidence of collusion. The resolution notes that the Mueller Report ultimately found no criminal collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and uses this as evidence that Schiff's earlier claims were unfounded.

Beyond removing his classified access, the resolution calls for two additional actions. First, it requests that the House Ethics Committee investigate Schiff for allegedly working with Defense Department officials to damage former President Trump's reputation. Second, it proposes that any comments Schiff made during congressional proceedings about Russian collusion with the Trump campaign be officially removed from the congressional record. The resolution also mentions an incident from 2020 when Schiff's office contacted Twitter asking the platform to remove content and reduce visibility of posts that contradicted his claims about Russian involvement.

It's important to understand that this resolution expresses only the opinion of the House—it doesn't automatically change anyone's security clearance or remove anyone from committees. Those actions would require separate official procedures. The resolution is essentially a political statement criticizing Schiff's credibility and calling on other parts of Congress to take action against him. Whether any of these recommended actions actually happen would depend on other officials and committees taking their own steps.

PENCIL Resolution

Gaetz, Matt

Preventing Extreme Negligence with Classified Information Licenses Resolution or the PENCIL Resolution This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Representative Adam Schiff should not have access to classified information and should be investigated by the Committee on Ethics for actions taken in an attempt to tarnish the reputation of former President Donald Trump. The resolution further expresses the sense that comments made by Representative Adam Schiff during any congressional proceeding that addressed collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign should be struck from the record.