Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 2/22 • T 2/23 • W 2/24 • Th 2/25 • F 2/26 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

House holds moment of silence as US approaches 500,000 COVID deaths

The reading of Washington's Farewell Address

Nominations confirmed: Vilsack, Thomas-Greenfield, Granholm

Equality Act, H.R. 5 — Bill Text The “Equality Act”: Threatening Life and Equality • Gaslighting reality • Is Trojan Horse for Abortion Lobby • could require physicians and nurses to perform abortions, hence Catholic Bishops Oppose • Schumer and Pelosi Would Deny Americans Freedom of Conscience • Would Criminalize Objective Truth

Related House floor speeches:
• 2/23: Members spoke on H.R. 5, the Equality Act and the danger of gender identity politics
• 2/24: Rep Virginia Foxx calls out Democrats for destroying religious freedom with H.R. 5 (Full Speech) • Rep. Greene notes it would need to be struck down
• 2/25: Saying No to H.R. 5 which ‘causes discrimination’

Full Floor Debate on H.R. 5, 2/25 — Highlights:
• Chip Roy slams Equality Act as government forcing people to 'bow' to 'cultural elite' — Full Speech
• Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) opposes expansion and funding of abortion, infringement of religious liberty — Full Speech
• Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) Speaks in Support of Conscience Protections — Original “religious garb” comment, Jordan response
• Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) Speaks Supporting Conscience Protections — Full Speech
• Congressman Jerry Nadler: “God’s Will is No Concern of This Congress” — Full Context

House passes H.R. 5, the Equality Act (224-206) • Bill Creates “Right” to Kill Babies in Abortions, Force Americans to Fund Them • Bill would impact abortion, marriage, family, gender, sports and more • Three Republicans voted in favor

COVID bill: Pelosi Kept Minimum Wage Hike in COVID-19 Relief Bill Despite Senate Parliamentarian’s Ruling • Rule Debate, Bill Text, Debate • House Passes Aid Bill With $1,400 Checks; Focus Moves to Senate • House Democrats Pass $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Bill That Forces Americans to Fund Abortions

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 2/15 • T 2/16 • Th 2/18 • F 2/19 — Prayers

Foreign Policy

Hawley Calls For Biden To Reconsider Funding Abortions Abroad

House Resolution Calls for US to Boycott 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics — H.Res. 129

Conservative Lawmakers Launch Legislative Blitz Exposing Biden’s Weakness on Communist China

Rep. Banks Leads Republican Study Committee in Large-Scale Campaign to Counter Chinese Communist Party

New Congressional Leaders Want to Expand US Diplomatic Outreach

Pelosi: Speaking Up for Human Rights in China Is About ‘Honoring Our Values’


Constitution

Puerto Rico Governor Makes Alarming Statement About Statehood, Congress 'morally obligated' to act on statehood vote, Chuck Schumer Flips On Puerto Rican Statehood

Capitol Fence Highlights D.C. Statehood Difficulties

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 2/8 • T 2/9 • W 2/10 • Th 2/11 • F 2/12 • S 2/13 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Senate Confirms McDonough, Biden’s Pick to Lead Veterans Affairs — 87-7

Senate Confirms Kathleen Hicks as Deputy Defense Secretary

Senate votes Trump impeachment trial is constitutional — 56-44 — six Republicans vote 'yes', GOP senator says House impeachment arguments were 'persuasive'

Senate Moves Forward With Impeachment

6 Takeaways From Opening Arguments in Trump’s Senate Trial

Senate passes bill to award Capitol Police officer Congressional Gold Medal — S. 35

Update:

Senate votes to hear witnesses in Trump trial — 55-45

Senate strikes deal, bypassing calling witnesses

Senate acquits Trump in second impeachment trial — 57-43 — Trump statement

Pelosi rules out censure after Trump acquittal

Committee Pro-Life Update

This week, House committees have hosted markups dealing with Budget Reconciliation related to COVID-19 Relief:

Education and Labor Committee Markup: Tuesday, February 9

Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) highlighted a concern within the budget text that lack of protection on federal funding made available through Premium Assistance for COBRA violates the longstanding Hyde Amendment.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) offered an amendment to protect taxpayer funding from being used to help finance COBRA subsidies that include health plans that cover abortion. The amendment was defeated, by a vote of 21-27, along party lines.

Federal budget director nominee expresses support for federal funding of abortion

At her first confirmation hearing yesterday, President Biden's nominee to lead his budget office, Neera Tanden, pledged to implement the President's pledge to repeal the Hyde Amendment which has blocked federal funding of abortion for decades.

The Hyde Amendment has been enacted in law each year since 1976 as a budget rider, and bars federal funding of abortions.

However, the policy has come under fire in recent years from Democratic leaders who are now advocating for its repeal.

“If you are confirmed in this role, will you advocate that the President’s budget request to Congress next year preserve the Hyde Amendment?” Hawley asked.

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 2/1 • T 2/2 • W 2/3 • Th 2/4 • F 2/5 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Senate Confirms Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary

Senate Confirms Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Secretary

House blocks immediate consideration of GOP school reopening legislation — Debate, Amendment, H.R. 682

House passes measure docking pay for members who avoid congressional metal detectors — H.Res. 85 (Sec. 8)

Senate agrees to organizing resolutions after Schumer-McConnell deal

Pro-Life Speeches: by Senator Ernst, Rep. Carl, House Pro-Life Caucus, Rep. Rutherford, Rep. Lamborn, Rep. LaTurner

Senate blocks bill to prohibit abortion on the basis of Down syndrome — S. 75

Senate blocks bill to restrict funds from organizations associated with abortion — S. 137

Senate blocks bill prohobit Title X grants going to any entity that performs abortions — S. 88

Senator Scott of Florida introduces resolution opposing Iran deal — S.Res. 31

Marjorie Taylor Greene defends herself in House — Full Speech

Marjorie Taylor Greene Removed from House Committees


Senate Budget Votes:

Senate Democrats Block Amendment to Limit COVID Funding to States That Hide Nursing Home Deaths — Vote: 50-50

Senate signals broad support for more targeted coronavirus relief checks — Vote: 99-1

42 Senate Democrats vote in favor of government payments to illegal immigrants — Vote: 58-42

Senate Democrats Block Amendment to Stop Infanticide — Vote: 52-48

Senate agrees to amendment keeping U.S. embassy in Jerusalem — Vote: 97-3

Sanders says he 'never' intended to raise minimum wage to $15 during a pandemic as Senate rejects it — S.Amdt. 767

Senate declines to establish ‘fund relating to prohibiting infringement on the free exercise of religion’ — Vote: 50-50

Senate supports expanded health savings accounts — Vote: 53-47

Here's where Senators stood on controversial issues — S.Con.Res. 5 Actions


VP Kamala Harris breaks tie, Senate Democrats approve budget resolution, teeing up coronavirus bill

Houses passes budget resolution for coronavirus relief after Senate's marathon session — S.Con.Res. 5 — stimulus plan likely to follow

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 1/25 • T 1/26 • W 1/27 • Th 1/28 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Janet Yellen confirmed by Senate as treasury secretary

House formally sends, Presents Article Of Impeachment To The Senate

Senate Confirms Blinken as Biden’s Secretary of State

Senate sworn in as jurors for Trump impeachment trial

Senate defeats effort to halt Trump impeachment trial, but GOP signals conviction unlikely; Just five GOP senators vote Trump impeachment trial is constitutional

Biden's Cabinet gradually confirmed by Senate

McConnell Warns of Consequences if Filibuster Is Not Honored — Full Speech

Pro-life floor speeches from Senators Thune, Blunt, Lankford, Wicker, Inhofe, McConnell, Thune, Rubio, Daines

Biden DHS pick advances in Senate, clearing Republican hurdle

Congress Update

Congressional Record Daily Digests: T 1/19 • W 1/20 • Th 1/21 • F 1/22 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Padilla, Ossoff, Warnock Are Sworn In, Democrats Take Narrow Control of US Senate

Senate Confirms Avril Haines, Biden Nominee as Top Intelligence Chief, giving him first Cabinet official

House, Senate Approve Waiver for Biden’s Pentagon Nominee; Senate confirms Austin to lead Pentagon under Biden

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 1/11 • T 1/12 • W 1/13 • F 1/15 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

House Votes to Pressure Pence to Invoke 25th Amendment, Pence rejects, Uses Pelosi’s Words

House impeaches Trump second time

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thanks National Guard at Capitol

Media Accuse Republican Lawmaker of Insurrection for Quoting Nancy Pelosi — Full Speech

House Approves Fines for Members Who Don’t Wear Masks, up to $2,500

Congress Update

Daily Digests: S 1/3 (116) • S 1/3 (117) • M 1/4 • T 1/5 • W 1/6 • F 1/8 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Highlights from Opening Day 117th Congress

Senate swears-in six new lawmakers as 117th Congress convenes

House Prayer To Open The 117th Congress Ended With ‘Amen And Awoman’, Invokes Hindu god

Cleaver: 'Awoman' ending to prayer meant to recognize record number of women in Congress — Full Prayer

Congress’s Foolish Opening Prayer Exposes A Deeper Problem For Christianity — And The West

House sets up 'separate enclosure' for votes from members exposed to COVID-19

GOP: Pelosi tossing coronavirus rules 'for what is politically convenient'

Pelosi elected speaker, likely for the last time, Squad Supports, Centrists Oppose

McCarthy rebukes Democrats before handing gavel to Pelosi — Full Speech

Chip Roy challenges seating of House members from six presidential battleground states

Proposed House Rules Strike Non-Inclusive Words ‘Father,’ ‘Son,’ ‘Sister’: McCarthy Responds, Criticism widespread

House adopts rules package for 117th Congress, sidelines GOP

45 New Pro-Life Members Sworn in to The House of Representatives

Congressman Paul Gosar and Senator Ted Cruz Object to Arizona’s Electoral College Results

McConnell rebukes effort to overturn Electoral College, 'Unfair and wrong', 'It would damage our republic forever', Congress Cannot Overturn Election — Full Speech

Pence removed from Senate as protesters breach Capitol security

House, Senate Recessed Due to Lockdown Amid Protests

‘Hold the Line’: Inside the House Chamber as a Mob Stormed In

Electoral ballots saved from Senate floor

Guns Drawn In House Chamber During Armed Stand-Off

Shots Fired Inside Capitol, Rioters Storm Senate, Members Of Congress Don Gas Masks

Pence Condemns ‘Unprecedented Violence And Vandalism’ In Capitol Building As Senate Reconvenes — Full Speech

McConnell: ‘Unhinged’ mob tried to disrupt democracy and ‘failed’ — Full Speech

GOP condemns rioters as Congress reconvenes

Congress rejects challenge to presidential vote in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Certifies Biden’s Presidential Victory, with more GOP support

Trump pledges 'orderly transition' of power

'This was no drill': Congress tells chilling tale of rioters at Capitol