House Weekly Schedule

THE LEADER'S WEEKLY SCHEDULE
WEEK OF DECEMBER 17TH

**Members are advised that a weekend session is possible**

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 4606 - To authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Denny Rehberg / Natural Resources Committee)

2) S. 3193 - Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012(Sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein / Natural Resources Committee)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 6612 - To redesignate the Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical (Sponsored by Rep. Kevin McCarthy / Science, Space and Technology Committee)

2) H.R. 6633 - To designate the United States courthouse located at 101 East Pecan Street in Sherman, Texas, as the "Paul Brown United States Courthouse"(Sponsored by Rep. Ralph Hall / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

3) H.R. 6166 - To designate the United States courthouse located at 333 West Broadway Street in San Diego, California, as the "James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse" (Sponsored by Rep. Susan Davis / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
4) S. 3311 - A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 2601 2nd Avenue North, Billings, Montana, as the "James F. Battin United States Courthouse"(Sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) 
5) H.R. 3197 - To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Spokane, Washington, as the "Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center" (Sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
6) H.R. 6443 - To designate the facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 9800 West Commercial Boulevard in Sunrise, Florida, as the "William 'Bill' Kling VA Clinic" (Sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

7) H.R. 3869 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 East Capitol Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the "Sidney 'Sid' Sanders McMath Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Tim Griffin / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

8) H.R. 3378 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the "Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Dan Benishek / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

9) H.R. 4389 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19 East Merced Street in Fowler, California, as the "Cecil E. Bolt Post Office"(Sponsored by Rep. Jim Costa / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

10) H.R. 6016 - Government Employee Accountability Act (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

11) S. 3564 - Public Interest Declassification Board Reauthorization Act of 2012(Sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

12) S. 2170 - Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

13) H.R. 6621 - To correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith / Judiciary Committee)

14) H.R. 2471 - To amend section 2710 of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte / Judiciary Committee)

15) H.R. 6014 - Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2012, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Adam Schiff / Judiciary Committee)

16) S. 3642 - Theft of Trade Secrets Clarification Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy / Judiciary Committee)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

1) H.R. 6504 - Small Business Investment Company Modernization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

2) H.R. 1509 - Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2011, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Sam Johnson / Ways and Means Committee) 

3) H.R. 1845 - Medicare IVIG Access Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Brady / Ways and Means Committee)

4) Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3783 - Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Duncan / Foreign Affairs Committee)

5) S. 3331 - Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Sen. John Kerry / Foreign Affairs Committee)

Conference Report on H.R. 4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013(Sponsored by Rep. Buck McKeon / Armed Services Committee)

Possible Legislation Related to Expiring Provisions of Law

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK
Foreign Affairs hearing on “Benghazi Attack, Part II: The Report of the Accountability Review Board”
(Thursday, December 20th, at 1:00 p.m.)

House Legislative Program

 (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

   Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of inquiring of the majority leader the schedule for the week to come. At this point in time, I yield to my friend, Mr. Cantor, the majority leader, for that purpose.

   Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman from Maryland, the Democratic whip, for yielding.

   Mr. Speaker, on Monday the House will meet at noon for morning-hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning-hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

   Members are advised that, due to the ongoing negotiations regarding the fiscal cliff, a weekend session is possible and, therefore, last votes for the week are not yet known.

   Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of bills under suspension of the rules, a complete list of which will be announced by the close of business Friday. Additionally, we expect to consider a conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for the Fiscal Year 2013, and a number of other expiring provisions of law are also possible.

   As was announced last week and the week before, the House will not adjourn the 112th Congress until action has been taken to avert the fiscal cliff. Members are advised to retain flexibility in their travel schedules through the end of the year to the maximum extent possible.

   I thank the gentleman.

   Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for his comments.

   We had originally thought that we would not be meeting on Monday. I want to make it clear to Members that the majority leader has indicated that we will be meeting on Monday and coming in at 6:30, so they take note of that and their staffs take note of that as well.

   Mr. Leader, can I ask you if you know or have some pretty good sense of, on Tuesday, do you know what we might be considering on Tuesday?

   I say that because a number of Members who had scheduled things Tuesday during the day have asked me that question, and I'm wondering whether or not you have any thoughts on that. My presumption is the Defense bill conference probably won't be done by that time. I don't know whether that's your sense or not.

   I yield to my friend.

House Weekly Schedule

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be posted until 6:30 p.m.

Motion to go to Conference on H.R. 4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 and Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, no votes are expected.

House Legislative Program

 (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

   Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I would be glad to yield to my friend, the majority leader, for his favorite 10 or 15 or 20 minutes of the week to inquire of the schedule for the week to come.

   Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman from Maryland, the Democratic whip, for yielding.

   Mr. Speaker, on Monday, no votes are expected in the House. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning-hour and at 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning-hour and at noon for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday. Members are advised that this is a change from the original House calendar.

   Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of bills under suspension of the rules, a complete list of which will be announced by the close of business Friday. Additionally, the House will appoint conferees for the National Defense Authorization Act now that the Senate has completed its work.

   As was announced last week, the House has a number of outstanding legislative items that we must resolve, and first amongst them is the so-called ``fiscal cliff.'' Though the House's target adjournment set in October of last year was December 14, that is no longer the case. Instead, Members are advised that the House will now be in session the week of December 17. Exact days will be announced next week. Members are further reminded that the House will not adjourn the 112th Congress until a credible solution to the fiscal cliff has been found.

   Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for his comments. I thank him for the early notice on next Friday.

   First, Mr. Leader, if I could, we have the ending as next Thursday. I want to clarify for Members so that they know: we will not be in session next Friday. Is that accurate?

   Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman that is correct.

   Mr. HOYER. Thank you for that information.

   I also want to congratulate the gentleman for providing for the week of the 17th. I know none of us want to do that, but I appreciate the majority's focus on the business that has not been done. I also appreciate the gentleman's focus on the fiscal cliff and for indicating that we need to resolve that prior to leaving the 112th Congress. I think those are both positive announcements. I applaud him for that.

A Message for the American People

King Solomon once recounted the story of a little city with few men in it. "A great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man."

Compared to the many fiscal challenges we have created for ourselves, America is the little city with few men in it, and our indebted way of life is set to ensnare us.

We need to find a poor wise man to deliver some wisdom to our city.

Notice the humility of wisdom: it is completely willing to be utterly forgotten. Wisdom is better than strength.

Solomon concluded:

Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.

Please ask God for humility for ourselves and our leaders.

House Weekly Schedule

THE LEADER'S WEEKLY SCHEDULE
WEEK OF DECEMBER 3RD

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3RD
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected in the House.

H.R. 5817 - Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act (Suspension, 40 Minutes of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer / Financial Services Committee)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Wednesday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

On Thursday and Friday, no votes are expected.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.Res. __ - Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendments to H.R. 2838, with an amendment (Sponsored by Rep. Frank LoBiondo / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

2) H.R. 6582 - To allow for innovations and alternative technologies that meet or exceed desired energy efficiency goals, and to make technical corrections to existing Federal energy efficiency laws to allow American manufacturers to remain competitive, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Robert Aderholt / Energy and Commerce Committee)

3) H.R. 6602 - To make revisions in title 36, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current and make technical corrections and improvements (Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith / Judiciary Committee)

4) H.R. 6605 - To eliminate an unnecessary reporting requirement for an unfunded DNA Identification grant program (Sponsored by Rep. John Conyers / Judiciary Committee)

5) H.R. 6620 - To eliminate certain limitations on the length of Secret Service Protection for former Presidents and for the children of former Presidents(Sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy / Judiciary Committee)

6) H.R. 6223 - To amend section 1059(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 to clarify that a period of employment abroad by the Chief of Mission or United States Armed Forces as a translator, interpreter, or in an executive level security position is to be counted as a period of residence and physical presence in the United States for purposes of qualifying for naturalization if at least a portion of such period was spent in Iraq or Afghanistan, and for other purposes, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Charlie Dent / Judiciary Committee)

7) S. 3486 - Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy / Judiciary Committee)

8) S. 2367 - 21st Century Language Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Rep. Kent Conrad / Judiciary Committee)

Possible Motions to go to Conference and Motions to Instruct Conferees

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK
Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia hearing on “Iranian Influence in the South Caucasus and the Surrounding Region” (Wednesday, December 5th, at 2:00 p.m.)

House Schedule for the Week

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH
On Monday, the House is not in session.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 6025 - Mandatory Operational Control Reporting and Performance Measures Act of 2012, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Candice Miller / Homeland Security Committee)

2) H.R. 5913 - DHS Accountability Act of 2012, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Mike McCaul / Homeland Security Committee)

3) H.R. 5997 - Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act (Sponsored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis / Homeland Security Committee)

4) H.R. 3563 - Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2012, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis / Homeland Security Committee)

5) Senate Amendment to H.R. 915 - Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act (Sponsored by Rep. Henry Cuellar / Homeland Security Committee)

6) H.R. 6328 - Clothe a Homeless Hero Act (Sponsored by Rep. Kathy Hochul / Homeland Security Committee)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. __ - To designate the federal building currently known as Federal Office Building 8, located at 200 C Street Southwest in the District of Columbia, as the “Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building” (Sponsored by Rep. Nancy Pelosi / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

2) H.R. 6374 - To designate the facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 180 Martin Drive in Carrollton, Georgia, as the "Trinka Davis Veterans Village"(Sponsored by Rep. Phil Gingrey / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

3) H.R. 5788 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 Center Street West in Eatonville, Washington, as the "National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. David Reichert / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

4) H.R. 5738 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15285 Samohin Drive in Macomb, Michigan, as the "Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio Clinton-Macomb Carrier Annex" (Sponsored by Rep. Candice Miller / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

5) H.R. 3892 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8771 Auburn Folsom Road in Roseville, California, as the "Private First Class Victor A. Dew Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. Tom McClintock / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

6) H.R. 2338 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the "Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Posey / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

7) H.R. 3912 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 Mastic Road in Mastic Beach, New York, as the "Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Tim Bishop / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
8) H.R. 5954 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the "Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building (Sponsored by Rep. Jason Altmire / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

H.R. 6429 - STEM Jobs Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith / Judiciary Committee)

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK
Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on “Examining Options to Combat Health Care Waste, Fraud and Abuse” (Wednesday, November 28, at 10:00 a.m.)

Printable PDF

Ron Paul: Farewell to Congress

   The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Dold). Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.

   Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, this may be the last time I speak on the House floor. At the end of the year, I'll leave Congress after 23 years in office over a 36-year period. My goals in 1976 were the same as they are today: promote peace and prosperity by a strict adherence to the principles of individual liberty.

   It was my opinion that the course that the U.S. embarked on in the latter part of the 20th century would bring us a major financial crisis and engulf us in a foreign policy that would overextend us and undermine our national security.

   To achieve these goals I sought, the government would have had to shrink in size and scope, reduce spending, change the monetary system, and reject the unsustainable cost of policing the world and expanding the American Empire.

   The problems seemed to be overwhelming and impossible to solve, yet from my viewpoint, just following the constraints placed on the Federal Government by the Constitution would have been a good place to start.

House Schedule

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH
On Monday, the House is not in session.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 6190 - Asthma Inhalers Relief Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Rep. Michael Burgess / Energy and Commerce Committee)

2) H.R. 6371 - Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act(Sponsored by Rep. Tim Walberg / Education and Workforce Committee)

3) S. 1956 - European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011(Sponsored by Sen. John Thune / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

4) H.R. 6586 - To extend the application of certain space launch liability provisions through 2014 (Sponsored by Rep. Steven Palazzo / Science, Space and Technology Committee)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2606 - New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Grimm / Natural Resources Committee) 

2) H.R. 6570 - To amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to consolidate certain CBO reporting requirements (Sponsored by Rep. Scott Garrett / Financial Services Committee)

3) Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2453 - Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act  (Sponsored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer / Financial Services Committee)

4) H.R. 6116 - To amend the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to provide for direct appeals to the United States Supreme Court of decisions of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, as amended (Sponsored by Del. Donna Christensen / Judiciary Committee)

5) H.R. 5934 - Stop Tobacco Smuggling in the Territories Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Del. Eni Faleomavaega / Judiciary Committee)

H.R. 6156 - Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp / Ways and Means Committee / Foreign Affairs Committee)

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK
House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing on
“Review of Veterans Employment Challenges and Initiatives of the 112th Congress”
(Thursday, November 15, at 10:00 a.m.)

Misleading About the Contraception/Abortion Mandate in the Vice Presidential Debate

During the vice presidential debate, the Vice President of the United States stated: "With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact."

What he did not say was this Administration has announced and has yet to finalize (publicly publish) a rule that requires every insurance company that is writing insurance policies for religious institutions to cover all forms of contraception—including abortion-inducing drugs—outside those policies for anyone covered by those policies.

As it stands now, that is little more than an 8-month-old promise for formal obfuscation, and the clearly hostile HHS mandate remains.

From an email by Kristina Arriaga, executive director of The Becket Fund:

Since last year the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has led the charge against the Administration’s unconstitutional HHS mandate, which forces many religious organizations—many of them Catholic—to violate their deeply held religious beliefs, or pay crippling fines.

Today, there are 33 cases and over 100 individuals representing hospitals, universities, businesses, schools, and people all speaking with one voice to affirm the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution.

The United States Constitution in 82 Tweets #ConstitutionDay

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Manufactured Crisis of Quality in American Healthcare

The Affordable Care Act is the culmination of changes to our health care system that has been decades in the making. Due to public policy over-aggressiveness by some and insufficient vigilance by others, we are now arriving at the beginning of a new health care era in America.

The federal government of the United States of America has assumed responsibility for the “quality” of care provided by our health care system. Superior results from the American healthcare system provided for patients are disregarded and trumped by the federal standardization and control of the medical system.

HHS Mandate is in effect

Today, August 1, is the first implementation date for the HHS mandate.

Starting today, the average pro-life American or business owner will have no protections against the requirement that all health insurance plans cover contraception, sterilizations, and abortion drugs with no copay.  The next time their health insurance plans renew over the next year, this requirement will be in effect.

While we are still waiting on the outcome of many court cases, on Friday, a Carter-appointed judge in Denver provided a preliminary injunction against the HHS mandate to the Newland family, the Catholic owners of a HVAC company in Colorado. This case, led by Alliance Defending Freedom, is a welcomed initial victory for religious freedom.

UN Disabilities Treaty Currently Entangles Abortion into the US Constitution

Language in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that specifically references domestic issues outside the realm of "disabilities" requires further explanation. Article 25(a) of the Convention addresses the range and quality of health care, including "sexual and reproductive health".

The previous Administration found it necessary to submit statements explicitly declaring that these terms do not include abortion. Poland, Malta, and Monaco made similar reservations when they signed the treaty.

However, no language defining sexual and reproductive health has been placed in the Administration’s instrument of ratification, and an attempt to do so in the Foreign Relations Committee was defeated.

D.C. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act filed as amendment to S. 3414 in Senate.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has filed the “D.C. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” as an amendment to S. 3414, which is now pending in the Senate.

AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND PROPOSED

SA 2716. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 3414, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table.

TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

   SA 2716. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 3414, to enhance the security and resiliency of the cyber and communications infrastructure of the United States; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

House Schedule Remaining

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.Con.Res. 127 - Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived (Sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono Mack / Energy and Commerce Committee)
2) H.R. 4273 - Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Rep. Pete Olson / Energy and Commerce Committee)
3) H.R. 897 - Residential and Commuter Toll Fairness Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Grimm / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
4) H.R. 5797 - Mille Lacs Lake Freedom To Fish Act of 2012 (Sponsored by Rep. Chip Cravaack / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
5) H.R. 3158 - Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act (Sponsored by Rep. Rick Crawford / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
6) H.R. 1171 - Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012 (Sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
7) H.R. 2446 - RESPA Home Warranty Clarification Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Judy Biggert / Financial Services Committee)
8) H.R. 2139 - Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Pete Roskam / Financial Services Committee)
9) H.R. 3187 - March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act of 2011, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Robert Dold / Financial Services Committee)
10) H.R. 4104 - Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Jim Renacci / Financial Services Committee)
11) S. 3363 - To provide for the use of National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin surcharges, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Sen. Saxby Chambliss / Financial Services Committee)

H.R. __ - To provide a one-year extension of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, with certain modifications and exceptions, to make supplemental agricultural disaster assistance available for fiscal years 2012 and 2013, and for other purposes (Subject to a Rule)
(Sponsored by Rep. Frank Lucas / Agriculture Committee)

H.R. 8 -  Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012 (Subject to a Rule)
(Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp / Ways and Means Committee / Budget Committee)

H.R. 6169 - Pathway to Job Creation through a Simpler, Fairer Tax Code Act of 2012 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. David Dreier / Rules Committee)

House Vote Today - H.R. 3803: DC Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act #HR3803

The House is scheduled to vote on the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 3803) today under suspension of the rules.

Currently:

• Abortion is legal in D.C. up until birth for any reason.
• Recent polling shows that 63% of Americans support banning abortion on pain-capable unborn children and 70% of women support such a ban.
• The most common method of abortion used in the late second trimester is the “D&E” or dismemberment abortion, which involves using a long steel tool to grasp and tear off, by brute force, the arms and legs of the unborn child. Then the head is crushed and removed.
• There is substantial evidence that unborn children can feel pain at least by 20 weeks. Leading expert Dr. Anand at the University of Tennessee has stated, “It is my opinion that the human fetus possesses the ability to experience pain from 20 weeks gestation, if not earlier, and the pain perceived by a fetus is possibly more intense than that perceived by term newborns or older children.”

H.R. 3803: District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] (introduced 1/23/2012)      Cosponsors (222)
Related Bills: S.2103

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ALL ACTIONS 

Legislative Findings:

(1) Pain receptors (nociceptors) are present throughout the unborn child's entire body and nerves link these receptors to the brain's thalamus and subcortical plate by no later than 20 weeks after fertilization.

(2) By 8 weeks after fertilization, the unborn child reacts to touch. After 20 weeks, the unborn child reacts to stimuli that would be recognized as painful if applied to an adult human, for example, by recoiling.

Affordable Care Act Update

1. COURT ACTS ON HHS MANDATE TWO DAYS BEFORE DEADLINE
2. CBO PARTIALLY UPDATES COST ESTIMATE FOR ACA REPEAL
3. CONGRESS SETTING PRIORITIES FOR DEFUNDING HEALTH CARE LAW
4. NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PUT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CUTS ON HOLD
5. AFFORDABILITY RULE IGNORES CHILDREN
6. ACA IN THE STATES
7. IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE TAX
8. OBAMACARE VS. ROE
9. MCDONALD’S CFO SEES UP TO $420M IN NEW HEALTH-CARE COSTS

House Suspension Votes Tuesday

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

2013 Medchip Misinformation Abounds

NewsWithViews is reporting reporting, along with many others, the following incorrect information:

WILL AMERICANS RECEIVE A MICROCHIP IMPLANT IN 2013 PER OBAMACARE?

By Paul McGuire
July 23, 2012
NewsWithViews.com

House Wednesday

On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First votes expected: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Last votes expected: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

One Minute Speeches (15 per side)

H.R. 6168 - President Obama’s Proposed 2012-2017 Offshore Drilling Lease Sale Plan Act (Suspension, 40 Minutes of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings / Natural Resources Committee)

Complete Consideration of H.R. 6082 - Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan, Rules Committee Print (Structured Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings / Natural Resources Committee)

Affordable Care Act loses 69% of its deficit-reducing effect in 16 months

In March 2011, CBO said that the law would reduce the deficit by $210 billion over 10 years, despite increasing spending by $1.042 trillion over 10 years, from 2012 until 2021. The new estimate covers 2022. Using the same time frame, repeal would only add $65 billion, CBO said. (On The Money)

To recap:

• March 2011: Affordable Care Act reduces the deficit by $210 billion over 10 years
• July 2012: Affordable Care Act reduces the deficit by $65 billion over the same time frame.

There is a $145 billion difference between $210 billion and $65 billion which amounts to a 69 percent loss of effectiveness in how much the Affordable Care Act will reduce the deficit.

Some of the change is attributed to fewer covered and other factors in the Supreme Court ruling.

Nonetheless, watch for the trend to continue.

July 24: CBO Analyses Related to the Affordable Care Act

House Schedule

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, the House is not in session.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 459 - Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

2) H.R. 4157 - Preserving America's Family Farms Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Latham / Education and the Workforce Committee)

3) H.R. 5986 - To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to extend the third-country fabric program and to add South Sudan to the list of countries eligible for designation under that Act, to make technical corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States relating to the textile and apparel rules of origin for the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, to approve the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp / Ways and Means Committee)

H.R. 6002 - Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings / Natural Resources Committee)

H.R. 4078 - Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Tim Griffin / Oversight and Government Reform Committee / Judiciary Committee)

House Legislation Introduced

Rep. John Fleming (LA-04) introduced H.R. 6137, the Helping Save Americans’ Health Care Choices Act of 2012, which would repeal the damage done to HSAs by ObamaCare and strengthens them so consumers can keep more of their own money.

Six bills introduced have been combined into H.R. 4078, the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act.

Jim Jordan (OH-04), Rep. David Camp (MI-04), and other members introduced H.R. 6140, the Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act, which would prohibit the Obama administration from unilaterally granting itself the authority to exempt states from the work requirements that were a critical element of welfare reform enacted in 1996.

Affordable Care Act Update

1. EXPECT THE HEALTH CARE LAW TO REENTER THE HEADLINES
2. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION RELATED TO ACA
3. FUNDING ISSUE TAKEN UP IN ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL
4. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: CENTRALIZING POWER
5. REACTION IN THE STATES
6. A LEGAL STRATEGY ON IMPLEMENTATION
7. IMPLEMENTATION LEGAL STRATEGY CUTS TWO WAYS
8. HHS MANDATE LAWSUITS
9. MEDICARE CUTS IN ACA TO HARM SAFETY NET HOSPITALS
10. BUSINESS COMMUNITY REACTION

House Suspension Votes

The House meets at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.

House Schedule - H.R. 5872, H.R. 5856

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

H.R. 5872 - Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 (Suspension, 40 minutes of debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Jeb Hensarling / Budget Committee)

H.R. 5856 - Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013 (Open Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Young / Appropriations Committee)

Week ahead: Senate amendment to repeal ACA

This week's healthcare schedule will remind some of a quieter, simpler time — a time before healthcare reform. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled on the Affordable Care Act and the House has voted to repeal the law for a second time, the issue may finally recede somewhat on Capitol Hill. This is especially true as August recess approaches and as other issues — such as Medicare payments to physicians — cry out for attention before January 1.

The one exception is a possible healthcare repeal vote in the Senate, recently promised by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

"I would remind you all that we had that vote in 2011. Every single Republican voted to repeal it," McConnell said at a press conference Tuesday. "We believe it's appropriate to have that vote again and we'll be working to get that kind of vote in the near future." That day, he filed an amendment to the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act that would repeal the law. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has vowed to block the effort.

—Healthwatch

Affordable Care Act Update

1. A LONGER VIEW OF THE HEALTH CARE COURT OPINION
   
2. HOUSE PASSES 'REPEAL OF OBAMACARE ACT'
   
3. DASCHLE: DEFUNDING IS BIGGEST THREAT
   
4. COST OF PRESIDENT'S HEALTH LAW RISES WITH EACH NEW ESTIMATE
   
5. REACTION IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
   
6. CONSCIENCE RIGHTS (BACKGROUND)
   
7. HHS MANDATE LAWSUITS
   
8. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM TAX REPEAL ACT
   
9. REACTION IN THE STATES
   
10. EFFECTS ON PREVIOUS HEALTH CARE POLICIES
    
11. SIDE EFFECTS OF THE HEALTH CARE LAW
    

House Tuesday - Suspension Votes

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) S. 2039 - A bill to allow a State or local government to construct levees on certain properties otherwise designated as open space lands (Sponsored by Sen. John Hoveven / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

2) S. 1959 - Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2011, as amended(Sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr / Judiciary Committee)

3) H.R. 6018 - To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen / Foreign Affairs Committee)

4) S. 2165 - United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012(Sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer / Foreign Affairs Committee)

5) S. 2009 - Insular Areas Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman / Foreign Affairs Committee)

S. 3290: Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA) of 2012

S. 3290: Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA) of 2012
Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David [LA] (introduced 6/13/2012)      Cosponsors (30)
Related Bills: H.R.3541

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ALL ACTIONS 

Bill Text

Findings:

1. Women are a vital part of American society and culture and possess the same fundamental human rights and civil rights as men.

Legislative Update

In addition to health care related items, Congress has a full week ahead.

DC Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
On Tuesday, July 10, 2012 the House Judiciary Committee will hold a mark-up of several bills including H.R. 3803, the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This legislation would prohibit any abortion from being conducted in the District of Columbia on unborn children 20 weeks post-fertilization age or later.

Affordable Care Act Update

1. SUPREME COURT TERM ENDS, 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW STANDS
   
2. HOUSE TO VOTE ON TOTAL REPEAL OF THE 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW
   
3. HOUSE TO VOTE ON FUNDING IMPLEMENTATION OF 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW
   
4. HOUSE HEARING TUESDAY ON TAX RAMIFICATIONS OF NFIB V. SEBELIUS
   
5. 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW THREATENS PRACTICE OF MEDICINE
   
6. 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW HINDERS MISSIONS
   
7. 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW IGNORES RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
   
8. NFIB V. SEBELIUS WAS FRAUDULENT BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
   
9. TAX INCREASES INCLUDED IN THE 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW
   
10. STATES REJECTING THE 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW
    

Findings in Repeal of Obamacare Act address abortion funding and conscience protections

House Republicans late Thursday released their proposal to repeal the 2010 healthcare law, arguing that it has increased healthcare costs, puts Americans at risk of losing coverage and is dragging down the economy.

The Repeal of Obamacare Act is a response to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the law, and argues that despite that ruling, solving the nation's healthcare problems must begin with repeal of the law.

"The path to patient-centered care and lower costs for all Americans must begin with a full repeal of the law," the Repeal of Obamacare Act reads. (The Hill)

Findings number (7) and (8) address the issue of abortion funding and conscience protections:

House Markup - H.R. 3803: DC Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

On Tuesday, July 10, 2012 the House Judiciary Committee will hold a mark-up of several bills including H.R. 3803, the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This legislation would prohibit any abortion from being conducted in the District of Columbia on unborn children 20 weeks post-fertilization age or later.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 10:00 a.m. 2141 Rayburn House Office Building

A hearing on H.R. 3803 was held in the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on May 17, 2012.

July 11: House to vote on repealing Affordable Care Act

The Supreme Court decision indicates that we have entered an age where, unless something changes, the federal government will be in indefinite control of health care. On July 11th, the House will move to make that change and vote on a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor delivered the following remarks at a press conference with House Republican Leaders:

House FY2013 Financial Services Appropriations bill prohibits implementation of the Affordable Care Act

The House as early as next week will pass legislation prohibiting the IRS from receiving any money from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement the 2010 healthcare reform law.

Passage of the financial services spending bill is especially timely in light of last week's Supreme Court ruling that penalties the government can impose under the law against people who refuse to buy health insurance can be seen as a tax, because it is enforced like a tax.

Supreme Court 2011 Term End: Affordable Care Act Upheld

Thursday’s Supreme Court decision to uphold “Obamacare” (a.k.a., the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) came as a welcome surprise to many, and left others fuming. Chief Justice John Roberts, who ultimately sided with liberals on the Mandate issue, has been hailed as everything from a savior to a traitor in the big decision of whether implement a universal-like health care system in the U.S. (Forbes)

The only way Roberts could get a majority to uphold the law — and thus assign the opinion to himself, the prerogative of the Chief Justice — was to join with the liberal wing on the narrow question of whether the mandate was in fact a tax even if President Obama and Congress denied it was. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined with him for this critical portion of the opinion.

The cobbled-together nature of the decision doesn’t diminish its sheer legal cleverness, bordering on brilliance. By upholding the law, Roberts sheltered the court from liberal criticism. At the same time he asserted at least two powerful holdings that pushed the authority of the court further than it had ever gone before. That makes Roberts the heir to the one of the first Chief Justices, John Marshall, who protected the infant court from being strangled in its crib in the early years of this country while also establishing its power to invalidate acts of Congress.

House Hearings - Dodd-Frank Burdens

The House Financial Services Committee plans to spend much of July focusing on the Dodd-Frank financial reform law and what committee Republicans say are the law's burdensome regulations on companies and consumers.

"With this month marking the second anniversary of passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Financial Services Committee is focusing attention throughout July on the burdens this law's 2,300 pages and more than 400 new rules layer on American companies, financial markets and consumers," committee Republicans said this week.

House Hearing - Tax Ramifications of NFIB v. Sebelius (2012 health care law ruling)

The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing next week on the "tax ramifications" of the Supreme Court's ruling on the healthcare law.

The July 10 hearing will mark the first chance for members of Congress to formally hash out the surprise ruling, which allowed the law's mandate to buy health insurance by treating it as a tax, even though Chief Justice John Roberts said it could not be upheld as a way to regulate commerce under the Commerce Clause.

Affordable Care Act Decision

The Supreme Court has issued a decision in the cases related to the Affordable Care Act. Abortion-related issues remain.

Life issues in the Affordable Care Act

As we await the Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) P.L. 111-148, this is sampling of abortion-related issues that could remain unless the entire law is struck down.