House Committee Schedule

Monday — July 30, 2018

VA Long-term Care: Whats Working, Whats Not, and How to Best Serve Our Aging Veterans.
Subcommittee on Health (Committee on Veterans' Affairs)
Field Hearing in Camarillo, California

Source: House.gov

Senate Committee Schedule

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2018

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet
Hearings to examine the internet and digital communications, focusing on the impact of global internet governance.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Hearings to examine reducing health care costs, focusing on decreasing administrative spending.

Judiciary
An oversight hearing to examine immigration enforcement and family reunification efforts.


Wednesday, Aug 1, 2018

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Business meeting to consider

Senate Floor Schedule

Program for Monday: Senate resumes consideration of the nomination of Britt Cagle Grant, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, and votes on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination at 5:30 p.m.

Senate began consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 5515, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year.

Congressional Outlook

Committee Activity

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Brings Banking Panel to Boiling Point

USA Gymnastics, FBI Targets of Latest Senate Hearing on Sexual Abuse

House moves forward on ethanol reform, but no bill yet

Facebook, Twitter executives to appear before Senate Intel panel as part of Russia investigation: Report

Floor Outlook

The Senate Calendar Is Not Updated to Reflect Cancelled Recess

Burr to Hold Up Water Bill, Slow Others, for Conservation Fund

After High Hopes in Senate, a Pit Stop for Spending Package

After House bolts for summer, Senate plows ahead on nominations, spending bills, and a hearing on Russian bots

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

House Suicide Hotline Bill Could Lead to 3-Digit Dial Code

Senate Confirms Robert Wilkie to be Veterans Affairs Secretary

House Backs Plan for John Adams Memorial

House repeals ACA's medical device tax

Congress Passes Career and Technical Education Overhaul

House extends broke flood insurance program as GOP battles over reforms

House repeals Obamacare health insurance tax, expands Health Savings Accounts

House passes bills expanding health savings accounts

House passes defense bill targeting Chinese investments

Senate passes tariff-relief bill

House passes measure allowing purchase of feminine hygiene products with health spending accounts

Supreme Court Nominee Update

Kavanaugh: Court's Watergate Tapes Ruling May Have Been Wrong

Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh's Responses Reveal Views

Withdrawn Nomination Gives Democrats Hope in Brett Kavanaugh Fight

Senate Democrats Ask for Documents Before Kavanaugh Meetings

With Kavanaugh, Court Could Take Aim at Gun Control Laws

Pro-Life Provisions in Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

Today the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. During the markup, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) offered an amendment to prevent funding for elective abortion for detainees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and provide conscience protection for ICE employees. The amendment was adopted 30-20; with 29 Republicans and 1 Democratic Member (Cuellar) voting to support the amendment and 20 Democratic Members voting against.

ICE does not currently pay for elective abortions per administrative guidance, but the Aderholt Amendment is needed to put this safeguard into law and to ensure that no ICE employee can be compelled to facilitate abortion. This position has been included in House appropriations bills from FY 2013 - FY2018, and it was part of President Trump’s Budget Request for FY 2019.

Urban Air Mobility

Yesterday the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing on “Urban Air Mobility – Are Flying Cars Ready for Take-Off?”

As chartered, the purpose of the hearing was to learn about urban air mobility research and development efforts. The hearing examined the potential benefits and challenges of ‘flying cars’ or vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircrafts from a public and private sector perspective, including discussion of when such technology may be commercially available.

Paid Family Leave

“I’m a bereaved mother from a deep red state who is a proud conservative and advocate for paid family leave. I came to this place in life after my infant son, Shepard, died in his sleep at a state-licensed day care facility in Oklahoma when he was just 11 weeks old. Unfortunately, the manner of Shepard’s death happens too frequently in America. … Of the 3,500 infant sleep deaths that occur annually, 20 percent of those occur outside of a parents care.”
—Ali Dodd

This is not a call for paid day care. Day care would continue to facilitate both parents of young children being outside the home. This is a call for paid family leave which would facilitate a parent staying in the home with young children.

The Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy held a hearing on Examining the Importance of Paid Family Leave for American Working Families Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

House Committee Schedule

Monday — July 23, 2018

• H.R. 184 — Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017;
• H.R. 6199 — Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2018 [Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018] (Rules Committee Print 115-82 — Showing the text of H.R. 6199, H.R. 6301, H.R. 6305, as reported, and H.R. 6312, and H.R. 6317 as reported with modifications; all by the Committee on Ways and Means);
• H.R. 6311 Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans Act of 2018 [Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018] (Rules Committee Print 115-83 — Showing the text of H.R. 6311, H.R. 6313 as reported with modifications, and H.R. 6306, H.R. 6309, H.R. 6314 as reported; all by the Committee on Ways and Means; and based on H.R. 5963 as introduced.)
Committee on Rules

Source: House.gov

Tuesday — July 24, 2018

Assessing Innovative and Alternative Uses of Coal
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Committee on Natural Resources)

Examining Advertising and Marketing Practices within the Substance Use Treatment Industry
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Committee on Energy and Commerce)

Cyber-securing the Vote: Ensuring the Integrity of the U.S. Election System
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Examining the Wayfair decision and its Ramifications for Consumers and Small Businesses
Committee on the Judiciary

House Floor Schedule

“The House will consider several bills aimed at giving Americans more affordable healthcare choices:

“First, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, sponsored by Representative Erik Paulsen. This bill would permanently repeal ObamaCare's burdensome medical device tax. Doing so will create jobs, promote research, and allow for innovation that could lead to the next generation of lifesaving medical technologies;

“Next, the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act, sponsored by Representative Peter Roskam. This package would expand access to lower cost healthcare options, encourage healthcare savings, and put a 2-year delay on ObamaCare's health insurance tax, which drives up costs of insurance for almost every American;

“Finally, the Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act, sponsored by Representative Lynn Jenkins. This bill would transform and modernize health savings accounts and allow for more innovation in healthcare delivery.”

Senate Committee Schedule

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Hearings to examine the nominations of
Dan Michael Berkovitz, of Maryland, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and
James E. Hubbard, of Colorado, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine the nominations of
Elad L. Roisman, of Maine, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Michael R. Bright, of the District of Columbia, to be President, Government National Mortgage Association, and
Rae Oliver, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, both of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and
Dino Falaschetti, of Montana, to be Director, Office of Financial Research, Department of the Treasury.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
Hearings to examine theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's blue economy initiative, focusing on supporting commerce in American oceans and Great Lakes.

Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine factors that are impacting global oil prices.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security
Hearings to examine strengthening and empowering United States amateur athletes, focusing on moving forward with solutions.

Foreign Relations
Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy
Hearings to examine the China challenge, focusing on economic coercion as statecraft.

Senate Floor Schedule

Program for Monday: Senate begins consideration of the nomination of Robert L. Wilkie, of North Carolina, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and votes on confirmation of the nomination at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Following disposition of the nomination of Robert L. Wilkie, Senate begins consideration of H.R. 6147, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Congressional Outlook

Committee Activity

Mike Pompeo to testify before Congress Wednesday

Senate leader asks for proposals to block future Russian meddling

Floor Outlook

McConnell aiming to confirm Brett Kavanaugh by October

Senate to vote Monday on Trump's VA nominee

Senate Schedule for Next Week: VA Nominee and Appropriations

Senators want committee vote on Russia sanctions bill by early August

House Schedule Before August Recess is Set

Next week: House to extend broke flood insurance program before leaving town

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

House backs resolution expressing support for ICE

House votes to go to conference on farm bill

House passes measure declaring a carbon tax harmful to economy

Senate Democrats block resolution supporting ICE

US Senate Rejects Resolutions Backing Intelligence on Russian Meddling

Unanimous Senate Resolution Sends Message to Putin

Update: House votes to prevent IRS from punishing churches engaging in politics

Supreme Court Nominee Update

Sen. Rand Paul 'very worried' about Trump Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh

Presidential Power Key Issue in Court Confirmation Fight 

Democrats Demand Paperwork Before Meeting With Kavanaugh

Pro-Life Provisions in Financial Services-related bill

Today the House passed H.R. 6147, the Department of the Interior, Environment, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019. The Financial Services portion of the bill includes new pro-life provisions.

House Committee Schedule

Monday — July 16, 2018

• H.R. 6147 — Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 [Interior, Environment, Financial Services, and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019] (Rules Committee Print 115-81 showing the text of H.R. 6147 and H.R. 6258 as reported by the Committee on Appropriations, as modified)
Committee on Rules

Source: House.gov


Tuesday — July 17, 2018

Combating Fraud in Medicare: A Strategy for Success
Subcommittee on Oversight (Committee on Ways and Means)

The Future of Fossil: Energy Technologies Leading the Way
Subcommittee on Energy (Committee on Science, Space, and Technology)

"A New Horizon in U.S.-Israel Relations: From an American Embassy in Jerusalem to Potential Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty over the Golan Heights"
Subcommittee on National Security (Committee on Oversight and Government Reform)

House Floor Schedule

MONDAY, JULY 16TH
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. 1376 – Electronic Message Preservation Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Elijah Cummings / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
2) H.R. 5415 – GAO-IG Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Mark Walker / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
3) H.R. 4446 – To amend the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act to extend the expiration date of the Commission, and for other purposes, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Stacey Plaskett / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

Senate Committee Schedule

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Environment and Public Works
Hearings to examine an original bill entitled, "Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2018".

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress.

Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the Department of the Interior's final list of critical minerals for 2018 and opportunities to strengthen the United States' mineral security.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Hearings to examine reducing health care costs, focusing on eliminating excess health care spending and improving quality and value for patients.

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hearings to examine Russia's occupation of Georgia and the erosion of the international order.

Senate Floor Schedule

Program for Monday: Senate begins consideration of the nomination of Scott Stump, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of Education, and votes on confirmation of the nomination at 5:30 p.m.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Randal Quarles, of Colorado, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Andrew S. Oldham, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Ryan Wesley Bounds, of Oregon, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.

Congressional Outlook

Committee Activity

• Senate Panel OKs Trump's Pick to Lead Troubled VA
• House Panel Advances Bills Aimed at Helping Small Businesses
• George Papadopoulos' wife to testify before the House Intelligence Committee next week: Report
• House panel advances health bills after tense fights on pre-existing conditions, immigration

Floor Outlook

• House GOP Considers Vote on Dem-Sponsored 'Abolish ICE' Bill
• McConnell: Senate to confirm Kavanaugh by Oct. 1

Congress Last Week

Immigration

• House Appropriators Back Indefinite Detention of Migrant Kids
• GOP lawmakers condemn calls to eradicate ICE
• More U.S.-Born Children Could be Separated from Immigrant Parents

Federal Spending

• Trump needs a Bridge to Nowhere moment on spending
• $177.1 Billion Labor-HHS-Education Moves Forward with Family Separation Changes — Pro-Life Provisions Included

Executive

• Republicans Back From Russia Have Advice for Trump Before Putin Summit Monday
• Trump elevates tax aide Shahira Knight as Congress adviser

Judiciary

• Senate plans to push ahead with Trump's lower court nominees amid Supreme Court vacancy

Justice

• Jones’ Bill Would Declassify, Release Civil Rights Cold Cases

Commerce Policy

• House GOP unveils package to eliminate 'frivolous' lawsuits over endangered species

Congress

• Steny Hoyer Released From Hospital, Returning to Capitol This Week
• McConnell Gets Personal Discussing Polio
• No. 2 U.S. House Democrat out of hospital after bout with pneumonia
• Republican Michael Cloud Sworn In to House, Replacing Blake Farenthold
• The Dizzying Life of Midcycle Newbies

President Trump Nominates Judge Brett Kavanaugh

Introductions

• Brett Kavanaugh is President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court
• Washington Insider Kavanaugh Boasts Conservative Credentials
• White House sets '66-day' goal for confirmation of Supreme Court nominee
• Former Sen. Jon Kyl to Guide Nominee Through Confirmation
• Why Former Sen. Jon Kyl Got Tapped to Guide Brett Kavanaugh
• Trump's Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh Visits Senators

Kavanaugh's Record

• Kavanaugh's Health Care Positions Hint at Future Abortion Views
• Opinion: Why the Kavanaugh Pick Is Not as Safe as It Seems
• Paul v. Kavanaugh?
• Brett Kavanaugh donated money to Ohio Democrat Richard Cordray

Confirmation Challenges

• Comparing Kavanaugh and Garland, two DC Circuit judges
• Partisan Divide Deepens Over Trump's Supreme Court Pick
• Democrats refocus fight against Trump's nominee on healthcare
• Sen. John McCain's illness could complicate President Donald Trump's pick

SCOTUS Outlook

• Trump High Court Pick Kavanaugh May Face Contentious Cases Soon

Floor Activity Summary

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

• U.S. Senate backs non-binding measure seeking congressional tariff role
• House passes pro-NATO resolution
• House kills Rhode Island's push to join mid-Atlantic fishery council
• Senate confirms Trump DOJ nominee
• House votes to shed limits on commercial and sport fishing
• In bipartisan vote, House approves Intel funding
• Senate passes resolution honoring victims of Capital Gazette shooting

Pro-Life Provisions in the LHHS Appropriations Bill

This week the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY19 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) funding bill. The Chairman’s bill included all longstanding pro-life provisions traditionally included in the LHHS appropriations bill, such as the Hyde Amendment (banning LHHS funding from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, and life of the mother) and the Dickey-Wicker Amendment (banning funding from being used on research that harms human embryos).

It also contained several new pro-life policies not currently in effect. Five amendments were offered to strike or weaken these pro-life policies. In each instance, the hostile amendment was defeated and the pro-life policy was retained.