Senate Floor Schedule

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Senate adjourn, to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at 4:45 p.m.; Friday, July 5, 2019, at 11:45 a.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, July 5, 2019, it next convene at 3 p.m., on Monday, July 8, 2019.

Thursday, 6/27, Senate began consideration of the following nominations:

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Daniel Aaron Bress, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of T. Kent Wetherell II, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Damon Ray Leichty, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of J. Nicholas Ranjan, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Robert L. King, of Kentucky, to be Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of John P. Pallasch, of Kentucky, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Peter C. Wright, of Michigan, to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste, Environmental Protection Agency.

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

House Passes $383 Billion Spending Package

Senate passes $750B defense bill, targets China

House passes election security measure requiring cybersecurity safeguards, paper ballots

House compromises, passes border funding

Senate defeats measure to curb Trump’s use of military force in Iran


Floor attempts to protect human life, prohibit infanticide

House: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Pro-Life implications of Financial Services appropriations bill

This afternoon the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Act for FY 2020 by a vote of 224-196. The vote fell primarily along party lines with five Democrats voting in opposition: Reps. Gonzalez (TX), Vela, McAdams, Peterson, and Lipinski.

H.R. 3351 undermines the DC Hyde (Dornan) Amendment, which states that DC may not use any funding (neither federal nor local) to pay for abortions. H.R. 3351 limits the abortion funding prohibition to “federal” funds, allowing DC to use locally-generated funds to pay for abortions on demand.

RFRA Hearing: Disagreement is not discrimination

Yesterday, the House Education & Labor Committee held a hearing entitled “Do No Harm: Examining the Misapplication of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”

During the first panel, Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-MA) testified in support of his bill, H.R. 1450, which amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to limit its application. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) testified in opposition to the bill, stating it would “eviscerate one of the most important and widely-regarded laws that’s ever been passed by the Congress.” No questions were asked of the first panel.

During the second panel, Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), testified as the sole minority witness. A full list of witnesses can be viewed here.

The following exchanges took place between witnesses and pro-life Members:

House Committee Schedule

Monday — June 24, 2019

• H.R. 3351 — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020;
• H.R. 2722 — Securing Americas Federal Elections Act;
• H.R. 3401 — Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019
Committee on Rules 

Source: House.gov

House Floor Schedule

MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (2 bills)

1. H.R. 2109 BRAVE Act (Rep. Rice (NY) Veterans Affairs)
2. H.R. 2196 To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the credit hour requirement for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (Rep. Barr Veterans Affairs)

Continue Consideration of H.R. 3055 Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020 (Rep. Serrano Appropriations)

Senate Committee Schedule

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Hearings to examinethe state of the derivatives market and perspectives for Commodity Futures Trading Commission reauthorization.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine whether Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be designated as systematically important financial institutions.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet
Hearings to examine the use of persuasive technology on internet platforms, focusing on optimizing for engagement.

Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examinethe implementation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund program.

Senate Floor Schedule

Program for Monday: Senate resumes consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1790, National Defense Authorization Act, post-cloture. At 5:30 p.m., all post-cloture time expires and Senate votes on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.

Congressional Outlook

Committee Activity

Senate panel advances emergency border funding

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation held a hearing entitled “Protecting Title X and Safeguarding Quality Family Planning Care.”
• During the first panel, the sole witness was Dr. Diane Foley, Director of the Office of Population Affairs at HHS. (Witness Statement, Full testimony)
• During the second panel, Catherine Glenn Foster, President of Americans United for Life, was the minority witness. (Witness Statement, Full testimony, highlights).
Pro-life members asked questions of these witnesses.


Floor Outlook

Democratic leader: House will vote on reparations measure

Congress is getting serious about a spending crisis that looms this fall

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

GOP senator slams pro-abortion companies: 'Why do they think babies are bad for business?' — Full Floor Speech

Finally, the U.S. Is Getting Some Diplomats in the Field

Senate rejects Saudi arms sales in rebuke to Trump

Sen. Ben Sasse Tears Into Democratic Candidates’ Abortion Extremism In Blistering Speech — Full Floor Speech

Blocking Saudi arms sales, the Senate endangers alliance


Appropriations

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2740, appropriations minibus I for FY 2020 by a vote of 226-203. The vote fell primarily along party lines with six Democrats voting in opposition: Reps. Heck, McAdams, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Peterson, Pressley, and Tlaib.

The President’s Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) highlights five of the nine pro-life issues:
• anti-life language in the bill blocking implementation of the Conscience Protection Rule,
• blocking implementation of the Title X Program,
• providing funding for the Teen Pregnancy Program,
• blocking implementation of Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (expanded Mexico City Policy), and
• providing funding to the United Nations Population Fund.
The SAP states that the President’s advisors would recommend that he veto H.R. 2740 in its present form.


Floor attempts to protect human life, prohibit infanticide

House: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

House Committee Schedule

Monday — June 17, 2019

Weathering the Storm: Improving Hurricane Resiliency through Research
Subcommittee on Environment (Committee on Science, Space, and Technology) 

Source: House.gov


Tuesday — June 18, 2019

• H.R. 3055 — Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020 [Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020]
Committee on Rules 

Source: House.gov

House Floor Schedule

MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019
On Monday, the House is not in session.  No votes are expected.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2019 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with first votes expected at 6:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business, with last votes expected 2:00 3:00 p.m.

Suspension (1 bill)

1. H.R. 3253 Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019 (Rep. Dingell Energy and Commerce)

Complete Consideration of H.R. 2740 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020 (Rep. DeLauro Appropriations)

Begin Consideration of H.R. 3055 Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020 (Rep. Serrano Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)

Members are advised that votes will occur after 7:00 p.m. when the House is considering appropriations bills, therefore the House is expected to be voting late on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 and Thursday, June 20, 2019.

Senate Committee Schedule

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine deferred maintenance needs and potential solutions on Federal lands administered by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Hearings to examine the Lower Health Care Costs Act.

Finance
Hearings to examine the President's 2019 trade policy agenda and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Senate Floor Schedule

Program for Monday: Senate meets in a pro forma session.

Thursday, 6/13, Senate began consideration of the following:

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Sean Cairncross, of Minnesota, to be Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Allen Cothrel Winsor, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of James David Cain, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Greg Girard Guidry, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1790, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 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

Devin Nunes: Andrew McCarthy invited to hearing on Mueller investigation to counter Democrats' impeachment 'show'

Meadows predicts DOJ inspector general FISA abuse report will be late due to new developments

Republicans shred John Dean’s record: 'How many presidents have you accused of being Richard Nixon?'

FDNY Fire Officers Association President Applauds House Committee’s Move to Reauthorize 9/11 Victims Fund

Former top Trump aide Hope Hicks to appear before Judiciary Committee

Committee votes to hold Barr, Ross in contempt

Who should control the technological doors of expression?

House Judiciary schedules hearing on reparations


Floor Outlook

Pelosi: Democrats will take up measure to ban foreign opposition research

Senate will try to advance stalled border deal

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

House passes bill to increase security for churches, synagogues, and mosques

House votes to take Trump administration to court over unanswered subpoenas

List of Pro-Life Issues in first Appropriations Minibus

Senate confirms ex-Air Force General Stilwell as top diplomat for East Asia

Senate passes bipartisan IRS modernization bill

Senate rejects effort to block Trump's Qatar, Bahrain arms sales

The Senate basically just voted to arm ISIS with your tax dollars


Floor attempts to protect human life, prohibit infanticide

House: Monday, Tuesday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

List of Pro-Life Issues in first Appropriations Minibus

List of Pro-Life Issues in H.R. 2740

FY2020 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Text

TITLE X: The Trump Administration’s final Protect Life (Title X) rule is repealed. Title X funding is increased to $400 ($114 million increase). (In FY19, Title X was funded at $286 million).

CONSCIENCE PROTECTION RULE: The Trump Administration’s final Conscience Protection Rule is repealed.

TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION (TPP) FUNDING: TPP is funded at $110 million ($9 million increase). (In FY19, TPP was funded at $101 million).

SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE (SRA) FUNDING: SRA funding is eliminated ($35 million decrease)

POCAN FETAL TISSUE AMENDMENT: An amendment by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) prohibiting the convening of an ethics advisory board to review applications for extramural fetal tissue research (outside researchers funded by HHS dollars.) This prohibition seeks to prevent HHS from withholding funds for extramural fetal tissue research. The Pocan Amendment passed by a vote of 225-193.

FY2020 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Text

PROTECTING LIFE IN GLOBAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE (PLGHA): President Trump’s PLGHA policy is repealed, and future Administrations are prohibited from establishing a similar policy.

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA): The bill appropriates $55.5 million ($23 million increase).

INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING: The bill appropriates not less than $750 million for family planning/reproductive health programs ($175 million increase from FY19 levels).

MORE FUNDING FOR CONTRACEPTION: Longstanding HIV/AIDs Provision altered.

House Committee Schedule

Monday — June 10, 2019

Lessons from the Mueller Report: Presidential Obstruction and Other Crimes
Committee on the Judiciary 

• H. Res. 430 — Authorizing the Committee on the Judiciary to initiate or intervene in judicial proceedings to enforce certain subpoenas and for other purposes.;
• H.R. 2740 — Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020 [Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020]
Committee on Rules 

Source: House.gov

House Floor Schedule

Members are advised that votes will occur after 7:00 p.m. when the House is considering appropriations bills, therefore the House is expected to be voting late on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2019
On Monday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Senate Committee Schedule

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine data brokers and the impact on financial data privacy, credit, insurance, employment, and housing.

Judiciary
Hearings to examine the crisis at the southwest border, including
• S. 1494, to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to protect alien minors and to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to end abuse of the asylum system and establish refugee application and processing centers outside the United States.

Environment and Public Works
Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
Hearings to examine the nomination of William B. Kilbride, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Judiciary
Subcommittee on Intellectual Property
Hearings to examine the state of patent eligibility in America.

Intelligence
Closed business meeting to consider pending calendar business;
to be immediately followed by a closed hearing to examine certain intelligence matters.

United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control
Hearings to examine the global narcotics epidemic and the United States strategy to confront the rising epidemic.

Senate Floor Schedule

Program for Monday: Senate resumes consideration of the nomination of Ryan T. Holte, of Ohio, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, and votes on confirmation of the nomination at 5:30 p.m.

Following disposition of the nomination of Ryan T. Holte, Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of Rossie David Alston, Jr., of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the nomination of Richard A. Hertling, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.

Following disposition of the nomination of Richard A. Hertling, Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Sarah Daggett Morrison, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

Congressional Outlook

Floor Outlook

House voting next week to hold William Barr in contempt over Mueller report

Paul to force votes on blocking Trump's Bahrain, Qatar arms sales

McConnell: Senate will hold more votes on anti-abortion legislation

House to vote Monday on new version of IRS modernization bill

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

Senate rejects Rand Paul's balanced budget proposal

Senate passes bill to deny entry for individuals who meddle in U.S. elections

On DREAM Act, 9 Democrats defect on rule vote, even as caucus shows more unity

House Democrats pass 'Dream Act' despite likely Senate block


Floor attempts to protect human life, prohibit infanticide

House: Monday, Tuesday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Threats to the Unborn in America

Yesterday, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties held a hearing entitled “Threats to Reproductive Rights in America.” Abortion survivor Melissa Ohden and pro-life advocate Christina Bennett were invited to testify.

Constitution Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Johnson (R-LA) provided a compelling opening statement in defense of life. He calls abortion a procedure in which “a living human being is literally and brutally ripped to pieces limb by limb.”

House Committee Schedule

Monday — June 3, 2019

• H.R. 6 — American Dream and Promise Act of 2019
Committee on Rules

FY2020 — Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Markup
Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (Committee on Appropriations)

Source: House.gov

House Floor Schedule

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2019

On Monday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (4 bills)

1. Senate Amendment to H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (Rep. Lowey, Appropriations)
2. H.R. 2940 To extend the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families and related programs through September 30, 2019 (Rep. Davis (IL), Ways and Means)
3. H.R. 1261 National Landslide Preparedness Act (Rep. DelBene, Natural Resources)
4. H.R. 559 Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act, as amended (Rep. Sablan, Natural Resources)

Senate Committee Schedule

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Armed Services
Hearings to examine the nominations of
Christopher J. Scolese, to be Director of the
National Reconnaissance Office, and
General John W. Raymond, USAF, for reappointment to the grade of general and to be Commander, United States Space Command and Commander, Air Force Space Command, both of the Department of Defense; with the possibility of a closed session in SVC-217, following the open session.

Appropriations
To receive a closed briefing on proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2020 for Nuclear Modernization programs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine confronting threats from China, focusing on assessing controls on technology and investment and measures to combat opioid trafficking.

Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine opportunities for the expanded deployment of grid-scale energy storage in the United States.

Senate Floor Schedule

Program for Monday: Senate resumes consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1332, Congressional Budget, and votes on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 23, Senate began consideration of the following:

Congressional Outlook

Committee Activity

House Democrats vote to lift ban on embryonic gene-editing research

Classification review of transcripts from House Intel's Russia inquiry ending 'very soon'

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

Flood insurance gets renewal as disaster aid remains stalled