Saturday, April 25, 2020

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

Senate passes, House clears $484B small-business, healthcare package, Trump Signs

House votes to create coronavirus investigative panel


Foreign Policy

Trump Withholding Over $350 Million From the WHO, But Congress Still Key to Investigating International Coronavirus Response

Nikki Haley Urges Congress to Investigate CCP’s Role in Pandemic

Republican senators ask U.N. chief for independent WHO review panel


Constitution

Pelosi Wants Next Relief Bill to ‘Enable the American People to Vote-By-Mail


Trade

Support Surges in House for Bringing Back Supply Chains From China


Federal Spending

Citizens Against Government Waste Compiles Earmarks Database

Retirement funds for federal, military retirees may soon be investing in China defense firms

Trump on Growing Debt from CCP Virus Response: ‘Do We Have a Choice?’

Coronavirus Phase 3 ($2 trillion)
Congress sowed, small business owners reap
Grassley Says Big Chains Should Not Have Received Aid Meant for Small Businesses

Coronavirus Phase 3.5 ($484 billion passed this week)
Chamber of Commerce president: PPP 2.0 won't be enough
'Unacceptable': Liberal faction of Democratic caucus question small-business aid

Coronavirus Phase 4 (in negotiation)
Democrats, Republicans draw battle lines over next coronavirus stimulus bill
Governors Call for New COVID-19 Relief Bill for States and Territories
Cuomo says Trump agreed to push for state funding in next coronavirus bill
McConnell Says He Supports Letting States Declare Bankruptcy Amid Pandemic
Pelosi Says Next Relief Bill Will Be ‘Expensive’ and Must Contain Aid to States
The next coronavirus battle lines are drawn

Remember Phase 1 ($3.8 billion) and Phase 2 ($104 billion)? We've been on an exponentially upward trajectory adding at least a zero with each phase of these relief packages. If only now Phase 4 is going to be “expensive” (as if all the others haven't been already), how much could Congress actually consider spending?

Senate Majority Leader McConnell has put the Senate on notice that any further legislating of this nature will require Senators to vote in person. No more spending by unanimous consent. Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul, who both spoke on the Senate floor about Phase 3.5, have affirmed the same.


Commerce Policy

Rand Paul returns to Congress after beating coronavirus and gives a fiery speech against 'draconian' lockdownFloor Speech

GOP Senator Says Economy Will Collapse If We Wait Too Long To Reopen


Health Care Policy

Congressmen Optimistic for Bills Decoupling US from China on Drugs, But Warn a Long Road is Ahead


Congress

House voting operations
'I see a lot of dangers': GOP leaders oppose measure to allow proxy voting
House Majority Leader Hoyer Urges Democratic Leaders to Prioritize Remote Voting
Vote on Rules Change for Proxy Voting Cancelled, Bipartisan Group to Plan Reopening House
Pelosi, House Dems Back Off Remote Voting Plan, Task Force to Study the Issue

Zoom-bombing disrupted a House Oversight Committee meeting

Congresswoman on Panel Overseeing Virus Payouts Admits Failure to Disclose Stock Sales

Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul Criticize Senate Voting Process for Phase 3.5 Relief Bill

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