Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record

Floor Activity Headlines

Senate Dems demand White House to fire controversial head of public lands agency

House passes legislation to boost election security research

House passes bill to allow private lawsuits against public schools for discriminatory practices

House agrees to resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus

House passes bill to protect pregnant employees


Foreign Policy

GOP lawmakers want answers from Disney on Mulan, China


Constitution

Former spy chief Dan Coats calls on Congress to establish an oversight commission to review 2020 election


First Amendment

Hawley Asks DOJ to Protect Houses of Worship from ‘Unconstitutional Restrictions’


Second Amendment

Democrats call for NRA Foundation to be prohibited from receiving donations from federal employees


Immigration

Omar demands ICE halt plans to deport Somali illegal immigrants from her district: 'Risking the spread of COVID'


Budget

Is canceling up to $50k in student debt for borrowers a good idea?


Tax Policy

Tax increase promises threaten Democratic election outlook


Fiscal Year 2021 Spending

Battle over timing complicates shutdown-avoidance strategy, Dems discussing February, deadline nears

Census deadlines dispute hangs up funding talks

Talks bleed into weekend amid farm aid pushback

House Democrats prep fallback option


Coronavirus Spending

New COVID relief stalled as election pressure builds on Congress

Bipartisan House group releases $1.5 trillion coronavirus relief plan

Pelosi faces growing Democratic unrest, increasing pressure to cut deal

Pelosi bristles at coronavirus compromise pressure, 'Hard to see' less than $2.2T aid

Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division

Trump tweets for 'much higher' coronavirus spending, GOP uninterested

Senate GOP eyes House bipartisan group's coronavirus spending plan

McCarthy moves to force vote on COVID-19 aid

White House backs $25B airline relief extension amid coronavirus aid talks

Lawmakers fear voter backlash over failure to reach COVID-19 relief deal


Monetary Policy

GOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed nominee


Executive

Schumer praises Trump’s Middle East peace deal

Trump to move fast to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Devin Nunes: Mueller team members may have obstructed justice by wiping phones

Pelosi defends not speaking to Trump for almost a year


Judiciary

Justice Ginsburg passes, Supreme Court vacancy opens

Trump and McConnell's push to confirm judges has Democrats' support

Illinois senators split on judge votes

Federal judges want Congress to pass safety protections


Justice

Loeffler calls for hearing on child exploitation in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties'

Republicans call for DOJ to prosecute Netflix executives for releasing 'Cuties'


Commerce Policy

Senate Democrats urge Amazon to recall, stop sales of explosive products

Should the U.S. get rid of Daylight Saving Time during the pandemic?


Health Care Policy

CDC chief seeks billions for vaccines

House GOP leader says he trusts Trump over CDC director on vaccine timing

Rep. Andy Harris, M.D., is overseeing the trial of a drug to treat COVID-19

Pelosi: Public 'confidence' key to successful vaccine


Congress

Democrats signal plans to target filibuster if they take back Senate

Sen. Markey calls for eliminating filibuster, expanding Supreme Court if GOP fills vacancy

McConnell: Democrats would 'disfigure' Senate by nixing filibuster

Wasserman Schultz gains support in bid for Appropriations gavel

Rep. Cedric Richmond set to join House Ways and Means Committee

Mike Johnson to run for vice chairman of House GOP conference

Sen. Ron Johnson to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus

Pelosi orders Capitol flags at half-staff to honor Ginsburg