Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 4/19 • T 4/20 • W 4/21 • Th 4/22 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Monday, 4/19

House votes to condemn Chinese government over Hong Kong, Ongoing Suppression — H.Res. 130

House Passes Marijuana Banking Bill With Bipartisan Support — H.R. 1996

Tuesday, 4/20

Democrats adopting rule to limit Freedom Caucus delay tactics

House rejects GOP resolution to censure Waters over Remarks on Chauvin Trial — H.Res. 331, 216-210

54-45, Senate confirmed the nomination of Gary Gensler, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Senate Overwhelmingly Confirms Lisa Monaco To Be Deputy Attorney General, No. 2 official at DOJ — 98-2

House Democrats Block Consideration Of Bipartisan Immigration Bill — H.R. 2321

Wednesday, 4/21

Schumer: US “must invest in the technologies of the future to outcompete China”

Senate confirms Vanita Gupta for No. 3 spot at Justice Department in narrow vote — 51-49

House votes to extend ban on fentanyl-like substances — H.R. 2630

Harris casts tiebreaking vote to advance Biden nominee — 50-50, Senate agreed to the nomination of the Motion to Discharge Colin Hackett Kahl to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from the Committee on Armed Services.

House Passes Another Democrat Attempt to Limit Executive Power for Issuing Travel Bans — H.R. 1333

Thursday, 4/22

House approves bill to make DC a state — H.R. 51

Senate declines to pass the CRUISE Act — S. 1105

On the same day a House Member described the Senate filibuster as “a death grip on our democracy,” Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) was rejoicing in the abundance of bipartisan regular order in the Senate: “We are marking up bipartisan bills in committee and considering bipartisan amendments here on the floor. We have just seen this back process play out on the anti-Asian hate crimes bill this week, and next week we are going to follow it up with a water infrastructure bill that is also thoroughly bipartisan.”

Senate passes anti-Asian hate crimes bill — S. 937 — 94-1
• 49-48, Senate rejected Cruz Amdt. No. 1456; To prohibit Federal funding for any institution of higher education that discriminates against Asian Americans in recruitment, applicant review, or admissions.
• 49-48, Senate rejected Lee Amdt. No. 1425; To require a report on State restrictions on religious exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Linking abortion to climate change

Monday, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and 10 other Senators introduced the U.S. CLIMATE Act (S. 1201). Title VI of this legislation is the Women and Climate Change Act by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

In Section 602, the bill finds, “(13) The ability of women to adapt to climate change is constrained by underlying gender inequality, including a lack of” “(C) access to financial resources, education, family planning, and reproductive healthcare services”, a legal euphemism for abortion.

In Section 605, the bill (a) establishes “in the Department of State the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and Climate Change” which (d) functions to “(1) coordinate and integrate the development of all policies and activities of the Federal Government” including (5) “collection of data relevant to” “(E) access to comprehensive health care, including reproductive health”.

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 4/12 • T 4/13 • W 4/14 • Th 4/15 • F 4/16 — Prayers

Tuesday, 4/13

82-15, Senate confirmed the nomination of Polly Ellen Trottenberg, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

56-42, Senate confirmed the nomination of Wendy Ruth Sherman, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of State.

Wednesday, 4/14

Biden SEC Pick Gary Gensler Confirmed to Police Wall Street — 53-45

Senate confirms Biden's pick to lead White House environmental council — 53-45

Anti-Asian hate crimes bill overcomes first Senate hurdle — 92-6

Senate declined to pass S. 1130, an election reform bill

House Majority Leader Hoyer recognized Capitol Police

Thursday, 4/15

House passes H.R. 7 to combat gender pay gap — 217-210

Pro-Life implications of the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 7

Recognizing Israel: Rep. Manning, Rep. Schneider, Rep. Torres

49-34, Senate agreed to discharge the nomination of Vanita Gupta from the Committee on the Judiciary

Senate Republicans' letter outlines objections to the Vanita Gupta nomination
1. Her support for eliminating qualified immunity
2. Her support for decriminalizing all drugs
3. Her support for defunding the police
4. Her death penalty record

Friday, 4/16

House passes bill to prevent violence in health care workplaces — 254-166

Rep. Tenney introduced the Election Integrity Caucus

Pro-Life implications of the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 7

Yesterday, April 15, the House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7) by a vote of 217-210. The bill was amended in Committee on March 24, 2021. The amended version contains pro-life concerns:

The bill would add to the Fair Labor Standards Act a definition of sex that can be argued to include abortion. The Committee on Education and Labor amended the bill to add to the Fair Labor Standards Act an expanded definition of sex that includes “pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.” The term “related medical condition” has been identified by the courts and by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as a coded reference to abortion.

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 4/5 • Th 4/8 — Prayers

H.Con.Res. 27: The remains of the late United States Capitol Police Officer William F. Evans shall be permitted to lie in honor in the rotunda of the Capitol on April 13, 2021.

National Security

Biden Proposes $715 Billion Defense Budget, Senate GOP notes increase smaller than proposed nondefense spending


Foreign Policy

Senate Republicans voice opposition to Biden on Iran

GOP Senators Introduce Bill Targeting Communist China’s Influence at American Colleges

Senate Preps Bill To Check China’s ‘Aggressive And Assertive Behavior’

GOP Puts Biden Admin on Notice: Congress Not Bound By New Iran Deal

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 3/29 • Th 4/1 — Prayers

Foreign Policy

Cotton Statement on Chinese Sanctions Against U.S. Religious Freedom Group

Afghanistan Deadline is ‘Too Soon’ for Biden Administration, Top House Dem Says

Congress Failed Once to Use Its Power on Iran Nuclear Agreement. It Shouldn’t Fail Again.

Congress Weighs Countering China on Chips, Cost Makes GOP Wary


Constitution

On Electoral Redistricting Panels, H.R. 1 Would Require Racial, Gender Discrimination

NH Democrat Blasts Pelosi Voting Reform Bill