Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 5/24 • T 5/25 • W 5/26 • Th 5/27 • F 5/28 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Senate confirms Justice Department official, Army Secretary, top scientist

Senate Armed Services chair throws support behind changing roles of military commanders in sexual assault prosecutions • Democratic feud erupts over scope of military sexual assault bill • spills onto Senate floor • Democratic Chairman Blocks Bipartisan Military Sexual Assault Reform — Debate: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — Iowa Republican Joni Ernst, a sexual assault survivor, calls for military justice reform

Senate passes bill requiring declassification of information on COVID-19 origins — S. 1867

Senate Unanimously Passes Amendment Banning Funding of Virus Gain-of-Function Research In China — S.Amdt. 2003

Senate fails to prohibit funds for research involving aborted fetal tissue or embryo destruction — S.Amdt. 1891 — Text, Debate, Vote

Senate Votes Down Amendment That Would Have Banned Certain Human-Animal Hybrid Experiments, An Affront To Human Life — S.Amdt. 1771 — Text, Debate, Vote

Senate Adopts Amendment That Slashes Tariffs on Hundreds of Chinese Imports to US — S.Amdt. 1562

Senate Advances China Competition Bill After Multi-Hour Deliberations Secure GOP Support — S. 1260

Introduced: S.Res. 246, Expressing the sense of the Senate that Critical Race Theory serves as a prejudicial ideological tool, rather than an educational tool, and should not be taught in K-12 classrooms as a way to teach students to judge individuals based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin

Introduced: S.Res. 250, Condemning the rise in anti-Semitism incidents globally since terrorists in the Gaza Strip triggered several days of violence against Israel on May 10, 2021

Schumer and Collins appear to have heated exchange before Jan. 6 vote • Republicans Block January 6 Commission • Senate reaches deal to get out of town after Jan. 6 commission vote

Senate agrees to resolution urging probe into COVID-19 origins — S.Res. 256

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 5/17 • T 5/18 • W 5/19 • Th 5/20 • F 5/21 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Monday, 5/17

Senate Moves Forward With Bill Aimed at Countering China’s Rise — S. 1260


Tuesday, 5/18

Senate narrowly advances Biden civil rights nominee

Marjorie Taylor Greene delivers impassioned speech on why she opposes Capitol riot commission — Full Speech, Subsequent speech on parallel tracks for protestor justice

House Passes COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Passes Congress — S. 937


Wednesday, 5/19

Senate repeals rule that provided employers with a written summary of the facts behind an EEOC complaint, a written explanation of the legal justification, and 14 days to respond — S.J.Res. 13

House votes to condemn Atlanta spa shootings — H.Res. 275

House passes Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act, related to drugs not economically viable due to rarity of the diseases they treat — H.R. 1629

House Democrats Vote Against Hamas Sanctions — Debate, Vote to oppose sanctions, H.R. 261 text

Democrats block GOP move to end House chamber mask mandate — H.Res. 414

House Passes January 6 Commission Bill, 252-175, over GOP objections — H.R. 3233

House passes resolution condemning hate crimes against Asian Americans — H.Res. 275


Thursday, 5/20

Senate declined to pass resolutions related to Israel — S.Res. 226, S.Res. 225

House Passes Bill Approving $1.9 Billion More for US Capitol Security, 'Squad' vote against — H.R. 3237

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 5/10 • T 5/11 • W 5/12 • Th 5/13 • F 5/14 — Prayers

Related Headlines:


Tuesday, 5/11

61-37, Senate confirmed the nomination of Andrea Joan Palm, of Wisconsin, to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

54-44, Senate confirmed the nomination of Cynthia Minette Marten, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Education.

52-47, Senate passed S.J.Res. 15; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of the Comptroller of Currency relating to “National Banks and Federal Savings Associations as Lenders”.

Liz Cheney defiant in floor speech ahead of House GOP vote to oust her as conference chair — Full Speech


Wednesday, 5/12

House fails to quickly pass drug bill amid Jan. 6 tensions — H.R. 1629 — to have more debate next week

51-48, Senate agreed to the nomination of the Motion to Discharge: Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from the Committee on Finance.

69-30 and 66-32, Senate confirmed the first and second nominations of Ronald Stroman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service.

Speaking on Israel: Republican Leader McConnell, Sen. Lee

Senate declined to agree to S.Res. 136, A resolution recognizing the duty of the Senate to abandon Modern Monetary Theory and recognizing that the acceptance of Modern Monetary Theory would lead to higher deficits and higher inflation.

Thursday, 5/13

59-38, Senate confirmed the nomination of Amber Faye McReynolds, of Colorado, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service.

House passed:
H.R.2547: Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act
H.R.2877: Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021

89-7, Senate confirmed the nomination of Donet Dominic Graves, Jr., of Ohio, to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce.

Senate passed S. 593, Alaska Tourism Recovery Act

Rep. Wasserman Schultz spoke on Israel

A preview of how America could turn away from Israel, from the House floor

Friday, 5/14

House passes bill mandating accommodations for pregnant workers — H.R. 1065

Pro-Life Members of Congress File Resolution Honoring Pregnancy Centers Saving Babies From Abortion — S.Res. 207

The Senate passed a resolution, S.Res. 215, honoring National Police Week. The House did not pass a resolution honoring National Police Week, but they did speak for an hour on the topic.

Secretary Becerra on Partial Birth Abortion Ban

Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra testified during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health on the Department's annual budget for next year. (Full recording)

During the hearing, Secretary Becerra responded to questions about the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (18 U.S. Code § 1531) by initially denying that the law existed and then by sidestepping further questions about whether he would enforce it.

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 5/3 • T 5/4 • Th 5/6 • F 5/7 — Prayers

National Security

Congressman Introduces Bill Banning Critical Race Theory In U.S. Military Service Academies


Foreign Policy

House Members Pose Questions to US Nonprofit That Helped Fund Wuhan Lab • House Republicans Demand State Department Documents Probing COVID Origin As Potential Lab Leak

House, Senate on collision course over Schumer’s China plan

Lawmakers send letter to Biden administration urging promotion of leadership on international religious freedom

Chairman Meeks’ Statement on Venezuela’s National Electoral Council

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 4/26 • T 4/27 • W 4/28 • Th 4/29 • F 4/30 — Prayers

Related Headlines:

Monday

Sen. Sullivan calls on John Kerry to resign over betraying Israel to Iran • Senate Republicans step up pressure on Kerry to resign over alleged leak to Iran

Tuesday

81-13, Senate confirmed the nomination of Jason Scott Miller, of Maryland, to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget.

52-42, Senate confirmed the nomination of Janet Garvin McCabe, of Indiana, to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

49-45, Senate confirmed the nomination of Colin Hackett Kahl, of California, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. • Controversial Biden Pentagon pick confirmed by Senate • Pentagon Nominee Criticized For Past Tweets Attacking Republicans

Wednesday

Mitch McConnell Takes to Senate Floor • Rips Biden’s First 100 Days In Office Before Joint Session Of Congress, Lists Policy Failures • accuses Biden of breaking promise to unify — Full Speech

68-26, Senate confirmed the nomination of Samantha Power, of Massachusetts, to be Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. • Senate confirms former Obama official Samantha Power to lead USAID

52-42, Senate passed S.J.Res. 14; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review”.

Senate declined to pass S. 1410, A bill to codify the temporary scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances by adding fentanyl-related substances to schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

Senate declined to agree to S.Res. 185, A resolution requesting that the President transmit to the Senate documents relating to the Administration's discussions and plans to assess, mitigate, and prevent growing inflation.

Joint Session — Presidential Message

Biden calls on Congress to pass voting, elections reform bills • Media fawns over Biden's 'direct, conversational, under-stated' speech to Congress • First lady hosted virtual guests for Biden's address to Congress

‘No More Washington Schemes, Socialist Dreams’ — Tim Scott Delivers Republican Address After Biden’s Joint Session Of Congress • Fires Back After Left Hits Him with a Barrage of Racist Attacks Over Biden Rebuttal

Transition From Capitalism to Socialism: Sen. Jim Risch on Biden’s Speech to Congress

Thursday

89-2, Senate passed S. 914, As Amended; A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes.

Senate confirms ex-Sen. Nelson to NASA

Senate declines to pass S. 593, Alaska Tourism Recovery Act