House Appropriations Committee removes 2 restrictions on taxpayer funding of abortion

During the Financial Services markup on Tuesday, 6/29, the Committee on Appropriations passed the FY2022 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill by a vote of 33-24 after removing two longstanding pro-life provisions:

• The Smith Amendment which prevents funding for abortions through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program, except in the instances of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Originally offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in 1983, this provision was enacted in FYs 1984-1994; 1996-2021.

 

• The Dornan Amendment which prevents appropriated funds (from Federal or D.C. revenues) from being used for abortion in the District of Columbia. This provision was enacted in FYs 1996-2009; 2011-2021.

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 6/21 • T 6/22 • W 6/23 • Th 6/24 • F 6/25 — Prayers — Committee Reports

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House of Representatives

H.R. 18: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2021
• House floor consideration requests: 7 times Tuesday, 5 times Thursday, 3 times Friday
• House debated H.R. 18 and in voting could have defeated the previous question and considered the bill; Members also discussed their efforts on the bill
• Nancy Pelosi and Democrats Block Bill to Ban Tax-Funded Abortions for 8th Time

Suspension of the Rules

House passes bill to bolster state plans to ward off infrastructure attacks

Considered Pursuant to a Rule

H.R. 2062 - Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021
House passes bill to ease standards for age discrimination cases

S.J.Res. 14 - Methane Emission Standards
Overturning the methane rule means higher energy costs in return for no benefits

House Votes to Reinstate Obama Methane Rule for Oil, Gas Wells

Senate

Senate Leader Remarks: 6/21, 6/22, 6/23, 6/24

Executive Session

Christopher Charles Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be General Counsel of ODNI
Senate Confirms Huawei-Linked Lobbyist to Intel Post

Kiran Arjandas Ahuja, of Massachusetts, to be Director of OPM
Senate moves to confirm Kiran Ahuja, nominee with critical race theory ties, to run federal personnel office, in Close Vote

Legislative Session

S. 2093, For the People Act.
• Senate blocks partisan election overhaul bill
• Democrats' partisan power grab fails — for now
• Schumer vows Tuesday's vote “won't be the last …will explore every option … will leave no stone unturned”

Unanimous Consent

S. 1520: Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021 Senate declined to pass S. 1520, Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Senate declined to pass H.R. 1652, VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021

Senate declined to pass S. 2084, a bill to terminate the order requiring persons to wear masks while on conveyances and at transportation hubs.

Senate declined to consider the nomination of Jen Easterly, of New York, to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security: Wednesday, Thursday

Senate declined to pass S. 831, EB–5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2021

Senate declined to pass S. 2216, a bill to require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State to develop a plan for the relocation and admission to the United States of certain citizens of Afghanistan

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 6/14 • T 6/15 • W 6/16 • Th 6/17 — Prayers — Committee Reports

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S. 475: Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
Congress Passes Bill Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday, Sends to Biden’s Desk • set to become 11th federal holiday

House of Representatives

House fails to pass bill to promote credit fairness for LGTBQ-owned businesses — H.R.1443

H.R. 1187: ESG Disclosure Simplification Act of 2021 [Corporate Governance Improvement and Investor Protection Act]
House passes political spending, climate change corporate disclosures bill, 217 House Democrats Torpedo Bill Prohibiting Corporate Cooperation With Chinese Slave Labor — H.R.1187

H.R. 256: To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002
House votes to revoke Iraq War powers, this time with presidential approval

Senate

Senate Leader Remarks: 6/14, 6/15, 6/16, 6/17

McConnell dismisses Schumer’s demand that Barr and Sessions testify over secretly seized phone records — Full Speech: “our colleagues have taken to attacking former Attorney General Bill Barr over investigative decisions that occurred when he wasn't there yet”

Schumer: “Next week, the Senate will consider major voting rights legislation.”

Ketanji Brown Jackson, of the District of Columbia, to be US Circuit Judge for the DC Circuit
Senate confirms Garland's successor to appeals court

Lina M. Khan, of New York, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner
Senate confirms • Big Tech Antagonist, Pak-American legal expert Lina Khan becomes US Federal Trade Commissioner

Kiran Arjandas Ahuja, of Massachusetts, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management
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Tommy P. Beaudreau, of Alaska, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior
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Unanimous Consent

Senate passes resolution condemning recent rise in antisemitic attacks — S.Res. 252

Senate passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

Senate declined to pass S. 1899, a bill to prohibit any direct or indirect United States funding for the territory of Gaza unless certain conditions are met.

Senate declined to pass S. 1520, Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Senate declined to pass S. 1562, Creating Pathways for Youth Employment Act

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 6/7 • T 6/8 • W 6/9 • Th 6/10 • F 6/11 — Prayers — Committee Reports

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Senate

Leader Remarks: 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10

Schumer bemoans number of Republicans who believe Trump will be reinstated: 'A glaring warning' — Full Speech

Senate confirms Biden's first judicial nominee • first Muslim American federal judge

S. 1260: United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 — Outline
Senate Passes Sweeping Bill to Address China Tech Threat • Gym Discussion Forges Unusual Senate Alliance to Pass China Bill • House Republicans Raise Concerns About Soft China Bill, Demand Tougher Response • New Senate Bill Will Make China 'Sit Back' and 'Laugh at America' Says Rand Paul • Pork-Stuffed Bill About To Pass Senate Enables Splicing Aborted Babies With Animals

H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act
Senate GOP blocks bill to combat gender pay gap • Senate GOP Uses Filibuster, Blocks Democrat-Backed Paycheck Fairness Act • McConnell: bill would put “even the smallest American business at risk of unlimited liability in workplace cases”

Unanimous Consent
• Senate Passes Bill to Send Payments to Victims of Likely Directed Energy Attacks
• Senate declined to pass S. 1520, Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021, on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Senate declined to pass S. 247, Working Families Flexibility Act of 2021

Senate Leader Remarks, 6/7/2021

Leader Remarks are published on the GovTop Report: 6/7

Congress Update

Daily Digests: T 6/1 • Th 6/3 • F 6/4 — Prayers

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National Security

House Democrats introduce bill assuming military dependents can be transgender


Foreign Policy

Washington Post issues correction on 2020 report on Tom Cotton, lab-leak theory • House Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Address Origins of CCP Virus Pandemic • Over 200 Republicans Press Pelosi to Back COVID-19 Origin Probe, ‘Hold the CCP Accountable’

30 House Democrats urge Biden to do more for global vaccine distribution

U.S. senator expects U.S. to send more funds for Israel's 'Iron Dome'

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US Needs to Pull Its Supply Chain Out of China Over COVID-19 Pandemic: Top House Lawmaker