Congress Update

Daily Digests – House • Senate — Prayers — Committee Reports
M 7/26 PDF • T 7/27 PDF • W 7/28 PDF • Th 7/29 PDF • F 7/30 PDF

Related Headlines:

House of Representatives — Weekly Leader Colloquy • Actions passed, declined

The House declined to consider H.R. 18, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2021, 12 times this week.

H.R. 4502 — Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2022

• Pro-Life report on House passage of H.R. 4502, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Act, FY2022 Appropriations Omnibus
• House passes sprawling spending bill ahead of fall shutdown fight
Not a single Democrat voted against forcing Americans to fund abortions • Rep. Clark celebrates

H.R. 4346 — Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022
• House passes spending bill to boost Capitol Police and Hill staffer pay
• House OK’s hiring illegal migrants on staff, fattens budget 21%

H.R. 4373 — Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022
• Pro-Life report on H.R. 4373, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022
• House Democrats Pass Bill To Pay For Abortions Overseas Using American Tax Dollars
• Greek Americans call on Congress to stop U.S. arms and aid to Azerbaijan

H.R. 3237 — Emergency Spending
House clears $2.1 billion Capitol security bill, sending to Biden

House rejects McCarthy's picks for Jan. 6 panel — Pelosi appoints Kinzinger


Senate — Daily Leader Remarks • Actions begun, passed

H.R. 3684; A bill to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways
Senate votes to take up debate on infrastructure deal, Senate Moves Forward on $550 Billion Infrastructure Deal

Senate confirms Air Force secretary, two other military positions

Senate passes bill to award congressional gold medal to first Black NHL player

Pro-Life report on House passage of H.R. 4502, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Act, FY2022 Appropriations Omnibus

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4502, a seven-bill omnibus for FY2022 appropriations that includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Act and Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Act, by a vote of 219-208.

House Republicans submitted amendments to reinsert the pro-life protections into the bill, and no pro-life amendments were made in order.

LHHS Appropriations Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) offered the attached Motion to Recommit (MTR) H.R. 4502 to protect taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortion on demand. The MTR would have restored the Hyde Amendment, the Weldon Amendment, the Dornan Amendment, and the Smith Amendment, which were removed from the underlying bill.

Pro-Life report on H.R. 4373, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4373, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Appropriations Act, 2022, by a vote of 217 - 212.

Removes the Helms Amendment—The bill removes language preventing foreign aid from directly paying for abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce anyone to practice abortion or involuntary sterilization.

Weakens the Kemp-Kasten Amendment—The bill weakens the provision authorizing the President to discontinue funding to organizations that support or participate in the management of a coercive population control/abortion program.

Weakens Pro-Life Peace Corps Provision—The bill removes language preventing Peace Corps money from being used to pay for abortion. Current law prohibits federal funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

New Pro-Abortion Text: The bill would prohibit any President from reinstituting the Mexico City Policy, reestablished and expanded by President Donald Trump as the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy. This provision, rescinded by President Biden, required foreign nongovernmental organizations to agree, as a condition of their receipt of US grant money, not to promote or perform abortion.

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 7/19 PDF • T 7/20 PDF • W 7/21 PDF • Th 7/22 PDF
Prayers — Committee Reports

Cuba speeches and resolutions: Waltz, Diaz-Balart, Rubio, LaMalfa, S.Res.310, Grothman, Correa, and others

Related Headlines:

House of Representatives

The House declined to consider H.R. 18, to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion, 12 times.

House Democrats Block Bipartisan Bill Declassifying COVID-19 Origins

Considered Pursuant to a Rule

H.R. 2467: PFAS Action Act of 2021
House Bill Regulates Toxic Chemical; GOP Opponents Say It Goes Too Far

H.R. 3985: Allies Act of 2021
House Votes to Raise Cap for Afghans Who Helped U.S. Personnel

Senate

Leader Remarks: 7/19, 7/20, 7/21, 7/22

Senate Republicans Block Debate of $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Package • negotiators near deal • eye on Monday redo

Unanimous Consent

Senate unanimously passes bill to strengthen crime victims fund

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 7/12 PDF • T 7/13 PDF • W 7/14 PDF • Th 7/15 PDF • F 7/16 PDF
Prayers — Committee Reports

Related Headlines:

Senate

Leader Remarks: 7/12, 7/13, 7/14, 7/15

McConnell: Biden troop withdrawal from Afghanistan 'a global embarrassment' — Full Speech

Schumer reiterates “right to bring back voting rights and democracy reform for another vote on the Senate floor”

Senators speaking on Cuba: Blackburn, Scott (FL), Rubio (Song), Moran, Leahy, Portman, McConnell, Cruz

Executive Session

Senate Confirms Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor as 3 Republicans Miss Vote

Unanimous Consent

US Senate Passes Bill to Ban All Xinjiang Goods Over CCP’s Rights Abuses, Unless Waiver Given

Senate declined to pass S.1920, ATF Accountability Act of 2021, and S.1916, Protecting the Right To Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2021

Senate declined to pass S.2359, a bill to provide emergency assistance for disaster response and recovery, and for other expenses, directly related to Hurricanes Laura, Delta, or Zeta

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

Pro-Life report on Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations markup

Yesterday, the House Committee on Appropriations passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill by a vote of 33-26.

The bill removed a longstanding provision prohibiting the funding of abortions for federal prisoners. First enacted for FY1987, this provision has been in effect continuously since FY1996.

During the mark-up, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) offered an amendment to restore the pro-life provision. The Aderholt Amendment was defeated by a vote of 25-32.

Pro-Life report on House Appropriations Committee markup of FY2022 Labor, Health and Services and Education (LHHS) Appropriations bill

Thursday, July 15, 2021, the full House Appropriations Committee passed the FY2022 Labor, Health and Services and Education (LHHS) Appropriations bill by a vote of 33-25.

The bill did not contain the Hyde Amendment, which prevents taxpayer funding for domestic elective abortions. The Hyde Amendment, which has been annually renewed on a bipartisan basis for over 40 years (since 1976), has saved more than 2.4 million lives. Nearly 60% of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.

The bill did not contain the Weldon Amendment, which prevents Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding recipients from discriminating against health care providers because they refuse to provide, pay for, or refer for abortion.

LHHS Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) offered an amendment to reinstate the Hyde Amendment and the Weldon Amendment. The amendment was cosponsored by every Republican Member of the Committee. The Cole Amendment failed by a vote of 27-32. All Republicans and Rep. Henry Cuellar (R-TX) voted in support of the Hyde Amendment.

Pro-Life report on Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill subcommittee markup

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Subcommittee considered the FY2022 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill. It passed by voice vote.

The following longstanding pro-life provision was removed:

ABORTION FUNDING FOR PRISONERS—Bill removes the ban on abortion funding for federal prisoners. Bill retains the conscience protection for prison employees. Title II, Department of Justice, General Provisions—Department of Justice, Sec. 202-204 (pg. 83)

The following longstanding pro-life provision is still present in the text:

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC)—Ban on Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funds going to organizations that engage in abortion-related litigation. (enacted in FYs 1996-2021) This pro-life provision is maintained, by reference. (By reference of Public Law 105-119 which references Section 504 (a) 14 of Public Law 104-134). Title IV – Related Agencies, Administrative Provision—Legal Services Corporation (pg. 114)

Full Committee consideration of the CJS Appropriations bill is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 15, at 10 AM.

Pro-Life report on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill subcommittee markup

This morning, the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee considered the FY2022 LHHS Appropriations bill. It was passed by voice vote.

The following longstanding pro-life provisions have been removed from the final text.

DOMESTIC FUNDING BAN (HYDE)—bans federal funding of domestic abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. (enacted in various forms in FYs 1976-2021)

ABORTION NON-DISCRIMINATION PROVISION (HYDE-WELDON)—provides conscience protection for health care entities by preventing HHS funding recipients from discriminating against health care providers because they refuse to provide, pay for, or refer for abortion. (Enacted FY 2005-2021)

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 7/5 PDF • T 7/6 PDF • Th 7/8 PDF • F 7/9 PDF
Prayers — Committee Reports

National Security

Military Members Say They’ll ‘Quit’ If Army Mandates COVID-19 Vaccine: Congressman


Foreign Policy

House of Representatives Goes Fishing on China

Biden Admin Deletes References to Palestinian Terror Incitement From Report to Congress

Congress Update

Daily Digests: M 6/28 PDF • T 6/29 PDF • W 6/30 PDF • Th 7/1 PDF • F 7/2 PDF
Prayers — Committee Reports

Related Headlines:

House of Representatives

House Blocks Bill to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Abortions 35th Time

Suspension of the Rules

House votes to repeal 1957, 1991 war authorizations

House Passes Bills to Boost Scientific Competitiveness Against China

Considered Pursuant to a Rule

H.R. 3005 – To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol
House Passes Bill Seeking to Remove Confederate Statues From Capitol • Democrats: Capitol statue purge will spare Founding Fathers

H.R. 2662 – IG Independence and Empowerment Act
House passes bill to strengthen authority of federal watchdogs

H.R. 3684 – INVEST in America Act
House passes $715B package, hoping to sway infrastructure debate • first full bill containing earmarks • most Republicans reject it after contributing billions in earmarks

House approves select panel to probe Jan. 6 attack

House Appropriations Committee weakens or removes 7 pro-life policies

Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee passed the FY 2022 State, Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Appropriations bill by a vote of 32-25.

Bill Summary:

The SFOPS appropriations bill 

• removes or weakens four longstanding pro-life protections, including the Helms Amendment, which prevents taxpayer funding from being used to fund abortion overseas

• increased funding for both the United Nations Population Fund and international family planning funding

• includes text permanently preventing a President from re-establishing the Protection Life in Global Health Assistance policy (also referred to as the Mexico City Policy), which requires foreign nongovernmental organizations to agree, as a condition of their receipt of US grant money, not to promote or perform abortion