Year-end Congress Update

Daily Digests – House • Senate

National Security

Congress Had the Votes to Overhaul How the Military Handles Serious Crimes. Why Didn’t It?


Tax Policy

Manchin told White House he would back some version of billionaire tax

Democrats hope to salvage popular child tax credit after spending bill falters

What is the expanded child tax credit and what is set to expire come January?


Federal Spending

After Democrats considered hardball tactics to leapfrog parliamentarian on immigration, Joe Manchin announces he will not vote for Biden spending bill: 'This is a no' — Manchin's statement — Democrats outraged • Cardin on future of Biden spending bill: 'A lot of us are gonna be disappointed' • Blunt blasts supposed child poverty reduction among high income earners • Democrats failed because they had delusions of how popular their policies are • Left-Wing Progressives Demand Executive Action

Budget bill delay, changes offer potential tax increase reprieve

In Context: The Origin of Lawlessness

After diverting $120 million away from law enforcement last year, San Francisco has seen a rise in crime this year. People now leave their vehicles physically open so thieves have less reason smash the windows while looking for things to steal. The mayor's response calls for more surveillance and less street vending to suppress reselling of stolen goods.

Speaker Pelosi was asked about a federal response in support of local efforts, and she mentioned “legislation that would require those who were selling online, especially, to establish their legitimacy as to where these products came from, because what people do is they steal things and then sell them online. They have to establish their legitimacy if they're going to be sold online. … And it is, you know, absolutely out of the question that people should be able to think that they can just steal things, profit from them and not have any accountability on it.”

When further asked about crime and retailers leaving the city, Speaker Pelosi said, “What it is, it's absolutely outrageous. Obviously, it cannot continue. But the fact is that there is an attitude of lawlessness in our country that springs from I don't know where, maybe you do, and we cannot have that lawlessness become the norm.”

“I don't know … maybe you do”

Congress Update

Daily Digests – House • Senate — Prayers — Committee Reports

Related Headlines:

Congress Approves $2.5T Debt Ceiling Increase, in Time for Treasury Dept. Deadline (S.J.Res. 33) • single largest increase ever • Punts Debt Default Furloughs to 2023

61 straight years, Congress approves $770B defense bill that ups Pentagon funding, keeps women out of the draft (S. 1605) • $200 Million for Israel’s Missile Defense Needs

Congress passes ban on imports made with Uyghur forced labor (H.R. 6256) • World’s First Legislation Banning Imports from Xinjiang Over Forced Labor Concerns • Pause Before You Give Congress Credit for Trying to Stop Slave Labor in China

US sets up commission on Afghanistan failures


Senate — Daily Leader Remarks • Actions begun, passed, declined, summarized

Senate Moves Jan. 6 Reforms as House Democrats Obsess on Trump Role

Senate Passes Legislation to Prevent Dishonorable Discharges for Unvaccinated Servicemembers

Rashad Hussain Confirmed as New International Religious Freedom Ambassador

Senate confirms Rahm Emanuel to be ambassador to Japan • 3 Senate Democrats vote against

Senate confirms big slate of Biden ambassadors, adjourns for Christmas break without BBB vote


House of Representatives — Bills • Actions passed, summarized

Republicans: If a Special Envoy Is to Monitor and Combat ‘Islamophobia’ It Needs to Be Defined • Pelosi Fast-Tracks ‘Anti-Islamophobia’ Bill To Appease Omar • House Democrats pass bill to combat Islamophobia — H.R. 5665

House votes to hold Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress (H.Res. 851) • 'This is so wrong': Jim Jordan delivers fiery rebuke of effort to hold Mark Meadows in contempt

Congress passes bill allowing for easier National Guard defense of Capitol after Jan. 6 — S. 3377

In Context: Tilting Toward Freedom

While it was expected, it was still remarkable: a Democratically-controlled Senate voted against the most significant domestic executive action in the latter half of 2021 by the Democratic Biden Administration.

52-48, Senate passed S.J.Res. 29; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard”.

That's the get-the-shot-or-lose-your-job rule from the Biden Administration.

Congress Update

Daily Digests – House • Senate — Prayers — Committee Reports

Related Headlines:

Senate — Leader Remarks • Actions begun, passed, declined, summarized

Legislative Session

Senate votes to nix Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses • rebuke of Biden's workplace vaccine mandate, for private employers • secures Democratic support • Psaki: Biden Will Veto — S.J.Res. 29

Unanimous Consent

Senate rejects attempt to block Biden's Saudi arms sale — S.J.Res. 31

Senate Passes Legislation to Ban Pensions for Corrupt Members of Congress, Save Taxpayer Money — S. 693


Executive Session

Senate confirms FCC's Rosenworcel to another term — 68-31

Biden CBP pick Chris Magnus confirmed by Senate — 50-47 


House of Representatives — Bills • Actions passed, summarized

Considered Pursuant to a Rule

House approves bill to ease passage of debt limit hike • sets up Senate shutdown showdown, With Simple Majority Vote — S. 610

House passes $768B defense policy bill — S. 1605

House ‘democracy’ bill would cap executive power, expand disclosure • curb presidential abuses of power — H.R. 5314

Suspension of the Rules

Prior week: House passes bill to expedite financial disclosures from judges — H.R. 5720

House passes bill to fight valvular heart disease, honor GOP lawmaker's late wife — H.R. 1193

House passes bill to strengthen shipping supply chain — H.R. 4996

House passes bills to pressure China amid Olympic boycott — H.R. 1155, H.Res. 837, H.Res. 317

Congress Update

Daily Digests – House • Senate — Prayers — Committee Reports

Senate — Daily Leader Remarks • Actions begun, passed, declined, summarized

House — Weekly Leader Colloquy • Bills • Actions passed, declined, summarized


Related Headlines:

Senate GOP and Some Liberal Democrats Block Advancement of Defense Bill — 45-51

Senate blocks bill to expand gun background checks — UC requests

Senate passes funding bill despite vaccine mandate, Biden signs — H.R. 6119

With the U.S. Supreme Court considering the constitutionality of a state ban on abortion, Senators including Thune, Lankford, other Senators, and House members spoke on the floors of their respective chambers on the Dobbs case.