Recapping Last Week in Congress
Not a stellar week of accomplishments in Congress last week, the highlights being the passage of yet another emergency FAA authorization extension that avoided a second shutdown, and the Senate's passage of disaster relief funds in a combination Burma sanctions/FEMA funding bill. The "lowlights," of course, being that those were the only highlights.
The House managed a full week of bills with Orwellian propaganda names, like the "Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act," and the "Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act," and topping it off with the passage of a meaningless resolution of disapproval on the raising of the debt ceiling.
This Week in Congress
The House has once again backloaded its schedule, starting the week (late on Tuesday) with a raft of eight suspensions that will take it through Wednesday—though it should be noted that some of those suspensions are no trifles. Let's hope there are no ugly surprises on, let's say, TANF extension. Towards the end of the week, the House takes up the sixth continuing resolution (CR) of the 112th Congress. Somewhere in our archives is a quote from a Republican backbencher, railing about how multiple CRs passed under Democratic control of the House was an indisputable indication of a failure of governance. I'll have to dig that one up! At any rate, the thing to remember here is that the current fiscal year ends on September 30th, and a new CR will have to be in place by then in order to avoid a government shutdown. There's been relatively little chatter about that this time, so perhaps we can hope against hope that the Republicans have tired of the backlash against their hostage taking. Ha ha! Ah, I crack myself up!
The Senate is up against the same CR deadline, of course. But at this point, there's no clear indication of when they'll get to it. They'll wait for the House to clear it first, though, and there's plenty to debate whether or not to debate until then. The first (and at the moment, only) thing up for that honor: the motion to proceed to H.R. 2832, the Generalized System of Preferences Act, which will also be the vehicle for Trade Adjustment Assistance. So the next couple days will be about debating whether or not to end debate on beginning debate on that. I'm sure that can only bode well for a speedy resolution to the CR. Twelve days left on that score.
Full floor and committee schedules are below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE WEEKLY WHIP: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
First Vote Of The Week: Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted: Friday 3:00 p.m.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for pro forma session. No votes are expected in the House.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (5 Bills)
- H.R. 2005 - Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Rep. Smith (NJ) - Energy and Commerce)
- H.R. 1852 - Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Rep. Pitts - Energy and Commerce)
- H.R. 2646 - Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011, as amended (Rep. Johnson (OH) - Veterans’ Affairs)
- H.R. 2944 - U.S. Parole Commission Reauthorization (Rep. Smith (TX) - Judiciary)
- H.R. 2189 - Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2011 (Rep. Scott (VA) - Judiciary)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business with last votes no later than 3:00 p.m.
Suspensions (3 Bills)
- S.Con.Res. 28 - A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II (Sen. Inouye - House Administration)
- H.R. 2943 - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Extension (Rep. Davis (KY) - Ways and Means)
- H.R. 2883 - Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Rep. Davis (KY) -Ways and Means)
H.J.Res. 79 - Further Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2012 (Rep. Rogers (KY) - Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 2401 - The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011 (Rep. Sullivan - Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Monday, September 19, 2011
Convenes: 2:00pm
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2832, the Generalized System of Preferences Act, which will be the vehicle for Trade Adjustment Assistance with the time until 5:30pm equally divided and controlled between Senators Baucus and Hatch, or their designees.
At approximately 5:30pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2832. We hope to get consent to proceed to the bill on Monday.