AUMF Slowly Finishing Iraq AUMF Repeal, House Turns Attention to Energy Messaging Bill, Congress Coming Up on Two-Week Recess
Jason Pye - Director, Rule of Law Initiatives
Point of Order is a (mostly) weekly preview of key congressional activity for those with more than a passing interest in federal policy.
Scheduling updates: The House and Senate are in session this week. However, Congress will recess for the two-week Easter break. Both chambers are scheduled to return on Monday, April 17. That means Point of Order will take a two-week break.
Schedule and suspensions in the House: The House returns on Monday at 2:00 pm for legislative business. First votes are expected at 6:30 pm. Legislative business will begin at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, 12:00 pm on Wednesday, and 9:00 am on Thursday. Last votes for the week are expected no later than 3:00 pm Thursday. Four bills (listed below) will be considered under the suspension of the rules. The cost estimates for these bills can be found here.
H.R. 1107, PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act
H.R. 1154, Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act
H.R. 1189, Undersea Cable Control Act
H.Con.Res. 15, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition
Bills that come to the floor under suspension of the rules require two-thirds of members present and voting for passage. This is the most common way that bills considered by the House come to the floor. Some of these bills may be passed by a voice vote, rather than a roll call vote. Most bills that come to the floor under suspension aren’t widely considered controversial, although leadership may occasionally test a bill under suspension to gauge opposition or sneak a bill through the chamber.
Rule bills: The House Rules Committee will meet on Monday at 3:00 pm to markup the rule for the Lower Energy Costs Act, H.R. 1. The Lower Energy Costs Act is a package of energy-related bills. The package covers everything from domestic energy production to permitting to critical minerals. The section-by-section summary of the bill is available here.
House committee schedule: Below are some House committee hearings that may be of interest. The full House committee schedule for the week is here.
The End of Relationship Banking? Examining the CFPB's "Small Business Lending Data Collection" Rule (Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Biden’s Growing Border Crisis: Death, Drugs, and Disorder on the Northern Border (Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Testimony from Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture (Agriculture, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
The Consequences of School Closures: Intended and Unintended (Coronavirus Pandemic, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
FDA Oversight Part I: The Infant Formula Shortage (Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Oversight Hearing – Inspectors General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation (Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Government Response to East Palestine: Ensuring Safety and Transparency for the Community (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Minerals; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Reviewing the Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highway and Transit, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Health and Human Services (Appropriations Subcommittee on Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Air Force and Space Force (Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Reauthorizing the Weather Act: Data and Innovation for Predictions (Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior (Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Full Committee Markup (Foreign Affairs, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise - TRANSCOM and MARAD (Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Unleashing America’s Opportunities for Hiring and Employment (Education and the Workforce, Tuesday at 10:15 am)
Preserving Free Speech and Reining in Big Tech Censorship (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Tuesday at 10:30 am)
2022 Midterms Look Back Series: Government Voter Suppression in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (House Administration, Tuesday at 10:30 am)
Member Day (Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, Tuesday at 10:30 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the House of Representatives (Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Tuesday at 11:30 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Tuesday at 1:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Architect of the Capitol (Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Tuesday at 1:00 pm)
Member Day (Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Tuesday at 1:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Transportation Security Administration (Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Tuesday at 2:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Environmental Protection Agency (Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Tuesday at 2:00 pm)
Hearing on President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request with Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra (Ways and Means, Tuesday at 2:00 pm)
Ensuring Force Readiness: Examining Progressivism’s Impact on an All-Volunteer Military (Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs; Tuesday at 2:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Army (Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Tuesday at 2:00 pm)
Maritime Transportation Supply Chain Issues (Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Tuesday at 2:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Justice (Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Wednesday at 9:30 am)
Overdue Oversight of the Capital City: Part I (Oversight and Accountability, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Budget Request (Armed Services, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
The Federal Regulators’ Response to Recent Bank Failures (Financial Services, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal State of the Union (Budget, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Oversight Hearing – Addressing the Challenges of Rural America (Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Educations, and Related Agencies; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Veterans Affairs (Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Highlighting the Role of Small Businesses in Domestic Energy Production (Small Business Subcommittee Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Homeland Security (Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Navy and Marine Corps (Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Hearing on Legislative Measures (Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability of Ukraine Assistance (Foreign Affairs, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Diversity of Thought: Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses (Education and the Workforce Subcommittee Higher Education and Workforce Development, Wednesday at 10:15 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation (Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, Wednesday at 10:30 am)
Taking the Buzzer Beater to the Bank: Protecting College Athletes’ NIL Dealmaking Rights (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce; Wednesday at 10:30 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Capitol Police (Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Wednesday at 11:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Food and Drug Administration (Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Wednesday at 1:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Requests for the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service (Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Wednesday at 1:00 pm)
Hearing on Legislative Measures (Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, Wednesday at 1:30 pm)
Disaster Recovery: Examining Coordination and Reducing Duplication of Federal Disaster Programs (Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management; Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Fueling Unaffordability: How the Biden Administration’s Policies Catalyzed Global Energy Scarcity and Compounded Inflation Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs; Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Member Day (Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Compliance with Committee Oversight (Judiciary Subcommittee on Responsiveness to Oversight, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Welfare is Broken: Restoring Work Requirements to Lift Americans Out of Poverty (Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Follow the Money: Oversight of President Biden's Massive Spending Spree (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Login.gov Doesn't Meet the Standard (Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Wednesday at 2:30 pm)
Military Department Personnel Chiefs; Personnel Posture (Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Wednesday at 3:00 pm)
Examining U.S. Sanctions Policy, Implementation, and Enforcement (Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability, Wednesday at 3:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request of the Department of Defense for Fixed-Wing Tactical and Training Aircraft Programs (Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, Wednesday at 3:30 pm)
Member Day (Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Thursday at 8:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Thursday at 9:00 am)
Hearing (Weaponization of the Federal Government, Thursday at 9:00 am)
Hearing on Legislative Measures (Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Thursday at 9:30 am)
Member Day (Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; Thursday at 10:00 am)
FAA Reauthorization: Harnessing the Evolution of Flight to Deliver for the American People (Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, Thursday at 10:00 am)
If you’re interested in watching any of these hearings online, you can find committee websites here.
AUMF repeal still working through the Senate: The Senate will convene at 3:00 pm and resume consideration of the repeal of the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use force against Iraq, S. 316. A vote on the cloture motion is expected around 5:30 pm. The chamber has been at this for more than a week now and has considered several amendments, although none have been adopted. The work on S. 316 should wrap up this week, but the bill may not have an easy path through the House.
Senate committee schedule: Below are some Senate committee hearings that may be of interest. The full Senate committee schedule for the week is here.
Department of Defense Budget Request for FY 2024 and Futures Years Defense Program (Armed Services, Tuesday at 9:30 am)
Recent Bank Failures and the Federal Regulatory Response (Banking, House, and Urban Affairs; Tuesday at 10:00 am)
Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (Judiciary, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
A Review of the President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Navy and Marine Corps (Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
U.S. Support of Democracy and Human Rights (Foreign Relations, Tuesday at 10:30 am)
Navy and Marine Corps Investment Programs in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY 2024 and Futures Years Defense Program (Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, Tuesday at 2:30 pm)
A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request for the U.S. Department of Justice (Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Tuesday at 2:30 pm)
State and Local Perspective on Election Administration (Rules and Administration, Tuesday at 3:00 pm)
Regional Nuclear Deterrence (Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Tuesday at 4:45 pm)
Nominations Hearing (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Tuesday at TBD)
A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Department of Interior (Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Wednesday at 9:30 am)
Enterprise Cybersecurity to Protect the Department of Defense Information Networks (Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Wednesday at 9:30 am)
A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
No Company is Above the Law: The Need to End Illegal Union Busting at Starbucks (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
The EPA Good Neighbor Rule: Healthier Air for Downwind States (Environment and Public Works, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Left Holding the Bag: The Cost of Oil Dependence in a Low-Carbon World (Budget, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Advancing Next Generation Aviation Technologies (Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Business Meeting (Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Wednesday at 10:30 am)
A Review of the President’s FY 2024 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security (Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Wednesday at 1:30 pm)
An Oral Health Crisis: Identifying and Addressing Health Disparities (Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, Wednesday at 2:30 pm)
Personnel Vetting Modernization (Intelligence, Wednesday at 2:30 pm)
Pharmacy Benefit Managers and the Prescription Drug Supply Chain: Impact on Patients and Taxpayers (Finance, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Petrochemicals to Waste: Examining the Lifecycle Environmental and Climate Effects of Plastic (Environment and Public Works, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Nominations Hearing (Foreign Relations, Thursday at 10:30 am)
Forestry in the Farm Bill: The Importance of America’s Forests (Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources; Thursday at 10:30 am)
If you’re interested in watching any of these hearings online, you can find committee websites here.
The latest from CCJ on long prison sentences: Our friends at the Council on Criminal Justice have released a new report, How Long is Long Enough?, that looks at the impact of long prison sentences in the criminal justice system. The report comes from the Council on Criminal Justice’s Task Force on Long Sentences, chaired by former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. Read the recommendations from the report here.
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