Border Security Bill in the House, Nominees in the Senate, and the Debt Limit Showdown
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.
Schedule and suspensions in the House: The House returns on Tuesday at 2:00 pm for legislative business. First votes are expected at 6:30 pm. Legislative business will begin at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, 12:00 pm on Thursday, and 9:00 am on Friday. Last votes for the week are expected no later than 3:00 pm Friday. Three bills (listed below) will be considered under the suspension of the rules. The cost estimates for these bills can be found here.
H.R. 676, Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act (Science, Space, and Technology Committee)
H.R. 1715, Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act (Science, Space, and Technology Committee)
H.R. 1734, Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act (Science, Space, and Technology Committee)
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 Tuesday at 4:00 pm to markup the rule for the Secure the Border Act, H.R. 2, and Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act, H.R. 1163. The Secure the Border Act is House Republicans’ immigration and border security bill. The section-by-section for the bill is available here. The Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act would allow states to recover fraudulent unemployment payments and keep some of the recovered funds.
What’s on tap for the House: Obviously, the House will focus on the border this week. Supposedly, the House will have a crime package on the floor next week, but we’re not sure what that looks like yet. We’ll likely have more information on that later this week. The week of May 15 is Police Week, so a crime package being on the floor tracks. House Republicans have historically focused on legislation related to boosting law enforcement. We expect the HALT Fentanyl Act, H.R. 467, and a CRA aimed at the Pistol Brace Rule, H.J.Res. 44, on the floor the week of May 22. We’ve also heard that appropriations could come up in the House in June and/or July. Committee activity this week also shows movement on the National Defense Authorization Act, so we expect that on the floor in the House before the August recess.
All eyes on the debt limit: President Biden will meet with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday to discuss the debt limit. With the “X date” looming, potentially as early as June 1, a deal needs to get done relative quickly. The White House has demanded a clean debt ceiling increase or suspension while House Republicans have demanded nondefense discretionary spending cuts, work requirements for social welfare programs, and regulatory reform. Thus far, Senate Republicans are standing behind their House colleagues, as more than 40 Senate Republicans have signed a letter led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) stating that they won’t vote for cloture on a debt limit bill that doesn’t include spending and budget reforms. Signers to the letter include McConnell and Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Schumer has introduced legislation to suspend the debt limit through the end of 2024, but we’ll note the Times’ story last week on House Democrats’ strategy to move a debt limit bill through a discharge petition. The special rule, H.Res. 350, was introduced a week ago and is the vehicle to bring H.R. 626, a shell bill that Democrats will use to try to force a vote on the debt limit, to the floor. Still, House Democrats will need a handful of Republicans to sign the discharge petition to get the 218 signatures needed to force a vote.
House committee schedule: Below are some House committee hearings that may be of interest. The full House committee schedule for the week is here.
Field Hearing in Staten Island, New York—Trade in America: Securing Supply Chains and Protecting the American Worker (Ways and Means, Tuesday at 10:00 am)
The Future of Digital Assets: Measuring the Regulatory Gaps in the Digital Asset Markets (Agriculture Subcommittees on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion of the Committee on Financial Services and Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development; Wednesday at 9:30 am)
An Overview of the Budget Proposal for the National Institute of Standards and Technology for Fiscal Year 2024 (Science, Space, and Technology; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Freight Forward: Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges to Deliver for America (Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Taking on More Risk: Examining the SBA'S Change to the 7(a) Lending Program Part I (Small Business, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Modernizing U.S. Arms Exports and a Stronger AUKUS (Foreign Affairs, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
ESG Part I: An Examination of Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices with Attorneys General (Oversight and Accountability, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Fiscal Year 2024 Environmental Protection Agency Budget Request (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Closing the Digital Divide: Overseeing Federal Funds for Broadband Deployment (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations; Wednesday at 10:30 am)
Return on Unprecedented Investment: An Analysis of the Department of Energy’s Implementation of the IIJA, the IRA, and the CHIPS and Science Act (Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittees on Energy and Investigations and Oversight, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Examining China’s Coercive Economic Tactics (Rules, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Evaluating High-Risk Security Vulnerabilities at our Nation’s Ports (Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Federal Responses to Recent Bank Failures (Financial Services, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Examining Policies that Inhibit Innovation and Patient Access (Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Risky Business: Costly Inaction on Federal Legacy IT (Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation; Wednesday at 2:00 pm)
Markup of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation; Thursday at 9:00 am)
American Confidence in Elections: Protecting Political Speech (House Administration, Thursday at 9:30 am)
An Overview of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 (Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment; Thursday at 10:00 am)
Strengthening the Fleet: Challenges and Solutions in Naval Surface Ship Construction (Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs; Thursday at 10:00 am)
Exposing the Woke, Wasteful, and Bloated Bureaucracy (Budget, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Stakeholder Perspectives on Agricultural Trade (Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture; Thursday at 10:00 am)
Markup of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Oversight of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank: GAO’s Preliminary Review (Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Assessing the Shortage of United States Mariners and Recruitment and Retention Challenges in the United States Coast Guard (Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Examining America’s Workforce Challenges: Looking for Ways to Improve Skills Development (Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Thursday at 10:15 am)
Examining the Root Causes of Drug Shortages: Challenges in Pharmaceutical Drug Supply Chain (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Thursday at 10:30 am)
Markup of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, Thursday at 11:00 am)
Markup of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Thursday at 12:00 pm)
Markup of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, Thursday at 1:00 pm)
Getting Back on Track: Exploring Rail Supply Chain Resilience and Challenges (Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials; Thursday at 2:00 pm)
Leveling the Playing Field: The State of Small Business Contracting (Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure, Thursday at 2:00 pm)
FDA Oversight Part II: Responsibility for the Infant Formula Shortage (Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, Thursday at 2:00 pm)
Reauthorizing the U.S. Fire Administration and Fire Grant Programs: Evaluating Effectiveness and Preparedness for Modern Challenges (Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology; Thursday at 2:00 pm)
Censorship Laundering: How the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Enables the Silencing of Dissent (Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability; Thursday at 2:00 pm)
Reviewing the Bureau of Industry and Security, Part I: U.S. Export Controls in an Era of Strategic Competition (Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability, Thursday at 2:00 pm)
Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Energy Budget Request (Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security; Thursday at 2:00 pm)
Markup of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, Thursday at 3:00 pm)
Markup of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Friday at 8:30 am)
Implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations; Friday at 9:30 am)
If you’re interested in watching any of these hearings online, you can find committee websites here.
Over in the Senate: The Senate will reconvene Tuesday at 3:00 pm and resume consideration of the nomination of L. Felice Gorordo to serve as the Alternate Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. A vote on the cloture motion for the Gorordo nomination is expected around 5:30 pm. Cloture was also filed on the nomination of Glenna Wright-Gallo to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the Department of Education.
Senate committee schedule: Below are some Senate committee hearings that may be of interest. The full Senate committee schedule for the week is here.
Testimony on the Department of Defense missile defense activities in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years Defense Program (Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Tuesday at 4:45 pm)
Conflict in Sudan: Options for an Effective Policy Response (Foreign Relations, Wednesday at 9:45 am)
A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for Indian Country (Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Examining the President's Budget Request for the National Park Service for Fiscal Year 2024 (Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Nomination of Jeffery Martin Baran to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Environment and Public Works, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Executive Session (Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Nomination Hearing (Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Lessons Learned: Leadership Perspectives and Experience on the National Costs of Climate Change (Budget, Wednesday at 10:30 am)
Oversight of the Library of Congress (Rules and Administration, Wednesday at 2:45 pm)
A Review of the President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Department of Defense (Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Thursday at 9:00 am)
A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the Department of Education (Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Thursday at 10:00 am)
Examining Opportunities for Congress to Reform the Permitting Process for Energy and Mineral Projects (Energy and Natural Resources, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Markup of Legislative Measures (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Thursday at 10:00 am)
The State of Universal Service (Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband; Thursday at 10:00 am)
Cross-border Rx: Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and U.S. International Tax Policy (Finance, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Field Hearing in Atlanta, Georgia—How Can We Improve Health Workforce Diversity and Address Shortages? A Conversation with Historically Black College and University Leaders and Students (Finance, Friday at 10:00 am)
If you’re interested in watching any of these hearings online, you can find committee websites here.
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