Fear is on the rise.
Democrats fear anyone with a tool for self-defense. This week they tried to make Americans even more defenseless (see Wednesday Senate floor action).
Republicans now fear border inaction more than they fear Democrats or a war in Ukraine, or even not supporting Israel (also Wednesday Senate floor action).
Fear drives willful blindness to the humanity of the unborn, and the drive to distort the consequences of anyone who would punish that evil.
Fear drives the desire to surveil for threats abroad, even if that overrides fears of an encroaching government.
Some fear overspending, and others fear not spending enough.
All of these concerns involve legitimate issues. All of them have possible policy implications. None of them address the current root issue in this Nation.
This week, Speaker Mike Johnson was reported as authoring a fundraising email noting his fear of God's judgment for our “collective sins.”
Our sins are many, but none of these are our first sin. Our first sin is forgetting God, and this is seen in our not being thankful to Him.
Read Deuteronomy 28. Read it all.
The end result of rejecting God is total fear. “Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see” (28:66-67).
The warning signs are everywhere for our Nation right now. They're all blinking red, all at the same time. Those charged to protect us are all sounding alarms.
The answer for a Nation is found in the midst of the escalating consequences written in Deuteronomy 28. “Serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart for the abundance of everything” (28:47). “Fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD” (28:58). Believe His Word fully in everything, and in everything give thanks (1 Thessalonaians 5:12) in Jesus' Name (Ephesians 5:20).
Father, we know we have drifted from You. We know we have forgotten You. We know sometimes we have convinced ourselves we believe You and are following You, even when we are not. First, we ask you to open our eyes to where our ways are not Your ways. Then, open our hearts to where we need to turn from sin and turn to You. Give us humility, compassion, and determination to “warn every man and teach every man in all wisdom” (Colossians 1:28) how short the hour is, both for this Nation, and for each person.
“Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:34)
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:11-14)
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Tim McGhee
CHPP Legislative Analyst, Pray for Congress
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Daily Digests: M 12/4 (PDF) • T 12/5 (PDF) • W 12/6 (PDF) • Th 12/7 (PDF)
Senate — Votes — Legislation: New: 84 (D, R), Action: 11, Voted: 3, Passed: 9 — News
M 12/4/2023, Log — Record PDF • Summary
T 12/5/2023, Log — Record PDF • Summary
W 12/6/2023, Log — Record PDF • Summary
- Schumer Thanks Sullivan And Ernst For Helping Him Protect Biden’s Illegal Military Abortion Policy (Schumer remarks)
- Senate declined to pass an Assault Weapons Ban (S. 25) • Sen. Tuberville: I heard that Senator Durbin now wants illegal immigrants to serve in the military because we can't find enough Americans. Did I just not hear on the floor that Senator Durbin and Senator Schumer are against assault weapons? I heard that. Everybody has got their opinion. But they want to turn around and give an assault weapon to a Chinese or a Russian or Iranian who is coming into this country illegally to protect the American citizens in the United States of America. Have we lost our minds?
- Senate declined to pass Background Check Expansion Act (S. 494) • Sen. Lee: “This is not solely about transactions involving guns at gun stores. This is about the father who wishes to pass down a hunting rifle to his son or the friend who wants to lend a shotgun to his neighbor who is in need of protection at the time. Universal background checks, as this bill conceives them, don't just regulate; they criminalize these quintessential moments of American life and, under this legislation, would render unlawful what in countless circumstances would be lawful and even constitutionally protected behavior.”
- Senate declined to pass Ethan's (storage) Law (S. 173) • Five reasons for objecting • Democrats are fond of making claims like, “No single gun owner will lose a gun—none—as a result of this measure.” What they don't highlight is how much control their legislation exerts over gun owners. Under this law, you could keep firearms in your home either (a) locked up or (b) on your person. That's it. Anywhere else—in your own home—could result in a $500 fine, and if a minor or ineligible resident injures someone with the firearm, up to five years in prison and seizure and forfeiture of the firearm.
- Senate blocks Ukraine, Israel funding bill (H.R. 815) • Senators look for Biden, McConnell to step up after Republicans block Ukraine funding bill
- Senate declined to pass Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 6126)
Th 12/7/2023, Log — Record PDF • Summary
Senators leave town with no deal on border, war supplemental
House — Legislation: New: 137 (R, D), Scheduled, Action: 19, Voted: 9, Passed: 18 — News
M 12/4/2023, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
T 12/5/2023, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
W 12/6/2023, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
Th 12/7/2023, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
House Majority Leader Recap: Week of December 4, 2023
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Military — Committees: Senate, House
Congress Secures Weapons Systems For Israel In Annual Defense Spending Bill (H.R. 2670, Bill Text [2,306 pages], Conference Report [3,093 pages]) • Bill Lets Leftists Keep Using The Military To Push Abortion, DEI, And Trans Agendas • Includes Taxpayer Funding for Abortion, Sex Changes
Foreign Policy — Committees: Senate, House
Joint chiefs chairman says US should be concerned about possibility of China invading Taiwan
Zelensky suddenly cancels meetings with Congress amid funding row • Tempers erupt at classified Senate briefing on Ukraine
Senate Democrat says foreign governments spying on smartphone users through push notifications
Senate Dems propose amendment adding conditions to Israel aid (Amendment text, Van Hollen statement)
Senate introduces bipartisan bill to increase US authority to sanction firms backing terror groups (S. 3441)
Sen. Lee introduces a bill to end U.S. participation in the United Nations system (S. 3428 — “At the U.N.'s inception in 1945, President Truman presented a choice between ‘international chaos’ and the ‘establishment of a world organization for . . . peace.’ Yet, despite the U.N.'s existence, chaos abounds, adversaries leverage their U.N. positions, and the goal of peace is overshadowed by the ambition for supranational governance.”)
Fourth Amendment
Top Intel Dem warns Congress risks lapse in warrantless spy powers over Section 702
Speaker Johnson takes heat from House conservatives over short-term extension of warrantless surveillance powers
Homeland Security — Committees: House, Senate
Senate Republican says GOP is ‘making progress’ with Democrats on border security
Fischer: 'I’ve had it': Senate Republicans fume at Dems over border stalemate • Tillis: “…we’re talking about a compromise that will get more than half of our conference and fewer than 100 percent of theirs. There’s a lot of confusion around that concept because that hasn’t happened in recent history.”
House Democrats reject GOP’s immigration reforms in Ukraine aid bill
House Ukraine skeptics lay out hard-line demands amid Senate border talks (H.R. 2, know what the objective is in Ukraine, inspector general, border security)
McConnell: Fixing a badly broken asylum and parole system isn't hijacking the supplemental; it is strengthening it.
Budget — Committees: House, Senate
CBO: Monthly Budget Review: November 2023
Federal Spending — Committees: House, Senate — FY 2024 bills, table
McConnell backs border concessions for Ukraine aid, uniting with Johnson
Heritage Action Says House GOP Will Face Consequences If The Pentagon’s Abortion Policy Isn’t Defunded
Topline appropriations talks at a standstill • Framework appropriations deal elusive as session winds down • Democrats are terrified of real spending cuts. Top Senate spender summarizes the overgrown size of the Federal government in around 2,000 words, and it's just 'the tip of the iceberg.' • The Senator has no sense of the purpose of government being simply to punish those who do evil, and praise those who do good (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:14). • Top Senate appropriators detail full-year stopgap impacts
Executive — Committees: House, Senate
Senate Republicans Demand White House Forfeit Biden’s Election Interference Plans
WH: Nominations Sent to the Senate (State, Treasury)
WH: Nominations Sent to the Senate (State, DOD)
WH: Letter to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on an Agreement with the Federated States of Micronesia
WH: President Biden Transmits Compacts of Free Association-Related Agreements to U.S. Congress
WH: Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Senate regarding the War Powers Report
Senate Republicans call on FDIC chief to resign over harrassment allegations
Senate Republican says Washington Post op-ed suggested 'open rebellion' against US
Judiciary — Committees: Senate, House
CRS: Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (November 27–December 3, 2023)
WH: Nominations Sent to the Senate (California)
Justice — Punishing Evil, Praising Good (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:14)
Freshman Jackson offers bill to boost USDA civil rights efforts (H.R. 6527)
Corruption — Praising Evil, Punishing Good (Isaiah 5:20)
Democrats Demand Twitter, Meta Censor Pro-Life Information
Health Care Policy — Committee: Senate
House Republicans will probe FDA over decision on decongestant
Congress — Committees: House, Senate
Special election to replace George Santos set for February 13, 2024
Some Capitol Police officers on forced leave after hitting pay cap
Mike Johnson fundraising email warns God may punish U.S. for 'collective sins'
How Democrats of faith see devout Speaker Mike Johnson
Rep. Carter of Texas shares history of Christmas carols on the House floor: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” “Away in a Manger,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “a bunch more”
Architect of Capitol calls its watchdog back to the office
Retiring: McHenry (Met with Cheers), McCarthy (at the end of 2023), Manning
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Committee Activity — Meetings: 51 • Reports: 1 • Legislative action this week:
All committee legislative action • Senate (Subcommittees) • House (Subcommittees)
FBI director warns senators on surveillance reauthorization • Wray Misdirects Congress Over FBI’s Burying Of Credible Biden Bribery Report • 4 Key Takeaways From FBI Director Chris Wray’s Senate Testimony (Meeting, Congress.gov)
Senate health committee to consider opioid addiction legislation (S. 644, Meeting, Congress.gov)
Weaponization panel details FBI preparation of 'radical-traditionalist Catholics' memo
‘Have You Apologized?’ Congressman Grills DOJ Official About Targeting of Catholic Father Mark Houck (Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov)
House Judiciary introduces FISA reform bill, to curb warrantless surveillance powers (H.R. 6570) • House Judiciary panel advances renewal of surveillance authority, reform in bipartisan vote (Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov)
House Intel introduces warrantless surveillance reform plan amid battle to reform Section 702 • House Intelligence panel advances its own surveillance bill (H.R. 6611, Press Release, Docs, Congress.gov)
Witnesses Urge Lawmakers to Task NIST With Expanding REAL ID and mobile driver's licenses (Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov)
House panel backs release of Hunter Biden tax probe information (Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov, Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov)
Key Takeaways From the House Hearing on College Campus Antisemitism (Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov) • How accusations of college antisemitism went from bad to worse with one House hearing • House Education chair announces probe into Harvard, MIT, UPenn over 'rampant antisemitism' • Penn loses $100 million donation following House hearing on antisemitism • Calls grow for ouster of UPenn, Harvard, MIT presidents after antisemitism House hearing • Harvard president apologizes
Committee news this week: Senate • House (Google News)
Floor Outlook
House of Representatives — Rules Committee: Legislation
Rules Committee: Meeting Announcement for December 11, 2023
Rules Committee: Meeting Announcement for December 12, 2023
House set to weigh warrantless spy powers as part of defense policy bill (H.R. 2670) • House Intelligence, Judiciary battle over surveillance
House Republicans release Biden impeachment inquiry resolution, vote planned for next week (H.Res. 918)
CBO: Legislation considered under suspension of the Rules of the House of Representatives during the week of December 11, 2023
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3 p.m., Monday, December 11, 2023
Program for Monday: Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Richard E.N. Federico, of Kansas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit, post-cloture, and vote on confirmation thereon at 5:30 p.m. Following disposition of the nomination of Richard E.N. Federico, Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Harry Coker, Jr., of Kansas, to be National Cyber Director.
Thursday, 12/7/2023, Senate began consideration of:
- the conference report to accompany H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
- the nomination of Harry Coker, Jr., of Kansas, to be National Cyber Director
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11TH
On Monday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK:
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
Legislation Considered Pursuant to a Rule:
H.R. 6570 Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act ( Sponsored by Rep. Biggs / Judiciary Committee )
H.R. 6611 FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023 ( Sponsored by Rep. Turner / Intelligence Committee )
H.R. 1147 Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 ( Sponsored by Rep. Thompson / Education & the Workforce Committee )
H.R. 357 Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act ( Sponsored by Rep. Cline / Judiciary Committee )
H.Res. 918 Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes. ( Sponsored by Rep. Armstrong / Rules Committee )
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
Conference report to accompany H.R. 2670 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 ( Sponsored by Rep. Rogers (AL) / Armed Services Committee )
Complete list of Bills for the Week of December 11, 2023
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Our Weekly Call to Repentance
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CHPP Welcomes You to Join Us Every Week in One Hour of Repentance
Sunday evening at 10:00 p.m. EDT
Dial 717-908-1983
Access Code: 9301470#
Dear Saints,
A lifestyle of REPENTANCE is so close to the heart of God.
Indeed, He commands us to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Matthew 3:2
How, then, can we approach His Throne of GRACE, in repentance?
We invite you to join us every week on Sunday evening, as we explore this vital topic together. We present a different prayer focus each week, leading us into repentance, so that we might approach His Throne of Grace in repentance, presenting ourselves to Him as a pure and a spotless Bride, without spot or wrinkle. (Ephesians 5:27)
Praying together, we desire to fulfill the mandate of Psalm 139:
" Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:24
You can join us, any Sunday evening, at 10:00 p.m. EST by calling:
717-908-1983
Access Code: 9301470#
WELCOME!
". . . and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
"Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place." (2 Chronicles 7:14,15)
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About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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To learn more about our ministry, and to sign up to begin receiving our daily alerts, please go here.
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Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at: chpp1994@gmail.com requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers or CLICK HERE to subscribe.
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