As the spending battles heat up again next week with the latest round of Departments currently funded only through Friday, January 19, 2024, there are a few terms to recognize as one reads news and listens to debate:
Policy: This is an umbrella term that can refer to laws from the Legislative Branch or regulations from the Executive Branch.
Policy rider: These are parts of a bill to become law which are not necessarily part of the original core of a bill, but are related enough to be included. — Longstanding policy riders include longstanding pro-life policies like the Hyde Amendment, and newer policies in response to actions of the administration.
Compromise: This could refer to language in the base text of a bill, and often more specifically applies to policy riders. Usually, this term is used to refer to policies Democrats like and Republicans don't.
Poison pill: This is often a term Democrats use to refer to policy riders Republicans like that Democrats don't. — Democrats do not use this term to refer to actual poison abortion pills that end the lives of unborn children.
At the end of the day, all of these things refer to language in law or with the force of law to make doing something or not doing something against the law.
Listen and read with careful and Spirit-filled discerning ears and eyes. Pray that our leaders would have the same, to cut through the rhetoric and get to the core of both (a) the issues at hand and (b) the true effects of policies proposed. Then, may they seek to only punish those who do evil and praise those who do good (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:14).
- Father, we know You used words to speak things into existence, You used words to reveal yourself to us, and Your Son is referred to as the Word Made Flesh. We know words matter as the power of life and death are in the tongue. Lord, we ask you to raise up a keen awareness among your people in Congress to the power of words. Make them intentional, patient, and only compliant with You, Your Word, and exactly how you would have them speak about the issues before them.
- “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Tim McGhee
CHPP Legislative Analyst, Pray for Congress
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Daily Digests: M 1/8 (PDF) • T 1/9 (PDF) • W 1/10 (PDF) • Th 1/11 (PDF) • F 1/12 (PDF)
Senate — Votes — Legislation: New: 37 (D, R), Action: 7, Voted: 1, Passed: 5 — News
M 1/8/2024, Log — Record PDF • Summary
T 1/9/2024, Log — Record PDF • Summary
W 1/10/2024, Log — Record PDF • Summary
Th 1/11/2024, Log — Record PDF • Summary
F 1/12/2024 — Record PDF • Summary
House — Legislation: New: 94 (R, D), Scheduled, Voted: 5, Passed: 13 — News
T 1/9/2024, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
W 1/10/2024, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
Th 1/11/2024, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
F 1/12/2024, Log — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
The Republican Majority Leader Recap
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Military — Committees: Senate, House
Pentagon’s handling of Austin hospitalization roils Congress • Pressure mounting on Austin as GOP senators launch inquiry • First Democrat in Congress Joins Calls for Defense Secretary’s Resignation • Congressman Moves to Impeach Defense Secretary
McConnell: President Biden's passive policy means the Navy is expending million-dollar missiles to swat away thousand-dollar drones—million-dollar missiles to take out thousand-dollar drones because, apparently, we don't have the nerve to target launch facilities.
Key Senate Republicans join effort to block use of VA resources for illegals (S. 3490)
Foreign Policy — Committees: Senate, House
Cornyn: Why should we care about Israel? Terrorism will not be confined to Israel or the Middle East as a region.
Kaine: Often in this Chamber, we are grappling with really tough issues around the world. We wonder: Will Cuba ever be a human rights respecting democracy? Look at Taiwan. What about Venezuela? Look at Taiwan. What about the People's Republic of China? Look at Taiwan. What about Russia? Look at Taiwan.
Second Amendment
House Democrats wants to reform the Second Amendment by banning high-capacity weapons, increasing background checks, red flag laws, mental health scrutiny, and weapon manufacturer liability; claims weapons are the number one cause of death for American children • Guns Are Not the Leading Cause of Children's Deaths
Homeland Security — Committees: House, Senate
Schumer refers to both the border and the U.S. immigration system as 'broken'
Speaker: 64 Times the Biden Administration Undermined Border Security
Budget — Committees: House, Senate
CBO: Monthly Budget Review: December 2023
Tax Policy — Committees: House, Senate, Joint
Chief tax writers working to broaden appeal of tentative accord
Federal Spending — Committees: House, Senate — FY 2024 bills, table
Deal reached on appropriations toplines, sources say • Johnson: The agreement also represents an overall cut of tens of billions below the levels in the current CR. It does this while allowing for full funding of the President's Budget request for defense. As such, this represents the most favorable budget agreement Republicans have achieved in over a decade. • Wall Street Journal editorial board endorses • Schumer on the top-line agreement: our goal was to preserve a nondefense funding level of $772 billion--the same level agreed to in our debt ceiling deal last June. That $772 billion was precisely the number we reached. Not a nickel was cut. • As Debt Skyrockets, House Eyes New Budget Deal With Negligible Cuts • Johnson under same pressures as McCarthy • Johnson cedes leverage to Democrats • Schumer announces Congressional Democrats 'will not accept poison pills', does not identify how those differ from policies with which they disagree • Speaker pushing lower DHS spending
Short-term stopgap bill appears likely as funding talks drag • Both chambers near decisions
Executive — Committees: House, Senate
WH: President Biden Announces Key Nominees
WH: Nominations Sent to the Senate
Biden's Strikes on New Middle East Targets Spark Bipartisan Anger in Congress: 'The Constitution Matters' • WH Letter to the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148)
Judiciary — Committees: Senate, House
WH: President Biden Names Forty-Fourth Round of Judicial Nominees
WH: 6 Judicial Nominations
CRS: Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (January 1–January 7, 2024)
Justice — Punishing Evil, Praising Good (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:14)
McConnell on crime in DC: one of the year's first homicide cases involved a body found in a trash can within sight of the Capitol Building.
Sen. Marshall Challenges Proposed HHS Rule That Would Force Foster Parents To Accept ‘Extreme Gender Ideology’ (Proposed Rule)
Science/Technology Policy — Committee: House, Senate
‘Impossible’ to create AI tools like ChatGPT without copyrighted material, OpenAI says
Congress — Committees: House, Senate
Tim Kaine Did Favors for University President Wife After Senate Ethics Warning
Retiring: Pence • Number of House departures slightly above average
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Committee Activity — Meetings: 27 • Reports: 2 • Legislative action this week:
All committee legislative action • Senate (Subcommittees) • House (Subcommittees)
Country Star Jelly Roll Gives Powerful Testimony on Fentanyl Before Congress • once a drug dealer, now he’s pushing Congress to pass an anti-fentanyl bill (S. 1271, Meeting, Congress.gov)
Congress Grills DOE Official Over $3 Billion Loan to Solar Company Accused of Scamming Elderly (Meeting, Congress.gov)
Two House panels recommend holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress (Oversight: Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov — Judiciary: Meeting, Docs)
House committee kicks off Mayorkas impeachment effort (Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov)
Anthony Fauci Finally Admits the Truth About Evidence Behind COVID Guidelines
House Republicans advance bill to protect rights of pregnant students on campus (Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov)
Congressional Committee Passes Bill to Stop Joe Biden From Discriminating Against Pregnancy Centers (Proposed Rule, H.R. 6918, Meeting, Docs, Congress.gov)
Committee news this week: Senate • House (Google News)
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3 p.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Program for Tuesday: Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 2872, Amending the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act (the legislative vehicle for the Continuing Resolution).
If a motion to discharge the Committee on Foreign Relations from further consideration of S.Res. 504, requesting information on Israel's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, is made, Senate will vote on or in relation to the motion to discharge at 5:30 p.m., followed by a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 2872, Amending the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act (the legislative vehicle for the Continuing Resolution).
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business.
Legislation Considered Pursuant to a Rule:
H. Res. 957 Denouncing the Biden administration's open-borders policies, condemning the national security and public safety crisis along the southwest border, and urging President Biden to end his administration's open-borders policies. ( Sponsored by Rep. Moran / Judiciary Committee )
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business.
Legislation Considered Pursuant to a Rule:
H. Res. __ Report to accompany the Resolution Recommending that the House of Representatives Find Robert Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with a Subpoena Duly Issued by the Committee on Oversight and Accountability ( Sponsored by Rep. Comer / Oversight and Accountability Committee )
H. Res. __ Report to accompany the Resolution Recommending that the House of Representatives Find Robert Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with a Subpoena Duly Issued by the Committee on the Judiciary ( Sponsored by Rep. Jordan / Judiciary Committee )
H.R. 6914 Pregnant Students Rights Act ( Sponsored by Rep. Hinson / Education and the Workforce Committee )
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19TH
On Friday, 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. 6918 Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act ( Sponsored by Rep. Fischbach / Ways and Means Committee )
Legislation related to FY24 government funding is expected.
Complete list of Bills for the Week of January 15, 2024
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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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