Congress Update
Senator farewells continue — House passes water, NDAA, judiciary bills — spending negotiations continue — committee leadership elections
Daily Digests: M 12/9 (PDF) • T 12/10 (PDF) • W 12/11 (PDF) • Th 12/12 (PDF)
Senate — Votes — Legislation: New: 86 (D, R), Action: 32, Passed: 30 — News
M 12/9/2024 — Record PDF • Summary
T 12/10/2024 — Record PDF • Summary
W 12/11/2024 — Record PDF • Summary
Senate declined to pass en bloc the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act and the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act (H.R. 8413, H.R. 8219)
Th 12/12/2024 — Record PDF • Summary
Senate declined to pass en bloc the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act and the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act (H.R. 8413, H.R. 8219)
House — Legislation: New: 87 (R, D), Scheduled, Action: 26, Voted: 1, Passed: 25 — News
M 12/9/2024 — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
T 12/10/2024 — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
House OKs Water Infrastructure Bill, Teeing Up Senate Vote (S. 4367)
Legislation to promote better federal building security set to be signed into law (S. 3613)
House passes bill to block Biden washing machine rules (H.R. 7673)
House passes SHIELD Against CCP Act in bipartisan vote • to counter China (H.R. 9668) • ‘China is one of the biggest threats to our country’ • House Passes Bill for New Homeland Security Panel to Monitor CCP Threat
W 12/11/2024 — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
House passes legislation aimed at improving Congressional access to economic data (H.R. 9716)
House passes $884 billion defense spending bill (H.R. 5009 — Bill Text, Floor Debate) • both parties see split in support • Speaker Johnson Statement • House sends compromise NDAA to Senate • CBO: Estimated Changes in Direct Spending and Revenues of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (H.R. 5009)
REMOVES language rescinding the Biden DOD Abortion Travel Memo. HR 5009 does not include the Van Duyne Amendment #709, included in the House-passed HR 8070, which would stop implementation of the Biden Administration’s illegal memorandum directing the DOD to pay the travel and transportation costs for military members and dependents to travel to obtain elective abortions. It clarified that 10 U.S.C. § 1093 prevents the Department of Defense (DOD) from using any funds for elective abortion. Therefore, (1) the DOD Secretary has no legal authority to implement funding for elective abortion and (2) the DOD memo, ‘‘Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care,” is unlawful and must be rescinded.
Page 399: Section 709: creates a demonstration program to reimburse covered members for expenses incurred in the retrieval, testing, cryopreservation, shipping, and storage of gametes (reproductive cells, not embryos) in private storage facilities. Reimbursement would be up to $500 for sperm and up to $10,000 for eggs.
Page 396: Section 707: requires DOD to waive the cost (copays/cost sharing) of FDA-approved forms of contraception (including abortifacient contraception) for members of the military and their dependents.
Congressional Research Service: “FY2025 NDAA: Reproductive Health Care Provisions.” This report compares key provisions included in the previous House-passed and Senate-reported NDAAs.
Th 12/12/2024 — Record PDF, Extensions PDF • Activity, Votes
House passes bill to add new judges amid Biden veto threat (S. 4199) • Speaker Johnson Statement • House Democrats that voted in favor
Majority Leader Recap: Week of December 9, 2024
National Security — Committees: Senate, House
Who’s Controlling the Drones and Why Aren’t We Doing Anything about It?
Raja Krishnamoorthi says significant chance China using drones in US
Military — Committees: Senate, House
In a War Against China, the US Runs Out of Missiles in a Matter of Weeks, House Committee Finds
NDAA features historic raise for junior enlisted troops
House Ramps Up Funding for Joint Military Projects With Israel
Tom Cotton calls on West Point to investigate reports it lied to the press
Foreign Policy — Committees: Senate, House
Syria chaos could complicate lawmakers’ holiday endgame
Lawmakers call for intelligence assessment on ending U.S. support for Ukraine
Cornyn: President Xi has ordered the Chinese military to be ready and capable of taking Taiwan by force in 2027—just 2 years from now.
Speaker Johnson Announces Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Commemorate 80th Anniversary of Battle of the Bulge
Constitution
‘Squad’ Democrats demand Biden ‘take action’ on Equal Rights Amendment in final days
Speaker Johnson Statement on House Small Business Committee Interim Staff Report on Voter Registration Activities Investigation
Homeland Security — Committees: House, Senate
Republicans start making immigration plans for next year
Senate Democrats air concerns about Trump mass deportation plan
Budget — Committees: House, Senate
CBO: Monthly Budget Review: November 2024
Federal Spending — Committees: House, Senate — FY 2024 bills, table
Congress races toward Dec. 20 government funding deadline
Lawmakers edge closer to deal on government funding, disaster aid
Executive — Committees: House, Senate
Days After Trump's Victory, Biden-Harris Admin Granted Iran $10 Billion in Sanctions Relief, Congressional Notice Shows
Richard Blumenthal 'strongly opposes' preemptive pardons for Jan. 6 panel members
WH: Notice to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corruption
WH: Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corruption
Hegseth softens military views in bid to lead Pentagon • nomination for Pentagon leadership regains strength • Ernst and Hegseth sidestep questions on women in combat roles • John Cornyn warns Hegseth faces 'unpleasant' confirmation hearing
FBI director plans to step down before Trump takes office • House Oversight chairman claims Wray leaves with the FBI's reputation 'in the commode'
Noem meets senators as Trump’s pick to lead Homeland Security
Senate Democrats search for common ground with R.F. Kennedy, Jr.
Heritage Action starts ads backing Trump's Cabinet picks
Trump’s pick for NASA chief: Jared Isaacman
Rep. Bishop picked for No. 2 slot in Trump OMB
Trump nominates former El Salvador ambassador Ron Johnson as ambassador to Mexico
Trump risks legal clashes in plans not to spend appropriations
Commerce Policy — Committees: Senate, House
US oil and gas producers pressure House to pass pivotal permitting bill
Sen.-elect Jim Banks advocates for working-class reforms
Jim Justice: Energy key to looming GOP budget battles
Health Care Policy — Committee: Senate
Sen. Johnson Poised to Compel HHS to Cough Up COVID Docs
Bipartisan lawmakers want to force health insurers, PBMs to sell off pharmacies
Congress — Committees: House, Senate
Capitol Police close out post-Jan. 6 recommendations, call for more manpower
Over 50 lawmakers victims of 'swatting' attacks within past month: US Capitol Police chief
House Republicans pick committee leaders to advance Trump's agenda in 2025
In a surprise, Afghanistan vet Rep. Brian Mast selected to chair Foreign Affairs Committee, in pro-Trump shift
Walberg gets Republican panel nod for House Education chair
Roy, a vocal critic of spending deals, seeks Rules gavel
Graves sidesteps limelight
DOJ watchdog review sparks change to policy on lawmaker records
McConnell suffers minor injuries in fall, examined by medical team, working from home after tripping at Capitol • McConnell misses Senate votes due to ‘leg stiffness’ after Tuesday fall
Pelosi Falls Down Stairs In High Heels, Breaks Hip, hospitalized in Luxembourg
US Senate Chaplain Barry Black hospitalized after brain bleed
Retiring: Helmy resignation letters • Sanders says he likely won't run again for re-election to Senate