Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
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The Daily Brief:
Legislative Snapshot
Saturday, July 15, 2017
"In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." (Zechariah 12:8,9)
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United in the Kingdom of God . . . under the Cross of Christ
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ACA Repeal in Context
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Capitol Hill Prayer Partners finds that now would be a valuable time to put some of this legislative debate in context regarding the Affordable Care Act. This includes publishing the first part of this Pray for Medicine blog post, and including a link to the rest of it for your further consideration and prayer.
Examining the defenses of the Affordable Care Act
Four years ago this month, President Obama rather humbly stated of the Affordable Care Act, "And me just making more speeches explaining it in and of itself won't do it. The test of this is going to be is it working. And if it works, it will be pretty darn popular."
Is it working? Is it popular?
Even before President Obama left office, there had already been many administrative, legislative, and judicial changes to the Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) with some parts repealed entirely such as the 1099 reporting requirement and the CLASS Act. Congress attempted to repeal the law in whole or in part many times while President Obama was still in office.
After another four years of this law being on the books we have additional indicators of ACA's effectiveness and popularity. One of the most obvious is President Obama was succeeded by President Trump whose election platform included repealing the law. This year, 2017, Congress and the President have been attempting to make good on those promises to repeal the remaining parts of the Affordable Care Act, some of which still remain to go into effect as late as 2020.
What remains of the Affordable Care Act? Defenders of the law would rather not answer that question in detail, and would instead rather discuss the law as a single entity. That way they can tout any "successes" as threatened by efforts to repeal President Obama's "signature domestic achievement." Parts of it have indeed been popular making single efforts at repeal politically difficult. As long as they get away with treating ACA as a single sacred entity, this strategy can expect continued success.
Full text of this publication
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Congress Last Week
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Floor Activity
House passes sweeping overhaul of law to combat human trafficking
House passes bill to curb human trafficking
U.S. Senate confirms businessman Hagerty as ambassador to Japan
House rejects controversial proposal to study Islam
House passes $700 billion annual defense bill
Health Care Policy
Trump's Council of Economic Advisers slams CBO findings on Medicaid
Senators discussing backup plan in case Obamacare repeal fails
GOP unveils revised Senate healthcare bill
Insurers send letter demanding McConnell drop Cruz proposal from healthcare bill, call it 'unworkable'
Tax Reform
U.S. House Freedom Caucus wants tax reform plan before budget deal
Federal Spending
Steve King: Use Planned Parenthood, food stamp money to fund border wall
Senate appropriators approve first bill, with no budget in sight
Federal Debt
FBI Director Nomination
Wray Pledges Impartiality as FBI Director
FBI nominee pledges loyalty to rule of law
Energy
DOE Must Improve Its Cyber Defenses, Say House Appropriators
Senate panel approves three Trump energy nominees
'Clean Coal' Tax Credit Gets a New Bipartisan Push in Senate
Russia & Elections
Key GOP senator: Why was Russian lawyer tied to Trump Jr. scandal in US?
Paul Ryan: Russian meddling in U.S. election is 'absolutely unacceptable'
Lawmakers want ex-Trump campaign chair Manafort to testify on Russia meeting
Senate panel asking Trump Jr. to testify
Sen. Chuck Grassley wants Donald Trump Jr. to testify before Senate panel, report says
U.S. House Speaker Ryan urges Trump son to testify in Congress
Co-founder of firm behind Trump-Russia dossier pressed to testify
Trump ex-adviser says he never heard of campaign contacts with Russians
Russia Sanctions
Stalled Russia sanctions bill hits North Korean snag in U.S. Congress
Legislation
House lawmakers unite behind GI Bill expansion
Amateur Radio Parity Act is Introduced in US Senate
Member Security
Congressional Schedule
Senate Republicans delay August recess to work on health care
Senate workload shaves two weeks off August recess
Here's what the Senate hopes to get done in August
House Republicans could work in August
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Activity Summary
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Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record
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Senate Floor
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Program for Monday: Senate resumes consideration of the nomination of Patrick M. Shanahan, of Washington, to be Deputy Secretary of Defense, and votes on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination at 5:30 p.m.
Recent floor activity lists possible legislative and executive nomination activity.
Next Week: Senate to vote on healthcare bill
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Senate Committees
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Monday,
Jul. 17, 2017
Hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2018 for the Department of
State and State Department reorganization plans.
Tuesday,
Jul. 18, 2017
Hearings to examine
comprehensive tax reform, focusing on prospects and challenges.
Hearings to examine the nomination
of General Paul J. Selva, USAF, for reappointment to the grade of general and
reappointment to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Hearings to examine the nominations
of J. Paul Compton, Jr., of Alabama, to be General Counsel, and Anna Maria
Farias, of Texas, and Neal J. Rackleff, of Texas, both to be an Assistant
Secretary, all of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Richard
Ashooh, of New Hampshire, to be an Assistant Secretary, and Elizabeth Erin
Walsh, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary and Director
General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, both of the
Department of Commerce, and Christopher Campbell, of California, to be an
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Hearings to examine the nominations
of Callista L. Gingrich, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Holy See, and
Nathan Alexander Sales, of Ohio, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with
the rank and status of Ambassador at Large, both of the Department of State.
Hearings to examine the
status and outlook for United States and North American energy and resource
security.
Hearings to examine the nomination
of David J. Kautter, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Hearings to examine the nominations
of John H. Gibson II, of Texas, to be Deputy Chief Management Officer, Ellen M.
Lord, of Rhode Island, to be Under Secretary for Acquisition, Technology, and
Logistics, Lucian Niemeyer, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary, and
Matthew P. Donovan, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of the Air Force, all of
the Department of Defense.
Hearings to examine
"The Four Famines", focusing on root causes and a multilateral action
plan.
Hearings to receive
testimony on options and considerations for achieving a 355-ship Navy from
former Reagan administration officials.
Wednesday,
Jul. 19, 2017
Commission on Security
and Cooperation in Europe
Hearings to examine
illicit cigarette smuggling in the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe region.
Hearings to examine the nominations
of Ajit Varadaraj Pai, of Kansas, Jessica Rosenworcel, of Connecticut, and
Brendan Carr, of Virginia, each to be a Member of the Federal Communications
Commission.
Hearings to examine…
- S. 257, to clarify the boundary of Acadia National Park,
- S. 312, to redesignate the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site as the "Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park",
- S. 355, to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for a lifetime National Recreational Pass for any veteran with a service-connected disability,
- S. 391, to establish the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center in New York, New York,
- S. 841, to designate the Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum,
- S. 926, to authorize the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation to establish the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia,
- S. 1073, to authorize Escambia County, Florida, to convey certain property that was formerly part of Santa Rosa Island National Monument and that was conveyed to Escambia County subject to restrictions on use and reconveyance,
- S. 1202, to modify the boundary of the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site,
- S. 1403, to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to establish the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps to place youth and veterans in national service positions to conserve, restore, and enhance the great outdoors of the United States,
- S. 1438, to redesignate the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in the State of Missouri as the "Gateway Arch National Park",
- S. 1459, to establish Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Park in the State of South Carolina, and
- S. 1522, to establish an Every Kid Outdoors program.
Hearings to examine S.
1514, to amend certain Acts to reauthorize those Acts and to increase
protections for wildlife.
Business meeting to
consider the nomination of David P. Pekoske, of Maryland, to be an
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security; to be immediately followed by a
hearing to examine the Postal Service's actions during the 2016 campaign
season, focusing on implications for the Hatch Act.
Business meeting to
consider the nominations of Marvin Kaplan, of Kansas, and William J.
Emanuel, of California, both to be a Member of the National Labor Relations
Board.
An oversight hearing to
examine the Department of Justice's enforcement of the Foreign Agents
Registration Act.
Hearings to examine
pending calendar business.
Thursday,
Jul. 20, 2017
Business meeting to
consider the nominations of Christopher A. Wray, of Georgia, to be
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jeffrey Bossert Clark, of
Virginia, and Beth Ann Williams, of New Jersey, both to be an Assistant
Attorney General, and John W. Huber, to be United States Attorney for the
District of Utah, all of the Department of Justice, and Trevor N. McFadden, of Virginia,
to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.
Hearings to examine
housing finance reform, focusing on maintaining access for small lenders.
Hearings to examine an
update on FirstNet.
Hearings to examine
innovative financing and funding, focusing on addressing America's crumbling
water infrastructure.
Commission on Security
and Cooperation in Europe
To receive a briefing on
kleptocrats of the Kremlin, focusing on ties between business and power in
Russia.
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House Floor
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Legislative Program for next week
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business.
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business.
Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business today.
In addition, the House will consider three bills that help modernize our energy infrastructure and fully utilize America's natural resources.
First will be H.R. 2910, the Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act, sponsored by Representative Bill Flores. This bill would ensure better coordination between FERC and other agencies in the permitting of new pipelines, while improving accountability by requiring more public disclosures.
Next would be H.R. 2883, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, sponsored by Representative Markwayne Mullin. This important bill establishes a uniform and transparent process for constructing electric transmission facilities and cross-border pipelines.
And third, H.R. 806, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, sponsored by Representative Pete Olson, which streamlines the compliance process and ensures reasonable implementation of the 2015 air quality standards.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider H.R. 218, the King Cove Land Exchange Act, sponsored by Representative Don Young. This land exchange will provide the residents of King Cove a safe and reliable transportation route to necessary medical care.
I look forward to passing these critical bills in the House.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, additional legislative items are possible in the House.
Full floor colloquy on next week's House schedule
WEEK OF JULY 17TH
MONDAY, JULY 17TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. 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:
- H.R. 2210 - To designate the community living center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly / Veterans Affairs Committee)
- H.J.Res. 92 - Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to amend the Washington Area Transit Regulation Compact (Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Comstock / Judiciary Committee)
- H.J.Res. 76 - Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to a enter into a compact relating to the establishment of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (Sponsored by Rep. Steny Hoyer / Judiciary Committee)
TUESDAY,
JULY 18TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
- H.R. 2786 - To amend the Federal Power Act with respect to the criteria and process to qualify as a qualifying conduit hydropower facility (Sponsored by Rep. Richard Hudson / Energy and Commerce Committee)
- H.R. 2828 - To extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project (Sponsored by Rep. Dan Newhouse / Energy and Commerce Committee)
- H.R. 3050 - Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton / Energy and Commerce Committee)
H.R.
806 - Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017, Rules Committee
Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Pete Olson / Energy and Commerce
Committee)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
H.R. 2910 - Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Flores / Energy and Commerce Committee)
H.R. 2883 - Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Markwayne Mullin / Energy and Commerce Committee)
THURSDAY, JULY 20TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
H.R. 218 - King Cove Road Land Exchange Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Donald Young / Natural Resources Committee)
Additional Legislative Items are Possible
FRIDAY, JULY 21ST
On Friday, the House is not in session. No votes are expected in the House.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
H.R. 2910 - Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Flores / Energy and Commerce Committee)
H.R. 2883 - Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Markwayne Mullin / Energy and Commerce Committee)
THURSDAY, JULY 20TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
H.R. 218 - King Cove Road Land Exchange Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Donald Young / Natural Resources Committee)
Additional Legislative Items are Possible
FRIDAY, JULY 21ST
On Friday, the House is not in session. No votes are expected in the House.
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House Committees
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Monday, July 17, 2017
H.R. 806 — Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017 (Rules Committee Print 115-26, showing the text of H.R. 806 as ordered reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce)
FY2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill
Legislative hearing on H.R. 3218, the Harry W. Colmery Veteran Educational Assistance Act of 2017
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Subcommittee Vote on H.R.____, the Drinking Water System Improvement Act of 2017
Modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
The Cost of Being a Public Company in Light of Sarbanes-Oxley and the Federalization of Corporate Governance
Planetary Flagship Missions: Mars Rover 2020 and Europa Clipper
Oversight Hearing "Examining Impacts of Federal Natural Resources Laws Gone Astray, Part II"
"FAST Act Implementation: Improving the Safety of the Nation's Roads"
Powering America: Examining the State of the Electric Industry through Market Participant Perspectives
The Next Farm Bill: Pathways to Success for SNAP Households
ESSA Implementation: Exploring State and Local Reform Efforts
Examining HRSAs Oversight of the 340 — B Drug Pricing Program
FY2018 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill and FY2018 Interior Appropriations Bill
Transforming GPO for the 21st Century and Beyond: Part 2
Promoting Onshore Oil and Gas Development in Alaska
Managing Terrorism Financing Risk in Remittances and Money Transfers
Implementing the Global Food Security Act
Hearing:
- H.R. 218 — King Cove Road Land Exchange Act (Rules Committee Print 115-27, showing the text of H.R. 218 as ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources);
- H.R. 2910 — Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act (Rules Committee Print 115-28, showing the text of H.R. 2910 as ordered reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce);
- H.R. 2883 — Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act (Rules Committee Print 115-29, showing the text of H.R. 2883 as ordered reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce)
Pending Legislation
Hearing on Efforts to Combat Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in the Medicare Program
Markup of…
- H.R. 378 (Fleischmann), Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2017;
- H.R. 1132 (Buck), Political Appointee Burrowing Prevention Act;
- H.R. 2897 (Norton), To authorize the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Director of the National Park Service to enter into cooperative management agreements for the operation, maintenance, and management of units of the National Park System in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes;
- H.R. 2989 (Norton), Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act;
- H.R. 3031 (Cummings), TSP Modernization Act of 2017;
- H.R. 3210 (Knight), Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2017;
- H.R. 3243 (Connolly), FITARA Enhancement Act of 2017; and
- H.R. 3244 (Meadows), To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for annual surveys of Federal employees, and for other purposes.
FY
2018 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, and FY2018 Labor, Health
and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill
Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Implementation of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 and the Water Resources Development Act of 2016
Energy Innovation: Letting Technology Lead
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 424 (Rep. Collin Peterson), Gray Wolf State Management Act of 2017 H.R. 717 (Rep. Pete Olson), Listing Reform Act H.R. 1274 (Rep. Dan Newhouse), State, Tribal, and Local Species Transparency and Recovery Act H.R. 2603 (Rep. Louie Gohmert), Saving America's Endangered Species Act or SAVES Act H.R. 3131 (Rep. Bill Huizenga), Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act.
The State of Infrastructure in Rural America
Reversing the Entrepreneurship Decline
Restricting North Koreas Access to Finance
H.R. 425 and H.R. 1196
Implementing the U.S.-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act
Agricultural Guestworkers: Meeting the Growing Needs of American Agriculture
Saudi Arabia's Troubling Educational Curriculum
Thursday,
July 20, 2017Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Implementation of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 and the Water Resources Development Act of 2016
Energy Innovation: Letting Technology Lead
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 424 (Rep. Collin Peterson), Gray Wolf State Management Act of 2017 H.R. 717 (Rep. Pete Olson), Listing Reform Act H.R. 1274 (Rep. Dan Newhouse), State, Tribal, and Local Species Transparency and Recovery Act H.R. 2603 (Rep. Louie Gohmert), Saving America's Endangered Species Act or SAVES Act H.R. 3131 (Rep. Bill Huizenga), Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act.
The State of Infrastructure in Rural America
Reversing the Entrepreneurship Decline
Restricting North Koreas Access to Finance
H.R. 425 and H.R. 1196
Implementing the U.S.-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act
Agricultural Guestworkers: Meeting the Growing Needs of American Agriculture
Saudi Arabia's Troubling Educational Curriculum
Seeking Innovative Solutions for the Future of Hardrock Mining
Monetary Policy v. Fiscal Policy: Risks to Price Stability and the Economy
Gangs in Our Communities: Drugs, Human Trafficking, and Violence
Examining Bipartisan Legislation to Improve the Medicare Program
Friday, July 21, 2017
NAHASDA: 20 Years On
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Reference Links
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Prayer Guide
