Both the House and Senate are in session this week.
They will continue their efforts to enact a stopgap government funding bill before fiscal 2022 funds expire in 11 days.
Democrats may look to add key funding priorities to this must-pass legislation, and Republicans have indicated there will be bipartisan support to boost the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster fund and provide additional funding to help Ukraine fight Russia. However, they have so far remained opposed to including additional money to combat COVID-19 and monkeypox. Furthermore, leadership is still working to determine a pathway to include a measure easing permitting for federal energy projects like natural gas pipelines under the National Energy Policy Act. While this is a priority for Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), who was told during the negotiations of the Inflation Reduction Act that it would get a vote, the lack of bipartisan support around a specific proposal seems likely to derail Senate consideration at this time.
The House may also consider legislation that would overhaul how Congress and the states certify presidential election results by updating the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Liz Cheney (R-WY).
The Senate is likely to consider a measure that would ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Over 130 countries have already ratified the agreement, which signals a commitment to tackling climate change by scaling down hydrofluorocarbons. Further, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has indicated that the upper chamber may also vote this week on the DISCLOSE Act, which is a Democratic effort to increase transparency for campaign finance. The bill would require organizations that spend money in elections – including super PACs and 501(c)(4) nonprofits – to disclose donors who give $10,000 or more during an election cycle.
Administration
On Monday, President Biden will return from the United Kingdom after attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. On Wednesday, Biden will speak at the U.N. General Assembly in New York and meet with British Prime Minister Liz Truss for the first time.
House Side
On Monday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- H.R. 1456 – Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2022, as amended (Rep. Garamendi – Foreign Affairs). The bill would authorize a total of $861 million for the Peace Corps for fiscal 2023 and 2024, and benefits and protections for volunteers would be expanded.
- S. 3895 – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2022 (Sen. Rubio – Foreign Affairs). The bill would reauthorize through fiscal year 2024 the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
- H.R. 7240 – READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, as amended (Rep. Bass – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would extend for five fiscal years the requirement that the President submit to Congress a U.S. strategy to promote quality basic education and expand its access to children in developing countries.
- H.R. 8503 – Securing Global Telecommunications Act (Rep. Manning – Foreign Affairs). The bill would permit the State Department to establish a committee to advise on digital technologies and telecommunications and develop a strategy to promote secure telecommunication infrastructure globally.
- H.R. 8520 – Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act (Rep. Wild – Foreign Affairs). The bill would impose certain reporting and disclosure requirements for telecommunications equipment and services from Chinese companies.
- H.R. 7338 – Russia Cryptocurrency Transparency Act, as amended (Rep. Meeks – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would require the State Department to provide information on its use of cryptocurrency in the Rewards for Justice program.
- H.R. 6265 – CAPTAGON Act (Rep. Hill – Foreign Affairs). The bill would require federal agencies to create a written interagency strategy to disrupt and dismantle narcotics production and trafficking networks connected to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
- H.R. 6846 – CORRUPT Act, as amended (Rep. Malinowski – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would require the President to submit a determination of whether identified Russian individuals would be subject to sanctions related to corruption or human rights violations.
- H.Res. 558 – Urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, as amended (Rep. Deutch – Foreign Affairs). The nonbinding resolution would also express support for U.S.-EU cooperation in thwarting Hezbollah’s criminal and terrorist activities and efforts to share intelligence information to track, apprehend, and prosecute terrorists.
- H.R. 8453 – Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act, as amended (Rep. Wagner – Foreign Affairs). The measure would direct the President to sanction individuals who engage in corruption and undermine stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- H.R. 1433 – Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2022, as amended (Rep. Pocan – Education and Labor). The bill would reauthorize through fiscal year 2027 the Helen Keller National Center.
- S. 3157 – Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act (Sen. Klobuchar – Education and Labor). The legislation would require the Labor Department to study factors affecting employment opportunities for immigrants and refugees who are lawfully present or naturalized citizens and have professional credentials obtained in another country.
- H.R. 7566 – No Trafficking Zones Act, as amended (Rep. Jackson-Lee – Judiciary). The bill would increase by five years any punishment for human trafficking, prostitution, or any sexual activity with minors in or near schools.
- H.R. 7181 – Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, as amended (Rep. Jeffries – Judiciary). The bill would direct the Transportation Department to post contact information of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in public spaces.
- S. 169 – ARTS Act (Sen. Tillis – Judiciary). The bill would permit the Copyright Office to waive copyright registration fees for winners of the Congressional Art Competition and the Congressional App Challenge.
- H.R. 4330 – PRESS Act, as amended (Rep. Raskin – Judiciary). The bill would protect journalists from revealing confidential sources and information.
- H.R. 3034 – To amend Title 28, United States Code, to provide an additional place for holding court for the Western District of Washington, and for other purposes (Rep. DelBene – Judiciary).
- H.R. 4009 – Enslaved Voyages Memorial Act, as amended (Rep. Norton – Natural Resources). The measure would authorize the Georgetown African American Historic Landmark Project and Tour to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. dedicated to enslaved individuals who endured the Middle Passage.
- H.R. 6353 – National Service Animals Memorial Act, as amended (Rep. Wild – Natural Resources). The bill would permit the National Service Animals Monument Corporation to establish a monument in Washington, D.C. to honor “the heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and handlers of service animals.”
- H.R. 6734 – Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act of 2022, as amended (Rep. Jeffries – Natural Resources). The legislation would extend through fiscal year 2027 the National Wildlife Refuge System’s volunteer services, community partnership, and refuge education programs.
- H.R. 7618 – To designate the Kol Israel Foundation Holocaust Memorial in Bedford Heights, Ohio, as a national memorial (Rep. Shontel Brown – Natural Resources).
- S. 2490 – Blackwell School National Historic Site Act (Sen. Cornyn – Natural Resources). The measure would establish the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, as a unit of the National Park System.
- H.R. 820 – New Philadelphia National Historical Site Act, as amended (Rep. LaHood – Natural Resources). The bill would establish the New Philadelphia National Historic Site as a unit of the National Park System.
- H.R. 4358 – Little Manatee Wild and Scenic River Act, as amended (Rep. Buchanan – Natural Resources). The bill would create a study of a roughly 50-mile segment of the Little Manatee River in Florida for possible inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Tuesday – Thursday, the House will meet for legislative business.
- Bills expected under a rule
- S. 1098 – Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act (Sen. Warner – Education and Labor). The bill would allow married or previously married couples who had their federal student loans consolidated under a federal direct consolidation program to separate those loans.
Senate Side
On Monday, the Senate will vote to invoke cloture, or limit debate, on the nomination of Florence Pan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the chamber may also reconsider the nomination of Arianna Freeman to be a judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.