What's Congress Voting On? Week of January 23, 2017
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Congress will begin its first full week in session with President Donald Trump at the helm of the executive branch, and while it appears that it could be a short work week don't expect there to be a shortage of controversy.
The House will ease its way into the week by voting Monday on a series of relatively uncontroversial bipartisan bills that passed the House during the last Congress before stalling the Senate. That slate includes bills to prevent telemarketers from faking their identity, letting consumers appeal utility rate hikes, improving the resiliency of telecommunications networks during a disaster, and making it easier to call 911 from a hotel room. Tuesday will bring a vote on a bill to ban federal funding for abortion (which is already law because of the Hyde Amendment) in addition to requiring that health insurance providers disclose which plans offer abortion coverage that will likely divide the House along party lines.
The Senate hasn't announced what if any bills it will consider this week, but the confirmation process for Trump's nominees will continue. On Monday, the full Senate will vote to confirm Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) as CIA Director after Democrats delayed a final confirmation vote last Friday. Despite the delay, the Senate held a test vote that passed 89-8, so Pompeo looks likely to be confirmed.
Rex Tillerson and Ben Carson will face committee votes on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, to send their nominations to the full Senate. Also on Tuesday, Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) will undergo another confirmation hearing — this time with the Finance Committee — while Trump's picks to lead the Office of Management and Budget and the Small Business Administration will have their confirmation hearings.
Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.
House
Monday after 6:30pm (all suspensions)
- H.R. 423: Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017 Passed 398-5.
- H.R. 582: Kari's Law Act of 2017 Passed 408-0.
- H.R. 588: Securing Access to Networks in Disaster Act Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 587: Fair RATES Act Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 511: Power And Security Systems (PASS) Act Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 590: Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 518: EPS Improvement Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 290: Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 555: Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 460: Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 599: Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.
Tuesday after 12pm
- H.R. 7: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017 Passed 238-183.
- H.R. 589: Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 601: READ Act Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 600: Digital GAP Act Passed by voice vote.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- No votes are expected in the House, Republicans on a retreat in Philadelphia.
Senate
Monday after 3:00pm
- Confirmation vote for Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), nominee for CIA Director Confirmed 66-32.
- Foreign Relations Committee: Vote on Rex Tillerson, nominee for Secretary of State Approved 11-10.
Tuesday
- Confirmation vote for Nikki Haley, nominee for Ambassador to the United Nations Confirmed 96-4.
- Foreign Relations Committee: Vote on Gov. Nikki Haley, nominee for Ambassador to the United Nations Reported favorably.
- Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee: Vote on Ben Carson, nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Reported favorably.
- Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee: Vote on Elaine Chao, nominee for Secretary of Transporation
- Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee: Vote on Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce nominee
- Finance Committee: Confirmation hearing for Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary
- Budget Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Confirmation hearing for Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), nominee for Director of the Office of Management and Budget
- Small Business Committee: Confirmation hearing for Linda McMahon, nominee Director of the Small Business Administration
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- No legislative activity expected, Republicans on a retreat in Philadelphia.
You can tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and confirmations using the "Take Action" button below.
— Eric Revell
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