This Week in Congress: Middle East Policy & Giving Federal Civilian Workers a Raise

Lawmakers will be returning to the Capitol for another week of work on Monday, which will mark the first day in session for the 116th Congress without efforts to end a historic partial government shutdown dominating the agenda.

The Senate will take a Monday procedural vote on a bipartisan Middle East policy bill that was filibustered three times by Senate Democrats during the shutdown. The bill would expand sanctions on the Assad regime in Syria, increase security partnerships with Israel & Jordan, and counter the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. If Monday’s vote succeeds, expect further procedural votes, debate, and a potential passage vote later in the week.

The House also starts its week on Monday, when it will take up bills to have the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) consider changes to an insider trading rule and to investigate the use of cryptocurrencies in sex and drug trafficking. Tuesday’s votes will include bills to investigate the use of cryptocurrencies by terrorists, improve Homeland Security’s security clearance vetting process, and a resolution that’d call on financial institutions to work with workers affected by the recent government shutdown. The House will then turn its attention to a bill that’d provide a 2.6% pay raise for federal civilian workers in 2019, which would be in line with the pay raise provided to the military.

Check here throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

Senate

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 Invoked 74-19.

Tuesday after 3pm

• Motion to proceed to S. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 Agreed to 76-22.

Wednesday

• Debating S. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019

Thursday

• Cloture vote on the McConnell amendment to S. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 Invoked 68-23.

House

Monday after 6:30pm (all suspensions)

• H.R. 502: FIND Trafficking Act Passed 412-3.
• H.R. 624: Promoting Transparent Standards for Corporate Insiders Act Passed 413-3.
• H.R. 56: Financial Technology Protection Act Passed by voice vote.

Tuesday after 12pm (all suspensions)

• H.R. 428: Homeland Security Assessment of Terrorists’ Use of Virtual Currencies Act Passed 422-3.
• H.R. 424: Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 769: Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2019 Passed 414-12.
• H.R. 449: Pathways to Improving Homeland Security at the Local Level Act Passed 412-12.
• H.R. 495: FIRST State and Local Law Enforcement Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 504: DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.Res. 77: Expressing the sense of Congress that financial institutions and other companies should work proactively with their customers affected by the shutdown of the Federal Government who may be facing short-term financial hardship and long-term damage to their creditworthiness through no fault of their own Passed by voice vote.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 790: Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act Passed 259-161.
• H.Res. 79: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Government shutdowns are detrimental to the Nation and should not occur, as amended Failed 249-163 (2/3 required under suspension of the rules)

Thursday

• Votes cancelled.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell