This Week in Congress: Trying to Avoid Another Shutdown, Public Lands Management, and Confirming Barr as Attorney General
How do you feel about this week's congressional agenda?
by Countable | Updated on 2.14.19
Congress convenes this week looking to avoid another partial government shutdown by approving funding for border security before Friday night’s deadline ― but that’s not all that will be happening in the Capitol.
The Senate starts its week Monday with the consideration of a bipartisan natural resource and public lands management package, including debates on amendments and a procedural vote to limit further debate in advance of a passage vote later in the week. Once the public lands package is in the rear view mirror, the Senate is expected to take up the nomination of William Barr to be Attorney General.
The House will convene Monday to consider several bills under the fast-track suspension of the rules process, which allows for accelerated debate but requires a two-thirds vote for passage. Among the bills on Monday’s docket are legislation to require presidential library foundations to disclose their donations and use social media history in security clearance investigations. The House will be out on Tuesday so members can attend the funeral of the late Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) ― the longest serving member in the history of the U.S. House. When the House returns on Wednesday it’ll consider a resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces assisting the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Both chambers of Congress will be waiting for the bipartisan, bicameral conference committee to release the compromise funding package it has been negotiating since the 35-day partial government shutdown was brought to an end. It’s unclear when that agreement will be released, and although both chambers will look to quickly bring it up for a vote the House’s rule requiring a bill’s text be posted for 72 hours before it gets a vote could cause a delay.
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
- Motion to table the Lee amendment to S. 47: Natural Resource Management Act Tabled 60-33.
- Cloture motion on S. 47: Natural Resource Management Act Invoked 87-7.
Tuesday after 4:30pm
- Passage vote on S. 47: Natural Resource Management Act Passed 92-8.
- Cloture motion on the nomination of William Barr to be Attorney General Invoked 55-44.
Wednesday
- Debate on the nomination of William Barr to be Attorney General
Thursday
- Confirmation vote on the nomination of William Barr to be Attorney General Confirmed 54-45.
- Cloture motion on H.J.Res. 31: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 Invoked 84-15.
- H.J.Res. 31: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 Passed 83-16.
House
Monday after 6:30pm (all suspensions)
- H.R. 1063: Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 1065: Social Media Use in Clearance Investigations Act of 2019 Passed 377-3.
- H.R. 1079: CASES Act Passed 379-0.
- H.R. 1064: To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow whistleblowers to disclose information to certain recipients Passed by voice vote.
- H.R. 995: Settlement Agreement Information Database Act of 2019 Vote postponed.
Tuesday
- No votes are expected, the House will be in a pro forma session.
Wednesday after 12pm
- H.J.Res. 37: Directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress Passed 248-177, 1 present.
- H.R. 995: Settlement Agreement Information Database Act of 2019 Passed 418-0.
Thursday after 12pm
- H.J.Res. 31: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 Passed 300-128.
Friday between 9am and 3pm
- No votes are expected.
Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!
— Eric Revell
Written by Countable
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Whoever thinks Donald Trump has 70% of the American people behind them obviously just can’t read. Or they are delusional. The fact is 25% of the people in America or less want to wall. If you don’t believe that then you’re living in La La Land.
Hold your ground on “NO FREAKIN’ WALL”
No to the wall and confirming Barr, another totally unqualified person. Concerning Land Management: We MUST go GREEN to save the world.
Trump only hired the best, the best crooks. No to Barr, no to wall, no to Devos. You need to get you heads out and see trumps path to dictator. Your families live in this earth being impacted with climate issues. Georgia is very vulnerable to high sea levels. Democracy is at risk, as are your children and grandchildren. Do you not care?
Trump is the WORST person to ever be in charge. I, for one, consider his ascension to the highest office in our country to have been compromised and rigged. He is not my president.
No wall, no Barr and no arctic drilling.
We need the wall and any cost or constituents in this area or behind the wall we need to confirm the new attorney general Trump is leaving the country in the right direction he has 70% of the American people behind him politicians that stand in his way or not going to be in office very long
All of you that hate the president are way over the top and need to get a grip on reality.
We need to stop Trump's border wall once and for all. It is wasteful and does nothing to protect us from the drug traffic. We need to retrain INS so that it is not so homophobic. We need to change the immigration laws and speed up the process for those seeking assylum.
HEAVEN FORBID THE DEMOCRATS ARE BECOMING DELUSIONAL It’s becoming more and more apparent that the Democratic Party are really believing their own propaganda which they are force feeding to the uniformed,including their own voter base. 1). Socialism. 2). Green Dream. 3). Open Border. 4). Increased Taxes. 5). Increased Spending. 6). “Forth Trimester” Abortion’s SneakyPete.......... 🤣😂🤣😂. 2*11*19..........
No wall, No drilling in the Arctic, NO SHUTDOWN!
The Congress is once again at an impasse on the 'wall' funding. I am with the majority of the country in that the funding should be used to the greatest advantage, i.e. immigration reform, smart tech for border security, repair of structures that have already been built, the monitoring of visas for expiration dates, etc. And make the DACA kids permanent residents, for goodness sake. Make the amount to fund a realistic one, and get this off the public debate. This has got to stop. There are too many urgent issues that need to be addressed by Congress. Deny Barr as AG. Keep investigating Whittaker. Stonewall the narcissist in the WH. Move on and think about 2020, and keep the faith.
I wholeheartedly approve of the Natural Resource Management Act S:47, and fully support the legislators who are working to pass it. The remainder of the agenda involving the confirmation of Mr. Barr is moving ahead whether or not I support him, which I do not.
I don’t see any sense of shutting down the government for a useless stupid wall not to mention that government employees and contractors will be seriously affected. A government shutdown could seriously affect the economy of our nation.I don’t think that the president would dare to pull out off the negotiating table and force another government shutdown but then again we’re talking about Trump here. I urge you to oppose a government shutdown.
Most of you people are so stupid it makes my head hurt. One man in office for two years is not issue hundreds of politicians in office for 15 or more years is, I dare you to vote them out next term. Hey sheep stop watching the news it’s filled with nothing but garbage they want to get your distracted with they they play out their true agenda of filling there pockets with your money.
Please pull yourself together and pass legislation that will benefit the majority of Americans.
Don’t be weak on this, we don’t need a wall. No money for this monument to Trump’s ego. Especially since we’re going to have to tear it down five years from now. Even if it’s built, it will never stay. Act on the behalf of your constituents and don’t give a dime to this worthless barrier.
Respectfully, shutdown is very unpopular! Federal workers do not deserve to be used as pons. Avoid always, a shutdown. Boarder wall is also unpopular. I’d like to hear from those US citizens losing their property to eminent domain . Increase boarder control agents with sensitivity training! We are better than detention and child abuse for profit! Path to citizenship better choice in my opinion. How can there be an argument? No one wants illegal immigration but we must remain human. There is a Humanitarian crisis at the southern boarder!
No more shutdowns. No to Barr. LEAVE THE NATIONAL PARKS ALONE. DO NOT LEASE, SELL, OR IN ANY WAY HARM THEM, YOU MOTHERFUCKERS! They belong to US. If it were up to you, we would have every inch of this planet used for your own or some rich man’s benefits. You are a bunch of thieving bloodsuckers. I pray God gives you all the worst place there is in hell! As far as I’m concerned, you deserve even less than that!
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN? FOR TRUMP'S BULL CRAP WALL? NO, HELL NO. PUBLIC LANDS ARE JUST THAT, LEAVE THEM ALONE. BARR? NFW AMERICA CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE OF TRUMP'S "BEST PEOPLE"