This Week in Congress: The $986B ‘Minibus’ Spending Package, Subpoenas for Barr & McGahn, and Judicial Nominations

This week will mark the beginning of spending season in the House, which is set to kick of the fiscal year 2020 appropriations process with a $986 billion “minibus” spending package, while the Senate will continue its push to confirm judges to federal courts.

The House starts its week Monday with a number of bills under the fast-track suspension of the rules process, including bills aimed at preventing child marriages overseas, promoting tourism from Mexico, and modernizing the IRS. Tuesday will feature a vote on a resolution empowering the Judiciary Committee to go to federal court to seek enforcement of subpoenas issued to Attorney General Bill Barr and former White House Counsel Don McGahn related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report. The rest of the week will be focused on the $986 billion minibus spending package, which would fund programs at the Departments of Defense, Education, Health & Human Services, Labor, State, and the House.

The Senate starts its week Monday when it will vote on the confirmation of two federal claims court judges and a district court judge. The rest of the week will feature confirmation votes on nominations of six district court judges, an assistant secretary of state, and the ambassador to Ireland. At a time to be determined, the Senate will take up resolutions that would block arms sales to Bahrain and Qatar.

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday after 6:30pm (under suspension of the rules)

• H.R. 2140: Prevent Child Marriage Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 951: United States-Mexico Tourism Improvement Act of 2019, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3151: Taxpayer First Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.Res. 372: Expressing Concern for the United States-Turkey Alliance Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 542: Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act Passed 395-3.
• H.R. 2476: Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1158: DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2019, as amended Vote postponed.
• H.R. 2539: Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019 Passed 384-13.
• H.R. 2083: Homeland Procurement Reform Act, as amended Vote postponed.
• H.R. 2609: DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2019 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 2590: DHS Overseas Personnel Enhancement Act of 2019, as amended Passed 394-2.

Tuesday after 12pm

• H.Res. 430: Authorizing the Committee on the Judiciary to initiate or intervene in judicial proceedings to enforce certain subpoenas and for other purposes Adopted 229-191.
• H.R. 2609: DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2019 Passed 419-0.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 2740: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020 Debate & amendment votes only.

Thursday between 9am and 3pm

• H.R. 2740: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020 Amendment votes only.

Friday

• The House will not be in session.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Ryan Holte to be a judge of the Federal Claims Court for a term of 15 years Confirmed 60-35
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Rossie Alston, Jr., to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia Confirmed 75-20.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Richard Hertling to be a judge of the Federal Claims Court for a term of 15 years Confirmed 69-27.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Sarah Morrison to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio Invoked 89-7.

Tuesday after 4pm

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Sarah Morrison to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio Confirmed 89-7.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Pamela Barker to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio Invoked 89-7.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Corey Maze to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama Invoked 62-34.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Rodney Smith to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida Invoked 77-19.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Thomas Barber to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida Invoked 75-21.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Jean-Paul Boulee to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia Invoked 84-12.

Wednesday after 1:45pm

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Pamela Barker to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio Confirmed 91-5.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Corey Maze to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama Confirmed 62-34.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Rodney Smith to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida Confirmed 78-18.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Thomas Barber to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida Confirmed 77-19.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Jean-Paul Boulee to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia Confirmed 85-11.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of David Stilwell to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs) Invoked 93-4.

Thursday after 11:30am

• Motion to discharge S.J.Res. 20: Arms Sales to Bahrain Resolution Not agreed to 43-56.
• Motion to discharge S.J.Res. 26: Arms Sales to Qatar Resolution Not agreed to 42-57.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Edward Crawford to be Ambassador to Ireland Invoked 92-7.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of David Stilwell to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs) Confirmed 94-3.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Edward Crawford to be Ambassador to Ireland Confirmed 90-4.

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

— Eric Revell