Civic Register
| 3.18.18

This Week in Congress: "Right to Try", Fighting Sex Trafficking & the Omnibus Spending Bill

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Congress will be looking to avoid repeats of the January and February government shutdowns by passing an omnibus spending bill before midnight Friday while dealing with several other priorities before departing DC for the two-week spring recess for Easter and Passover.

The House convenes on Monday when it will consider 11 bills under the fast-track "suspension of the rules" process, including a bill to require Homeland Security to report to Congress about preventing vehicular terrorism. Tuesday will bring a vote on a bill to exempt non-bank financial firms (like mutual funds) from Dodd-Frank’s stress tests. The House will then turn its attention to a yet-to-be-introduced omnibus spending bill that funds the government through September, along with bills to give terminally ill patients the “right to try” experimental drugs and reform the process of designating non-banks as “systemically important.”

The Senate will vote Monday on the confirmation of Kevin McAleenan to be Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, before taking a procedural vote on a bill to make it a federal crime for websites to promote prostitution and sex trafficking. A passage vote on the anti-sex trafficking bill and the omnibus are expected later in the week, although specifics on timing aren’t yet available.

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 (all suspensions)

  • H.R. 4227: Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act Vote postponed.

  • S. 2030: Ceiling Fan Energy Conservation Harmonization Act Passed by voice vote.

  • H.R. 5074: DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2018, as amended Passed by voice vote.

  • H.R. 4176: Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018, as amended Passed by voice vote.

  • H.R. 5099: Enhancing DHS’ Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program Act Passed by voice vote.

  • H.R. 5079: DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.

  • H.R. 5131: Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018, as amended Vote postponed.

  • H.R. 4467: Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2018, as amended Vote postponed.

  • H.R. 5089: Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018, as amended Vote postponed.

  • H.R. 4841: Kennedy-King National Commemorative Site Act, as amended Passed 391-0.

  • H.R. 835: To update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Passed 385-3.

Tuesday after 12pm

  • H.R. 4566: Alleviating Stress Test Burdens to Help Investors Act, Rules Committee Print Passed 395-19.

Wednesday after 12pm

  • H.R. 5247: Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018 Passed 267-149.

Thursday between 9am and 3pm

  • H.R. 1625: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 Passed 256-167.

  • H.R. 4061: Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2017, Rules Committee Print Vote postponed.

  • H.R. 4227: Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act Passed 417-2.

  • H.R. 4467: Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2018, as amended Passed 408-0.

  • H.R. 5089: Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018, as amended Passed 397-1.

  • H.R. 5131: Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018, as amended Passed 409-5.

Senate

Monday after 5:30pm

  • Confirmation vote on the nomination of Kevin McAleenan to be Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Confirmed 77-19.

  • Cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 1865: Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 Invoked 94-2.

Tuesday after 4:15pm

  • Motion to table S.J.Res. 54: Yemen War Powers Resolution Tabled 54-44.

Wednesday after 4:15pm

  • Amendment votes on H.R. 1865: Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017
  • H.R. 1865: Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 Passed 97-2.

Thursday

  • Possible procedural votes on H.R. 1625: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018

Friday

  • Cloture vote on H.R. 1625: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 Invoked 67-30.
  • H.R. 1625: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 Passed 65-32.

You can tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills using the "Take Action" button.

— Eric Revell