by Countable | Updated on 4.13.18
Congress returns this week from its two week spring recess for Easter and Passover with votes on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and several bills dealing with financial regulations on the agenda.
The House convenes Tuesday when it will consider five bills, including one to increase the prison term for people convicted of stalking minors. Wednesday will feature votes on bills to make the process of designating banks as systemically important more transparent and requiring banks to do one stress test per year instead of two. The House will vote Thursday on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, before concluding its week Friday after voting on a bill to simplify the process of banks’ compliance with the Volcker Rule.
The Senate convenes Monday when it will take a procedural vote to limit debate on the nomination of Claria Boom to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky. It will likely vote on her confirmation by the end of the day Tuesday. The Senate’s schedule for the remainder of the week is yet to be announced.
Check here throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.
Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.
Monday
Tuesday after 12pm (all suspensions)
H.R. 4203: Combat Online Predators Act, as amended Passed 409-2.
H.R. 2219: End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2018, as amended Passed 408-2.
H.R. 4921: STB Information Security Improvement Act Passed by voice vote.
H.R. 4925: FRA Safety Data Improvement Act mark>Passed by voice vote.
H.Res. 128: Supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia, as amended mark>Passed by voice vote.
Wednesday after 12pm
H.R. 4293: Stress Test Improvement Act of 2017 Passed 245-174.
H.R. 4061: Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2017 Passed 297-121.
Thursday after 12pm
Friday between 9am and 3pm
Monday after 5:30pm
Tuesday after 12:10pm
Wednesday after 12:20pm
Thursday after 9:30am
Friday
You can tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills using the "Take Action" button.
— Eric Revell
Written by Countable
If a country cannot afford to educate future generations, build bridges and provide healthcare, what exactly are we defending with a huge military budget? No stealing from the poor to give $$$ to donors who don’t need it, no matter what they say.
Oh, come on! Republicans want to pass a "Balanced Budget" Amendment right after they blasted a $1.5 trillion hole into the deficit with their Tax Scam Bill? Don't make us laugh! Quit this political posturing and do your jobs like real adults.
I would like Congress members to keep in mind they did not inherit the earth they are borrowing it from their children and their grandchildren
Wasting the whole week again, I see. The “Balanced Budget” amendment is the most disingenuous piece of cow excrement I’v seen in a while. Republicans wailing about the budget after they caused TRILLIONS in deficits with that disgusting giveaway to the wealthy and to corporations. Deregulation on banks to allow them to steal more money. They are all lies out of the mouths of evil stained republican red with the lifeblood of normal people. We will vote you all out. #BlueWave
“Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act” I’m in favor in the passage of H.R. 4061 (Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2017) a bipartisan common sense bill, would address the shortcomings of the process used by the Financial Stability Oversight Council, to designate non-bank financial institutions as “systemically important” and give firms a chance to respond. The bill amends the Financial Stability Act of 2010 to require the Financial Stability Oversight Council, in determining whether a nonbank financial company shall be designated as systematically important and consequently be supervised by the Federal Reserve Board and subject to prudential standards, to consider the appropriateness of imposing such standards as opposed to other forms of regulation to mitigate identified risks to U.S. financial stability. I’m of the view that the oppositions view that the bill will bog down the Financial Stability Oversight Council and its process of designating large, non-bank financial institutions as “systemically important” — putting the financial sector at risk of another crash, is just another Democratic ploy of hindering another Republican attempt to improve the legislative process. 4*8*18. BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT” There has been and continues to be, a strong need for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Such an amendment is the best way to constrain spending, and get the federal budget, under control. The federal government has been from time immortal, has lived beyond its means for far too long, racking up a national debt exceeding $20 trillion that will have to be paid by future generations. We’ve seen Administrations on both sides of the isle, using their “TAX & SPEND” mentality to fulfill their political goals to retain voters on their side. “Thought of the day” ““Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. “. - John F. Kennedy ”. 4*8*18.
We can balance the budget by increasing taxes on the most wealthy and on financial transaction, and by eliminating tax loopholes, tax gimmicks and tax dodges tailored for specific corporations and industries.
Virtually ANYTHING the Republicans propose is not good for the working class! Stop this dysfunctional idea of bi-partisanship with the Republicans. It is not working at the moment, Republicans must own 100% of the current mess in our country. We cannot and should not contribute to this mess, such as how Heidi Heidkampt plans to vote for another EPA Wacko!!!
“A week of Action OR In Action”. Hopefully we will be seeing bi-partisan cooperation and not seeing Obstructionist activities on the part of our Democratic members on the left. We need to see more cooperation between the members of both parties in the Halls of Congress resulting in legislation being passed with compromise of agendas. Come on folks, on both sides, it’s not your way or the highway BUT the people’s way that matters. 4*8*18.
What?! Now that they've given millions and millions to the upper 1% in tax cuts they suddenly want to balance the budget? Fools! It will all be on the backs of the middle class and lower! Do not touch S.S. Or Medicare! Create a single payer health care system!
One more thing; not one of my employees should be in any building without a functioning sprinkler system, alarm system and backup call center If you allow our employees in trump towers someone fromOSHA should investigate and shut the building down
Balanced budget on the agenda after passing a giveaway to the most wealthy? Is this how stupid you think your constituents are? This is one of the reasons I’m a former Republican!
Though I support the concept and wish it were reality, this is a meaningless political stunt. Considering the biggest peacetime deficit increase in the debt by the “fiscally responsible” party it is grossly hypocritical as well. Stop with the disingenuous votes and forge something meaningful. Do all legislators think their constituents are ignorant sheep?
No “balanced budget” amendment. It is a stupid idea. That must be why the Repugnacants embrace it.
We need government for the people not only the top 1% of the people -only way to balance the budget with this massive tax cut for the wealthy would be cutting social safety programs or the military - and everyone knows they won’t touch the military budget so all the poor and middle class you’re in for a big hit to “balance the budget”
John Katko is out of touch with his constituents in this gerrymandered NY24TH district. Professor Dana Balter for Congress 2018.
CUT SPENDING. ANY NON ESSENTIALS MUST BE ELIMINATED!
I’m scared! I live on social security and go to the doctor 8 times a year with Medicare and Tricare with all these cuts to the social safety net I will probably end up homeless if this balance budget amendment passes!
To date Republican debt is Trumps 1.1 plus HWs 1.5, Bush’s 4.2, Reagan’s 2.2. The rest is Bills: ~2t and Barama’s 10t. Yeah, that’s right. Barry spent more than every US President combined. Yet people for whom politics began in 2016 lecture. History of Now.
This is an absolute must. Stop borrowing. Stop giving away money. Figure out the tax revenue, pay our debt, and run our country on that.
Here we go, abusing the constitution in order to create loopholes for banking oversight! LEAVE THE CONSTITUTION ALONE! Balancing the budget is Congressmen’s and the Presidents responsibility!