House Returns for Votes on China Human Rights Sanctions, PPP Flexibility, & Possible Surveillance Reforms

What's happening in Congress?

• The House is returning to the Capitol this week for a quick, two-day session that will double its number of voting days in session this spring from two (April 23rd & May 15th) to four amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• It will also be a historic week, as some lawmakers will cast their votes by proxy for the first time using the House’s recently enacted temporary rules changes.

HOUSE SCHEDULE

• Lawmakers return in earnest on Wednesday for a series of votes on bills under the fast-track “suspension of the rules” process. It may include bills to sanction Chinese Communist Party officials for persecuting Uyghur Muslims; extend a cost-of-living adjustment to veterans; and a to-be-introduced bill to extend flexibility to small businesses seeking Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness. The House also added a bill to ensure public safety officers who suffer death or permanent disability after contracting coronavirus in the line of duty receive benefits to the schedule.
• Thursday’s schedule will become more clear after the House Rules Committee meets. However, leadership has indicated the House may consider a bill reauthorizing government surveillance powers and attempt to override the president’s veto of legislation reversing his administration’s changes to loan forgiveness for borrowers misled by higher education institutions.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• After being in session the last three weeks, the Senate is on recess this week. It’s expected to return on Monday, June 1st, when it’s expected to consider the nominations of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery in addition to two Dept. of Defense officials and a pair of district court judgeships.

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday & Tuesday

• No votes are expected.

Wednesday after 12pm (under suspension of the rules)

• House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6172: USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 Vote postponed.
• S. 3744: Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 Passed 413-1.
• H.R. 6509: Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• S. 2746: Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act Passed by voice vote.

Thursday after 9am

• H.R. 7010: Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 Passed 417-1.
• H.R. 6168: Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 6782: TRUTH Act, as amended Failed 269-147 (2/3 majority required).
• S. 3414: Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2020 Passed by voice vote.
• S. 3084: To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the limitation on pay for certain high-level employees and officers of the Department of Veterans Affairs Passed by voice vote.
• Motion to go to Conference on H.R. 6172: USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 Agreed to 284-122.
• Veto Override of H.J.Res. 76: Overturning the Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability Rule Vote postponed.

Friday

• No votes are expected.

SENATE

• The Senate will return for its next votes on Monday, June 1st.

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

— Eric Revell