{"articles":[{"reaction_config":[{"icon":"happy","color":"#3AB093","stance":"happy"},{"icon":"apathetic","color":"#EDB723","stance":"apathetic"},{"icon":"sad","color":"#5ACDED","stance":"sad"}],"id":20965,"title":"This Week in Congress: Middle East Policy & Giving Vets Cost-Free Child Care During VA Appointments","html_content":"

by Countable | 2.3.19

It will be a busy week in the Capitol with President Donald Trump delivering his State of the Union Address on Tuesday night and both chambers of Congress in session of a busy week of legislating.

The Senate starts its week Monday when it will vote on a bipartisan Middle East policy bill that’d increase sanctions on supporters of the Assad regime in Syria, strengthen defense partnerships with Israel and Jordan, and counter the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. It’ll also consider an amendment to the bill offered by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) that’d warn the Trump administration against withdrawing the U.S. military presence from Syria and Afghanistan if it risks a resurgence of ISIS and al Qaeda.

Monday could also see the consideration of a bill offered by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) to protect infants born alive after attempted abortions if unanimous consent is granted, but if a senator objects it’d have to be brought up for debate at a later date. If an objection is raised, the Senate may take initial procedural votes on a bipartisan public lands package in advance of a passage vote later this week or next week.

The House convenes Wednesday when it’ll consider bills to require publicly accessible federal buidlings to have lactation rooms for breastfeeding mothers and establish an early warning system for earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest. Later in the week, it’ll take up a bill that’d give veterans access to cost-free child care when they’re attending healthcare appointments at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA).

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

Voting on adoption of the Menendez amendment to S. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act Agreed by voice vote.\n
Voting on adoption of the McConnell amendment to S. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act Agreed to 70-26.\n
Cloture motion on S. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act Invoked 72-24.\n
Possible consideration of S. 130: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Unanimous consent request objected to.\n

Tuesday after 3:30pm

\nS. 1: Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act Passed 77-23.\n
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the cloture motion on S. 47: Natural Resources Management Act Invoked 99-1.\n

Wednesday

Debating and possible vote on the motion to proceed to the cloture motion on S. 47: Natural Resources Management Act

Thursday

Motion to proceed to the cloture motion on S. 47: Natural Resources Management Act Agreed by voice vote.\n
Motion to table the Lankford amendment to S. 47: Natural Resources Management Act Tabled 67-32.\n
Motion to table the Lee amendment to S. 47: Natural Resources Management Act Tabled 68-30.\n

House

Tuesday

No votes will be held due to the State of the Union Address.

Wednesday after 12pm (all suspensions)

\nH.R. 866: Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.\n
\nH.R. 876: Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.\n
\nH.R. 831: Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act of 2019 Passed 404-19.\n
\nH.R. 66: Route 66 Centennial Commission Act Passed 399-22.\n
\nH.R. 543: To require the Federal Railroad Administration to provide appropriate congressional notice of comprehensive safety assessments conducted with respect to intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation Passed by voice vote.\n

Thursday after 12pm

\nH.R. 840: Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act Debate & amendments only.\n
\nH.R. 752: Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act Passed by voice vote.\n
\nH.R. 450: Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2019 Passed 417-0.\n
\nH.R. 494: Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.\n
\nH.R. 507: Putting Trafficking Victims First Act of 2019 Passed 414-1.\n

Friday between 9am and 3pm

\nH.R. 840: Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act Passed 400-9.\n

\nH.Res. 86: Providing funding for expenses of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis & the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress Vote postponed.\n

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

— Eric Revell

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