Weekly Legislative Briefing 

By Indivisible 49

House: In session Tues-Fri.

TUESDAY, MAY 16TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

1) H.R. 510 – Rapid DNA Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner / Judiciary Committee)
2) H.R. 1892 – Honoring Hometown Heroes Act (Sponsored by Rep. John Larson / Judiciary Committee)
3) H.R. 1428 – American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Will Hurd / Judiciary Committee)
4) H.R. 1616 – Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. John Ratcliffe / Judiciary Committee)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 2266 – Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. John Conyers / Judiciary Committee)
2) H.R. 984 – Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Rob Wittman / Natural Resources Committee)
3) H.R. 194 – Federal Agency Mail Management Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Russell / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
4) H.R. 195 – Federal Register Printing Savings Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Russell / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
5) H.R. 653 – Federal Intern Protection Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Elijah Cummings / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
6) H.R. 2227 – MGT Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Will Hurd / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
7) H.R. 2169 – Improving Fusion Centers’ Access to Information Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. John Katko / Homeland Security Committee)
8) H.R. 2213 – Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally / Homeland Security Committee)
9) H.R. 2281 – Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Filemon Vela / Homeland Security Committee)
10) H.R. 1177 – Removing Outdated Restrictions to Allow for Job Growth Act (Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Poliquin / Agriculture Committee)
11) H.R. 2154 – To rename the Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, as the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Cramer / Agriculture Committee)
12) H.R. 672 – Combating European Anti-Semitism Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Nita Lowey / Foreign Affairs Committee)
13) H.Res. 145 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the fight against corruption in Central America, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Norma Torres / Foreign Affairs Committee)
14) H.R. 1677 – Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Eliot Engel / Foreign Affairs Committee)

THURSDAY, MAY 18TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 115 – Thin Blue Line Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan / Judiciary Committee)

FRIDAY, MAY 19TH
On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 1039 – Probation Officer Protection Act of 2017 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Dave Reichert / Judiciary Committee)

Other: The FCC is convening this week on Thursday, May 18th to dismantle net neutrality. Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments regulating the Internet should treat all data on the Internet the same, not discriminating or charging differently. 45 is establishing a commission on Voter Fraud. He appointed Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who has made questionable claims about voter fraud in the past, to head the “commission.” This is essentially a veiled attempt to suppress votes.

Issa’s activities: (Local section)

In the News: 5/9 – In a Press Release about Comey’s firing, Issa brags he was “among the first” to call for an independent investigation into Russia, though his only demand now is to “immediately appoint a replacement…to carry out the duties of the FBI independently…”

Voting Record: How many times has Issa voted to protect Trump rather than the truth since the 115th Congress began? Nine! To see details, click here.

Appearances: Issa has (supposedly!) scheduled a Town Hall for May 31st in Oceanside

Monitoring Closely:

HR 354 Defund Planned Parenthood Act

HR 1021/S361 To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to deem specified terrorist activities as a renunciation of nationality

S 295/276 Divide Ninth Circuit into two and add more federal judges for Trump to appoint

HR 781 Allow charitable organizations (churches) to make political statements

HR 727 To prohibit federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after 2019  

HR 861 Eliminate EPA

HR 1510 Elimination of Department of Education

HR 1431/1430 Both interfering with EPA and scientific process. Passed House. On to Senate.

HR 2090 Require Voter ID law

S 993 Prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications service and from imposing certain regulations on providers.

HR 2227 Modernize Government Information Technology

HR 2400 To allow everyone access to Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. NEW BILL! ISSA BILL!

HR 2411 To allow certain federal employees and members of armed forces access to federal employees health program.  NEW BILL! ISSA BILL!

Recommended Action:  Call Issa/Your Rep and demand that 45 be held accountable and a special prosecutor be appointed to oversee the Russian investigation. Our constitution is built on separation of powers and the president is not above the law.

*** This briefing brought to you by Indivisible 49. This is not a comprehensive list. This is made by citizens just like you. We ask that you read it critically–not accepting it as the truth but engaging in it actively. Together, we can figure out what’s really going on, and bust some serious Congressional balls in the process. Click here to get involved!