Both the Senate and House will be in session this week, although votes in the House are delayed until Wednesday while Republicans are in Florida through Tuesday for their annual policy retreat.
The upper chamber will vote on a measure that would formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars and prevent other Presidents from using their authorizations for new military action. The legislation is expected to pass after 19 Republicans joined 49 Democrats voting to advance the measure last week. Democrats have agreed to let Senators offer a series of amendments, which could help leverage Republican support for the final vote.
The Senate may also vote on the nominations of Laura Taylor-Kale to be an assistant secretary of defense and Gordon Gallagher to be a judge for the District of Colorado, although timing has yet to be determined by leadership. That will likely be contingent on the return of Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who are all gone due to health-related issues.
When the House returns, it will focus on legislation marketed as the parental bill of rights, which would require school districts to publicly post their curriculum, provide parents a list of books available in the school library, and ensure parents’ consent before any medical exam takes place at the school. The bill has key support from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Republican leadership—the government’s role in schools has been a key talking point for GOP election campaigns. Democrats are in staunch opposition to the legislation.
Administration
On Monday, President Biden will host actor Jason Sudeikis and the cast of the show Ted Lasso at the White House to discuss the importance of mental health. On Friday, Biden will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and address parliament in Ottawa.
House Side
On Wednesday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
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Bills expected under suspension of the rules
- H.R. 1093 – To direct the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on implementation of the advanced capabilities pillar of the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Rep. McCaul – Foreign Affairs).
- H.R. 1159 – To amend the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 to require periodic reviews and updated reports relating to the Department of State's Taiwan Guidelines (Rep. Wagner – Foreign Affairs).
- H.R. 406 – PARTNER with ASEAN Act (Rep. Castro – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would treat the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an international organization and grant certain diplomatic privileges and immunities.
- H.Con.Res. 25 – Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust (Rep. Kustoff – House Administration).
Thursday – Friday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business.
- Bills expected under a rule
- H.R. 5 – Parents Bill of Rights Act (Rep. Letlow – Education and the Workforce). The legislation would require school districts to publicly post their curriculum, provide parents a list of books available in the school library, and ensure parents’ consent before any medical exam takes place at the school.
- Possible Consideration of the Veto Message to Accompany H.J.Res. 30 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights” (Rep. Barr – Education and the Workforce). This vote would override the President’s expected veto of H.J.Res. 30, which would use the Congressional Review Act to block a Labor Department rule to allow employers to consider environmental, social, and governance factors when choosing investments for workers’ retirement plans, if passed.
Senate Side
On Tuesday, the Senate will vote on the motion to proceed to S. 316, to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq.