Both the Senate and House will be in session this week before leaving for a two-week recess.
House Republicans are taking steps this week to move the GOP’s signature energy overhaul package, which is their attempt to cut red tape and boost oil production by scaling back President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. The bill (H.R. 1) would accelerate the federal permitting process for domestic energy production, lower consumer energy costs, and reduce reliance on foreign-sourced critical minerals. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has stated that the package is “dead on arrival” in the Senate.
The upper chamber is continuing its work toward final passage on a measure that would formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars and prevent other Presidents from using their authorizations for new military action. According to reporting from Bloomberg, the Senate will consider six more amendments before voting on final passage. The legislation is still expected to pass after 19 Republicans joined 49 Democrats voting to advance the measure in an earlier procedural vote.
Administration
On Tuesday, President Biden will travel to Durham, North Carolina, to tout his economic agenda. On Wednesday, he will welcome Argentine President Alberto Fernández to the White House for a bilateral meeting. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has begun a weeklong tour of three countries across Africa in an attempt to deepen U.S. relations and counter China’s growing ties to the continent.
House Side
On Monday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.
- Bills expected under suspension of the rules
- H.Con.Res. 15 – Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition (Rep. Perry – Transportation and Infrastructure).
- H.R. 1107 – PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act, as amended (Rep. Young Kim – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would require the State Department to work to reclassify China’s status as a developing country in international organizations.
- H.R. 1154 – Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 (Rep. Christopher Smith – Foreign Affairs). The bill would require the President to impose sanctions on individuals or entities that facilitate forced organ harvesting—the removal of an organ from a person via coercion, abduction, fraud, or abuse of power.
- H.R. 1189 – Undersea Cable Control Act (Rep. Mast – Foreign Affairs). The bill would require the State Department to develop a strategy to prevent foreign adversaries, including China, from acquiring technologies to construct and operate undersea telecommunication cables.
Tuesday – Thursday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business.
- Bills expected under a rule
- H.R. 1 – “Lower Energy Costs Act” (Rep. Scalise – Energy and Commerce/Natural Resources). The legislative package includes about 20 different measures approved by various committees and would modify the federal permitting process. Additionally, the measure would modify how revenue from energy leasing is shared among states and the federal government and repeal several incentive programs established or expanded by the Democrats’ 2022 tax, health care, and climate change law.
Senate Side
On Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 316, to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq.