Look Ahead to the Week of September 9: Another Government Funding Fight Looms

Both the House and Senate are back in session for a three-week sprint before leaving again in October to campaign ahead of the November elections.

At the top of the agenda is keeping the government funded, with its current authorization set to expire on September 30. House Republicans released their version of a stopgap measure, or continuing resolution, that would extend government funding at current levels through March 28, 2025. Additionally, it includes a bill that would require voters to provide a passport, birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, that provision is likely dead on arrival in the Senate after Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) expressed his desire for a clean, short-term funding extension. It is expected that the upper chamber will respond with a standalone continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels until shortly after the election, potentially setting the stage for an end-of-the year showdown.

The House will also consider a collection of bills this week that target China’s influence in the United States, including the BIOSECURE Act. That legislation would ban certain federal agencies from engaging with specific “biotechnology companies of concern.”

Separately, the Senate will return to full membership when the chamber swears in George Helmy (D-NJ) to replace the seat vacated by former Sen. Bob Menendez.

Administration

On Monday, the Biden Administration published a final rule that would strengthen mandates for employer-sponsored health plans to provide mental health and substance abuse coverage on par with their traditional medical benefits.

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will participate in a presidential debate in Philadelphia, which is set to be aired on ABC News. This may be the only debate before the elections take place on November 5.

On Wednesday, President Biden and Harris will attend memorial ceremonies to honor the twenty-third anniversary of 9/11. On Friday, Biden will host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House for bilateral discussions.

House Votes

On Monday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.

• Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
  • H.R. 554 – Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Hill – Financial Services). The legislation would require the United States to impose financial sanctions on senior Chinese government officials in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan.
  • H.R. 510 – Chinese Currency Accountability Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Davidson – Financial Services). The legislation would require U.S. representatives at the International Monetary Fund to oppose any efforts to increase the weight of China’s currency in the IMF’s international reserve asset until the Treasury Department certifies that China is complying with international financial standards.
  • H.R. 7686 – To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of foreign country for the purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction, and for other purposes, as amended (Rep. Mike Garcia – Science, Space, and Technology).
  • H.R. 7592 – To direct the Librarian of Congress to promote the more cost-effective, efficient, and expanded availability of the Annotated Constitution and pocket-part supplements by replacing the hardbound versions with digital versions (Rep. Bice – House Administration).
  • H.R. 7593 – Modernizing the Congressional Research Service’s Access to Data Act (Rep. Bice – House Administration). The legislation would authorize the Congressional Research Service to obtain documents and data directly from federal departments and agencies, and agencies would be required to furnish them in a timely manner.
  • H.R. 6513 – COCOA Act of 2023 (Rep. Carey – House Administration). The legislation would require states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories – under statute – to provide congressional election observers with full access to all election administration procedures.
  • H.R. 8333 – BIOSECURE Act, as amended (Rep. Wenstrup – Oversight and Accountability). The bill would prohibit certain federal agencies from providing contracts, grants, or loans to biotechnology companies with ties to China and other U.S. foreign adversaries.
  • H.R. 2864 – Countering CCP Drones Act, as amended (Rep. Stefanik – Energy and Commerce). The bill would add drones made by China-based Da Jiang Innovations, or DJI, to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) list of equipment deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security.
  • H.R. 7589 – ROUTERS Act (Rep. Latta – Energy and Commerce). The bill would direct the Commerce Department to study the national security risks posed by consumer routers and modems designed or manufactured by entities controlled by or subject to the influence of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
  • H.R. 820 – Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act, as amended (Rep. Stefanik – Energy and Commerce). The bill would direct the FCC to publish a list on its website of licensed entities that have ties to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
  • H.R. 1513 – FUTURE Networks Act (Rep. Matsui – Energy and Commerce). The measure would require the FCC to establish a “6G Task Force” with representatives from the communications industry, public interest organizations, and government agencies.
  • H.R. 8631 – Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, as amended (Rep. Gimenez – Homeland Security). The measure would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from purchasing batteries from certain Chinese companies.
  • H.R. 8663 – DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024 (Rep. LaLota – Homeland Security). The measure would empower DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate to carry out research, development, and testing to improve equipment and resources used by law enforcement agencies to accurately detect and identify illicit drugs, including fentanyl and xylazine.
  • H.R. 7404 – Subterranean Border Defense Act (Rep. Crane – Homeland Security). The measure would require Customs and Border Protection to report annually on the implementation of its strategic plan to counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations.
  • H.R. 3169 – Identifying Adversarial Threats at Our Ports Act, as amended (Rep. Gimenez – Homeland Security). The legislation would require DHS to assess the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of cranes manufactured by a foreign adversary.
  • H.R. 1103 – HKETO Certification Act, as amended (Rep. Chris Smith – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would require the State Department to regularly determine whether the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices can still operate in the United States with diplomatic immunity.
  • H.R. 6606 – To amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 relating to the statement of policy (Rep. Radewagen – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would amend the 2018 law to include protecting U.S. trade secrets related to controlled items, which require a Commerce Department license to export, and items subject to economic espionage.
  • H.R. 7151 – Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act, as amended (Rep. Wagner – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would permit federal agencies to expedite changes to the list of entities subject to U.S. export controls.
  • H.R. 5245 – Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act of 2024, as amended (Rep. Barr – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would require the State Department to notify Congress when renewing or extending the Cooperation in Science and Technology Agreement between the United States and China.
  • H.R. 8361 – Economic Espionage Prevention Act, as amended (Rep. McCormick – Foreign Affairs). The bill would permit the president to sanction individuals who engage in economic espionage against U.S. entities, provide support for U.S. adversaries, or violate U.S. export controls.
  • H.R. 1157 – Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act of 2024 (Rep. Barr – Foreign Affairs). The bill would authorize funding through fiscal year 2027 for the State Department to counter China’s malign influence globally.
  • H.R. 5613 – Sanctions Lists Harmonization Act, as amended (Rep. Waltz – Foreign Affairs). The bill would require federal agencies to notify other relevant agencies when adding entities to U.S. sanctions or export control lists so the other agencies can determine if the entity should be on their covered lists.
  • H.Res. 1056 – Recognizing the importance of trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea (Rep. Connolly – Foreign Affairs). The resolution would convey the House’s support for the expansion of trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea
  • S. 1608 – Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act (Sen. Cornyn – Foreign Affairs). The bill would authorize the private operators of the Starr-Camargo International Bridge connecting Rio Grande City, TX, to Camargo, Mexico, to expand the bridge using collected toll revenue.
  • H.R. 7089 – Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act, as amended (Rep. James – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would authorize the State Department’s law enforcement arm to investigate transnational human trafficking.
  • H.R. 7701 – No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act (Rep. Meeks – Foreign Affairs). The bill would require the United States to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and visa restrictions, on foreign entities that knowingly help construct a tunnel or bridge connecting Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula.
  • H.R. 4741 – Securing Global Telecommunications Act (Rep. Manning – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would require the State Department to develop a strategy to promote the secure use of telecommunications infrastructure in foreign countries.
  • H.R. 8152 – Remote Access Security Act, as amended (Rep. Lawler – Foreign Affairs). The bill would permit the Commerce Department to issue export licenses to regulate remote network access to sensitive U.S.-based technologies.
  • H.R. 7159 – Pacific Partnership Act, as amended (Rep. Case – Foreign Affairs). The bill would require the White House, in coordination with the State Department, to submit to Congress a strategy outlining goals for U.S. diplomatic, economic, and defense engagement with Pacific Island countries.
  • H.R. 6614 – Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act, as amended (Rep. Ronny Jackson – Foreign Affairs). The bill would require the Commerce Department to submit a quarterly report to Congress on export control license applications, enforcement actions, and other requests to reexport covered items.

  Tuesday – Thursday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business.

  • Bills expected under a rule.
    • H.R. 1516 – DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act (Rep. Pfluger – Homeland Security). The legislation would bar DHS from providing any funds to U.S. universities that have a relationship with a Confucius Institute or certain Chinese universities.
    • H.R. 1398 – Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2024 (Rep. Gooden – Judiciary). The measure would require the Department of Justice to set aside resources for a program aimed at countering espionage specifically by the Chinese Communist Party.
    • H.R. 1425 – No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act (Rep. Tiffany – Foreign Affairs). The legislation would deem the World Health Organization’s pending agreement on pandemic preparedness a treaty and require Senate approval to implement in the United States.
    • H.R. 9456 – Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 (Rep. Newhouse – Financial Services). The measure would require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. to review foreign agricultural land transactions and add the Department of Agriculture as part of the review committee.
    • H.R. 7980 – End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in America Act of 2024 (Rep. Carol Miller – Ways and Means). The measure would prohibit the eligibility of electric vehicles using batteries from companies based in China and other U.S. adversaries from receiving EV tax credits.

Senate Votes

On Tuesday, the Senate will begin consideration of the nominations of Adam Abelson to be a district judge for the District of Maryland and Jeannette Vargas to be a district judge for the Southern District of New York.