From our Hill Sources: It’s Appropriations Season! The House will work on two appropriations bills, to provide funding for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and also Energy and Water Development. The Senate will continue considering a bill that would require Congressional review of the Iran Nuclear deal. Here’s a look at what’s happening in Congress in the week ahead.
Armenian Remembrance Day
Last week marked the centennial of the Meds Yeghern, the first mass atrocity of the 20th Century. Beginning in 1915, the Armenian people of the Ottoman Empire were deported and massacred. One and a half million Armenians died.
Earlier this month, Pope Francis identified the massacre as “the first genocide of the twentieth century.” (Read the Pope’s full remarks to Armenian pilgrims.) In addition, more than 20 countries and 43 US states have affirmed the Armenian genocide. However, President Obama has not. According to the President:
This centennial is a solemn moment. It calls on us to reflect on the importance of historical remembrance, and the difficult but necessary work of reckoning with the past. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests. Peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past. We welcome the expression of views by Pope Francis, Turkish and Armenian historians, and the many others who have sought to shed light on this dark chapter of history.”
The United States previously officially recognized the Armenian Genocide through President Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Proclamation in Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust. The House adopted similar resolutions in 1975 (HJRes 148) and in 1984 (HJRes 247).
Congress Responds
Last week, the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, held a hearing to examine the “denialism of the Armenian genocide by the Government of Turkey.” As Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) explained, “the Armenian genocide is the only genocide of the 20th century in which a nation that was decimated by genocide has been subject to the ongoing outrage of a massive campaign of genocide denial, openly sustained by state authority. Sadly, the Turkish government has driven this campaign of denial, and has done so over a course of decades.”
Some lawmakers in Congress are calling on President Obama to recognize this atrocity as a “genocide” and have introduced two resolutions:
Senate Resolution regarding the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide (SRes 140)
Sponsor: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) —Bipartisan— “Calls for the following: To remember and commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015; That the President work toward an equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relationship that includes the full acknowledgment by the Government of the Republic of Turkey of the facts about the Armenian Genocide; That the President ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide relating to the Armenian Genocide,” according to the resolution sponsors.
Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution (HRes 154)
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Dold (R-IL) —Bipartisan— “Calls upon the Administration to work toward equitable, constructive and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey's full acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution will also establish a fair, just and comprehensive international record of this crime against humanity.” according to the resolution sponsors.
A Woman on the $20 Bill
The Women on 20s (or “W20”) campaign—which aims to get a woman’s image on the $20 bill—has garnered thousands of online supporters. The campaign hopes to make the change by 2020, which marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. People voting on the campaign’s website have chosen Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman and Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller as the top candidates for the $20 bill.
Now there is similar legislation pending before Congress. “Not since the 19th century, when Martha Washington’s portrait was briefly featured on the $1 silver certificate, has there been a woman on U.S. paper currency. And yet throughout our history, countless women have accepted the call to serve as the heads of cabinet departments, in the halls of Congress, as Presidents and CEOs of industry, and as activists and public leaders fighting for justice and rights and protections under the law,” explained the bill sponsor.
Put a Woman on the Twenty Act (HR 1910)
Sponsor: Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) “Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to convene a special commission to receive public input and recommend an appropriate woman to receive the high honor of having her portrait on the United States twenty dollar note,” according to the bill sponsor.
Women on the Twenty Act (S 925)
Sponsor: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) “Would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to convene a panel of citizens to recommend a woman whose likeness would be featured on a new twenty dollar bill,” according to the bill sponsor. “Although our paper currency has been redesigned several times to improve legibility and prevent counterfeiting, the portraits on the seven main bill denominations have not changed in nearly a century. Those portraits were chosen by a special Treasury-appointed panel of citizens in the late 1920s.”
It’s Appropriations Season
Each year, Congress considers several appropriations bills, which provide discretionary funding for numerous activities—for example, national defense, education, and homeland security—as well as general government operations. In recent years these measures have provided approximately 35% to 39% of total federal spending. The remainder of federal spending comprises direct (or mandatory) spending, controlled by House and Senate legislative committees. Committee and floor consideration of the annual appropriations bills occurs during the spring and summer months, but may continue through the fall and winter. (Source: Congressional Research Service)
This week, the House will consider two appropriations bills:
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (HR 2029)
Sponsor: Rep. Charles Dent (R-PA) “The legislation contains funding to house, train, and equip military personnel, provide housing and services to military families, and help maintain base infrastructure. The bill also funds veterans’ benefits and programs. In total, the bill provides $76.6 billion in discretionary funding – $4.6 billion above the fiscal year 2015 level. This represents a 5.6 percent increase over the fiscal year 2015 level for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – including increases for health care, benefit claims processing, the Board of Veterans Appeals, medical and prosthetic research, and information technology. Of this funding, $58.7 billion was provided in the fiscal year 2015 appropriations bill. Military construction is increased by $904 million over the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, which allows for full funding of family housing, construction of hospitals and health facilities, and support for critical overseas investments,” according to the House Appropriations Committee.
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (HR 2028)
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Simpson (R-ID) “The legislation provides annual funding for national defense nuclear weapons activities, the Army Corps of Engineers, various programs under the Department of Energy (DOE), and other related agencies. The bill totals $35.4 billion – $1.2 billion above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $633 million below the President’s request. This bill will help ensure the safety, security, and reliability of our nation’s nuclear stockpile, help drive this nation towards energy independence, and help improve the infrastructure that facilitates American commerce,” according to the House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers.
Also in the House…
Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act (HR 373)
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) “Speeding access to public lands so accredited volunteer search groups can conduct searches for missing persons,” according to bill sponsors. “Requires that a decision on issuing a permit for accessing public lands be provided to groups within 48 hours of application and that groups are not responsible for obtaining an insurance policy given they waive federal government liability.”
Directing the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail (HR 984)
Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) “The story of the Ponca Chief Standing Bear is a story of strength, grace, and dignity in the protection of the most basic of human rights,” explained the bill sponsor. “I believe it is a story that needs to be told again and again, understood, and cherished by all Americans of coming generations. The establishment of the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail would honor both the courage and legacy of this brave individual and his contribution to the civil liberties of our nation.”
Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act (HR 1324)
Sponsor: Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) —Bipartisan— “Would incorporate land parcels within the wedge into the Arapaho National Forest and authorize the federal government to acquire land in the designated area from willing landholders,” according to the bill sponsor. “This ‘wedge’ of undeveloped land is a perfect example of the natural beauty that makes Rocky Mountain National Park and the Arapaho National Forest such attractive destinations for visitors from across the nation and Colorado alike.”
In addition, the House may consider the following bills:
Conference Report to SConRes 11, the FY 2016 Budget
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) In the Congressional budget process, Budget Committees report a concurrent resolution on the budget that sets each committee’s allocation of spending authority for the next fiscal year and aggregate spending and revenue levels for 5 years. However, this is not law and isn’t signed by the President. These budget allocations establish the framework to consider spending and revenue bills on the House and Senate floor.
From our Hill Sources: House and Senate negotiators are trying to finish up a budget agreement, reconciling the differences between the House-passed and Senate-passed budget. Then the House will vote on the bill.
Regulatory Integrity Protection Act (HR 1732)
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) —Bipartisan— “Will require the withdrawal of the Administration’s flawed proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule—a rule that undermines the integrity of the rulemaking process and the long-standing federal-state partnership in regulating the Nation’s waters,” according to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “The Regulatory Integrity Protection Act requires the withdrawal of the rule, and requires the agencies to engage in outreach to stakeholders, including holding a federalism consultation with the states and local governments, consulting with and soliciting recommendations from other affected stakeholders, and carefully considering all public comments before putting forward a new proposed rule—as should have been done under the rulemaking process.”
In the Senate
This week, the Senate will continue considering a bill that would require Congressional review of the Iran Nuclear deal:
Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (S 615)
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) —Bipartisan— Sen. Bob Corker explained his bill on the Senate floor: “What this legislation does—and we will be talking about it a great deal over the next week—is four things: First of all, it forces the administration, in the event a final deal is agreed to, to bring all of those details to Congress, including the classified annexes we would likely not see until 6 months or so after an agreement is reached, without this legislation, if we can pass it. Secondly, it keeps the executive branch from being able to lift the congressionally mandated sanctions that we put in place, while we have a reasonable period of time to go through the documents that have been provided to us. Thirdly, it allows Congress to take a vote. The vote can take all kinds of forms. It can be a vote of approval. It also allows the leader to decide not to take a vote at all or we could take a vote of disapproval. If we decided that this was not something that was good for our country, not good for the Middle East, then we could cause this vote of disapproval to take place, and if it passed, it would keep the executive branch from being able to lift the congressionally mandated sanctions we have put in place. The fourth and very important component is that it causes us to know whether Iran is in compliance. This bill stipulates, if passed, that the President would have to certify to us every 90 days as to whether Iran is in compliance. If there are significant violations, on a 10-day basis, let us know that is taking place so we can respond accordingly.” (Read bill text)
From our Hill Sources: The Senate will be using another bill, HR 1191, as the legislative vehicle. Senator Corker (R-TN), the bill’s sponsor, substituted the text of Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (S 615) for the language of HR 1191, a bill that already was passed by the House. Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the bill by a 19-to-0 vote.
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