Congressional drama crescendos this week with a closed-door House GOP Leadership election. A discharge petition may force a vote on the Export-Import Bank and the debt ceiling fight is closer than expected — and while a government shutdown was avoided, several key programs were not renewed.
Washington Responds to the Tragedy in Oregon
In the wake of another tragic school shooting, we have seen an increase in searches on POPVOX for bills related to gun control and Second Amendment issues.
Congress may soon consider two mental health bills that would "make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis."
Possible markup in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee:
S. 1945: The Mental Health Reform Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cassidy [R, LA]
Possible House Floor consideration:
H.R. 2646: Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18]
GOP House Leadership Election Drama
On Thursday, House Republicans are scheduled to gather for a closed-door leadership election to choose a new Majority Leader, Whip, and other positions, as well as a GOP nominee for Speaker, chosen by secret ballot.
The actual election for Speaker, however, will occur after John Boehner’s retirement, in a public voice vote on the House Floor, with all Members of the House getting a vote.
- There are currently three announced Republicans seeking the Speaker’s gavel: Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy; Florida Rep, Daniel Webster; and Utah Rep Jason Chaffetz (who just announced on Sunday.)
- Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has announced that she will also seek the position of Speaker, with most if not all of the 188 Democratic votes expected to go her way.
- Speaker Boehner won re-election on January 6, with 216 of the 408 votes cast. (Rep Daniel Webster received 12 votes)
- The Speaker does not have to be a Member of Congress — or even an elected official.
- No vote for speaker has gone to a second ballot since 1923.
Update on the POPVOX Speaker Poll
As of Sunday, October 4, over 200 people have weighed in on the POPVOX poll asking who should be the next Speaker.
Here are the results so far:
We will keep the poll open until the election, and will update results weekly.
Debt Ceiling fight sooner than expected
November 5 is the next Congressional deadline: According to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, if the federal borrowing limit is not lifted by then, the U.S. will not be able to pay its bills. Raising the debt ceiling has been a point of contention for House conservatives. The race to reach an agreement will either be one of the last deals cut under Speaker Boehner or one of the first battles awaiting a new Speaker.
H.R. 692: Default Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI]
The bill seeks to reassure international markets and would allow the Treasury to "continue to borrow to pay the principal and interest on certain obligations" if the debt limit is reached.
Bipartisan Budget Negotiations between, Obama, McConnell, and Boehner
The debt ceiling issue *could* be rolled into a larger budget deal if reports of a "last stab" effort by President Obama, Speaker Boehner, and Senate Majority Leader McConnell come to fruition. Obama has warned that he “won’t sign another short-term spending bill” when the current Continuing Resolution expires on December 11, 2015, creating even more incentive for a budget deal to be cut now before Boehner departs.
Shutdown Avoided but Key Programs Lapse
While Congress passed a funding bill before the October 1 deadline, several other key programs expired at midnight.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): The 50-year old fund took revenues from offshore oil and gas development and directed them to state parks, recreation, and conservation programs. The program could be included in a future transportation bill, budget bill, or even the bill to lift the ban on oil exports (H.R. 702).
A Proposal for Full and Dedicated Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund
The World Trade Center Health Program: The program originally established as the James Zadroga Act providing services to over 70,000 first responders, expired on October 1, 2015. Sponsors are working to reauthorize the program:
H.R. 1786: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY]
S. 928: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY]
Discharge Petition Gains Steam for Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization
A rarely used procedural move can bring a bill up for a vote on the House Floor against the wishes of the Speaker if 218 signatures can be secured on a "Discharge Petition." The petition "discharges" the bill from committee. Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank may take this route to the House Floor, as Sponsor Rep. Stephen Fincher [R-TN] pushes forward with the petition. Top Republicans and Democrats have indicated support for the procedural move.
H.R. 3611: To reauthorize and reform the Export-Import Bank
Sponsor: Rep. Stephen Fincher [R, TN]
Lifting the Ban on Oil Exports?
The ban on U.S. crude oil exports dates back to the Saudi oil embargo of the 1970s.
This week, the House will vote on a bill to remove those restrictions:
H.R. 702: To adopt to changing Crude Oil Market Conditions
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Barton [R, TX]
A similar bill recently passed in the Senate Banking Committee:
S. 1372: American Crude Oil Export Equality Act
Sponsor: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp [D, ND]
Fireworks Ahead on the Defense Authroization (NDAA) bill
The House and Senate have reached a deal on a $612-billion Defense Authorization bill, combining versions that passed each chamber into one. The White House, however, has threatened to veto the bill if it reaches the President's desk.
H.R. 1735: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Sponsor: Rep. Mac Thornberry [R, TX]
Up for a Vote This Week:
H.R. 538: Native American Energy Act
Sponsor: Rep. Don Young [R, AK]
H.R. 1553: Small Bank Exam Cycle Reform Act
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Tipton [R, CO]
H.R. 1525: Disclosure Modernization and Simplification
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Garrett [R, NJ]
S. 896: Albuquerque Indian School Land Transfer Act
Sponsor: Sen Tom Udall [D, NM]
Sponsor: Rep. Patrick McHenry [R, NC]
H.R. 2091: Child Support Assistance Act of 2015
Sponsor:Bruce Poliquin [R, ME]
H.R. 2168: West Coast Dungeness Crab Management Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler [R, WA]
S. 1300: Adoptive Family Relief Act
Sponsor: Sen. Diane Feinstein [D, CA]
H.R. 3032: Securities and Exchange Commission Reporting Modernization Act
Sponsor: Rep. Krysten Sinema [D, AZ]
H.R. 3012: Airport Access Control Security Improvement Act
Sponsor: Rep. John Katko [R, NY]
H.R. 3192: Homebuyers Assistance Act
Sponsor: Rep. French Hill [R, AR]
H.R. 3510: Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Strategy Act
Sponsor: Rep. Cedric Richmond [D, LA]
S. 2078: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Corker [R, TN]
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill does not imply POPVOX endorsement in any way. As always, our goal is to offer one more way to help you stay informed about the complex U.S. legislative system. —
