Zika funding's running out…
Several lawmakers called for new funding bill. A federal judge questioned new gag-order rules, as mandated by USA Freedom Act. Pentagon announced arms deal with Saudi Arabia, giving Congress 30 days to block sale. Federal health regulators called for new nursing home privacy policies. Members of Congress continued work back home — meeting with constituents, touring facilities, and receiving local briefings.
Zika funding running out,
Lawmakers discuss new funding bill
Funding to combat the Zika virus is running out, with several lawmakers calling for action. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Zika funding will be depleted by the end of September. This week HHS reallocated $81 million from other health funds to combat the virus. Democratic leaders from the House and Senate returned to the Hill and called for Congress to return from recess to pass a Zika funding bill.
REFRESHER: Presidential request and Congressional action
On February 22, 2016, President Obama sent a request to Congress for $1.9 billion to combat the virus. Before leaving for recess, the House passed a conference report that contained $1.1 billion in Zika funding. However, H.R. 2577 (appropriations for Military Construction and the Veterans’ Administration) contained several provisions that Democrats consider “poison pills,” including prohibitions on funding for Planned Parenthood and loosening of environmental restrictions on pesticides. Democrats blocked the bill twice in the Senate. A new cloture vote is scheduled for September 6, the day Congress returns from recess.
Check your state for documented Zika cases.
Federal judge finds loopholes in gag-order rules mandated by USA Freedom Act
A federal judge found "several large loopholes" in new rules regarding how long the FBI can impose a gag order on companies ordered to provide data in national security investigations.
New gag-order rules were mandated by the USA Freedom Act (H.R. 2048), which became law last year. The legislation restored modified provisions of the expired Patriot Act, including authorization for roving wiretaps and tracking lone wolf terrorists. USA Freedom Act ended the National Security Agency's controversial bulk collection of phone data.
Pentagon announces arms deal
with Saudi Arabia, Congress has 30 days to block
The Pentagon announced it will provide military weapons, equipment, and advisory support to Saudi Arabia worth $1.15 billion as airstrikes resume in Yemen. The State Department approved the sale and notified Congress on Monday. Congress has 30 days to block the sale.
Read up on arms sales and the Congressional Review Process.
Federal health regulators call for new nursing home privacy policies
Federal health regulators called on state officials to investigate and report on nursing home employees who take demeaning photographs and videos of residents and post on social media.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulates nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Nursing homes that fail to protect residents' privacy now face citations, fines, and termination from the Medicare program.
Last week, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley sent letters to the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and social media companies calling for actions to prevent and punish these types of abuses.
Sen. Tom Carper [D, DE] visited a public health lab, seeing how the lab uses CDC funding to combat the spread of Zika.
Rep. Bill Johnson [R, OH-6] held a town hall, listening to seniors' concerns.
Sen. Bob Casey [D, PA] received a briefing on gun violence in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Rep. Adrian Smith [R, NE-3] toured National Forests and Grasslands, learning about restoration efforts.
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp [D, ND] discussed the opioid crisis and how it's affecting North Dakotans.
Rep. Rodney Davis [R, IL-13] read House Mouse, Senate Mouse to children, teaching them about government.
Sen. Joe Donnelly [D, IN] participated in fire rescue training.
Sen. Orrin Hatch [R, UT] visited early care health center, learning about early childcare research, education, and training.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-19] discussed government programs with folks back home.
Sen. Mike Crapo [R, ID] met fellow Idahoans to discuss issues facing Idaho.
#DataDrop
- Registered lobbyists on the decline. Q2 of 2016 saw biggest single-quarter drop in number of lobbyists in recent years.
- New estimates put cost of lead poisoning in Flint around $458M.
- New paper analyzes which countries wrote majority of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
- Gap between rural and urban U.S. residents using the internet last year was 6 percentage points, continuing 17-year trend. New report found larger percentage of white Americans use the internet compared to other ethnic groups, regardless of where they live.
- Learn about religious freedom around the world. You can build your own report for specific countries or regions.
- New from Gallup: one in eight U.S. adults report smoking marijuana.
- First nationwide CDC study to ask high schoolers about sexuality found gay, lesbian, and bisexual teenagers experience higher rates of rape, bullying, and depression.
- Earth Overshoot Day (marking the date each year when we've depleted as many natural resources as Earth can regenerate in a single year) fell on its earliest date yet.
- Members in competitive districts spend nearly three times more on constituent communications, compared to Members in safe districts.
Legislative Lowdown: States Edition
- State legislators around the country are gearing up to take on fantasy sports industry. Last week NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo [D] signed legislation making New York the eighth state to regulate online daily fantasy sports.
- According to Pew Charitable Trusts, more states are lifting welfare restrictions for drug felons.
- California lawmakers held a bill that would have prevented felony offenders from receiving longer sentences for crimes not presented to a jury.
- Take a look at states with recently-passed film credit legislation.
- Federal judges ruled that map used twice to elect North Carolina General Assembly is unconstitutional, saying districts are racially gerrymandered.
- PEW Charitable Trusts examined states' major revenue sources.
- New California bill would increase penalties for prosecutors who falsify or withhold evidence.
#ICYMI
- House Republican report said key military intelligence was manipulated to paint an unrealistically optimistic picture of U.S. fight against ISIS.
- Obama administration announced it will ease restrictions on marijuana research.
- Sens. John Barrasso [R, WY] & John McCain [R, AZ] praised criminal investigation examining the EPA's Gold King Mine disaster.
- FDA recently ordered up new nutrition labels, with big change being listing of added sugars. New labels aren't required until next year, but brands are already responding by reducing added sugar in products.
- Sen. Kelly Ayotte [R, NH] sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew requesting details on $400M payment made to Iran.
- House Republican staffer unexpectedly left his job and launched an independent campaign for president.
- U.S. Marshals Service announced plans to auction 2,700+ bitcoins seized through federal investigations. Still don't understand Bitcoin? This is for you.
- Republicans are looking to overhaul landmark telecom law. Communications Act of 1934 gives the FCC its authority.
- U.S. Digital Service turned two years old. If you haven't heard of 18F (tech startup within the federal government), read up.
- Drug Enforcement Administration rejected move to reclassify marijuana. Still Schedule I drug (on par with heroin and LSD) and will remain illegal under federal law.
- CNBC profiled the man who founded ISIS.
- House Oversight and Government Reform asked Government Accountability Office to determine if Census Bureau is ready for 2020 Census tech, subject of recent hearing.
- House ethics panel found "substantial reason" to suspect Rep. Roger Williams [R, TX-25] violated conflict-of-interest rules.
- U.S. considering economic sanctions against Russia in response to DNC cyberattacks.
Congress is back home working, and we're sending a summer version of Gavel Down — full of how current events relate to Congressional happenings, as well as updates on major legislation. 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.
