Today in Congress
House in at 10 AM for morning hour and noon for legislative business. Votes at 6:30 PM on a series of suspension bills.
Senate in at 10 AM to resume consideration of the FY18 NDAA. Weekly caucus meetings from 12:30 – 2:15 PM.
ICYMI
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Yesterday the U.S. national debt hit $20 trillion for first time ever – made possible by debt ceiling deal reached last week
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Majority Leader McConnell points out that “extraordinary measures” mean next debt ceiling coming well into 2018 (giving Democrats less December leverage than some predicted)
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“One of the advantages of being the majority leader is you control the paper” [the bill text] – McConnell
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Last night Sen. Paul [R, KY] held up Senate’s motion to proceed to NDAA as protest calling for vote to end current authorization for use of military force AUMF
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In deal reached with McConnell, Paul will get four hours today to make the case for a new AUMF
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Over 300 amendments have been filed on host of controversial issues
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Senate unanimously passed joint resolution condemning the violence and domestic terrorist attack in Charlottesville and condemning white nationalists, white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups Monday night
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As joint resolution, it will go to the president for his signature
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House Energy and Commerce and Judiciary announced hearings on Equifax data breach, Senate Finance sent letter requesting more info
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People come and go so quickly in Congress – it’s “not as much fun as it has been”
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Former Speaker Boehner urged president to maintain South Korea free trade agreement (KORUS)
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President holding bipartisan dinner on tax reform at the White House tonight; on the list: Sens. Donnelly [D, IN], Heitkamp [D, ND], Manchin [D, WV], Hatch [R, UT], Thune [R, SD], Toomey [R, PA]
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With Russian Zapad-17 war games in Belorussia, US joins NATO allies for “Rapid Trident 2017” exercise in Ukraine
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It wasn’t just ads: Russia used Facebook events to organize anti-immigrant protests on U.S. soil
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People lined up overnight in NYC for Hillary Clinton’s book-signing – she sent them pizza
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Someone should probably send some pizza to the Ted Cruz office
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Get ready for the red carpet! “Democracy Awards” launching for Congress
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Day 3 of Sen. Menendez [D, NJ] corruption trial included a deep dive on the intricacies of Amex points
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More Senate Dems signing onto the Sen. Sanders [I, ME] “Medicare for All” bill reportedly coming out tomorrow
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