Monday, September 30th, 2024
Continuing Resolution: Congress passed H.R.9747, which provides stopgap FY 2025 funding for continued operations of the federal government for the first 12 weeks of the new fiscal year, through Dec. 20, at current FY 2024 levels. In contrast to the six-month excludes the controversial voter registration provisions favored by conservatives and drops additional funding for FEMA disaster funding and the Navy's attack submarine program — but does provide additional funding for the Secret Service and extends numerous programs that were not extended under the GOP CR. The bill is headed to President Biden’s desk, where he is expected to sign it.
Condemn Biden Administration Officials for Afghanistan Withdrawal: The House passed H.Res.1469 (219-194), which would condemn 15 senior Biden administration officials for their role in the August 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and the operation to evacuate Afghans and others. They bill says that the evacuation led to the "injury and death of U.S. servicemembers, injury and death of Afghan civilians, abandonment of American civilians and our Afghan allies, and harm to the national security and international stature of the United States."
Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets: The House passed H.R.8205 (255-161), which would prevent any state or local government from receiving federal funds if they have a policy that prohibits the use of cash bail for all offenders or fails to implement pretrial detention practices for all violent offenders, including juveniles.
Building Chips in America: The House passed S.2228 (257-125), which streamlines federal review of microchip manufacturing facilities. The bill prevents delays in domestic manufacturing investments made possible by the CHIPS Act while maintaining bedrock environmental protections for clean air and water. The bill passed the Senate last December and now heads to the President’s desk where he is expected to sign it.
Sanction Senior Chinese Officials: The House passed H.R.3334 (243-174), which requires the President to impose asset and visa blocking sanctions on members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) central committee and their adult family members who play a significant role in developing or implementing policies or laws that violate Hong Kong's autonomy, intimidate Taiwan, or contribute to political oppression or violation of human rights of individuals or groups in China, including Uyghur Muslims.
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization: The House passed S.3764, which reauthorizes the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), through FY2026. The commission reviews the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. The bill passed the Senate in early September and is now headed to the President’s desk. He is expected to sign it.
NASA Reauthorization: The House passed S.3764, which reauthorizes, through FY2025, the programs and activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It also establishes and revises various NASA programs relating to space exploration, research, and technology. The bill now heads to President Biden who is expected to sign it.
COCOA Act: The House passed H.R.6513, which codifies Congress' congressional election observer program and clarifies exactly what congressional election observers may access and how they must conduct themselves. The measure is in response to requests from state and county election officials for a "statutory citation of convenience" for the Constitution's grant of authority for the program, and the fact some states don't specifically recognize the authority of congressional election observers to be present to observe elections for Congress.
Fix Our Forests: The House passed H.R.8790 (268-151), which seeks to improve forest management activities on public lands and address the wildfire crisis, particularly on the more than 115 million acres of federal land under the supervision of the National Forest Service (NFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and on Tribal lands that have been identified to be at high risk for wildfires.
