Recently in Washington

Last week, the House passed H.R. 732, the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, by a vote of 238 to 183.  The bill bars federal agencies from requiring defendants to donate money to outside groups as part of settlement agreements or consent decrees, and requires that settlement money goes either directly to victims or the Treasury.  The House also passed H.R. 3898, the Impeding North Korea’s Access to Finance Act of 2017, as amended, by a vote of 415 to 2.  The bill imposes secondary sanctions with respect to North Korea in order to cut off Pyongyang’s ability to finance its weapons programs.

The House also passed H.R. 469, the Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017, by a vote of 234 to 187. The bill increases accountability and transparency in the federal regulatory process by providing more scrutiny of sue-and-settle rulemaking cases, mandating increased transparency of reporting requirements for payments made from the Judgment Fund, and strengthening the rights of Congress to intervene or participate as an amicus in litigation.

On Thursday, the House passed the Senate Amendment to H. Con. Res. 71, a concurrent resolution establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027, by a vote of 216 to 212.

The House also passed H.R. 1698, the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, as amended, by a vote of 423 to 2.  The bill mandates the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons and entities involved with Iran's ballistic missile program and those who provide or receive conventional weapons from Iran.  Congressman Simpson supported all of these bills.


Floor Schedule

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30TH
On Monday, no votes are expected in the House.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 2921 - National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Cramer / Agriculture Committee)

2) H.R. 2941 - Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act (Sponsored by Rep. Ralph Abraham / Agriculture Committee)

3) H.R. 3567 - To authorize the purchase of a small parcel of Natural Resources Conservation Service property in Riverside, California, by the Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Ken Calvert / Agriculture Committee)

4) H.R. 2521 - South Carolina Peanut Parity Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson / Agriculture Committee)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 3903 - Encouraging Public Offerings Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Ted Budd / Financial Services Committee)

2) H.R. 1585 - Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. David Schweikert / Financial Services Committee)

3) H.R. 425 - FTO Passport Revocation Act of 2017, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Ted Poe / Foreign Affairs Committee)

4) H.Res. 422 - Urging adherence to the "one country, two systems" policy as prescribed in the Joint Declaration between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Question of the Hong Kong, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Eliot Engel / Foreign Affairs Committee)

5) H.R. 3279 - Helium Extraction Act of 2017 (Sponsored by Rep. Paul Cook / Natural Resources Committee)

6) H.R. 1074 - To repeal the Act entitled "An Act to confer jurisdiction on the State of Iowa over offenses committed by or against Indians on the Sac and Fox Indian Reservation" (Sponsored by Rep. Rod Blum / Natural Resources Committee)

7) H.R. 2600 - To provide for the conveyance to the State of Iowa of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and for other purposes, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. David Young / Natural Resources Committee)

8) H.R. 1488 - The Indiana Dunes National Park Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Peter Visclosky / Natural Resources Committee)

H.R. 2936 - Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman / Agriculture Committee)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

H.R. 849 - Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2017 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe / Ways and Means Committee / Energy and Commerce Committee)

Consideration of Legislation Related to the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Other Public Health Programs

Additional Legislative Items are Possible