House Legislative Week

For John, BLUF:  DHS has given us "security theater".  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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I have a friend who keeps insisting that the Republican Congress is focused on Impeaching President Obama.  Aside from the fact that the Republicans, even if they stood solid, doesn't have the numbers to convict in the Senate doesn't seem to influence this friend.  So, to help him understand, here is the agenda for the coming week in the US House of Representatives.

WEEK OF JANUARY 12TH

MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH
On Monday, 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. 203 - Clay Hunt SAV Act (Sponsored by Rep. Tim Walz / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

2) H.R. 33 - Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act (Sponsored by Rep. Lou Barletta / Ways and Means Committee)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

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

On Thursday and Friday, the House is not in session.

H.R. 185 - Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte / Judiciary Committee)

H.R. 37 - Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick / Financial Services Committee / Agriculture Committee)

H.R. 240 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers / Appropriations Committee)

Vets, Jobs and Volunteer Firefighters (I have a Son who has been a Volunteer Firefighter).  I am interested by H.R. 37, which talks to reducing small business burdens.  I think increases in regulation helps big businesses and adversely impacts small businesses, which have a smaller base over which to spread the cost of increased regulation.

Then there is H.R. 240, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2015. This is the one Department not funded for the whole of 2015.  I wonder what is in there regarding immigration?  Maybe the newspapers and TV News will tell us (or not).  As a private opinion, I believe we are no safer, and our tax dollars are lost in the DHS bureaucracy.  The DHS was a proposal out of the 9/11 Report.  It was a bad idea.  It has not improved coordination.

Regards  —  Cliff