Blog - The Week Ahead in Congress

If you need any more evidence that the House Republicans have given up on serious legislating for the year, look no further than the schedule for their first week back from recess. Votes are planned on repealing potentially popular parts of the new health care reform law, restricting federal funding to health care providers that provide abortion services even though no federal money is used for the abortion services, and expanding oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Obviously, none of this is designed with progressing through the Democrat-led Senate in mind. It’s about setting up votes that the Republicans think they can spin to use against vulnerable Democrats in the 2012 elections.

Since that whole strategy relies on voters not being well informed about the substance of the votes, the complete House schedule for the week is below, with links to learn more about the individual bills.

MONDAY, MAY 2ND
On Monday, the House will meet at 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. 1423 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 115 4th Avenue Southwest in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the “Specialist Micheal E. Phillips Post Office” (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

2) H.R. 362 - To redesignate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, as the “George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building” (Sponsored by Rep. Michael Conaway / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

TUESDAY, MAY 3RD
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 1213 – Repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton / Energy and Commerce Committee)

H.R. 1214 – Repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Michael Burgess / Energy and Commerce Committee)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 3 - No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith / Judiciary Committee / Ways and Means Committee)

THURSDAY, MAY 5TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes for the week are expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

H.R. 1230 – Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings / Natural Resources Committee)

Possible Consideration of H.R. 1229 – Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings / Natural Resources Committee)

FRIDAY, MAY 6TH
On Friday, the House is not in session.

The Senate doesn’t have much legislative work posted on their official calendar yet, but they are expected to resumer consideration of the small business jobs bill later in the week. Next up for that bill appears to be resolving the partisan disagreement over the Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME] amendment to require federal agencies to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses of their rules’ impacts on small businesses. Democrats say the amendment is designed to prevent agencies from promulgating any new regulations at all. If that disagreement can be resolved, this bill should be moving out of the Senate soon and into the House for follow-up action.