Note from Capital Thinking
As Congress prepares to wrap up all remaining business in Washington this week, please be advised that Capital Thinking will also be on recess until Congress returns. Expect our next post on Monday, January 11, 2016.
Senate Legislative Activity
The Senate will meet on Monday, December 14, at 3:o0pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm, with Senators permitted to speak up to 10 minutes each. At 5:00pm, the Senate will enter Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #393 – Alissa M. Starzak, of New York, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Army. There will be 30 minutes of debate followed by a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination. Following the vote on the Starzak nomination, the Senate will hold a voice vote on confirmation of:
- Executive Calendar #394 – John Conger, of Maryland, to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense;
- Executive Calendar #395 – Stephen P. Welby, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense; and
- Executive Calendar #396 – Franklin R. Parker, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy
House Legislative Activity
On Monday, December 14, the House is not in session. On Tuesday, December 15, the House will meet at 12:00pm for morning hour and at 2:00pm for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30pm. The following legislation will be considered under suspension of the rules:
- H.R. 3654 – Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act of 2015, as amended; and
- H. Res. 536 – Supporting freedom of the press in Latin America and the Caribbean and condemning violations of press freedom and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to freedom of speech
On Wednesday, December 16, the House will meet at 9:00am for legislative business. The House will consider:
- H.R. 3750 – First Responders Passport Act of 2015, as amended;
- H.R. 2241 – Global Health Innovation Act of 2015, as amended;
- Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2297 – Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015;
- H.R. 3878 – Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2015, as amended;
- Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2820 – Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Authorization Act of 2015; and
- S. 1347 – Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015, as amended
The House is also expected to consider:
- Legislation to Extend Certain Provisions of the Tax Code
- A Consolidated Appropriations Act
Given the numerous outstanding priorities yet to be addressed, Members have been asked to keep their schedules flexible this week.