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DC Download 02.12.2024

This week, the House is set to vote, again, on a resolution to impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security, as well as a bill that would remove restrictions on liquified natural gas (LNG) trading. Additionally, after the bipartisan border deal crumbled last week, Senators are moving forward with a package that contains aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other foreign policy priorities—without the border provisions.

Table of Contents:

Pentagon Spending & Endless Wars

Politicians find hundreds of billions to support an ever-growing military-industrial complex, but when we demand our tax dollars fund health care, good schools, and affordable child care, they tell us there simply isn't enough money to go around.

Protecting our families and communities - locally and globally - means re-investing in diplomacy and other non-violent tools of statecraft. Together, we can cooperate to solve the biggest challenges we all face. We must join together across differences to build a world where all people can live with dignity and freedom and have their human rights respected, protected, and fulfilled.

Resources:

Principles of a Progressive Foreign Policy for the United States — Win Without War
Surcharges at the IMF: Regressive, Counterproductive, and Bad for the World Economy — Center for Economic Policy and Research
The Pentagon doesn’t need more money. These things do. - National Priorities Project
Reinvesting in Human Needs – Congressional Progressive Caucus Center

For more messaging tools and resources, visit the Progressive Playbook.

House Floor

The House will vote on nine suspension bills from the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Suspension bills require a ⅔ majority to pass. For a list of all suspension bills being considered, click here.

The House will also consider the following bills, subject to a rule:

H.Res. 863 – Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Greene (GA) / Homeland Security Committee): The resolution impeaches Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas for what House Republicans allege are high crimes and misdemeanors, including his handling of issues involving fentanyl and border security. If passed, this would be the first time a cabinet secretary has been impeached since 1876.

H.R. 7176 – Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Rep. Pfluger / Energy and Commerce Committee): The bill would repeal restrictions on the import and export of liquefied natural gas, including the requirement for the Energy Department to determine whether an import or export of natural gas is in the public interest before authorizing the trade.

House Committee Highlights

A full list of this week’s hearings and markups can be found here. Notable hearings and markups include:

Wednesday Hearings

Disaster Readiness: Examining the Propriety of the Expanded Use of FEMA Resources (Transportation & Infrastructure)

AUKUS Implementation and Challenges to International Security and Arms Control in the 21st Century (Foreign Affairs)

The Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook (Budget)

Burdensome Regulations: Examining the Impact of EPA Regulations on Main Street (Small Business)

Powered Up: State Utility Regulators on Challenges to Reliable, Affordable Electricity (Energy & Commerce)

Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Wage and Hour Division (Education & the Workforce)

Iran’s Proxy in Yemen: the Houthi threat to Middle East Stability and U.S. Interests (Foreign Affairs)

Thursday Hearings

Lender of Last Resort: Issues with the Fed Discount Window and Emergency Lending (Financial Services)

Assessing America’s Vaccine Safety Systems, Part 1 (Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic)

Hearing with Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Daniel Werfel (Ways & Means)

Economic Diversification to Create Prosperous Tribal Economies (Natural Resources)

Safeguarding American Prosperity and People’s Livelihoods: Legislation to Modernize Air Quality Standards (Energy & Commerce)

Bidenomics & Land Management: The Misguided National Strategy to Develop Environmental Economic Decisions (Natural Resources)

The Agents of Antisemitism in Latin America (Foreign Affairs)

Going Nuclear on Rosatom: Ending Global Dependence on Putin's Nuclear Energy Sector (Foreign Affairs)

The Consequences of Catch and Release at the Border (Oversight & Accountability)

Senate Floor

H.R. 815 - RELIEVE Act (Sponsored by Rep. McMorris Rodgers / Veterans’ Affairs): The bill would serve as the legislative vehicle for the National Security Act, 2024, which would provide $60.1 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel, $9.2 billion for humanitarian assistance, and $4.8 billion to support Indo-Pacific allies.

Press Release (Appropriations)

Bipartisan Senate Border Deal

Last week, Senators blocked a procedural motion to begin consideration of a border package by a 49-50 vote. The deal, negotiated by a group of bipartisan Senators, would have overhauled the U.S. immigration system and provided aid for Ukraine and Israel. Republican lawmakers quickly soured on the deal after former President Donald Trump came out against the agreement. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it “dead on arrival” should it reach the house, while House Republican Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise said the bill “will NOT receive a vote.” This comes as House Republicans are expected to vote again on a resolution to impeach Secretary of Homeland Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of the border, which originally failed to pass last week.

Foreign Aid

After the border deal failed last week, Senators quickly moved on a package that contains aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other foreign policy priorities, without the border provisions. Over the weekend, the Senate agreed to move forward on a $95 billion aid package that would provide $60.1 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel, $9.2 billion for humanitarian assistance, and $4.8 billion to support the Indo-Pacific by a 67-27 vote. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure this week. This comes as the House failed last week to pass a bill that would have provided $17.6 billion in assistance to Israel. It is unclear whether House Republicans, many of whom want to cut off assistance to Ukraine, will consider the Senate’s foreign aid package should it pass.

US Senate forges ahead on Ukraine, Israel aid as 'Putin is watching' (Reuters)
Sweeping US Foreign Aid Package Advances in Senate (Voice of America)
US House rejects Israel-only bill; Ukraine-Israel-border bill shaky (Al Jazeera)

SCOTUS Watch: Trump v. Anderson

On February 8, 2024, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trump v. Anderson, former President Donald Trump’s challenge to the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that he is ineligible to serve as president due to his involvement in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Central to the case is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, historically intended to disqualify from office those who had engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, raising the question of whether this provision applies to presidential candidates. The Colorado Supreme Court had previously ruled that Trump is ineligible to serve as president under this clause, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court. During over two hours of oral argument, the justices expressed skepticism toward allowing a single state to determine a candidate’s eligibility. Lawyers for Trump argued that states lack the authority to enforce Section 3 disqualifications, suggesting that only Congress has the power to enact such bans. The Supreme Court’s decision in this case could profoundly impact the criteria for federal office eligibility and the balance of power between state and federal jurisdictions in determining candidate qualifications.