What House Republicans Have Done One Month After Retaking Majority
It’s been just over a month since
Republicans
They have taken control of the House and are attempting to usher In a
A new era in rules
Priorities of legislative legislation
GOP lawmakers had high expectations to get to work quickly and vote on new bills that would advance their agenda. But after a
Contested leadership election
Republicans have been unable to fulfill a few of their campaign promises due to intraparty disagreements over certain policy proposals.
HOUSE GOP BILLS TO END THE COVID-19 IMMEDIATE PUBLIC HELTH EMERGENCY
Days before the lawmakers were sworn in on Jan. 3, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise released a list of the GOP’s top 11 bills and resolutions the party planned to pass during the first two weeks of the new Congress. Six of the six bills that Republicans had passed as of Friday were still unfinished.
“We have made it clear that we must change the way we do business in order to improve the legislative process,” Scalise
In a letter
To Republican legislators on December 30. “We do also recognize that it will take some time for our committees to organize and start moving legislation through regular order. In the meantime, we will begin bringing up meaningful, ‘ready-to-go’ legislation in the House. These commonsense measures will address challenges facing hard-working families on issues ranging from energy, inflation, border security, life, taxpayer protection, and more.”
Here’s a breakdown of what House Republicans have managed to accomplish so far and what other “ready-to-go” Priorities are still being filtered through the lower chamber.
Passed – Establishment of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States And the Chinese Communist Party
Two days after the swearing in of lawmakers, H.R. was passed by the House. 11, “Establishing the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party,” January 9, 2009
This resolution creates a special committee in the lower chamber to investigate the economic, security and political progress of the Chinese Community Party relative to the United States. The 16-member group is responsible for submitting any policy recommendations.
With a vote of 365 to 65, the resolution was passed by the House.
Passed: Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protect Act
The House also opened on the same date.
Passed H.R. 23,
“Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act,” The bill also revokes some monetary payments made through the Inflation Reduction Act. The bill specifically blocks $80 billion of spending intended to be directed toward the Internal Revenue Service, which would have been used for hiring approximately 87,000 new employees. Republicans claimed that the proposal would increase federal revenue by being used to improve tax enforcement and to hurt middle-class workers.
Democrats responded by noting that not all 87,000 of these hires would have been auditors, but would also include thousands of roles.
The House approved the resolution with a 221-210 vote. It was then split along party lines. McCarthy praised tHe bill’s passage, lauding Republicans for their “promises made. Promises kept,” he
Statement
.
Passed: Expressing the Sense that Congress Condemns the Recent Attacks On Pro-Life Facilities and Groups Churches
One of the first acts taken by the new Congress, was to pass
The simultaneous resolution
To condemn the attacks on anti-abortion groups and facilities in the wake the overturning Roe v. Wade Last summer.
This resolution not only condemns these attacks but also calls on the President to do so.
Joe Biden
To activate the appropriate law enforcement agencies in support of anti-abortion group safety. The legislation is largely symbolic and does not require Biden’s implementation of new policies or changes to existing laws.
The resolution was passed by Congress by a vote of 222-209 on January 11, with three Democrats joining the Republicans in backing it.
Passed: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
House Republicans was also approved on the same date as the concurrent resolution
H.R. 26
, “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.”
The bill would increase protections to infants who survive an attempted abort. It would require healthcare professionals performing the procedure to provide lifesaving care. “any other child born alive at the same gestational age.” Any healthcare worker who does not comply with this requirement could face criminal charges.
The House approved the bill with a 220-210 vote. One Democrat joined Republicans in passing the bill. The vote was however symbolic because the legislation is unlikely the pass the Democratic-led Senate.
Passed: Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act
House lawmakers
Passed H.R. 22,
“Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act,” On Jan. 12.
The legislation blocks the sale of oil from the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve emergency stockpile to China or any entity that is linked to the Chinese Communist Party. The bill also requires that the Department of Energy block any of its users from exporting oil from the United States after they have purchased from the reserve.
The bill was passed by 331 votes to 97 and is now in the Senate, where it awaits a vote.
Passed: Strategic Production Response Act
The House passed
H.R. 21
, “Strategic Production Response Act,” January 27, 2012: More than 140 amendments were submitted to the legislature for consideration before a vote was taken.
The bill seeks to limit the president’s ability to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and would require the federal government to increase the percentage of federal lands that are leased for oil and gas production. Republicans who introduced it argued that it was an illegal act. “urgent” policy that would rebuild the emergency stockpile or preserve oil in case of natural disasters or other emergency situations.
The bill was approved by a vote of 221-205, with one Democrat joining Republicans to approve it. The bill now goes to the Senate to be considered, but it is unlikely to pass.
In Awaiting Action: The Prosecutors Should Prosecute Act
The list of “ready-to-go” House is still waiting for legislation
H.R. 27
, “Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act.”
The legislation would require local and state prosecutors to report data on the number of criminal cases they are unable to prosecute and the outcome of those cases. The bill also requires that prosecutors report the number of criminal cases they have initiated against defendants with a history of crime, as well releasing or eligible for bail.
The legislation was first introduced in the House Jan. 9, but it has yet to be called for a vote.
Awaiting Action: Expressing Support for the Nation’s Law Enforcement Agencies and Condemning Any Efforts to Defund or Dismantle Law Enforcement Agencies
Waiting for action is
Concurrent Resolution 5
It aims to offer “sincere gratitude and appreciation” For law enforcement officers and agencies across the country.
This legislation is mostly symbolic as it doesn’t implement any new policies nor change existing laws relating to public safety. Rather, the resolution would merely recognize Republicans’ opposition toward efforts to “defund and dismantle” Law enforcement agencies
Although the resolution was presented in the House Jan. 9, it has not been put to a vote.
Act on Safety and Border Security
Lawmakers are still waiting for the right steps to be taken
H.R. 29
, “Border and Safety Security Act,” The Republicans are trying to resolve intraparty differences on the legislation before bringing the bill to the floor for a final vote.
This bill is intended to reduce the immigration surge at the southern border. It gives the secretary of Homeland Security authority to ban autonomously arriving immigrants from entering the country at any port of entry. “achieve operational control” Over the border The legislation provides that the secretary may make this decision at his or her discretion.
At least two Republicans oppose the legislation openly.
arguing the bill could block immigrants and unaccompanied children from seeking asylum in the U.S., which has long been a core principle of the country’s immigration laws. Other Republicans expressed concerns about the legislation and lawmakers delayed action until they could guarantee their support.
Awaiting Action: Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act
Republicans are introduced
H.R. 28
, “Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act,” The legislation was introduced in the House on January 9, but it has not gained momentum in the lower chamber.
This legislation requires the National Instant Criminal Background Check to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the relevant local law enforcement agencies if an illegal immigrant attempts purchase a firearm in America. The legislation has been approved.
Second Amendment groups received some resistance
, which argue the bill would be used to empower the FBI to strip gun owners of their firearms even if they’re U.S. citizens.
House Republicans are now attempting to win intraparty support, and have delayed taking action on the bill.
Waiting for Action: Taxpayer Funding of Abortion and Abortion Insurance is not available. Full Disclosure Act
H.R. 7 to abolish federal funding of abortions and other health insurance plans that cover the procedure.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE WASHINGTON XAMINER
The Hyde Amendment would be established as law by making permanent the prohibition in appropriations bills to prohibit the federal government from funding abortions. The bill would provide exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, or endangerment to the mother’s life, which are exceptions that are already included in the Hyde Amendment.
Although the bill was introduced Jan. 9, it has not been voted on.
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