Senioritis (Dec 6, 2024)
By Amy West, GovTrack.us, Dec 6, 2024
The House and Senate were both in session this week. The Senate continued to confirm judges. The House passed some bills; mostly about post offices and mostly by voice vote. But there's a few items worth mentioning in particular.
SHARE IT Act
H.R. 9566: SHARE IT Act, which would require governmentwide source code sharing between agencies, passed on a voice vote on Dec. 4 (Wednesday of this week).
PROVE It Act
H.R. 7198: Prove It Act of 2024, which would make it easier for small businesses to challenge regulations by demanding agencies prove the regulations aren't unduly burdensome, passed 208-196.
Reauthorizations
H.R. 9598: Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed 399-1.
S. 3791: America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed 366-21.
Government Administration
S. 709: Federal Agency Performance Act of 2023 passed 389-6. Because the House made changes, the Senate will have to vote on it again for it to become law.
Anti-communist School Curricula
H.R. 5349: Crucial Communism Teaching Act, which would create school curricula about how communism is bad, passed 327-62.
Matt Gaetz and The Report
Matt Gaetz withdrew as President-elect Trump's nominee for attorney general on Nov. 21. Then there was Thanksgiving. Now that everyone's back, the question is whether the Ethics Committee should release its report on him anyway. He is no longer in Congress nor, as far as anyone knows, is he up for any other positions in the Trump Administration.
The Ethics Committee met on Thursday, Dec. 5, but came to no resolution on the issue.
Also on Thursday, two resolutions from House Democrats were up for a vote to release the report anyway. Before the votes on the resolutions themselves, motions to refer each back to the Ethics Committee, and thus kill the resolutions themselves, were voted on. In both cases, all but one Republican voted to kill the resolutions themselves by referral back to the Ethics Committee: On Motion to Refer: H RES 1608 and On Motion to Refer: H.Res. 1609.
This is probably it for the report being released officially. It's always possible it could be leaked; Gaetz has a lot of enemies in the House. But most likely, it'll never see the light of day and Ethics will simply end the investigation with the end of the Congress on Jan. 3.
What's left for this Congress?
Quite a lot, but realistically, you should expect the Senate to keep confirming judges until the House comes up with a continuing resolution to keep the government open past Dec. 20. You should expect the House to do super easy / non-controversial stuff like post office namings and the continuing resolution. Any additional substantive legislation that gets out of the House will be a bonus.
See you all next week!
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Hawaii Congressional Delegation
Nov 26, 2024 6:45 p.m. — Legislation Coming Up
H.R. 8219: Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act
This bill has been added to the House’s schedule for the coming week, according to the House Majority Leader. See the week ahead.
Last Action: This bill passed in the House on December 4, 2024 and goes to the Senate next for consideration.
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2].
Nov 26, 2024 6:45 p.m. — Legislation Coming Up
H.R. 8909: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 82-6110 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the “Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building”.
This bill has been added to the House’s schedule for the coming week, according to the House Majority Leader. See the week ahead.
Last Action: This bill passed in the House on December 4, 2024 and goes to the Senate next for consideration.
Trackers: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2].
Dec 2, 2024 5:29 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1651: Anne Hwang, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California
Nomination Confirmed 48/43
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 2, 2024 6:34 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1577: Brian Edward Murphy, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
Nomination Confirmed 47/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 3, 2024 — Introduced
H.R. 10280: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain health professions education scholarship and loan payments from gross income.
Sponsor: Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI2]
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
1 cosponsor is on that committee.
Dec 3, 2024 2:16 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1463: Sparkle L. Sooknanan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
Nomination Confirmed 50/48
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 3, 2024 3:14 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1806: Catherine Henry, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Nomination Confirmed 50/48
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 3, 2024 5:25 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN1905: Gail A. Weilheimer, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Nomination Confirmed 50/48
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 3, 2024 7 p.m. — Vote
S. 3791: America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024
Passed 366/21
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 4, 2024 — Introduced
S. 5423: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote family unity, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI] is a member of the committee.
Dec 4, 2024 11:46 a.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Anthony J. Brindisi to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of New York: Anthony J. Brindisi, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York
Cloture Motion Agreed to 50/48
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 4, 2024 2:33 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN2015: Anthony J. Brindisi, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York
Nomination Confirmed 50/49
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 4, 2024 3:23 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Elizabeth C. Coombe to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of New York: Elizabeth C. Coombe, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York
Cloture Motion Agreed to 52/46
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 4, 2024 4:56 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 390: Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act
Passed 378/16
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 4, 2024 5:05 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 8219: Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act
Passed 378/25
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 4, 2024 5:11 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 1602: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5349) to develop and disseminate a …
Passed 206/200
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Dec 4, 2024 5:18 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 1602: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5349) to develop and disseminate a civic education curriculum and oral history resources regarding certain political ideologies, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bil
Passed 207/199
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: No
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: No
Dec 4, 2024 5:36 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN2039: Elizabeth C. Coombe, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York
Nomination Confirmed 52/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 4, 2024 6:47 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Sarah Morgan Davenport to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Mexico: Sarah Morgan Davenport, of New Mexico, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico
Cloture Motion Agreed to 50/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 11:26 a.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN2040: Sarah Morgan Davenport, of New Mexico, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico
Nomination Confirmed 52/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 12:30 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Tiffany Rene Johnson to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia: Tiffany Rene Johnson, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia
Cloture Motion Agreed to 50/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 1:47 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Keli Marie Neary to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania: Keli Marie Neary, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Cloture Motion Agreed to 48/45
Sen. Hirono [D-HI]: Yea
Sen. Schatz [D-HI]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 5:13 p.m. — Vote
S. 709: Federal Agency Performance Act of 2024
Passed 389/6
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 5:18 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 9598: Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2024
Passed 399/1
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 5:22 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 9600: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains, Georgia, as the “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office”.
Passed 381/15
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 5:27 p.m. — Vote
H.Amdt. 1232 (Velázquez) to H.R. 7198: To require the Office of Advocacy to train rule-writing staff at agencies on the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act at least once every four years.
Failed 199/204
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 5:34 p.m. — Vote
On Motion to Recommit: H.R. 7198: Prove It Act of 2024
Failed 197/206
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea
Dec 5, 2024 5:47 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 7198: Prove It Act of 2024
Passed 208/196
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Dec 5, 2024 5:58 p.m. — Vote
On Motion to Refer: H.Res. 1608: Directing the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives to release to …
Passed 206/198
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Nay
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Nay
Dec 5, 2024 6:10 p.m. — Vote
On Motion to Refer: H.Res. 1609: Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and release records of the Committee’s …
Passed 204/198
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: No
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: No
Dec 6, 2024 10:18 a.m. — Vote
H.R. 5349: Crucial Communism Teaching Act
Passed 327/62
Rep. Case [D-HI1]: Yea
Rep. Tokuda [D-HI2]: Yea