This Week in Congress: Raising the Minimum Wage to $15, Repealing Obamacare’s ‘Cadillac Tax’, and Holding Barr & Ross in Contempt

With Congress yet to reach an agreement on raising the debt limit or budget caps and only eight legislative days left before the House leaves for August recess, House Democrats and Senate Republicans are set to spend this week focused on other priorities while negotiations continue with the White House.

The House starts its week Monday with votes on 14 foreign affairs and small business bills under the fast-track suspension of the rules process, including notable bills to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for human rights violations, improve engagement with Northern Triangle countries, and offer rewards to combat global wildlife trafficking. On Tuesday, the House will vote on the annual authorization of intelligence activities in addition to legislation holding Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for their failure to turn over documents. Wednesday will feature votes on bills to block certain arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, repeal the “Cadillac tax” on high-premium, employer-sponsored health plans, and expand public access to federal reports produced for Congress. The House will then conclude its week by voting on a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024.

The Senate convenes Monday for a procedural vote on the nomination of Judge Peter Phipps to serve on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. If it succeeds, a confirmation vote could be held on Phipps’ nomination Tuesday. The rest of the week’s agenda will likely include votes on the confirmation of ambassadors to Jamaica & Slovenia, a district court judge, and the ratification of tax treaties with Japan, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland.

Check here throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday after 6:30pm (under suspension of the rules)

• H.R. 97: RAWR Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2615: United States-Northern Triangle Enhancement Engagement Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2037: Saudi Arabia Human Rights and Accountability Act of 2019, as amended Passed 405-7.
• H.Res. 441: Condemning the attack on the AMA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994 and expressing the concern of the United States regarding the continuing, 25-year-long delay in the resolution of this case and encouraging accountability for the attack Passed by voice vote.
• H.Res. 129: Condemning the Government of Saudi Arabia’s continued detention and alleged abuse of woman’s rights activists, as amended Adopted by voice vote.
• H.Res. 432: Condemning the attacks on peaceful protesters and supporting an immediate peaceful transition to a civilian-led democratic government in Sudan Adopted 414-1.
• H.Res. 345: Recognizing widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance on World Press Freedom Day Adopted by voice vote.
• H.R. 2744: USAID Branding Modernization Act Passed 414-1.
• H.R. 526: Cambodia Democracy Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 277: ASCEND Act of 2019, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2142: To amend the Small Business Act to require the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman to create a centralized website for compliance guides, and for other purposes Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2331: SBA Cyber Awareness Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1649: Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2019 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2345: Clarifying the Small Business Runway Extension Act Passed by voice vote.

Tuesday after 12pm

• H.R. 3494: Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 Debate & amendments only.
• Motion to take down the words of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for unparliamentary language Not agreed to 190-232.
• Motion to proceed in order & return speaking privileges to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for the rest of the day Agreed to 231-190.
• H.Res. 489: Condemning President Trump's racist comments directed at Members of Congress Adopted 240-187.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 3494: Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 Passed 397-31.
• H.Res. 497: Resolution Recommending that the House of Representatives find William P. Barr, Attorney General of the United States, and Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary of Commerce, in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with Subpoenas Duly Issued by the Committee on Oversight and Reform Agreed to 230-198.
• S.J.Res. 36: Blocking a proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia (end user), the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy (laser guidance systems for bombs) Passed 238-190.
• S.J.Res. 37: Blocking a proposed arms sale to the United Arab Emirates (end user), France, and the United Kingdom (60,000 Paveway bomb guidance kits) Passed 238-190.
• S.J.Res. 38: Blocking a proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia (end user) and the United Kingdom (laser guided bomb fuses) Passed 237-190.
• H.R. 748: Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019 Passed 419-6.
• H.R. 736: Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1847: Inspector General Protection Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1250: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 11158 Highway 146 North in Hardin, Texas, as the “Lucas Lowe Memorial Post Office,” as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1526: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 Israel Road Southeast in Tumwater, Washington, as the “Eva G. Hewitt Post Office” Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1844: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 66 Grove Court in Elgin, Illinois, as the “Corporal Alex Martinez Memorial Post Office Building” Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3305: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2509 George Mason Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia, as the “Ryan Keith Cox Post Office Building” Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2325: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Calle Alondra in San Juan, Puerto Rice, as the “65th Infantry Regiment Post Office Building” Passed by voice vote.

Thursday between 9am and 3pm

• H.R. 582: Raise the Wage Act Passed 231-199.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Judge Peter J. Phipps to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Invoked 53-40.

Tuesday

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Judge Peter J. Phipps to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Confirmed 56-40.
• Cloture motion on the Treaty Amending the Tax Convention with Spain Invoked 94-1.
• Ratification vote on the Treaty Amending the Tax Convention with Spain Ratified 94-2.

Wednesday

• Ratification vote on the Treaty Amending the Tax Convention with the Swiss Confederation Ratified 95-2.
• Ratification vote on the Treaty Amending the Tax Convention with Japan Ratified 95-2.
• Ratification vote on the Treaty Amending the Tax Convention with Luxembourg Ratified 95-3.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Clifton L. Corker to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Invoked 55-41.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Lynda Blanchard to be U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia Invoked 55-41.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Donald Tapia to be U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Invoked 67-28.

Thursday

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Clifton L. Corker to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Confirmed 55-39.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Lynda Blanchard to be U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia Confirmed 54-40.
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Donald Tapia to be U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Confirmed 66-26.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell