Senate to Confirm Circuit Court Nominee, House Returns to Lift Iraq Military Force Authorization

What’s happening in Congress?

• The House returns this week after a three-week break from floor work to consider a bill to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq, while the Senate is set to confirm President Joe Biden’s first nominee to a federal appeals court.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week on Monday with a confirmation vote on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the vacancy on the District of Columbia Circuit that was created when Attorney General Merrick Garland retired from the bench. 
• The Senate voted 52-46 to advance her nomination last week with three Republican senators joining Democrats by voting in favor, so it’s likely that Jackson will be confirmed.
• After the Senate finishes its consideration of the Jackson nomination, it’s expected to take up the nominations of Lina Khan to be a Federal Trade Commissioner and Kiran Ahuja to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
• Committees will hold hearings on Democrats’ American Dream and Promise Act; oversight of the Capitol Police following the January 6th attack on the Capitol; and infrastructure needs at the state and municipal level.  

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts its week Monday. Early in the week, it’s expected to consider several bills under the fast-track “suspension of the rules” process, including a bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to the Capitol Police for their actions during the January 6th riot at the Capitol. 
• Further votes on suspension bills are possible later in the week, and at a time to be announced between Tuesday and Thursday the House is expected to vote on bills to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force and reform corporate governance procedures.
• Committees will hold hearings on the potential creation of a digital dollar; oversight of first responders from the Capitol Police during the January 6th riot; and bills to allow Puerto Rico to become a state.

Check below 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

• Rule debate and vote for H.R. 256 and H.R. 1187.

Tuesday after 12pm

• H.R. 3325: To award four congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 Passed 406-21.
• H.R. 1703: National Children’s Museum Act, as amended Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 587: Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 610: San Francisco Bay Restoration Act, as amended Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 1144: PUGET SOS Act, as amended Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 2008: Local Water Protection Act Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 1921: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program, and for other purposes Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 539: Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 468: Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2021 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2016: Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 1262: Notice to Airmen Improvement Act of 2021, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2093: Veterans and Family Information Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 239: Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act Failed 240-188 (2/3 majority required).
• H.R. 1257: Homeless Veterans CREDIT Act, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2429: VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2726: VA FOIA Reform Act of 2021 Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2545: To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of doctors of podiatric medicine in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 293: VA Hospitals Establishing Leadership Performance Act Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 290: To amend title 38, United States Code, to render an individual, who transfers certain educational assistance, to which the individual is entitled because of an agreement by such individual to serve in the Armed Forces, to a dependent of that individual, and who fails to complete such agreement, solely liable for the overpayment of such educational assistance, as amended Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 3642: Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act, as amended Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 2332: Debt Bondage Repair Act, as amended Passed en bloc 287-140.
• H.R. 1443: LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act, as amended Failed 248-177 (2/3 majority required).

Wednesday after 12pm

• Amendments to H.R. 1187: Corporate Governance Improvement and Investor Protection Act
• H.R. 1187: Corporate Governance Improvement and Investor Protection Act Passed 215-214.
• S. 475: Juneteenth National Independence Day Act Passed 415-14.

Thursday between 9am and 3pm

• H.R. 256: To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 Passed 268-161.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation of Kentanji Brown Jackson as U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit Confirmed 53-44.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Lina Khan to be a Federal Trade Commissioner Invoked 72-25.

Tuesday after 12pm

• Confirmation of Lina Khan as a Federal Trade Commissioner Confirmed 69-28.
• S. 475: Juneteenth National Independence Day Act Passed by unanimous consent.

Wednesday after 11:30am

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Radhika Fox to be an Assistant Administrator of the EPA Invoked 55-43.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Lydia Griggsby to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland Invoked 57-41.
• Confirmation of Radhika Fox as an Assistant Administrator of the EPA Confirmed 55-43.
• Confirmation of Lydia Griggsby as U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland Confirmed 59-39.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Tommy Beaudreau to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior Invoked 89-9.

Thursday after 11:30am

• Confirmation of Tommy Beaudreau as Deputy Secretary of the Interior Confirmed 88-9.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of John Tien to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Invoked 66-33.
• Confirmation of John Tien as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Confirmed 60-34.

Next Week / TBA

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Kiran Ahuja to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management
• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of Kiran Ahuja as Director of the Office of Personnel Management

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

— Eric Revell