Recess Looms as Senate Nears Final Gun Reform Package, House Takes Up Bipartisan VA Toxics Bill

What’s happening in Congress?

• Lawmakers return to the Capitol this week as a bipartisan group of senators is pushing to complete a gun reform package to allow Congress to vote before members depart for the Fourth of July recess.
• The bipartisan group is hoping to have finalized legislative text available as early as Monday night. Until the text is released, it’s unclear what exactly will be in the package, although the bipartisan group of 20 senators has released a high-level outline of the framework for their agreement on gun policy reforms.
• If the text is available Monday or Tuesday, the Senate may start the process of considering the bill Tuesday evening which could open the door to a passage vote before the end of the week.
• However, a passage vote this week would require that senators reach a unanimous agreement to bypass procedural hurdles that take about a week to work through. Such an agreement is usually reached by allowing recalcitrant senators to bring their amendments up for a vote.
• It’s possible that either the Senate or the House could extend their work periods into the currently scheduled two-week recess if the gun reform package has a path to passage and the floor time is needed. 

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Tuesday with a roll call vote that’s expected to occur at 5:30pm. The vote may be a procedural vote to allow the Senate to start the process of considering the legislative vehicle for the gun reform package. Other legislation and nominations could be considered over the course of this week.  
• Senators are currently scheduled to begin their two-week Fourth of July recess at the end of this week. The Senate is scheduled to return from that recess on Monday, July 11th. 
• Committees will hold hearings on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy with testimony from Chairman Jerome Powell; best practices for students to get back to school; and the proposed accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House starts its week Tuesday with votes on 11 bills under the fast-track “suspension of the rules” process that requires a two-thirds majority for passage. The docket includes bills to establish an active shooter alert system and to promote U.S. global leadership in 5G.
• The rest of the week is expected to focus on the bipartisan Senate bill to expand healthcare benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances; address mental health; and include LGBTQI+ data in federal initiatives.
• The House is scheduled to begin its recess after its work week concludes on Friday, and lawmakers are slated to return for their next votes on Tuesday, July 12th. 
• Committees will hold hearings on the January 6th attack on the Capitol (Tuesday and Thursday); the annual defense authorization bill; and the COVID-19 response with testimony from Dr. Deborah Birx.

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

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday

• No votes are expected.

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

• H.R. 7777 – Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training Act, as amended
• H.R. 7174 – National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, as amended
• H.R. 5274 – PREVENT ACT of 2021
• H.R. 7072 – NDO Fairness Act, as amended
• H.R. 3285 – 21st Century President Act
• H.R. 6538 – Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022, as amended
• H.R. 1934 – Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act, as amended
• H.Con.Res. 59 – Condemning the October 25, 2021, military coup in Sudan and standing with the people of Sudan
• H.Res. 720 – Calling for stability and the cessation of violence and condemning ISIS-affiliated terrorist activity in northern Mozambique, including the Cabo Delgado Province, and for other purposes
• H.Con.Res. 45 – Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the execution-style murders of United States citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi in the Republic of Serbia in July 1999
• H.Res. 892 – Calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds

Wednesday or Thursday after 12pm, or Friday after 9am

• H.R. 7666 – Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022
• H.R. 5585 – Advanced Research Projects Agency–Health Act
• Senate Amendment to H.R. 3967 – Honoring our PACT Act of 2022
• H.R. 4176 – LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act
• H.R. 5407 – Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act, as amended
• H.R. 6493 – Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2022, as amended
• H.R. 6411 – STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, as amended
• Possible consideration of gun legislation pending Senate action.
• Additional legislative items are possible.

SENATE

Monday 

• No votes are expected.

Tuesday after 5:30pm

• To be announced roll call vote.

Rest of the Week (Tentative)

• Possible consideration of gun legislation.
• Motion to reconsider the failed cloture motion on the nomination of Lisa Gomez to
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Ana Isabel de Alba, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California
• Confirmation vote on the nomination of Mary Boyle, of Maryland, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2018

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

— Eric Revell