THE DAILY WHIP: THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2016

H.Res. 809 – Rule providing for consideration of S. 2943 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 and the Conference Report to Accompany S. 524 – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016(One hour of debate).  The Rules Committee has recommended one Rule which would provide for consideration of two measures.

For S. 2943, the Rules Committee has recommended that the House adopt an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of H.R. 4909 as passed by the House, and adopt S. 2943, as amended.  It also provides that the chair of the Committee on Armed Services or his designee is authorized to move that the House insist on its amendment to S. 2943 and request a conference with the Senate.

For the Conference Report to accompany S. 524, the Rules Committee has recommended a closed Rule that provides for one hour of debate.  The Rule allows one motion to recommit.  Members are urged to VOTE NO.

Complete Consideration of H.R. 5485 – Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017 (Rep. Crenshaw – Appropriations). H.R. 5485 appropriates $21.735 billion in discretionary budget authority for Fiscal Year 2017, a cut of $1.5 billion (6%) below FY 2016 and $2.7 billion (11%) below the President’s request.  These cuts will severely impair the federal government’s ability to serve the American people.  The Treasury Department’s budget is cut $246 million below FY 2016, and $1.449 billion less than the President’s request and the Internal Revenue Service’s budget is cut $236 million below FY 2016, and $1.281 billion less than the President’s request.  The measure also contains deep cuts to a number of other critical programs, including cuts to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Federal Buildings Fund.  The bill also restricts the District of Columbia’s ability to manage its own affairs in the areas of women’s health, education, and locally raised tax revenue. 

In addition to severe cuts, the measure contains a number of controversial policy riders, including provisions prohibiting implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s coverage requirements and restricting reproductive health services coverage in the health insurance marketplaces and Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program. The measure would require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to become subject to the annual appropriations process and would change the structure of CFPB from a directorship to a 5-member commission which would make it harder for the CFPB to issue regulations and guidance.  The bill would further impede the autonomy of the District of Columbia by: (1) prohibiting D.C. from using its local funds to further legalize marijuana; (2) repealing D.C.’s new law establishing budget autonomy; and (3) reauthorizing the private school voucher program.

According to Ranking Member Nita Lowey, H.R. 5485 “is merely a vehicle for accomplishing the most extreme policy priorities of the Republican majority.  It would undermine key elements of ACA and Dodd-Frank, diminish women’s access to legal health services, meddle in DC’s internal affairs, undermine the President’s Cuba policy…. the bill rewards tax cheats by failing to provide sufficient funding to enforce tax law.”

Lastly, despite repeated promises of openness and transparency, House Republicans have reversed course for the appropriations process and are bringing bills to the Floor under a structured rule to avoid votes on tough issues after their Members voted down their Energy and Water appropriations bill because it banned discrimination against LGBT Americans.  In May, House Republicans brought H.R. 5055 – Energy and Water Appropriations, 2017 to the Floor, only to have less than 1/3 of the House vote in favor.  That vote can be found here.  In June, at the direction of Republican leadership, the Rules committee failed to make in order an amendment to H.R. 5293 – Defense Appropriations, 2017 offered by Rep. Sean Maloney of New York, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Rep. Peters of California, and Rep. Hanna of New York which would prohibit the use of funds to contravene the President’s Executive Order pertaining to equal employment in Federal government contracting.

In the Statement of Administration Policy, the President’s senior advisors stated that they would recommend he veto this bill. Members are urged to VOTE NO. 

The Rule makes in order no further general debate.  As of last night, the House completed consideration of amendments through the Davidson Amendment (Amendment #25).  The House will continue consideration of amendments and a full list of amendments can be found HERE.  

Blackburn Amendment
Buck Amendment
Davidson Amendment

Bill Text for H.R. 5485:
PDF Version

Background for H.R. 5485:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report (PDF Version)

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Friday, July 8: The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to consider the Conference Report to Accompany S. 524 – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016.  The House is also expected to consider the Motion to go to Conference and the Motion to Instruct Conferees on S. 2943 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. **Members are advised that additional legislation may be added.