THE DAILY WHIP: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

**Following one minute speeches, the House is expected to consider the bills listed for consideration under suspension of the Rules.

Suspensions (12 bills)

1. H.R. 3284 – Joint Counterterrorism Awareness Workshop Series Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Fitzpatrick – Homeland Security)
2. H.R. 2453 – DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program Act of 2017 (Rep. Gallagher – Homeland Security)
3. H.R. 2427 – Pathways to Improving Homeland Security at the Local Level Act, as amended (Rep. Demings – Homeland Security)
4. H.R. 2470 – Homeland Threat Assessment Act (Rep. Rogers (AL) – Homeland Security)
5. H.R. 2468 – Unifying DHS Intelligence Enterprise Act, as amended (Rep. Perry – Homeland Security)
6. H.R. 2433 – Homeland Security Assessment of Terrorists Use of Virtual Currencies Act (Rep. Rice (NY) – Homeland Security)
7. H.R. 2454 – Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Hurd – Homeland Security)
8. H.R. 2442 – FIRST State and Local Law Enforcement Act, as amended (Rep. Jackson-Lee – Homeland Security)
9. H.R. 2443 – Department of Homeland Security Classified Facility Inventory Act, as amended (Rep. Barletta – Homeland Security)
10. H.R. 2471 – TRACER Act, as amended (Rep. Rutherford – Homeland Security)
11. H.R. 931 – Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Collins (NY) – Energy and Commerce)
12. H.R. 2611 – Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Boundary Modification Act (Rep. Hill – Natural Resources) 

Continue Consideration of H.R. 3354– “Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018” (Rep. Frelinghuysen – Appropriations).  Before the August district work period, the House passed a package of four regular appropriations bills for FY 2018 as part of a “security minibus.”  That package included the Defense, Legislative Branch, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Energy and Water Development bills.  In addition to multiple poison pill riders, it also contained a fifth division with $1.6 billion in taxpayer funding for construction of President Trump’s border wall.

H.R. 3354 packages together the eight remaining regular appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2018 in discrete divisions.  They are: Interior & Environment; Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, Science; Financial Services; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development.  A summary of the eight divisions can be found here.  Upon passage, these will be coupled with the security minibus’s five divisions and sent to the Senate as one complete Omnibus Appropriations bill.

H.R. 3354 not only constitutes an inadequate investment in both the domestic and international activities of government, but also a skewed reprioritization laid out within each of its eight divisions that would have devastating impacts throughout the economy.  It is clear that House Republicans would rather waste valuable time on partisan legislation that does not stand a chance of actually being signed into law instead of working with Democrats on responsible solutions that will create jobs and grow the economy. 

Further, House Republicans are breaking their own promises of following regular order and an open legislative process by considering this package under structured rules that forego the open appropriations process, by acting on these bills before passing a budget resolution to provide topline funding guidance, and by packaging multiple unrelated issues into a single vehicle. Members are urged to VOTE NO.

**Members are advised that following suspension debate, the House will resume consideration of amendments to H.R. 3354, beginning with Division C (CJS).  Consideration of amendments could occur as early as 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.  Members need to be prepared to offer their amendment at the appropriate time.

Following last votes, the House will continue considering amendments.  Any recorded votes requested will be postponed.  A full list of amendments can be found HERE.

Postponed Amendment Votes (5):

Mullin Amendment #73
Mullin Amendment #74
Polis Amendment #75
Polis Amendment #76
Norman Amendment

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Wednesday, September 13: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.  The House is expected to begin consideration of H.R. 3697 – Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act (Rep. Comstock – Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule).  The House is also expected to continue consideration of H.R. 3354 – “Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018” (Rep. Frelinghuysen – Appropriations).