THE DAILY WHIP: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

**MEMBERS ARE ADVISED THAT CLOSE VOTES ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. ANY EXPECTED ABSENCES SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE WHIP’S OFFICE AT x5-3130.

H.Res. 722 – Rule Providing for Consideration of H.J.Res. 124 – Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 (Rep. Rogers (KY) – Appropriations) (One Hour of Debate). The Rules Committee has recommended a structured Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided between the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations. The Rule allows for 1 amendment, debatable for 6 hours equally divided between Mr. McKeon of California and Mr. Smith of Washington. The Rule allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, and waives all points of order against the legislation.

The Rule would also amend the resolution that established the Select Committee on Benghazi to exempt the Select Committee from having to adopt a written rule for press coverage of its meetings or hearings. The amendment means that the Select Committee will abide by rules of the House on press coverage as if adopted by committee vote. 

Instead of adopting this provision, the Select Committee should be required to adopt written transparent rules governing its work, just like other committees of the House.

Begin Consideration of H.J.Res. 124 – Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 (Rep. Rogers (KY) – Appropriations) (One Hour of Debate). This continuing resolution would fund the government through December 11, 2014, extending appropriations at the current rate into FY2015, which begins on October 1, 2014.  It includes an across-the-board cut of 0.0554% in order to maintain the $1.012 trillion FY2014 discretionary level agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement.  It also maintains an $85 billion placeholder for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) until December 11, 2014.

In addition to keeping government operations funded beyond September 30^th, the bill contains a number of policy adjustments. Most notably, it extends authorization for the Export-Import Bank through June 30, 2015. It also increases funding for the VA claims backlog, shifting funds away from Military Construction in line with the President’s FY2015 request.

The continuing resolution provides flexibility for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to more quickly accommodate unaccompanied children at the southwest border.  It also provides $30 million for the Centers for Disease Control and $58 million for HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to respond to the Ebola outbreak.

Lastly, the CR extends the Internet Tax Freedom Act’s moratorium on state and local taxation of internet access and the authority for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) through December 11, 2014.

The Rule makes in order 1 amendment, debatable for 6 hours, equally divided between Mr. McKeon of California and Mr. Smith of Washington. The amendment is:

McKeon Amendment. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to train and equip appropriately vetted elements of the Syrian opposition and other appropriately vetted Syrian groups or individuals. Additionally, the amendment would strengthen congressional oversight by requiring detailed reports, including progress reports, on the plan, vetting process, and procedures for monitoring unauthorized end-use of provided training and equipment. It would also require the President to report on how this authority fits within a larger regional strategy. While this amendment does not authorize additional funds, it would allow the Department of Defense (DOD) to submit a reprogramming request to Congress should the President request DOD funds to execute this authority and permit the Secretary of Defense to accept foreign contributions. Lastly, the amendment states that nothing in this section shall be construed to constitute a specific statutory authorization for the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations wherein hostilities are clearly indicated by the circumstances.

Bill Text for H.J.Res. 124:
PDF Version
Text of the McKeon Amendment

Background for H.J.Res. 124:
CRS Report: H.J.Res. 124, the FY2015 Continuing Resolution

Suspensions (14 bills)

1. H.R. 3593 – VA Construction Assistance Act of 2014, as amended (Rep. Coffman – Veterans’ Affairs)
2. H.R. 5404 – Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Rep. Denham – Veterans’ Affairs)
3. H.R. 4276 – Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014 (Rep. Cassidy – Veterans’ Affairs)
4. S. 2258 – Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2014 (Sen. Begich – Veterans’ Affairs)
5. H.R. 24– Federal Reserve Transparency Act  (Rep. Broun – Oversight and Government Reform)
6. H.R. 5169 – Senior Executive Service Accountability Act, as amended (Rep. Walberg – Oversight and Government Reform)
7. H.R. 5170 – Federal Records Accountability Act of 2014, as amended (Rep. Meadows – Oversight and Government Reform)
8. H.R. 5418– To prohibit officers and employees of the Internal Revenue Service from using personal email accounts to conduct official business (Rep. Boustany – Ways and Means)
9. H.R. 5419– To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a right to an administrative appeal relating to adverse determinations of tax-exempt status of certain organizations (Rep. Boustany – Ways and Means)
10. H.R. 5420– To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit the release of information regarding the status of certain investigations (Rep. Boustany – Ways and Means)
11. H.R. 3043– Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act (Rep. Nunes – Ways and Means)
12. H.R. 4137– Preserving Welfare for Needs Not Weed Act (Rep. Reichert – Ways and Means)
13. H.R. 4994 – Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014 (Rep. Camp – Ways and Means)
14. H.R. __ – To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for limitations on the fees charged to passengers of air carriers (Rep. Hudson – Homeland Security)

Postponed Suspensions (5 bills)

1. S. 2154– Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2014 (Sen. Casey – Energy and Commerce) 
2. S. 1603– Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act (Sen. Stabenow – Natural Resources)
3. H.R. 5405 – Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act (Rep. Fitzpatrick – Financial Services)
4. H.R. 5461 – Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014 (Rep. Barr – Financial Services)
5. S. 476– To amend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act to extend to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission (Sen. Cardin – Natural Resources)

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Wednesday, September 17: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to complete consideration of H.J.Res. 124 - Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 (Rep. Rogers (KY) – Appropriations).