THE DAILY WHIP: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Daily Leader

For Immediate Release:

2014-09-17T00:00:00

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House Meets At:	First Vote Predicted:	Last Vote Predicted:
10:00 a.m.: Morning Hour 12:00 p.m.: Legislative Business Fifteen “One Minutes”	1:00 – 1:30 p.m.	4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

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

CompleteConsideration of H.J.Res. 124 – Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 (Rep. Rogers (KY) – Appropriations). 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, which was adopted yesterday, makes in order 1 amendment, debatable for 6 hours, equally divided between Mr. McKeon of California and Mr. Smith of Washington. As of last night, the House had completed the first 2 ½ hours of debate on the amendment. 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

Suspension (1 bill)

H.Res. 726 – Strongly supporting the right of the people of Ukraine to freely determine their future, including their country’s relationship with other nations and international organizations, without interference, intimidation, or coercion by other countries (Rep. Gerlach – Foreign Affairs)

Postponed Suspensions (3 bills)

H.R. 24– Federal Reserve Transparency Act (Rep. Broun – Oversight and Government Reform)
H.R. 5462 – To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for limitations on the fees charged to passengers of air carriers (Rep. Hudson – Homeland Security)
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 Thursday, September 18: The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business and recess immediately. The House will reconvene at approximately 9:45 a.m. for the purpose of receiving, in a Joint Meeting with the Senate, the Honorable Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine. The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business and is expected to consider H.R. 2– American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act (Rep. Terry – Natural Resources/Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule).

The Daily Quote
“Federal researchers reported on Tuesday that the number of Americans without health insurance had declined substantially in the first quarter of this year, the first federal measure of the number of uninsured Americans since the Affordable Care Actextended coverage to millions of people in January. The number of uninsured Americans fell by about 8 percent to 41 million people in the first quarter of this year… The findings were part of the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative examination that is considered a gold standard by researchers… Larry Levitt, a director at the Program for the Study of Health Reform and Private Insurance at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health research organization, said the first-quarter findings ‘dramatically understate the effect’ of the law, as almost half of the people who signed up for insurance during the open enrollment period did so in March and did not get their insurance cards until later. Private surveys have shown that there were eight million to 10 million fewer uninsured by the second quarter, he said.” - New York Times, 9/16/2014

The Daily Quote

“Federal researchers reported on Tuesday that the number of Americans without health insurance had declined substantially in the first quarter of this year, the first federal measure of the number of uninsured Americans since the Affordable Care Actextended coverage to millions of people in January. The number of uninsured Americans fell by about 8 percent to 41 million people in the first quarter of this year… The findings were part of the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative examination that is considered a gold standard by researchers… Larry Levitt, a director at the Program for the Study of Health Reform and Private Insurance at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health research organization, said the first-quarter findings ‘dramatically understate the effect’ of the law, as almost half of the people who signed up for insurance during the open enrollment period did so in March and did not get their insurance cards until later. Private surveys have shown that there were eight million to 10 million fewer uninsured by the second quarter, he said.”

- New York Times, 9/16/2014