Dear Colleague:
As we return to Washington after celebrating the Fourth of July in our communities, we do so reminded once again that our nation faces difficult and pressing challenges. The deadly shooting in Highland Park, Illinois – as well as acts of gun violence in other communities that did not make national headlines – underscored again the need to address the epidemic of gun violence in our country, made more dangerous by the Supreme Court’s deeply misguided ruling on concealed-carry weapons. I also remain outraged by the Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which ignored nearly five decades of precedent and overturned Roe v. Wade, criminalizing abortion in many states immediately. The majority of Americans disagreed with this decision, and many are deeply angered – as I am – and are now very worried about what might come next, given Justice Thomas’ statement in his egregious concurring opinion. At the same time, many of us are also seriously concerned about the Court’s decision to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to limit carbon emissions. All three of these actions by an activist, extremist majority of Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court make it clear that the Democratic Majorities in Congress must continue our vital work to protect the rights, health, and safety of all Americans.
Even amid these setbacks, Congress nevertheless has an opportunity to deliver significant economy-growing, and job-creating legislation for the American people. We can address both near- and long-term challenges and enhance the ability for our workers and businesses to Make It In America. As Americans face inflation and rising costs, I remain laser-focused on ensuring that House and Senate conferees reach agreement on a bipartisan innovation bill that includes central pillars of the Make It In America plan. I’ve been proud to lead that agenda for more than a decade, and it offers solid, bipartisan proposals to help us lower costs by shoring up our supply chains and grow our manufacturing sector. Once conferees complete their work, the House will take swift action. Enacting this important Make It In America legislation will benefit not only American businesses and workers but also our national security.
In addition to a bipartisan innovation bill, I am encouraged by news that the Senate is making progress toward considering a reconciliation bill that makes health care more affordable, makes significant investment in meeting the challenge of climate crisis, and seeks to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and medical care.
To address the challenges before us and protect women’s reproductive freedom, the House passed Rep. Judy Chu’s Women’s Health Protection Act, earlier this Congress. Next week, the House will consider H.R. 8296, an updated version of that bill that recognizes the damage done by the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling. We will also pass H.R. 8297, the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act, introduced by Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Marilyn Strickland, and Jamie Raskin, to make it possible and safe for women needing abortion care to travel to states where it is accessible. Leadership will continue working closely with committees and Members to determine what additional legislative responses are needed to respond to the Dobbs v. Jackson decision and protect the rights, health, and safety of Americans under a Court determined to ignore precedent and eager to legislate.
Also next week, the House will continue addressing gun violence by taking up Rep. Cicilline’s bipartisan H.R. 6538, the Active Shooter Alert Act. His legislation would help law enforcement send out AMBER-style alert warnings when there is an active shooting incident, which could be especially valuable in keeping citizens secure in situations where a suspect is not quickly apprehended. This would build on the successful enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last month, and we will continue to urge Senate action on the House-passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Both are critical to our ability to combat gun violence in our country.
During the week of July 11, the House will also take up H.R. 7900, a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). I want to thank Chairman Adam Smith, Ranking Member Mike Rogers, and Members of the Armed Services Committee for their hard work on this legislation, which meets Congress’s responsibility to our troops and to our nation’s defense. The Committee marked up the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA on June 23 and approved it by a vote of 57-1. Not only would this NDAA support a pay raise for service-members and Department of Defense civilian employees; it would also strengthen housing options for military families and support investments in strategic initiatives to confront long-term security challenges in Europe and the Pacific.
The House will begin our work to advance appropriation bills to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2023 during the week of July 18. After years of Republicans governing by continuing resolutions and overseeing pointless and costly shutdowns, House Democrats have worked to restore confidence and certainty in the appropriations process and make it more open and transparent. We brought back Community Project Funding so that Members could have a greater say – as our Constitution directs and with the strongest-ever protections for ethics and accountability – in selecting worthwhile public investments in their own districts, instead of leaving these decisions up to executive-branch agencies.
During the week of July 25, the House will consider a package of bills aimed at helping to address droughts and wildfires in the West. This package of legislation will build on the investments already made in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the House-passed reconciliation bill. As soon it is ready for the Floor, I look forward to bringing this legislation up for a vote so we can help those living in Western states meet the challenges of fire and drought exacerbated by the climate crisis. I thank Chairs and Members on the Natural Resources, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology Committees, and others for working together on this package to help save lives, property, and farms and businesses from damage and destruction of fire and extreme drought.
We have a robust Floor schedule throughout July that includes NDAA and appropriation bills, so Members should expect votes earlier in the day and later into the evenings. The House will also be prepared to take up additional legislation on several other issues when ready for Floor consideration this month, including H.R. 3967, Chairman Mark Takano’s Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act. As always, I will continue to provide sufficient advance notice of any changes to the schedule. The American people are looking to Congress to lead – and lead we will.
As the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the Capitol continues its hearings, we remain grateful for its Members’ bipartisan dedication to uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability for those who conspired to overturn the results of a free and fair election by violently disrupting the peaceful transition of power. Our Majority will continue to protect our democracy and work For the People, undaunted by the actions of the Supreme Court or the obstruction of Republicans who offer not solutions but only an exacerbation of our nation’s problems. House Democrats will continue to offer the American people responsible government, commonsense solutions, truth and facts, and results that help our people make it in America.
Sincerely,
STENY H. HOYER
House Majority Leader |
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