This Week’s Window On Congress

The Week of Monday, July 10, 2017

Congress is tackling bills this week that range widely, from one that ensures a huge military budget, to a bill addressing global sex trafficking. The three bills that DailyClout chose for you to watch are the National Defense Authorization Act, the Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act, and the Federal Antidiscrimination Act of 2017.

This week the House is “suspending its rules”, or its regular Parliamentary procedure of debate and voting. “Suspension of rules” is supposed to be used only when the bills passed are noncontroversial, so critics are questioning the use of “suspension of rules” to simply pass bills without voting, bills that some might consider controversial indeed. Here’s a list of every bill the House of Representatives plans to consider this week.

Bills to Watch

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018
Sponsored by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX)

This bill is Congress’ annual authorization of the military budget for the fiscal year 2018. The bill allocates $695 billion to be spent on every boot and aircraft used by the US military in total — even on this Thermite Tech Torch that looks a lot like a light saber. This bill will see many changes as it moves through the legislature. Critics might say that this amount of money does require public debate.

Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2017
Sponsored by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

This bill would clarify the requirements relating to physicians who transport controlled substances. This measure will also increase government oversight, to ensure that physicians are appropriately administering controlled substances to their patients. Supporters say that this is a way to address the epidemic of opioid addictions in the population, which was covered last week in The Oregonian and other newspapers.

Federal Employee Anti-discrimination Act of 2017
Sponsored by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)

This bill amends a 2002 law, the No FEAR Act. It is a bipartisan piece of legislation, meant to help protect Federal employees and others who are whistle-blowers, against discrimination and retribution.

Other Bills Being Considered

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1730 18th Street in Bakersfield, California, as the Merle Haggard Post Office Building
Sponsored by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

To remove the use restrictions on certain land transferred to Rockingham County, Virginia, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)

To authorize, direct, facilitate, and expedite the transfer of administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal land, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Barabara Comestock (R-VA)

Pascua Yaqui Tribe Land Conveyance Act
Sponsored by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire certain property related to the Fort Scott National Historic Site in Fort Scott, Kansas, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)

John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act
Sponsored by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act
Sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)

Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act
Sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act
Sponsored by Rep. Steve Knight (R-CA)

Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act of 2017
Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA)

Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act
Sponsored by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI)

Empowering Law Enforcement to fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act
Sponsored by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)

Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017
Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017
Sponsored by Rep David Valadao (R-CA)

As these bills progress, if you tell us to or if they are newsworthy, we’ll cover them more in-depth. Use the BillCam to comment on, share, and vote on, the bills about which you care. Drive your democracy!