The Independent View: Weekly Congress Update Apr-24-28-2017

The Big Issue: Government Funding Authority Expires midnight April 28th, 2017.

Bipartisan support is required for any Funding Bill to pass. Negotiations are ongoing around several issues:

Border Wall: President Trump wants a Funding Bill to include money to begin building a Southern Border Wall.

Defense Spending: Republicans also want an increase in Military Spending.

ACA Insurance Subsidies: The White House has threatened to stop some cost-Sharing Payments to Health Insurers, which Insurers have said would cause them to Raise Rates.

Miners' Health Benefits: Government-Funded Health Benefits for Miners are also set to Expire. Some Lawmakers are pushing to make the Benefits Permanent.

Lawmakers may vote on a new Funding Bill or opt to Extend Existing Funding in the Short-Term to allow more time for Negotiations.

In the Senate:

Confirmation of Agriculture Secretary Nominee, Sonny Perdue: George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III, born December 20th, 1946, is an American Politician who served as the 81st Governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011. On March 30th, 2017, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved his Nomination by a 19-1 vote.

In the House:

H.Res. 187: Relating to efforts to respond to the Famine in South Sudan, Sponsor: Rep. Karen Bass [D, CA-37].

H.R. 455: To Designate the United States Courthouse located at 501 East Court Street in Jackson, Mississippi, as the “R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse”, Sponsor: Rep. Bennie Thompson [D, MS-2].

H.R. 534: U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act, Sponsor: Rep. Tom Emmer [R, MN-6]. The Bill calls on the Secretary of State to Rejoin the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to give U.S. Cities a chance at competing for an Expo on the World stage. The last U.S. hosted World's Fair was New Orleans in 1984.

H.R. 876: Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act of 2017, Sponsor: Rep. John Katko [R, NY-24]. The Bill would require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to undertake a variety of activities to improve the Effectiveness of processes for Screening, Vetting, and Credentialing personnel at Airports, particularly Individuals with Access to Secure areas.

H.R. 1372: Homeland Security for Children Act, Sponsor: Rep. Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]. The Bill would require that the needs of Children are considered in Homeland Security planning.

H.R. 1694: Fannie and Freddie Open Records Act, Sponsor: Rep. Jason Chaffetz [R, UT-3]. The Bill amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to make its Provisions apply to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when the two entities are in Federal Conservatorship or Receivership.

H.R. 1695: Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act, Sponsor: Rep. Bob Goodlatte [R, VA-6]. The Bill requires the Register of Copyrights to be Nominated by the President of the United States and subject to Confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Currently the Register is Appointed by, and Responsible to, the Librarian of Congress.

S. 496: To Repeal the Rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration entitled “Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform”, Sponsor: Sen. Tammy Duckworth [D, IL]. The Bill would Repeal the Obama Administration’s Metropolitan Planning Organization Rule.