Letters from Capitol Hill that Members of Congress have written and signed on to lately.
Dec. 09 | HOUSE FLOOR SCHEDULE
On Monday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected in the House.
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
S. 1478 – A bill to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the "National Medal of Honor Highway", and for other purposes. (Sponsored by Sen. Wyden / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
S. 3475 – Strengthening the Commercial Driver’s License Information System Act (Sponsored by Sen. Peters / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
S. 4367 – Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, as amended (Sponsored by Sen. Carper / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
S. 50 – Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Rubio / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
S. 3613 – Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Peters / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
S. 310 – Disaster Contract Improvement Act (Sponsored by Sen. Scott (FL) / Homeland Security Committee)
H.R. 2892 – WARN Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Langworthy / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
H.R. 2672 – FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Dunn / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
H.R. 7671 – Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Neguse / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
H.R. 9541 – POWER Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Rep. Hoyle / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
H.R. 8692 – Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayer Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Nehls / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
H.R. 8689 – Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Molinaro / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
Legislation Considered Pursuant to a Rule:
H.R. 7673 – Liberty in Laundry Act (Sponsored by Rep. Ogles / Energy and Commerce Committee)
S. 4199 – JUDGES Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Young / Judiciary Committee)
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
H.R. 9769 – Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act (Sponsored by Rep. Lee (FL) / Homeland Security Committee)
H.R. 9689 – DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act (Sponsored by Rep. Clarke (NY) / Homeland Security Committee)
H.R. 6229 – DHS Special Events Program and Support Act (Sponsored by Rep. Titus / Homeland Security Committee)
H.R. 7365 – VETS Safe Travel Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Gosar / Homeland Security Committee)
H.R. 9668 – SHILED Against CCP Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Strong / Homeland Security Committee)
S. 2781 – Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 (Sponsored by Sen. Heinrich / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
H.R. 8753 – To direct the United States Postal Service to designate single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities, and for other purposes, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Boebert / Oversight and Accountability Committee)
H.R. 9716 – Increasing Baseline Updates Act (Sponsored by Rep. Moore (UT) / Budget Committee)
Legislation related to the National Defense Authorization Act is expected.
____
Dec. 08 | SEN. BUTLER RESIGNATION
California’s Newsom Names Schiff to Senate to Replace Butler
Governor Gavin Newsom named Senator-elect Adam Schiff to complete the remaining term of Senator Laphonza Butler following her resignation, according to a statement. Butler announced her resignation effective Dec. 8. Schiff, who won election to a full term beginning in January, is expected to be sworn in on Dec. 9
____
Dec. 08
A high-profile Democrat who rose to power during Donald Trump’s first term is pitching for a very significant job during his second. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is hoping to become the ranking minority member of the powerful House Oversight Committee, continuing a generational shift among House Democrats in the wake of Trump’s 2024 election victory.
____
Dec. 07 | SPEAKER JOHNSON ON THE NDAA
Speaker Johnson released the following statement on H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
“This year’s Annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ensures our men and women in uniform have the resources and support they need to defend our great nation. The NDAA refocuses our military on its core mission of defending America and its interests around the globe by supporting law enforcement operations and the deployment of the National Guard to the southwest border, expediting innovation and reducing the acquisition timeline for new weaponry, supporting our allies, and strengthening our nuclear posture and missile defense programs.
____
Dec. 07
Early in October, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) spearheaded a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding they assist farmers after Hurricane Helene. On Thursday, USDA announced they would follow through, which Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL) applauded in a recent statement, saying it "could be a game-changer."
____
Dec. 06
U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (PA-04, Sean Casten (IL-06), and Lucy McBath (GA-07) led 55 colleagues in a letter urging Congressional Appropriations Committee Leadership to increase funding for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the FY2025 government funding package.
____
Dec. 06 | Statement
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined a bipartisan group of legislators urging House Republican Leaders to pass the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA) package before the end of the year.
____
Dec. 06 | HOUSE HOMELAND CMTE. STATEMENT
House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) issued the following statement in advance of the Cyber Safety Review Board’s (CSRB) first meeting to begin its assessment of the intrusions into telecommunication networks by a Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-affiliated threat actor known by Microsoft as “Salt Typhoon.” According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the intrusion is still ongoing and has impacted at least eight U.S. companies:
____
Dec. 06 | HSGAC LETTER
U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting information regarding domestic relocation flights provided to illegal immigrants.
____
Dec. 06 | HOUSE BANKING COMMITTEE STATEMENT
In response to Chairman Brown’s announcement that the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs will hold a markup on December 11th of President Biden’s nominees, Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released the following statement:
“The American people were loud and clear on November 6th when they rejected the Biden-Harris administration’s radical economic agenda and handed President Trump and the incoming Republican Congress a mandate to usher in a new era of government. That’s why on November 17th, I called on President Biden to withdraw pending nominations before the committee and for the financial regulators to cease all rulemaking activity. This 11th hour push by Democrats to ram through President Biden’s nominees is a blatant attempt to hinder President Trump’s agenda,” said Ranking Member Scott.
____
Dec. 06 | LEGISLATION
Congressman Vern Buchanan announced today that he has introduced the Honoring Our Heroes with Dignity Act (H.R. 10301), which will require the Army to resume horse-drawn funeral services at Arlington National cemetery. This Army program, which is meant to honor our fallen service members, was suspended in 2023 due to the alleged maltreatment and deaths of horses used in these the funeral processions.
____
Dec. 06
At least 100 House members signed a letter calling on House and Senate leadership to clear pending Taiwan-related tax legislation before the end of this Congress.
The tax legislation enjoys bipartisan support and would provide treaty-like benefits to relieve double taxation on companies doing business between the US and Taiwan. Congressional Taiwan Caucus leaders Reps. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.) had been circulating the letter urging movement since November.
____
Dec. 06 | BLM STATEMENT
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson issued the following statement in response to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Final Record of Decision announcement on the Lava Ridge Wind Project.
“From the beginning, I have made it abundantly clear that the Lava Ridge Wind Project is completely out of touch with the values and needs of our state,” said Rep. Simpson. “Despite having near-unanimous opposition in Idaho, the Biden Administration and the Bureau of Land Management have continued to ignore Idahoans concerns. I have taken numerous steps along the way to block this project, most recently authoring language to block this project's final Environmental Impact Statement in the FY25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which passed the House in September. I remain committed to standing with the people of Idaho and working with the Trump administration on day one to disregard this project.”
____
Dec. 06 | HOUSE CCP CMTE. STATEMENT
Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter to Mr. Anthony Denier, the President and CEO of Webull, a popular electronic stock trading platform that operates in the US, with concern regarding Webull's troubling ties to the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the risks those ties may pose to the security of American user data.
____
Dec. 06
Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expedite reforms to its launch and reentry licensing regulations for commercial space companies, known as part 450, and to address delays caused by its lengthy pre-application process. These delays hinder U.S. space capabilities, competitiveness, and strategic standing, especially in the face of growing global competition.
____
Dec. 06 | REVENGE PORN STATEMENT
Legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act, passed the Senate unanimously and now moves to the House for consideration. The TAKE IT DOWN Act, would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated NCII (commonly referred to as “deepfake revenge pornography”), and require social media and similar websites to have in place procedures to remove such content within 48 hours of notice from a victim.
____
Dec. 06
U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Lucy McBath (GA-07) led 55 colleagues in a letter to Congressional Appropriations Committee Leadership urging them to increase funding for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the FY2025 government funding package.
“As you work to finalize the FY25 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations package, we respectfully request that you include an increase of funding to $2 billion, or to the greatest amount executable, for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the Department of Justice (DOJ),” the lawmakers wrote. “Such an increase would support the Agency’s critical work in preventing and responding to gun crime and ensuring the safe manufacture, importation, and sale of firearms.”
____
Dec. 06 | BUDGET CMTE. STATEMENT ON DOGE
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), the head of the newly formed Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus, unveiled a list of cost-saving options for the federal government totaling more than $2 trillion in savings.
In a November 25th letter to DOGE co-directors Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, Ernst identified 22 areas of the government fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse, outlining broad actions to address these issues.
____
Dec. 06 | STATEMENT
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 5863, the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023:
"The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 (H.R. 5863), which I proudly cosponsored and voted in favor of on May 22, 2024, passed the Senate earlier this week.
____
Dec. 06
Congressional investigators are giving Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis a deadline to comply with document production requests related to her conversations with various federal authorities about investigations into President-elect Donald Trump.
____
Dec. 05
A co-chair of the U.S. Congressional artificial intelligence task force urged federal energy regulators this week to support the development of data centers directly connected to power plants, citing national security and competition for global AI dominance, according to a letter seen by Reuters dated Dec. 5.
____
Dec. 05
Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter Thursday to federal prosecutors in California implying that his committee will dig into whether the prosecution of former Nebraska U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry was politically motivated.
____
Dec. 05
Congressman Nick Langworthy has joined forces with members of the New York and Pennsylvania congressional delegations to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to reconsider the state’s stance on the Northern Access Pipeline. The proposed $500 million natural gas infrastructure project, which was blocked under the state’s interpretation of the Clean Water Act (CWA), was projected to create thousands of well-paying jobs in the region.
____
Dec. 05
Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led 11 of their Florida colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging Congress to include funds to modernize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) hurricane hunter aircraft fleet in any upcoming emergency disaster relief supplemental package.
____
Dec. 05
House Judiciary Subcommittee Chairmen Chip Roy (TX-21) and Andy Biggs (AZ-5) instructed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to preserve all existing and future records and materials related to the Biden-Harris Administration's weaponized enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
____
Dec. 05
As part of his ongoing efforts to hold the Biden-Harris administration accountable and stop the flow of funds to Iran and its terror proxies, Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) led Senate Banking Republicans in raising concerns with the delayed implementation and enforcement of sanctions on Iran’s oil sector. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Ranking Member Scott and his colleagues urged the Treasury Department to deploy all available sanctions enforcement tools to monitor and sanction illicit oil transactions involving Iran and to provide detailed information regarding the administration’s efforts to do so.
____
Dec. 05
Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA), alongside U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter (GA-01), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Rich McCormick (GA-06), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Austin Scott (GA-08), Mike Collins (GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rick Allen (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) to urge key Congressional leaders to approve at least $12 billion in federal supplemental disaster appropriations for Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
____
Dec. 05
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and colleagues in raising concerns to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen regarding the Biden administration’s delay in implementing and enforcing sanctions on Iranian oil.
President Biden signed the senators’ Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act into law in April. However, the administration has not implemented the bill, which includes imposing sanctions on foreign ports and refineries that knowingly accept and refine petroleum products from Iran.
____
Dec. 05
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and six of their Senate Republican colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen raising concerns with the delayed implementation and enforcement of sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.
____
Dec. 05
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in demanding answers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) after reports found that an NIH-funded researcher intentionally withheld scientific data from the American public showing puberty blockers do not improve the mental health of children with “gender dysphoria.”
____
Dec. 05
U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined 11 of his Senate colleagues in renewing calls to the Biden Administration to urge the governments of Israel and Egypt to protect press freedom and allow journalists into Gaza to cover the ongoing war. In their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Senators underscored the dangerous conditions for reporters, the importance of safe access into Gaza for journalists, and the need for accurate and independent reporting from inside the warzone. They also raise concerns about violence against journalists in Lebanon and the West Bank.
____
Dec. 05
FTC Chair Lina Khan and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter should look into allegations around FanDuel and DraftKings’ conduct related to competition, senators say, according to a letter posted on X.
____
Dec. 05 | SEN. HELP CMTE.
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Mike Lee (R-UT) are demanding answers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) after reports found that an NIH-funded researcher intentionally withheld scientific data from the American public showing that puberty blockers do not improve the mental health of children with “gender dysphoria.” This is part of Cassidy’s over-year-long oversight into the same study after two youth participants committed suicide.
____
Dec. 05 | STATEMENT
U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (IL-03) and Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07) and Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in introducing the CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act. This legislation would require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop guidance to better ensure the respectful handling of personal property of individuals who are in CBP custody.
____
Dec. 05
An influential House Democrat is trying to preempt any effort by President-elect Donald Trump to oust the in-house watchdogs at agencies across the federal government.
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee who is gunning for the same position on the House Judiciary Committee, sent letters Thursday to 32 inspectors general assuring them of his support. He also asked them to reach out if Trump or his allies make any effort to interfere with or replace them.
____
Dec. 05 | FORMER CONGRESSMAN’S PLEA
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds while he was in Congress, is seeking a pardon from President Joe Biden, citing the president’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden.
____
Dec. 05 | STATEMENT
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves on the House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee, issued the following statement today on Donald Trump’s announcement that he would nominate former Rep. Billy Long to lead the IRS, with over three years remaining in IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel’s term:
____
Dec. 05
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker expressing concerns and requesting answers regarding the use of the Instrument Landing System Yankee (ILS-Y) approach procedure at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). Recent findings indicate ongoing safety risks to landing aircrafts and the flying public, which have been raised by whistleblowers and investigators over the past decade.
____
Dec. 04
Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21) instructed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Biden administration to preserve all information related to the border crisis and illegal aliens they have released into American communities.
____
Dec. 04
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined with lawmakers from the Senate and House to urge the Department of Education to discharge student loan debt for hundreds of thousands of students in Oregon and nationwide defrauded by predatory schools.
During the first Trump administration, defrauded borrowers’ applications for debt relief were left to languish for years, and if reviewed, were often denied. In their letter, the lawmakers called for the Department to use its authority to immediately discharge debt.
____
Dec. 04
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, sent a letter urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young to immediately review and approve all ten energy efficiency standards for appliances that are currently pending before the agency. In her letter, Shaheen details how approving the remaining energy efficiency standards would save consumers and businesses an estimated $8.7 billion annually while substantially reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
____
Dec. 04
Crawford, writing to the Steering Committee to reaffirm his candidacy, said he plans to present on his “innovative plans” for the panel this week. “Our Conference is advantaged by a true chairman’s race that puts the ideas of honorable and forthright members to the test,” Crawford told members in his letter.
____
Dec. 03 | SEN. BOOKER LEADERSHIP STATEMENT
U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was unanimously elected to the Senate Democratic Leadership Team as Chair of the Strategic Communications Committee. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced today the caucus’ full slate for the 119th Congress following Senate Democratic leadership elections.
____
Dec. 02
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined a bipartisan coalition of House members in calling for urgent passage of his bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act.
Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is an easily accessible veterinary tranquilizer that is being used as a low-cost cutting agent for fentanyl. Since it is not an opioid, its effects cannot be reversed by naloxone. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has designated fentanyl combined with xylazine as an “emerging threat.” This bipartisan legislation would schedule this dangerous drug and give law enforcement the tools they need to go after traffickers while protecting access for veterinarians, farmers, cattlemen, and ranchers who use xylazine to treat large animals.
____
Nov. 21
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, recently sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) expressing concerns that European-based artificial intelligence (AI) policy organizations are avoiding registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
____
Nov. 20
U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (NY-06), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, today called for Medicaid to expand coverage of menstrual products.
____
Fundraising Updates
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) closed the election season with a massive roughly $6.4 million fundraising haul to his campaign committee, doubling his receipts from the 2022 cycle where he brought in about $3.2 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Smith’s political action committee, Mr. Southern Missourian in The House—SMITH PAC for short—tallied $2.5 million in receipts from 2024, a major jump from the $619,000 it recorded in the previous cycle.
House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) finished out the campaign season with about $3.2 million added to his coffers, a $1 million bump from about $2.1 million last cycle.
House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Richard Neal (D-Mass.) didn’t see a fundraising bump this cycle. His fundraising hovered near the $3.3 million mark, a slight decline from his $3.6 million in receipts during the 2022 cycle.
Want to receive Proxenos' Hill Letters updates as they're published?