Letters from Capitol Hill that Members of Congress have written and signed on to lately.
Hump Day on the Hill
A Wednesday to ditch the usual Washingtonian lunch of cigarettes and crippling shame - it’s National Bagel Day. Call Your Mother, and check out today’s Letters and lamentations from Congress and Capitol Hill:
This afternoon, Hamas reportedly accepted the terms of a draft agreement for a cease-fire in Gaza, including release of some Israeli hostages, but the deal’s ink isn’t dry quite yet.
Here’s a copy of the alleged proposed agreement.
To the Trump goes the spoils, with some Israelis titling him the triumphant hero of the deal five days before he re-takes the con of the country, and others threatening to abandon posts in the Netanyahu administration should the deal advance.
Back home, Trump is also the hero in Congress, with his cabinet nominations appearing to sail smoothly ahead - so far.
This is a notable change from Congress’ balking response to Trump suggesting a now-resigned always-disgraced Matt Gaetz serve as Attorney General, as well as their resistance to his calls to pass a debt ceiling extension as part of a temporary funding measure passed last Dec. to keep the government open through mid-March.
Of course, what fun would a cabinet confirmation process be without some drama? On that front, word is more than $1 million is going into a campaign to convince Senators to block the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services.
Advocacy group infighting aside, on Tuesday, Senators on the Armed Services Cmte. oversaw a rather benign hearing with Defense Secretary hopeful Pete Hegseth.
On theme with leaders from this Congress walking things back, Hegseth once said he supported opportunities for homosexuals to serve in the military - now he doesn’t. The man once was an alcoholic - now he’s sober(ish), promising to limit drinking if he’s given the keys to the Pentagon.
Once accused of sexual assault - Hegseth is now a reformed Christian, who artfully dodged questions of infidelity at an expert level of even the most seasoned political appointee.
While it is every man’s folly to say one thing and be forced to make due with another, he and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) showed alignment on his appointment after some initial hesitancy was expressed by the military sexual assault survivor and combat Veteran, including her hangups on some trad gender roles.
One of Hegseth’s early sticking points was contrary to Ernst’s position supporting women serving in combat - a hardline since changed ahead of his confirmation hearing.
While it seems as though Ernst is going to support Hegseth to advance alongside her colleagues spinning a song about how wonderful it is the potential future leader of the Pentagon is an outsider, the House is having its own heyday on gender, advancing yesterday H.R. 28.
Passing 218-206 along party lines, including two Dems from heavily Hispanic-populated Districts in borderland Texas, the bill would ban schools from allowing students born biological males to play on teams of students born as biological women, or risk losing eligibility for federal funds.
For the 119th Session, there is one openly transgender Member of Congress - freshman Rep. Sarah McBride (D) from Delaware, who’s already faced hazing from their fellow Members calling for specific designations of gender in bathrooms on the Hill.
No word on how Congress plans to prescribe measures to support enforcement of this legislation or these genital ideas.
Speaking of men on the inside, there’s one with two names that’s shaping up to be Trump’s best Upper Chamber boy - none other than Senate newcomer Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).
Oklahoma loves to send businessmen to the Senate, graduating Tom Cotton from the House to the north end of the Capitol some 10 years ago amidst a conversation on renewing a strategic nuclear agreement with Iran.
Cotton made a name for himself quickly in the Senate when, as for one of his first acts as a then-freshman, he cornered Members at a GOP caucus lunch, where he charmed them with his boyish good looks and rizz, convincing nearly all in attendance to sign a letter in support of action against the working nuke framework without the involvement of staff.
Caucus lunches that were once closed-door became a place for plus one staffers almost immediately following the incident.
Reminiscent of this sneaky move to collect signatures for a letter that would have never received full consideration in proper Senate channels, Members are jockeying for Trump’s attention, with a spate of bills introduced as a means of support or resolution of endorsement for his grand policy plans, like purchasing the Panama Canal.
Any why not buy Greenland while we’re at it? Denmark who?
With Europe entering the chat, First Buddy Elon received a letter from EU leaders inviting a visit and discussion on his business insights to “...make the EU a hub of creativity and technological advancement.”
Signatories include several right-wing groups, like Europe of Sovereign Nations, Patriots for Europe and European Conservatives and Reformists, as well as the Romanian Socialists, Democratic lawmaker Maria Grapini, and Slovenian European People’s Party MEP Branko Grims.
Alongside an announcement of Tesla recently besting global German sales leader Audi, in spite of the Republican super majority across the House, Senate, and White House, the EU is reportedly considering options for a global tax deal.
For some context on where the GOP stands, Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS), member of the House Ways and Means Committee with jurisdiction over tax-policy, published an op-ed in a British newspaper entitled “U.S. allies shouldn’t ignore our new direction on tax: Continuing with the OECD’s minimum global tax rules would be a mistake.”
On theme with Europe, Rs may be looking for an off-ramp on the reconciliation autobahn, rolling back support for using the procedural workaround with several items, including raising the debt ceiling through legislation without permissions for debate or amendment.
However, Grover Norquist, a kingpin in Republican influence and tax circles, said Tuesday that quickly advancing a single reconciliation bill with provisions to address the expiring parts of the 2017 tax law should be a first priority for Congress.
A Proxenos Partner babysat for and was neighbors with the lovely Norquist Family while she was in law school and working as a spry Senate staffer, and she is hopeful Norquist will one day return to Burning Man, where he should burn dressed as a tax oracle delivering policy news from the desert.
No word on if he inhaled on that trip, but we sure hope he did.
Expanding on the spending subject, appropriators said they will meet “soon” to begin preliminary government funding talks. If there’s any hope for reconciliation for passing any part of Trump’s agenda, appropriators will soon need to begin negotiating high-level spending topline numbers for defense and non-defense spending called 302(a) numbers.
These are required to set budget resolution levels, which are required for advancement of a reconciliation measure.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) wants everyone to remember that time is running short, with current federal funding levels and dollars set to expire March 14.
Republicans could decide to kick the can down the road again, but they are facing a hard deadline on April 30, when automatic 1 percent across-the-board spending cuts — that would affect defense spending (a 302(a) item) — would take effect under the debt limit deal negotiated in 2023.
Rep. Cole says Republicans don’t want this to happen.
Despite the rigors of reconciliation causing Congress to rethink some of its fervor for the financial workaround to avoid debate with Dems, Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) said he still intends to use the maneuver to expand domestic oil and gas production.
Thune also said he is hopeful for a deal with the Ds to speed the federal approval process for major energy and infrastructure projects and to block California from requiring most new vehicles sold in the state to have zero-emissions by 2035.
If he’s successful, able to adhere to the strict terms of reconciliation that require scrupulous financial planning and accountability, Thune will only need 50 votes to pass a measure through this semi-nuclear method.
Otherwise, he’d need 10 more.
Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said House Republicans are likely to attach conditions to the disaster aid for California currently being ravaged by wild wind and fire.
Republican lawmakers have also floated attaching the relief funds to legislation that would raise the debt limit.
Senate Hump Day Schedule
9:30 a.m.: Pam Bondi’s hearing for attorney general
10 a.m.: Chris Wright’s hearing for Energy secretary
10 a.m.: Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) hearing for secretary of State
10 a.m.: John Ratcliffe’s hearing for for CIA director
10 a.m.: Sean Duffy’s hearing for Transportation secretary
1 p.m.: Russ Vought's hearing for Office of Management and Budget director
Over in the House, Members are considering a bill to address taxes between the U.S. and Taiwan.
H.R. 33 would amend the U.S. tax code to reduce double taxation for individuals and businesses in the U.S. and Taiwan. The House approved the terms of floor debate as part of the rules package adopted Jan. 3.
Votes are also planned on bills dealing with the use of FEMA utility restoration funds (H.R. 164) and Tennessee Valley Authority reporting requirements (H.R. 144). The bills were debated earlier this week under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage.
Senators will return to the “Laken Riley Act” (S. 5), which would require Homeland Security to detain individuals in the U.S. illegally who are arrested for or charged with theft.
Roll call votes are possible but haven’t been locked in.
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Jan. 15 | Bye Bye, Biden
The president is scheduled to deliver his prime-time remarks from the Oval Office with Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance this evening.
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Jan. 14 | Congressional Complaints on Trade Deal
Eighteen US senators charged in a letter Wednesday the US Trade Representative’s office is “attempting to change at least three major trade agreements” by the end of President Joe Biden’s term, including the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement.
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Jan. 14 | Highly Advanced National Security
Over the past four years, the Defense Innovation Board has been a powerful advisory resource to advance innovation within the Defense Department, and to provide the secretary and deputy secretary of defense with independent, practical, and actionable advice and recommendations about how to make use of that innovation.
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Jan. 14 | Silly External Revenue Service
“No amount of silly rebranding will hide the fact that Trump is planning a multi-trillion-dollar tax hike on American families and small businesses to pay for another round of tax handouts to the rich.”
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Jan. 14 | Torturous Confirmation
In a cabinet confirmation hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) for the position of Secretary of Defense, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee on his position regarding international laws of warfare and the use of torture. In an extended back-and-forth with nominee Pete Hegseth, King continuously pushed for a firm yes-or-no answer on whether he’d instruct the United States military to abide by Title 18 of current U.S. law that includes the War Crimes Act of 1996.
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Jan. 14 | Hegseth Hearing Headaches
Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—slammed U.S. Secretary of Defense expected nominee Pete Hegseth on his utter lack of experience and qualifications to lead the Department of Defense at his confirmation hearing. Pointing to a framed copy of the Soldier’s Creed—a copy that hangs over her desk in the Senate and hung above her bed during her recovery at Walter Reed Medical Center after the helicopter she co-piloted was shot down—Duckworth urged Mr. Hegseth to follow this Creed as our servicemembers do every day, placing the mission above personal ambition.
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Jan. 14 | Not just blowing in the wind
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) said Tuesday he is collaborating with President-elect Trump on an executive order that would halt the construction of new wind turbines, a frequent Trump target, off the East Coast.
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Jan. 14 | No Dicking Around on NATO, Russian Aggression
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, along with U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Co-Chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) met with ambassadors to the U.S. from various NATO partner countries. During the meeting, they discussed the increase in Russian hybrid attacks in the Baltics and across Europe, and the need to strengthen the NATO alliance as the U.S. prepares for a new Administration. The meeting comes not long after Finland seized a Russian shadow fleet ship suspected of destroying an energy cable linking Estonia and Finland, and growing evidence of Russian arson, assassination, malign cyber activities, and sabotage on NATO soil.
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Jan. 14 | Outstanding Congressional Compliance
Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) is calling on the Biden administration’s financial regulators to comply with his outstanding requests for information before President Trump takes office. In letters to leaders at the Federal Reserve Board, U.S. Department of Treasury, Securities and Exchange Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Chairman Scott demanded information he requested throughout the 118th Congress by no later than January 19, 2025.
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Jan. 14 | Two Week’s Notice
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore (R-Utah), and Congressman Riley Moore (R-W Va.) discussed how House Republicans are already bringing bills to the Floor to implement President Trump’s agenda.
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Jan. 14 | Once again, we are asking you for nutrition labels
“Today’s front-of-package food label proposal put forward by the FDA, after years of consideration, is pathetically weak and must be substantially improved.”
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Jan. 14 | Murray’s Meeting with Trump’s Man for the VA
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Douglas A. Collins, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
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Jan. 14 | Congressional Concerns on SCOTUS
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland today requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) maintain records regarding the protection of Supreme Court Justices following the Department’s failure to enforce federal law at the homes of Justices in the aftermath of the leak of the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
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Jan. 14 | TikTok on the Clock and SCOTUS won’t stop
Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) announced the introduction of the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act, legislation that would delay the January 19 deadline by which ByteDance must sell TikTok or face a ban, by an additional 270 days. On January 13, Senator Markey delivered remarks on the U.S. Senate floor and live on TikTok regarding the consequences if TikTok is banned in the United States.
170 million American users, including small businesses and non-profit organizations, would be impacted by January 19 deadline
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Jan. 14 | Protections for Hong Kong
Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the C.C.P., Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing support for continued protections of Hong Kong residents under the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program.
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Jan. 14 | Congressional Concerns on Chinese-Controlled Cars
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s finalization of its proposed rule to protect American consumers and companies against the national security threats posed by allowing vehicles and technologies controlled by Chinese Community Party-backed (CCP) companies to be imported or sold in the United States.
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Jan. 14 | Masks on - F*ck it, Masks off
The congressman also sent a letter to Hochul, urging her to include legislation in her upcoming executive budget plan outlawing mask wearing, and noted that a recent poll found that 75% of New York voters back such a ban to combat hate.
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Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Senators Tim Kaine, D-Va., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Chris Coons, D-Del., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Todd Young, R-Ind., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., called on the Biden administration to stop rushing trade negotiations behind closed doors. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is attempting to change at least three major trade agreements in secret, while sacrificing valuable leverage that USTR could use to win concessions from trading partners that would benefit Americans.
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Jan. 13 | Cohen Calls for Full Report from Special Counsel
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, has written to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to drop the charges against the two remaining defendants in the Trump classified documents case pending in Florida. Charges against Trump were dropped by Justice Department policy after he was re-elected in November.
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Jan. 13 | Illegal Inaugural Donations Details
U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8) sent a letter to the 2025 Trump Vance Inaugural Committee requesting information on the Committee’s practices for identifying and screening out illegal anonymous and foreign donations.
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Jan. 13 | TPS for All
U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) have urged the Biden administration to immediately re-designate or extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to the maximum extent allowable under the law for all eligible countries. The senators commended President Biden’s recent action to extend status for El Salvador, Venezuela, Sudan, and Ukraine, while stressing the need to extend these benefits to all remaining eligible TPS countries as the current administration winds down.
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Jan. 10 | Calls for Judicial Conference from Congress
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) sent a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and the Judicial Conference urging the Court and the Conference to set up a mechanism for basic fact-finding amid swirling ethics questions that arose from a phone call between Justice Samuel Alito and President-elect Donald Trump this week.
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Jan. 07 | Congress to AG on Adani
Rep Lance Gooden, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, demanded that the department preserve and produce all records and documents leading up to its decision to go after the Adani Group.
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