Congress is back after a month break, although it’s not like Washington was on vacation, given the amount of political news in August.
Protests in Charlottesville, a historic hurricane in Texas, the President’s conflict with the leaders of the Republican party, the resumption of military strategy in Afghanistan and controversial pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpayo…
September 30th fiscal year end and Congress needs to resolve many unforeseen issues. Jewish holidays also cut legislative schedule this month, MPs leaving a total of 12 days to complete the following list:
1. To ensure that the work of the government:
September 30, the Federal government ran out of money, so the Congress has two options:
- Approve new spending bills for next year.
- To approve the measure suspended that the government did not work on autopilot, while lawmakers can’t agree. The suspension is the most preferable option, but trump last month declared intention to veto the budget bill if he doesn’t include finances for the construction of the wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. His threat seems less likely after hurricane Harvey, but until the new bill of costs is signed, the uncertainty remains.
<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/09/62b97225229afb32d1fbbeb0acdbec1c.jpg” alt=”6 urgent task for Congress” />
2. To avoid the first default:
The Minister of Finance Steven Mnuchin told Fox News that the trump is asking Congress to approve an increase in the debt limit under the bill on emergency funding for relief after hurricane.
«Our first priority is to ensure that the affected portions of the state got the money, and for this we need to make sure that we can raise the debt limit».
The minority leader of the house Nancy Pelosi and minority leader of the Senate Charles Schumer stated in a joint statement that they will be ready to help the administration for this purpose. «The provision of assistance after the hurricane and to increase the debt limit are important issues, and Democrats are ready to work to make both» — they said.
3. To assist in combating the effects of Harvey:
This week, the Chamber must vote for the first package of assistance to the victims of Harvey. Last Friday, the administration formally requested the original of 7.85 billion on measures to response and recovery after the hurricane. It would seem that such a solution is relatively easy to endorse, but the conservatives in the past faced with the costs of disasters without an offset elsewhere in the budget. Some conservatives also warned party leaders not to add Harvey in any other legislation such as the debt limit that actually wants to make the White house.
flickr.com/US Army/cc4. To update the national program of flood insurance:
Congress must vote for the re-inspection of the flood until September 30. It’s already $ 25 billion in debt and losses from hurricane Harvey promise an increase in the amount. The program is implemented through the Federal emergency management Agency and provides Federal guaranteed compensation of damages caused by floods almost 5 million policyholders.
In the state of Texas, Harris County, which includes Houston, has about 250,000 policyholders. Some lawmakers want to radically revise the program, so expected hot discussion.
5. To upgrade the program of health care for children:
Congress must re-authorize the popular health insurance program children until September 30. The program is designed for children up to age 19 whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still in need of medical care.
6. A sober look at the health care system:
The administration trump is putting pressure on Republicans in Congress to resurrect failed attempts to repeal and replace the Law. The time is coming to an end: special budget rules, according to which the activities of the Republicans allows you to bypass the voting rules in the Senate expires on 30 September. The Chairman of the health Committee of the Senate Lamar Alexander holds hearings with the participation of member of the party of Patty Murray, to find out if they can come up with a bipartisan bill to meet the immediate needs of individual markets health.
These bills should be included in the September agenda this fall will be addressed and more ambitious bills. Congress must approve the annual draft law on the powers in the field of defense that has become more urgent due to the growing threat of North Korea and new strategies trump in Afghanistan.
flickr.com/cc/Harry van Veen
Pending the bill of the Senator from Arizona John McCain. Action on the bill was deferred, during this time, McCain was able to undergo treatment for brain cancer. It is expected that he will return to the Senate this month to follow the development of events.
The list for 2017 Congress will also add the immigration legislation. The authorities will replace the programs of Obama, which protects from deportation of children illegally brought to the U.S. parents.
