This Week In Congress: February 13, 2017
Legislation moving through congress this week.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. 244 HIRE Vets Act & H.R. 974 BRAVE Act
Summary: Both of these laws seek to encourage employment for veterans. The HIRE Vets Acts would affect the private sector and the BRAVE Act would affect federal job positions. Both of these laws seeks to fulfill the obligation this country has to its service men and women.
H.J.Res. 69
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the final rule of the Department of the Interior relating to “Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska”.
Summary: This bill would seek to repeal a rule that protects predators in Alaska's Wildlife Refuges, which are a vital part of the natural ecosystem. This rule also defines natural diversity more accurately than previous legislation. Maintaining a healthy balance between predators and prey is vital to the health and continued beauty of our natural national treasures.
Read the full text of the published rule regarding the protection of predators in National Wildlife Refuges.
H.J.Res. 43
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the final rule submitted by Secretary of Health and Human Services relating to compliance with Title X requirements by project recipients in selecting subrecipients.
Summary: This bill would seek to repeal the rule the that blokes states from putting unreasonable restrictions on family planning service known as Title X which provides women, men, and adolescents the ability to determine freely when they would like to have children.
Read the full text of the published rule regarding the protection of the family planning program Title X.
SENATE
H.J. Res. 36
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the final rule of the Bureau of Land Management relating to “Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation.”
Summary: This bill seeks to repeal the rule that places new regulations on natural gas and oil spills during production, which have not been updated since 1979. This rule seeks to reduce the waste of natural gas from venting, flaring, and leaks during oil and natural gas production activities on Federal and Indian lands.
Read the full text of the published rule regarding the protection of water quality.
H.J.Res.27
D.C. Council Death with Dignity law, repeal
Summary: This bill is attempting to repeal the death with dignity law that the District of Columbia has passed for itself. Washington, DC itself is not a state and therefore does not enjoy the full representation that other entities like it enjoy. Congress instead holds full power to repeal any law passed by Washington DC that it sees fit.
Read the full text of DC’s Death with Dignity law.
For a thorough explanation of why DC’s lack of statehood is just plain unfair view John Oliver's wonderful piece.
All bill information taken from the official schedule for the House and Senate.
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