Monday, July 29th, 2024
President Biden Withdraws: President Biden made the announcement to withdraw from the 2024 Presidential race. He said he would be putting his support behind current Vice President Kamala Harris. President Biden officially changed the campaign name and transferred campaign funds to her war chest. While Vice President Harris has garnered a lot of support, she will not be the official nominee until delegates vote to make her so at the Democratic National Convention the week of August 19th through the 22nd.
Prime Minister Netanyahu Addresses Congress: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress. He said the U.S. has a shared interest in his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups. Prime Minister Netanyahu soon pivoted to a darker tone as he derided those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the U.S., gesturing to demonstrations happening on the streets outside the Capitol. He called protesters “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries.
Netanyahu made little or no mention of efforts by the United States and Arab allies to negotiate an end to the fighting and a release of surviving hostages seized by Hamas-led militants in the Oct. 7 attack that started the war. The United States is Israel’s most important ally, arms supplier and source of military aid. The Biden administration had said it wants to see Netanyahu focus his visit on helping it complete a deal for a cease-fire and hostage-release. More than 60 Democrats boycotted Netanyahu’s speech.
Task Force on the Attempted Assassination: The House passed H.Res.1367, which establishes a legislative task force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The task force would be responsible for investigating and fully examining all actions by any federal agency or employee related to the attempted assassination, as well as actions by state and local law enforcement agencies, private entities, and individuals. It would have the same authority as congressional committees to subpoena witnesses and take depositions. The measure would require the panel to produce a final report of its findings by Dec. 13, including recommendations on possible legislation necessary to prevent future security lapses.
Condemning the Biden Administration and its Border Czar: The House passed H.Res.1371 (220-196), which "strongly condemns the Biden Administration and its Border Czar, Kamala Harris's, failure to secure the United States border," stating that President Biden's and Border Czar Harris's open border policies are to blame for this historic crisis. Among other things, it notes that after Biden early in his presidency tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with leading a diplomatic campaign to determine and address the "root causes" of migration from Central America, it took her 93 days before visiting the border and that she's never spoken to the chief of the Border Patrol.
This represents the fifth non-binding GOP resolution this year criticizing Biden border policies as a means of putting lawmakers on record through roll call votes. It comes days after Biden announced he would no longer seek re-election, and after he endorsed Harris to be the Democratic nominee for president.
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: The House passed H.R.8998 (210-205), which provides a net total of $42.22 billion in discretionary funding for FY 2025, including $38.48 billion subject to discretionary caps and $2.75 billion under the wildfire suppression cap adjustment. It significantly increases funding for Indian programs, particularly health services, and also increases funding to fight wildfires, but offsets those increases with cuts to EPA (by 20%) and most public land agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Forest Service.
Victims’ VOICES: Congress passed S.3706, which would ensure family members, legal guardians, and those appointed by the court who act on behalf of a victim during certain criminal court case proceedings receive restitution from convicted defendants for costs like transportation, lost income, and childcare that they incur. The legislation now heads to President Biden who has said he would sign it.
Allowing Contractors to Choose Employees for Select Skills: The House did not pass H.R.7887 (178-234), which would remove degree requirements baselining much of federal contract opportunities. If a federal agency determines that a four-year or advanced degree is required for contract work, it must include a written justification for that need in the solicitation for bids. The bill’s sponsors say that the legislation will remove barriers to skilled job applicants who learned their expertise at community college, apprenticeships and other skills training programs.
