Monday, June 17th, 2024
United States Attorney General Merrick Garland: The House passed H.Res.1292 (216-207), which holds Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas for audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interviews with a Justice Department special counsel under an as-yet unnumbered House resolution recommended by the Judiciary Committee. The resolution also directs the speaker of the House to forward the case to the US attorney for the District of Columbia for possible criminal prosecution.
The Judiciary and Oversight panels issued reports recommending that the House cite Garland for contempt for not turning over the subpoenaed audio recordings of President Biden’s interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur. AG Garland appointed Hur as special counsel in January 2023 to conduct an investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified records and other material.
NDAA: The House passed H.R.8070 (217-199), which would authorize $895.2 billion for Defense and national security programs at the Pentagon, Energy Department, and other agencies. Personnel-related provisions would increase pay for junior enlisted service members by up to 19.5% for the fiscal year and 4.5% for all military personnel. The measure would expand eligibility for the basic housing allowance, require automatic registration in the Selective Service, and bar the military departments from requiring cannabis testing as a condition to enlist or become a commissioned officer. The House measure also includes controversial provisions scrapping race-based admissions at US military academies and barring DOD’s proposed climate change mitigation rule.
Several controversial amendments were adopted to include provisions to permanently freeze hiring for diversity, equity and inclusion jobs at the Pentagon, bar military-associated schools from purchasing or displaying material that "promotes radical gender ideology or pornographic content," and prohibit the promotion of critical race theory. Other amendments involving abortion policy, mask mandates, gender-transition surgery, drag shows and drag queen story hours were also adopted.
Tibet-China Dispute: The House passed S.138, which directs the State Department’s top diplomat for Tibetan issues to take steps to counter Chinese disinformation about Tibet using previously authorized funds under S. 138. The measure would make it US policy to pursue a peaceful resolution, in accordance with international law, between Tibet and China. It will also allow the U.S. to push for negotiations between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives over the future of Tibet.
Lawmakers noted that no formal dialogue between Tibetan and Chinese authorities has happened since 2010. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on May 23rd and will now go to the President who is expected to sign it.
No Hidden FEES: The House passed H.R.6543, which requires hotels and other short-term lodging providers to display all fees upfront to customers. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general would enforce violations of the bill, which aims to crack down on hidden fees. The legislation establishes a comprehensive single standard for transparent and mandatory fee displays across the lodging industry – from short-term rental platforms, to online travel agencies, metasearch sites, and hotels.
