Category: US House

Latest stats on federal mooching blow up GOP lies about ‘Democrat-run states’

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States run by Republicans are far more dependent upon the help of the federal government than their Democratic-run counterparts, based on the latest annual study from Wallethub.com.

In ranking the 50 states, the financial website listed 11 red states among the 12 most dependent upon Washington D.C. No fewer than 19 of the 25 of the most-dependent states were Republican dominated. Conversely, 12 of the 14 states least dependent on the federal government were run by Democrats.

“Blue states are less dependent on federal government than red states,” the site observed, noting that in its 50-state ranking, red states ranked 20.68 in dependency to Washington DC, versus a much lower average ranking of 30.32 for blue states. Continue reading.

House throws financial lifeline to victims fund, appropriators

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Reserves have dwindled in recent years as the number of high-dollar federal settlements declined

A dwindling revenue stream for Justice Department programs would get a new source of cash under a bill the House passed Wednesday night, which would also give appropriators more breathing room to stay within annual budget targets.

The vote was 384-38 on the measure, which would enlarge the Crime Victims Fund. Created in 1984, the fund collects fines and penalties imposed in federal cases to compensate crime victims and finance programs to assist them.

The fund’s reserves have dwindled in recent years as the number of high-dollar federal settlements has declined. As a result, the Crime Victims Fund year-end balance fell from a peak of $13.1 billion in fiscal 2017 to an estimated $4.4 billion in fiscal 2020. Continue reading.

Capitol Police officer’s widow presses Congress for 1/6 Commission

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Serena Liebengood is also calling for structural reforms to the Capitol Police that focus on mental health.

The widow of a Capitol Police officer who took his own life days after a mob stormed Congress and overwhelmed beleaguered officers says the agency’s failure to label her husband’s death as “in the line of duty” is a “wrong which must be rectified.”

In a letter to Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) — and circulated to colleagues by Wexton’s office — Serena Liebengood says her husband Howard’s death on Jan. 9 followed four days of nearly round-the-clock work following the attack on the Capitol.

“Although he was severely sleep-deprived, he remained on duty — as he was directed — practically around the clock from January 6th through the 9th. On the evening of the 9th, he took his life at our home,” Liebengood writes. Continue reading.

House votes to reauthorize, expand Violence Against Women Act

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GOP opposition focuses on gun and LGBTQ provisions

The House voted Wednesday to reauthorize the lapsed Violence Against Women Act, but the proposal was opposed by most Republicans because of provisions dealing with gun rights and LGBTQ victims’ access to services.

The 244-172 vote sent the measure to the Senate for the second time since the law’s authorization lapsed in 2019. 

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., brought up her own family’s history with domestic violence in pushing for passage of the bill at a press conference Wednesday. Dingell spotlighted sections that would expand provisions in existing law that bar domestic abusers from owning firearms by including some misdemeanors. Continue reading.

Many House members averse to cooperating with OCE, study shows

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Lawmakers face no sanctions for refusing to participate in investigations

More than a third of House members investigated by the Office of Congressional Ethics refused to fully cooperate with the probes since the office started investigating lawmakers in 2009, according to a new report by the Campaign Legal Center.

The report shows that 23 members did not completely participate in Office of Congressional Ethics investigations and, with the exception of the 113th Congress, member cooperation has steadily declined. The data is based on all the public OCE investigations into members.

Kedric Payne, a former OCE attorney and general counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, said one reason for the lack of cooperation is that “the members feel as though they can not cooperate and face no consequences.” Continue reading.

Rep. Boebert Claims Democrats ‘Tried To Cancel Jesus’

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Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) on Monday compared herself to biblical figures who she said were similar to her in their purported opposition to “cancel culture.”

Boebert made her remarks at a town hall meeting in Montrose, Colorado.

“I refuse to bow to the cancel mob,” Boebert said, a reference to recent Republican complaintsabout the removal of Dr. Seuss books containing racist images and the renaming of Mr. Potato Head toys to be gender-neutral as the GOP struggles to counteract President Joe Biden’s popularity.

Boebert said “cancel culture” is “something that has been around since the beginning of time.” Continue reading.

Long ignored, water systems are getting attention on Hill

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The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and the COVID-19 pandemic made water infrastructure a higher priority for lawmakers

For years, lawmakers bemoaned crumbling roads and bridges while wastewater and drinking water infrastructure crumbled largely outside the spotlight. 

Faced with outdated infrastructure and mounting federal requirements, water utilities struggled, often forced to pass the costs on to ratepayers ill-equipped to pay rapidly growing bills. And while the federal government offered aid to low-income Americans for heating assistance and food, there was no such federal aid for water bills, although utilities were reluctant to turn off the spigot.

The federal message to those facing water shutoffs was loud and clear: You’re on your own. Continue reading.

House Republican Conference votes to bring back earmarks

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Bipartisan support now in the House for local project funding, as well as Senate Democrats; Senate Republican backing unclear

House Republicans lifted their decade-old ban on earmarks Wednesday during a closed-door vote, freeing up members to request “congressionally directed spending” under the new process Democrats announced last month.

The vote ends weeks of internal debate among GOP lawmakers about whether the party should participate in the process that will kick off later this year when the House Appropriations Committee begins drafting fiscal 2022 spending bills.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters that “members want to have a say in their own district” and that many Republicans have “a real concern about the administration directing where money goes.” Continue reading.

Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Deliver Bipartisan Priorities to President Biden

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Vice Chair Dean Phillips (MN-03) and his colleagues on the Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) sent a letter to President Joe Biden outlining an agenda for bipartisan, bicameral legislation in the 117th Congress.

“You wouldn’t know it from cable news,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03), Problem Solvers Caucus Vice-Chair, “but more often than not Democrats, Republicans, and Independents agree on the core issues that affect our country. We agree that our infrastructure should be the best in the world, that health care costs are out of control, and that a healthy economy means prosperous businesses and rising wages. The Problem Solvers Caucus thrives because it recognizes that bipartisanship doesn’t come from Congress—it comes from the American people. With President Biden’s help, we can fulfill that mandate, find common ground, and inspire a new era of collaboration in Washington.”

Now with 56 members, evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, the Problem Solvers Caucus remains committed to finding bipartisan solutions to the major issues we face today. The PSC’s priority agenda for the 117th Congress – listed here in full – is succinctly summarized below.

Continue reading “Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Deliver Bipartisan Priorities to President Biden”

House Adds Phillips Provision to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants Who Face Abuse to Historic Violence Against Women Act

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark law that combats sexual assault and domestic violence. Included in the bill was an amendment authored by Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) that would ensure that women and children immigrants who face domestic violence can leave their abuser without losing their legal immigration status.  

“No one—and I mean no one— should be forced to stay in an abusive relationship because they fear deportation,” said Rep. Phillips. “My amendment to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act would create a pilot program for victims of domestic abuse to apply for independent immigration status. It is that simple, and it is that important.”

Initially passed in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized on a bipartisan basis in 2000, 2005, and 2013. The law expired in 2019.

Remarks as Prepared:

I rise today in support of my amendment and the underlying bill.

No one—and I mean no one— should be forced to stay in an abusive relationship because they fear deportation.

Under current law, if a woman travels to the United States of America with someone on a temporary visa and that relationship turns abusive, they are trapped.

My amendment to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act would create a pilot program for victims of domestic abuse to apply for independent immigration status

It is that simple, and it is that important.

I yield back.