This Week in Congress

The parties will also begin appointing committee and subcommittee chairs. I’ll have a full analysis of the House and Senate leadership committee chairs when they are finalized.

The Senate will be considering the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill as well as nominations. The most significant is the nomination of former Kansas Banking Commissioner Michelle Bowman to the Federal Reserve Board. Bowman’s nomination is expected to sail through. Bowman fulfills the requirement that at least one member of the board “have primary experience serving or working with community banks,” as she worked with a community bank between working at FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security under George Bush, and serving as Kansas Banking Commissioner.

Bowman will be the third member of the Federal Reserve Board appointed by President Trump.

Trump will be able to nominate at least two more Fed governors (assuming Trump nominee and negative interest rate proponent Marvin Goodfriend is confirmed).

Read Campaign for Liberty Chairman Ron Paul’s thoughts on this here.

The House is currently scheduled to consider one rules bill this week, H.R. 6784, which removes the grey wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

The House will also consider the following bills under suspension of the rules, including:

1. H.R. 6018– Creates a new federal program to support anti-terrorism efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. Funds appropriated for the program may be used: 
2. A) To build the capacity of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to conduct counterterrorism operations.

(B) To improve the ability of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to cooperate on counterterrorism efforts.

(C) To enhance the border security capacity of partner countries in such regions, including the ability to monitor, restrain, and interdict terrorist movements.

(D) To strengthen the rule of law in such countries, including access to justice, and the ability of the law enforcement entities of such partner countries to detect, disrupt, respond to, investigate, and prosecute terrorist activity.

(E) To monitor and counter the financing of terrorism.

(F) To further reduce any opportunities among communities in such regions for recruitment or incitement for terrorist activities through public diplomacy efforts, such as supporting youth employment, promoting meaningful participation of women, strengthening local governance and civil society capacity, and improving access to education.

1. H.Res. 1052– Commends U.S.-Australian cooperation in space exploration
2. H. Res. 1055–  expresses the sense of Congress in support of U.S.-Liberia relations and supports the work of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The bill also urges the U.S. Government to work to promote “the rule of law, effective governance, and the robust role of civil society” in Liberia.
3. H.R. 6651– Reauthorizes PEPFAR, the U.S. government’s foreign aide program aimed at fighting HIV/AIDS.
4. H.R. 4033– Reauthorizes the National Geologic Mapping Act.