This Week in Congress

They’re back!

Congress returns from its “August district work period” this week. The most significant event of the week is today’s Judiciary Committee mark-up of H.R. 1236 which gives federal grants to States to encourage  them to adopt “red flag” laws, which take away second amendment rights without due process.

The Committee will also mark-up H.R. 2708 which strips second amendment rights from anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or hate crimes. Hate crimes adds extra punishment for crimes motivated by hate thus criminalizing thoughts not actions.

The Committee will also consider H.R. 1186, which bans magazines that hold more than ten rounds.

The House is in session Monday through Thursday.

The most interesting bill is a suspension bill, H.R. 281. This bill requires the Federal Reserve to consider race and gender when interviewing candidates for Federal Reserve Governor.

Other suspension bills include:

1. H.R. 3620—Provides financial assistance to low-income tenants of ritual housing projects and requires the Department of Agriculture to develop a plan to preserve low-income rural housing.

2. H.R. 1760—Authorizes the Office of Nuclear Energy to develop and deploy low-enriched uranium and recoup the federal government’s costs in developing and deploying the uranium.

It’s also anti-drilling week in the House as they consider the following bills related to energy exploration-

1. H.R. 1941—Prohibits the government from seeking leases for offshore drilling in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf planning area (North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Straits of Florida) or the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf planning area (Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California).

2. H.R. 205— Permanently extends the moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

3. H.R. 1146– Prohibits drilling in the Alaska Arctic Natural Wildlife Reserve.