For Immediate Release:June 14, 2011
| House Meets At: |
First Vote Predicted: |
Last Vote Predicted: |
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10:00 a.m.: Morning Hour
12:00 p.m.: Legislative Business
Fifteen “One Minutes” per side |
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. |
7:00 p.m. |
H.Res. 300 - Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2112 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Kingston – Appropriations) (One hour of debate) The Rules committee has recommended an open Rule which allows any amendments that comply with House Rules to be considered. It provides that the bill will be read by paragraph under the Rules of the House. It allows any Member to submit an amendment under the 5 minute Rule, but allows the Chair to give priority in recognition to those amendments pre-printed in the Congressional Record. It also allows pro forma amendments. The Rule provides one hour of general debate equally divided between the Chair and Ranking member of the committee on Appropriations and allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
The rule waives all points of order against the bill with 4 exceptions (Sections 740, 741, 743, and 744). Under the rule, these four sections can be stricken without a recorded vote. Section 740 of H.R. 2112 is related to the FDA making rules based only on ‘hard science’. Section 741 reduces the payment rate for upland cotton to producers and uses the reductions in payments to offset any payments to the Brazilian Cotton Institute. Section 743 deals with the prohibition of any payments to the Brazilian Cotton Institute. Lastly, section 744 prohibits USDA personnel from paying any covered benefit to a person or legal entity who has an adjusted gross income over $250,000.
Complete consideration of H.R. 2055 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Culberson – Appropriations) H.R. 2055 appropriates approximately $143 billion for the Veterans’ Affairs Department, VA programs and military construction. The funding level is slightly higher than the current funding level but approximately $1 billion below the President’s budget request.
On Monday, the House had finished consideration of the bill through a vote on retaining title II of the legislation. Votes on the Democratic motion to recommit and final passage are expected in the first series of votes today.
Begin consideration of H.R. 2112 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Kingston – Appropriations) H.R. 2112 appropriates approximately $17.25 billion for the Agriculture Department, related agencies and programs. The funding level is 23% below the President's FY12 request, 14% below the enacted level for 2011 and is even below funding levels for 2008.
This bill includes harmful cuts to many programs, including devastating cuts to the WIC program. It also includes an approximately 21% cut to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program which serves predominantly low-income seniors. In addition to nutrition programs, the bill has substantial cuts to International Food aid, as well as the FDA. It also includes a large, dangerous cut to the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission).
In addition to many draconian cuts, the bill includes dangerous language relating to the FDA’s regulatory authority. The bill would change the standards which protect our food and medical products, requiring any agency to rely only on ‘hard science’ when regulating products. This would prohibit the consideration of consumer behavior and other valuable factors that are used when making regulations. This language has the potential to weaken regulations for tobacco and food products.
H.R. 2112 is a dangerous bill that furthers the Republican extremist ideological agenda, and hinders job growth.
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Wednesday, June 15: The House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to continue consideration of H.R. 2112 – Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Kingston – Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule).
| The Daily Quote |
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"Nine of the 10 districts throughout the U.S. with the most people age 45-54 are represented by Republicans, including [Rep.] Fitzpatrick, a Bloomberg analysis of census data shows. Those would be among the first Americans to no longer have Medicare as an open-ended entitlement, and instead would be given money to buy private insurance when they’re eligible, under the plan.... So far, older Americans aren’t responding favorably to privatizing Medicare, polls show. Fifty-one percent of people age 50 and over oppose the Republican plan, while 29 percent support it, according to a May 25-30 survey by the Washington- based Pew Research Center. Even among Republicans, more people oppose the plan than like it."
- Bloomberg, 6/13/11
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