Upcoming Week in the House (Week of June 1, 2013): Appropriation, Animals, and Farms

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Read my whole post here: http://llphsecondrevolution.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/llph-looking-ahead-week-of-june-2-2013-appropriations-animals-and-farms/

Highlights:

The Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act:


H.R. 1919: The Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act, sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) would set up nationwide rules aimed at allowing pharmaceuticals to be traced from the manufacturer to shippers and repackagers to pharmacies. Also, the bill would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to report to Congress on pilot projects aimed at improving cooperation with stakeholders on traceability. While well-intended, LLPH does not agree that the federal government should be involved in the business of setting up nationwide standards of tracing pharmaceuticals and would prefer that this power be left to the states. The FDA is already a bloated government agency that should be reduced, and so LLPH would encourage a “NO” vote on this bill. We may score this vote on our scorecard.

Read more about the bill here: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/302727-house-to-pass-bill-setting-nationwide-rules-for-pharmaceutical-distribution

H.R. 126: The Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act


H.R. 126: The Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)-a close ally of LLPH, is of concern to us. The bill would direct the Department of Interior to create a management program for a population of horses in North Carolina.The specificity of this program and state deeply concerns us because it seems more like an earmark in disguise. LLPH reluctantly urges a “no” vote and may score this on our scorecard.

Read more here: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/302695-animal-house-horses-duck-stamps-and-animal-drugs-up-next-week

Appropriation Bills will also begin in the House: http://llphsecondrevolution.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/appropriations-season-june-1-2013/

Senate will continue work on the Farm Bill and will also work on a student loans bill. We oppose both and want more spending cuts to the Farm bill. Read more at the main post above.

Exciting and busy time in the Senate and House these next few weeks! :) Comment about your thoughts on bills and more! I'll update this forum from time to time especially on amendment votes.

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Thanks for doing this! I've never liked a farm bill yet and don't expect to like this one, but I have to look at what precisely is in it.

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Thanks for doing this! I've never liked a farm bill yet and don't expect to like this one, but I have to look at what precisely is in it.

80% is food stamps and 20% is subsidies for "poor farmers" supposedly. Read an article by the Heritage on who these "poor farmers" are (hint: they're some of Obama's biggest millionaire supporters): http://heritageaction.com/2013/05/shockingly-rich-recipients-of-corporate-farm-bill-welfare/

The farm bill is terrible.

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80% is food stamps and 20% is subsidies for "poor farmers" supposedly. Read an article by the Heritage on who these "poor farmers" are (hint: they're some of Obama's biggest millionaire supporters): http://heritageaction.com/2013/05/shockingly-rich-recipients-of-corporate-farm-bill-welfare/

The farm bill is terrible.

Yep , that is what you will get in a farm bill , free money for people with millions and food stamps for anyone they can talk into signin up .

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Rules for appropriation bills will be voted on tomorrow. Majority Leader Cantor says rules will be open rules allowing for any amendments (and all) on the floor. I'll report tomorrow evening on what happened in rules committee.

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The House Rules Committee has passed an open rule for the VA/HUD and Homeland Security Appropriation Bills. http://rules.house.gov/rules-resource/hr-2216-milconva-approps-hr-2217-dhs-approps

I'm grateful that leadership at least allowed for an open amendment process and hope that our allies in congress will use these opportunities to work to cut spending.

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bump

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Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA 10) presented the first spending cut amendment for the VA-HUD Appropriation Bill:


An amendment, offered by Mr. Broun (GA), to reduce real property for activities and agencies by $38,513,000, and reallocate the funds to the spending reduction account.

There will be a roll call this evening since he demanded a roll call. Urge your member to vote YES on this amendment.

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Also supporting another great amendment by Rep. Steve King (R-IA 4):

An amendment, offered by Mr. King (IA), to prohibit the use of funds to be used to administer the wage-rate requirements of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code (Davis-Bacon Act).

LLPH will score this amendment.

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Here are the results of the votes:

Broun Amdt to Cut $38 million (so that we won't build a NATO building in Belgium): http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll188.xml

King Amdt to Stop Davis Beacon: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll191.xml

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Update: Yesterday (Jube 6, 2013), three important amendments were voted on for the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill:

Bishop (D-NY) Amendment: Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), canceling the National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility in Kansas and moving $404 million to the spending reduction account. Failed 80-345: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll199.xml (Yes vote urged)

Garrett (R-NJ) Amendment: — Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), prohibiting the use of funds for random TSA inspections conducted outside airports. Failed 180-247: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll201.xml (yes vote urged)

Cassidy (R-LA) Amendment: The House considered dozens of amendments to the 2014 spending bill for DHS, H.R. 2217. Two others considered Wednesday night would delay the implementation of last year's law that would phase out federal flood insurance subsidies, and put the flood insurance program on a path toward market-based rates.

Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) proposed language prohibiting the spending of any funds on this law in 2014. Several members said the language was an attempt to reverse a bipartisan deal on flood insurance passed last year, but many other members in flood-prone states supported it, and the House approved it in a 281-146 vote: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll203.xml (no vote urged...we need to end these subsidies now!)

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/303803-house-votes-to-delay-bulk-ammo-purchase-by-dhs

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Another vote to limit TSA will occur today:


Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) proposed a separate amendment that would prevent TSA from spending money to run operations outside airports. Democrats and Republicans said they opposed this idea, which is similar to one the House rejected earlier in the day — this will also get a vote on Thursday.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/303809-last-call-house-approves-a-few-last-dhs-amendments#ixzz2VRUy7k00
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Call now and urge a YES vote.