The House met at 9 a.m. and will complete work and pass H.R. 3237 – Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to January 6th Appropriations Act, 2021. The package includes: $529.7 million for the Architect of the Capitol to enhance security throughout the complex including the option of a retractable security system with pop-in fencing, $520.9 million to reimburse the National Guard for the activation from January 6 through May 23, $157.7 million for federal judges and federal court facilities security, $66.8 million for the District of Columbia emergency planning and security fund, $43.9 million for the U.S. Capitol Police response to the attack and $18 million for body cameras, training and equipment. The House will adjourn this afternoon and will be in a committee work week next week, followed by Memorial Day recess the week of May 31st, then followed by a committee work week the week of June 7th and will reconvene on Monday June 14th.
The Senate met at 10:30 a.m. and will resume consideration of S.1260, United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) filed the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 as a substitute amendment to the Endless Frontier Act. The bipartisan substitute amendment brings together the already-bipartisan Endless Frontier Act from Leader Schumer and Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana), which passed the Senate Commerce committee last week and includes more than twenty bipartisan amendments. TEXT; Section by Section.
At 10 a.m. the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee began a virtual hearing on infrastructure investments with HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg testifying.
This afternoon, President Joe Biden will sign the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law and will deliver remarks with the Vice President. Biden tweeted that he looks forward to signing the measure, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at the White House, saying, “Hate has no place in America.” The House passed the measure Tuesday in a 364-62 vote after the Senate gave its overwhelming support, 94-1, last month. The legislation directs the Department of Justice to expedite the review of Covid-related hate crimes that were reported to law enforcement agencies and help them establish ways to report such incidents online and perform public outreach.
