The Senate is scheduled to leave later today for a ten day Memorial Day recess and convened at 10:00 A.M. to consider H.R.350, Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act which would require federal law enforcement agencies to regularly evaluate and take steps to address the threats posed by white supremacists and other violent domestic extremists. The House passed the legislation last week in a 222-203 largely party-line vote, with Representative Adam Kinzinger, (R-Illinois), joining all Democrats in support of the bill. The Senate vote on taking up the bill, which Democrats are tying to the issue of guns, is expected to fail under broad Republican opposition, highlighting the challenges the sharply divided Congress faces in advancing measures related to gun control. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) told colleagues Thursday morning that they should be prepared to vote on gun control legislation when they return to Washington next month after the Memorial Day recess, promising a showdown with Republicans after mass shootings in New York and Texas this month left 31 people dead. Leader Schumer said he’s not scheduling a vote this week on two House-passed bills to expand background checks because he wants to give Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) and other colleagues more time to negotiate a deal with Republicans on background check or red flag legislation.
The Senate is also expected to take up S.J.Res.46, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval, of the rule submitted by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security relating to “Procedures for Credible Fear Screening and Consideration of Asylum, Withholding of Removal.” The Senate will also confirm Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, to be Director General of the Foreign Service.
The Senate will return on Monday, June 6th, while the House will next meet for votes on Tuesday, June 7th at 6:30 P.M.
Washington, D.C. Daily Update will resume publication on Monday, June 6th.
