As the House prepares to consider the continuing resolution (CR) next week, House Natural Resources Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona) on Wednesday sent meeting requests to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (D-California) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-New York) to discuss the push to separate the two issues. After gathering signatures from 87 House Democrats, including at least eight fellow committee chairs and eight appropriators who don’t want the permitting bill in the CR, Grijalva is ready to present their case. Leader Schumer said Tuesday he plans to include the permitting measure authored by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Joe Manchin, (D-West Virginia), in the CR and that “it will pass.” The duo agreed to advance the permitting bill by September 30th as part of their negotiations over Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. Manchin’s bill, which has not been publicly released, is designed to speed up approval and construction of pipelines and other energy infrastructure for both fossil fuels and renewables. House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro, (D-Connecticut) said negotiations are continuing on those matters, as well which chamber will originate the CR, which she said will likely not be ready for a vote this week. Senate Appropriations ranking member Richard Shelby, (R-Alabama), said text of the bill will likely not be available until the deadline nears. “Probably closer to the end of the month, always,” he said.
For today, the Senate reconvened at 10:00 A.M. and is working on confirming Sarah A. L. Merriam to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit as well as David P. Pekoske, to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
The House convened at 12:00 P.M. and is considering H.R. 302 – Preventing a Patronage System Act of 2021, legislation that would prevent any position in the federal civil service from being reclassified outside of merit system principles without the express consent of Congress. This bill would secure the civil service and protect tens of thousands of federal employees from losing job protections and due process rights.
The House is also expected to consider H.R. 2988 – Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 as well as H.R. 8326 – Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act.
Adam S. Olsen, Washington, D.C.
