The Senate convened at 10:00 A.M. and following Leader remarks, will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Joseph Lee Falk, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term of four years with a confirmation vote expected at 1:45 P.M.
The House met at 9:30 A.M. for legislative business and is considering H. Con. Res. 9 – Denouncing the horrors of socialism as well as H. Res. 76 – Removing a certain Member from a certain standing committee of the House. The resolution would remove Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The action comes after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) officially denied seats on the House Intelligence Committee to Democratic Representatives Eric Swalwell (California) and Adam Schiff (California), the former chairman of the panel – a decision that was condemned by Democrats. McCarthy vowed last year that if Republicans won back the House majority, he would strip Schiff, Swalwell and Omar of committee assignments, arguing that Democrats created a “new standard” when they held the majority by removing Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona from committees for violent rhetoric in statements and internet posts.
Of note, yesterday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) announced the Senate Republican Conference Committee Assignments for the 118th Congress.
Both the House and Senate will not be in session tomorrow. The Senate will return on Tuesday, February 7th while the House will return on Monday, February 6th.
