The Senate convened at 10:00 A.M. and following Leader remarks, the Senate proceeded to Executive Session and resumed consideration of S.316, to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq. The Senate is expected to take up amendments including one from Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) that would impose a two year time limit for authorizations for use of military force. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said earlier today on the Senate floor that Senate passage of AUMF repeal is “now a matter of when not if, and today we’re going to continue working to make sure that it happens as soon as we can.”
The House also convened at 10:00 A.M. and will consider of H.R. 5 – Parents Bill of Rights Act, and the 22 filed amendments, which can be found here. The legislation would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require schools to provide parents with a list of books and reading materials available in the school library as well as posting curriculum publicly. The proposed legislation also affirms parents’ rights to address school boards and receive information about violent activity in their child’s school. After advancing out of the Rules Committee in a party-line vote Wednesday, it will be up for debate on Thursday, with a final floor vote likely on Friday. While it stands absolutely no chance of becoming law, the bill will be used as ammunition for Republicans trying to paint Democrats as seeking to cut parents out of their children’s education. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate last Congress by Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, but it failed to be brought up for a vote.
The House may also take up the Veto Message on H.J. Res. 30 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights.” President Joe Biden issued this first veto of his presidency on Monday, turning back a Republican effort to bar investment managers from incorporating climate and social considerations into their decisions. The rule that the president vowed to protect is an obscure investing principle known as E.S.G. — shorthand for prioritizing environmental, social and governance factors. It had been a widely accepted norm in financial circles for almost 20 years until Republicans recently started assailing it as “woke capitalism” that injected Democratic and liberal values into financial decisions. More than $18 trillion is held in investment funds that follow E.S.G. principles.
