The House convened at 9:00 A.M. and passed H.R. 1 – Lower Energy Costs Act which is aimed at expanding mining and fossil fuel production in the United States and would also repeal sections of the landmark climate change legislation that President Joe Biden signed into law last summer. House Republicans pushed through the legislation almost entirely along party lines on a vote of 225 to 204. It has no chance of passing or even being considered in the Democratic-controlled Senate — where Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) has called it “dead on arrival” — or being signed by President Biden, whose advisers issued a veto threat against the bill on Monday, calling it “a thinly veiled license to pollute.” The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated on Tuesday that the bill would increase the deficit by $430 million. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) has insisted the opposite, telling Mr. Biden in a letter on Tuesday that Republicans were advancing “measures to lower energy costs” that would also save the government money, helping to address the debt limit.
H.R. 1 | LOWER ENERGY COSTS ACT Section by Section
When the House completes work today, it will begin the Easter and Passover recess and will next convene on Monday, April 17th.
The Senate convened at 10 A.M. and resumed consideration of S.870 Fire Grants and Safety Act, legislation to reauthorize grant programs for fire departments and firefighters.
When the Senate adjourns this week, it too will be in recess until Monday, April 17th.
Adam S. Olsen, Washington, D.C.
