The Week Ahead

Monday, September 15

• This week, Congress will consider several pieces of legislation, including a continuing resolution to fund federal government operations beyond September 30. House Leadership may also consider authorization or funding for U.S. assistance to Syrian rebels battling ISIL.
• The House is expected to vote on several noncontroversial measures under suspension of the rules.
• Congressman Yarmuth calls on House Appropriators to preserve funding for expedited refugee processing for historically persecuted religious minority groups from Iran and the former Soviet Union in the continuing resolution.

Tuesday, September 16

• Members of the Democratic Caucus meet to discuss legislative strategy.
• Congressman Yarmuth cosponsors H.R. 5226, the Charlotte’s Web Medical Hemp Act, which would remove cannabidiol (CBD) and therapeutic hemp from Schedule I Narcotic classification under the Controlled Substances Act. CBD has been shown to reduce seizures in children who are living with epilepsy.
• Congressman Yarmuth meets with constituents and local representatives from the American College of Cardiology, the Kentucky Credit Union League, the American Cancer Society, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• The House is expected to vote on 15 bills under suspension of the rules, including legislation to maintain the IRS’s Free File program, which provides individual income tax preparation and electronic filing services to low-income taxpayers and seniors.
• The House is expected to begin consideration of H.J. Res. 124, which would provide funding for federal government operations through Dec. 11. The bill includes additional funding to help fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and a nine-month extension of the Export-Import Bank. This time last year, House Republicans blocked passage of a CR in protest of the Affordable Care Act, shutting down the government and costing the U.S. economy approximately $24 billion.

Wednesday, September 17

• 10:00 AM: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power holds a hearing on H.R. 4526, the 21^st Century Energy Workforce Development Jobs Initiative Act.
• 1:30 PM: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade holds a hearing to discuss U.S. trade policy relating to international data transfers.
• Congressman Yarmuth cosponsors H. Res. 668, a bipartisan resolution marking the 40^th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Program. CDBG has invested more than $145 billion in communities around the country – including Louisville – since its inception.
• Congressman Yarmuth meets with constituents and local representatives from the University of Louisville (as part of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable), the American Meteorological Society, the Kentucky Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the International Franchise Association.
• The House is expected to vote on H.J. Res. 124, to fund the federal government through Dec. 11.
• The House is expected to begin consideration of an energy bill made up of 13 measures the House has already passed. Those bills roll back environmental protections, open more federal land to oil and gas companies, and block EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions, which are a leading contributor to climate change.

Thursday, September 18

• 10:00 AM: Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko to speak on the House Floor before a joint session of Congress.
• 11:30 AM: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds a hearing on suicide prevention and treatment.
• Congressman Yarmuth meets with constituents and local representatives from the Kentucky Medical Association, Norton Cancer Institute, the American Moving and Storage Association, and the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America.
• The House is expected to vote on the energy package.
• The House is expected to begin consideration of legislation made up of so-called “jobs” bills already passed by the House, including measures to modify the federal rule-making process, undermine the Affordable Care Act, allow more mountaintop removal mining, and make permanent several business tax breaks that are not paid for with offsets.

Friday, September 19

• Congressman Yarmuth cosponsors a bipartisan resolution to designate one week in September as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Approximately 93 million U.S. adults lack the literacy skills to reach their full potential, and this designation helps raise awareness of the importance of literacy and education to help American families succeed and grow our economy.
• The House is expected to vote on the “jobs” package.