Capitol Hill Updates

  • Portman Renews Effort To Commemorate FDR's D-Day Prayer with the Nation at the WWII Memorial
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) on Thursday renewed his effort to pass legislation that would direct the Interior Secretary to install a plaque or inscription at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the nation on June 6, 1944. “On D-Day, courageous Americans risked and sacrificed their lives to preserve our freedoms and end tyranny abroad,” said Portman. “That morning, President Roosevelt asked our nation to come together to pray for the men overseas. His words brought strength and...
  • Congressman J. Randy Forbes: Above all, this we’ll defend
    Always courageous. Always faithful. Always ready. Above all. This we’ll defend. These mottos represent each of the five service branches of our military. They are at the core of what our men and women in uniform stand for as they serve our nation each day. Behind every one of these mottos is a face ­– a father, a sister, a neighbor, a son – who lives these calls to action in times of physical hardship, camaraderie, sacrifice, surrender, peace, bravery, loyalty, and pain. Behind each of those mottos, triumphs have been met. Hope has been extended. The ultimate sacrifice has been...
  • Statement by House GOP Leaders on Immigration Reform & Border Security
    WASHINGTON, DC – The following statement was issued today by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA): “Our nation’s immigration system is broken – hurting families, our national security, and the economy, which is why reform is included in our plan for economic growth and job creation.  While we applaud the progress made by our Senate colleagues, there are numerous ways in which the House will...
  • “We’ve Got a Big Problem”: Speaker Boehner on White House’s Arrogance of Power
    After another week of the White House shifting, revising and walking-back its account of its involvement in the IRS scandal, the American people deserve a straight answer and Republicans “are going to continue to seek answers until we get to the truth,” Speaker Boehner said at a press conference today.  Here’s more: “Well, today is a new day, which means that we’re sure to get a new story from the White House on the IRS scandal.  First they told us that the White House learned from the news that the IRS was targeting conservative groups, but then we hear the president’s...
  • From Speaker Boehner's Blog: 10 Questions for President Obama About Keeping America Safe and Secure
    President Obama delivers a speech on a new U.S. counter-terrorism strategy this afternoon.  It’s reported this morning that his new policy includes limiting the tools available to eliminate terrorists abroad and a renewed effort to close the terrorist detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  The president is said to want to end the war on terror, but this new strategy leaves us with a number of questions about how exactly that will happen and who will win it.  With continuing and evolving terrorist threats around the globe, and in the United States, this is no time...
  • Senate GOP Leader McConnell Warns Against Scandal-Plagued IRS Overseeing Obamacare Compliance
    The potential for waste and abuse would have been there regardless of which agency was put in charge of administering this bloated law. I mean, Obamacare is just massive – about 20,000 pages of regulations already – so waste and abuse is basically unavoidable. But now, we’re going to have Americans worrying that they might be discriminated against too – just for having an opinion? And you know what? We’re not going to be able to tell them not to worry. Because we don’t yet know the truth ourselves.’  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the...
  • From Speaker Boehner's Blog: House of Representatives to Vote on Student Loans Today
    Later today, the House will vote on legislation to ensure millions of student loan borrowers won’t see their rates double in July.  Not only that, the bill will put in place a long-term solution that gets Washington out of the business of setting interest rates.  The Smarter Solutions for Students Act (H.R. 1911) is a win-win for both students and taxpayers and it’s part of Republicans’ Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs. To preview today’s vote, the bill’s authors, Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Rep. John Kline (R-MN)...
  • From Speaker Boehner's Blog: More Labor Unions “Emphatically” Back Keystone XL Jobs Project
    A vote is scheduled in the House this week on Rep. Lee Terry’s (R-NE) bill (H.R. 3), which clears the roadblocks delaying Keystone XL -- and more and more labor unions are coming out in full support of it. The AFL-CIO Building & Construction Trades Department “emphatically” supports Keystone, noting that the “economic, energy security and national security benefits” are “too important to allow it to be delayed any longer.” Read their letter to Congress here. Then there’s the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which says Keystone XL will “contribute to enhanced energy...
  • Threat of Nuclear Option Is Really a Pretext for Dem Power Grab
    ‘These continued threats to use the nuclear option point to the Majority’s own culture of intimidation here in the Senate. Their view is that you had better confirm the people we want, when we want them, or we’ll break the rules of the Senate to change the rules so you can’t stop us. So much for respecting the rights of the minority. So much for a meaningful application of Advice and Consent. Senate Republicans will work with the Administration and the Democrat Majority. But we will not be intimidated.’ WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the...
  • Daily House of Representatives’ Schedule - 5/23/13
    THURSDAY, MAY 23RD On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.  First votes expected: 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Last votes expected: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. One Minute Speeches H.R. 1911 - Smarter Solutions for Students Act, Rules Committee Print (Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. John Kline / Education and the Workforce Committee) Special Order Speeches COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice hearing on “H.R. 1797 - The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection...