House Watch – April 25, 2023

Good morning and welcome to the latest edition of House Watch, where FreedomWorks informs activists and partners on upcoming House votes.

The House is in session for this week and will be on recess for one week before returning for a three-week work period. The House will consider bills dealing with telecommunications, a resolution demanding China return an American citizen, and a resolution strengthening the Abraham Accords. The House may also take up the Limit, Save, Grow Act which is the House Republicans’ plan to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for reducing government spending and other reforms. 

Don’t forget to check out FreedomWorks’ tool that tracks how members of the House vote on every single bill this Congress. That tool can be found here.

Legislation That May Be Considered Pursuant To A Rule

H.R. 2811: Limit, Save, Grow Act (Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19)

This bill would return the government’s discretionary spending to fiscal year 2022 levels, cap annual spending growth at 1% for a decade, and raise the debt ceiling until March 31, 2024, or until the national debt increases by $1.5 trillion, whichever comes first. The bill would also claw back unspent COVID-19 relief funds, pass the Lower Energy Costs Act and the REINS Act, prevent implementation of Mr. Biden’s plan to cancel student-loan debt, toughen work requirements for government benefits such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, rescind the new funding for the IRS, and repeal energy and climate tax credits passed as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

FW View: FreedomWorks supports this bill and will be key voting YES to count on its 2023 scorecard. 

H.J. Res. 39: Disapproving The Rule Submitted By The Department Of Commerce Relating To “Procedures Covering Suspension Of Liquidation, Duties And Estimated Duties In Accord With Presidential Proclamation 10414”. (Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL-08) / Committee on Ways and Means)

Background: In 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce finalized a rule that allows for the suspension of duties on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules (i.e., solar panels) that are completed in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam using parts and components manufactured in China that are not already subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order.

This resolution would state that Congress disapproves of the rule submitted by the Department of Commerce relating to ‘‘Procedures Covering Suspension of Liquidation, Duties and Estimated Duties in Accord With Presidential Proclamation 10414’’ and the rule would not go into effect. 

Legislation That May Be Considered Under Suspension Of The Rules

H.R. 675: Secure Space Act of 2023 (Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) / Committee on Energy and Commerce)

This bill would expand the Secure and Trusted Communications Act to include Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite systems, meaning that licenses cannot be granted to systems owned or controlled by entities that pose national security risks.

H.R. 1339: Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH-05) / Committee on Energy and Commerce)

This bill would require the FCC to review its rules related to fixed satellite service mobile satellite service, and earth exploration satellite service to determine if there are rule changes that the Commission could implement under existing authority to promote precision agriculture and if the FCC determines that there are rule changes that the FCC could make then the FCC could develop recommendations for how to implement the changes. 

H.R. 1343: Institute For Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act (Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) / Committee on Energy and Commerce)

This bill would amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Organization Act by providing statutory authority for the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences. It also requires the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information to establish an initiative at NTIA to develop emergency communication technologies for use in locating individuals trapped in areas where mobile connectivity may not be available.

H.R. 1353: Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act (Rep. Bill Jonson (R-OH-06) / Committee on Energy and Commerce) 

This bill would add satellites as providers of emergency connectivity services like 9-1-1 in areas otherwise without connectivity.

H. Res. 90: Demanding That The Government Of The People’s Republic Of China  And The Communist Party Of China Immediately Release Mark Swidan, As Amended (Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX-27) / Committee on Foreign Affairs)

Background: Mark Swidan is a businessman from Texas who has been detained in China for over a decade on drug-related charges. A Chinese court recently upheld the death penalty for Swindan. 

This resolution demands that the government of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party immediately release Mark Swidan and it condemns the government of the People’s Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party for failing to provide Swidan with regular communications with his family, access to U.S. diplomats, and independent and competent medical care. The resolution also calls on the U.S. government to prioritize efforts to secure the release of Swidan. 

H. Res. 311: Encouraging The Expansion And Strengthening Of The Abraham Accords To Urge Other Nations To Normalize Relations With Israel And Ensure That Existing Agreements Reap Tangible Security And Economic Benefits For The Citizens Of Those Countries And All Peoples In The Region (Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO-02) / Committee on Foreign Affairs)

Background: The Abraham Accords were agreements brokered by the Trump Administration to Israel and some Arab countries, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco.

This resolution would encourage the U.S. and Israel to deepen and expand bilateral cooperation across the full spectrum of economic, security, and civilian issues. It would also encourage the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords to urge other nations to normalize relations with Israel and ensure that existing agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits for citizens of both countries. The resolution would also express continued support for security assistance to Israel and supports Israel’s involvement as an active member of the community of nations to benefit Israel and the U.S.

Legislation That May Be Considered

H. Con. Res. 30: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove all United States Armed Forces, other than United States Armed Forces assigned to protect the United States Embassy, from Somalia (Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01) / Committee on Foreign Affairs)

This resolution would direct the President to remove all U.S. Armed Forces, other than U.S. Armed Forces assigned to protect the U.S. Embassy from Somalia no later than one year after the adoption of the resolution. 

FW View: FreedomWorks supports this resolution. 

FreedomWorks reserves the right to score any bill, amendments, motions, or other related votes. The scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the FreedomFighter Award, which recognizes Members of the House and Senate who consistently vote to support economic freedom and individual liberty.