by Countable | 3.20.17

Week of January 3, 2017

The 115th Congress will officially begin Tuesday, with new lawmakers taking being sworn in and the first votes of the session cast. But don't expect members to ease themselves back into legislating, as this week looks like it will provide plenty of controversy. One of the first orders of business in the House is the election of the speaker, and Paul Ryan (R-WI) is expected to retain the speaker's gavel despite the possible defection of a handful of Republicans.

The House will then vote on a rules package for the 115th Congress which has already ignited bickering. The rules will include new fines for members who take pictures or video on the House floor, which was included to deter future disruptions on the floor after last summer's sit-in and has been criticized by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as being "unconstitutional."

A high profile attempt to constrain the Office of Congressional Ethics had been included in the rules package, but following criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and many others the proposal was removed. The House will now work toward reforming the OCE in a bipartisan manner before Congress leave on its August recess.

Following the adoption of the House rules, lawmakers will move on to more typical legislative tasks. On the agenda this week are bills to make it easier for Congress to reject "midnight rules" issued by lame duck presidents, empower the legislative branch to approve or reject major regulations, and increase accountability for federal advisory committees and misbehaving Dept. of Veterans Affairs employees. The House will also vote on a non-binding resolution rejecting the U.N. Security Council's vote condemning Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The House is scheduled to be voting Monday through Friday, while the Senate convenes Tuesday and hasn't yet announced any votes. Check here throughout the week to see vote results and other updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

House

Tuesday after 6:30pm

Election of the Speaker of the House Ryan 239 , Pelosi 189, Others 5.

H.Res. 5: Adopting Rules for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress Passed 234-193.

H.R. 27: Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act Passed by voice vote.

H.R. 28: Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2017 Passed by unanimous consent.

Wednesday between 4:30-5:30pm

H.R. 21: Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 Passed 238-184.

H.R. 71: Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act Passed by voice vote.

H.R. 73: Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.

H.R. 69: Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act Passed by voice vote.

H.R. 70: Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2017 Passed by voice vote.

H.R. 72: GAO Access and Oversight Act of 2017 Passed by voice vote.

H.J.Res. 3: Approving the location of a memorial to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces that served on active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield Passed by voice vote.

Thursday after 12pm

Formal reading of the Constitution on the House floor (7am)

H.R. 26: Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 Passed 237-187.

H.Res. 11: Objecting to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 as an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian Peace Passed 342-80.

Friday after 12pm

Counting the votes of the Electoral College

Senate

Tuesday

S.Res. 1: Notifying the President that a quorum has assembled. Passed by unanimous consent.

S.Res. 2: Notifying the House that a quorum has assembled. Passed by unanimous consent.

S.Res. 3: Determining the hour of daily meeting of the Senate. Passed by unanimous consent.

S.Con.Res. 1: Extending the life of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Passed by unanimous consent.

S.Con.Res. 2: Providing for the counting of electoral votes on January 6, 2017. Passed by unanimous consent.

Wednesday

S.Con.Res. 3: Budget Resolution for FY 2017 Motion to proceed passed 51-48.

Thursday

S.Con.Res. 3: Budget Resolution for FY 2017

Friday

Counting the votes of the Electoral College.

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— Eric Revell