Congressional Activity Brief - April 1, 2025
High Profile Actions
The Senate confirmed Matthew Whitaker as U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO by a vote of 52-45 while also approving nominations to the Small Business Administration. The chamber is preparing for votes today on Dean Sauer for Solicitor General and Harmeet Dhillon for Assistant Attorney General, with the Mehmet Oz nomination for CMS Administrator scheduled for Thursday.
In the House, a significant procedural defeat occurred when H. Res. 282, which would have provided for consideration of several controversial bills including the "No Rogue Rulings Act" and "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act," failed by a vote of 206-222. The House did pass the Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act (H.R. 1491) with unanimous support (423-0), extending certain tax deadlines for disaster victims.
Government Efficiency Highlights and Lowlights
The House Small Business Committee held a hearing titled "The Golden Age: Unleashing Main Street Through Deregulation," examining ways to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses. Similarly, the Committee on Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Subcommittee assessed the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program's effectiveness in strengthening local government defenses.
The House Rules Committee considered several resolutions to disapprove Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules on overdraft lending and digital consumer payment applications, reflecting ongoing tensions between regulatory oversight and market flexibility. However, these efforts stalled when the rule governing floor consideration failed.
Representative Luna notified the House of her intent to offer a motion to discharge the Rules Committee from consideration of H. Res. 164, which would permit parental remote voting by proxy. The motion was later rendered out of order as part of the Rules Committee's proposed rule, which subsequently failed on the floor.
America-First Legislature
The House Armed Services Committee received testimony from NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM, and Pentagon officials on "U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in North and South America," focusing on border security, drug trafficking, and competition with China in the Western Hemisphere.
The Foreign Affairs Committee held hearings on "A Return to Maximum Pressure: Comprehensively Countering the Iranian Regime's Malign Activities" and "Censorship-Industrial Complex: The Need for First Amendment Safeguards at the State Department," emphasizing stronger approaches to foreign adversaries and protection of free speech values.
The Armed Services Committee advanced the nomination of Elbridge Colby as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy along with 33 military nominations, while the Senate received General John D. Caine (Retired) as the nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Pork Alert
The Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets held a hearing on "The JFK Files," continuing long-running investigations that have spanned decades with questionable return on investment for taxpayers.
The Education Subcommittee examined "From Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Impact of AI on K-12 Education" and the Science Committee explored "Leveraging Commercial Innovation for Lunar Exploration," both areas where expanding federal involvement may duplicate private sector innovation.
The Agriculture Committee considered S. 222, which would amend the National School Lunch Act to allow schools to serve whole milk, a measure supported by dairy industry interests that has faced criticism for potentially increasing program costs without clear nutritional benefits.
The Senate also introduced 28 new bills and 5 resolutions, while the House introduced 60 new bills and 9 resolutions, continuing the trend of legislative expansion without corresponding reductions elsewhere.
