President Trump called on congressional Republicans not to make any concessions to Democrats on extending the debt ceiling. In a statement on Wednesday, our 45th president said the debt ceiling was the only powerful tool the GOP had in fiscal talks with the Democrats.
House Republican leaders are set to formally advise their party members to oppose the Democrat-proposed $1 trillion spending bill. According to House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Wednesday, GOP lawmakers should vote against the spending bill because Democrats have tied it to a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package.
A pair of senators are proposing legislation to award the 13 service members killed in the Kabul terrorist attack with Congressional Gold Medals. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the bill on Wednesday, to give the fallen service members Congress’ highest honor in a bipartisan effort backed by 30 of their colleagues.
Amid growing concern over Americans still stuck behind enemy lines, House Republicans have urged the Biden administration to maintain sanctions against the Taliban. 21 GOP lawmakers sent a letter to the United Nations ambassador on Tuesday, in which they expressed concern over U.S. losing its leverage to rescue stranded Americans by allowing unchecked international aid to flow into Afghanistan.
September has shaped up to be a potentially tough month for Congress. The Senate returned on Monday to a list of priorities needing to be tackled throughout the month as the House wouldn’t return from recess until September 20.
Congressional leaders commemorated 20 years since the September 11 attacks. A remembrance ceremony was held on the east front center steps of the Capitol on Monday and included top lawmakers from both parties and chambers.
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R) called out the Biden administration’s lack of respect for Gold Star families. Ernst blasted the administration on Friday, saying House Democrats have worked to delay the construction of a monument dedicated to the service members who died in the decades-long war on terror.
Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) has opposed the left’s expensive budget plan proposal. During markup of the bill on Thursday, the moderate Democrat threatened to vote against the bill by saying “the deadline was too rushed and the legislation was driven by politics rather than policy.”
Republicans were unsuccessful in their attempts to block a $200 million earmark for a park in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) district. On Thursday, House Republicans proposed amendments to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill in an effort to divert funds from the 1,500 acre Presidio Park and Golf Course.