rollcall--2020-09-14--Florence Pendleton, pioneering DC shadow senator and statehood champion, dies at 94

The Washington shadow delegation , elected representatives who advocate for D.C. statehood , has lost one of its inaugural members @ @ @ @ @ died at her Georgia home on Sept. 10 at the age of 94 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ in so many ways , ” said Paul Strauss , a current shadow senator who @ @ @ @ @ decade .
Pendleton was first elected in 1990 as one of the two shadow senators @ @ @ @ @ She and Rev .
Jesse Jackson were the first people to fill the unpaid roles @ @ @ @ @ failing health after suffering a seizure last month , according to Strauss , who spoke @ @ @ @ @ .
A funeral has been planned for Wednesday in her hometown of Columbus , Ga. @ @ @ @ @ champion not only for D.C. statehood , but for the rights of the city and @ @ @

The Washington shadow delegation, elected representatives who advocate for D.C. statehood, has lost one of its inaugural members, Florence Pendleton, who died at her Georgia home on Sept. 10 at the age of 94.
“She was really a pioneer in so many ways,” said Paul Strauss, a current shadow senator who served with her for a decade.
Pendleton was first elected in 1990 as one of the two shadow senators selected by Washington residents. She and Rev. Jesse Jackson were the first people to fill the unpaid roles.
She had been in failing health after suffering a seizure last month, according to Strauss, who spoke with members of her family. A funeral has been planned for Wednesday in her hometown of Columbus, Ga.
Strauss said she was a champion not only for D.C. statehood, but for the rights of the city and its residents.


rollcall--2020-09-14--US court allows Trump to phase out Temporary Protected Status

A U.S. federal court on Monday sided with the Trump administration over its effort to terminate Temporary Protected Status for a number of countries , potentially ending by next year humanitarian protections for some 400,000 immigrants who have lived in the United States for decades .
Congress created the Temporary Protected Status designation in 1990 to grant individuals from countries struck by natural disaster , armed conflict or other “ extraordinary and temporary conditions ” the ability to stay in the United States without fearing deportation .
In 2017 and 2018 , the Department of Homeland Security tried to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Haiti , Nicaragua , Nepal and Sudan , but its attempts were blocked by various court decisions .
In a 2-1 decision Monday , a 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled that the terminations of these designations were not reviewable by the court .
It found that while the plaintiffs had sufficiently demonstrated that President Donald Trump “ expressed racial animus against ‘ non-white , non-European ’ immigrants , ” they had “ cited no evidence linking the President ’ s animus to the TPS terminations — such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence the TPS terminations , or that any administration officials involved in the TPS decision-making process were themselves motivated by animus.
” Judge Morgan Christen , however , noted in her dissent that she would have affirmed the lower court ’ s injunction .
The lawsuit was first brought by the American Civil Liberty Union of Southern California and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network on behalf of nine TPS holders and five U.S. citizen children of TPS designees .
Crista Ramos , a U.S.-born teenager whose mother is a TPS beneficiary , @ @ @ @ @

A U.S. federal court on Monday sided with the Trump administration over its effort to terminate Temporary Protected Status for a number of countries, potentially ending by next year humanitarian protections for some 400,000 immigrants who have lived in the United States for decades.
Congress created the Temporary Protected Status designation in 1990 to grant individuals from countries struck by natural disaster, armed conflict or other “extraordinary and temporary conditions” the ability to stay in the United States without fearing deportation. In 2017 and 2018, the Department of Homeland Security tried to end these protections for individuals from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Nepal and Sudan, but its attempts were blocked by various court decisions.
In a 2-1 decision Monday, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled that the terminations of these designations were not reviewable by the court. It found that while the plaintiffs had sufficiently demonstrated that President Donald Trump “expressed racial animus against ‘non-white, non-European’ immigrants,” they had “cited no evidence linking the President’s animus to the TPS terminations — such as evidence that the President personally sought to influence the TPS terminations, or that any administration officials involved in the TPS decision-making process were themselves motivated by animus.”
Judge Morgan Christen, however, noted in her dissent that she would have affirmed the lower court’s injunction.
The lawsuit was first brought by the American Civil Liberty Union of Southern California and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network on behalf of nine TPS holders and five U.S. citizen children of TPS designees. Crista Ramos, a U.S.-born teenager whose mother is a TPS beneficiary, is the lead plaintiff.


rollcall--2020-09-14--Road ahead: CR decisions, judicial nominations and anti-discrimination legislation

The House returns to Washington this week , joining the Senate for a September legislative sprint in which the only law enacted before the election might be a stopgap bill to fund the government .
Floor action on that is not expected until next week , however .
This week , the Senate is back to considering judicial nominations , and the House is taking up a handful of bills designed to mitigate discrimination and inequalities in schools and the workplace .
[ An issue senators can agree on is … judges ? ]
With bipartisan COVID-19 relief negotiations on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention to crafting a continuing resolution to keep the government open before the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1 .
Leaders have yet to decide how long a stopgap measure should last and what so-called anomalies to allow on a bill they ’ re striving to keep “ clean , ” or free of partisan riders .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he favors a continuing resolution that punts the funding deadline into December , while Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer have yet to express Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expiration date .

The House returns to Washington this week, joining the Senate for a September legislative sprint in which the only law enacted before the election might be a stopgap bill to fund the government.
Floor action on that is not expected until next week, however. This week, the Senate is back to considering judicial nominations, and the House is taking up a handful of bills designed to mitigate discrimination and inequalities in schools and the workplace.
[An issue senators can agree on is … judges?]
With bipartisan COVID-19 relief negotiations on ice, congressional leaders have turned their attention to crafting a continuing resolution to keep the government open before the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1. Leaders have yet to decide how long a stopgap measure should last and what so-called anomalies to allow on a bill they’re striving to keep “clean,” or free of partisan riders.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he favors a continuing resolution that punts the funding deadline into December, while Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer have yet to express Democrats’ preference for the CR’s expiration date.


rollcall--2020-09-14--Hoyer: House eyeing vote on stopgap funding bill next week

The House could vote on a stopgap spending bill next week to give the Senate plenty of time to approve the measure before the fiscal year ends Sept. 30 , according to House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer .
“ I want to put it on the floor next week , ” Hoyer , D-Md.
, said Monday in an interview with CQ Roll Call .
“ I want to give the Senate at least a week to pass it .
I want to make sure government doesn ’ t shut down.
” That gives congressional leaders and the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up negotiations on details of the continuing resolution , which is needed to avert a partial government shutdown starting Oct. 1 .
None of the dozen fiscal 2021 appropriations bills have yet become law .
Hoyer 's timeline makes sense given a truncated congressional schedule the following week in the run-up to the shutdown deadline .
The House and Senate are each out of session for the Yom Kippur holiday on Monday , Sept. 28 , with the House returning only at 6:30 p.m. for votes that following Tuesday .
The Senate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at the White House earlier Monday that negotiators were trying to wrap up talks this week on the stopgap measure .
He and Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , previously agreed to keep the CR clean of contentious riders , including coronavirus aid provisions .

The House could vote on a stopgap spending bill next week to give the Senate plenty of time to approve the measure before the fiscal year ends Sept. 30, according to House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer.
“I want to put it on the floor next week,” Hoyer, D-Md., said Monday in an interview with CQ Roll Call. “I want to give the Senate at least a week to pass it. I want to make sure government doesn’t shut down.”
That gives congressional leaders and the White House just a few days to wrap up negotiations on details of the continuing resolution, which is needed to avert a partial government shutdown starting Oct. 1. None of the dozen fiscal 2021 appropriations bills have yet become law.
Hoyer's timeline makes sense given a truncated congressional schedule the following week in the run-up to the shutdown deadline. The House and Senate are each out of session for the Yom Kippur holiday on Monday, Sept. 28, with the House returning only at 6:30 p.m. for votes that following Tuesday. The Senate is not back until Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at the White House earlier Monday that negotiators were trying to wrap up talks this week on the stopgap measure. He and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., previously agreed to keep the CR clean of contentious riders, including coronavirus aid provisions.


rollcall--2020-09-14--Biden budget policies would grow deficits by $2 trillion, study says

Joe Biden ’ s tax and spending policies would add nearly $ 2 trillion to federal deficits over the coming decade , according to an analysis released Monday by a nonpartisan research group .
The Democratic presidential nominee would raise just shy of $ 3.4 trillion in new revenue through 2030 — through tax increases aimed mostly on the wealthy — while proposing to spend almost $ 5.4 trillion , according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model , a research project of the University of Pennsylvania .
Deficits are hardly a top priority of voters now , as the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Congress contemplates another $ 1 trillion or more in relief aid .
According to a Pew Research survey conducted in June , the percentage of voters who view deficits as a `` very big problem '' dropped to 47 percent from 55 percent in 2018 .
And voters care more about issues like unemployment , affordable health care and the treatment of minorities by the criminal justice system , as well as the coronavirus pandemic , the poll found .
But the estimated price tag for Biden ’ s policies suggests why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress — particularly if Republicans maintain control of the Senate or win back the House .

Joe Biden’s tax and spending policies would add nearly $2 trillion to federal deficits over the coming decade, according to an analysis released Monday by a nonpartisan research group.
The Democratic presidential nominee would raise just shy of $3.4 trillion in new revenue through 2030 — through tax increases aimed mostly on the wealthy — while proposing to spend almost $5.4 trillion, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a research project of the University of Pennsylvania.
Deficits are hardly a top priority of voters now, as the nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters and Congress contemplates another $1 trillion or more in relief aid.
According to a Pew Research survey conducted in June, the percentage of voters who view deficits as a "very big problem" dropped to 47 percent from 55 percent in 2018. And voters care more about issues like unemployment, affordable health care and the treatment of minorities by the criminal justice system, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, the poll found.
But the estimated price tag for Biden’s policies suggests why they could prove a hard sell in Congress — particularly if Republicans maintain control of the Senate or win back the House.


rollcall--2020-09-15--What would a Biden White House mean for fintech?

A combination of Joe Biden ’ s steady lead in the polls and its own political hopes has the financial technology world wondering : What would a Biden presidency mean for fintech policies ?
The former vice president ’ s campaign hasn ’ t said much specifically about financial technology , but its ideas on traditional financial services — credit reporting , redlining , access to banking services — could have a profound impact on the companies that have eroded the strength of big financial institutions by using technology to encroach on their territory .
The fintech sector is overwhelmingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although the amounts pale compared with its bigger and older siblings in technology and finance , which are also betting big on the White House going blue in November .
For example , PayPal ’ s employees and affiliates have given $ 263,300 so far in 2020 across all federal races , including $ 34,400 for Biden and $ 5,100 for President Donald Trump , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
A CQ Roll Call review of other major fintechs finds similar margins at firms like Intuit Inc. , Square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliates of Alphabet Inc. , Google ’ s parent company , have given the former vice president more than $ 1 million and Trump just under $ 30,000 , while JPMorgan Chase & Co. affiliates have supported Biden over Trump to the tune of $ 255,700 to $ 77,500 .
Political prognosticators give Biden the edge with less than two months left to go until the election .
FiveThirtyEight ’ s average of national polls puts Biden up on Trump , 50.5 percent to 43.5 percent , and Inside Elections with Nathan L. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes to Trump ’ s 188 , leaving Georgia and North Carolina ’ s combined 31 votes a “ Toss-up .
”

A combination of Joe Biden’s steady lead in the polls and its own political hopes has the financial technology world wondering: What would a Biden presidency mean for fintech policies?
The former vice president’s campaign hasn’t said much specifically about financial technology, but its ideas on traditional financial services — credit reporting, redlining, access to banking services — could have a profound impact on the companies that have eroded the strength of big financial institutions by using technology to encroach on their territory.
The fintech sector is overwhelmingly backing Biden in terms of campaign contributions, although the amounts pale compared with its bigger and older siblings in technology and finance, which are also betting big on the White House going blue in November.
For example, PayPal’s employees and affiliates have given $263,300 so far in 2020 across all federal races, including $34,400 for Biden and $5,100 for President Donald Trump, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. A CQ Roll Call review of other major fintechs finds similar margins at firms like Intuit Inc., Square Inc. and Stripe Inc. For comparison, affiliates of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, have given the former vice president more than $1 million and Trump just under $30,000, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. affiliates have supported Biden over Trump to the tune of $255,700 to $77,500.
Political prognosticators give Biden the edge with less than two months left to go until the election. FiveThirtyEight’s average of national polls puts Biden up on Trump, 50.5 percent to 43.5 percent, and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales currently projects Biden winning 319 electoral votes to Trump’s 188, leaving Georgia and North Carolina’s combined 31 votes a “Toss-up.”


rollcall--2020-09-15--Report: Hackers aimed at manufacturing firms during pandemic

In the first six months of the year , as most of the world shut down because of COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ remotely , online criminals and state-backed hackers got busy breaking into computer networks , especially @ @ @ @ @ and telecom companies .
Indeed , hackers worked at a greater pace than they did @ @ @ @ @ according to cybersecurity research firm CrowdStrike .
Companies in as many as 27 different industries @ @ @ @ @ , nearly double the number of industries that were targeted in all of 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ made public Tuesday .

In the first six months of the year, as most of the world shut down because of COVID-19 and workers everywhere shifted to working remotely, online criminals and state-backed hackers got busy breaking into computer networks, especially those of manufacturing, technology and telecom companies.
Indeed, hackers worked at a greater pace than they did all of last year, according to cybersecurity research firm CrowdStrike.
Companies in as many as 27 different industries fell victim to the hackers, nearly double the number of industries that were targeted in all of 2019, CrowdStrike said in a report made public Tuesday.


rollcall--2020-09-15--Will COVID-19 close the revolving door?

Will COVID-19 close the revolving door?

They do it by paying congressional aides too little to keep them on Capitol Hill for long enough to profit off their experience while offering them entrée to lucrative gigs on K Street .
That ’ s part of the bleak assessment of congressional staffing in a new report , aptly dubbed “ Congressional Brain Drain , ” which concludes that relatively low compensation , leading to high turnover among aides , fuels the dysfunction and diminished clout of today ’ s legislative branch .
“ Most people already have their mind set on leaving , and that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Timothy M. LaPira , a political science professor at James Madison University , who wrote the report with Alexander C. Furnas for the New America think tank .
“ It ’ s chaos .
As an organization trying to retain brain power and institutional memory and know-how , it ’ s a real problem .
So Congress is just not operating at a level it once was.
” The typical staffer , who is between 26 and 30 years old , has an eye out for the next job .
And 43 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to shift to the private sector , while about half were looking to move up the chain within the government , according to the research conducted in 2017 and 2019 .

ANALYSIS — Taxpayers subsidize future lobbyists.
They do it by paying congressional aides too little to keep them on Capitol Hill for long enough to profit off their experience while offering them entrée to lucrative gigs on K Street.
That’s part of the bleak assessment of congressional staffing in a new report, aptly dubbed “Congressional Brain Drain,” which concludes that relatively low compensation, leading to high turnover among aides, fuels the dysfunction and diminished clout of today’s legislative branch.
“Most people already have their mind set on leaving, and that’s what really struck me,” said Timothy M. LaPira, a political science professor at James Madison University, who wrote the report with Alexander C. Furnas for the New America think tank. “It’s chaos. As an organization trying to retain brain power and institutional memory and know-how, it’s a real problem. So Congress is just not operating at a level it once was.”
The typical staffer, who is between 26 and 30 years old, has an eye out for the next job. And 43 percent told the report’s authors they wanted to shift to the private sector, while about half were looking to move up the chain within the government, according to the research conducted in 2017 and 2019.


rollcall--2020-09-15--A bipartisan effort to turn a segregated school into a monument

From 1909 through 1965 , thousands of children of Mexican descent in southwest Texas went to the segregated Blackwell School , even though there were no state laws mandating segregation .
Now , as federal agencies including the Interior Department are under pressure to do a better job of reflecting American history 's racist chapters , a bipartisan bill would make the school a national landmark .
Reps. Will Hurd , R-Texas , and Filemon Vela , D-Texas , introduced the bill to designate the school in Marfa , a town of 1,700 people in Hurd 's district in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Historic Site under the National Parks Service .
Under Jim Crow laws throughout the South , schools were banned from instructing white and Black students together .
While no such law existed in Texas against teaching white and Mexican children together , authorities enforced a de facto separation nonetheless .
“ We have a responsibility as a nation to care for these places and ensure the history they represent is told , ” Hurd said .
“ Blackwell School might represent a dark time in our nation ’ s past , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past so future generations learn from it .
”

From 1909 through 1965, thousands of children of Mexican descent in southwest Texas went to the segregated Blackwell School, even though there were no state laws mandating segregation.
Now, as the Interior Department and other federal agencies are under pressure to do a better job of reflecting American history’s racist chapters, a bipartisan bill would make the school a national landmark.
Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Filemon Vela, D-Texas, introduced the bill to designate the school in Marfa, a town of 1,700 people in Hurd’s district in the state’s southwest, as a National Historic Site under the National Park Service.
Under Jim Crow laws throughout the South, schools were banned from instructing white and Black students together. While no such law existed in Texas against teaching white and Mexican children together, authorities enforced a de facto separation nonetheless.
“We have a responsibility as a nation to care for these places and ensure the history they represent is told,” Hurd said. “Blackwell School might represent a dark time in our nation’s past, but we must not shy away from our past so future generations learn from it.”


rollcall--2020-09-15--When ‘Jeopardy!’ messes with politics, Washington collectively groans

Sometimes it can seem like “ Jeopardy !
” contestants are blissfully unaware of politics , gliding along in their @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Congress has this many House members , ” went a clue a couple @ @ @ @ @ is 438 ?
” one player guessed .
No one laughed , and if host @ @ @ @ @ inside , his face didn ’ t show it .
The longtime host , now @ @ @ @ @ seen much worse .
He remained calm in recent seasons as various contestants proved exactly @ @ @ @ @ the legislative branch .
They couldn ’ t name the chair of the House Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ .
They failed to identify a senator from Nebraska ( Ben Sasse ) .
They @ @ @ @ @ less for Congress-watchers and more for lovers of wordplay : “ The last names of @ @ @ @ @ one from Virginia & one from Massachusetts , are anagrams of each other .
”

Sometimes it can seem like “Jeopardy!” contestants are blissfully unaware of politics, gliding along in their own world night after night.
“Congress has this many House members,” went a clue a couple years ago. “What is 438?” one player guessed.
No one laughed, and if host Alex Trebek cried a little inside, his face didn’t show it. The longtime host, now battling pancreatic cancer, has seen much worse. He remained calm in recent seasons as various contestants proved exactly how little they knew about the legislative branch.
They couldn’t name the chair of the House Intelligence Committee (Adam Schiff). They failed to identify a senator from Nebraska (Ben Sasse).
They even botched an answer meant less for Congress-watchers and more for lovers of wordplay: “The last names of these 2 current senators, one from Virginia & one from Massachusetts, are anagrams of each other.”


rollcall--2020-09-15--Will ‘biblical conservative’ Bob Good make Virginia’s 5th District safer GOP terrain, or more in pla

Will ‘biblical conservative’ Bob Good make Virginia’s 5th District safer GOP terrain, or more in play?

BUCKINGHAM , Va. — The late-summer sun was just beginning to cast shadows on the white pillars of the Buckingham County courthouse , near the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains , when House hopeful Bob Good stood before a crowd of supporters last week and promised to “ not stand idly by ” against the threat of urban rioters .
“ We can ’ t say it couldn ’ t happen here , ” the Virginia Republican said .
“ It can happen here .
But we won ’ t let it happen here.
” The talking point is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a self-described “ bright-red biblical conservative ” has borrowed from the campaign of President Donald Trump as he vies to represent Virginia ’ s sprawling 5th District and bring “ Judeo-Christian values ” to Washington .
He promises to help Trump complete his border wall and hold China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic .
He has also painted his Democratic opponent , physician and lawyer Cameron Webb , as aligned with the “ radical left ” for his support of the Black Lives Matter movement .
And in recent weeks , Good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure meant to protect transgender rights .
That rhetoric has found an appreciative audience among party stalwarts in the district , some of whom helped Good , a former athletics director at the evangelical Liberty University and onetime member of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors , oust the more libertarian-leaning freshman Republican Denver Riggleman at a June nominating convention .

BUCKINGHAM, Va. — The late-summer sun was just beginning to cast shadows on the white pillars of the Buckingham County courthouse, near the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, when House hopeful Bob Good stood before a crowd of supporters last week and promised to “not stand idly by” against the threat of urban rioters.
“We can’t say it couldn’t happen here,” the Virginia Republican said. “It can happen here. But we won’t let it happen here.”
The talking point is one of several that Good, 55, a self-described “bright-red biblical conservative” has borrowed from the campaign of President Donald Trump as he vies to represent Virginia’s sprawling 5th District and bring “Judeo-Christian values” to Washington.
He promises to help Trump complete his border wall and hold China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic. He has also painted his Democratic opponent, physician and lawyer Cameron Webb, as aligned with the “radical left” for his support of the Black Lives Matter movement. And in recent weeks, Good has campaigned on opposition to a state measure meant to protect transgender rights.
That rhetoric has found an appreciative audience among party stalwarts in the district, some of whom helped Good, a former athletics director at the evangelical Liberty University and onetime member of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors, oust the more libertarian-leaning freshman Republican Denver Riggleman at a June nominating convention.


rollcall--2020-09-17--House postpones vote to decriminalize marijuana until after election

House Democrats ’ plan to vote on legislation decriminalizing marijuana before the November election went up in smoke Thursday , as leadership decided to postpone consideration of the measure amid concerns about the political optics .
Some of the more moderate Democrats in the caucus , including ones considered vulnerable for re-election in November , had expressed reservation about voting on the marijuana bill this month when Congress still had not passed another coronavirus relief package .
“ Right now , the House is focused relentlessly on securing agreement to stave off a damaging government shutdown and continuing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said in a statement .
“ Later this autumn , the House will pass the MORE Act with strong support as yet another crucial step toward making our justice system fair for all Americans.
” The MORE Act is the shorthand name for the bill , titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act .
The measure , which the Judiciary Committee reported out last November on a 24-10 vote , would remove cannabis from any federal references to controlled substances and provide a process for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation say it would help correct years of policy that resulted in mass criminalization and incarceration that disproportionately affected minority populations .
“ The MORE Act remains a critical component of House Democrats ’ plan for addressing systemic racism and advancing criminal justice reform , ” Hoyer said .

House Democrats’ plan to vote on legislation decriminalizing marijuana before the November election went up in smoke Thursday, as leadership decided to postpone consideration of the measure amid concerns about the political optics.
Some of the more moderate Democrats in the caucus, including ones considered vulnerable for re-election in November, had expressed reservation about voting on the marijuana bill this month when Congress still had not passed another coronavirus relief package.
“Right now, the House is focused relentlessly on securing agreement to stave off a damaging government shutdown and continuing to do its job addressing the COVID-19 pandemic,” House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said in a statement. “Later this autumn, the House will pass the MORE Act with strong support as yet another crucial step toward making our justice system fair for all Americans.”
The MORE Act is the shorthand name for the bill, titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act. The measure, which the Judiciary Committee reported out last November on a 24-10 vote, would remove cannabis from any federal references to controlled substances and provide a process for expunging marijuana-related convictions. Advocates for the legislation say it would help correct years of policy that resulted in mass criminalization and incarceration that disproportionately affected minority populations.
“The MORE Act remains a critical component of House Democrats’ plan for addressing systemic racism and advancing criminal justice reform,” Hoyer said.


rollcall--2020-09-17--Southern states lagging in census amid pandemic, hurricanes

Southern states have lagged behind the rest of the country in census counting amid the pandemic — and now a historic hurricane season may hamper last-ditch efforts to finish in a shortened timeline , census experts warned Thursday .
The Census Bureau has counted about 93 percent of households nationwide , but a handful of Southern states have as little as 85 percent of households counted heading into a Sept. 30 deadline to wrap up .
Flubbing the count there could shift the distribution of congressional seats as well as federal spending for major programs like Medicaid , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau 's associate director for the decennial census , Al Fontenot , acknowledged the risk during a Census Scientific Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday .
The agency had trouble getting operations up to speed in several Southern states because of the COVID-19 pandemic , he said , and enumerators have already shifted some counting to temporary shelters for people displaced this week by Hurricane Sally .
“ I really ca n't project whether Mother Nature 's going to let us finish .
We 're going to do the best we can and see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Census results are used to divvy up 435 House seats and guide $ 1.5 trillion in federal spending annually .

Southern states have lagged behind the rest of the country in census counting amid the pandemic — and now a historic hurricane season may hamper last-ditch efforts to finish in a shortened timeline, census experts warned Thursday.
The Census Bureau has counted about 93 percent of households nationwide, but a handful of Southern states have as little as 85 percent of households counted heading into a Sept. 30 deadline to wrap up. Flubbing the count there could shift the distribution of congressional seats as well as federal spending for major programs like Medicaid, according to a study released Thursday.
The Census Bureau's associate director for the decennial census, Al Fontenot, acknowledged the risk during a Census Scientific Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday. The agency had trouble getting operations up to speed in several Southern states because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, and enumerators have already shifted some counting to temporary shelters for people displaced this week by Hurricane Sally.
“I really can't project whether Mother Nature's going to let us finish. We're going to do the best we can and see where we end up,” Fontenot said.
Census results are used to divvy up 435 House seats and guide $1.5 trillion in federal spending annually.


rollcall--2020-09-17--U.S. Chamber, the nation’s biggest lobby, is cutting staff

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce , the biggest spender on federal lobbying , is laying off 12 employees from its roughly 500 -person staff as part of a restructuring that the group ’ s insiders say will also aim to expand its policy advocacy .
Most of the laid off employees were tied to the operation of the group ’ s building , across from the White House , or to putting on in-person events , according to a source familiar with the decisions .
The source added that the group was financially “ stable ” and was likely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber disclosed total revenue of more than $ 167 million on its 2018 tax forms .
Many of the group ’ s lobbyists will remain , including former House GOP leadership aide Neil Bradley , who will oversee a new unit called strategic advocacy , according to a memo to staff from Suzanne Clark , the chamber ’ s president .
That division , under Bradley , will also include political affairs , though Sara Armstrong continues to run political affairs and federation relations , the memo stated .
Clark added in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jack Howard , would continue to run government affairs .
“ To further strengthen our capabilities , we will make targeted investments in new talent within the Strategic Advocacy group — primarily within Government Affairs —to ensure we are fully equipped for the battles ahead , which increasingly occur at the state and local levels , ” she wrote in the memo .
“ Altogether , this strategic alignment will add new firepower to our advocacy and strengthen the Chamber ’ s influence and impact for our members .
”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the biggest spender on federal lobbying, is laying off 12 employees from its roughly 500-person staff as part of a restructuring that the group’s insiders say will also aim to expand its policy advocacy.
Most of the laid-off employees were tied to the operation of the group’s building, across from the White House, or to putting on in-person events, according to a source familiar with the decisions. The source added that the group was financially “stable” and was likely on track for a break-even year. The chamber disclosed total revenue of more than $167 million on its 2018 tax forms.
Many of the group’s lobbyists will remain, including former House GOP leadership aide Neil Bradley, who will oversee a new unit called strategic advocacy, according to a memo to staff from Suzanne Clark, the chamber’s president. That division, under Bradley, will also include political affairs, though Sara Armstrong continues to run political affairs and federation relations, the memo stated.
Clark added in the memo that another former GOP congressional aide, Jack Howard, would continue to run government affairs.
“To further strengthen our capabilities, we will make targeted investments in new talent within the Strategic Advocacy group — primarily within Government Affairs —to ensure we are fully equipped for the battles ahead, which increasingly occur at the state and local levels,” she wrote in the memo. “Altogether, this strategic alignment will add new firepower to our advocacy and strengthen the Chamber’s influence and impact for our members.”


rollcall--2020-09-17--FBI director describes domestic extremists in homeland threats hearing

The House Homeland Security Committee ’ s annual hearing on “ Worldwide Threats to the Homeland ” had a domestic focus Thursday , with member questions to FBI Director Christopher Wray directed at the security of the November election and the U.S.-based groups associated with riots and other violence that began this year .
Lawmakers anchored much of the three-hour discussion on topics such as Antifa , QAnon and Boogaloos , which have become major social issues in the presidential race .
Protests and counter-protests over the last several months have been blamed for clashes in the streets that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and instances of violence against law enforcement .
Wray repeatedly said that there is no mechanism under U.S. law for the FBI to label domestic organizations as terrorist groups , and he said the FBI is focused on the violence any group might do , not their ideology .
“ One of the concerns we have amidst all the current unrest is a growing trend of , protest begets counter protests , begets violence against one side against the other , ” Wray told the committee .
“ So there ’ s sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other in addition to attacking law enforcement , and that ’ s not good for anybody.
” When Chairman Bennie Thompson , D-Miss.
, asked whether it was right-wing or left-wing extremists who posed a greater danger , Wray said it was “ not one ideology , but rather lone actors , largely self-radicalized online who pursue soft targets using readily available weapons .
”

The House Homeland Security Committee’s annual hearing on “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland” had a domestic focus Thursday, with member questions to FBI Director Christopher Wray directed at the security of the November election and the U.S.-based groups associated with riots and other violence that began this year.
Lawmakers anchored much of the three-hour discussion on topics such as Antifa, QAnon and Boogaloos, which have become major social issues in the presidential race. Protests and counter-protests over the last several months have been blamed for clashes in the streets that have led to multiple deaths, destroyed buildings and instances of violence against law enforcement.
Wray repeatedly said that there is no mechanism under U.S. law for the FBI to label domestic organizations as terrorist groups, and he said the FBI is focused on the violence any group might do, not their ideology.
“One of the concerns we have amidst all the current unrest is a growing trend of, protest begets counter protests, begets violence against one side against the other,” Wray told the committee. “So there’s sort of this increasing phenomenon of individuals attacking each other in addition to attacking law enforcement, and that’s not good for anybody.”
When Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., asked whether it was right-wing or left-wing extremists who posed a greater danger, Wray said it was “not one ideology, but rather lone actors, largely self-radicalized online who pursue soft targets using readily available weapons.”


rollcall--2020-09-17--At the Races: As primaries end, voting begins

Welcome to At the Races !
Each week we ’ ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election .
Know someone who ’ d like to get this newsletter ?
They can subscribe here .
Believe it or not , general election voters will head to the polls in six states starting over the next 40 hours .
We ’ ll just let that sink in .
Some of the states — Michigan , Minnesota , New Jersey , Virginia — feature pivotal contests in the battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , the conservative group Americans for Prosperity Action today is endorsing its first Senate challenger of the cycle , Republican John James , who is running against Democratic incumbent Gary Peters .
AFP , as first shared with At the Races , plans a six-figure digital ( and connected TV platforms ) ad buy backing James as well as in-person door-knocking for the candidate .
We ’ re also watching more than a dozen competitive House races across those states .
Democrat Hillary Scholten is trying to flip Michigan ’ s 3rd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Justin Amash ) in a race against Republican Peter Meijer .
Democrat Dan Feehan is trying to unseat freshman Republican Jim Hagedorn in Minnesota ’ s 1st District , while Amy Kennedy and Cameron Webb are seeking to flip GOP seats in New Jersey ’ s 2nd and Virginia ’ s 5th districts respectively .

Kate Ackley, Stephanie Akin, and Bridget Bowman

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we’ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here.
By Kate Ackley, Stephanie Akin and Bridget Bowman
Believe it or not, general election voters will head to the polls in six states starting over the next 40 hours. We’ll just let that sink in.
Some of the states — Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Virginia — feature pivotal contests in the battle for the Senate or House. In Michigan, the conservative group Americans for Prosperity Action today is endorsing its first Senate challenger of the cycle, Republican John James, who is running against Democratic incumbent Gary Peters. AFP, as first shared with At the Races, plans a six-figure digital (and connected TV platforms) ad buy backing James as well as in-person door-knocking for the candidate.
We’re also watching more than a dozen competitive House races across those states. Democrat Hillary Scholten is trying to flip Michigan’s 3rd District (currently held by retiring GOP-turned-independent-turned-Libertarian Rep. Justin Amash) in a race against Republican Peter Meijer. Democrat Dan Feehan is trying to unseat freshman Republican Jim Hagedorn in Minnesota’s 1st District, while Amy Kennedy and Cameron Webb are seeking to flip GOP seats in New Jersey’s 2nd and Virginia’s 5th districts respectively.


rollcall--2020-09-17--Deal elusive on stopgap funding as deadline nears

Despite the best efforts of top Capitol Hill and White House officials , drama is creeping back into negotiations over @ @ @ @ @ to avert a partial government shutdown Oct. 1 .
There 's no agreement on how @ @ @ @ @ extend current funding levels , for starters , while tricky policy issues like upcoming redistricting-related @ @ @ @ @ What 's more , there 's even some talk among rank-and-file House Democrats about withholding @ @ @ @ @ unless the House takes up coronavirus relief , despite a White House-leadership deal to keep @ @ @ @ @ It was n't clear how much traction that push was gaining .
But one Democrat @ @ @ @ @ anonymity said it was an option as nervous lawmakers seek to put pressure on Speaker @ @ @ @ @ deal on virus aid , or at least give them something new to vote on @ @ @ @ @ .

Despite the best efforts of top Capitol Hill and White House officials, drama is creeping back into negotiations over the stopgap spending bill needed to avert a partial government shutdown Oct. 1.
There's no agreement on how long the continuing resolution will extend current funding levels, for starters, while tricky policy issues like upcoming redistricting-related census deadlines remain unresolved.
What's more, there's even some talk among rank-and-file House Democrats about withholding their votes on the CR unless the House takes up coronavirus relief, despite a White House-leadership deal to keep the two issues separate.
It wasn't clear how much traction that push was gaining. But one Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was an option as nervous lawmakers seek to put pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to cut a deal on virus aid, or at least give them something new to vote on before heading home to campaign.
[Census deadlines dispute hangs up stopgap funding talks]


rollcall--2020-09-17--Alaska judge halts printing of ballots that removed candidates’ independent status

A judge in Alaska ordered the state to stop printing ballots Thursday , the day before they were scheduled to start going out in the mail , amid a dispute over a last-minute change that Democrats said created a disadvantage to Senate and House nominees Al Gross and Alyse Galvin .
At issue is a decision by the Republican-appointed director of the state Division of Elections , Gail Fenumiai , to strip party affiliations from the November ballot , instead including only the party that the candidate represents as the nominee .
That decision would disproportionately impact Gross and Galvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most competitive challenges to Republican incumbents the state has seen in decades Both are independents who caucus with Democrats and were identified as nonpartisans on the August primary ballots .
They have made their lack of party allegiance a central selling point in a state where voters pride themselves on individualism .
Gross , an orthopedic surgeon and commercial fisherman , is running for Senate , while Galvin , an education advocate , is running for the House .
The temporary restraining order was issued Thursday in response to a lawsuit filed Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will last until a hearing on Friday , according to court records .

A judge in Alaska ordered the state to stop printing ballots Thursday, the day before they were scheduled to start going out in the mail, amid a dispute over a last-minute change that Democrats said created a disadvantage to Senate and House nominees Al Gross and Alyse Galvin.
At issue is a decision by the Republican-appointed director of the state Division of Elections, Gail Fenumiai, to strip party affiliations from the November ballot, instead including only the party that the candidate represents as the nominee.
That decision would disproportionately impact Gross and Galvin, who are waging two of the most competitive challenges to Republican incumbents the state has seen in decades
Both are independents who caucus with Democrats and were identified as nonpartisans on the August primary ballots. They have made their lack of party allegiance a central selling point in a state where voters pride themselves on individualism. Gross, an orthopedic surgeon and commercial fisherman, is running for Senate, while Galvin, an education advocate, is running for the House.
The temporary restraining order was issued Thursday in response to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by Galvin’s campaign. It will last until a hearing on Friday, according to court records.


rollcall--2020-09-17--McCarthy focused on election, not Freedom Caucus push to remove Pelosi

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Thursday dodged a question on whether he will bring a motion to vacate to remove Speaker Nancy Pelosi from her post , an effort the Freedom Caucus was urging him to pursue .
“ I do not want Nancy Pelosi to be speaker , but I do not want Nadler to be chair .
I do not want Schiff to be chair and I do not want Maxine Waters , ” McCarthy told reporters at his weekly news conference , referring to Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maxine Waters , D-Calif. “ Forty-some days from now , we will remove them.
” On Wednesday , Politico reported that the House ’ s ultraconservative wing was urging McCarthy to offer a motion to vacate the chair , which would mandate a floor vote to decide whether Pelosi could keep her position .
With Democrats in the majority , it is unlikely such a move would result in enough votes to remove her from the speakership .
McCarthy is undecided on whether he will join the effort , but he did agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday about the matter , Politico reported .
He also told Fox News after the story broke that it wasn ’ t the best move right now .
McCarthy ’ s comments at his weekly news conference indicate he is focused on the election in November and doesn ’ t want to grapple with such questions until the voters decide which party will carry the majority .

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Thursday dodged a question on whether he will bring a motion to vacate to remove Speaker Nancy Pelosi from her post, an effort the Freedom Caucus was urging him to pursue.
“I do not want Nancy Pelosi to be speaker, but I do not want Nadler to be chair. I do not want Schiff to be chair and I do not want Maxine Waters,” McCarthy told reporters at his weekly news conference, referring to Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., and Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif. “Forty-some days from now, we will remove them.”
On Wednesday, Politico reported that the House’s ultraconservative wing was urging McCarthy to offer a motion to vacate the chair, which would mandate a floor vote to decide whether Pelosi could keep her position. With Democrats in the majority, it is unlikely such a move would result in enough votes to remove her from the speakership.
McCarthy is undecided on whether he will join the effort, but he did agree to have a Republican Conference meeting on Tuesday about the matter, Politico reported. He also told Fox News after the story broke that it wasn’t the best move right now.
McCarthy’s comments at his weekly news conference indicate he is focused on the election in November and doesn’t want to grapple with such questions until the voters decide which party will carry the majority.


rollcall--2020-09-17--White House backs $25B airline relief extension

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows urged Congress on Thursday to extend payroll grants for airline employees through next March , in order to avoid sweeping furloughs throughout the industry .
He said $ 25 billion was necessary to provide sufficient relief for six more months , mirroring the amount approved in March that expires Sept. 30 .
Meadows said he thought it was a small price to pay given the trillion-dollar-plus proposals under discussion , though broader coronavirus relief talks continue to stall .
`` Compared to $ 1.5 trillion , it 's a rather small amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 50,000 workers on the payroll , '' Meadows said after a meeting with airline executives , who warned of imminent furloughs .
That 's the price tag on a compromise plan floated by the 50-member bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in the House earlier this week .
Democratic committee leaders shot it down as too skimpy , and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has demanded at least $ 2.2 trillion in relief .
Earlier this week she said she 'd be open to additional airline assistance as part of a broader relief package , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Republicans did n't include airline aid in their `` skinny '' $ 300 billion plan that could n't muster the 60 votes needed for cloture last week .

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows urged Congress on Thursday to extend payroll grants for airline employees through next March, in order to avoid sweeping furloughs throughout the industry.
He said $25 billion was necessary to provide sufficient relief for six more months, mirroring the amount approved in March that expires Sept. 30. Meadows said he thought it was a small price to pay given the trillion-dollar-plus proposals under discussion, though broader coronavirus relief talks continue to stall.
"Compared to $1.5 trillion, it's a rather small amount of additional assistance that could potentially keep 30 to 50,000 workers on the payroll," Meadows said after a meeting with airline executives, who warned of imminent furloughs.
That's the price tag on a compromise plan floated by the 50-member bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in the House earlier this week. Democratic committee leaders shot it down as too skimpy, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has demanded at least $2.2 trillion in relief. Earlier this week she said she'd be open to additional airline assistance as part of a broader relief package, but didn't offer a dollar figure.
Senate Republicans didn't include airline aid in their "skinny" $300 billion plan that couldn't muster the 60 votes needed for cloture last week.


rollcall--2020-09-17--Exclusive: States plan to independently vet COVID-19 vaccine data

State officials are expressing skepticism about federal reviews of potential COVID-19 vaccines , with some going so far as to @ @ @ @ @ trial data before distributing a vaccine in a sign of how sharply trust in federal @ @ @ @ @ year .
The wariness , which public health experts call highly unusual if not unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ of a cohesive national immunization strategy and create a patchwork of efforts that may sabotage @ @ @ @ @ .
Some red states appear more likely to rely on the Trump administration while blue @ @ @ @ @ and be more cautious about vaccinating their residents immediately .
CQ Roll Call contacted state @ @ @ @ @ and the District of Columbia and received substantive responses from a dozen .

State officials are expressing skepticism about federal reviews of potential COVID-19 vaccines, with some going so far as to plan to independently analyze clinical trial data before distributing a vaccine in a sign of how sharply trust in federal health agencies has fallen this year.
The wariness, which public health experts call highly unusual if not unprecedented, could undercut the goal of a cohesive national immunization strategy and create a patchwork of efforts that may sabotage hopes of containing the coronavirus.
Some red states appear more likely to rely on the Trump administration while blue states may scour the data and be more cautious about vaccinating their residents immediately.
[Trump administration unveils COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan]
CQ Roll Call contacted state health departments in 50 states and the District of Columbia and received substantive responses from a dozen.


rollcall--2020-09-17--US Chamber, the nation’s biggest lobby, is cutting staff

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce , the biggest spender on federal lobbying , is laying off 12 employees from its roughly 500-person staff as part of a restructuring that the group ’ s insiders say will also aim to expand its policy advocacy .
Most of the laid-off employees were tied to the operation of the group ’ s building , across from the White House , or to putting on in-person events , according to a source familiar with the decisions .
The source added that the group was financially “ stable ” and was likely on track for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total revenue of more than $ 167 million on its 2018 tax forms .
Many of the group ’ s lobbyists will remain , including former House GOP leadership aide Neil Bradley , who will oversee a new unit called strategic advocacy , according to a memo to staff from Suzanne Clark , the chamber ’ s president .
That division , under Bradley , will also include political affairs , though Sara Armstrong continues to run political affairs and federation relations , the memo stated .
Clark added in the memo that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howard , would continue to run government affairs .
“ To further strengthen our capabilities , we will make targeted investments in new talent within the Strategic Advocacy group — primarily within Government Affairs —to ensure we are fully equipped for the battles ahead , which increasingly occur at the state and local levels , ” she wrote in the memo .
“ Altogether , this strategic alignment will add new firepower to our advocacy and strengthen the Chamber ’ s influence and impact for our members .
”


rollcall--2020-09-18--Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies at 87

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday after a trailblazing legal career that started with fights for women ’ s rights and ended with her ascension into a liberal cultural phenomenon for her outspoken and consistent judicial approach .
Ginsburg , 87 , died surrounded by her family at her home in Washington after more than 27 years on the high court .
The cause was complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer , the Supreme Court announced in a news release .
Her death sets off yet another high-stakes confirmation fight in the Senate right in the middle of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump a third appointment to the high court in less than four years .
That would deepen a conservative tilt to the court that could bring far-reaching changes to the nation ’ s legal landscape in health care , immigration and civil rights .
Ginsburg was a consistent voice in the liberal wing of the court .
Trump last week released a list of potential Supreme Court appointments if given another chance , including three Republican senators — Tom Cotton of Arkansas , Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitch to conservative voters on issues such as gun control and abortion , that list will now become key .

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday after a trailblazing legal career that started with fights for women’s rights and ended with her ascension into a liberal cultural phenomenon for her outspoken and consistent judicial approach.
Ginsburg, 87, died surrounded by her family at her home in Washington after more than 27 years on the high court. The cause was complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer, the Supreme Court announced in a news release.
Her death sets off yet another high-stakes confirmation fight in the Senate right in the middle of a heated presidential election — possibly giving President Donald Trump a third appointment to the high court in less than four years.
That would deepen a conservative tilt to the court that could bring far-reaching changes to the nation’s legal landscape in health care, immigration and civil rights. Ginsburg was a consistent voice in the liberal wing of the court.
Trump last week released a list of potential Supreme Court appointments if given another chance, including three Republican senators — Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri. Mostly seen as part of his pitch to conservative voters on issues such as gun control and abortion, that list will now become key.


rollcall--2020-09-18--Trump contradicts CDC, pledging 100 million vaccines in 2020

President Donald Trump touted vaccine distribution plans in a Friday news conference and pledged 100 million vaccine doses by the year ’ s end , a promise that contradicts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s most optimistic projections .
“ We will have manufactured at least 100 million vaccine doses before the end of the year , and likely much more than that , ” Trump said .
“ We expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April.
” The promise of 100 million vaccine doses this year represents the president ’ s latest contradiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and follows a week in which Trump repeatedly challenged CDC Director Robert Redfield about the importance of masks and when most Americans can expect a vaccine .
“ We essentially have it , ” the president said of a vaccine Friday .
“ We ’ ll be announcing it fairly soon.
” But the testing protocols for the two vaccines furthest along in clinical trials , manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech , which were released Thursday , show that analysis of the data will likely stretch into December 2020 and early 2021 .

President Donald Trump touted vaccine distribution plans in a Friday news conference and pledged 100 million vaccine doses by the year’s end, a promise that contradicts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most optimistic projections.
“We will have manufactured at least 100 million vaccine doses before the end of the year, and likely much more than that,” Trump said. “We expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April.”
The promise of 100 million vaccine doses this year represents the president’s latest contradiction of his own public health agency, and follows a week in which Trump repeatedly challenged CDC Director Robert Redfield about the importance of masks and when most Americans can expect a vaccine.
“We essentially have it,” the president said of a vaccine Friday. “We’ll be announcing it fairly soon.”
But the testing protocols for the two vaccines furthest along in clinical trials, manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, which were released Thursday, show that analysis of the data will likely stretch into December 2020 and early 2021.


rollcall--2020-09-18--Stopgap funding talks bleed into weekend amid farm aid pushback

Late-afternoon optimism that a deal on temporary funding legislation was in sight turned into uncertainty Friday evening , as Democrats pushed back against the inclusion of farm payments that negotiators had earlier agreed to “ in principle.
” Negotiations on the stopgap bill , which sources said would extend current funding levels through Dec. 11 , were set to bleed into the weekend and have been kicked upstairs primarily to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
A House Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said legislative text wouldn ’ t be finalized until at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described it earlier would replenish Commodity Credit Corporation funds , which have dwindled down to about $ 2 billion after several rounds of payouts to farmers suffering from trade disputes and coronavirus-related losses .
The agency is bumping up against its $ 30 billion borrowing cap as early as next month , after which it won ’ t be able to finance regular , nonemergency programs authorized in the farm bill .
Democrats had initially sought to keep the CCC funds out of the continuing resolution but as of Friday afternoon agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called Pandemic EBT program — short for electronic benefits transfer .
The program was created in a March aid package and provides school meals for low-income children eligible for free- and reduced-price lunches but who aren ’ t in school to receive them .

Late-afternoon optimism that a deal on temporary funding legislation was in sight turned into uncertainty Friday evening, as Democrats pushed back against the inclusion of farm payments that negotiators had earlier agreed to “in principle.”
Negotiations on the stopgap bill, which sources said would extend current funding levels through Dec. 11, were set to bleed into the weekend and have been kicked upstairs primarily to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. A House Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said legislative text wouldn’t be finalized until at least Monday.
The tentative agreement as aides described it earlier would replenish Commodity Credit Corporation funds, which have dwindled down to about $2 billion after several rounds of payouts to farmers suffering from trade disputes and coronavirus-related losses.
The agency is bumping up against its $30 billion borrowing cap as early as next month, after which it won’t be able to finance regular, nonemergency programs authorized in the farm bill.
Democrats had initially sought to keep the CCC funds out of the continuing resolution but as of Friday afternoon agreed to the proposal in exchange for extending the so-called Pandemic EBT program — short for electronic benefits transfer. The program was created in a March aid package and provides school meals for low-income children eligible for free- and reduced-price lunches but who aren’t in school to receive them.


rollcall--2020-09-18--Illinois senators split on judge votes, exposing division

A quartet of Senate votes on District Court judges this week revealed a rare fissure between home-state colleagues in Illinois @ @ @ @ @ judges to the bench in the Northern District and two in the Southern .
Democratic @ @ @ @ @ for all four , but fellow Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth voted for just two .
@ @ @ @ @ as a package : State Republicans chose three nominees and the fourth was picked by @ @ @ @ @ , according to Durbin .
The parties then negotiated until they had agreement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ side gets everything their way , ” Durbin said in a lengthy statement explaining his @ @ @ @ @ decades , this bipartisan process has kept both parties at the table and has served @ @ @ @ @ Johnston and Franklin Ulyses Valderrama were tapped to be on benches in the Northern District @ @ @ @ @ P. McGlynn and David W. Dugan were nominated for the Southern District of Illinois .

A quartet of Senate votes on District Court judges this week revealed a rare fissure between home-state colleagues in Illinois.
The Senate confirmed two judges to the bench in the Northern District and two in the Southern. Democratic Sen. Richard J. Durbin voted for all four, but fellow Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth voted for just two.
The Illinois judges were selected as a package: State Republicans chose three nominees and the fourth was picked by Democrats, a long-standing tradition, according to Durbin. The parties then negotiated until they had agreement.
“Under this system, neither side gets everything their way,” Durbin said in a lengthy statement explaining his votes. “For several decades, this bipartisan process has kept both parties at the table and has served Illinois well.”
Iain D. Johnston and Franklin Ulyses Valderrama were tapped to be on benches in the Northern District of Illinois, and Stephen P. McGlynn and David W. Dugan were nominated for the Southern District of Illinois.


rollcall--2020-09-18--Eisenhower Memorial opens, ending 20 years of planning strife on Capitol Hill

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial opened to the public Friday , just off the National Mall in Washington , closing out two decades of drama , feuds and funding fights over the tribute to the 34th president .
First approved by Congress in 1999 , the memorial cost a total of $ 145 million , according to the Eisenhower Memorial Commission .
Some $ 15 million of that was raised through private donors and the rest was appropriated by Congress .
The memorial is intended to honor Eisenhower ’ s legacy as the supreme Allied commander in Europe during World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sits just south of the Smithsonian ’ s National Air and Space Museum .
It was supposed to open in May , but the ceremony and opening were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic .
The dual centerpieces of the memorial are two limestone and bronze scenes — one of Eisenhower as a top military general and another of him as president .
There is also a statue of a young Eisenhower sitting with his knees folded to his chest , looking pensive .
Brenda Pennington and Mary Jennings were at the memorial Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public visitors to walk through the new venue .

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial opened to the public Friday, just off the National Mall in Washington, closing out two decades of drama, feuds and funding fights over the tribute to the 34th president.
First approved by Congress in 1999, the memorial cost a total of $145 million, according to the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. Some $15 million of that was raised through private donors and the rest was appropriated by Congress.
The memorial is intended to honor Eisenhower’s legacy as the supreme Allied commander in Europe during World War II and his eight-year presidency and sits just south of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. It was supposed to open in May, but the ceremony and opening were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The dual centerpieces of the memorial are two limestone and bronze scenes — one of Eisenhower as a top military general and another of him as president. There is also a statue of a young Eisenhower sitting with his knees folded to his chest, looking pensive.
Brenda Pennington and Mary Jennings were at the memorial Friday afternoon, among the first of the public visitors to walk through the new venue.


rollcall--2020-09-18--Politics imitates comedy: Congressional Hits and Misses

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer tried his hand at some comedy alongside Jerry Seinfeld this week , and it @ @ @ @ @ you ’ d expect .
With the political world becoming one big joke , it @ @ @ @ @ SNL alum Maya Rudolph joined Sen. Kamala Harris for an online campaign event , and @ @ @ @ @ to be the most serious advocate for veterans on the Hill .
Plus , House @ @ @ @ @ and Minority Whip Steve Scalise tried out some prop comedy on the chamber floor , @ @ @ @ @ whether to laugh or cry about the White House ’ s education executive order .
@ @ @ @ @ : Woodward , Lady Gaga and marijuana — Congressional Hits and Misses ]

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer tried his hand at some comedy alongside Jerry Seinfeld this week, and it went about as well as you’d expect.
With the political world becoming one big joke, it’s no surprise that SNL alum Maya Rudolph joined Sen. Kamala Harris for an online campaign event, and Jon Stewart once again proved to be the most serious advocate for veterans on the Hill.
Plus, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer and Minority Whip Steve Scalise tried out some prop comedy on the chamber floor, and no one was sure whether to laugh or cry about the White House’s education executive order.
[More Hits and Misses: Woodward, Lady Gaga and marijuana — Congressional Hits and Misses]
Thumbnail photos: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call; Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images


rollcall--2020-09-18--Virginia early voting underway in the 2020 general election

ALEXANDRIA , Va. — Voting for the 2020 general election is underway .
Voters across the commonwealth of Virginia , including candidates for Congress , headed to the polls Friday to cast early ballots .
The Old Dominion has in the past featured large rallies on the eve of Election Day .
But in the age of COVID-19 , Virginians are being encouraged to take advantage of new early and mail-in voting options .
With a limited number of polling places open on Day One , there were reports of long lines in some jurisdictions , though that wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning when Sen. Mark Warner showed up at the Alexandria Voter Registration Office in Old Town , nor far from his house .
“ I just exercised my constitutional right , and I strongly encourage all Virginians to take advantage of our new rules , where you can vote early , ” the Virginia Democrat , who is seeking a third term , told reporters .
“ Starting today , for the next 45 days , 9 to 5 .
We also have seen over 800,000 people who ’ ve had absentee applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we had in 2016.
” Warner noted his work on the Senate Intelligence Committee and threats to election security , but said the way to combat those challenges was through voter turnout , especially in early voting .

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Voting for the 2020 general election is underway. Voters across the commonwealth of Virginia, including candidates for Congress, headed to the polls Friday to cast early ballots.
The Old Dominion has in the past featured large rallies on the eve of Election Day. But in the age of COVID-19, Virginians are being encouraged to take advantage of new early and mail-in voting options.
Supporters of Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton arrive wearing face masks Friday at the Loudoun County Office of Elections in Leesburg on the first day of early voting. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
With a limited number of polling places open on Day One, there were reports of long lines in some jurisdictions, though that wasn’t the case here late in the morning when Sen. Mark Warner showed up at the Alexandria Voter Registration Office in Old Town, nor far from his house.
“I just exercised my constitutional right, and I strongly encourage all Virginians to take advantage of our new rules, where you can vote early,” the Virginia Democrat, who is seeking a third term, told reporters. “Starting today, for the next 45 days, 9 to 5. We also have seen over 800,000 people who’ve had absentee applications — that’s tripled the amount that we had in 2016.”
Warner noted his work on the Senate Intelligence Committee and threats to election security, but said the way to combat those challenges was through voter turnout, especially in early voting.


rollcall--2020-09-18--Photos of the week ending Sept. 18

Photos of the week ending Sept. 18

As Congress races to wrap up business before the October campaign break , voters have already begun to cast early @ @ @ @ @ including Virginia .
Here ’ s how the week unfolded for CQ Roll Call ’ @ @ @

Bill Clark, Tom Williams, and Caroline Brehman

As Congress races to wrap up business before the October campaign break, voters have already begun to cast early votes in some states, including Virginia.
Here’s how the week unfolded for CQ Roll Call’s photojournalists.
Men play basketball Monday on the courts of New York Avenue Recreation Center in D.C.’s Truxton Circle neighborhood. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
An ice cream truck vendor waits for customers Monday in the parking lot at Gravelly Point Park in Arlington, Va. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart hugs Rosie Torres, co-founder and executive director of Burn Pits 360, before the start of a news conference outside the Capitol on Tuesday to announce legislation to help veterans with diseases associated with burn pits and other toxic exposures. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Reps. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, center right, and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, left, return to the Capitol on Tuesday after an event on the House steps to announce the GOP’s “Commitment to America” agenda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon wears his University of Nebraska face mask as he walks down the House steps Tuesday after a vote. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski casts a shadow as she leaves the Senate floor Wednesday after a vote. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Maine Sen. Susan Collins looks at Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s cell phone Wednesday as the two head to the Senate floor for a vote. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell waits for an elevator Wednesday as he departs the Senate floor after a vote. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, center, ranking member Dianne Feinstein and Illinois Sen. Richard J. Durbin talk Thursday before a committee markup on judicial nominations. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries wears a John Lewis face mask as he talks with a reporter Thursday in the Russell Building. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Speaker Nancy Pelosi walks through Statuary Hall on Thursday after a news conference to call for the inclusion of funding for COVID-19 testing and tracing in the next coronavirus relief legislation. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Mullin and Massachusetts Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III walk across the East Plaza to the Capitol for a vote Thursday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner exits the Voter Registration Office in Alexandria on Friday after casting his ballot on the first day of early voting. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-09-18--White House announces $11.6B hurricane relief for Puerto Rico

The Trump administration announced a massive aid package for Puerto Rico on Friday , three years after two hurricanes ravaged the U.S. island territory .
The aid , issued through the Federal Emergency Management Agency , includes $ 9.6 billion to rebuild Puerto Rico ’ s battered electrical grid and $ 2 billion to restore storm-damaged schools and other education facilities , according to a White House statement .
The new awards bring to $ 26 billion the total amount of federal funding obligated to Puerto Rico ’ s recovery , the statement said .
The announcement marks a turnaround @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held up reconstruction aid sitting in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for years while he regularly bashed Puerto Rico officials as corrupt and inept .
“ The pols are grossly incompetent , spend the money foolishly or corruptly , & only take from USA , ” Trump tweeted in August 2019 .
But the burst of new aid , coming less than seven weeks before the presidential election , could help buoy Trump ’ s electoral prospects in the pivotal state of Florida , which has absorbed hundreds of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck the island in 2017 .
A series of supplemental spending packages were enacted after the 2017 hurricanes , but FEMA has been slow in getting the money out the door .
Friday 's grant awards amount to more than 80 percent of the agency 's funding obligations in Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Maria , the more devastating of the two storms , over the past year , according to FEMA reporting .

The Trump administration announced a massive aid package for Puerto Rico on Friday, three years after two hurricanes ravaged the U.S. island territory.
The aid, issued through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, includes $9.6 billion to rebuild Puerto Rico’s battered electrical grid and $2 billion to restore storm-damaged schools and other education facilities, according to a White House statement. The new awards bring to $26 billion the total amount of federal funding obligated to Puerto Rico’s recovery, the statement said.
The announcement marks a turnaround for President Donald Trump, whose administration held up reconstruction aid sitting in the Department of Housing and Urban Development for years while he regularly bashed Puerto Rico officials as corrupt and inept. “The pols are grossly incompetent, spend the money foolishly or corruptly, & only take from USA,” Trump tweeted in August 2019.
But the burst of new aid, coming less than seven weeks before the presidential election, could help buoy Trump’s electoral prospects in the pivotal state of Florida, which has absorbed hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans since hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the island in 2017.
A series of supplemental spending packages were enacted after the 2017 hurricanes, but FEMA has been slow in getting the money out the door. Friday's grant awards amount to more than 80 percent of the agency's funding obligations in Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Maria, the more devastating of the two storms, over the past year, according to FEMA reporting.


rollcall--2020-09-18--U.S. bans TikTok, WeChat from app stores starting Sunday

Corrected 1:18 p.m. | The Commerce Department on Friday said it was banning two popular apps owned by Chinese companies , with one of them being prohibited as soon as Sunday .
The department said the messaging app WeChat , which is mostly used by Chinese within their country and by some in the diaspora in the United States and around the world , would be banned starting Sunday .
And also starting Sunday , TikTok won ’ t be available in an app store .
A complete ban on TikTok , prohibiting use even from current users , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilbur Ross said the actions followed President Donald Trump ’ s executive order of Aug. 6 that announced the administration ’ s intent to ban the two apps .
The department said the apps collected “ vast swaths of data from users , including network activity , location data , and browsing and search histories ” and that the companies provide the information to Chinese authorities , including its intelligence services , “ creating unacceptable risks to our national security.
” As of Sunday , any provision of service to distribute or maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and any use of WeChat to transfer money between users or processing payments within the United States would be banned , the department said .

Corrected 1:18 p.m. | The Commerce Department on Friday said it was banning two popular apps owned by Chinese companies, with one of them being prohibited as soon as Sunday.
The department said the messaging app WeChat, which is mostly used by Chinese within their country and by some in the diaspora in the United States and around the world, would be banned starting Sunday. And also starting Sunday, TikTok won’t be available in an app store. A complete ban on TikTok, prohibiting use even from current users, will take effect Nov. 12.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the actions followed President Donald Trump’s executive order of Aug. 6 that announced the administration’s intent to ban the two apps.
The department said the apps collected “vast swaths of data from users, including network activity, location data, and browsing and search histories” and that the companies provide the information to Chinese authorities, including its intelligence services, “creating unacceptable risks to our national security.”
As of Sunday, any provision of service to distribute or maintain WeChat or TikTok would be banned, and any use of WeChat to transfer money between users or processing payments within the United States would be banned, the department said.


rollcall--2020-09-19--Democrats focus on Supreme Court messaging, not on stalling the Senate

Senate Republicans plan to move ahead with a Supreme Court nomination after Americans have already started voting , but Democrats appear content to respond with a messaging exercise .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Friday evening that a vote on President Donald Trump ’ s nominee to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would occur during the current Congress , but he didn ’ t specify whether that would be before or after the election in November .
Ginsburg died Friday of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer .
She was 87 .
Sen. Susan Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a race rated a Toss-up by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales , said in a statement Saturday that while she thought the Judiciary Committee could begin processing paperwork from Trump ’ s nominee once the president announces , the floor consideration should wait for the outcome of the November election .
“ In fairness to the American people , who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one , the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Senate Republicans plan to move ahead with a Supreme Court nomination after Americans have already started voting, but Democrats appear content to respond with a messaging exercise.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Friday evening that a vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would occur during the current Congress, but he didn’t specify whether that would be before or after the election in November. Ginsburg died Friday of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was 87.
[Photos: Washington mourns death of Supreme Court icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg]
Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican running for reelection in a race rated a Toss-up by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, said in a statement Saturday that while she thought the Judiciary Committee could begin processing paperwork from Trump’s nominee once the president announces, the floor consideration should wait for the outcome of the November election.
“In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd,” Collins wrote.


rollcall--2020-09-19--Photos: Washington mourns death of Supreme Court icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday after a trailblazing legal career that started with fights for women ’ @ @ @ @ @ her ascension into a liberal cultural phenomenon for her outspoken and consistent judicial approach .
@ @ @ @ @ night and Saturday at the court to mourn her death .
We take a visual @ @ @ @ @ long career and the scene at the court in the wake of her death .

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday after a trailblazing legal career that started with fights for women’s rights and ended with her ascension into a liberal cultural phenomenon for her outspoken and consistent judicial approach.
Washington-area residents turned out Friday night and Saturday at the court to mourn her death. We take a visual look at Ginsburg’s long career and the scene at the court in the wake of her death.
From her Capitol office, then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, right, gives a view of the Supreme Court building to justices Ginsburg, left, Sonia Sotomayor, in white, and Elena Kagan before Pelosi's annual Women’s History Month reception on March 18, 2015. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Ginsburg arrives at Statuary Hall for a luncheon during President Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 21, 2013. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Ginsburg arrives at the Capitol for President Obama's State of the Union address on Jan. 20, 2015. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Ginsburg participates in a discussion during the Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington on Aug. 31, 2019. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A crowd gathers at the Supreme Court to mourn Ginsburg’s death on Friday. People lit candles and left flowers and notes on the steps of the court. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
A flag flies at half staff outside the Supreme Court on Friday night. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Flowers, signs, candles and notes were left outside the Supreme Court on Saturday morning to mourn the death of Ginsburg. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
A crowd gathers at the Supreme Court on Saturday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Kelli Midgley of Baltimore holds up her “What Would RBG Do?” sign at the Supreme Court on Saturday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
A Jeep with a photo of Ginsburg in the window drives past the crowd gathered at the Supreme Court on Saturday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-09-21--Is there enough time to confirm a Supreme Court nominee by November?

Senior reporter Niels Lesniewski unpacks what moves Democrats and Republicans have as the Senate barrels toward yet another partisan Supreme @ @ @ @ @ the video for more .

Senior reporter Niels Lesniewski unpacks what moves Democrats and Republicans have as the Senate barrels toward yet another partisan Supreme Court nomination battle. See the video for more.
[ Read more: Stopgap spat and Supreme Court tension dominate week ]


rollcall--2020-09-21--Road ahead: Stopgap spat and Supreme Court tension dominate week

The House CR would extend fiscal 2020 spending levels through Dec. 11 , which is a date both parties had agreed to Friday .
Most Democrats , concerned Trump could force a shutdown in December if he doesn ’ t win reelection , preferred a stopgap running into February .
The measure Democrats introduced Monday excludes a more than $ 20 billion replenishment of Commodity Credit Corporation funds for farm payments Republicans sought , as well as a $ 2.7 billion extension of the expiring Pandemic EBT program providing meals for children who would normally receive free or reduced-price lunches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tentatively agreed to as part of a “ deal in principle ” on Friday , but some Democrats balked at what they viewed as insufficient food aid for low-income families compared to the generous funding for farmers and ranchers .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled Monday on Twitter that Republicans would oppose Democrats ’ CR , slamming it as a “ rough draft ” that “ shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need.
” “ This is no time to add insult to injury and defund help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kentucky Republican said .
Still , the House CR includes several provisions , such as extensions of expiring programs , that are likely to make it into any final stopgap .
The measure extends surface transportation programs and the National Flood Insurance Program for a year , while reauthorizing various health care “ extenders ” through the length of the CR .

The House CR would extend fiscal 2020 spending levels through Dec. 11, which is a date both parties had agreed to Friday. Most Democrats, concerned Trump could force a shutdown in December if he doesn’t win reelection, preferred a stopgap running into February.
The measure Democrats introduced Monday excludes a more than $20 billion replenishment of Commodity Credit Corporation funds for farm payments Republicans sought, as well as a $2.7 billion extension of the expiring Pandemic EBT program providing meals for children who would normally receive free or reduced-price lunches that Democrats wanted. Those provisions had been tentatively agreed to as part of a “deal in principle” on Friday, but some Democrats balked at what they viewed as insufficient food aid for low-income families compared to the generous funding for farmers and ranchers.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled Monday on Twitter that Republicans would oppose Democrats’ CR, slamming it as a “rough draft” that “shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need.”
“This is no time to add insult to injury and defund help for farmers and rural America,” the Kentucky Republican said.
Still, the House CR includes several provisions, such as extensions of expiring programs, that are likely to make it into any final stopgap. The measure extends surface transportation programs and the National Flood Insurance Program for a year, while reauthorizing various health care “extenders” through the length of the CR.


rollcall--2020-09-21--Photo: DC marks National Voter Registration Day

The DC Board of Elections kicked off a week of events to celebrate National Voter Registration Day , which is @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday of every September , with a National Voter Registration Day pep rally Monday at @ @ @ @ @ .
Other voter registration events will run throughout the week , ending on Friday , @ @ @

(Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
The DC Board of Elections kicked off a week of events to celebrate National Voter Registration Day, which is officially observed on the fourth Tuesday of every September, with a National Voter Registration Day pep rally Monday at The Anthem in Southwest Washington.
Other voter registration events will run throughout the week, ending on Friday, Sept. 25.


rollcall--2020-09-21--Spending bill would extend highway law by a year

The continuing resolution introduced by House Democrats Monday includes a one-year extension of the surface transportation law , a provision that would put to rest the debate over what Congress would do about funding highways and transit after the current law expires Sept. 30 .
The spending bill , introduced midmorning , also includes a $ 10.4 billion general revenue transfer to the highway accounts in the Highway Trust Fund and a $ 3.2 billion transfer to the Mass Transit Account , as well as a $ 14 billion transfer to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund .
The House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Republicans who control the Senate , making its viability uncertain .
The extension of the surface transportation law comes as Congress deals with a number of transportation-related Sept. 30 deadlines .
The date is also when the $ 25 billion in Payroll Support Program for passenger airlines expires .
That aid was included in the $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief law that passed in March .
Airlines and unions continue to argue for an extension of that funding through March 2021 , but Congress remains at an impasse on future COVID-19 assistance @ @

The continuing resolution introduced by House Democrats Monday includes a one-year extension of the surface transportation law, a provision that would put to rest the debate over what Congress would do about funding highways and transit after the current law expires Sept. 30.
The spending bill, introduced midmorning, also includes a $10.4 billion general revenue transfer to the highway accounts in the Highway Trust Fund and a $3.2 billion transfer to the Mass Transit Account, as well as a $14 billion transfer to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
The House bill did not receive a warm welcome from Republicans who control the Senate, making its viability uncertain.
[White House backs $25B airline relief extension]
The extension of the surface transportation law comes as Congress deals with a number of transportation-related Sept. 30 deadlines. The date is also when the $25 billion in Payroll Support Program for passenger airlines expires. That aid was included in the $2 trillion coronavirus relief law that passed in March. Airlines and unions continue to argue for an extension of that funding through March 2021, but Congress remains at an impasse on future COVID-19 assistance packages.


rollcall--2020-09-21--Ruth Bader Ginsburg to be honored both at the Supreme Court and Capitol

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose at the Supreme Court and lie in state at the Capitol this @ @ @ @ @ an opportunity to pay their respects to the trailblazing judge .
The casket will arrive @ @ @ @ @ just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday , the court said in a statement .
Ginsburg ’ @ @ @ @ @ and members of the court will participate in a private ceremony in the court ’ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. Ginsburg will then lie in repose under the portico at the top of the @ @ @ @ @ Court building to allow for public viewing outdoors .
“ The public is invited to @ @ @ @ @ the Building from approximately 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Wednesday , September 23 , @ @ @ @ @ 10 p.m. on Thursday , September 24 , ” the court said in its statement @ @ @ @ @ law clerks will serve as honorary pallbearers and will line the front steps as the @ @ @ @ @ police officers will serve as pallbearers .

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose at the Supreme Court and lie in state at the Capitol this week, providing the public an opportunity to pay their respects to the trailblazing judge.
The casket will arrive in front of the court just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, the court said in a statement. Ginsburg’s family, close friends and members of the court will participate in a private ceremony in the court’s Great Hall at 9:30 a.m.
Ginsburg will then lie in repose under the portico at the top of the front steps of the Supreme Court building to allow for public viewing outdoors.
“The public is invited to pay respects in front of the Building from approximately 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, and from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 24,” the court said in its statement.
Ginsburg’s former law clerks will serve as honorary pallbearers and will line the front steps as the casket arrives. Supreme Court police officers will serve as pallbearers.


rollcall--2020-09-21--Supreme Court fight jolts battle for the Senate

The battle over replacing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court is infusing Senate candidates with a new burst of energy , with voters already casting ballots and Election Day just six weeks away .
Democrats channeled their grief and anger after Ginsburg ’ s death Friday into donations to candidates working to defeat Senate Republicans and take control of the chamber .
Some Republicans , however , expect a partisan fight over a high court vacancy to energize their base , boosting vulnerable senators in GOP-leaning states .
Judicial nominations have long motivated Republican voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the record fundraising numbers reported over the weekend suggest Democrats are tapping into frustration over Supreme Court fights that have rocked the past two election cycles .
Democrats have been reeling since 2016 , when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a hearing or vote on President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court nominee , Merrick Garland , leaving the seat vacant until after Donald Trump was inaugurated .
Democratic furor intensified in 2018 , when Brett M. Kavanaugh was confirmed to the high court amid accusations of sexual assault , which @ @ @

The battle over replacing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court is infusing Senate candidates with a new burst of energy, with voters already casting ballots and Election Day just six weeks away.
Democrats channeled their grief and anger after Ginsburg’s death Friday into donations to candidates working to defeat Senate Republicans and take control of the chamber.
Some Republicans, however, expect a partisan fight over a high court vacancy to energize their base, boosting vulnerable senators in GOP-leaning states.
Judicial nominations have long motivated Republican voters, particularly those who oppose abortion rights, but the record fundraising numbers reported over the weekend suggest Democrats are tapping into frustration over Supreme Court fights that have rocked the past two election cycles.
Democrats have been reeling since 2016, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a hearing or vote on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, leaving the seat vacant until after Donald Trump was inaugurated. Democratic furor intensified in 2018, when Brett M. Kavanaugh was confirmed to the high court amid accusations of sexual assault, which Kavanaugh denied.