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Video of the Day
President Trump Makes Remarks at the 2017 NABTU National Legislative Conference


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Today’s Hill Action
Senate Floor Schedule
The Senate reconvenes at 9:30 a.m. and will resume consideration of the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Time until 11 a.m. will be evenly divided between the Republicans and Democrats, and all remaining debate will alternate (starting with Republicans at 11) between parties on an hourly basis until 9 p.m.
Nominations: Neil Gorsuch to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Committee Hearings
9:30 a.m.: Southwest Border Fencing
9:30 a.m.: U.S. Strategic Command Programs
10:00 a.m.: Energy Delivery System Cybersecurity
10:00 a.m.: FDA User Fee Agreements (Part II)
10:00 a.m.: Clayton Nomination
10:15 a.m.: U.S.-EU Partnership Against Russian Aggression
2:15 p.m.: Intelligence Matters
2:15 p.m.: Intelligence Matters
2:30 p.m.: Multimodal Freight Transportation Network
2:30 p.m.: National Water Hazards and Vulnerabilities
2:30 p.m.: Cyber Threats to the U.S.
House Floor Schedule
The House reconvenes at noon for legislative business and is expected to consider measures under suspension of the rules. The chamber is also expected to consider the rule for a bill (HR 1219) that would increase the number of accredited investors who can form a qualifying venture capital fund to invest in small businesses and a bill (HR 1304) that would prevent stop-loss insurance for self-insured health care plans from being considered health care insurance.
HR 1304 – Self-Insurance Protection Act
HR 1667 – A bill to amend title 11 of the United States Code in order to facilitate the resolution of an insolvent financial institution in bankruptcy.
S 544 – A bill to amend Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to modify the termination date for the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes.
H Res 242 – A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (HR 1219) to amend the Investment Company Act of 1940 to expand the investor limitation for qualifying venture capital funds under an exemption from the definition of an investment company.
Committee Hearings
9:30 a.m.: FEMA Baton Rouge Flood Response (Part II)
10:00 a.m.: Agriculture and Tax Reform
10:00 a.m.: Opioid Abuse Crisis Response
10:00 a.m.: Cleanup/Economic Revitalization in Coal Communities
10:00 a.m.: Continuing Resolution Consequences
10:00 a.m.: Private Sector Employee Compensatory Time
10:00 a.m.: Federal Highway/Transit Aid Implementation
10:00 a.m.: Broadband Investment
10:00 a.m.: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Report
10:30 a.m.: Pending Legislation
11:00 a.m.: SBA Priorities for Entrepreneurs
11:00 a.m.: Pending Legislation
11:00 a.m.: Russian Election Interference Documents
2:00 p.m.: Pending Legislation
2:00 p.m.: State of the Marine Corps
2:00 p.m.: National Parks Improving Visitor Experience
2:00 p.m.: Assessing the Iran Deal
2:00 p.m.: Turkey’s Democracy Under Challenge
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North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Before Xi-Trump Meeting
North Korea conducted another ballistic missile test, drawing condemnation from countries in the region shortly before the first meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The projectile was fired into the East Sea early Wednesday and flew about 60 kilometers (37 miles), South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said in a text message. While the missile fell well short of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the launch was a “major provocation.” South Korea’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns” the launch.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has shown a propensity to break from State Department tradition on issues ranging from press access to its public promotion of human rights, was succinct in his reaction: “The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment.”
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Trump lacks leverage with Freedom Caucus
President Trump is thundering at members of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus over the collapse of the -ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill, but the conservative movement is showing little appetite so far for backing up Trump and punishing Freedom Caucus members at the ballot box.

House GOP leadership pulled its -ObamaCare bill last month in the face of Republican opposition from both moderates and Freedom Caucus members. Trump soon pinned the blame on the Freedom Caucus and threatened members who opposed the legislation with primary election challengers in 2018.

“The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!” Trump tweeted.
The president also singled out Freedom Caucus members Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) and Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) in another tweet.
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Senate Formally Takes Up Gorsuch Nomination, and Braces for Turmoil
The Senate on Tuesday began formal debate on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, hurtling toward a blistering partisan conflict this week over the selection itself, the chamber’s future rules and the decaying standards of civility among lawmakers.

The consideration of Judge Gorsuch began as the Republican majority leader, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, took a procedural step to end debate this week on President Trump’s nominee. Mr. McConnell’s maneuver will set in motion a series of critical votes expected to take place on Thursday and Friday. With an almost certain Democratic filibuster of the nomination, the Senate is to vote first on whether to end debate and proceed to an up-or-down vote.

If the filibuster holds, meaning fewer than 60 senators vote to proceed to a full vote on the nominee, Republicans have said they will pursue the so-called nuclear option: changing longstanding rules to elevate Judge Gorsuch on a simple majority vote. That would allow Judge Gorsuch to be confirmed on Friday.
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Until tomorrow,
Lobbyit.com