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Video of the Day
President Trump Participates in a Farmers Roundtable


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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 R. Alexander Acosta to be secretary of Labor. A cloture vote is expected at 11:30 a.m.
Nominations: R. Alexander Acosta of Florida to be secretary of Labor.
Committee Hearings
10:00 a.m.: Federal Programs Waste and Fraud
10:00 a.m.: Pending Legislation/Gottlieb Nomination
10:00 a.m.: Rural America Small Business
10:00 a.m.: Thapar/Delrahim Nominations
10:00 a.m.: Free Enterprise in Space
10:00 a.m.: Elwood Nomination
10:15 a.m.: WOTUS Rule Review
10:30 a.m.: National Guard/Reserve Programs
1:30 p.m.: Mushingi/Haskell Nominations
House Floor Schedule
The House reconvenes at noon for legislative business. The chamber is expected to consider a bill (HR 1695) that would provide for the Register of Copyrights in the Library of Congress to be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
HR 1695 – Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act
Committee Hearings
10:00 a.m.: Disability Fraud Prevention
10:00 a.m.: Indo-Asia-Pacific Security Challenges
10:00 a.m.: Financial Accountability Reform
10:00 a.m.: Unfunded Mandates
10:00 a.m.: Space Life Search
10:00 a.m.: Hazardous Material Transport Infrastructure
10:00 a.m.: Bureau of Prisons/U.S. Marshals Service Oversight
10:00 a.m.: Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments
10:30 a.m.: Private Sector Worker Compensatory Time
11:00 a.m.: SBA Disaster Loan Program
1:30 p.m.: U.S. Pacific Command
2:00 p.m.: Defense IT/Acquisition Management
2:00 p.m.: Tax Filing Season 2017
2:00 p.m.: Foreign Account Tax Compliance
2:30 p.m.: Sudan Sanctions
2:30 p.m.: China’s Technological Rise
4:00 p.m.: Pending Legislation
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Mnuchin Says Corporate Tax Cut in Overhaul to Be Outlined Today
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed the administration plans to propose a corporate tax rate reduction to 15 percent and said lawmakers are broadly in agreement over tax reform, citing a “very successful meeting” on Tuesday evening.

Broad principles of the tax-overhaul proposal will be revealed later on Wednesday, Mnuchin said at an event in Washington. The administration wants to implement the biggest tax cuts and reform in U.S. history as part of a drive to boost economic growth to 3 percent, he said. Business tax relief is aimed at small firms and it’s not supposed to provide loopholes for the rich, he said.

“It’s clear that the House, the Senate, the administration are all on the same page: that tax reform is a major priority to boost the economy,” Mnuchin said. “We have a very uncompetitive system that’s hindering the economy and jobs.”
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Defiant Trump Vows to Take Immigration Case to Supreme Court
President Trump vowed on Wednesday to challenge California jurisdictions all the way to the Supreme Court after a federal judge there stopped him from withholding funds to penalize them for shielding illegal immigrants.

Mr. Trump, who twice has been blocked by courts from imposing a temporary travel ban on visitors from select Muslim-majority countries, expressed frustration that once again a judge in a single district could thwart him from taking action. The judge who issued the latest ruling hails from California, the same state as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which heard the previous cases.

“First the Ninth Circuit rules against the ban & now it hits again on sanctuary cities-both ridiculous rulings,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “See you in the Supreme Court!”
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House GOP health bill changes exempt members of Congress
A new amendment to the Republican ObamaCare replacement bill exempts members of Congress and their staff from its effects.

The new changes to the bill would allow states to apply for waivers to repeal key ObamaCare provisions, such as the protection against people with pre-existing conditions being charged more and the requirement that insurers cover a range of health services, like prescription drugs and mental health.

The GOP amendment exempts members of Congress and their staffs to ensure that they will still be protected by those ObamaCare provisions.

The exemption was flagged by health law professor Tim Jost.
Read more
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Until tomorrow,
Lobbyit.com