115th Congressional Dumpster Fire

The purpose of this page will be to compile Fark threads dealing with the dumpster fire that is the 115th U.S. Congress.

This page is for the month of 

For previous months, please see the archive

=Background= This section will provide background information about the members of the 115th U.S. Congress, or their party affiliation, etc. any information to give a basic overview of the 115th U.S. Congress that does not necessarily need a Fark-related thread.


 * date first called into session: January 3, 2017
 * date Americans can first expect relief: January 3, 2019
 * elections November 6, 2018
 * to read about all the Fark threads on the legislative crap they're up to click here, for outstanding individual achievements in assholery, click here, for "oversight hearings" click here and for confirmation hearings click here

Congresscritters and how to contact them

 * all members on Gov Track
 * House members
 * Senators

Current Pending Bills

 * all bills on Gov Track

Senate

 * Senate Committees

House

 * House Committees

Senate

 * Senate Committee Hearings and Meetings

House

 * House of Representatives Schedule
 * House Floor Summary

Congressional Record

 * Congressional Record

=Congress in General=

Separation of Powers


=Congressional Legislation= to view legislation introduced or debated by and for state legislations, please click here

Repeal ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act

Sell ISP information to advertisers
Senate Joint Resolution 34

Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2017 (HR 372)
repeal McCarran-Ferguson special exemption from federal antitrust laws

repeal Alaska National Wildlife Refuges Rule
allows shooting bears and wolves from aircraft and killing cubs and pups in their dens, even during hibernation

Repeal of ACA

 * 1) Background
 * 2) Backlash
 * 3) Repeal
 * 4) Replacement
 * 5) "Repair"
 * 6) Rescinding coal miners health benefits

House v. Price
formerly known as House v. Burwell
 * US District Judge Collyer sided with the lawmakers
 * "Congress authorized reduced cost-sharing but did not appropriate monies for it"
 * funds in question are separate from the tax credits for premiums
 * did not take any immediate action to stop the spending
 * the question of the House’s "standing" will remain an issue

MAR-A-LAGO Act
Make Access Records Available to Lead American Government Openness Act

The HONEST Act
Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act
 * would prohibit the EPA from writing any regulation that uses science that is not publicly available

JASTA
Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which allows relatives of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for their deaths

Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017

 * HR 953

=Congressional Votes on Legislation= for confirmation votes on nominees, please see the confirmation section below

DonTCare

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Fillibuster
is this still a thing anymore?

=Congressional Oversight=

Speier-Mattis-MacStravic letters
communications between Rep. Jackie Speier (D CA 14th), Defense Secretary James Mattis and acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, James MacStravic
 * in February, Speier wrote Mattis about the appearance that the President of the United States will financially benefit from this deal [the DoD leasing space in Trump Tower] with Mattis
 * on March 3, MacStravic wrote Speier that
 * the White House Military Office "requested approval to lease space in the Trump Tower for personnel assigned to support the President when at his private residence"
 * the residence in question was privately owned and negotiations "have been with the owner?s representatives only."
 * MacStravic was "temporarily performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics"
 * as such he would have to approve "an annual rental in excess of $1 million"

Chaffetz, DeSantis letters to Session and Tillerson

 * all documents relating to the January 16, 2016, prisoner exchange agreement with Iran
 * including the negotiations that preceded it
 * all information about the 21 Iranian-born men for whom the US dropped convictions or charges and international arrest warrants
 * information about whether State and Justice department officials delayed or blocked efforts to lure Iranian suspects to US-friendly countries so they could be arrested
 * information about all individuals and entities whose cases or convictions were dropped
 * also any information "for whom any enforcement action was modified or cancelled in connection with the [swap], and indicate the action taken and how it was modified or cancelled"
 * "any Iranian national or entity investigated for, charged with, or convicted of engaging in violations of export controls, terrorism, arms sales, nonproliferation, money laundering, or other financial crimes, from January 1, 2013, to the present"
 * to "make your staff available for a briefing on these issues no later than May 25"

13 Senators letters to Session, Tillerson and Mnuchin

 * Letter signed by:
 * Senator David Perdue of Georgia
 * Senator Thom Tillis (R NC)
 * Senator James Inhofe (R OK)
 * Senator John Boozman (R AK)
 * Senator Ben Sasse (R NE)
 * Senator Roger Wicker (R MS)
 * Senator Johnny Isakson (R GA)
 * Senator Marco Rubio (R FL)
 * Senator Ted Cruz (R TX)
 * Senator Mike Lee (R UT)
 * Senator Mike Rounds (R SD)
 * Senator Tim Scott (R SC)
 * Senator Luther Strange (R AL)
 * "respectfully request a report or an in-person briefing to Congress on this investigation at your earliest convenience"
 * letter included a list of questions they wanted answered

Murray, Cantwell and 9 other Senators letter to DoJ IG Horowitz
to Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, US Department of Justice
 * also signed:
 * Senator Martin Heinrich (D NM)
 * Senator Elizabeth Warren (D MA)
 * Senator Richard Blumenthal (D CT)
 * Senator Ron Wyden (D OR)
 * Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY)
 * Senator Jack Reed (D RI)
 * Senator Tammy Duckworth (D IL)
 * Senator Edward Markey (D MA)
 * Senator Tom Udall (D NM)

House Science Committee letter to the President

 * members of the Science Committee asking the President to ignore false science
 * date May 18, 2017
 * signed:
 * Rep. Don Beyer (D VA 8th)
 * Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D OR 1st)
 * Rep. Mark Takano (D CA 41st)
 * Rep. Bill Foster (D IL 11th)
 * Rep. Jerry McNerney (D CA 9th)
 * Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D CA 19th)
 * Rep. Jacky Rosen (D NV 3rd)

Reports from CBO
Congressional Budget Office

CRS
Congressional Research Service; known as Congress's think tank, is a public policy research arm of the US Congress

Gang of Eight
a group of eight Congress people who are notified in classified briefings of any change or developments in Trump-Russia investigation

Hearings for Russia Investigation Task Force
"Open and Closed Hearings for Russia Investigation Task Force"
 * full committee
 * May 23, 2017
 * Witness
 * John Brennan, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Tax Reform Spectacular & Job Extravaganza!
the Greatest Show in Congress!
 * Hearing on How Tax Reform Will Grow Our Economy and Create Jobs
 * May 18, 2017
 * Witnesses
 * John J. Stephens, Senior Executive VP and CFO, AT&T Inc.
 * Zachary Mottl, Chief Alignment Officer, Atlas Tool Works, Inc.
 * David N. Farr, chair and CEO, Emerson Electric Co.
 * Douglas L. Peterson, President and CEO, S&P Global Inc.
 * Steven Rattner, chair, Willett Advisors LLC

Senate Banking Policy Update, May 18, 2017

 * "Domestic and International Policy Update"
 * May 18, 2017
 * Witness
 * Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury

Request for Information from Carter Page

 * Senate Intelligence Committee is asking Page for
 * records of all his contacts with Russians during the campaign
 * all financial interactions he had with Russia
 * all communications he had with Trump campaign staff

Senate Intel, Worldwide Threats Hearing, May 11, 2017

 * "Open Hearing: Worldwide Threats Hearing"
 * May 11, 2017
 * Witnesses
 * Dan Coats Director of National Intelligence
 * Michael Pompeo Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
 * Admiral Michael Rogers Director of the National Security Agency
 * Andrew McCabe Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
 * Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
 * Robert Cardillo Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Senate Judiciary, Religious Hate Crimes Hearing

 * Full committee
 * "Responses to the Increase in Religious Hate Crimes"
 * Witnesses
 * Eric Treene
 * Special Counsel For Religious Discrimination, Civil Rights Division



Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, Russian Interference, 2016 Election Hearing

 * Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism
 * "Russian Interference in the 2016 United States Election"
 * Witnesses
 * Sally Yates
 * former Acting Attorney General


 * James Clapper
 * former Director of National Intelligence



Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

 * Full committee
 * "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation"
 * Witnesses
 * James Comey
 * director, Federal Bureau of Investigation



Senate Judiciary, Border Wall Boogaloo!
the Most Realistic Slap in the Face for Congress!
 * "Building America's Trust Through Border Security: Progress on the Southern Border"
 * May 23, 2017
 * Witness
 * Ronald Vitiello Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection

Trump-Russia Independent Commission
to investigate allegations of potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russians

=Confirmation Hearings=

Confirmation Hearings in General

 * 1) undefined

Nominee for Director of the FBI

 * 1) Nominated

Green for Army Secretary
state Senator Dr. Mark Green (R, TN, 22nd); retired Army flight surgeon; West Point grad; insane religious zealot

Clovis for USDA Undersecretary REE
Undersecretary of Research, Education and Economics
 * Sam Clovis: national co-chair, policy director, Trump campaign; economics professor, Morningside College''

Gingrich for US Ambassador to the Vatican
Callista Gingrich, bird-wife of former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich

Branstad for US Ambassador to China
Terry Branstad, former Iowa Governor
 * 1) china}}

Judicial Nominees
=Special Addresses to Congress=

=Congressional Staff=

=Special Elections=

Georgia

 * 6th Congressional District to fill seat of Tom Price who is now Secretary of Health and Human Services

Montana

 * At-large Congressional District to fill seat of Ryan Zinke, who is now Secretary of the Interior

Mark Wicks (L)
=Members of Congress=

Rep. Mark Meadows (R NC 11th)
chair, Freedom Caucus

Tuesday Group
informal caucus of about 50 moderate Republican representatives

GOP health care working groups

 * dismantling Medicaid
 * dismantling Obamacare regulations

Republican Study Committee
caucus of conservative House members of the Republican Party

Rep. Paul Ryan (R WI 4th)
Speaker of the House

AshLee Strong
spokeswoman for Speaker of the House, Rep. Ryan

Doug Andres
spokesman for Speaker of the House, Rep. Ryan

Senator Mitch McConnell (R KY)
Senate Majority Leader
 * 1) Nominated

Senate Leadership Fund
Super PAC "spin-off of the GOP mega-group American Crossroads"; executive director Steven Law

Steven Law
executive director, Senate Leadership Fund; former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R KY)

Senator John Cornyn (R TX)
Majority Whip

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R CA 23)
House Majority Leader

Senator Richard Burr (R NC)
chair, Senate Intelligence Committee

Senator Chuck Grassley (R IA)
chair, Senate Judiciary Committee

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R UT 3rd)
chair, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Rep. Devin Nunes (R CA 22nd)
''chair, House Intelligence Committee ... for now''

Rep. Michael McCaul (R TX 10th)
chair, House Homeland Security Committee

Rep. Lamar Smith (R, TX 21st)
chair, House Science, Space and Technology Committee

Rep. Pete Sessions (R TX 32nd)
chair, House Rules Committee

Senator Lamar Alexander (R TN)
chair, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)

Senator Mike Crapo (R ID)
chair, Senate Banking Committee

Rep. Darrell Issa (R CA 49)
chair, Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, House Judiciary

Senator Luther Strange (R AL)
former Attorney General for Alabama during DMV closure scandal

Rep. Ron DeSantis, (R FL 6th)
chair, Subcommittee on National Security, House Oversight

Rep. Greg Walden (R OR 2nd)
chair, House Energy and Commerce Committee

Rep. Kevin Brady (R TX 8th)
chair, House Ways and Means Committee

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R TX 5th)
chair, House Financial Services; author of the so-called Financial CHOICE Act

former Congressman Joe Walsh (R IL 8th)
former Republican Representative of Illinois' 8th district, radio personality

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D CA 12th)
House minority leader

Senator Chuck Schumer (D NY)
Senate minority leader

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D NY 14th)
chair, House Democratic Caucus

Senator Bill Cassidy (R LA)

 * 1) wrote letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking him, as chair of CFIUS, for a "thorough, conflict-free and expedient review" in the event that PDVSA defaults and Roseneft gains control of CITGO
 * 1) wrote letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking him, as chair of CFIUS, for a "thorough, conflict-free and expedient review" in the event that PDVSA defaults and Roseneft gains control of CITGO

Senator Bob Menendez (D NJ)

 * 1) wrote letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking him, as chair of CFIUS, for a "thorough, conflict-free and expedient review" in the event that PDVSA defaults and Roseneft gains control of CITGO

Senator John Cornyn (R TX)

 * 1) wrote letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking him, as chair of CFIUS, for a "thorough, conflict-free and expedient review" in the event that PDVSA defaults and Roseneft gains control of CITGO

Senator Ted Cruz (R TX)

 * 1) wrote letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking him, as chair of CFIUS, for a "thorough, conflict-free and expedient review" in the event that PDVSA defaults and Roseneft gains control of CITGO

Senator Marco Rubio (R FL)

 * 1) wrote letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking him, as chair of CFIUS, for a "thorough, conflict-free and expedient review" in the event that PDVSA defaults and Roseneft gains control of CITGO

Senator Dick Durbin (D IL)
Minority Whip
 * 1) wrote letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin asking him, as chair of CFIUS, for a "thorough, conflict-free and expedient review" in the event that PDVSA defaults and Roseneft gains control of CITGO

Rep. Jackie Speier (D CA 14th)
member, House Armed Services and House Intelligence committees; discussed "the appearance that the President of the United States will financially benefit from this deal [the DoD leasing space in Trump Tower]" with SecDef Mattis and James MacStravic

Speier-Mattis-MacStravic letters
communications between Rep. Jackie Speier (D CA 14th), Defense Secretary James Mattis and acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, James MacStravic
 * in February, Speier wrote Mattis about the appearance that the President of the United States will financially benefit from this deal [the DoD leasing space in Trump Tower] with Mattis
 * on March 3, MacStravic wrote Speier that
 * the White House Military Office "requested approval to lease space in the Trump Tower for personnel assigned to support the President when at his private residence"
 * the residence in question was privately owned and negotiations "have been with the owner?s representatives only."
 * MacStravic was "temporarily performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics"
 * as such he would have to approve "an annual rental in excess of $1 million"

Senator Lindsey Graham (R SC)
chair, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Senate Judiciary Cmte

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R UT 3rd)
chair, House Oversight Committee

Rep. Will Hurd (R TX 23rd)
member, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Senator Richard Burr (R NC)
chair, Senate Intelligence Committee

Senator Mark Warner (D VA)
ranking member, Senate Intelligence Committee

Rep. Mike Conaway (R TX 11th)
chair of the House Agriculture Committee

Senator Chuck Grassley (R IA)
chair, Senate Judiciary Committee

On The Fence
these Congresscritters aren't sure yet how their decisions will play politically, so they're not committing to anything publicly

Senator Richard Burr (R NC)
chair, Senate Intelligence Committee

Senator Lindsey Graham (R SC)
chair, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Senate Judiciary Cmte

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R CA 23rd)
House Majority Leader

Senator Mitch McConnell (R KY)
Senate Majority Leader

Rep. Mark Meadows (R NC 11th)
chair, Freedom Caucus

Rep. Mark Walker (R NC 6th)
chair, Republican Study Committee

WTF?
who knows what's going on here or why

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D CA 12th)
House minority leader

Senator Lindsey Graham (R SC)
chair, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Senate Judiciary Cmte

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R UT 3rd)
chair, House Oversight Committee

Senator Lindsey Graham (R SC)
chair, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Senate Judiciary Cmte

Victims of Threats and Vandalism
Several GOP Representatives have been the victims of threats and vandalism
 * Rep. Martha McSally (R AZ 2nd)
 * Rep. David Kustoff (R TN 8th)
 * Rep. Thomas Garrett (R VA 5th)
 * Rep. Dave Brat (R VA 7th)
 * Rep. Tom MacArthur (R NJ 3rd)
 * Rep. Kevin Cramer (R ND 1st)
 * Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R NE 1st)
 * Rep. Ted Yoho (R FL 3rd)

Senator Mitch McConnell (R KY)
Senate Majority Leader

Senator John Cornyn (R TX)
Senate Republican Whip

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D CA 12nd)
House minority leader

Senator Chuck Schumer (D NY)
Senate minority leader

Senator John Thune (R SD)
chair, Senate GOP Conference

Rep. Paul Ryan (R WI 1st)
Speaker of the House

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D FL 23rd)
former DNC chair; member House Appropriations Committee

=Links=