Greetings from this not-at-all busy and exhausting news week!
For those who just fell out of a coconut tree: President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race Sunday. By Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris had locked up enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee — including the unanimous support of Nevada’s 49-delegate slate. Yet despite the cries of journalists for the news cycle to slow down, Congress apparently left us on read and still had plenty to do this week.
Often in sports media, reporters will publish their “notebook” — a collection of smaller updates from training camp or practice. I’m going to do a Nevada Notes: Congress news this week, with some updates on what went on and where the Nevada delegation stood on it (no 40-yard-dash times yet).
I’ll also have a story out tomorrow on Harris’ many, many connections to Nevada — so stay tuned for that as well.
The News of the Week: Congress notebook
- Nevadans on Netanyahu
The biggest story in Congress this week? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a joint address from the House floor, earning cheers, boycotts from dozens of Democrats and massive protests near the Capitol.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), a Palestinian American and outspoken critic of Israel, held up a “War Criminal” sign on the floor. Democrats as prominent as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) skipped the speech entirely, calling it the “worst presentation of any foreign dignitary.”
But Nevada’s delegation stayed out of the headlines.
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who have continued to support Israel while calling for further humanitarian aid into Gaza as the death toll has risen, attended the speech.
Cortez Masto brought Rabbi Felipe Goodman, from Temple Beth Shalom in Las Vegas, as her guest, and called for Hamas to accept the Biden-proposed ceasefire deal. Israel reportedly wants changes to the deal structure — Harris, who met with Netanyahu, put the onus on him to achieve a ceasefire. Rosen brought Alon Gat, the brother of a Hamas hostage.
Meanwhile, Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) also attended the speech. Neither Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) nor Steven Horsford (D-NV) watched Netanyahu’s address from the House floor — though neither said they did so as an act of protest.
In a statement, Titus said she was unable to attend the speech but still watched it — and maintained her support for Israel.
“Israel’s military response to the Hamas invasion was a necessary step,” she said. “Now we must work toward an agreement that brings the hostages home and protects innocent Palestinians. It is also my hope that we can broker a permanent solution that results in self-governance by the people of Gaza and strips Hamas of any ruling authority role in that government.”
Horsford, meanwhile, planned to attend Netanyahu’s speech but was kept from doing so by a last minute family medical emergency, according to a spokesperson. But he plans to keep working to “strengthen the U.S. and Israel relationship.”
- Spending bills peter out
When Rep. Mark Amodei’s (R-NV) homeland security funding bill passed the House in late June, it was a triumph for him as a budget cardinal and for Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole’s (R-OK) strategy for passing spending bills through regular order (not in an omnibus) during the summer.
Amodei and Republicans were able to avoid the intraparty floor fights that plagued spending bills in 2023, navigating their narrow majority by picking up five Democratic votes in passing the funding bill, overcoming lack of support from six Republicans.
But a month later, the House is poised to leave until Labor Day after a string of appropriations failures. Republicans planned to pass four spending bills this week, but only ended up passing one — Interior. Others were pulled from the floor due to concerns about passage.
Of the 12 spending bills, only five have passed the House. When the House members return, they will — as they often do — have to pass a stopgap measure, because the government runs out of funding Sept. 30. The length of the stopgap will be the tricky part to negotiate — although members of both parties expect a full funding bill will not pass until the lame duck session after the election, once they know who will be in charge of each branch of the government moving forward.
- Senate deals?
Not all hope is lost for productivity in Congress! Two Senate deals were negotiated this week, and one even appears poised to pass.
By a vote of 86-1 — including the support of both Nevadans — a bill to protect children’s digital safety cleared a procedural hurdle, teeing up a vote. The legislation would prevent social media platforms from using data for kids younger than 17, raising the age threshold that was previously 12. In addition, it would require tech companies to create specific, actionable plans to keep exploitation and bullying of children off of their platforms.
And while another Senate deal is less likely to receive a vote, the fact that it’s been achieved at all is a massive step for proponents of permitting reform — a huge issue in Nevada.
Sens. Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY) agreed to a framework to speed up the pace to bring energy projects online. Notably, the deal would shorten the time frame in which lawsuits can be filed to block a project and prioritize a quicker build of the nation’s interregional electric grid as well as all energy projects — renewable and fossil fuels.
Opposition is mostly concentrated in environmental advocates and progressives — and the complex politics make passage this year unlikely.
Around the Capitol
🍎Fixing a labor loophole — Horsford introduced a bill Thursday to ensure contracted school support staff — think custodians, nurses and bus drivers — are included in the same health care benefits that cover school employees such as teachers.
Currently, school support staff’s full-time status is determined by a 12-month calendar rather than the nine-month one that direct employees of schools operate under, making many of them non-full-timers and therefore ineligible for the health care coverage that teachers get. The bill would close that loophole, and is supported by unions including the American Federation of Teachers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
🎖️Fixing a military loophole — Not to be outdone on loopholes, Cortez Masto, in partnership with Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), introduced a bill to ensure reserve service members get more days of paid leave in order to attend training. Reservists need to attend 12 weekends and 14 days’ worth of training annually, but federal employees are only allocated 15 days of paid military leave.
The bill would give federal employees who are reserve service members an additional five days of leave — with the goal of improving recruitment and retention among reservists.
What I’m Reading
KLAS: Not all Nevada Democrats on board with ‘no taxes on tips’ as House bill introduced
While Lee joined the bill, Titus said it needs to be coupled with a minimum wage increase.
The Nevada Independent: ‘Harrismentum’? Nevada campaign sees more enthusiasm, volunteers after Biden withdrawal
It’s a Kamalanomenon.
The Hill: Manchin, Barrasso announce permitting reform deal, breaking lengthy impasse
More details on the big permitting news.
Notable and Quotable
I think this is going to be an election where women are going to turn out to protect our freedoms.”
— Lee, on why she thinks Harris will be an effective messenger at the top of the ticket
Vote of the Week
H.Res.1367 — On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended: Establishing the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump
The rare vote in Congress that had no objections.
AMODEI: Yes
HORSFORD: Yes
LEE: Yes
TITUS: Yes
