House makes quick work of Judiciary Committee bills

The House on Tuesday afternoon quickly debated two non-controversial bills and was expected to approve them easily later Tuesday evening.

The first bill members debated was H.R. 2944, to reauthorize the U.S. Parole Commission. The commission expires at the end of this year, and supervises about 1,000 federal prisoners who are still eligible for parole. Parole for others held in federal custody is not an option, as Congress ended federal parole in the 1980s. Only those who are grandfathered into the system are eligible.

The bill would extend the authority of the commission for another three years.

The second bill is H.R. 2189, the Death in Custody Reporting Act. That bill would reauthorize a 2000 law that required reports on deaths that occur during arrest, and while people are in prison.

Both bills were brought up under a suspension of House rules, usually reserved for non-controversial legislation. Votes are expected by 6:30 p.m.

The House adjourned before 2:30 p.m., but is expected back at about 3:30 p.m. to debate three other non-controversial bills. These are H.R. 2646, which authorizes hospital construction under the Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 2005, to reauthorize a federal autism detection and intervention program; and H.R. 1852, to reauthorize spending on graduate medical residency training programs.