Legislative Debate

House Democrats on Tuesday argued that proposed Republican cuts to agricultural programs would literally starve needy Americans, while Republicans argued that Democrats were demagoguing a bill that actually increases food assistance programs and cuts in other areas.

"As written, this is a pro-hunger bill," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) charged. "A vote for this bill is a vote to willfully allow people in America and around the world to go without food."

House Republicans on Monday afternoon were trying once again to keep pro-union language out of a spending bill, this time the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, H.R. 2055.

In afternoon debate on amendments, several Republicans spoke out against a proposal to change the bill to make it easier for the government to justify the use of contract labor agreements in large military construction projects.

Wednesday's planned Senate vote on whether to delay limits on debit-card fees charged to businesses has split Senate Democrats, which is forcing a more cautious debate in the upper chamber as members approach a 2 p.m. vote.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has argued strenuously all week against delaying limits on fees, but cautioned on Wednesday morning that this opposition should not be read as a more serious dispute between himself and Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).

"Any remarks that I make today are no reflection on them at all," Durbin said. "I think they're both honorable people who are standing tall for their point of view, which I happen to disagree with.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) this week introduced legislation that would subject U.S. contractors overseas to U.S. criminal law, including private contractors involved in U.S. military actions in the Middle East. Leahy said his bill is partly a reaction to the shooting of unarmed Iraqi citizens by Blackwater security contractors in 2007.

"Tragic events in Iraq and Afghanistan highlight the need to strengthen the laws providing for jurisdiction over American Government employees and contractors working abroad," Leahy said. "The Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act accomplishes this important and common sense goal by allowing United States contractors and employees working overseas who commit specific crimes to be tried and sentenced under U.S. law."

The House went into recess at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday, in large part to allow House Democrats to meet with President Obama at the White House.

Members adjourned after considering a handful of additional amendments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill, and is expected to hold votes on these later in the day.

House lawmakers will vote on amendments to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and block funds for the Libya operation.

The House late Tuesday was thrown off its schedule and is now expected to complete work on a healthcare bill Wednesday.

The bill, H.R. 1216, would scale back federal funding for graduate medical student education. One amendment to the bill, from Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), would ensure remaining funds are not used for abortion training.

Tuesday's House debate on a bill that would eliminate automatic funding for a healthcare program quickly escalated past the bill's $220 million in savings over the next decade, and prompted both parties to revisit last year's healthcare debate and passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) said the bill is a small step toward letting Congress reclaim its jurisdiction over federal spending. The program in question is automatically funded in PPACA — Republicans are trying to make it a discretionary program that has to be authorized every year.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) signaled Monday that the Senate would soon turn to a controversial piece of legislation to do away with billions of dollars in tax breaks for large oil producers and increase breaks for clean-energy producers.

As Reid welcomed Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to the Senate Monday afternoon. he noted the upper chamber would soon have opportunities to "make tough choices" and referred to the upcoming energy legislation.

The House adjourned at 10:15 Thursday night after concluding four hours of debate on the fiscal 2012 budget resolution, and will return at 9 a.m. to finish work on a handful of substitute amendments.

Before adjourning, the House debated a substitute amendment from Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus that Cleaver said would avoid cuts to education, health, technology and other programs that the House GOP budget resolution would make.

Cleaver asked for a recorded vote on his amendment, which will occur on Friday.

The Senate, having passed the 2011 spending bill after the House passed it, adjourned and returns in two weeks.