The House Rules Committee on Thursday night approved a rule governing how House members on Friday will debate two resolutions related to Libya.

Under the rule, Republicans and Democrats will have one hour to debate a resolution introduced by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), which criticizes the Obama administration for failing to seek congressional authorization for continued operations in Libya.

Members of the House on Thursday night approved what appears to be one of the few amendments to H.R. 2055, the 2012 appropriations bill for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and related agencies.

The en bloc amendment from Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) would increase funding for suicide prevention outreach to veterans, reduce wait times for mental health services and increase funding for research into prosthetics. The amendment was quickly approved on a voice vote.

The House on Thursday night approved a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill for FY 2012 that funds DHS at $42 billion -- $1 billion lower than the FY 2011 funding level, and $3 billion lower than the Obama administration's request.

Members approved the bill in a 231-188 vote in which 17 Democrats joined all but 20 Republicans in supporting it.

The House on Thursday evening finished debate and vote on several amendments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill, and was expected to approve the bill soon afterwards.

Members approved several amendments to the bill in the last round of votes. One from Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) was approved in a 251-168 vote, and would prevent DHS from using funds for ACORN or its affiliates. This amendment led to controversial debate late Wednesday night.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Wednesday said Texas governor Rick Perry would be a contender for the presidency in 2012 if he entered the race. 

"I think he'd have a good story to tell ... about the Texas success story and the Texas model," Cornyn said, according to the Miami Herald.

"I have no knowledge as to whether he intends to run," said Cornyn. "He's spent a fair amount of time talking about what is wrong with Washington and what's right in Texas. I don't know whether he really wants to go into the lion's den in Washington, D.C." Read more...

Sen. Richard Burr, (R-N.C.) on Wednesday said the 112th Congress has been the least productive of any he has seen since he was elected to the House back in 1992.

“In the 17 years that I’ve served, I have never seen a less productive period than I have over the last five months,” Burr said. “In part because of politics, but also in part because of the magnitude of the issues that we’re dealing with.” Read more...

A resolution introduced Thursday by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) directly criticizes the Obama administration for failing to seek congressional authorization for continued operations in Libya, and would require the administration to report on its justification for doing so.

The House Rules Committee will approve a rule for the resolution, H.Res. 292, Thursday evening. A rule will also be approved for a resolution from Rep. Dennis Kucinich (R-Ohio) that would direct the administration to remove all troops from Libya. Votes on both resolutions could take place Friday.

"The President has failed to provide Congress with a compelling rationale based upon United States national security interests for current United States military activities regarding Libya," Boehner's resolution says.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) on Wednesday applauded the Senate's defeat of the Ryan 2012 budget plan calling it a "dangerous budget proposal" and accusing Republicans of being on a "mission to destroy Medicare."

 “Senate Democrats defeated a dangerous budget proposal in Washington last week that would have ended Medicare as we know it,” Lautenberg said while speaking at a rally for senior citizens according to New Jersey Today. “Despite our victory, Republicans in Washington are not giving up on their mission to destroy Medicare.” Read more...

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.