Blog: This Week in Congress: September 12, 2011

Statement

This week, the House will consider eight bills: a bill relating to mass killings, a bill to extend the appeal filing deadline for U.S. employees, a bill to protect judicial officers and employees filing financial disclosures, funding for the Commission on International Religious Freedom, reauthorization for our nation's FAA and surface transportation programs, a bill to expand the use of charter schools, a resolution expressing disapproval of our raising of the debt ceiling, and a bill to limit the authority of the National Labor Relations Board.

The Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act (H.R. 2076) would authorize the Attorney General and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in the investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in schools, colleges, nonfederal office buildings, malls, and other public places, and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings. "Mass killings" would be defined as three or more killings in a single incident.

The Appeal Time Clarification Act (H.R. 2633) would amend the federal judicial code with regards to time limits for filing an appeal to any judgment, order, or decree in a civil action, suit, or proceeding. Currently, a U.S. officer or agency must file an appeal within 60 days after an entry of judgment; this bill would extend the application deadline for current and former U.S. employees who are being sued in connection with their official duties.

The House will also consider H.R. 1059. This bill would revise the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to give the Judicial Conference permanent authority to redact financial disclosure reports filed by a judicial officer or employee if the Conference finds that revealing this information could endanger the filer or the filer's family.

The House will also consider the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011 (H.R. 2867). This bill would extend funding and authority of the Commission on International Religious Freedom, a committee within the State Department responsible for seeking out and responding to violations of religious freedom abroad.

H.R. 2887 would extend funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and surface transportation programs. This includes highway safety programs, federal-aid highway programs, the airport and airway trust fund, and air navigation facilities.

The House will continue to consider the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act (H.R. 2218). This bill would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand the use of charter schools throughout the country. It would replace the current charter school grant program with a program to award grants to state entities (including state educational agencies, state charter school boards, or governors) and subgrants to charter school developers to open new charter schools and expand and replicate high-quality charter schools.

House Joint Resolution 77 (H.J.Res. 77) would express disapproval of the president's raising of the debt limit. Congress voted last month to raise the debt limit so that our country would not default.

Lastly, the House will consider the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act (H.R. 2587). This bill would limit the National Labor Relations Board's authority by prohibiting it from ordering any employer to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstance.

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