The House took a brief hiatus from August Recess this week to consider the Left’s tax and spend wish list and a partisan power grab to federalize our elections.

Drama reigned over how the Democrats would manage a 24-hour session as leadership struggled to get their “moderate” wing in line. They could not afford to lose these ten members if they were going to have enough votes to pass the excessive $3.5 trillion budget blueprint that Senate Democrats advanced. After late-night negotiations and enough public wrangling with this group of moderate members, who were demanding consideration of the Senate infrastructure bill first, the budget resolution was put up for a vote and passed along party lines.

As members chomped at the bit to flee back to their districts, Speaker Pelosi then brought H.R. 4, the deceptively named John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to the floor. H.R. 4 is a cheap alternative to H.R. 1, taking constitutionally derived authority away from the states for election law and transferring it to the federal government to second guess their every move. The legislation establishes a reckless formula to single out states and localities for so-called voting rights violations, requiring federal preclearance on any proposed changes to election laws or practices. In the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, the Supreme Court invalidated a similar provision contained in the original Voting Rights Act of 1965. The House passed H.R. 4 by another party-line vote. Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) notified members of our opposition to the bill and our intent to include it on our scorecard. You may view the letter here. Action on this bill now moves to the Senate when it returns in September.

The House Rules Committee also set the stage for consideration of the so-called bipartisan infrastructure package passed by the Senate when members return in September. This bill is another trojan horse for trillions in wasteful spending and radical, divisive policies that have nothing to do with meaningful investments in American infrastructure. CWALAC will continue to oppose the legislation’s advancement.

We will bring you the latest updates as Congress races towards the September 30 end of the fiscal year.