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View this email in your browser Legislative Snapshot United We Stand                                 May 24, 2025 > > > Please note that the Daily Brief will not be published next Monday, May 26th -- in honor of Memorial Day. We will return on Tuesday, May 27th. Thank you!  Capitol Hill Prayer Partners P.O. Box 5152 Herndon, VA 20172-1970 chpp1994@gmail.com Please Visit the Website Here DONATE TODAY We Welcome Your Gifts! The Daily Brief: Legislative Snapshot Saturday, May 24, 2025 "For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations." (Psalm 22:28) "We the People" "Standing United Together . . . Under the Cross of Christ" Today's Top Story RFK Jr's highly anticipated MAHA report paints dismal state of child health, national security concerns President Donald Trump's Make America Healthy Again Commission released its anticipated report assessing chronic diseases that have gripped U.S. youths in recent years, pinning blame for a spike in childhood issues on a host of variables stretching from ingesting foods with added chemicals to an increase in prescribing pharmaceuticals to young kids.  "After a century of costly and ineffective approaches, the federal government will lead a coordinated transformation of our food, health, and scientific systems," the report, released Thursday and reviewed by Fox News Digital, outlined. "This strategic realignment will ensure that all Americans—today and in the future—live longer, healthier lives, supported by systems that prioritize prevention, wellbeing, and resilience."  Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. serves as chair of the commission and attended a call with the media earlier Thursday, when he explained that the report is a "diagnosis" of the state of U.S. health, and that the "prescription" for the ongoing issues will be released in 100 days at the end of August in the form of policy recommendations for the federal government.  The report's findings include teenage depression nearly doubling from 2009 to 2019, more than one-in-five children over the age of 6 being considered obese, one-in-31 children diagnosed with autism by age 8 and childhood cancer spiking by 40% since 1975.   (Fox News) Read more here - Lord God, Abba Father, we praise and thank You for the life of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and that You have placed a burning desire within him to make our citizenry—especially the children—healthy again, or, for the first time for some. We are in deep need of Your help and forgiveness, Abba, for allowing the health of our nation to plummet over recent decades. Aware or unaware, many are not treating our bodies as a temple for Your Holy Spirit. We confess for many individuals, families, communities, and especially big business:  ignorance, busyness, laziness, poor self-control; lies and manipulation through advertising; greed, media reporting and complicit government agencies; priorities out of order; and, especially, failing to hear and obey Your word and Your still small voice. Apparently our younger generation(s) has reaped what we have sown. We are grateful for those voices and role models over the past decades that have seen and reminded us what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. They warned us of different toxins, additives and habits injurious to our health and development, sometimes in the face of character assassination, disbelief or apathy. But now, we look forward to Your using Senator Kennedy and others for forthcoming “gold-standard science and research” that points the way to health, as well as implements new practices in the food, drug and manufacturing industries to replace what is known to be toxic. May our agricultural and manufacturing processes reflect Your wisdom and knowledge. Guide the medical community to take a proactive, preventive stance on our national health. Help us dear Father to see the light regarding our health and to grab hold of Your hand to help us out of the dark pit that has affected multitudes with sickness, disease, poor mental, physical and spiritual health, and a shortened lifespan. Help us to be more informed and disciplined and, especially, to model and teach our children that a healthy lifestyle leads to a basis for an abundant life. In Your Name, amen and amen. - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body."  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) China Faces COVID-19 Resurgence With Symptoms of Sharp, Burning Sore Throat  “Razor blade throat” is a term used in China to describe severe throat pain, akin to swallowing shattered glass or razor blades.   China is experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19, with patients reporting symptoms of severe, burning throat pain, experts say. Zhong Nanshan, one of China’s leading pulmonologists and epidemiologists, said in an interview with China-based media on May 19 that the “razor blade throat” symptom is more pronounced in this wave of resurgence, accompanied by more frequent coughing. “Razor blade throat” is a term used in China to describe severe throat pain, akin to swallowing shattered glass or razor blades. Dr. Li Tongzeng, director of the Infectious Diseases Department at Beijing You’an Hospital, told Chinese media that the new wave of COVID-19, which began in March, is expected to peak in late May. According to Zhong, the dominant strain in this wave is the Omicron XDV variant, which is highly transmissible but relatively less virulent. Early symptoms include fever, headaches, fatigue, a burning throat, and severe coughing. He believes the epidemic is still in the “climbing phase” and is expected to last six to eight weeks and subside by the end of June. Missing Data The Chinese regime has faced long-standing accusations of concealing epidemic data, particularly regarding death tolls. Although “rising COVID-19 infections” trended on Weibo, Chinese media downplayed the epidemic, and experts noted significant missing or uninformative data from the authorities. Dr. Jonathan Liu, a professor at the Canadian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and director of Kang Mei TCM Clinic and skeptic of data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC), said official data for March reported that seven people died from COVID-19 that month. (The Epoch Times) Read more here. - Father God, we simply ask that our own epidemiologists would identify and block any further spread of this horrible disease. We ask that our own government would make every resource that is needed to be available to those who will fight this disaster, preventing it from infiltrating our nation. We ask this in Your mighty name, amen and amen. - ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’ (Job 38:11) Supreme Court upholds Oklahoma decision, in blow to religious charter schools An evenly divided Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against a religious school that sought public funding from the state of Oklahoma.  In a 4-4 vote, the justices upheld the Oklahoma State Supreme Court's decision that for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma City to receive public funds would be unconstitutional. Justice Amy Coney Barrett had recused herself from the case.  The court issued a one-sentence ruling upholding the lower court's decision, saying only: "The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court." Oklahoma has argued that providing state funds for a religious charter school violates the First Amendment.  In more than two hours of wide-ranging oral arguments last month, justices appeared split along ideological lines over whether to allow St. Isidore to become the first religious charter school in the U.S.  The justices focused on two questions during the oral arguments. The first question was whether charter schools should be treated as public schools, which are considered extensions of the state and therefore subject to the Establishment Cause and its ban establishing or endorsing a religion; or if the school should be considered a private entity or contractor, which was the argument made by St. Isidore. The second question was whether Oklahoma’s actions violated the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution, by placing what the school argues is an undue burden on its religious mission. (Fox News) Read more here.  The case is number 24-394. - By stating only that "The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court," the Supreme Court has effectively shut down any further discussion of the right for religious schools to apply for public funding. Lord God, this seems to be a harsh judgment, and one that we do not fully understand. We pray now in the Spirit for Your perfect will to be done in this Court. Amen and amen. - "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26) Recent Floor Activity Congressional Record May 17, 2025 - No. 83 D486-488 -- H2107-2108 E443 Entire Issue (PDF 704KB) May 19, 2025 - No. 84 D489-498 S2957-2981 H2109-2148 E445-451 Entire Issue (PDF 1MB) May 20, 2025 - No. 85 D500-508 S2983-3016 H2149-2199 E453-458 Entire Issue (PDF 1MB) May 21, 2025 - No. 86 D510-518 S3017-3097 H2201-2363 E459-469 Entire Issue: Part 1, Part 2 May 22, 2025 - No. 87 D530-534 S3099-3148 -- -- Entire Issue (PDF 820KB) May 23, 2025 - No. 88 D535-536 S3149 H2365-2369 E471-478 Entire Issue (PDF 922KB) Floor activity Senate — Votes Monday Senate begins consideration of stablecoins (S. 1582) • bill divides Senate Democrats Tuesday Senate Passes Bill to Eliminate Federal Taxes on Tips (S. 129) • What to know Wednesday Senate GOP blocks Schumer's bill barring Qatari jet gift (S. 1804) • 5 actions Democrats taking against jet Senate sidesteps parliamentarian, widens reach of CRA (S.J.Res. 55) • Cheers heard in Senate during Pacers, Knicks NBA game amid late night votes Thursday In CRA first, Senate blocks an EPA waiver after procedural change (H.J.Res. 88, H.J.Res. 87, H.J.Res. 89) • Senate votes to stop California from mandating EVs, which would have impacted drivers nationwide • Resounding Defeat for Climate Activists • Senate sends measure to Trump’s desk Friday House of Representatives — Votes Monday Tuesday Wednesday House passes Trump budget bill (H.R. 1) after marathon session • Trump hails • White House deputy chief of staff says Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' is a massive win for Congress • Speaker Johnson Statement • Scalise statement • Johnson: Win for Hardworking Americans, President is waiting with his pen. the American people are waiting for relief. • CNN: massive win for president’s agenda • CBO: Estimated Budgetary Effects • What’s in the bill • tax cuts, Medicaid reforms • Pro-life groups praise House budget bill cutting Medicaid funding for abortion provider Planned Parenthood • SALT: raises the cap on deductions from $10,000 to $40,000 a year • House GOP makes changes on SALT and Medicaid • House moderates accept sledgehammer approach to green energy tax credits • 5 takeaways: Trump tightens grip on House GOP, Deficits expected to climb, Thune facing big challenges ahead, Climate change takes a step back, Bill sets up Senate battle over Medicaid • Republicans Hail Major Reasons ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Is Key To Unleashing ‘Golden Age’ (50 reasons) • The bond market gets a vote, too: Best-case: if tariff revenues continue to tick up from tariffs that are in place, that could alleviate some concerns that the passage of the Big, Beautiful Bill would add too much to the deficit. The bill also has the added benefit of removing a massive near-term risk – the debt ceiling – off the table, enabling America to make good on its debt obligations. Businesses could grow more certain about the economy from the passage of the tax cut bill and more trade deals, both of which would be viewed as pro-growth and pro-business. That could reignite corporate investment and restore faith in America’s economy. If, then, spending talks in September somehow lead to bipartisan support for sharply reduced spending, then perhaps Trump’s promise of a new economic Golden Age is possible, after all. Of course, the problem with that scenario is it requires a lot of things to go right all at the same time – and therein lies the biggest, yet least-understood risk Trump faces: Everything in his plan is connected to everything else. Worst-case: Surging bond rates raise the risk of a spiral that just a few months ago would have been viewed as unthinkable in the near term. The worst-case scenario remains remote – one of the few things the vast majority of market participants and White House officials agree on these days. But it remains a possibility, and a terrifying one. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent captured it concisely during a hearing just two weeks ago when he was asked by Congressman Chuck Edwards what it would look like if the US government’s debt levels became “unsustainable.” “It would look like a sudden stop in the economy as the credit would disappear as markets would lose confidence,” Bessent said. “I’m committed to that not happening, and again, a tipping point in sustainability is very difficult to pinpoint, but what is not difficult to pinpoint is a trajectory, and the trajectory is unsustainable.” “When and if the markets were to rebel against is very difficult to know,” he continued. “I think that it’s very important not to go on the warning track, and we’ve got to get to the other side of this and start reducing the debt.” • How the big, beautiful and expensive bill could cost you: The more leveraged that investors believe the federal government to be, the more they will likely demand in compensation in the form of higher interest rates. And that has significant consequences. … US debt-to-GDP, a closely watched gauge of a nation’s leverage, stood at around 62% before the Great Recession began in 2007. Today it stands above 120% and is on track to continue growing. • Why the bond market is worried (The 20-year bond auction conducted by the US Treasury on Wednesday afternoon was unusually weak) • Ray Dalio says to watch the bond market as deficit becomes critical House votes to repeal Biden-era rule on toxic air pollution (S.J.Res. 31) Friday  Majority Leader Recap: Week of May 19, 2025 Congress Last Week Budget — Committees: House, Senate Massie labels House-passed bill a ‘debt bomb ticking’ • bill heads to Senate • faces Senate objections • Senate weighs changes to SALT • Senate Republicans question Medicaid cuts • likely to ax major provisions • Senate Republicans eye slew of changes to Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' • Rand Paul says he's not considering voting for the bill because the legislation includes language to raise the debt limit by $4 trillion over the next two years • Ron Johnson slams Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' says president can't 'pressure' him like House Federal Spending — Committees: House, Senate — FY 2025 bills, table Sen. Rand Paul questions border wall funding level needs Monetary Policy — Committees: House, Senate Moody's cuts US debt rating • downgrade intensifies investor worry about US fiscal path • Bessent dismisses • ‘Sell America’ is back on • Dow sinks 800 points as bond market starts to freak out Executive — Committees: House, Senate Padilla places hold on Trump EPA nominees over efforts to ax California EV mandate Supreme Court Alito and Roberts take stock as they near their third decade on the bench Justice — Punishing Evil, Praising Good (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:14) ActBlue officials decline to testify, Congress threatens subpoenas in foreign donations probe Congress — Committees: House, Senate Speaker Johnson Announces Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Attend Pope Leo XIV’s Mass for the Beginning of his Pontificate Wyden says senators weren't warned about surveillance on phones Ilhan Omar condemns shootings at Jewish Museum Rep. LaMonica McIver charged over immigration facility altercation • Complaint says Rep. LaMonica McIver struck agents with forearms Nancy Pelosi silent on support for ban on congressional stock trading At 75, Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly dies after cancer returns • Republicans, Democrats share condolences Pending Activity Committee Activity Rubio takes fire from Senate Democrats at hearing, defends State Department reorganization • Chris Van Hollen, Marco Rubio clash over El Salvador deportations (Another Democrat to visit El Salvador with hopes of Kilmar Abrego Garcia meeting) Kristi Noem habeas corpus interpretation draws Maggie Hassan ire Senate appropriators grill Kennedy on biomedical research • 3 takeaways: Research funding concerns • Low-income energy program cuts draw attention • Expected scrutiny on farming practices Interior Secretary Doug Burgum requests cut to department’s budget by roughly 30 percent from fiscal 2025, to $11.7 billion: $900 million from NPS park operations, $158 million from the NPS Historic Preservation Fund, $77 million from national recreation and preservation grants and $73 million from construction Majority Leader Committee Weekly Recap – Week of May 19, 2025 Members vexed by Cyber Command turmoil McMahon lays out Education Department ‘final mission’ to House appropriators: improve literacy rates, increase school choice, return education to the states Republicans scrutinize Biden's pardons and autopen use • James Comer calls for interviews with Joe Biden's doctor, other White House aides amid GOP probe • Names and Faces: who was actually making decisions when Joe Biden was President • The Tapper Dossier: How the CNN 'Journalist' Covered (Up) the Biden Cover-Up—Before Writing a Best-Selling Book About It Senate Floor Schedule Senate is in its Memorial Day (5/26/2025) State Work Period, 5/26 to 5/30. Pro forma sessions: Tuesday, May 27 at 1:15 p.m. Friday, May 30 at 7 a.m. Next meeting: 3 p.m. on Monday, June 2   Thursday, 5/22, Senate began consideration of four nominations: Michael Duffey, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Allison Hooker, of Georgia, to be an Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs). Dale Marks, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.  Jared Isaacman, of Pennsylvania, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. House Floor Schedule The House is in a district work period through Monday, June 2, 2025. Committee Meeting Schedules House — 1 meeting, Wednesday, 5/28 — Hoover Institution, Stanford, CA No Senate committee meetings are scheduled for next week. About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners To learn more about our ministry, and to sign up to begin receiving our daily alerts, please go here.   Subscribe to Our Alerts! Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at: chpp1994@gmail.com requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers or CLICK HERE to subscribe. Copyright © *|2022|* *|Capitol Hill Prayer Partners|*, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 5152 Herndon, VA 20172-1970 Email: chpp1994@gmail.com Website: https://www.capitolhillprayer.org/ Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.