Past

Last week the House returned from its Spring/Easter recess, and it was expected to be a week of Iraq and Senate hearings. Instead it was the week that school shootings graduated from high school to higher education, and into the age of amateur video.

H.R. 1905 - District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act
Passed 241-177

Past

S. 5 - [Embryonic] Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
Passed 63-34

• Praise the Lord that this bill did not pass with 67 votes that would override President Bush's veto.

S. 30 - HOPE Act, to intensify research to derive human pluripotent stem cell lines.
Passed 70-28

• Praise the Lord that the Senate voted to support ethical stem cell research.

Present

Monday, April 23
H.R. 1591 - The Iraq Supplemental conference committee met.

Tuesday, April 24
H.R. 362 - 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (Is that a 1000:1 student:teacher ratio?)
H.R. 363 - Sowing the Seeds through Science and Engineering Research Act

Wednesday, April 25
H.Res. 125 - Expressing deep concern over Hezbollah's "human shields" practices.
H.R. 1332 - Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007


Sometime in the next week or two, the Head Start Reauthorization bill (H.R. 1429) is expected to come to the House floor.

In its current form, this bill does not comply with the Civil Rights Act hiring protections requirements for faith-based organizations.

An amendment was defeated in committee that would have corrected this problem. We expect that amendment to resurface on the floor.

In many ways, this vote on the House floor could set a precedent this year for how this Congress handles religious freedom issues, beginning with hiring protections, including hate/thought crimes, and many others.

• Begin praying now for a breakthrough on this issue and this vote as it comes to the floor in the coming days ahead.

Teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do (Exodus 18:20).

Present

S. 372 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007

S. 3 - Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007

Future

As Congress moves from Spring into Summer, the big business will be how it divides up the $3 trillion it plans to spend.

In the past, these bills have included many important pro-life provisions that discourage the spread of the culture of death, and encourage the promotion of the culture of life.

• Please pray that these pro-life provisions would be protected, and for steadfast leadership from the President on these laws.

In the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by (Psalm 57:1).

Future

With the expected veto by the President of the current Iraq spending bill, and a shortage of funds expected to become a noticeable factor, the issue will likely stick around in the Senate.

When not otherwise rushed, the Senate will likely spend substantial time on Medicare Prescription Drugs, a bill the President has promised to veto, after the Iraq supplemental issue has cleared.

Judicial Nominations

• Pray for confirmation of the President's judicial nominees.

And I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the level; Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the secret place (Isaiah 28:17).