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A Month of Must-Pass Legislation
Inside the Mountain
June 10, 2007
Arise, cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches;
Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord;
Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones
(Lamentations 2:19).
How long would it take you to spend $2 trillion? (That has 12 zeros after it.)
Beginning on Tuesday, June 12, and ending Friday, June 29, the House of Representatives intends to have passed 11 of the 12 appropriations bills that will spend about that much during fiscal year 2008. All of these bills are considered must-pass legislation.
The next three weeks are a critical time for prayer.
Any bill that must be signed into law in some form is a magnet for all kinds of trouble—such as attaching hate crimes. Please note, the Democratic Congress has already outmaneuvered President Bush in adding language to increase the minimum wage in the Iraq spending bill.
If they can succeed in adding the top item of their domestic priorities, it is no stretch to think they would any other such item. Rep. Diana DeGette, the chief sponsor of H.R. 3, the embryonic stem cell bill, has already expressed her intention to attach her bill to must-pass legislation.
President Bush has put the Democratic leaders in Congress on notice that he will veto any bill that weakens current pro-life policy. More than the 146 representatives needed to sustain a veto have signed a letter pledging to do just that.
- Pray that Congress would spend the taxpayer and debt money wisely and not neglect the underlying real and persistent problems in the federal budget.
- Pray that Congress would not weaken any pro-life policies currently in place. (See the "Pro-Life Appropriations Watch" under House below.)
- Pray that both House members and President Bush would stand strong in holding to upholding a culture that values life.
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's (Luke 20:25).
Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:7-8).
The Senate has shelved the failed immigration bill. They are not spending significant time on any must-pass legislation.
Nonetheless, the important matters for prayer are big items that could move quickly.
- The first of these is S. 5, the embryonic stem cell research bill that President Bush is expected to veto upon his return from the G8 meeting. The Senate is expected to attempt an override of this veto.
- The second prayer request is for conference reports that can come up at any time. In particular is S. 1, the ethics reform bill. This is the one that had potential problems with "grassroots lobbying" earlier this year.
- Pray that all members who voted to protect life by voting against this legislation would stand strong on their votes to protect human life.
Be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither (Psalm 1:3).
Because of his strength I will watch for You, For God is my stronghold (Psalm 59:9). He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves (Psalm 66:7).
Upcoming Events - 2007 Calendars: House (In), Senate (In)
Majority Leader Speeches: House, Senate (an indicator of the upcoming Legislative Program)
Legislative Update Archive
All Legislative Updates are produced by Timothy T.C. McGhee
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