The House of Representatives did not live up to its own expectations for finishing most of the approprations bills in June. When the majority tried to jack up America with it's secret earmark plan, the minority decided to fight back and jack up the majority's plan instead until the problem was fixed.

This has set the appropriations calendar further back from where it was already behind. Once the appropriations bills got moving, there were three losses in the State, Foreign Operations bill, and three wins in the Financial Services bill.

The Senate finished its work on an energy bill, tried again on immigration, and passed a Title V abstinence extension. Praise the Lord the Senate did not go to conference on troublesome legislation such as S. 1, lobbying reform, and S. 4, the 9/11 Commission bill.

Now that Wyoming once again has two senators, upon its return from the Independence Day recess, the Senate is expected to take up the veto override attempt of S. 5, the embryonic stem cell bill.

Given that the House has only completed work on half the appropriations bills, and none of them have been sent to the President, much less signed into law, all these must-pass bills remain high priority prayer targets.

Congress doesn't go on vacation until August, and even that's not a sure thing. The majority also intends to take up global warming legislation of some time this month.

Pray that President Bush would remain steadfast in his promise to veto any bill that weakens current pro-life policy. More than the 146 representatives needed to sustain a veto have pledged to support him.

• Pray that all members who voted to protect life by voting against this legislation would stand strong on their votes to protect human life.
• Pray that both House members and President Bush would stand strong in holding to upholding a culture that values life.
• Pray that Congress would spend the taxpayer and debt money wisely and not neglect the underlying real and persistent problems in the federal budget. (Please read this recent speech by Rep. Frank Wolf.)
• Pray that Congress would not weaken any pro-life policies currently in place. (See House Appropriations votes below.)

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).

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)

Political Calendars: NBC News, ABC News, CQPolitics.com 2007

• July 4 - Independence Day
• July 9 - Congress returns from its Independence Day recess (5th work period begins)
  
  
• August 3 - Congress leaves for its August recess (5th work period ends)
  
  
• September 3 - Labor Day
• September 4 - Congress returns from its August recess (6th work period begins)
• September 13 - Rosh Hoshanah
• September 20 - Yom Kippur
• September 30 - Fiscal Year 2007 ends
  
  
• October 1 - Fiscal Year 2008 begins
• October 1 - Supreme Court 2007 term begins
• October 8 - Columbus Day
• October 26 - Congress' target adjournment date (6th work period ends)

  The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Legislative Update Archive

All Legislative Updates are produced by Timothy T.C. McGhee